Things couldn't have been any worse for Aurora, Harry, and Hermione.
Filch led them down to Professor McGonagall's study on the first floor. On the way, Aurora tried to meet Harry, or Hermione's eyes, desperate for any reassurance, but she found none as they kept their heads forward, a stilled, worried expression painted onto their faces. They sat and waited outside the study door, still not saying anything or looking at each other. Aurora knew this was a bad idea. She should've stayed with Ron. This should've never happened. And now, now she could possibly be expelled. There was no excuse, no lie, no alibi that could save them from McGonagall. A student out of bed was a highly punishable offense. Any snooping and creeping around the castle after curfew would never be excused, regardless of their reasons.
Aurora hadn't thought things could get any worse. But no, she wrong. When Professor McGonagall appeared, she was leading Draco Malfoy.
He remained silent next to the angry professor. There was no expression on his face, not even a smirk. Despite the blandness of his current expression, he still did not look any less handsome to Aurora. His eyes, though obviously tired as seen from the light blue bags under them, still pierced into her, that still gray. His skin, still porcelain and unmarked. There was something chaotic about his presence and despite his calm demeanor, Aurora wished more than anything that he would disappear.
"I would never have believed it of any of you. Mr. Filch says you were up in the astronomy tower. It's one o'clock in the morning. Explain yourselves," McGonagall lectured. Aurora was unsure if she's ever actually seen McGonagall this angry before. Not even when the Weasley twins had pranked her by transfiguring her desk into a rambunctious boar.
Draco's lips began to curl into that signature sadistic smile as McGonagall unveiled her wrath. Stupid prick. It was him. He had told McGonagall and Filch. Aurora racked her brain for anything. They could not tell the truth. If they did, Hagrid would be in trouble, and they still would be too. But what could be a good enough reason for them to be out of bed?
"I think I've got a good idea of what's going on," said Professor McGonagall again after several moments of silence. "It doesn't take a genius to work it out. You fed Mr. Malfoy here some ridiculous story about a dragon, trying to get him out of bed and into trouble. Well, I've caught him here. Do you think it's funny that he heard the story and believed you? I'm disgusted with you three. Now all of you are roped into this mess."
Aurora only stared at Draco though as McGonagall continued to speak. He wouldn't meet her gaze, though Aurora knew Draco could feel her. He tensed, clearly uncomfortable with her stare. Good. Let him be uncomfortable. He was reason they were in this mess. Why should they be the only ones expelled? And with that, Aurora Greengrass has never hated Draco Malfoy more in her life. Every week it seemed he would do something else to make her hate him more. Insufferable, petulant, prat.
"Four students out of bed in one night! I've never heard of such a thing! You Miss Granger, I thought you had more sense. Miss. Greengrass, you're my best Transfiguration pupil, you come from a long line of wizards. And Mr. Potter, I thought Gryffindor meant more to you than this. All four of you will receive detentions."
Malfoy's ears perked up at this last statement. There was four students here. He would be serving detention as well.
"Professor, I believe there's been a mistake."
"I'm afraid not, Mr. Malfoy. You were out of bed too, you're going to have to serve one as well. Nothing gave any of you the right to just waltz around the castle like this past bedtime. An additional fifty points will be taken from each house."
"Fifty," Harry gasped. He was the first of their group to break their silence.
"Fifty points each," McGonagall added, breathing heavily through her long, pointed nose.
"But Professor, please," Aurora pleaded. One hundred and fifty points from Gryffindor in one night. Their house would hate them. They had no chance now of winning the house cup now.
"You all should've thought about that before being out of bed. Now off, go back to your common rooms."
Aurora's heart sank, but there was nothing else to be done. Draco, Aurora, Hermione, and Harry all left her study, before trudging back to their respective dorms.
"You guys go on without me, I need a word with Malfoy," Aurora said venomously. Oh she was pissed.
"Rory, we'll lose more points," Harry whispered and pulled on her arm.
"I'll only be a moment."
Harry did not want to let Aurora go, but conceded. They were already down so many points, what would a few more do now?
Silently racing down the opposite side of the hall and turning a corner, she saw what or rather who she was looking for. Facing away and slowly making his way back to the Slytherin common room, was Malfoy. Rushing to catch up with him, but still not making a sound, she strode up behind him, and pushed. She pushed with all her strength, every last drop of her soul, and Malfoy tumbled. His feet slid across the stone floor as he tried to keep his balance, but it was futile. Aurora had pushed him with too much force and the sudden inertia made him topple to the ground.
"What the hell!"
"Fuck you, Malfoy."'
