Holy what? Two chapters in one day?
Look, I'm making up for lost time. I'm gonna hopefully knock out the last two chapters of Sorcerer's Stone tonight, I think I'm feeling motivated and caffeinated enough.
I hope you enjoy this extra chapter, as always all I claim is my OC. Again, I'm mixing the books and the movies together (along with my own ideas) so not everything is going to be exactly like it is in the books/movies canon - though I'm sticking more closely to the books, admittedly.
Things couldn't have been worse. In their excitement at finally getting rid of Norbert, Harry and Hermione had left the invisibility cloak at the top of the tower. They'd run into Filch, who brought them to Professor McGonagall, who was already irate having caught both Draco and Neville out of bed - the Slytherin trying to report Harry and Hermione, and Neville trying to warn his fellow Gryffindors about Draco's plan. Professor McGonagall didn't believe them when Harry and Hermione tried to tell her about Norbert, and as a result the three Gryffindors lost their house fifty points each.
One hundred and fifty points, gone from the ruby-filled hourglass. The rest of the lions were crushed and angered, Harry having gone from admired to loathed. Even his teammates only referred to him as "the Seeker."
Susanna had to be restrained by her cousin and their friends before she could try and go after the Weasley twins. Like they hadn't lost Gryffindor points, she grumbled to herself, uncaring of the fact that they'd never lost that many in one go. She settled for ignoring them instead, even when they attempted to prank her for attention.
Hermione and Neville suffered as well, though not as badly as the Boy Who Lived. Neville had taken to hiding behind his books, and Hermione refused to draw attention to herself in class, keeping both her hand and head down as she worked in silence.
While Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff - the latter two houses were counting on the former to keep Slytherin from winning the House Cup yet again - the snakes had taken to thanking Harry for their guaranteed victory.
With Hermione cowed in class, Susanna felt the need to try and at least increase Gryffindor's points from "not a chance in hell" to "dismal." But there weren't enough correct answers or decent potions in the world to see her dream through. Like her cousin and their friends, she was glad final exams were getting closer, their studying acting as a distraction from the misery of the situation. The four Gryffindors kept to themselves, working late in the night as they attempted to remember potion ingredients, learn spells by heart, memorize charms and the dates of magical discoveries and goblin rebellions, constellations…
Yes, Susanna was still struggling with Astronomy. That point was proven as she continued to answer most of Hermione's questions wrong as she quizzed both Susanna and Ron in the library. The red-haired boy patted his fellow ginger's shoulder in comfort. "I bet you'll do better than Crabbe and Goyle."
"A clownfish could do better than those two." Susanna grumbled, ignoring Ron as he asked Hermione what a clownfish was. The girl's explanation was cut off by Harry's enthusiastic arrival. Her cousin was quick to sit with them, and began to whisper.
"I just overheard Quirrell. It sounded like he was admitting something -"
"Didn't you promise no more meddling?" Susanna teased, barely ducking Harry as he threw a crumpled sheet of parchment at her head.
"Then he ran out of the classroom, looking like he was about to cry. I think he was talking to Snape."
"He's done it, then." Ron grumbled, sitting back in his chair with defeat. "If Quirrell's told him how to break his Anti-Dark Force spell -"
"Is that what we're calling it?" Susanna asked, though she went unheard. "And how do we even know it was Snape he was talking to?"
"Come on, Susie, who else scares the poor bloke?" Ron asked.
"There's still Fluffy, though." Hermione reminded Harry, quickly preventing Susanna's retort.
"Maybe Snape's found out how to get past him without asking Hagrid." Ron offered.
Susanna nodded. "True enough." She gestured to the books surrounding them. "I'm sure there's some text in here that tells you how to sneak past a three-headed dog. So, what's our plan?"
Both redheads' eyes were filling with the idea of yet another adventure, but Hermione answered before Harry was able to. "Go to Dumbledore." She stated primly. "That's what we should have done ages ago. If we try anything ourselves we'll be thrown out for sure."
