Screams rippled through the great hall. Some students began to run in a desperate attempt to find an exit while others ducked behind tables for covers. I was in so much shock at what was happening that I found myself petrified, unable to move. That’s when I saw one of the hellhounds charging right at me.

I wanted to run.

I NEEDED to run.

But for some reason my body just wouldn’t move, frozen in fear.

“CHESTER WATCH OUT!” That’s when Silvian Greygate jumped in front of me, the hellhound’s massive teeth ripping into his shoulder where my head would have been.

“SILVIAN!” I cried out, my entire body beginning to shake. Blood was seeping from his wound and he looked pale but before the creature could move at us again he grabbed me and began to run, pulling me under a table a few other students were hiding under.

The moment we made it he slumped against me. I could feel his breathing against my chest, ragged and shallow. Panic began to take over me, the screams and growls still raging around us.

I ripped off Silvian’s jacket to get a better look at the wound and immediately paled when I saw it. The bite was deep, really deep. He was losing a lot of blood. I pulled off my own jacket, fumbling to tear it in two to form a bandage like I had seen in movies. I began anxiously attempting to wrap it around his shoulder. Silvian looked to me, his eyes half shut. It looked like he was struggling to stay conscious.

My eyes stung and my mouth felt dry. “Why did you do that?” I whispered hoarsely.

“That thing was going to kill you. What else was I supposed to do?” Silvian replied weakly.

“You idiot. It could have killed you,” I choked. “If you lose anymore blood I’m afraid that...that you still might…”

I was scared.

I was so scared of losing him.

“I’m okay,” Silvian mumbled. “It’s just a little bite, that’s all. Besides, I did what I wanted. I couldn't protect Jay or Trip or my mother but at least I...I protected you. ” His voice was quivering from the effort to speak, it was clearly painful. His eyes began to shut now, his consciousness fading. And that’s when I saw another hellhound notice us from beneath the table. It began to track slowly towards us, it’s red eyes glued to our forms.

Yes, Silvian Greygate had protected me. But who the hell was there to protect him? He had no one. No friends. No mother. Not a single person at this school cared about him. Except for me.

I was the only one.

I was the only only person who could protect Silvian.

My hands trembling violently I grabbed for my wand. I shut my eyes, trying to channel the river of magical energy, letting it run through me. The spell I needed to cast would require a lot of magic and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to channel such power into a spell yet. If I failed at this we both might die.

With one arm still wrapped around Silvian I aimed my wand at the beast, and shouted, “inˈfərnō!” A stream of blue fire sprung from the tip of my wand scalding the beast, causing it to howl in pain. This bought me a moment but soon it’s gaze became focused back on us and the wounded creature let out a blood curdling howl. This was it. I didn’t have enough power to cast another spell. This thing was going to come for us again. I hugged Silvian’s unconscious body to me tightly. I would protect him, even if I had to use my own body as a shield to do it.

That’s when suddenly a voice rang out.

“BEGONE YOU GODDAMNED BEASTS!” There, standing in front of the pool was Banecliff. In his hand he held a large black crystal shaped like a heart. As he held it up light streamed out from the crystal, beams of it piercing into each of the 12 beasts. They screeched and writhed but slowly their ghost like forms began to fade.

Everything was just so overwhelming, the beasts, almost dying, Silvian still bleeding out in my arms. It was all too much. And so...for the third time this year, I Chester Price, fainted.