Chapter Eleven
"Doesn't the moonlight give such a glow to the castle? It makes the towers look so much more evil and secretive, doesn't it?"
"Hush. We'll be found."
"But—
"Ow! The bloody creature bit me!"
Harry and Hannah were sneaking their way under Harry's invisibility cloak that he got for Christmas, towards the North Tower. With them was a dangerous baby dragon. After the Christmas holidays, Hannah and her friends had went to visit Hagrid and he a bit of a surprise for them. Hagrid had always loved the dangerous creatures and had always wanted a dragon all his life. That visit was an interesting one because they had viewed the hatching of the rather ugly dragon. Hagrid mothered it as if it were a kitten. Hannah thought it was fascinating, but she didn't really like the thought of Hagrid having a pet dragon.
"But you live in a wooden house, Hagrid," they had reminded him, "And dragons are illegal. You could get in big trouble for having one."
At first Hagrid wouldn't believe them, but finally they coaxed enough for Ron to call his brother Charlie who worked with dragons in Romania.
So, Harry and Hannah were taking the dragon to the North Tower in the dark of the night for Charlie's friends to take the baby dragon off their hands.
"Are we almost there?"
"Yes, you asked that twenty seconds ago. I told you Ron should've come instead."
"And me miss an adventure of a lifetime? Nuh-uh."
"Life is an adventure, Hannah."
"Oh, I know that. I've always known that. But I don't want to miss the most exciting parts."
"Sshh. Ok, we're here. They should be coming in a few minutes."
As he was speaking, four figures appeared in the sky on broomsticks. Hannah waved as they disposed of the creature.
"Come on, let's hurry back, I'm tired."
They ran down the winding stairs from the tower and down a corridor, turning a corner and bumping into someone.
"I told you Professor, they're here with a dragon," Malfoy's voice came out of the darkness. Professor McGonagall appeared in front of the two Gryffindors. They had forgotten the cloak up in the tower.
"Oops." Hannah muttered.
"What are you two doing out of bed anyway? Being out of bed is unacceptable. Fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor for your disobeying."
"Fifty?!" Hannah exclaimed.
"Each," Professor McGonagall looked sternly down at the students, "And all three of you will receive detentions."
Malfoy had been standing in the background trying not to laugh, but came to his senses after her statement.
"I'm sorry, I thought you said three detentions. I must have heard you wrong."
"No, Mr. Malfoy. Even though you did do the right thing, you were still out of bed and will receive detention with these two."
Hannah smirked at Malfoy. Malfoy narrowed his eyes back at her.
When the other Gryffindors saw the 100-point deduction the next day, Harry and Hannah were suddenly outcasts. Gryffindors were now the losing house and wouldn't have a chance to win the House Cup. Hannah had gotten very well liked among the first years, but now no one spoke to her with the exception of Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"You'll be working with Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest for your detention," Filch told them as he led Hannah, Harry and Malfoy down the grounds to the edge of the trees.
"The Forbidden Forest? Oh, how exciting!" Hannah clapped her hands. Harry and Malfoy gave her shocked looks.
"I don't know about that missy," Filch said, menacingly, "There's werewolves in them woods and a lot scarier, you can bet on that."
"Oh, I've never seen a werewolf before!" Hannah smiled, "This is going to be fun!"
"Doesn't anything scare you?" Harry asked, impatiently.
"No…well, um…no, nothing scares me," Hannah thought aloud.
"But that's impossible! You have to be scared of something!" Malfoy protested, sneering.
"Well, I haven't found that out yet. And I'm only not scared of anything because I don't let myself be scared. Confidence comes first in everything."
Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"Thanks, I'll log that away, Miss Perfect."
"Just telling you, it might come in handy when you go inside, Malfoy. You don't look so fine yourself."
"I'm FINE," Malfoy clenched his teeth, though they were chattering ever so slightly.