"But we've got no proof!" Harry argued. "Quirrell's too scared to back us up. Snape's only got to say he doesn't know how the troll got in at Halloween and that he was nowhere near the third floor - who do you think they'll believe, him or us? It's not exactly a secret we hate him, Dumbledore'll think we made it up to get him sacked. Filch wouldn't help us if his life depended on it, he's too friendly with Snape, and the more students get thrown out, the better, he'll think."
"Also, don't forget we're not actually supposed to know about any of this." Susanna added, both arguments convincing Hermione.
Ron was still skeptical. "If we just do a bit of poking around -"
"No, we've done enough poking around." Harry said monotonously.
Susanna shook her head as her cousin pulled a map of Jupiter to him. "No, we haven't."
"I can't lose Gryffindor anymore points." Harry whispered, hands shaking with guilt. Susanna frowned but nodded, taking his hand in hers.
"Okay. Your way, Freak. Meaning we do nothing. Just study." She groaned, getting back to her constellations.
The next morning, notes were delivered to Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Susanna as they ate breakfast. Every evening since she Flipendoed Pansy saw the red-haired girl completing different detentions. It seemed she'd be sharing that evening's with her fellow Gryffindors.
Your detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight.
Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.
Professor McGonagall
"At least it's not cleaning out the second-floor lavatory." Susanna quipped, grimacing as she remembered the previous Sunday's assignment. Hermione then pointed at her hair, shining a vibrant pink. Susanna's eyes flicked over to the twins.
"You could talk to them, you know. They're your friends, too." Hermione whispered, Ron and Harry too busy imagining what Filch would be making the Gryffindors do to pay attention.
Susanna scoffed, pulling her still-pink hair into a high bun. "Not until they apologize to Harry. I don't associate with prats."
"You and I used to not get along." Hermione gently reminded her friend.
"Yeah, but you're not a hypocrite, either. At least you and Harry were trying to do something good." She glowered down at her half-empty plate, then shoved it away. "I've lost my appetite. I'll see you in class."
Susanna stormed out of the Great Hall, uncaring whether or not the twins returned her hair to its natural color - they had, but that wasn't the point. She remained irritated until eleven o'clock, her agitation increasing when she saw Draco waiting at the entrance hall with Neville and Filch.
Right, she remembered what Hermione and Harry had told her that Saturday night, he got in trouble, too.
"Follow me." Filch ordered as he lit a lamp. Susanna glowered at Draco before following the caretaker outside, rolling her eyes as the thin, miserable man began to lecture them, sounding more pleased than she ever thought he was capable. "I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh?" He leered at them.
"No." Susanna huffed, Harry and Hermione both elbowing her. "What, I'm being honest."
"Oh, I'm not too sure, Dursley." Filch smirked at the girl. "Not after tonight. Still, t's just a bit they let the old punishments die out… hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me… hang you by your wrists from the ceilings for a few days, I've got the chains in my office, keep 'em well oiled in case they're ever needed…" Susanna's eyebrows raised, though she wasn't surprised. He did seem the type to enjoy medieval torture methods, the loon. "Right, off we go, and don't think of running off, now, it'll be worse for you if you do."
They marched across the dark ground, Neville sniffling while Harry shuddered beside his cousin. "What do you think it's going to be?" He asked Susanna.
"I'm not sure, but Filch is a little too happy." She responded, eyeing the man once more as he continued on with the delights of torture. To add to the already terrifying atmosphere, the bright moon was continuously being blocked by thick clouds, throwing the first years into darkness. The only constant visible light was the one being emitted from Filch's swinging lanterns, and the lighted windows of Hagrid's hut.
"Is that you, Filch?" Susanna could nearly sing from relief, Harry and Hermione relaxing beside her as soon as they heard Hagrid's voice. "Hurry up, I want ter get started!"
"I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with the oaf?" Filch asked when he caught their relief. Susanna scowled at him. "Well, think again - it's into the forest you're going, and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece."
Neville moaned in fright while Draco stopped in his tracks. "The forest?" The Slytherin repeated, voice shaking. "We can't go in there at night - there's all sorts of things in there. Werewolves, I heard!"
