Chapter Eight: The Forbidden Forest
Ginny was in the dungeon alone. She went there directly after lunch to finish up on her Clear Site Potion. The boiling liquid was a clear white that looked transparent. Ginny filled an empty vial with it, and pocketed it.
She already had her Camellion Potion, and even tried it out to make sure it worked. She had hid herself in the Common Room and walked around freely, watching a few people play chess, and others studying. It worked like a charm! Although she almost gave herself away by sneezing.
The months slipped past without two words coming out of Draco's mouth at a time to her. She began dreading the day she'd have to enter the Forest with Draco as a companion. She might as well have been paired up with a mute!
Harry was paired up with a Ravenclaw, and much to Hermione's dismay, Ron was paired up with a pretty Hufflepuff. Hermione was paired up with a rather homely Slytherin girl. It seemed fate wasn't playing fair with the Gryffindor women.
Defense Against the Dark Arts classes got more intense. Professor Stone would set up dozens of obstacle courses on the grounds to see where her students needed work. It seemed that surprise attacks were well out of their reach. If a banshee were to fall upon them out of the blue, they'd never make it!
"You have to keep yourself alert. Expect the unexpected!" Professor Stone would shout at them.
Care of Magical Creatures was no less exciting. All the cute furry creatures Hagrid brought last semester were never seen again. They were studying such dangerous animals that it was impossible to catch any one of them and show the class. They resorted to looking at pictures and reading out of books.
Soon enough, the day had arrived. There were about two dozen students in all who were to enter the Forest. The whole school would show up at noon to watch the advanced students enter the forest. Some classes had to be canceled throughout the week, seeing as at least one teacher had to be on watch at all times. Professor Stone would spend the entire time inside the Forest, checking on each couple in turn, and if anyone needed her they were to point their wand up and say her name, then a red dot would indicate on a map their exact location.
Ginny was up in her room, trying to clasp her robe on with trembling hands.
"Gin, we'll be rooting for you." Mary said, giving Ginny a hug.
"Thanks." Ginny said, forcing a smile.
She had her wand, her potions, and an extra robe for when it got cold. She headed down to the grounds on the edge of the Forest. There she met her fellow students, who all looked a little apprehensive at the prospect of spending five days in there.
"Now, you will stand by your partners." Everyone moved to stand by their partners. Ginny smiled up at Draco, who kept his eyes on MacGonagall. MacGonagall waved her wand and a small bundle appeared in front of each couple. "These are your tents. You will have to decide on who will carry it. Now, when the trumpet sounds, you will all come up here, one couple at a time, and I will place a Linking Charm on you, so you will not be permitted to be more than ten yards from your partner. After that, you will touch this portkey which will take you to the other side of the Forest." MacGonagall then began calling the couples up.
When Ginny and Draco's name were called, Draco shoved the tent at her, and headed towards the portkey, which was a Hogwarts emblem. MacGonagall placed the Linking Charm on them, and an odd tingling sensation filled them both for just a moment. Together, they both touched the portkey, and instantly felt the pull. Ginny was just starting to feel a bit dizzy when she landed with a thud on soft dirt. She looked around and saw Draco sprawled out in front of her. Past Draco was the Forest.
~*~*~
Draco awoke with a start. He must have landed rather hard to be knocked unconscious. To his dismay Ginny was already standing up, inspecting the woods in front of them.
"Planning on leaving with out me, eh?" Draco called out, wiping the dirt off his robes.
"I wouldn't have to if you had landed properly." Ginny shot back. She was tired of his rude remarks towards her, even though she tried to be nice. Ginny resolved the only way to survive this trip was to keep her wits about her, and not let her guard down, even to play nice with Draco.
"Well, let's go then." He walked past her and into the woods.
Ginny had dreaded this moment ever since her first dreamt. She couldn't help but wonder if it was a warning of some sort. Rather than be left behind, she entered the forest and followed after Draco. The pack was beginning to get a little heavy so Ginny placed a weightless charm on it.
They were traveling for about a half hour before their first obstacle was upon them. They heard a rustling in the undergrowth just ahead of them. The trees didn't allow much light to shine down on them, and it was hard to see what was making the noise. At once, both their wands were drawn. And they waited.
"What do you think it is?" Ginny whispered.
"Shut up!" Draco whispered back, then kept his eyes ahead of him.