"All right, kids, tonight we're trying to find an injured unicorn," Hagrid came out of his hut with Fang at his heels and a bow and arrow in his hands. Hannah's eyes glowed with excitement.
"There's been something around killing the unicorns in the forest and we're gonna try to find out what it is," Hagrid continued.
They headed into the forest as a group and then spilt into two. Hannah went with Hagrid and Harry and Malfoy were put with Fang. Hannah glanced at Malfoy as she walked away and saw that he looked a little paler than usual. She gave a little snicker.
Hannah followed Hagrid deeper and deeper into the woods. They had told Harry and Malfoy to shoot up red sparks if they were in trouble and green sparks if they needed help.
"How about yellow sparks for something interesting they found?" Hannah had asked, "What about blue sparks for something gross? Purple sparks for something beautiful, and pink sparks…just of fun!"
"Hannah!" Hagrid fairly yelled, "Please be quiet! We're trying to find a unicorn and there could be dangerous things on the way!"
"Sorry, I'm just so excited!"
"Sshh!"
"Sorry again."
The two walked until the path was barely visible in the darkness. Hannah squinted into the blackness for something, but nothing came out.
"GET BEHIND THAT TREE!" Hagrid yelled and he took his crossbow out.
Hannah dived behind the nearest tree trunk and waited breathlessly.
"Oh, it's just you, Ronan," Hagrid sighed. Hannah's mouth dropped with glee and surprise. It was a half man, half horse animal. He had red hair and a long red tail.
"Oh, my goodness," Hannah exclaimed, stepping out from behind the tree.
"Why, hello, young one, Mars is bright tonight, is it not?" Ronan looked down at Hannah and then up at the sky.
"Oh, yes, it is, I love watching the stars," Hannah sighed. Hagrid rolled his eyes at the two of them.
"Me too. We centaurs are the stargazers. I'm glad you find the same interests."
"Oh, I've always enjoyed the stars. They give such scope for imagination, don't you think? You can read entire histories from them." Hannah clasped her hands, thinking of a book she read once that had some of those very words.
"Well spoken, little one," Ronan nodded.
"Well, when you two are done jabbering, we have to find an injured unicorn. Have you seen one Ronan?"
"Not as I know of, but it's a big forest." Ronan sighed at the moon. Hagrid grumbled.
"Thanks for your help. Come on, Hannah."
Hagrid picked up Hannah and slung the little girl over his massive shoulder.
"Good bye Ronan," Hannah called.
"Sshh! You'll wake everything in the forest!" Hagrid hissed.
"Was that really a centaur?" Hannah gazed back at the spot they had just been.
"Yeah, real nice creatures, but I always thought they weren't all there. Get on my nerves after a while."
"I think they must be some of most insightful creatures ever."
"Yeah, well…"
All of a sudden, there was a yell and red sparks came from their right.
"Harry!" Hannah yelled and leaped to the ground. Being small, she ducked under the undergrowth and about the trees and Hagrid simply plowed down everything.
"Harry! Where are you? AAAHH!"
Hannah screamed as another huge centaur jumped in front of her.
"Hannah. I'm up here on Firenze."
Hannah looked up and saw Harry on the back of the huge animal. It let Harry off and galloped away.
"Wow. This forest is so full of life."
"You're tellin' me. Wait till I tell you." Harry began to describe his adventure.
"We found the unicorn, but someone with a black hood was bending over it, drinking its blood."
"Like Dracula?" Hannah wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"Yeah," Harry recognized the muggle character, "So I went closer and the someone stood up, blood dripping from its chin."
"Yuck." Hannah commented. They started walking with Hagrid and Malfoy.
"It was coming towards me and I tried to run until Firenze came and saved me. He said that unicorn's blood makes you live longer, but for a bad price. He said to slay a unicorn was a very evil deed and that whoever drank of its blood would live a half life."
Hannah raised her eyebrows.
"This adventure is getting way complicated."