"Maybe next time, don't be such a little wanker." Susanna shot back. "It's as simple as that."
"That's your problem, isn't it?" Filch cackled at the glowering blonde with glee. "Should've thought of them werewolves before you got in trouble, shouldn't you?"
Hagrid then walked out of the darkness to greet them, Fang at his heels. His tail wagged before he bounded over to the three he recognized, Susanna crouching down to pet him while Draco sneered at the scene.
"Abou' time." Hagrid grumbled, armed with a large crossbow and a quiver full of arrows. "I bin waitin' fer half an hour already. Alright, Harry, Hermione? Susanna?"
"You shouldn't be too friendly to them, Hagrid," Filch coldly reminded the larger man, "they're here to be punished, after all."
"That's why yer late, is it?" Hagrid frowned at Filch. "Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot yer place ter do that. Yeh've done yer bit, I'll take over from here."
"I'll be back at dawn." Filch grinned wickedly. "For what's left of them." He turned and walked back to the castle, lantern swinging as he whistled.
"I'm not going in that forest." Draco was quick to tell Hagrid, voice high with panic.
"Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts." Hagrid responded fiercely. "Yeh've done wrong an' now yeh've got ter pay fer it."
"But this is servant stuff!" Draco practically whined, Susanna rolling her eyes as she stood. Harry snorted under his breath, Hermione attempting to reassure a terrified Neville that Filch was wrong, they'd all be fine. "It's not for students to do." Draco continued. "I thought we'd be copying lines or something, if my father knew I was doing this, he'd -"
"Tell yer that's how it is at Hogwarts." Hagrid growled back. "Copyin' lines! What good's that ter anyone? Yeh'll do summat useful or yeh'll get out. If yeh think yer father'd rather you were expelled, then get back off ter the castle an' pack. Go on."
Draco didn't accept his dare. Instead, he stood rooted in place, furiously dropping his gaze from Hagrid to the amused Susanna. She stuck her tongue out at him, his cheeks pinkening with rising rage until he looked at his feet.
"Right then." Hagrid cleared his throat. "Now listen carefully, 'cause it's dangerous what we're gonna do tonight, an' I don' want no one takin' risks. Follow me over here a moment." He guided them to the very edge of the forest. Lamp held up high, he pointed to the winding path that disappeared into the thick trees. "Look there." Hagrid pointed. "See that stuff shinin' on the ground? Silvery stuff? It's unicorn blood. There's a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday. We're gonna try an' find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery."
Susanna paled. "Hagrid? I'm not sure we're equipped to -"
"And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first?" Malfoy interrupted fearfully. Susanna was reluctant to agree with him, but he had a point.
"There's nothin' that lives in that forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang." Hagrid gruffed. "An' keep ter the path." He sternly instructed, eyeing each student. "Right, now, we're gonna split inter two parties an' follow the trail in diff'rent directions. There's blood all over the place, it must've bin staggerin' around since last night at least."
"Remind me to go vegetarian if we make it out of this." Susanna whispered to Harry, who snickers a touch hysterically.
"I want Fang." Draco was quick to announce.
Hagrid grunted. "Alright, but I warn yeh, he's a coward. So, me, Harry, and Hermione'll go one way an' Draco, Neville, Susanna, and Fangs will go the other."
"Wait, what?" The redhead quickly looked at her cousin and best friend, who frowned and shrugged back. She pouted up at Hagrid, who sighed.
"Sorry. Now, if any of us finds the unicorn, we'll send up green sparks, right? Get yer wand out an' practice now -"
"Remember, 'Verdimillious'." Hermione interjected, Susanna scowling at Draco as he mimicked her. All five students aimed their wands to the sky and muttered one of the few incantations they managed to learn in their defense class.
Hagrid nodded in approval. "That's it. An' if anyone gets in trouble, send up red sparks, an' we'll come an' find yeh."
"'Vermillious'." Hermione instructed, Draco smart enough to keep his mouth shut when he noticed Susanna's snarl.