The bushes rattled again, and a soft cooing noise was coming from them. Draco let out the breath he was holding.
"It's just a bird." Sure enough, a bird came hopping out of the bush. "It probably has its nest in there."
"That was a close one." Ginny also breathed a sigh of relief.
The further they entered the forest, the darker it grew. Ginny didn't know if it was because of the sun going down, or the trees cropping up. Soon enough Draco stopped and ordered Ginny to set the pack down. It instantly turned into a small tent, but on the inside it was divided into two parts, each having a cot and some blankets in them. They started a fire and were roasting some sausage links Ginny had brought.
"Do you think we'll get out in time?" Ginny asked.
Draco stared at the fire a moment before replying. "Of course."
"What do you think we'll meet?"
"I don't know."
"I hope we don't meet a werewolf. We don't have anything to ward it away from us."
"Ginny, don't you pay attention in Herbology?"
Ginny's eyes shot wide open. "Wolfsbane! Oh, what an idiot! I'm sure wolfsbane grows around here somewhere. We'll just have to find some and rub it on our robes."
"Well done." Draco clapped his hands in mock approval.
"I'm sorry, Draco, but this whole Forbidden Forest thing is creeping me out! I'm not thinking strait." Draco just stared at her. "Ugh, I'm going to bed."
Ginny got up from the ground and entered the tent. She hoped some crazed animal would come in the night and eat Draco. But then again, it might spit him out! He'd probably taste horrible!
Draco watched Ginny disappear in the tent, and smiled. He'd enjoy driving Ginny insane while they were together. Maybe she'd even be committed after they got out. Draco threw the rest of his sausage in the fire, then retired himself, wondering what they'd encounter tomorrow.
~*~*~
A soft cluck-cluck noise bothered Ginny. She felt something furry against her cheek, and tried to swipe it away. A loud clanking noise finally woke her up. She looked around the tent and saw that her things were thrown about her side of the tent. Something moving in the corner caught her eye. A yeck!
"DRACO!" Ginny shouted, and he shot bolt upright in bed.
"I didn't do it!" He promptly shouted. "What happened?" He looked around at the mess.
"Yecks!" Ginny yelled, then began running after the one in the corner. He clucked rather loudly, and bolted from the tent. He kept disappearing and reappearing, forcing Ginny to change courses rather sharply. She finally caught him, and he began biting at her hand.
"You stupid little—" Ginny threw it against a tree, and it landed with a soft thud.
"Whoa, Ginny, remind me not to go snooping in your things." Draco laughed, coming up behind her.
"He bit me!" Ginny showed Draco her hand, which began to bleed a little.
Draco took her hand in his and held it up to his eyes. "You'll live." He dismissed the wound.
"Draco, will you please heal me? I can't go on with a bleeding hand."
Draco rolled his eyes then touched the tip of his wand with her cut and it healed instantly. Ginny muttered a thanks, then headed back to their tent to clean up. As soon as everything was organized, they began their journey once again. Ginny almost fooled herself into thinking she was in an ordinary forest, out on a hike. But their next encounter brought her roughly back to reality.
They seemed to have found a path and walked along it until they came across an old abandoned shed. It looked weather worn, and run down.
"Let's have a look." Draco raised his eyebrows, and headed for the hut.
Ginny stood her ground, not being able to get the funny feeling out of her stomach. Draco's shouts coming from inside made her jump.
"What?" She shouted, running to the door.
Ginny let her eyes adjust to the dark interior. Dust was floating in the air, agitating her nose. Off in a corner she saw Draco bent over a chest, trying to pull something out of it.
"What are you doing?" She asked, coming closer.
"Stop! It's bewitched!" Draco turned to face Ginny. "I can't get my hand out!"
"Let me see." Ginny came closer and saw hat the lid of the chest had closed firmly over and around Draco's arm just at the wrist. "What happened?"
"I opened the chest, just to see what was inside, and there were diamonds and jewels! As soon as I grabbed some the lid closed." Draco said this all the while trying to get his hand free.
Ginny tried prying the lid open, but it was of no use. She tried all the charms and spells she knew that could unlock things, but none of them worked. Then a plan formed in her head.
"Draco, are you still holding onto the diamonds?" Ginny questioned as if she were talking to a three year old.
Draco stopped trying to free his arm and looked incredulously at her. Suddenly the lid flipped open and his hand was free. He rubbed his hurt wrist, then kicked the chest.