"Oh, little girl knows bad words now."
"This is your fault you know. And stop calling me little, I'm older than you."
"My apologies, Mrs. Malfoy."
Aurora's blood was boiling, she thought that if she didn't walk away, maybe she would kill him. She could hide the body, she could perform spells to make people forget about his stupid cockroach existence. But Draco Malfoy was not worth it. He stayed on the floor, curled up one his knees now staring up to Aurora's violet eyes.
"I told you not to call me that."
"And I told you, I don't care."
And with that, she inflicted pain. Screw Malfoy and his jabs. She hated him. She hated him. She hated him. Raising her foot, she kicked him square in the left side of his jaw, and he fell back over. Satisfied enough, she turned around to head to her quarters. It had not been much, but she had a victory over Draco Malfoy.
But Draco was not done. He crawled, slithered across the floor, and grabbed her ankles. There was nothing but air to support her, and Aurora went crashing to the floor.
Aurora raised her hands out before her to carry the impact of the fall, but she was not prepared for the shooting pain that shot up her arms once she made contact with the stone. She was slightly disoriented, but overall felt fine. Malfoy.
He moved his hands higher up her ankles to her shins, dragging her body closer to him.
"Get off!"
"You started it."
"Malfoy you've already crossed the line tonight. I'll scream if-"
"If what?" Draco said smirking. He was on top of her now, straddling her stomach with his hands forcing Aurora's arms to her sides. She was sure there would be bruises there tomorrow, he was gripping her so tightly "I'm getting rather bored Greengrass."
"You're a prick."
"And you need some more material. Same old thing every time."
"Get. Off. Me," Aurora said, emphasizing each word. She kept her voice low and dark, attempting to sound as threatening as possible.
"Don't start things you can't finish," Draco spat back. "What the hell were you thinking? This is your fault we're even in this mess."
"Me! Mind your own damn business Draco. We would've never gotten caught if you hadn't ratted us out to McGonagall."
"You weren't supposed to be here. It was just supposed to be Potter and that Mudblood."
Aurora flinched at his word choice. This was why things couldn't be the way they once were years ago. Because Aurora was good, and Draco, Draco was hateful. He was far too gone, manipulated by the beliefs of his father.
"Her name is Hermione," Aurora whisper yelled. If they got caught out again, there would likely be more severe consequences. "The only muddy blood here at Hogwarts is you."
Draco eyes turned dark, the light gray color glassed over, and he removed a hand from one of Aurora sides and raised it. Aurora felt horror. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the impact, but it never came. She peaked through her lashes, reluctant to look at him, but his hand was not coming closer to her face, rather it was being used to hold his jaw where she had kicked him moments before. When she finally forced herself to look at him in the eyes, Draco no longer looked angry, his expression was one of agony.
"You flinched," he murmured.
"Yo-ou put your hand up, I th-thought-"
"You thought I was going to hit you." It was not a question for Aurora, it was a statement. He sat upright on her now, his hands folded across his chest, his brows furrowed as he studied her.
"Draco, please," Aurora muttered, glancing up to him. Without another word he climbed off of her and rose to his feet, but once there he continued to stare at her from her place on the floor.
It felt like an eternity before Draco broke their silence again with a sigh. "Goodnight," he said quietly, then walked off to the direction of the dungeons.
Only once Draco's platinum hair had disappeared from Aurora's view did she dare stand up from her kneeling position It was too late to analyze the events of the last few minutes. Beyond being exhausted, she needed to get back to the common room before she was seen again. Being out of bed one night might mean detention, but a steady streak and she was as good as gone from Hogwarts. She kept quiet as she crept through the floors to the Gryffindor tower, and only when she was in bed did she allow herself to succumb to her exhaustion of the horribly gone adventure of the night.
The next morning was horrible, maybe even worse than the night before. It did not take long for the rumors to sprout and for Gryffindor house to find out that it had been Aurora, Harry, and Hermione to lose points for their house. Everywhere they went, glares followed them. Even the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws gave the three dirty looks, for they were the reason why Slytherin would win the house cup once again. Aurora thought that she might die on the spot from the pressure. Though she was somewhat well known around Hogwarts from her last name and association with Harry Potter, she blended in with her peers well. Until last night. And now, she was the latest scandal.
"They'll all forget about it in a couple weeks. Fred and George have lost loads of points in the time that they've been here and people still like them," Ron said trying to reassure them. But nothing would make Aurora feel better. The only comfort she had was the knowledge that Draco was in trouble too. But even this small victory was overshadowed as Malfoy didn't face any backlash for his lost of points. Though he had cost his house fifty points, in return he damaged Gryffindor by three times more. There was no hope for any house anymore to out rank Slytherin.
