Yes, I know that I should've posted this yesterday, but it's better late than never.

Happy Holidays!

Year One - Chapter 26

After preparing the Calming Draught, I sat on the couch, waiting for it to be 11 o'clock, I couldn't do anything else, if I tried to read I would get distracted and ended up reading the same page for more than ten minutes.

At 10:50, my dad gave me the potion to drink it and then he accompanied me to the Entrance Hall, thanks to the potion, I didn't feel like if I was going to faint at any moment, but somehow I still felt a little bit alarmed. When I finished walking up the spiral stairs, I opened the door that led to the Hall and saw that Filch was already at the door, with Draco.

—I will come back for you when this is over. —Before getting close to them, my dad grabbed me by my shoulder.— Today you will spend the night with me.

—Really? Why?

—I know you will be uneasy after being in the forest. I will rather be close in case you have another of your nightmares.

—Oh, but wouldn't it be easy if you just give me a Dreamless Sleep Potion?

—All right, if that is what you prefer. I think I still have some in my office.

It's been a while since the last time I had one of my nightmares, but I always had a bad time with them, I used to wake up screaming and covered in sweat. The weird thing is that it was always the same nightmare and it wasn't even related to the Forbidden Forest (although I would have them regularly every time my dad mentioned it), the only thing I could remember about it was the screams of a woman and then several flashes of coloured lights. It's so stupid because there's nothing scary about it! I mean, yes, someone screaming is bad but not enough to make me wake up screaming… There's certainly something wrong with me.

After my dad walked down again the stairs to the dungeons, I walked up to Draco, he was playing with his shoe with a stone that was on the floor.

—Hey, Dray.

—Don't call me like that.

I stared out at the gardens, (or what I could see, it was almost pitch-black outside), they looked very pretty at night. After a few minutes Harry, Hermione and Neville finally made their way down to the Entrance Hall. I had forgotten that Neville also had detention. When we were finally together, Filch lit a lamp and led us outside. Harry and Neville were walking behind Filch, while Draco, I and Hermione were walking behind them.

—Let's see if you think twice about it now before breaking another school rule. —I couldn't see his face, but I could swear he was smiling.— Oh yes, hard work and pain are the best teachers...

—Life has been hard for him. —I whispered to Draco and he had to stifle a laugh, Filch kept talking, so I guess he didn't hear us.

—Is a pity that they let the old punishments die out… Hang you by your wrists from the ceiling… I still have the chains; in case they need them one day.

We continued walking through the dark garden and I began to see the light coming from Hagrid's hut.

—Filch? Is that you? Hurry up, I want ter get started.

Filch looked at us with that horrible smile in his face. Merlin, I don't want to see that ever again in my life.

—Think you'll have fun with him? Well, better think twice. You're going to the forest, and I'll be much mistaken if you all come out in one piece.

After hearing that, Draco stopped abruptly and I almost hit him, I had forgotten that he didn't know where we were going. I also felt uneasy, but I know it could be worse if I hadn't taken the Calming Draught.

—The forest? —Draco said.— There's all sort of things in there… Werewolves, I heard.

From my right I heard whining and noted that Neville was holding tight to Harry's arm, the poor thing looked like he was going to piss himself at any moment. I'm an idiot, why didn't I think to bring a vial with more Calming Draught?

—That's your problem. You should've thought of werewolves before getting in trouble.

I heard some steps getting closer to us, for a moment I thought it was one of the werewolves, but luckily it was only Hagrid and Fang.

—What's taking ye so long? I've bin waitin' fer half an hour. Ah, all right, Harry, Hermione?

—I shouldn't be so friendly with them, Hagrid. After all, they're here to be punished.

—And ye've bin lecturin' them, right? That's why you're late. Not your place to do that. I'll take over from here.

—I'll be back at dawn. —Filch said in a very serious tone. Merlin, please make him leave already.— To collect whatever is left of them.

Finally, Filch turned around and walked back to the castle; with this darkness, I could only see his silhouette thanks to the lamp that he had, but the silhouette was quickly engulfed by the dark. Perfect, now I'm sure that Hagrid will only make us wait in his cabin, drinking some tea.

—Well, go on.

—What? —I said.— Are you really taking us to the forest?

—I'm not going in there. —Draco said and stood next to me, both being a little more separated from the others.

—Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts. —I think I've never seen Hagrid being so serious.— Ye did somethin' wrong an' now have to face the consequences. What, ye thought we were only goin' to wait in my cabin until dawn?

—Well… Yeah. —I said. Can he use Legilimency, like dad?

—Sorry, Eileen, but that's not how it works.

—But that's for the servants, not the students! I thought we were only going to write some lines or something… If my father knew…

—He'll tell ye that's how it is at Hogwarts. —Hagrid growled. Mental note: never make Hagrid angry.— What are lines good for? Yeh'll do something useful or ye can go an' pack, go on!

Draco didn't say something else, only looked at the grass.

—Right then. We already lost a lot of time. —Hagrid started to walk towards the edge of the forest, and we followed him.— Listen carefully, is dangerous what we're gonna do tonight an' I don't want no one takin' risks.

When we got to the edge, Hagrid lighted up a dirt trail that disappeared through the trees.

—Ye see that silvery stuff shinin' on the ground? That's unicorn blood, an' that means that one of them is hurt. That's the second time this week, I found one dead last Wednesday, so we're gonna try to find this poor thing an' put an end to his misery.

—And what do we do if we find whatever attacked him? —I said.— I hardly doubt we stand a chance against that if it managed to hurt a unicorn.

—Ye'll be fine if ye're with me or Fang. We'll split into two groups. There's blood everywhere, it must've happened around last night at least.

—I'm going with Fang.

—Whatever, Malfoy, but I warn yeh, he's a coward. Well, then, Harry, Hermione and me'll go one way. Eileen, Neville and Malfoy'll go with Fang. If yeh find the unicorn, send green sparks with yer wand. If yeh find trouble, send red sparks. Be careful and keep to the path.

I grabbed the lamp that Hagrid lend us and started walking with Fang by my side trough the path, taking the path to the right, Draco followed me, and it didn't take long for Neville to get to my side.

—I can't believe we're really being sent to this place. I'll send a letter to my father and…

—And he won't be able to do something. Dad also tried to avoid us from being sent here, but it looks like Dumbledore doesn't care that we're here, on our own, hunting whatever is killing the unicorns.

—I-is it p-possible that i-it's only an animal k-killing them?

—No, unicorns are extremely fast. —I said.— Even more than werewolves, so it must be something, or someone, with really dark magic.

—O-oh.

—Don't be a chicken, Longbottom.

—Look who is saying that! —I said to Draco, with a smile in my face.— You also didn't want to come in here. Don't pay attention to him, Neville, he's only messing with you. There's nothing wrong with being scared.

—Typical of a Gryffindor…

I hit Draco in the shoulder and smiled to Neville and he smiled back, we kept following the path, but it was getting more and more difficult because there were a lot of trees.

—Eileen?

—Yeah?

—W-where's Malfoy?

—What? —I turned to see my surroundings, but the only thing I could see where trees and more trees— Draco? Draco, where are you? DRACO!

No, no, no, this can't be happening…

—Stay here. Lumos. —I gave Neville the lamp after grabbing my wand to light up the path.— I'll go back the way we came to see if I can find him somewhere, if he comes back here, send some orange sparks, all right?

—Y-yeah. Be careful, Eileen.

—You too.

I walked back from where we came from, the light from the lamp ceasing to illuminate the path with every step I took.

—Draco! —Nothing, everything was completely quiet, I couldn't even hear the wind moving the leaves of the trees.— Bloody hell, Draco, please don't do this to me…

I kept walking for a couple of minutes but without any result, there wasn't any sign of life around here, I was about to send some red sparks with my wand so that Hagrid could come and help us find him when I heard someone yelling and saw red sparks that came from where I left Neville, so I ran there.

When I got there, I saw that Draco was already with Neville, but also Hagrid, I let out a big sigh when I saw that none of them were hurt.

—Eileen! —Hagrid growled.— What happened? Why weren't ye with them?

—I… I don't know, Neville realized that Draco wasn't with us, so I walked back the path to find him. I told Neville to stay here in case he came back.

Hagrid passed a hand over his face and then looked at us. I still don't know what happened.

—Follow me.

—Where the hell were you? —I whispered to Draco and he only chuckled a little, I looked at Neville and he turned his face, ignoring me.— You scared Neville, didn't you?