"How did you know it'd open if I let go?" He asked.
"Dad told me some of the charms wizards would place on their valuables. That was one of them." Ginny began laughing. "I can't believe you, of all people, would try and steal diamonds."
"It's not stealing if the owners aren't around."
"Oh, but I am the owner." A cackling voice said from the entry way.
They both turned to see a hag staring at them. She had stringy green hair and a large crooked nose. Her skin was sallow and clung to her bones as if it was too small for her. She came closer to them, licking her lips.
"I haven't had children for supper in so long." The hag said, rubbing her hands together.
"Stay back!" Draco ordered, pushing Ginny behind him. He drew his wand and pointed it at the hag who stopped for just a moment.
"Little boy, why do you wish to harm me? Little girl don't hide, I won't hurt you." The hag said in a soft voice.
Draco let his arm drop for just a second. Ginny forgot her fright, and wondered why she was hiding. This hag was obviously very nice and wouldn't harm them for the world. She began to walk past Draco when he grabbed her by the arm.
"Ginny, get behind me!" Draco yelled.
"She doesn't want to hurt us!" Ginny shouted, and the hag instantly grabbed her other arm.
"Let her go!" Draco yelled.
"I won't hurt her, you're hurting her." The hag said, cocking its head to the left.
"No!" Draco pointed his wand at the hag and yelled, "Reptilia!" A flash of green light burst forth from Draco's wand, and the hag began to shrink, and shrink, all the while turning a dark green. In her place was a small lizard which scampered out the door.
"Oh, Draco." Ginny sobbed, grabbing Draco by the waist. "I'm a silly girl to think I can survive this Forest! I'm sorry, I nearly got us killed!"
Draco put his arms around her and tried to quiet her. "Ginny, if it wasn't for you I would have been stuck in the chest, and we'd surely be that hags supper."
"No, Draco, I can't handle this stuff. I should just go back to Hogwarts, maybe it's not too late to pair you up with someone else."
Draco pulled Ginny away from him just enough to see her face. "Ginny, you are not going back! I swear I will not let anything in this forest harm you! Now come on, we lost nearly an hours worth of traveling."
Draco picked up his things and walked out of the hut, followed by Ginny.
Ginny was in the dungeon alone. She went there directly after lunch to finish up on her Clear Site Potion. The boiling liquid was a clear white that looked transparent. Ginny filled an empty vial with it, and pocketed it.
She already had her Camellion Potion, and even tried it out to make sure it worked. She had hid herself in the Common Room and walked around freely, watching a few people play chess, and others studying. It worked like a charm! Although she almost gave herself away by sneezing.
The months slipped past without two words coming out of Draco's mouth at a time to her. She began dreading the day she'd have to enter the Forest with Draco as a companion. She might as well have been paired up with a mute!
Harry was paired up with a Ravenclaw, and much to Hermione's dismay, Ron was paired up with a pretty Hufflepuff. Hermione was paired up with a rather homely Slytherin girl. It seemed fate wasn't playing fair with the Gryffindor women.
Defense Against the Dark Arts classes got more intense. Professor Stone would set up dozens of obstacle courses on the grounds to see where her students needed work. It seemed that surprise attacks were well out of their reach. If a banshee were to fall upon them out of the blue, they'd never make it!
"You have to keep yourself alert. Expect the unexpected!" Professor Stone would shout at them.
Care of Magical Creatures was no less exciting. All the cute furry creatures Hagrid brought last semester were never seen again. They were studying such dangerous animals that it was impossible to catch any one of them and show the class. They resorted to looking at pictures and reading out of books.
Soon enough, the day had arrived. There were about two dozen students in all who were to enter the Forest. The whole school would show up at noon to watch the advanced students enter the forest. Some classes had to be canceled throughout the week, seeing as at least one teacher had to be on watch at all times. Professor Stone would spend the entire time inside the Forest, checking on each couple in turn, and if anyone needed her they were to point their wand up and say her name, then a red dot would indicate on a map their exact location.
Ginny was up in her room, trying to clasp her robe on with trembling hands.
"Gin, we'll be rooting for you." Mary said, giving Ginny a hug.
"Thanks." Ginny said, forcing a smile.
She had her wand, her potions, and an extra robe for when it got cold. She headed down to the grounds on the edge of the Forest. There she met her fellow students, who all looked a little apprehensive at the prospect of spending five days in there.