More than anything, Aurora only hoped that her father would not catch wind of her midnight excursion. She hand't spoken to him since Christmas Eve, something she was thankful for. But Janus was not confrontational in the way he would scold her, no, he would make his punishment known in other ways.
At least with exams only weeks away, being an outcast made studying easier. Now ignored by the whole school, Aurora found it much easier to concentrate. Ron, Harry, Aurora, and Hermione worked very late into the night, preparing for each exam. Aurora wasn't concerned about most of them, but having something else to focus on rather than her classmates new hatred of her, allowed her some relief. Not even Lavender or Parvati would look at her.
They spent most of their time in the library now rather than the common room. It was less cluttered and emptier allowing for Hermione to spread out her books the way she wished. It also gave Aurora the retreat of walking through the shelves whenever she needed a break, something that occurred quite frequently.
It was this particular day that she found herself especially strained. Harry had left the library, finished with studying for the day, while Hermione quizzed Ron for astronomy at their usual table. Aurora laid back, tippping her chair, and played with her fingers.
"Rory, we still have Charms to prep for," Hermione said to her. She was holding out flashcards before her, her lips tight together as she willed Ron to get the correct answer.
"Mione, I need a break, my head is going to rot."
"Pisces?" Ron asked uneasily.
"No Ron we went through this one already. It is a zodiac constellation though."
"Aries?"
"Yes."
It was at this moment that Harry bursted into the library once more, his face red and his eyes wide in shock. Aurora plopped her chair back to the ground and narrowed her eyes as Harry approached.
"Kind of soon to be back?" Aurora said.
"Snape got to Quirrell. He knows now.I saw him threaten him and he caved, I know it."
"Snape's done it, then! If Quirrell's told him how to break his Anti-Dark Force spell-" Ron spluttered.
"There's still Fluffy, though," said Hermione as she gathered up her flashcards and bonded them together.
"Maybe Snape's found a way to get past Fluffy without asking Hagrid," Aurora suggested, suddenly uneasy. This was the last thing they needed right now.
Ron whirled his head around the room at Aurora's suggestion, eyes taking in his surroundings. "I bet there's a book a book somewhere in here, telling you how to get past a three headed dog. So what do we do Harry?"
"We should go to Dumbledore," Aurora interrupted. "If there was someone truly seeking to steal the Stone, we should tell him."
"Rory's right," Harry added. "We should have gone to him ages ago."
"But we've got no proof!" Hermione said. Aurora knew this would pose an issue. Snape was well regarded and respected by his peers. Without any evidence, what reason would Dumbledore have to believe them? "Dumbledore will think we're making it up without Quirrell's help which he won't. He's way too afraid of Snape to do anything. Not to mention it's no secret that we hate Snape, they won't take what four first years have to say seriously."
"I hate to say it, but Hermione's right," Ron said, collapsing back into his chair. "But maybe if we do some poking around,"
"No," Harry responded firmly. "We've done enough poking around."
"But Harry,"
"Rory, we already involved ourselves too much. Look where it's gotten us so far, detention and in last place for the House Championship. Let's just keep our heads down and focus on exams until we have more evidence."
Aurora reluctantly returned to back to her outlines. Harry was right, they had nothing. Yet.
The following morning, Hermione, Aurora, and Harry received their notice for their detentions. Aurora was under the false hope that McGonagall would simply forget or would take pity on the trio after receiving backlash from their house, but they were not so lucky.
That evening, at eleven as their noticed stated, they bid a farewell to Ron before meeting Filch at the Entrance Hall. Draco was already there when they arrived, looking disgruntled and irritated at the inconvenience of having to serve.
"Follow me," said Filch as he led the group with a lantern out the castle. "I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, now won't we? Oh yes, hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me." Aurora narrowed her eyes at his comments as he continued to lead him across a field to the edges of the grounds. "It's a pity they let the old punishments die out.. hang you buy your wrists from the ceiling for a few days ought to do it, I've got the chains still in my office, keep 'em nice and oiled just in case Dumbledore ever wants to use them."
The rest of way off the grounds, Aurora wondered what their punishment would be. The first time she had to serve her first week here hadn't been too bad. It was just a night in Hagrid's garden, but the weren't heading in the direction of Hagrid's hut. No, they were moving towards the Forbidden Forrest ahead. The one Dumbledore had forewarned about anyone entering many months before.
