Sirius and James were just on the edge of the forest, the Castle in their sights, when the pair heard a bloodcurdling scream.
IsabelleThe two were just about to dash back into the forest, when they heard a rough voice.
"Hey!" It was Hagrid. "Who's that there!" James was about to run into the forest, when A light shone bright into his eyes.
"You two!" he yelled. "Who are ya, and what are ya doin' outta bed so late!"
Sirius gulped. "Please. Mr. Hagrid sir, you have to help us!"
Hagrid frowned. "Whaddaya mean, boy?" he said.
"Our friends are in the forest!" James blurted out. "And we just heard one of then scream!"
Hagrid narrowed his eyes. "Wait righ' here," he said sprinting over to his small cottage, and grabbing his crossbow.
Sirius started to shake. "Oh, god," he whispered. Remus and Isabelle might be in real danger! He thought desperately.
"Which way did they go," he said urgently.
Trembling, James pointed along the narrow path. Hagrid nodded, and ran into the dark gloom. After less than a seconds consideration, The two boys sprinted off towards the same direction.
At Hagrids fast pace, they arrived at the spot, in less than ten minutes. However, there was no Isabelle, Remus, or a unicorn.
"Oh, no," James said quietly.
"Wh-where could they have gone??" Sirius stammered, fear rising like Bile in his throat.
Hagrid growled. "Bloody hell," he said. "cant be trackin' these guys down all nigh', they'll be dead by then!"
James and Sirius gasped. "what??" The bespectacled teen said faintly.
"This place is dangerous," Hagrid growled simply.
"But, wh-" James was cut off by two things. One, another scream of Isabelles, and Two, a shower of red sparks.
"There we go," Growled Hagrid. "Only a wizard could have done that." He stamped off in the direction of the sparks.
When they were halfway there, The air was suddenly filled with a long, inhuman howl.
Hagrids eyes widened, as he loaded his crossbow, and picked up their pace.
In a few short minutes, they found themselves in a small clearing, with red sparks directly overhead, and-
'Remus!" James gasped at a pile of robes on edge of the clearing.
"Guys!" Isabelle said joyously, struggling to stand up, but fell over, still tangled up in Remus's robes.
James and Sirius grinned, as they ran to the edge of the clearing, and helped the other two eleven-tear-olds up.
Hagrid, however, had spotted the trail of blood, and began to follow it, getting slightly more anxious.
Finally, he saw what has caused it. Lying down on its side, throat bleeding, was the werewolf. It was HUGE, the biggest one he had ever seen. He was about to return to the children, when he was something glint silver.
"What the-" he murmured, as he gently tugged the silver crucifix out of the animal's throat.
He raised an eyebrow. So Remus and Isabelle managed to kill a huge, fully-grown werewolf, single-handedly. Impressive.
Wait a sec- wasn't Remus a werewolf as well?
"you've got guts, kid." He murmured, as he slowly walked back to the small knot of children
"So, what happened??" James said. "did we miss anything good??"
"N-nothing," Remus said stammered.. "It was nothing."
Isabelle was still quiet. When Remus looked at her, concerned, she looked away. Her insides were still burning with guilt.
"This belong ter one of yer??" Hagrid broke the four out of their conversation.
"My crucifix!!" Isabelle said gladly, as she gently took it from Hagrid. It was covered in the crimson, sticky blood of the beast that tried to kill the pair, but she didn't mind, as she slipped it into her pocket. She was going to have to write home, and get a new chain.
"A-Are you okay, Remus??" Sirius asked the boy, slightly concerned. He had been very quiet, and withdrawn, staring at the ground, and clutching his chest.
"Wh-what?" he stammered. "oh, I'm fine," he added faintly.
James opened his mouth to say something, but Isabelle stopped him with a shake of her head.
"Well, I'm takin all four of yer, to Dumbledore," Hagrid said angrily. "what were ya thinking?? Going inter the forest at night?? Were you even thinkin at all??" The four remained quiet.
"This way," Hagrid growled, as he led the way out of the forest. "Yer two are very lucky," he said. "Yer could have been killed in here"
The four nodded, each to their own thoughts. Far off, a dog howled. Isabelle gasp, and started to shake, but Remus laced her finger with his, and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Isabelle looked up, and smiled.
"Thanks," she whispered. Remus smiled back.
In a few minutes, they were out of the forest, and heading across the grounds.
"righ," Hagrid said, leading them up the stone steps. "Dumbledore is no doubt goin' ter be furious, so keep yer head."
He led them to the very top of the tower. Sirius and James were slightly anticipating getting into trouble, Isabelle felt sick, and Remus was sure he was going to be expelled.