"Now, you will stand by your partners." Everyone moved to stand by their partners. Ginny smiled up at Draco, who kept his eyes on MacGonagall. MacGonagall waved her wand and a small bundle appeared in front of each couple. "These are your tents. You will have to decide on who will carry it. Now, when the trumpet sounds, you will all come up here, one couple at a time, and I will place a Linking Charm on you, so you will not be permitted to be more than ten yards from your partner. After that, you will touch this portkey which will take you to the other side of the Forest." MacGonagall then began calling the couples up.
When Ginny and Draco's name were called, Draco shoved the tent at her, and headed towards the portkey, which was a Hogwarts emblem. MacGonagall placed the Linking Charm on them, and an odd tingling sensation filled them both for just a moment. Together, they both touched the portkey, and instantly felt the pull. Ginny was just starting to feel a bit dizzy when she landed with a thud on soft dirt. She looked around and saw Draco sprawled out in front of her. Past Draco was the Forest.
~*~*~
Draco awoke with a start. He must have landed rather hard to be knocked unconscious. To his dismay Ginny was already standing up, inspecting the woods in front of them.
"Planning on leaving with out me, eh?" Draco called out, wiping the dirt off his robes.
"I wouldn't have to if you had landed properly." Ginny shot back. She was tired of his rude remarks towards her, even though she tried to be nice. Ginny resolved the only way to survive this trip was to keep her wits about her, and not let her guard down, even to play nice with Draco.
"Well, let's go then." He walked past her and into the woods.
Ginny had dreaded this moment ever since her first dreamt. She couldn't help but wonder if it was a warning of some sort. Rather than be left behind, she entered the forest and followed after Draco. The pack was beginning to get a little heavy so Ginny placed a weightless charm on it.
They were traveling for about a half hour before their first obstacle was upon them. They heard a rustling in the undergrowth just ahead of them. The trees didn't allow much light to shine down on them, and it was hard to see what was making the noise. At once, both their wands were drawn. And they waited.
"What do you think it is?" Ginny whispered.
"Shut up!" Draco whispered back, then kept his eyes ahead of him.
The bushes rattled again, and a soft cooing noise was coming from them. Draco let out the breath he was holding.
"It's just a bird." Sure enough, a bird came hopping out of the bush. "It probably has its nest in there."
"That was a close one." Ginny also breathed a sigh of relief.
The further they entered the forest, the darker it grew. Ginny didn't know if it was because of the sun going down, or the trees cropping up. Soon enough Draco stopped and ordered Ginny to set the pack down. It instantly turned into a small tent, but on the inside it was divided into two parts, each having a cot and some blankets in them. They started a fire and were roasting some sausage links Ginny had brought.
"Do you think we'll get out in time?" Ginny asked.
Draco stared at the fire a moment before replying. "Of course."
"What do you think we'll meet?"
"I don't know."
"I hope we don't meet a werewolf. We don't have anything to ward it away from us."
"Ginny, don't you pay attention in Herbology?"
Ginny's eyes shot wide open. "Wolfsbane! Oh, what an idiot! I'm sure wolfsbane grows around here somewhere. We'll just have to find some and rub it on our robes."
"Well done." Draco clapped his hands in mock approval.
"I'm sorry, Draco, but this whole Forbidden Forest thing is creeping me out! I'm not thinking strait." Draco just stared at her. "Ugh, I'm going to bed."
Ginny got up from the ground and entered the tent. She hoped some crazed animal would come in the night and eat Draco. But then again, it might spit him out! He'd probably taste horrible!
Draco watched Ginny disappear in the tent, and smiled. He'd enjoy driving Ginny insane while they were together. Maybe she'd even be committed after they got out. Draco threw the rest of his sausage in the fire, then retired himself, wondering what they'd encounter tomorrow.
~*~*~
A soft cluck-cluck noise bothered Ginny. She felt something furry against her cheek, and tried to swipe it away. A loud clanking noise finally woke her up. She looked around the tent and saw that her things were thrown about her side of the tent. Something moving in the corner caught her eye. A yeck!
"DRACO!" Ginny shouted, and he shot bolt upright in bed.
"I didn't do it!" He promptly shouted. "What happened?" He looked around at the mess.
"Yecks!" Ginny yelled, then began running after the one in the corner. He clucked rather loudly, and bolted from the tent. He kept disappearing and reappearing, forcing Ginny to change courses rather sharply. She finally caught him, and he began biting at her hand.