"Is that you Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started," Hagrid's familiar voice called from up ahead. So they would be with Hagrid again. This wouldn't be so bad.
"I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf? Well think again, it's into the forrest you go!"
"Who do you think you are, calling him an-" Aurora started but was met with a kick to the back of her leg. She narrowed her eyes. She knew who it came from.
"The forrest?" Malfoy said nervously, far less composed than he had been seconds before when silenced Aurora. "We can't go in there at night, there's all sorts of things in there, werewolves, I heard."
Filch snickered as he watched Draco's anxiety spread to the other first years. Even Harry had the good sense to look somewhat terrified, and although Aurora was nervous, she was also excited. She had been thinking about this forrest since she first arrived at the castle, and now she would experience it.
"Should've thought about that before breaking the rules. Now just hope the werewolves won't get to yeh."
"I'll take et from here, Filch," Hagrid said walking closer to the group. He must've gotten impatient waiting for them to catch up. "I bin' waitin for half en hour already. All right there Harry? Aurora? Hermione?" Hagrid said questioning all three of them. Draco only scoffed, inspecting his nails.
"I'll taken them back at dawn. Or what's left of 'em," Filch cackled then turned to go back to the castle.
"I'm not going into the forrest," Draco said refusing to look at Hagrid.
It was hardly the start of their detention and Aurora could already tell it was going to be a long night. Draco was known for many things, but if there was something he was especially talented at, it was pissing her off, and being difficult.
Aurora didn't need to comment anything though, as Hagrid beat her to it. "Yeh you are if yeh want ter stay at broke the rules so yeh have to serve."
"But this is servant stuff, it's not for students to do. I thought we'd be writing lines or something. If my father knew I was doing this he-"
"-tell yeh that's how it es at Hogwarts. Writtin' lines! What's that good ter anyone? Yeh'll do summat useful or yeh'll get out. But if yeh think yer father will prefer if yeh were expelled, go on back an' pack."
Malfoy didn't move, finally looking up to Hagrid to give him a dirty look. Aurora smiled sweetly even thought she knew Draco couldn't see her face. But even with him standing behind her, it felt good to know he had been bested. Stupid, spoiled brat.
"Right then, now listen carefully 'cause it's dangerous what we're gonna do. I don't want any of yeh takin' risks," Hagrid said eyeballing Aurora.
"I didn't say anything!" Malfoy scoffed again. Aurora gave him a murderous look for a moment before returning her gaze to Hagrid.
"Follow meh over here a moment."
The group followed after Hagrid as he had instructed, winding into the beginning outlines of the Forbidden Forrest.
"Look there. See that stuff on the ground? That's unicorn blood. There's a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summit. This is the second time in a week I found one dead last Wednesday. We're gonna try ter find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery."
"And what if whatever's been hurting the unicorns finds us first?" Malfoy said unable to keep the fear out of his voice.
"Scared, Malfoy," Aurora teased. Forget this being a terrible detention. Torturing Malfoy might be worth every minute of it.
"That's enough now. There's nothin' that lives in the forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with meh or Fang. An' keep ter the path of course. We're gonna split inter two parties an' follow the trail in different directions. There's blood all over the place, it must've bin staggerin' around since last night at least."
"I want Fang," Draco said immediately once Hagrid finished speaking.
"Alright, but just so yeh know, he's a bloody coward. Hermione and Harry'll come with meh, Aurora, you go on with Malfoy and Fang."
"But Hagrid-" Aurora tried to argue, but was cut off by Hagrid's instructions.
"Now if any of us finds the unicorn, we'll send up green sparks, right? Get yer wands out and practice now- that's it- an' if anyone is in any trouble, send up red sparks an' we'll come out and find yeh, so be careful. Alright lets go. I'm takin' this path, Fang'll lead you down the other."
Despite Aurora's unfortunate placement with Draco, she thought better than to try to argue again. Hagrid didn't deserve to be in the middle of that mess. So, cautiously, Aurora led the way after Fang.
The Forbidden Forrest was dark and quiet, and down the path up ahead, tree branches twisted in their way. Aurora and Draco walked in silence for a long while, the only sound passing between them being the sound of their breathing. It was peaceful for Aurora to walk through the woods. Though perhaps it was under undesirable circumstances of detention and Malfoy, the isolation of the Forbidden Forrest had all been worth it.
"You thought I was going to hit you the other night," Draco said suddenly. It wasn't a question. Aurora was caught off guard by the tone of his voice, but she didn't show it on her face. Instead, she kept walking.
"So?"
"I don't like that."