—Wow, how come you're not a Ravenclaw, Leen?

—I don't know, but I know why you're not one, you're a complete idiot.

We kept walking until we came to a bend in the path and found Harry and Hermione.

—We'll be lucky ter catch anythin' now, with the racket you made. I'll change the groups, Neville and Eileen, ye two are comin' with us. Harry, ye're goin' with Fang an' Malfoy.

Hagrid was whispering something to Harry, while I grabbed the lantern that Neville was holding and gave it to Draco.

—Don't do something stupid again.

—Whatever, it's not as much fun to scare Potter as it is to scare Longbottom.

I put a hand over my face and let out a sigh, I walked over to Hermione and the three of us stared to walk behind Hagrid. After a while, I started to feel bored and my legs were starting to feel tired.

—Hagrid, can we come back now? I don't think we'll find something; I haven't even seen traces of blood around here.

—Ye're right. I'll drop you by my cabin an' then I'll leave to find Harry. Come.

We turned and walked the path back from where we came from, we walked about 15 minutes before we could see the light of Hagrid's cabin, but we could also see the shadows of some people, although one of them looked weird, it almost looked like… a horse?

—Harry! Harry!

Hermione ran to the smaller shadow, I kept walking and could clearly see that one of the shadows was Harry, but the other one was… a centaur!

—The unicorn is in the clearing back there, Hagrid. —The centaur said, and Hagrid hurried off to see the unicorn.— This is where I leave you, Harry Potter. You are safe now.

The centaur turned and walked into the depths of the Forest.

—What was the centaur talking about, Harry? —Hermione asked.— Were you in danger?

—Oh, ah… —Harry turned to see me, and I looked right back at him, with a raised eyebrow.— I'll explain it to you later.

—Where's Draco?

—He ran away, but I saw him going back to the castle.

I started to walk back to the castle but stopped when I saw a light coming from that direction; when the light got closer, I could see that it was my dad.

—Have you seen Draco? Harry said that he ran to the castle.

—He is already in the Slytherin common room, do not worry. Where is Hagrid?

—He went back to the forest, professor. —Hermione said.— Harry found a dead unicorn.

—And clearly, he did not think about the dangers of leaving you alone and outside of the castle. —My dad murmured.— Come on, Potter, Granger, Longbottom. I will take you back to the castle.

When we got to the Entrance Hall, Harry, Hermione and Neville kept walking up the Gryffindor Tower, buy my dad stopped me for a moment and handed me a vial with a purple liquid inside.

—Are you sure you won't be better off spending the night with me?

—Yes, I don't want to bother you again, dad. Besides, it's been years since the last time I had a nightmare, I think that I'll be fine just with this. Thanks, dad.

I smiled at him and put the vial in a pocket, before walking up the stairs, I turned back and hugged him.

—I… I'm sorry. For what I said the other day, I don't hate you and I clearly don't want you far away… You're the best dad and I love you. Even though I never say it.

It took a while after he hugged me back, I guess he didn't expect me to tell him this.

—I know that, Eileen. —Again, he kneeled in one knee in front of me, but now grabbed me from my cheeks, forcing me to look at him straight in the eye.— That's another reason why I want you to learn Occlumency, so that you can control your feelings and avoid another situation like that one, you can… —I don't know if he remembered something, but he looked at someplace at my right before looking back at me.— You can lose valuable friendships if you don't learn how to control your feelings.

He stood up and messed my hair with his hand.

—You better go, it's late now and if Filch finds you, he will give you another detention.

—Yeah… Sure, good night, dad. Thanks. And I promise I'll learn to control my emotions. I won't let you down.

—I know.

He smiled and walked to the door that led to the dungeons, I walked as fast as I could to get to the Tower; when I walked inside the common room, Harry, Hermione and Ron stopped talking about whatever they were talking about, but I didn't care. I walked up to my room, I put on my pyjama and lied down on my bed, playing with the vial in my hands.

Yes, I know that it was late and Filch could've found me on my way here, and knowing him, I knew that he would be pleased to give me another detention (especially because I was alone, so he would've taken that as an excuse) but I also feel that my dad wanted me to leave for another reason.

I uncorked the vial and drank the purple liquid; it didn't take long for me to fall asleep.