Simon had been out past curfew. He hadn't meant to be, but he had got caught up trying to finish an assignment in the library. He had been tucked away in the back of the library behind a pile of books and had missed the announcement that the library was closed and that hours were soon going to be up.
Though, perhaps this was a blessing in disguise?
While trying to avoid being spotted by the prefects and professors doing their rounds, Simon heard a scream, several thuds, more screaming and then a call for help. Without thinking much about it, what was there to think about really? Simon rushed down the next hallway. At the bottom of the steps just a bit down the hallway from where he was standing, Simon spotted Hermione on the floor, not breathing, and the Ravenclaw prefect (what was her name?) trying to move up the stairs.
Wand out, Simon finished his run over to the steps, pointing it anywhere but at the spiders on the ground. He was looking for something a little bit taller that had made both of the girls falll.