 Rhibear ~ Madam Solo ~ ❄ Showtunes > Everything ❄ ~ Accio Jedi ~ Gryffinclaw ~ Just a doll
Gaston looked sympathetically at the Hufflepuff boy as he overheard him tell Felicity what had happened... and that it was his fault. His heart went out to the poor kid! He wanted to rush to his side and assure him everything would be alright... but the stairs were still a wax-covered death trap and he would not be responsible for another accident! "Mr. Montezor, none of this was your fault," he said firmly, realizing only too late the harsh edge to his tone. "The only ones to blame for this are those two psychotic poltergeists!" He shot an angry glare at Peeves and Miffy. He understood how the kid felt, for he blamed himself too. If only he'd arrived a few minutes earlier, he might've saved Mr. Reed!
The Charms professor sighed. There had to be more he could do to comfort the boy! "A lot of people would've just abandoned Mr. Reed there, but you did everything you could to help him. If not for your quick thinking, he might be..." His voice trailed off. He couldn't bring himself to say the word dead, so instead he said, "a lot worse off." An idea occurred to him, and he added, "I'm giving five points to Hufflepuff for your outstanding moral fiber."
The Frenchman shook his head disapprovingly as Mr. Salander slammed into the portrait wall. He supposed it was only fair to give this boy house points as well. "Thank you, Mr. Salander," he said, stepping aside as he whizzed by on... whatever that thing was. "Five points to Gryffindor for you, too!" He hoped he hadn't just caused any more injuries by telling the boy to ride that thing through the corridors!
Gaston raised his wand to remove the wax from the stairs-turned-slide, but he was distracted when Peeves grabbed Raphael's wand and started poking Mr. Bellaire and Miss Delgado with it. He was not having that! Instead he pointed his wand at the poltergeist. "Expelliarm-AAAGH!" Before he could finish the spell, Peeves yanked at his tie, causing him to choke and gag.
He was holding onto the railing for dear life, fighting with all his strength to keep Peeves from dragging him down the waxed slide, but he saw it was no use. "STAND... BACK!" he just managed to choke out before he fell. He frantically rolled to the side, trying to flatten himself against the wall so as not to crash into anyone else. With a loud THUD, he hit the landing below, colliding with the wall.
Gaston staggered back to his feet. His lip was torn and bleeding; there was a small cut across his forehead and a red ring around his neck from where Peeves had grabbed him by his tie. His eyes, wide and panic-stricken, scanned the crowd for signs of further injury. "i-I'm sorry! Did I hurt a-anyone?" he stammered. "Oh, Merlin... I'm so sorry!" If anyone had been injured because he wasn't strong enough to fight off Peeves, he'd never forgive himself!
Now he was sure those poltergeists were actively trying to murder him! First Miffy attacked him with knives in the kitchens, now Peeves just tried to strangle him! But the worst part was that they'd used him as a weapon to hurt his students! And speak of the devil (or in this case, devils!)... out of the corner of his eye, he saw Miffy shoving Miss Franks-Mundie and Mr. Bellaire. The thought crossed his mind to grab them both, but then he'd only slide away with them. Instead he aimed a stickfast hex at the students' feet, hoping that would be enough to keep them from sliding.
THAT WAS IT!!! Gaston rounded on Miffy, his eyes flashing like bluebell flames. He aimed his wand into the air, intending to cast a stinging jinx at the female poltergeist, but he suddenly groaned, nearly dropping his wand as he clutched at his side where he'd slammed into the wall. He was so distracted by the poltergeists and his injury that he hadn't noticed Healer Miller had showed up. "Poltergeists waxed the stairs... caused Mr. Montezor to slip and crash into Mr. Reed," he filled her in, adding to Miss Franks-Mundie's account of events. He wished he could say more, but now every breath was causing him more pain!
__________________ Old voices I had thought long since dead whisper of another life I might have led
If I could take that second chance, If I could make my life anew, If only dreams came true... |