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REWRITTEN
Ch. 13 The Forbidden Forest
POV BELLA MCLAGGEN:
Two hundred points from Gryffindor. That put Gryffindor in last place. In one night, we'd ruined any chance that Gryffindor would win the House Cup. I didn't sleep all night. I could hear Hermione sobbing in her pillow.
I knew, like me, she was dreading the dawn. What would happen if the other Gryffindors found out? At first, Gryffindors passing the hourglasses that recorded the House points the next day thought a terrible mistake had been made. How could they suddenly have two hundred points fewer than yesterday?
And then the story started to spread: Harry Potter and Bella McLaggen, the heroes of the two Quidditch matches, had lost them all those points, them and a couple of other stupid first years.
From being the most popular and admired people at school, Harry and I were suddenly the most hated. Even Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs turned on us, because they had all been longing to see Slytherin lose the House Cup.
Everywhere we went, people pointed and didn't trouble to lower their voices as they insulted us. But then I heard a voice.
"Thanks Gryffindorks, we owe you one!"
It was Lexie who had spoken and her Housemates clapped and cheered.
"You!" I bellowed.
I grabbed her and took her down to the floor with me, smacking her on the face as I went. She might have a sharper tongue, but physically I was much stronger.
"You. Told. McGonagall. You. Bitch!"
I slapped and smacked her across the face after every word.
"Enough!"
Professor Sprout pulled us apart, red-faced and more aghast than I had ever seen her.
"Never, in my time at Hogwarts have I seen first-years behave-"
I was contented to see Lexie had a black eye and an ugly cut across her cheek. My bad, I forgot I've got sharp nails.
"What were you talking about?" she yelled, interrupting Sprout's lecture. "I didn't say anything to McGonagall!"
"Good, you need to resolve your issues with talking," Professor Sprout said, encouraging us. "What's going on, girls?"
"You told her about Hagrid! You made sure we lost points!"
"I didn't! I would never betray Hagrid like that! I didn't tell her anything!" Lexie shrieked.
"She's right," a soft voice behind me. Janice was crying. "It was me."
Professor Sprout had to hold on to me with all her might to make sure I didn't hit Janice too. Angry tears poured out of my eyes.
"How could you?" I yelled.
"You need to calm down," Professor Sprout said. "I will take you to the hospital wing. I'm sure Madam Pomfrey will have something to relax you."
POV LEXIE JONES:
Blood flooded from the cut in my cheeks as I saw Bella get dragged away to the hospital wing. She looked mental. She was mental. Janice was still sobbing.
"Well, that was an unexpected twist," I smirked. "What made you change your mind? Why did you leave her little fan club?"
"I was just telling McGonagall the truth, all right," she sobbed. "Points were taken from Hufflepuff as well."
Normally I would have felt the urge to comfort her, but now something stopped me.
"Is Hagrid in trouble?" I asked her. "Did that cross your mind at all?"
"I feel terrible," she cried.
"Oh, don't," I said in a nasty tone. "You got what you wanted. No more rule-breaking. Maybe I shouldn't look a gifted horse in the mouth. Everyone in Slytherin wants to thank you for clearing our path to an easy House Cup victory. Mind you, it's still a far cry from being allowed in the elite."
Another cracking sob. Janice turned her back to me and ran (probably to the toilets). It only got better.
When I was walking toward Charms one day, I overheard Bella and Potter ask Wood if she could resign.
"Resign?" Wood thundered. "What good'll that do? How are we going to get any points back if we can't win at Quidditch?"
Granger and Weasley were suffering, too. They didn't have as bad a time as Potter, because they weren't as well known, but no-one would speak to them either. Granger had stopped drawing attention to herself in class, keeping her head down and working in silence. Thank heavens for small mercies, I guess.
The exams weren't far away. I worked late into the night, trying to remember ingredients in complicated potions, lean charms and spells by heart, memorize the dates of magical discoveries and goblin rebellions…
Walking back from the library with Draco one afternoon, we heard somebody whimpering from a classroom up ahead. As we drew closer, we heard Quirrell's voice.
"No… not again.. please!"
It sounded as though someone was threatening him. We moved closer. "All right, all right," we heard Quirrell sob.
Next second, Quirrell came hurrying out of the classroom straightening his turban. He was pale and looked as though he was about to cry. He strode out of sight; I didn't think Quirrell even noticed us. We waited until Quirrell's footsteps had disappeared, then peered into the classroom.
It was empty, but a door stood ajar on the other end.
"I'd gamble twelve Sorcerer's Stones that Snape has just left the room!" I said.
"So Quirrell has given in at last," Draco said. "I agree with you, the whole thing makes me restless. What now?"
"There's still Fluffy, though," I said.