"Be careful. Lets's go." Hagrid grunted, leading them into the forest. Once they reached a fork in the path, Harry, Hagrid, and Hermione turned left, Susanna's cousin and best friend send her scared and apologetic glances the further from each other they got.
Noticing the two shaking boys, Susanna sighed. "This is going to be fun. Lumos." The tip of her wand glowed like a torch, and she shoved past Draco to take the lead.
"Who said you'd be in charge?" She felt the blonde's sneer.
"Your fear. C'mon, Nev, Fang and I'll protect you."
"Oh, please. What could you possibly do, Dursley - jump on a werewolf?"
"Maybe I'll just dangle your scrawny arse in front of them and use you as bait. Should give us enough time. Blonde's are usually the first to die in a horror film, anyway." Susanna shot back, keeping to the path and ignoring Draco's grumbling about her "Muggle references"
"Susanna, what do you think… you know… is killing the unicorns?" Neville stuttered.
Draco scoffed. "Obviously a werewolf."
"I thought the forest was supposed to be forbidden." Neville nearly howled, close to tears.
"Shh!" Susanna turned to the boys, green eyes full of frustration. "Draco, stop antagonizing Neville, we're all terrified and miserable. Neville, it clearly doesn't matter to the school whether or not the forest is forbidden - we'll be able to deal with that, later. But none of us will be around to complain if you two get us killed!" She whispered harshly. "And honestly, I'd rather be back out here than scrubbing another lavatory." Susanna spun back around with a disgusted shudder, Fangs quick to walk beside her.
"But what's killing the unicorns?" Neville asked again, this time quietly.
Susanna shrugged, moving her wand around like she'd seen police officers do in the films her dad liked to fall asleep to.
What would her parents say if they learned what she was doing? Would her mother be horrified? Would her father be pleased - he was a bit like Filch, only more distinguished, Susanna had come to notice.
"I'm not sure." Susanna finally answered. "But it's dangerous -"
"Obviously." Draco scoffed.
She rolled her eyes and continued walking, until something snapped in the bushes beside them. All three first years froze, Neville grabbing Susanna's arm tightly. She winced at his grip but was quick to press her hand to his mouth.
"Shh." She pressed a finger to her mouth, showing the gesture to Draco as well, the blonde paler than a ghost.
A few moments of silence passed, then another twig snapped. Susanna turned, pointing her wand at the bush, smiling when she saw it was only a squirrel. Her smile faded when red sparks rained down on them, turning to see the Slytherin boy lowering his wand.
"It was a squirrel, you useless, spineless git!" Susanna snarled at Draco. He opened his mouth but she turned away, arms crossed in frustration. Catching Neville's shivering, she gestured him closer. "We're alright, Nev. Hagrid'll come and find us. Maybe you can go with him. You two, Draco, since you're so scared."
"Shut up, Dursley."
Susanna sneered, then crossed her arms in defeat, wand still lit at the tip.
As soon as Hagrid found him, he took one look at Susanna and seemed to piece together what had happened - a rather easy feat, considering the way she was staring down Draco and murmuring about squirrels. "We'll be lucky ter catch anythin' now." Hagrid lectured the blonde as they stormed towards Harry and Hermione, who were quick to run up to Susanna and check on her. "Right, we're changin' groups - Neville, yeh stay with me an' Hermione. Harry, yeh go with Fang, yer cousin, an' this idiot. I'm sorry," Hagrid leaned down to whisper to the cousins, "but Susanna needs backup, an' we've gotta get this done."
Harry sighed but nodded, smiling warmly at the red-haired girl. He scowled at the unimpressed Draco, walking beside them as the trio - and Fang - followed the path leading to the heart of the forest.
The deeper they walked, the braver Draco became, or at least pretended to be. "You wait until my father hears about this." He grumbled behind Susanna. "This is servant's stuff."
"Shut up." Susanna grunted, though her order fell on deaf ears.
"If I didn't know better, Draco, I'd say you were scared." Harry shot back.
"'Scared', Potter?"
