Madonna's mind was completely lost into the books inside the library when suddenly her mind struck that it was past the time that Tom told to meet him. It was pretty much twenty minutes past the given time. She jailed in the books quickly inside her bag and hastened to the common room. Suddenly she was stopped by a Slytherin, to her fortune it was just Sophia Myrtle.
"Where are you hurrying so fast, Madonna?" Sophia asked confusedly.
"Ohh, I said Riddle that I would meet him in the library sharply after one hour, but and I am already past twenty minutes"
"You mean Tom Riddle, that Slytherin Prince. I see you with him so often nowadays. Have you too become just like the rest of the Slytherins?" Sophia asked bitterly
"Don't be so ridiculous Sophia, he just wanted to discuss our Potion classes and you know he is my potions partner now..." Suddenly a voice interrupted them.
"So you two disgraceful Slytherins are here. Sadly your miserable, dull-witted and idiotic Griffindore friend is not here to defend you, Phillips. "
Madonna turned back and saw Abraxas standing with his Slytherin friends. IrritatedMadonna shouted, "Why you foolish dull-heads just don't leave us alone". "Hey, do you see our two of the most unworthiest Slytherin fellows have the courage to insult me" Abraxas teased her in front of his friends. Madonna turned back and ignoring all their nonsensical conversations, she held Sophia's hands and went in the direction of their common room when suddenly Sophia's hand hit with a spell and all her books flew up in the air. Sophia screamed out of the tearing pain in her hands. Madonna had lost her temper now. Seeing Abraxas and his friends laughing at Sophia's agony made her point out her wand at his head. Abraxas looked a bit scared but suddenly his another friend, Avery threw a spell towards her. It nearly hit Madonna but she dogged it anyway. And then once again the empty corridor was filled with spells cast from the opponent's wand. Madonna started to duel alone with Abraxas and his other five friends.
Sophia was too scared to stand in the mid of all the vicious spells and went away to search Henry for help. Madonna was hit a few times by the spells, the pain in her body was making it completely go numb. And then the unexpected occurred, a sudden bright light came out from the tip Madonna's wand followed by a big explosion. Within the fraction of a second Abraxas and his friends could be seen rising up in the air and falling into the ground rapidly with a jolt. Tom had come across the corridor when this scenario took place. He was really amazed to see how powerful Madonna was. However Abraxas couldn't let go of his insults so easily, he withstood all his shearing pains and got up with his wand to excruciate Madonna deeply. When suddenly someone cast 'Stupify'at him, he fell on the ground nearly unconscious. Everyone turned around to see it was Tom Riddle pointing his wand straight at Abraxas, the sudden intensefear could be visible through the eyes of Abraxas's gang members.
Riddle shouted "What do you think you all are doing here? Beside my warnings, you all still broke the rules and duelled inside the school premises. You all should be punished for what you have done!" Abraxas was shivering now and Avery fear was acute. Riddle, clenching his jaws he pointed out his wand out at Abraxas's gang members and said" If I ever see you all disregarding my orders then no one would be worse than me. And if you ever dare to bother Madonna, you know the consequences!"
Henry rushed into the corridor and helped Madonna to get up. However her body was completely numb after being hit by so many spells, she could barely walk. The teachers arrived here after hearing the commotion. Sophia narrated the whole matter to them. Madonna and all the others were called into Headmasters office.
On entering the office they saw that Professor Dumbledore was also present there, Madonna felt a bit relieved on seeing him. "So now narrate the whole incident to me", Headmaster insisted the Slytherin Prefect. After hearing the whole incident he got enraged. "You all have broken so many rules at Hogwarts and in spite of the fact that duelling is strictly prohibited in the grounds of Hogwarts you didn't pay any heeds to it. And now the only punishment for this is expulsion!" he exclaimed angrily. All the students became completely shattered, but Headmaster was interrupted by Professor Dumbledore. "Headmaster, it would be the right punishment for them", Professor Dumbledore continued, "but if you expel them they still wouldn't learn how to value the rules. So give them a punishment which would teach them how to be respectful towards the school rules and authorities."
The old man agreed with Professor Dumbledore but asked, "so what would be the right punishment for them, Albus." He replied " As for Mr Abraxas Malfoy and his group they have evaded the rules of Hogwarts and also tormented the other students. They were the ones responsible for this mishappening so as punishment 50 points would be deducted from their house and they would have to spend this whole month in the dungeons helping the house elves in the kitchen. They would then understand, how important it is to respect everyone. But Miss Madonna Phillips and Mr Riddle have also broken some of the crucial rules and could have caused some serious damage to the students by casting the spells which are forbidden to use at Hogwarts. So what do you two think your punishment would be?"
"But Professor we just wanted to stop Abraxas and his friends," Madonna protested. "You could have done that without using your spells, Miss Phillips! And so far now the best suitable punishment for you two would be to serve detention. Professor Slughorn wanted some Unicorn hair for his advanced potion making classes. And so as you have broken the rules, you two have to serve detention in forbidden forest and bring the unicorn hair for the potion classes. You both would be assisted by the magical creatures teacher, Professor Edmund Kettleburn". Professor Dumbledore finished. Headmaster too agreed with him.
Madonna completely became horrified on hearing this, would she have to serve detention now in the forbidden forest? She was completely aware of the creatures that roam in the darkness of the forest and she also didn't know how much Professor Kettleburn could save them from those bloodthirsty monsters. She turned around and was muddled to see Riddle was totally calm and contended after hearing the Headmasters decision, but she didn't understand the reason behind Tom not being afraid of the forbidden forest.
Tom and Madonna left the Headmasters office. As they were passing through the corridors they saw every student was murmuring about them " Did you see our so-called perfect students have to serve detention in theforbidden forest. Don't know if they would come back to Hogwarts alive." Their discussions were increasing her nervousness, she was going to be completely paranoid but she saw Riddle wasn't at all bothered by their gossips. "How could you be so not worried about going into the forbidden forest?" Madonna asked Riddle. "I didn't know one could be so much scared of the gutless feeble creatures of the forbidden forest," Riddle answered self-assured. Madonna was going to be completely mad at Riddle. Did he think all the creatures there would treat him like the Professors of Hogwarts?
The caretaker quickly took them to Professor Kettleburn. "So here are the students serving detention Mr Riddle and Miss Phillips. You two should be ready by 7 'O' clock and I would also have to get my things ready for going to the forest. And a good reminder for you both, if you want to make come out of the forest alive then always follow my orders and don't try to be over smart and do things by yourself." Professor Kettleburn stated.
Madonna left Professor's chamber and went to the hospital wing for mending her wounds. She saw Sophia and Henry were waiting for her there. Sophia apologized frantically to her for being the cause of this whole trouble, but Madonna consoled her that it wasn't her fault and everything happened because of Abraxas's stupidity and proudness. Henry too felt sorry for her and that he couldn't help her in this matter. The matron of Hogwarts examined her carefully and said: "after a few hours of treatment and rest she would completely heal."
Madonna's friends waited for her for nearly four hours until she fully recovered. Henry assisted her to the corridors after that she told him that she is completely alright and needed no further help. She went to Riddle in the library, it was nearly the time for detention to start and the two departed to Professor Kettleburn's chamber.
After preparing all their things they set out for the forbidden forest inthe nightly errand. But what adventures would be awaiting for them in the darkness of the forest? Would Madonna and Riddle come back in Hogwarts without facing any dangers or encountering any of the treacherous creatures of the forbidden forest?
Which creature do you suggest would bring trouble to Madonna and Riddle in the forbidden forest? Please comment below.