"Maybe Snape's found out how to get past him without asking Hagrid," he muttered. "I bet there's a book here telling you how to get past a three-headed dog…"
"There isn't," I whispered, the corridors were getting more crowded. "I've been searching for it."
POV CLAIRE GIBBS:
"I've been searching for it."
"For what?" I asked.
Lexie and Malfoy turned around. "Has no-one told you it's rude to eavesdrop?" Lexie mocked.
"I wasn't eavesdropping," I said. "I just overheard."
"Funny how that's usually the word people use for eavesdropping. Why would you care? It's not part of your exams, is it?" she sneered. "Oh, and by the way, Quirrell's cracked. If you even care."
"You should go to Dumbledore. That's what you should've done ages ago. If you try anything yourself you'll be expelled for sure," I told her.
"However amusing this conversation might get, I'd better be off to the common room. Bye Lexie," Malfoy said and he left.
"Why would you care if I get expelled? As long as it doesn't affect you, right?" the Slytherin girl spat.
"I'm warning you one more time. Go to Dumbledore," I advised.
"Why should she go to Dumbledore?" Bella asked, who'd overheard.
I saw them fight yesterday. It had looked brutal, so I had decided I best stay out of it.
"Yet another eavesdropper," Lexie moaned.
She told them what she saw.
"But we've got no proof at all," said Lexie. "It'll be our word against Snape's, and I do not like those odds."
"Quirrell's going to be too scared to back us up, for sure," Bella agreed. "If we just do a bit of poking around-"
"You've done enough poking around," I said firmly.
"No, no, continue. I wonder if Gryffindor can sink any lower," Lexie laughed.
"Now you're just being nasty," I said.
"Continue like that and find out just how nasty I can be," she said maliciously. "Just go ahead and study, Ms. Know-It-All. It's the only thing you care about, anyway."
I frowned and my eyes narrowed. A lot of nasty words were on the tip of my tongue. I kept my mouth shut, because I guess she had a point.
I wish sometimes she could see life the way I did. Life was not given to us to mess around with it, was it? Life is our chance to do something. Prove something. Learn something. I can't do that if I'm not 100% focused on what I want. She was driven like me, but our goals were apparently opposed at this time.
"All you care about is insulting people," Bella snapped at Lexie.
I hardly believed she was standing up for me at this point. She probably just needed to let out her anger, as usual. Lexie threw her head in her neck and laughed.
"I'm just telling the truth, and the truth hurts," Lexie said sneeringly.
"So does my fist!" Bella bellowed.
Her fist connected with the Slytherin's jawbone. Lexie had her wand out and put a simple, but effective, Hover Charm on Bella. The Gryffindor girl went up high, high, in the air until she almost hit the ceiling.
"Let me down! You nasty, stinking, slimy-"
Bella stopped talking. Snape was walking in the same corridor. Lexie hurriedly put Bella down, though she made sure she hit the ground a little harder than should've been necessary.
I sighed out loud at the thought how many things I could have revised right now. Green for Charms, light green for basic spells, darker green for more important spells, dark green for wand movements; Purple for Potions, light purple for the ingredients, darker purple for the effects…
"What is going on out here?" Snape asked icily.
"She raised me from the ground!" Bella said.
"After you had a go at me with your fist!" Lexie yelled back.
"And you?" Snape asked to me.
"I am staying out of it," I said calmly.
"Five points from Ravenclaw for not doing anything," he answered. "Ten points from Gryffindor, be glad it isn't more, McLaggen. Ten points to Slytherin, for performing an excellent Hover Charm."
He walked away.
"That's so unfair!" Bella shrieked, making fists of her hands yet again.
"Easy," Lexie sneered, before walking away. "you don't want to lose Gryffindor more points, do you?"
"It's your fault I lost points from Ravenclaw," I said to Bella. "You need to grow up and control your temper. We're done."
Bella looked startled, but didn't want to show it. "Well, there was no need to make it official!" she yelled and then I walked away to the common room.
Blue for Transfiguration…
POV JANICE DIGGORY:
The following morning notes were delivered to me, Harry, Ron, Bella and Hermione. They were all the same.
Your detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight. Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.
Professor M. McGonagall
I had forgotten the detention due to the points I lost.
I felt that I deserved what I got. I was also up at curfew. This was a kind of pay-back for the night we met Fluffy. I should have gotten detention then.
I felt awful that it had resulted in a fight with Bella and the others, but I still felt I had done the right thing.
At five to eleven, I went to the entrance hall. Filch was already there, and so were the four Gryffindors.
"Follow me," said Filch. He was lighting a lamp and led us outside. "I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh?" he said, leering at us.
I wouldn't need to think a second time. I'll never break another rule again in my life.