"Chocolate frog," he said to an immobile stone gargoyle. For a second, they all thought he was crazy, but then, The gargoyle hopped aside, and a staircase seemed to appear out of nowhere. The four children, and Hagrid hopped on it, and slowly it revolved, taking them up to a pair of intricately carved wooden doors.
Hagrid knocked on them, three times, each making a resounding boom.
"Enter," came Dumbledore voice from behind the doors.
Hagrid opened the doors, and ushered them inside.
Even though the four knew they were in HUGE trouble, they couldn't help but notice how amazing the room was. Lining the walls, were portraits of every Headmaster or Headmistress the school had seen, From a splendid picture of Godric Gryffindor in a gold frame over the mantelpiece, to an Iron-wrought portait of Professor Dippet Beside the door. Most of the portraits slay snoozing, except for one, Who Remus noticed was called Phineaus Neggulis.
"Professor Dumbledore," Hagrid said. "I found these kids in the forbidden forest."
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes," he said gravely. "Thank you, Hagrid." Hagrid nodded, and left.
"Please, tell me what happened," He said. All four of them began talking at once.
"Please professor, there was this unicorn-"
"Isabelle wouldn't leave, so I had to stay with her-"
"We heard screaming and sparks, and-"
"We got Hagrid, and he managed to get the two others out."
Of the jumble of words, this was what Dumbledore had managed to extract.
He held up his hand. Instantly, all four of the children went silent.
"Let me see if I have the gist of what happened. You four found a unicorn, and Miss Smith did not want to leave, so you, Mr. Lupin stayed with her, but you too," he gazed at the two raven-haired boys. "left, and managed to find Hagrid." Am I right in all of this??
Dumbstruck, the four of them nodded, all wishing they were anywhere else.
"Please, Sirius, and James, could you leave me alone with these two for a few moments."
The pair of mischief makers nodded, and hurriedly left the room, leaning against the wall, as soon as they were on the other side of the oak doors.
"Phew!!" Sirius said. "We definitely got lucky, there."
"I don't know," James said, slightly frowning. "we kinda still are in HUGE trouble."
"Yeah, but look at it this way, no punishment!!"
"Um, Sirius, we still have to go back, you know. He probably wants to know what Isabelle and Remus were up to, then he'll dish out our punishments all together."
"I wonder what they're talking about," Sirius said, pressing his ear against the wall. Fortunately for the group on the other side, he couldn't hear anything.
"Damn," he muttered. He hated not knowing what was happening.
OoOoOoOo
Meanwhile, on the other side of the grand double doors, Dumbledore was looking at the pair, seriously, his light blue eyes dimmed.
"What happened to the pair of you when the others left." He said quietly.
Isabelle gulped, and looked panicked at Remus, who bit his lip.
"Well, After a while, when we were with the unicorn, the others- James and Sirius- got bored, and then walked off. I stayed with Isabelle, because-because"
"Because he didn't want to leave me alone in the dark." Isabelle finally said. Dumbledore nodded. "continue."
"Well, we heard an animal screaming, and we ran, but it caught up with us," Remus continued. "We managed to climb a tree, and we found the monster was a werewolf."
Dumbledores eyes widened. 'Go on," he said.
"The werewolf jumped on Remus, but he managed to stab it in the throat with my crucifix."
"It was silver?" Dumbledore inquired. The pair nodded.
"And then what?" He said.
"Well, Then, Isabelle set up red sparks, and we were found by Sirius and James, and Hagrid." He finished. "That's it, really."
Dumbledore nodded. "Please bring in the other two," Dumbledore said to Isabelle. She nodded, and opened the door, exposing the pair, who were trying valiantly to disguise the fact that they were trying, -without success, Isabelle realized to her relief- to hear what they were saying.
All four of the children stood before the Headmaster, with different looks on their faces. Apprehension, (Remus) Pure Fear, (Isabelle) The tiniest of smiles (James,) and nervous, (Sirius)
"I am very disappointed in all four of you," He said softly. "You purposely went against my orders, and broke one of the most important school Rules. I am taking Fifty points of gryffindor-" He raised his voice slightly, because of the small gaps and cries coming from the group- "I shall write this too your parents, and all four of you shall serve detention tomorrow at seven, in the trophy room. That is all."
The four sighed with relief, and started to walk towards. The door.
"Remus," Dumbledore called out. "Could you remain behind, I wish to speak with you."
Remus nodded dumbly, and watched the other three leave, ninety-nine percent of him wishing he could leave too.
