[The Forbidden Forest, Chapter Ten reference pg. 242-261]
Things couldn't have been worse. Mr. Weselton had lead them to Toothiana's study, where they sat and waited without saying a word. Rapunzel was trembling. Excuses, alibis, and wild cover up stories from when he got into trouble on Berk raced through Hiccup's brain, each more feeble than the last. He couldn't see how they were going to get out of this one. They were cornered. How could they have forgotten the invisibility cloak? Jack was going to be furious! There was no reason for Tooth to accept them being out of bed and creeping around the school in the dead of night, let alone being in the astronomy tower. Add the dragon and the invisibility cloak and they might not even get time to pack their bags.
When Toothiana arrived, she was leading Fishlegs.
"Hiccup! Rapunzel!" he burst out the moment he saw them. "I was trying to find you, to warn you! I heard a Slytherin saying he was going to catch you! He said you had a drag-"
They shook their heads violently to get Fishlegs to be quiet, but Professor Toothiana had seen. She looked more likely to breathe fire than the dragon as she hovered over the three of them.
"I never would have believed any of you doing such a thing! Mr. Weselton says you were up in the astronomy tower. It's one o'clock in the morning! Explain yourselves!"
It was the first time Fishlegs and Rapunzel had ever failed to answer a teacher's question.
"You don't even want to know what I've come up with to try and explain this!" Angry Tooth was officially scarier than Bunny, she reminded them of a mother hen or a hummingbird on most days, but know she had turning into a hawk. "Well whatever it was, it had better have been good. I'm disgusted! Four students out of bed in one night! I've never heard of such a thing! I expected better out of you three! You are some of the grades brightest students from what I've heard the other teachers say. All three of you get detentions! Nothing gives you the right to walk around the school at night! Fifty points will be lost from each of you for this!"
Rapunzel squeaked.
Hiccup gulped.
"Minus fifty?" was all Fishlegs managed to get out.
"Now get back to bed, all of you. I've never been more ashamed of students."
A hundred points lost. That put Ravenclaw in last place. In one night, they'd ruined any chance Ravenclaw had at winning the house cup. Rapunzel felt as though the bottom had dropped out of her stomach. Not even Pascal could cheer her up now. Neither Rapunzel or Fishlegs got any sleep that night. She could hear his sobbing through the walls and couldn't think of anything to say to comfort him the next morning. She knew he was dreading what would happen when the rest of the house found out what had happened.
At first, it seemed as though everyone thought there had been a mistake. After all, how could you lose a hundred points overnight. And then the story had started to spread; it was a couple of first years. The whole house had turned on them, they didn't even bother to lower their voices when insulting them. They had stopped drawing attention to themselves in class, keeping their heads down and working in silence. Hiccup didn't have such a hard time. Apparently a few Hufflepuffs had tried to break up a fight and wound up caught in the middle of it. They didn't even notice the extra fifty points missing. But that didn't stop Hiccup from swearing off messing with things that didn't involve him. And Jack had been livid about the cloak. Top it off with not getting to help with the dragon, and Hiccup and Rapunzel thought their day couldn't have gotten any worse.
Jack and Mérida had been quick to get over their anger when they saw Rapunzel and Fishlegs getting picked on; anyone who messed with either of them now had two angry Gryffindor Quidditch players after them. Mérida began to carry around her club as a warning, (she had almost used it, both times prevented when a teacher passed) and Jack would freeze quills, cloaks to chairs, and send the wind after loose papers whenever he got the chance. No one messed with their friends. End of discussion.
Then, about a week before the exams were due to start, Hiccup new resolution was put to the test. Walking back from the library he heard somebody whimpering from a classroom up ahead. As he drew closer, he heard Mor'du's voice.
"No - NO - not again, please -"
It sounded as though someone was threatening him. Hiccup moved closer.
"All right - all right -" he heard Mor'du sob.
Next second, Mor'du came hurrying out of the classroom straightening his armor. He was pale and looked as though he was about to break down. He quickly strode out of sight; Hiccup didn't even think he had noticed him. He waited until Mor'du's footsteps had disappeared, then peered into the classroom. It was empty, but a door stood ajar at the other end. He was halfway to it before he remembered his promise about meddling.
All the same, he'd have bet twelve Sorcerer's stones that Bunny had just left the room with a new spring in his hop and an empty potion vile in his hand. Mor'du had given in at last.
Hiccup went back to the library, where Rapunzel was quizzing Mérida and Jack on Astronomy and told them what he heard.
"Bunny's done it then!" Mérida said, "If Mor'du's tauld heem hoo tae break his Anti-Dark Force speel -"
"There's still the two-headed dragon though," whispered Rapunzel.
"Maybe Bunny's found out how to get past him without asked Gobber," said Jack, looking at the thousands of books surrounding them. No doubt Bunny had access to all of them, "I bet there's a book in here somewhere that tells you all about how to get past a two-headed dragon."
"So what do we do now?" asked Rapunzel in a hushed tone.
"Go to Professor Lunar!" Hiccup exclaimed. "That's what we should have done when this whole thing started. If we try anything we'll get thrown out for sure."