"Seriously?" Susanna groaned. "Shut. Up. Both of you."
Miraculously, they finally listened. They walked further into the forest, the path almost impossible to follow if it weren't for the Lumos the redhead had cast. The trees were getting thicker, as were the pools of silver unicorn blood they passed. A splash of the silver goo coated the roots of one of the trees, as though the beast thrashed the unicorn around like a violent slasher in one of the horror films Dudley always convinced their parents to let him watch - Susanna would sneak in when she could, and watch from the shadows.
As she paused to observe another pool of silver, Harry stepped in front of her. Both of his arms suddenly shot out, stopping his cousin and Draco from advancing. "Look." He murmured, nodding ahead.
Something bright gleamed on the ground, the small group inched closer. It was the unicorn, though it was dead. Its long legs stuck out at odd angles, its main pearly-white and spread on dark leaves. Harry took a step forward, but froze when something slithered nearby. A bush on the edge of the clearing quivered. A hooded figure came crawling across the ground, straight for the unicorn. Its head sank down over the wound on the unicorn's side, and began to drink its blood.
"AAAAAAAAAARGH!" Draco screeched, bolting with Fang. Susanna and Harry stood frozen in fear, the redheaded girl clutching her cousin as the hooded figure looked right at them, the unicorn's blood dribbling down its mouth and onto the front of his robes.
Harry suddenly fell to his knees, holding his head. Shocked, Susanna fell with him, scurrying around her cousin so she could crouch beside him. They sat there with bent heads for a few heart-stopping moments, Susanna's arms tight around Harry. When they finally looked up, the figure was gone. In its place was a half-man, half-horse. A centaur, Susanna reminded herself. He looked young, with a tan body and white-blonde hair.
"Are you alright?" He asked, pulling the cousins to their feet.
"Yes - thank you. What was that?" Harry asked as Susanna fussed over him.
The centaur didn't answer, only looked at the two humans, particularly interested in Harry. "You are the Potter boy." The cousins stared up into his sapphire eyes. "You better get back to Hagrid. The forest is not safe at the time - especially for you. Can you ride? It will be quicker this way. My name is Firenze." The centaur added as he lowered himself onto his front legs. Harry and Susanna climbed onto his back, the latter grabbing the former as Firenze rose and began trotting away from the dead unicorn.
Loud galloping made the redheaded girl flinch, and two more centaurs burst through the trees, heaving for breath, bodies covered in sweat. "Bane and Ronan." Harry quickly murmured to Susanna.
"Firenze!" One of the centaurs bellowed. "What are you doing? You have humans on your back! Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?"
"Do you realize who this is?" Firenze asked. "This is the Potter boy." And me, Susanna huffed to herself. "The quicker he leaves the forest, the better."
"What have you been telling him?" Ronan or Bane growled back. "Remember, Firenze, we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. Have we not read what is to come in the movements of the planets?"
Great. More astronomy.
"I'm sure Firenze thought he was acting for the best." The angry centaur's companion offered gloomily.
"For the best?" The centaur kicked his back legs in anger, much like Dudley when he'd throw himself to the ground whilst having a tantrum. "What is that to do with us? Centaurs are concerned with what has been foretold! It is not our business to run like donkeys after stray humans in our forest!"
Firenze reared on his hind legs in anger, Harry grabbing his shoulders while Susanna held him tighter, neither cousin wanting to fall off and risk being stomped to death by the angry centaur. "Do you not see that unicorn?" Firenze thundered. "Do you not understand why it was killed? Or have the planets not let you in on that secret? I set myself against what is lurking in this forest, Bane, yes - with humans alongside me if I must." With that, Firenze galloped away from Ronan and Bane.
"Why's Bane so angry? Harry asked.
Firenze slowed to a trot, briefly warning the humans to bow their heads in case of low-hanging branches. He didn't answer Harry's question, however, and traveled in silence for so long, Susanna wondered if maybe Firenze was regretting his decision to save them.
