The first few weeks flew by very quickly. The trio had some classes with Tiff and they would talk about just random things. On occasions Harry saw Malfoy start picking on Tiff. He would go over there and snap at Malfoy, even though when this happened Tiff ended up having to get in the middle of the screaming so then a fight wouldn't break out. When Harry got to Potions class on the first day, he realized that Malfoy wasn't with them. Since Tiff didn't have Potions with the trio he guessed that she would have to be stuck with Malfoy for the entire Potions class. During lunch Tiff would find a seat at the Ravenclaw table so that she was close to Harry and his friends.
"Hey, Hermione?" Tiff asked.
Hermione looked over the bench to Tiff. "What?"
"Do you think you, Ron, and Harry could meet me outside at Hagrid's hut?"
"Uh, sure. Why?"
"Well, I was talking to Hagrid earlier and he said that he needed some help with some of the creatures he decided to show the third years."
"Oh, okay. What time?"
"About 10:00 tonight. It has to be dark out. Hagrid told me that."
Hermione nodded and told Harry and Ron the plan for the night.
Tiff's watch neared 9:50 that night as she sat in the Ravenclaw common room in one of the chairs. She stood up and whispered something when there wasn't a person in sight. She stood in front of the fire for a while with her black ponytail braiding itself into a single tight braid. She knew that even though four of her newest friends would be harmed from what was planned she still had to lure them into the dark forest, along with their school enemy. Draco. Tiff looked at her watch and realized that she had to go wait outside for Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Malfoy so then no confusion would arise. She waited at Hagrid's hut for the four classmates. Malfoy arrived first with a smirk on his face. He thought that he was going to be able to finally get through to Tiff and make her ask Dumbledore to send her away from Hogwarts. Tiff smiled back at him, and when he arrived he started talking.
"Okay, let's go. I don't want that stupid half-giant to find me here."
"You have to wait for a couple of seconds then Malfoy. I see Hagrid coming back. Quick hide behind those bushes right there." Tiff pointed to some bushes behind Hagrid's hut. Malfoy dashed behind them and hid. Ron, Hermione, and Harry were all running towards Tiff.
"Okay we're here. Now where's Hagrid?"
"Oh, he went into the dark forest real quick. I think I see a teacher coming by. Quick hide behind those bushes." Tiff pointed to the one's that Malfoy was hiding behind. Ron, Harry, and Hermione all dashed to hide behind them, but they stopped and starred at what was already there. Malfoy stood up and looked at the three and then at Tiff.
"Is this some kind of a joke?" he asked looking at Tiff with a cold glare.
"No, not really. What I told you guys was actually a lie. I basically needed you to help with one of the creatures that Dumbledore found in the forest a couple days ago. He said it was injured bad and that Hagrid couldn't help the creature. So, I basically asked you four to help me."
"Why should I help you?"
"Because I asked you to, and because each of you have been in the dark forest before. Is that a problem for any of you?"
"I'm not going into the dark forest!" Draco complained.
"And why are you being a scaredy cat?"
"Because there are werewolves in there."
"And there are spiders larger than life in there too." Ron said with a weak voice.
"So. I can make sure that the scary werewolves and giant spiders stay away from us."
"Tiff, you don't know much about the werewolves and spiders in this forest. They aren't like regular creatures. You wouldn't be able to fight them off." Harry said trying to back up Ron mainly.
"Do you remember when I told you that when I battle off creatures I said 'etc.'?"
"Yes."
"Well, did you ever think that the etc. was for these kinds of creatures? Because the etc. was for them."
"So, you're saying you can outsmart any creature?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. I am Hermione. Now, if you four don't mind I would like to get started on that journey. And either way you can't escape from the journey without me."
"What do you mean 'without you'?" Malfoy asked.
"I mean you can only come out of the forest alive if you're with me. You leave me, you get lost and most likely die."
"What a reassuring answer Tiff. Now all we have to do is wonder off and find our death wish." Ron said sarcastically.
"Come on you guys, Tiff asked us for help and that's what we're going to do." Harry said with a parched throat. He started following Tiff into the dark forest signaling the rest of the group to follow.