"Doesn't the moonlight give such a glow to the castle? It makes the towers look so much more evil and secretive, doesn't it?"
"Hush. We'll be found."
"But—
"Ow! The bloody creature bit me!"
Harry and Hannah were sneaking their way under Harry's invisibility cloak that he got for Christmas, towards the North Tower. With them was a dangerous baby dragon. After the Christmas holidays, Hannah and her friends had went to visit Hagrid and he a bit of a surprise for them. Hagrid had always loved the dangerous creatures and had always wanted a dragon all his life. That visit was an interesting one because they had viewed the hatching of the rather ugly dragon. Hagrid mothered it as if it were a kitten. Hannah thought it was fascinating, but she didn't really like the thought of Hagrid having a pet dragon.
"But you live in a wooden house, Hagrid," they had reminded him, "And dragons are illegal. You could get in big trouble for having one."
At first Hagrid wouldn't believe them, but finally they coaxed enough for Ron to call his brother Charlie who worked with dragons in Romania.
So, Harry and Hannah were taking the dragon to the North Tower in the dark of the night for Charlie's friends to take the baby dragon off their hands.
"Are we almost there?"
"Yes, you asked that twenty seconds ago. I told you Ron should've come instead."
"And me miss an adventure of a lifetime? Nuh-uh."
"Life is an adventure, Hannah."
"Oh, I know that. I've always known that. But I don't want to miss the most exciting parts."
"Sshh. Ok, we're here. They should be coming in a few minutes."
As he was speaking, four figures appeared in the sky on broomsticks. Hannah waved as they disposed of the creature.
"Come on, let's hurry back, I'm tired."
They ran down the winding stairs from the tower and down a corridor, turning a corner and bumping into someone.
"I told you Professor, they're here with a dragon," Malfoy's voice came out of the darkness. Professor McGonagall appeared in front of the two Gryffindors. They had forgotten the cloak up in the tower.
"Oops." Hannah muttered.
"What are you two doing out of bed anyway? Being out of bed is unacceptable. Fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor for your disobeying."
"Fifty?!" Hannah exclaimed.
"Each," Professor McGonagall looked sternly down at the students, "And all three of you will receive detentions."
Malfoy had been standing in the background trying not to laugh, but came to his senses after her statement.
"I'm sorry, I thought you said three detentions. I must have heard you wrong."
"No, Mr. Malfoy. Even though you did do the right thing, you were still out of bed and will receive detention with these two."
Hannah smirked at Malfoy. Malfoy narrowed his eyes back at her.
When the other Gryffindors saw the 100-point deduction the next day, Harry and Hannah were suddenly outcasts. Gryffindors were now the losing house and wouldn't have a chance to win the House Cup. Hannah had gotten very well liked among the first years, but now no one spoke to her with the exception of Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"You'll be working with Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest for your detention," Filch told them as he led Hannah, Harry and Malfoy down the grounds to the edge of the trees.
"The Forbidden Forest? Oh, how exciting!" Hannah clapped her hands. Harry and Malfoy gave her shocked looks.
"I don't know about that missy," Filch said, menacingly, "There's werewolves in them woods and a lot scarier, you can bet on that."
"Oh, I've never seen a werewolf before!" Hannah smiled, "This is going to be fun!"
"Doesn't anything scare you?" Harry asked, impatiently.
"No…well, um…no, nothing scares me," Hannah thought aloud.
"But that's impossible! You have to be scared of something!" Malfoy protested, sneering.
"Well, I haven't found that out yet. And I'm only not scared of anything because I don't let myself be scared. Confidence comes first in everything."
Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"Thanks, I'll log that away, Miss Perfect."
"Just telling you, it might come in handy when you go inside, Malfoy. You don't look so fine yourself."
"I'm FINE," Malfoy clenched his teeth, though they were chattering ever so slightly.
