By the middle of November, all but a select few people had forgotten about what happened to Catherine Boot.
At breakfast one day, Rose received two letters, one from each of her parents. The family owl, Brilla, flew down from the rafters, and dropped the letters by Rose's plate before flying off again. Rose had no doubt what the letters were about. In one her weekly letters, she had replied to her parents' questions, one of them being who she had become friends with. Not wanting to lie, she wrote about becoming close friends with Scorpius and Penny. She knew that her mother would likely be accepting, but she wasn't so sure about her father.
She was comforted, at the least, by the response that Albus received from his parents. Albus sent them a letter a while back, and their response was filled with nothing but warmth and acceptance.
Her mother's letter was more or less what she was expecting.
Dearest Rosie,
I'm so glad to hear how much you are enjoying your time at Hogwarts! Hearing about your adventures brings me back quite a bit. Relish it, because before you know it, the year will be over. But don't get too comfortable, dearest. I don't want you to stay at Hogwarts forever. I must say that I do miss you.
Although I am sure your father might have different views, I am glad that you have made friends with Scorpius. Life at Hogwarts is much better when you have close friends at your side; I know from personal experience. I think that your friendship will benefit both of you.
Lots of Love,
Mum
P.S. Hugo says hello, and would love if you would write a letter to him personally.
Her mother's letter made Rose smile, and she had to admit that she missed her too. Next, Rose ripped open her father's letter, nervous and excited at the same time.
Rosie,
It's nice to hear that you are having a good time at Hogwarts. I know I did, so I hope your time is just as amazing as mine was (without all of the evil wizardry).
I certainly was surprised and a little irritated (more than a little) when you told me you became friends with Scorpius Malfoy, but I suppose that there is really nothing I can do to choose your friends for you. Your mother talked some sense into me, even though it took a while, and I guess I will have to meet him to really know what he is like. Perhaps in August, when Al comes to visit, Scorpius, and your friend Penelope can come to stay with us.
Write soon!
Love,
Dad
A huge grin spread across Rose's face, and she checked her tiny wristwatch. She had just enough time to get to the Owlery before class. Not bothering to tell her friends where she was going, she raced up the stairs to send two letters. One to her parents, and one, of course, to Hugo.
A week later, on an overly chilly weekend afternoon, Albus was enjoying a warm cup of tea in Hagrid's hut. Penny and Rose were in the library, researching for the large paper they had due for Transfiguration, so just he and Scorpius had come down to Hagrid's.
"Al?" Hagrid called from his kneeling position by the fire. He was making more tea for himself, because Albus had accidentally knocked his cup of tea and the kettle over.
"Yes, Hagrid?"
"Do yeh think tha' you could do me a favor?"
"Of course!"
Albus regretted his answer the minute the words slipped past his lips. He really liked Hagrid, but he wished that he asked what sort of favor Hagrid was talking about before he agreed. He knew that Hagrid could have dangerous ideas. Now Albus felt that he had to honor his promise.
"What sort of favor are we talking about, Hagrid?" asked Scorpius, reading Albus's mind.
"Ah well, see… The centaurs are bein' strangely rowdy, an' since they trust children, or foals as they call 'em, I wondered if yeh might help me calm 'em down."
Albus looked at Scorpius, talking with his eyes. It went without saying that Albus did not want to go back into the Forbidden Forest, but at the same time, he wanted to help Hagrid, as he had been so nice to him.
Scorpius raised his eyebrows, and nodded his head towards Hagrid, who was paying no attention to the silent exchange that was taking place.
"Okay, Hagrid. We'll help you. When would you like us to come down?"
"I was thinking, because yeh have a weekend, tha' we could do it tonight."
Albus took a deep breath to steeled himself before replying, "Yes, that's fine. Should Rose and Penny come too?"
"The more the merrier I suppose!" said Hagrid, sounding happy to have their company.
"What time would you like us to get here?", Scorpius put in.
"Right after dinner would be good fer me."
"Then we'll see you tonight, Hagrid. Do you mind if we go and find Penny and Rose? We should tell them about tonight, and we have to work on our homework."
"Don't mind at all. Good luck with yer school work!" called Hagrid as Albus and Scorpius began to walk back to the castle.
"You WHAT?" exclaimed Rose, not bothering to keep her voice down.
"Rosie, it's Hagrid," Albus said quietly, trying to calm her down, " He'd never let us get hurt. And don't you feel like we owe him? He's been nothing but pleasant to us."
Rose glared at him, then huffed, "I can't believe you agreed to this. But, fine, I'll go."
After dinner, Albus put on his cloak and left the Common Room. Outside the portrait hole, he met Scorpius and Penny.
"Where's Rose?" he asked.
"She's coming in a second," Penny replied, "She's just-"
At that moment, the portrait hole swung open, and Rose hopped out, her hair disheveled.
"I'm fine, fine! Let's go. Into the forest of certain death we trek!"
Albus glared at her, then turned on his heel and began walking cautiously down the stairs. Technically, they were allowed to be out of the Gryffindor Common Room, but teachers still frowned upon it.
They crept across the grounds, and reached Hagrid's illuminated hut. Scorpius knocked quietly on the wooden door, and after some shuffling inside, the door swung open, and Hagrid's shadow covered the ground. Putting a finger to his lips, he began to walk toward the forest, a crossbow on his back and a lantern in his hand.
Once they were next to the forest, Hagrid turned around, the lantern casting parts of his face into shadow.
"No strayin' off the path, alright?" he said, "We need ter stick together. It'll be safer tha' way."
Albus nodded, his eyes wide.
With that, they started into the forest in a single file line, each attempting to huddle in Hagrid's enormous shadow. Hagrid walked quickly, leaving them jogging to keep up.
After several minutes, Hagrid's quick strides slowed to a halt.
Looking around, Albus saw nothing but shadows and the trunks of enormous trees. He opened his mouth to say something, but Hagrid quietly shushed him.
"Somethin's not right," he whispered, "Normally the centaurs meet here, but somethin's pushed 'em out. Maybe they jus' chose a different place, tha' happens from time ter time."
Albus strained his ears for any sound that wasn't silence or foreboding. All he could pick up was an eerie quiet, the kind of quiet that comes before the monster jumps out of the closet, or the storm begins to rage.
Rose piped up quietly, "Hagrid, this is making me nervous. Can we please go back."
"No, no, we'll jus' look fer a couple more minutes. I'm sure we'll find 'em."
They all looked at each other as Hagrid set off again. They were all thinking the same thing: They would rather head back to the castle and get caught for being out late than spend another minute in the spooky forest.
After what seemed like hours of searching, Hagrid stopped again. He was inspecting a tree branch that was tied with brown leather.
"Tha's odd," he remarked, almost to himself, "I put this piece here when we las' walked by, to mark our spot. Appears like we're walkin' in circles, but tha's never happened to me before!"
Penny's teeth had begun to chatter with cold, and as though coming out of a foggy daze, Hagrid turned to look at her.
"Ah! Let's get yeh back out of the fores'. I've walked yeh in circles long enough."
Hagrid hurried them back to his hut with a masked air of suspicious confusion. He sent them off with a cup of hot tea and a warning to be careful with the trick steps on the stairwell.
When they returned to the Common Room, with no sign of any teachers, they each went up their own staircases without a word, and fell into bed, exhausted.