"But we've got no proof!" said Jack. "Who knows what was in that potion Bunny gave Mor'du! Bunny only has to say he had no idea who the troll got in and we've got nothing! And were not supposed to know any of this, how do you plan on explaining that?"
Rapunzel and Mérida looked convinced.
"If we jist dae a bit ay pokin' aroond-"
"NO." Hiccup said firmly, "We've done enough poking around." He pulled out a map of Jupiter and started to look at its moons.
The following morning, notes were delivered to Hiccup, Rapunzel, Fishlegs, and Macduff. They all were the same;
Your detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight. Meet Mr. Weselton in the entrance hall.
Professor Toothiana
Hiccup had forgotten they still had dentition in the mess over the points lost by Rapunzel and Fishlegs. He half hoped that Rapunzel would complain about a whole night of studying lost, but she was as silent as ever. It would be nice to see her act like herself again.
At eleven o'clock that night, the four of them made their way to the entrance hall. Mr. Weselton was already there with his cat.
"Follow me." he said gruffly, lighting a lamp and leading them outside. "I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again." he was positively leering, "Oh yes, hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me. It's a pity they let the old punishments die out, locking you in the dungeons for a few days. I've still got the chains in my office; well oiled in case they're ever needed."
They marched off across the dark grounds. Fishlegs kept sniffling. Hiccup wondered what their punishment was going to be. It must be something really horrible, or Weselton wouldn't sound so delighted.
The moon was bright, but clouds scudding across it kept throwing them into darkness. Ahead, Hiccup could see the lighted windows of Gobber's hut. Then they heard a distant shout.
"Is tha' yer Weselton? Hurry up, I want ter get started!"
Hiccup's heart rose; if they were going to be working with Gobber it wouldn't be so bad. His relief must have shown on his face because Weselton said, "I suppose you think you'll have the time of your life with your friend? Well think again boy - it's into the forest you're going and I'll be surprised if you come out in one piece."
At this Fishlegs stopped dead.
"The forest?" he repeated, "We can't go in there at night! There's all sorts of things in there, it'll take plus ten speed to get out alive!"
Rapunzel clutched the sleeve of Hiccup's robe and squeaked.
"Well that's your problem, isn't it?" Mr. Weselton chuckled
Gobber came towards them. He was equipped with a large crossbow on his prosthetic hand, with the quiver of arrows in the other.
"'bout time," he said. "I bin waitn' fer half an hour already." Looking at the fear in the Ravenclaws' faces he said, "That's why yer late is it? Ben lecturin' them eh?"
"I'll be back at dawn," said Weselton, "For what's left of them,"
Macduff not turned on Gobber.
"I'm nae gonnae in 'at forest," he said, his arrogance hinted with a twinge of fear.
"If yeh want to stay at Hogwarts yeh are." said Gobber fiercely, "Yeh've done wrong and how yeh've got to pay for it."
"When my father hears about this-"
"He'll tell you that's how it is at Hogwarts," Gobber growled. "If you'd think your father would rather yeh expelled then head back and pack."
Macduff didn't move.
"Now pay attention. 'Cause I don't want no one take no risks."
He led them over to the edge of the forest. Holding the lamp up with his good hand, he pointed down to a narrow, winding earth track that disappeared into the thick black trees. A light breeze lifted their hair as they looked into eh forest.
"Look 'ere," he said, "See taht stuff shinin' on the ground? 'ilvery stuff? that's unicorn blood. One's bin hurt by somthin'. I found one dead last Wendsday. We're gonna try the find the poor thing."
"And what happens when waht ever did that finds us first?" Fishlegs asked.
"Nothin' in this forest will hurt yeh as long as yeh stick ter the path." Gobber said. "Now we're gonna split up. Meh, Rapunzel and Hiccup will go one way. Fishlegs and Macduff 'ill go the other. If anyone fin's the unicorn send up green sparks. If any of yer get in trouble send up red."
The forest was black and silent. A little way into it they reached a fork in the path, and Rapunzel, Gobber and Hiccup took one path while Fishlegs and Macduff took the other. They walked in silence, their eyes trained on the ground. Every now and then a ray of moonlight through the branches lit a spot of blood on the fallen leaves. They walked passed a mossy tree stump. Hiccup could hear running water; there must be a stream somewhere nearby. There were still spots of blood along the path.
"Yeh alright 'punzel?" Gobber whispered, "Don' worry, it cou'n't have gone far if it'd hurt too bad. An' then we - GET BEHIND THAT TREE!"
Gobber seized Hiccup and Rapunzel and hoisted them off teh path behind a towering oak tree. He then pulled out an arrow and fitted it into the crossbow, ready to fire. The three of them tensed. Something was slithering over dead leaves; it soundly vaguely like a large was squinting along the path, but after a few seconds the sound faded away.
"I knew it," he muttered, "There's something in 'ere that shouln't be."
"What?" Hiccup asked.
"Don' know. Be careful."
They walked slowly, ear straining or the faintest sound. Suddenly, in a clearing ahead, something moved.
"Who's there?" Gobber called, "Show yerself - I'm armed!"
