"Flipendo!" Adrian growled, shooting the jinx at the couch where Suzie ducked behind just in time.
Daphne bolted away, leaving Suzie on her own, Theo had run for cover as well leaving it fairly obvious that Suzie was the intended target.
"Let me down! Let me down!" Lutain shrieked angrily.
"Don't move!" Suzie screamed, pointing her wand at Lutain instead of Adrian, "Or I'll blast the snake!"
A chaotic medley of people protesting rose loudly.
"No no!" Draco shouted in horror, "Don't blast the snake!"
Theo looked at Daphne with an expression of helplessness, "She threatened the snake."
Daphne looked pained, as if she had just witnessed something immensely stupid.
A loud buzzing and a surge of hate rose in Adrian, his eyes flashed. His eyes met Suzie, locking on and somehow they were so close amidst the chaos and snapping couches and loud shouts.
"Lutain, bite her." Adrian hissed, not realizing he was speaking Parseltongue. His words and voice drowned out in the chaotic swell of activity. Except for one person who was paying particularly hard attention.
Suzie's eyes widened noticeably as she inhaled sharply in surprise.
Multiple things happened at once.
The Slytherin prefect petrified both Adrian and Suzie in two strong charms. Lutain was blasted backwards from a messy spell, hitting the wall and passing out. The leather couch burst into flame entirely and raged so high it smoldered the ceiling for a split second.
Adrian hit the cold floor with a loud click, trying to quell the anger flurrying through him like a winter snowstorm.
'You have anger problems. Control it before I make you.'
Adrian exhaled and tried not to focus on how his magic felt so sour.
"Alright you two." The prefect's nostrils flared, glaring at Adrian without glancing at Suzie, "I don't care what you two were fighting about, but not again. You're lucky I don't call Professor Snape down here right now." She threatened.
It would be much more frightening if it wasn't for how Adrian didn't even bother to know her name.
She cast the counter spell, leaving Suzie in a shaking mess on the ground, nursing a heavily leaking nose with snot.
"Now get out of here." The prefect snapped, pointing at the door out of the common room. Suzie scampered away, Adrian stood slower, glaring with a prickling aura of irritability. He walked over, picking up the limp Lutain with uncharacteristic tenderness before settling him in a pocket of his inner robe.
Everyone gave him a wide berth, Draco and Daphne wouldn't even look at him. Theo shook in the silence of the room.
Adrian didn't need friends. They just got in the way.
He intended to go to the Hospital Wing to see if he could smuggle potions from Madam Pomfrey. A bruising salve, or a pain relief; Lutain needed something in his current state.
He was nearing the hallways, most empty with the population in the dining hall for the evening meal. He wasn't expecting to find anyone.
"Mr. Selwyn?"
Adrian tried not to look up, he sped up his pace ever so slightly, hunched forward to protect the limp rope that was his best friend.
A large warm hand settled on his shoulder, halting his walk and turning him into the gaze of the worried Professor Lupin.
"You've been crying?" Professor Lupin asked, immediately alarmed, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Adrian ground out, looking away to prevent making eye contact. His face felt sticky and sore.
"Ah," Professor Lupin started, the sound was too gentle, "My private chambers then? Just this way, we can talk in private if you'd like."
Adrian turned and nodded slightly.
They didn't meet anyone in the hallways which was a pleasant surprise. Professor Lupin's private quarters were hidden behind a scenic painting of a valley in remote wilderness. Lavender and wildflowers swayed in a faint breeze, opening to reveal an ornate wooden door.
"It's not much, but I hope it'll suffice." Professor Lupin smiled, holding the door open for Adrian who quietly walked in, quickly evaluating all corners of the entry room.
It was roughly the size of Adrian's own room, although it was only the entryway. If Draco had been correct, there would be an attached lavatory and bedroom. Often another bedroom appeared for guests although Adrian didn't see the door.
"Now, what seems to be the problem, Mr. Selwyn?"
Adrian opened his robe and withdrew Lutain, still out cold and pliable in his hands.
Lupin instantly dropped to his knees near Adrian, pulling his wand to mumble various healing charms.
"They're just to tell how hurt your friend is," Lupin soothed calmly, "They won't hurt him."
"I know," Adrian paused, "I know how to cast a few myself."
Lupin glanced at him with an unreadable expression before he jumped back into helping Lutain.
A few tense moments later Lupin left before coming back with a small vial, "This potion needs to be given, only a few drops considering snakes are cold blooded. But, his venom-" Lupin hesitated, wary of Lutain's bite. It was realistic of course.
"I'll do it." Adrian mumbled, using his short cracked nails to pry against his reptile's lips, pressing against the jaw joint to force it open.
It was dangerous how close his friends' fangs were. He knew firsthand how frightening they were.
A few drops into Lutain's mouth and Adrian placed the long snake in a loose coil on the chair beside him, watching him breathe for a few minutes carefully.
....
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