Chapter 9
"What happened?" Hagrid demanded when we literally ran into him. "Where's Harry?"
"Back there," I said breathlessly. "He...guy with hood...killed unicorn...attacking Harry..." I stopped. Hagrid understood, because he ran to where we came from.
"Harry!" he said when he found him. "Hello Firenze," he added to a centaur standing there.
"This is where I leave you, Harry Potter," the centaur, Firenze, said to him before galloping off into the forest.
o.O.o
When I got back to the common room, I was shaking from the encounter with the Dark Lord. It didn't help when George met me when I got back.
"Hey," he said, smiling, but stopped when he saw my face. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"We went into the forest, where we saw...You-Know-Who," I said, editing. I doubt George would like it if I called him the Dark Lord, and no way was I saying the name.
George looked shocked and hugged me, but I shrugged out of his arms quickly. He looked hurt but I ignored the look and went to sit on the couch. George sat next to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I looked at him.
"Okay. You can do that if I can sleep on you."
"Why?" he asked.
"Don't ask me how, but a long time ago I learned that it's a lot more comfortable to sleep on someone else than even a pillow." I laid my head on his shoulder. I could hear him chuckling to himself as I fell asleep.
I woke up and decided it was about 3 am, so I got up off George and climbed the stairs to my room. I wouldn't, I repeat, would not, pull a Vix.
o.O.o
I put my quill down as I finished my test. I was the first one done. I brought my test to Quirrel who looked impressed. "Before you say anything," I said, "I did not just rush through it."
"I understand," he replied.
There were two weeks left in the school year, and it was almost time for end of term exams, which was why we were having this dumb practice test. I watched the people around me as they all turned their tests in. George was finished before his brother and Vix, and he turned to me as he sat back down. "How'd you get done so fast?"
I shrugged. "Just that good," I replied.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class. "Rebecca Malfoy, would you please stay behind?" Quirrel stammered.
I shrugged and sat back down, giving not-so-apologetic glances to the twins and Vix. Quirrel came to stand right in front of my desk.
Throughout the year, Quirrel had kept me back from his class pretty often, actually, during which time we had planned how to get the stone. This was probably another plotting session or something.
"We're going to get the stone tonight," he announced, and like always, his stutter went away.
"Tonight?" I asked, shocked. He must have been acquiring information without me, because I didn't think we were ready to get the stone at all.
As if reading my mind, he continued. "Oh yes, I've been ready for a while. See, after I found out about the three headed dog down there, I had to figure out what else would be protecting the stone. I learned that there are many teachers protecting it. Sprout, McGonagall, Flitwick, Snape, and Hooch are just a few. And I've heard Dumbledore put up a bit of a barrier so to speak at the end. I assume you pay attention in classes, correct? Because I can't do this on my own."
"Of course," I replied.
"Your grades tell me that," he said, looking proudly at me. "Let's go."
"You can't be serious," I said. "At least wait until dark. I'll meet you here, in the classroom at ten. Deal?"
He paused before holding out his hand. "Deal," he said as I shook it.
o.O.o
I went to Quirrel's classroom at ten that night. He was waiting for me. "Let's go. I know now how to get past that beast."
We got to the third floor corridor, and went in. He opened the door and I followed him in. He enchanted a harp to keep playing and he opened the trapdoor. One jump, and we'd be in the clear to grab the stone.