And out came something that resembled a man from the waist up, with red hair and a beard, and a horse below, with a gleaming chestnut body with a long reddish tail. Hiccup and Rapunzel's jaws dropped.
"Oh it's you Ronan," said Gobber in relief. "How are yeh?"
He walked forward and shook the centaur's hand.
"Good evening to you, Gobber," greeted Ronan. He had a deep, sorrowful voice, "Were you going to shoot me?"
"Can't be too careful Ronan," said Gobber, "Ther's somethin' loose in the forrest."
"Mars is bright tonight," Ronan muttered to no one particular.
"Yeah," said Gobber, "Listen, I'm glad we ran inter yeh, a unicorn bin hurt - you seen anythin'?"
Ronan didn't answer immediately. He stared unblinkingly at the sky, then sighed again.
"Always the innocent are the first victims," he said. "So it has been for ages past, so it is now."
"'eah," said Gobber, "But have yeh seen anythin', anythin, at all?"
"Mars is bright tonight," he repeated, Gobber watching impantily, "Unusually so."
"Yeah, but I meant anythin' a bit nearer home."
Yet again, Ronan took a while to answer, "The forest hides many secrets."
A movement in the trees behind Ronan made Gobber raise his bow again, but it was only a second centaur, black haired and bodied.
"Hullo Bane," said Gobber, "All right?"
"Good evening Gobber, I hope you are well?"
"Well enough," he muttered, "Look, I've just been askin' Ronan, you seen anythin' odd in here lately? There's a unicorn that's bin injured."
Ban walked over to stand next to Ronan. He looked skyward.
"Mars is bright tonight,"
"We've heard," Gobber said grumpily. "Well, if either of you do , let me know won't yeh? We'll be off then."
Hiccup and Rapunzel followed Gobber out of the clearing.
"Never," said Gobber irritably, "try an' get a straight answer out of a centaur. Stargazers, not interested in anythin' closer than the moon."
"How many of them are in here?" Rapunzel asked, her mood clearly picking back up.
"Oh a fair few… Keep to themselves mostly, but they're good enough about turnin' up if I ever want a word. They're deep, mind, centaurs….they know things...jus' don't let teh rest of us know."
"Do you think it was a centaur we heard earlier?"
"Did that sound like hooves to you? If yeh ask me, it's what's bin killing the unicorns."
They walked on through the dark, dense trees. Hiccup and rapunzel kept looking over their shoulders nervously. Both were very glad that Gobber had a cross bow with him. They had just passed a ben in the path when Rapunzel grabbed Gobbers arm.
"Gobber! Look! Red sparks, the others are in trouble!"
"You ter wait here!" Gobber shouted. "Stay on the path, I'll come back for ye!"
They heard him crashing away through the undergrowth and stood looking at each other, very scared, until they couldn't hear anything but he rustling of leaves around them.
"You don't think they've been hurt, do you?" whispered Rapunzel.
"I don't care is Macduff has, but if something got Fishlegs….it's our fault he's out here in the first place."
The minutes dragged by. Their ears seemed to pick up everything the a passed, every rush of wind. What was going on? Where were the others?
At last, a great crunching announced Gobber's return. Macduff and Fishlegs were with him. Gobber was fuming. Macduff it seemed had sneaked up behind Fishlegs as a joke. Fishlegs had sent of the red sparks.
"We'll be lucky to catch anythin' now, wit the ruckus you ter were makin'." Gobber said. "We're changin' groups. Hiccup, you go with Fishlegs. Macduff'll stay with me and 'punzel."
So hiccup set off into the heart of the forest with Fishlegs. They walked for nearly half an hour, deeper and deeper into the forest, until the path became almost impossible to follow because the trees were so thick. Hiccup thought the blood seemed to be getting thicker. There were splashes onto roots of a tree, as though the poor creature had been thrashing around in pain close by. Hiccup could see a clearing ahead, through the tangled branches and past a large bolder.
"Look - " he murmured, holding his arm to stop Fishlegs. Something bright white was gleaming on the ground. They inched closer. It was the unicorn alright, and it was dead. Hiccup had never seen anything so beautiful and sad. It's long, slender legs were stuck out at odd angles where it had fallen and its mane was spread on the dark leaves.
Hiccup had taken one step forward when a slithering sound made him freeze where he stood. A brush on the edge of the clearing quivered….Then, out of the shadows a large black dragon came crawling across the ground like some stalking beast. Hiccup and Fishlegs stood transfixed. The dragon reached the union, raised it's head, and cried out.
"AAAAAAARGH!"
Fishlegs let out a scream and bolted, pushing Hiccup in the process, who sent out sparks from his wand which accidentally hit the dragon, who then rammed Hiccup into the bolder.
It's glassly green eyes stared at him for a minute, as though it was making up its mind about what to do, and then let out another blood curdling roar before flying off. When Hiccup finally regained his composure enough to stand, he fell to his knees and black out.
When he awoke the next morning, Hiccup was in the hospital wing.
Apparently while he and Rapunzel had detention Jack's cloak had mysteriously reappeared.
He did not tell anyone about the dragon.