If you are still unware that I am not J.K. Rowling, then let's put it this way: do you really think I could come up with such an amazing world? If you answered 'no', then you are correct. I am not - and probably never will be - J.K. Rowling.
CHAPTER 9
It was a week after our escapade with Norbert that we traipsed down to Hagrid's Hut with Filch. We were serving detention with Hagrid by entering the Forbidden Forest, and helping him with a task he had to complete.
We'd had an awful week, as everyone in Gryffindor, and mostly everyone in Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw too, had turned against us for losing one hundred and fifty points. Everyone had been thoroughly looking forward to Slytherin losing the house cup for the first time in eight years, but now three first years had to come and ruin it. Of course, if they knew why we had been out of bed at midnight, they might have been slightly more sympathetic, although it was hard to believe at the current time.
As we arrived at Hagrid's, Malfoy commenced his moaning again, ranting about how work in the Forbidden Forest was servant's work. Everybody - including Filch - ignored him. Hagrid explained what we were doing, and split us into pairs: Harry and Malfoy would go with Fang, while Hermione and I would go with Hagrid. We went our separate ways, and began our job.
Hagrid had explained how something had been injuring the unicorns of the forest, and that one had been hurt badly by whatever it was. I had been pleasantly shocked when Hagrid said there were unicorns in the Forest, although I don't know why I was surprised. I asked Hagrid quietly as we walked if I could help him look after and keep an eye on the unicorns, as they liked girls more than boys, and because I already knew a lot about how to properly care for the unique creatures. I almost squeaked in a most unladylike way when he agreed.
The walk continued normally after that, with the trees getting bigger and more densely packed as we crept deeper into the Forest. We suddenly halted after about ten minutes, when Hagrid told us to hide behind a tree. Both Hermione and I were confused, but changed our minds when we saw a black, wispy shape glide at speed past our tree. "What was that, Hagrid?" Hermione asked. We knew it was something to be afraid of when Hagrid didn't know, and said it didn't belong in the Forest. What we did gain from the encounter though, was the knowledge that we knew what had been attacking the unicorns, and that it would lead us to where the injured one was at the moment.
After about five minutes of travelling in the direction the creature had flown, we stopped again. This time, it was to regain our bearings and sense of direction, but we commenced again after Hagrid suddenly bolted into the Forest in the direction we were headed, and where the creature had been headed too. Hermione and I looked around for a second, before seeing the last few remnants of red sparks in the air, and chasing after Hagrid. At the start of our detention, we had all been told how to conjure red sparks to alert the attention of the other group should we be in danger. Seeing those red sparks in the distance meant that Harry and Draco were in trouble.
Once we arrived at the scene, we were greeted with the sight of seeing Draco clinging ungracefully to a tree, obviously cowering from something that he had just seen. Hagrid was trying (unsuccessfully and with little sympathy) to get him down. Harry was propped up on his elbows on the forest floor, caressing his temple, also visibly shocked. A centaur, who later introduced himself as Firenze, was talking to him about something.
Another centaur (older than Firenze) then joined the group from elsewhere in the Forest, and Firenze spoke to him as Bane. When Hagrid retrieved Malfoy from the tree, he walked over to the two arguing centaurs. He asked if either of them had seen anything suspicious, but the only answer he got was from Bane, "Mars is unusually bright tonight." Nothing else interesting was conversed, and Hagrid quickly escorted us from the Forest.
I was told later that Harry and Malfoy had been attacked by the creature we saw earlier in our in search. The boys had found the injured unicorn (it had unfortunately died) with a 'black shadow' - as they described it - leaning over the carcass. It had been sucking the unicorn's blood, and had then chased after the boys when it realised they were there. As we walked out of the Forest, Hagrid told us that he suspected the 'black shadow' was Voldemort, or some kind of inhuman, spirit form of him. That was the worst part of the night.
It was the next morning, as we waited in the dungeons for our final potions lesson before exams, when another interesting advancement in the mystery of the Philosopher's Stone occurred. The four of us were the first to arrive (thanks to Hermione). We waited outside the classroom usual, when the door was suddenly flung open. At first, we thought it was Snape letting us into the classroom early, and so were shocked when Quirrel came rushing out, pale-faced and looking like he was a five-year old about to cry. He disappeared down the end of the corridor. Snape them sauntered up to the door, noticing us, and glaring at us icily. He spat, "What are you doing, loitering there? Five points from Gryffindor," before slamming the door in our faces.
Looking back on the situation, I thought I remembered hearing whimpering, and cries of, "No, no - not again -" and "Alright - alright," often in the voice of Quirrel. This just made the others' arguments against Snape even more worrying and believable. It also meant that Quirrel had finally given in to Snape, meaning Fluffy was the only thing between Snape and the Philosopher's Stone.
Things were not looking good.
So, I've decided to start doing weekly updates so I can have time to write up new chapters. This means the next update will be Saturday, and then every Saturday from then on.