"You stupid little—" Ginny threw it against a tree, and it landed with a soft thud.
"Whoa, Ginny, remind me not to go snooping in your things." Draco laughed, coming up behind her.
"He bit me!" Ginny showed Draco her hand, which began to bleed a little.
Draco took her hand in his and held it up to his eyes. "You'll live." He dismissed the wound.
"Draco, will you please heal me? I can't go on with a bleeding hand."
Draco rolled his eyes then touched the tip of his wand with her cut and it healed instantly. Ginny muttered a thanks, then headed back to their tent to clean up. As soon as everything was organized, they began their journey once again. Ginny almost fooled herself into thinking she was in an ordinary forest, out on a hike. But their next encounter brought her roughly back to reality.
They seemed to have found a path and walked along it until they came across an old abandoned shed. It looked weather worn, and run down.
"Let's have a look." Draco raised his eyebrows, and headed for the hut.
Ginny stood her ground, not being able to get the funny feeling out of her stomach. Draco's shouts coming from inside made her jump.
"What?" She shouted, running to the door.
Ginny let her eyes adjust to the dark interior. Dust was floating in the air, agitating her nose. Off in a corner she saw Draco bent over a chest, trying to pull something out of it.
"What are you doing?" She asked, coming closer.
"Stop! It's bewitched!" Draco turned to face Ginny. "I can't get my hand out!"
"Let me see." Ginny came closer and saw hat the lid of the chest had closed firmly over and around Draco's arm just at the wrist. "What happened?"
"I opened the chest, just to see what was inside, and there were diamonds and jewels! As soon as I grabbed some the lid closed." Draco said this all the while trying to get his hand free.
Ginny tried prying the lid open, but it was of no use. She tried all the charms and spells she knew that could unlock things, but none of them worked. Then a plan formed in her head.
"Draco, are you still holding onto the diamonds?" Ginny questioned as if she were talking to a three year old.
Draco stopped trying to free his arm and looked incredulously at her. Suddenly the lid flipped open and his hand was free. He rubbed his hurt wrist, then kicked the chest.
"How did you know it'd open if I let go?" He asked.
"Dad told me some of the charms wizards would place on their valuables. That was one of them." Ginny began laughing. "I can't believe you, of all people, would try and steal diamonds."
"It's not stealing if the owners aren't around."
"Oh, but I am the owner." A cackling voice said from the entry way.
They both turned to see a hag staring at them. She had stringy green hair and a large crooked nose. Her skin was sallow and clung to her bones as if it was too small for her. She came closer to them, licking her lips.
"I haven't had children for supper in so long." The hag said, rubbing her hands together.
"Stay back!" Draco ordered, pushing Ginny behind him. He drew his wand and pointed it at the hag who stopped for just a moment.
"Little boy, why do you wish to harm me? Little girl don't hide, I won't hurt you." The hag said in a soft voice.
Draco let his arm drop for just a second. Ginny forgot her fright, and wondered why she was hiding. This hag was obviously very nice and wouldn't harm them for the world. She began to walk past Draco when he grabbed her by the arm.
"Ginny, get behind me!" Draco yelled.
"She doesn't want to hurt us!" Ginny shouted, and the hag instantly grabbed her other arm.
"Let her go!" Draco yelled.
"I won't hurt her, you're hurting her." The hag said, cocking its head to the left.
"No!" Draco pointed his wand at the hag and yelled, "Reptilia!" A flash of green light burst forth from Draco's wand, and the hag began to shrink, and shrink, all the while turning a dark green. In her place was a small lizard which scampered out the door.
"Oh, Draco." Ginny sobbed, grabbing Draco by the waist. "I'm a silly girl to think I can survive this Forest! I'm sorry, I nearly got us killed!"
Draco put his arms around her and tried to quiet her. "Ginny, if it wasn't for you I would have been stuck in the chest, and we'd surely be that hags supper."
"No, Draco, I can't handle this stuff. I should just go back to Hogwarts, maybe it's not too late to pair you up with someone else."
Draco pulled Ginny away from him just enough to see her face. "Ginny, you are not going back! I swear I will not let anything in this forest harm you! Now come on, we lost nearly an hours worth of traveling."
Draco picked up his things and walked out of the hut, followed by Ginny.