He watched her body get pushed to the bottom of the steps of the moving staircase, leading to the Great Hall. His drew in a deep breath as he watched the young witch as she lay still at the bottom. Glancing up, he noticed the young boy, Malfoy standing at the top, staring at the young girl, sneer on his face.

"Draco," he called up to the young boy, "Your father will here about this." He watched the young boy dart away.

Walking slowly to her prone body, he crouched and check for a pulse. Breathing a sigh of relief when he found one, he waved his wand and started to levitate her to the hospital wing.

He may have been a giant of a wizard, but when it came to being quiet, he was one of the best. Madame Pomfrey didn't hear him push open the doors to the hospital wing, startling when she noticed him.

"Mr. Rowle, Quidditch hasn't started for the year." She smiled at him.

He moved to the side and she gasped in horror. "I found her on the bottom of the moving staircase. She wasn't moving but she is alive. I used no other magic on her except the levitation spell to get her here, as I didn't want to jolst her anymore than what had already happened."

"It's best you didn't." Madame Pomfrey stated as she ran diagnostic spells on the third year girl. "She has fractures all through her body." Shaking her head, she asked him, "What in Merlin's name happened?"

Shaking his head, " I only found her on the ground at the bottom of the stairs. I'm assuming she was pushed. Many of the pureblood students aren't very fond of her. She is a Muggleborn, after all. Top of her class, possibly top of all classes."

Madame Pomfrey nodded, smiling a bit, "That she is. I see you've noticed, dear boy. Are you one of those that think she doesn't belong?"

Thorfinn shook his head softly, glancing at the girl that lay prone in a hospital bed. "No." His answer shocked him slightly. His family or at least his father would kill him if he found out Thorfinn liked a Muggleborn, a mudblood.

Head nodding, she stated, " Your secret is safe with me, Mr. Rowle. Now, go on to your class before you're late."

Clearing his throat, he nodded before turning to leave. "Rest well, kitten."

A few days later, while in the library studying, Thorfinn was approached by a witch. He sighed deeply, before looking up from his books. First thing he noticed, though, was her wild hair. Taking in the rest of her features, he then noticed her whiskey colored eyes, light freckles on her nose.

"Granger," he nodded in greeting, "can I help you with something?"

She shook her head, before looking around, noticing he was a secluded part of the library. " No. Not really. I just wanted to say thank you for helping me." At his blank expression she continued, "When Malfoy pushed me down the stairs. You took me to the Hospital Wing."

His face remained blank, expressionless. This unsettled her. "I know I'm Muggleborn, I shouldn't be talk into you anyway but I just wanted to say thank you, so I'll just go now." She turned to leave but as soon as she turned a hand grabbed her arm gently.

"Don't mention it, Granger. It shouldn't have happened. What had happened was not your fault. It was his, not yours. It will be dealt with, don't worry your pretty little head over it, kitten."

"Kitten?" Hermione glared. "Really, Rowle?"

Thorfinn shrugged, "Seems fitting. When your an adult I think you'll become a lioness. But only time will tell."

Glaring she continued, "How will it be dealt with?"

"Don't worry. Pureblood business. Something happened that can bring authorities, the Ministry, snooping. That's all you need to know."

Hermione snorted delicately, "Right." She then turned to leave.

Thorfinn's voice stopped her again, "You now owe me a life debt, kitten?"

Eyes wide, she turned back to him. "What?"

Smirking, he stated again, "You owe me a life debt for saving your arse. I brought you to the hospital wing. If I didn't, Pomfrey said you would have died. Many fractures throughout your body. No one would have happened upon you before it was too late."

"So because you saved me, I now owe you a life debt?"

Turning back to his studying, he nodded, "Sums it up."

Huffing, the witch turned to go. "You are an arse, Rowle."

Laughing, he stated, "I know."