It was fortunate that the girl had not panicked, because Archie was a mess. His arm flailed about, banging against the side of the boat and soaking the entire sleeve of his robe as he felt about for a hand. Or a leg. Anything, really. He was not prepared to suffer the trauma of losing a classmate on his first day at Hogwarts.
Finally she spoke, and Archie might have been able to calm down if not for the fact that he still could not grab hold of her.
He shifted his body to follow the sound of her voice, slightly annoyed that she was on the other end of the boat. She obviously didn't require much effort on his part to steady herself, but she did seem a little stuck where she was. It was too dark to see much, but it was apparent both from the faint outline of her hair and the sound of dripping water that she was thoroughly soaked—and likely cold.
"Now, I can help you, but you'll have to help, too," he said, holding out an arm. He wasn't strong, really. In fact, he'd always been the weakest among his friends despite his height, and was definitely not strong enough to get an eleven-year-old girl to safety. "I'm going to pull on three now, you hear me? Yes? One... two... THREE," he said, and gave a tug.
Finally she spoke, and Archie might have been able to calm down if not for the fact that he still could not grab hold of her.
He shifted his body to follow the sound of her voice, slightly annoyed that she was on the other end of the boat. She obviously didn't require much effort on his part to steady herself, but she did seem a little stuck where she was. It was too dark to see much, but it was apparent both from the faint outline of her hair and the sound of dripping water that she was thoroughly soaked—and likely cold.
"Now, I can help you, but you'll have to help, too," he said, holding out an arm. He wasn't strong, really. In fact, he'd always been the weakest among his friends despite his height, and was definitely not strong enough to get an eleven-year-old girl to safety. "I'm going to pull on three now, you hear me? Yes? One... two... THREE," he said, and gave a tug.