It was only when they were passing through a dense patch of trees that Firenze stopped. "Harry Potter, do you know what unicorn blood is used for? What of you, girl?"
"Susanna. Susanna Dursley." The red-haired girl quickly introduced herself, and the centaur nodded with a slight smile. "And no, I don't."
"Neither do I. We've only used the horn and tail hairs in Potions." Harry explained.
Firenze nodded. "That is because it is a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn. Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime. The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenseless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips." Firenze warned.
"But who'd be so desperate?" Harry wondered aloud, glancing back at Susanna, who was just as confused as him. "If you're going to be cursed forever, death is better, isn't it?"
"It is." The centaur agreed. "Unless all you need to stay alive is long enough to drink something else… something that will bring you back to full strength and power… something that will mean you can never die. Mr. Potter, Ms. Dursley, do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment?"
Susanna felt as though all the blood in her body had frozen, leaving her catatonic. "The Philosopher's Stone!" She heard Harry gasp. "Of course, the Elixir of Life, but I don't understand who -"
"Can you think of nobody who has waited many years to return to power, who has clung to life, awaiting their chance?" Firenze hinted.
The redheaded girl's heartbeat sped up, and she held Harry tighter as he came to a similar conclusion. What was it that Hagrid said? Susanna asked herself, That He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named might not have -
"Do you mean," Harry's voice cracked, "that was Vol-"
"Harry! Susanna! Are you alright?" Hermione called, the girl running ahead of Hagrid on the path.
The cousins exhaled shakily, glancing at the now silent centaur before turning to their friend.
"We're fine." Harry said, tone faraway. "The unicorn's dead, Hagrid, it's in that clearing back there."
"This is where I leave you." Firenze told the humans on his back as Hagrid lumbered off to examine the unicorn. "You two are safe now."
"Thank you." Susanna could barely manage a whisper as she slid down, Harry following after her.
Firenze nodded. "Good luck, Harry Potter and Susanna Dursley. The planets have been read wrongly before now, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times."
He turned and galloped back into the thick trees, the forest swallowing him. Susanna quickly hurried over to Hermione, the bushy-haired girl wrapping her into a surprised hug. The walk back to the castle was quiet, not even Draco opening his mouth as he crept down to the dungeons. Neville was quick to hurry up into bed, bypassing Ron as he slept on the couch in the dark common room.
The redheaded boy woke with a shout - something about Quidditch fouls, which brought an amused little smile to Susanna's face, though fear took over once more as she remembered the hooded figure and Firenze's words.
Susanna and Hermione sat beside him, Harry passing as he shakily explained what had happened in the forest. "Snape wants the stone for Voldemort… and Voldemort's waiting in the forest… and all this time we thought Snape just wanted to get rich -"
"Stop saying the name!" Ron whispered, but Harry just ignored him.
"Firenze saved us, but he shouldn't have done so… Bane was furious… he was talking about interfering with what the planets say is going to happen. They must show that Voldemort's coming back… Bane thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me. I suppose that's written in the stars as well."
"Will you stop saying the name!" Ron hissed once more, Susanna jumping. "Sorry, Susie."
Susanna exhaled, trying to center herself. Once she felt more present - safer - she stared up at her cousin. "Harry, it doesn't matter what Bane believes. You heard what Firenze said, the planets have been read wrong before."
"Everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was afraid of." Hermione added firmly. "With Dumbledore around, You-Know-WHo won't touch you. Anyway, who says the centaurs are right? It sounds like fortune-telling to me, and Professor McGonagall says that's a very imprecise branch of magic."
"Do you think I could ask Firenze for help with astronomy?" Susanna suddenly blurted, fear having kept that particular question at bay. Her cousin and their friends stared at her incredulously. She blushed redder than her hair. "What? I need all the help I can get."
"That's alright. I think I do, too." Harry grumbled, sitting down in the armchair in deep thought.
The sky was light by the time the quartet slipped into their dorms, Susanna collapsing face-first in her bed after barely removing her mud-caked shoes. Hades curled up beside her, nuzzling her arm as she drifted into a fretful sleep.
