Massie Block
Massie was dreading detention. She has been avoiding Harry and Ron like the plague. She still talks to Dylan and Hermione, but that is because they are roommates and she only talks to them when has to. Massie is trying to get normalcy back in her life. She is ready to be the queen bee without a king. She thought that Harry was her ticket to being the alpha of Hogwarts, but she knows now that she does not need him and he might not even be worth it. All year he has been looking for trouble and Massie cares too much about Hogwarts to let him drag her down. She already has a well deserved detention on a night that she could be studying with Alicia, Lavender, and Parvati for their upcoming finals.
When she arrived at the Entrance Hall the only ones who were there were Filch and Draco Malfoy. Massie forgot that Malfoy also had detention with them. She figured that the rest would be their shortly. Massie left a little early because she didn't want to have to walk with Harry. She didn't say a word to Malfoy who looked just as annoyed as she was that he had to be there. After waiting another minute Neville, Harry, and Dylan arrived. Then Filch lit the lamp that he was holding and led them outside.
"Hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me. Pity they let the old punishments die out. I still got the old chains if they ever change their mind," Filch said.
He continued to talk about how he wishes he was still allowed to harm bad children and it made Massie's stomach turn. She wondered if her mother ever had to go through any of it. She hoped not. It just seemed barbaric. Neville was sniffing, like he wanted to cry. Dylan was just looking at her feet the entire time. Malfoy had this scowl on his face like he would rather be anywhere else. Massie didn't even look over at Harry to see what he was doing.
"Filch, is that you? Hurry up so we can get started," Massie heard a familiar voice call out. Massie looked up and saw Hagrid in the distance. Massie felt a small smile hit her. She was having detention with Hagrid? This wasn't going to be so bad. Massie actually grew to really like Hagrid, despite him being a bit at fault for this detention. He had a good heart and loved magical creatures just as much as Massie did. Plus Massie always looked forward to a chance to see Fang.
"I suppose you all think you are getting off easy with the oaf. Well think again- you're going into the forest and you'll be lucky to make it out in one piece," Filch smirked.
Neville groaned and Malfoy stopped in his tracks.
"You can't be serious. The forest is forbidden. We can't go there. There are werewolves in there," Malfoy said. For once he didn't sound so arrogant. He sounded terrified.
"Should of thought of that before getting into trouble," Filch cackled.
Hagrid walked towards them with Fang. Massie gave the dog a small smile even though she knew that there was fear in her eyes. Were they really taking a group of first years into the Forbidden Forest in the middle of the night. Her father would flip out if he knew about this. He would pull her out in a second and send her straight to Salem if he found out which is why she won't be the one to tell him.
"Abou' time. I bin waitin for almost an hour," he said.
"Don't be too friendly. This is a punishment," Filch said.
"Bin lecturin' them eh? Is that why yeh took so long?" Hagrid asked.
Filch ignored the question.
"I'll be back at dawn for what's left of them," he said with a nasty tone before turning back to the castle.
"There is no way that I'm going into that forest," Malfoy said once Filch was gone.
"If yeh want to stay at Hogwarts yeh will," Hagrid said.
"If my father knew about this he'd..." Malfoy started before Hagrid interrupted him.
"He'd tell yeh to stay out of trouble and take yer punishment, but if yeh think yer father would be okay with yeh bein' expelled then go back and pack up," Hagrid shrugged. Draco looked back, but didn't move.
"Alright then now yeh all listen up because it is dangerous out there and I don' want nobody gettin' hurt," Hagrid started.
He led them into the forest holding his lamp high.
"Yeh see that silvery stuff on the ground? That's unicorn blood. Second one this week. I found one dead out here last Wednesday," Hagrid said.
Massie gasped. That poor unicorn. Unicorns were beautiful creatures and were so pure. Who...or what would hurt one?
"We're goin' to try to find the poor thing. Now if its bad we might have to put it out of its misery," Hagrid said sadly.
"And what happens if the thing that hurt it finds us first?" Malfoy asked. Massie had to admit that it was a fair question.
"Nothin' that lives in the forest will hurt you with me or Fang around yeh," Hagrid said.
Massie believed him. Massie is sure that Hagrid is friends with everything in the forest.
"Now we're splitin' into two parties an' followin' the trail into two different paths," Hagrid said.
"I want Fang," Malfoy said. Fang looked at Malfoy with a cocked head as if he was unsure about it. Massie couldn't blame him.
"All right, but he's a coward. I'll take Harry and Dylan an' Massie, Neville, and Draco will go with Fang in the other direction," Hagrid said.