"All right, kids, tonight we're trying to find an injured unicorn," Hagrid came out of his hut with Fang at his heels and a bow and arrow in his hands. Hannah's eyes glowed with excitement.
"There's been something around killing the unicorns in the forest and we're gonna try to find out what it is," Hagrid continued.
They headed into the forest as a group and then spilt into two. Hannah went with Hagrid and Harry and Malfoy were put with Fang. Hannah glanced at Malfoy as she walked away and saw that he looked a little paler than usual. She gave a little snicker.
Hannah followed Hagrid deeper and deeper into the woods. They had told Harry and Malfoy to shoot up red sparks if they were in trouble and green sparks if they needed help.
"How about yellow sparks for something interesting they found?" Hannah had asked, "What about blue sparks for something gross? Purple sparks for something beautiful, and pink sparks…just of fun!"
"Hannah!" Hagrid fairly yelled, "Please be quiet! We're trying to find a unicorn and there could be dangerous things on the way!"
"Sorry, I'm just so excited!"
"Sshh!"
"Sorry again."
The two walked until the path was barely visible in the darkness. Hannah squinted into the blackness for something, but nothing came out.
"GET BEHIND THAT TREE!" Hagrid yelled and he took his crossbow out.
Hannah dived behind the nearest tree trunk and waited breathlessly.
"Oh, it's just you, Ronan," Hagrid sighed. Hannah's mouth dropped with glee and surprise. It was a half man, half horse animal. He had red hair and a long red tail.
"Oh, my goodness," Hannah exclaimed, stepping out from behind the tree.
"Why, hello, young one, Mars is bright tonight, is it not?" Ronan looked down at Hannah and then up at the sky.
"Oh, yes, it is, I love watching the stars," Hannah sighed. Hagrid rolled his eyes at the two of them.
"Me too. We centaurs are the stargazers. I'm glad you find the same interests."
"Oh, I've always enjoyed the stars. They give such scope for imagination, don't you think? You can read entire histories from them." Hannah clasped her hands, thinking of a book she read once that had some of those very words.
"Well spoken, little one," Ronan nodded.
"Well, when you two are done jabbering, we have to find an injured unicorn. Have you seen one Ronan?"
"Not as I know of, but it's a big forest." Ronan sighed at the moon. Hagrid grumbled.
"Thanks for your help. Come on, Hannah."
Hagrid picked up Hannah and slung the little girl over his massive shoulder.
"Good bye Ronan," Hannah called.
"Sshh! You'll wake everything in the forest!" Hagrid hissed.
"Was that really a centaur?" Hannah gazed back at the spot they had just been.
"Yeah, real nice creatures, but I always thought they weren't all there. Get on my nerves after a while."
"I think they must be some of most insightful creatures ever."
"Yeah, well…"
All of a sudden, there was a yell and red sparks came from their right.
"Harry!" Hannah yelled and leaped to the ground. Being small, she ducked under the undergrowth and about the trees and Hagrid simply plowed down everything.
"Harry! Where are you? AAAHH!"
Hannah screamed as another huge centaur jumped in front of her.
"Hannah. I'm up here on Firenze."
Hannah looked up and saw Harry on the back of the huge animal. It let Harry off and galloped away.
"Wow. This forest is so full of life."
"You're tellin' me. Wait till I tell you." Harry began to describe his adventure.
"We found the unicorn, but someone with a black hood was bending over it, drinking its blood."
"Like Dracula?" Hannah wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"Yeah," Harry recognized the muggle character, "So I went closer and the someone stood up, blood dripping from its chin."
"Yuck." Hannah commented. They started walking with Hagrid and Malfoy.
"It was coming towards me and I tried to run until Firenze came and saved me. He said that unicorn's blood makes you live longer, but for a bad price. He said to slay a unicorn was a very evil deed and that whoever drank of its blood would live a half life."
Hannah raised her eyebrows.
"This adventure is getting way complicated."