"Oh yes… hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me.. It's just a pity they let the old punishments die out… hang you by the wrists from the ceiling for a few days…"
I flinched, but Filch wasn't done yet. "I've got the chains on my office, keep 'em well-oiled in case they're ever needed… Or they used to pierce you to the wall, with pins in your thumbs…"
We walked across the grounds and saw Hagrid in front of his hut. He didn't seem too pleased to see me. Had it somehow leaked out I had told McGonagall about the dragon? I felt bad for him, of course, but dragons are illegal. He could've gotten into great trouble with the Ministry, so it's really for the best that I told McGonagall.
"Hurry up, I want ter get started."
"I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that great oaf?" Filch said to Harry, who was smiling broadly at Hagrid. "Well, think again boy, it's into the forest you're going and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come back in one piece."
"The forest?" I squeaked. "We can't go in there, that's why it's called the Forbidden Forest! It's Forbidden! There's all sorts of things in there, like werewolves, I've heard!"
"That's you problem, isn't it?" Filch said, his voice cracking with glee. "I'll be back at dawn. For what's left of them."
He went back inside. We marched into the forest, with Fang and Hagrid in the lead. The four Gryffindors all gave me the cold shoulder. Is that what I get for showing you what the consequences of your actions are? They had to know one time their plans would go wrong. It was best that it resulted in detentions than one of them ending up harmed.
"Look there," said Hagrid suddenly, in the middle of the forest.
I let out an involuntary shriek.
"There on the ground," Hagrid said, stirring a silver liquid with his fingers. "That's unicorn blood. There's a unicorn in here bin hurt badly by summat. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday. We're gonna try an' find the poor thing, we might have ter put it out of its misery."
I looked around rather anxiously. I heard noises everywhere. Noises I didn't like.
"And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first?" I asked.
"There's nothin' that lives in the forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang," said Hagrid. "Harry, Hermione and Bella go with me; Ron and Janice, yeh go with Fang. Keep to the path. If any of us find the unicorn, send up green sparks, in yeh get into trouble, send up red sparks. Let's go."
Ron, Fang and I walked across the path, following the unicorn blood.
"Does Bella hate me?" I asked after a while.
Ron snorted. "Not one of the fastest, are you?" I bit my lip.
"Do you hate me?"
Ron paused. "I don't know," he said eventually. "I just don't understand why you ratted us out. I thought we were friends. But I certainly don't like you."
We walked quietly for some time, following the silver-blue blood. But then, I saw something else.
"GET BEHIND THAT TREE!" I hissed.
A cloaked figure was striding along the forest path. I panicked, and I sent up red sparks.
POV BELLA MCLAGGEN:
Hermione was pulling my arm. "There! There! Red sparks!"
"The others are in trouble!" I said to Hagrid.
"You three, wait here!" he ordered. "Stay on the path, I'll come back for yeh!"
And with that he left. "Look," Harry murmured suddenly.
We saw a distant silver glance. I walked in its direction, Harry and Hermione close behind me. It was the unicorn. And it was dead. I had never seen anything so beautiful and sad. Its long, slender legs were stuck out at odd angles where it had fallen and its mane was spread pearly-white on the dark leaves. It had a huge cut in its neck.
A bush on the edge of thee clearing quivered. Then, out of the shadows, a hooded figure came crawling across the ground like some stalking beast. It reached the unicorn, lowered its head over the wound in the animal's side and began to drink its blood.
"AAAAAAAARGH!"
Hermione let out a terrible scream and bolted. The hooded figure raised its head and looked right at Harry. It got to its feet and came swiftly toward Harry, he couldn't move for fear. "Harry!" I screamed, pulling his arm. "Harry, run!"
I tried to drag him with me, but he stayed transfixed on the spot. And then, Harry started to scream as well. His hands clasped over the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. Half-blinded, he staggered backward.
I heard hooves behind me, galloping, and something jumped clean over us, charging at the figure. The pain in Harry's head was so bad he sank to his knees. I sank down with him and held him tightly. I didn't dare look.
It took a minute or two to pass. A centaur was standing over us, not Ronan or Bane (whom we had met just now with Hagrid) this one looked younger; he had white-blonde hair and a palomino body.
"Are you all right?" the centaur asked, pulling us to our feet.
"Yes," I answered. "What was that?"
"Do you know what unicorn blood is used for?" the centaur asked.
"No," said Harry. "We've only used the horn and tail hair in Potions."
"That is because it is a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn. Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such crime," the centaur said. "The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenceless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips."
"But who'd be that desperate?" Harry wondered aloud.
"Yeah," I said. "if you're going to be cursed forever, death's better, isn't it?"
"It is," the centaur agreed. "unless all you need is to stay alive long enough to drink something else. Something that will bring you back to full power, something that will mean you can never die. Do you know what is hidden in your school at the moment?"
"The Sorcerer's Stone, of course! But I don't understand who-"
"Can you think of nobody who was waited many years to return to power?"
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