Massie was happy to not be with Harry, but didn't really want to be with Draco either. She took Fang's leash from Hagrid and gave the dog a nice pat on the head.
"If anyone finds the unicorn, we'll send up green sparks. Now get out yer wands and practice," Hagrid said.
Massie took out her 10.5 inch Aspen wand with dragon heartstring core and shot out green sparks.
"Very good. Now if yer in trouble shoot out red sparks. Go on try it out," he said. Massie shot out red sparks.
"Alright then. Now lets go," Hagrid said. Massie took the lead.
"Y-y-you don't think that whatever is hurting the unicorns want to hurt us, do you Massie? Neville asked. Massie could tell that the boy was terrified. It wasn't like Massie to feel bad for a boy like Neville, but Neville has been helping Massie out with Herbology and he is actually a really nice boy. Massie isn't sure how he ended up in Gryffindor because he isn't very brave. In fact he is quite the scaredy cat.
"I'm sure we'll be safe. Do you really think Professor Dumbledore would send us out here if there was a chance that we would actually get hurt?" Massie asked.
"My father says that Dumbledore is mad so I wouldn't put it past him," Draco muttered.
"Your father sounds like quite the charmer," Massie muttered sarcastically.
"At least my father isn't a mudblood loving worthless Minister of Magic," Draco smirked. Massie stopped in her track, giving Fangs leash a slight tug before swiftly turning towards Draco and threateningly shoving her wand to his neck.
"Don't ever speak that way towards my father. And don't ever let me hear you say that horrible word," Massie said giving her famous glare. Massie saw the color leave Draco's face before putting up a smirk.
"Now now Massie, you wouldn't want the school to find out that you were threatening magical violence against me. What would your parents say? What would the American Ministry think? If Minister Block can't control his daughter, how could he keep us safe?" he said. Massie glared at Draco one more time before dropping her wand and turned forward. They walked in silence for a while before they heard some hoof prints. Neville let out a whimper.
"What is that?" Neville asked.
Massie shrugged.
"Could be the unicorn," she said.
"Or it could be a beast wanting to eat us," Neville whimpered. Massie turned to give Neville a comforting look before noticing something.
"Where's Draco?" Massie asked. Neville looked around and turned white.
"What if something got him?" Neville asked with a high pitched squeal.
"I'm sure he is fine, but maybe we should retrace our steps and see if we can find him. If we don't find him soon we'll find Hagrid so he can help us out," Massie said. Although she wouldn't mind losing Draco, if he actually got hurt she didn't want to be blamed.
They start to walk in the opposite direction, looking around for Draco. Fang was sniffing as if he was trying to track him. Then all of a sudden Massie heard Neville scream. Massie quickly turned around with her wand out as she noticed Neville letting out red sparks. Fang, spooked by the loud noise began to howl. Then she heard an annoying laugh. Massie rolled her eyes.
"Draco! You idiot!" Massie huffed.
"Relax Block. It isn't my fault that the goon couldn't take a joke," Draco chuckled.
"Yeah well I'm sure Hagrid won't find it too funny. You probably scared away the unicorn!" Massie scolded.
Hagrid appeared.
"Is everyone ok?" he asked.
"Draco thought it would be hilarious to sneak up on Neville and scare him. We're fine," Massie said in an annoyed voice.
"This is no time for jokin' around boy. A unicorn is seriously hurt," he said.
Draco rolled his eyes.
"Sorry," he muttered. Massie could tell that he wasn't sorry.
"Come with me and stay close," Hagrid sighed. The group followed Hagrid and ended up to an area where Dylan and Harry were waiting.
"We'll be lucky ter catch anything now with all that noise. We're changing groups. Dylan and Harry go with Draco and Fang. Massie and Neville are coming with me," Hagrid. Massie gave Fang a little scratch goodbye and handed his leash to Dylan. Massie was quite relieved that she wasn't stuck with Malfoy anymore. He really was the worst.
Massie and Neville began to follow Hagrid into the opposite direction of the woods.
"Hagrid?" Massie asked.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Why would anyone want to hurt a unicorn? Unicorns don't hurt anybody. My mother told me that they are the most innocent creatures alive," Massie said.
Hagrid sighed.
"I wish I knew, but I hope we find out soon before anymore are hurt," he said.
Massie nodded, but she isn't sure if she wanted to see something so dark that they would commit such an act.
Massie is definitely over the crush, but I suppose most young crushes are pretty fickle. Next we will check in with Dylan as she witnesses something dark and chats with a centaur. Then we will jump to Cam as he takes his finals.