"Whatever, Malfoy. I don't feel like talking about this," Aurora replied following Fang further along the trail. She forced her composure, she could feel Draco's eyes burning into the back of her head.
"Well I do," he said, grabbing the back of her arm.
"Get off me!" Aurora screeched. She didn't even know she could make a noise like that.
Draco released her but he strode closer, giving Aurora no choice but to back away. But she couldn't. Something hard stood in her way. A large pine tree blocked the way of the passage. It was too wide for her to easily slide away, and with Draco trapping the other way, she was trapped. Just her luck.
"Aurora look, please."
"You're not entitled to my time, Malfoy."
"Can you just shut your mouth for two minutes," he replied frustrated, his eyes narrowing in contained irritation. Though uninterested in complying, Aurora had to make a point now. She would look Malfoy in the eye and listen to what he had to say.
"I would never hit you. I don't know why you flinched when I moved. I-I can't accept you thinking that I would do that to you."
"Wouldn't you?" Aurora sneered. How could he try to play innocent now? After everything he's done.
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh let's see. Since arriving at Hogwarts you've harassed my friends and me nonstop, you've kissed me against my will as a form of blackmail, you made the Christmas incident about yourself, and so on. Why wouldn't I be surprised that knocking me around would be next on your list? And actually that's just bullshit, you pushed me on the train ride here. And what about the other night? Didn't you trip me?"
"I wouldn't bother you if you didn't associate yourself with the wrong types and I already said sorry for the kiss thing, I thought you were over that."
"You're kidding me, Draco. One does not just "get over" sexual harassment!" Aurora shrieked back.
"I'd like to point out you kicked me in the face, I had a bruise for a week."
"There you go again. You make everything about yourself. You're a conniving narcissist."
"I'm sorry."
"Sure you are."
"Aurora. I'm serious. I'm sorry."
"You know what, I don't want to hear it, Malfoy. You are too much. I can't take whatever this is any longer. You're difficult, even your own mother thinks so. Maybe that's why she floos you over to my house all the damn time," Aurora said. She was starting to tear up, though she was not said. No, she was angry.
Draco remained unfazed as Aurora continued to bash him, face placid as ever, but Aurora could tell she had gotten to him, she knew that familiar clench of his jaw whenever she had said something to strike a nerve.
"I can tell I've upset you. But, I would never intentionally hit you like that," Draco replied. Aurora tensed slightly at his words. He never spoke to her like this. It was a trick. This was not the Draco Malfoy she knew. Well, she thought she knew. He was so different to her every time they met. She shivered under his intense stare. Those gray eyes, pierced so deep into her. "Cold?" Draco asked her, stretching out a hand. An offer of warmth.
"I think I'd rather die," Aurora replied, stretching out her arms to gesture a need of space. Draco complied, and they were off again.
It was not much longer when they heard their first sound. Aurora nearly jumped at it, the adrenaline and the excitement of the night beginning to wear off as the hours ticked by in the terrifying forrest.
"What was that?" Draco breathed, his voice coated in distress.
"I don't know," Aurora replied and pulling out her wand.
"What are you doing?"
"What does it look like, Blondie?"
"You can't be serious."
"What?"
"You can't fight whatever that was, you hardly know any magic."
"It's better than nothing."
"No, what's better is running away and living another day."
"Coward."
"You're confusing your bravery with stupidity. You're being reckless. Though why am I not surprised that Greengrass wants to do something impulsive?"
"Then runaway, Malfoy. I don't care."
Draco was about to retort once more, but an agonizing scream of a boy rose from deeper into into the forrest.
"Harry!" Aurora screamed, then began to run the noise. But once again, Draco grabbed her.
"Let go, I need to help."
"You're going to get yourself killed, Aurora. Hagrid's probably there already, we need to leave."
"No!" Aurora mustered all the strength she had in her, and shoved Malfoy off. He was slowing her down when Harry needed her more than ever. She didn't look behind her or even listen if Draco had followed her.
"Harry! Harry are you alright!" Aurora called when she finally spotted him. Hermione and Hagrid already surrounded him where he lay on a patch of fern.
"I'm alright, Rory," Harry said, clutching his forehead.
"Your scar. Does it hurt?"
"It's searing."
"We need ter get back to the castle," Hagrid grunted. "Where's Malfoy?" Aurora cursed inwardly. Perhaps she shouldn't have abandoned him.
"I'm here," Draco panted as he joined the group, leading Fang with him.
Ron had fallen asleep in the dark common room by the time they had all returned. In a matter of seconds though he was wide awake as Harry recounted his experience in the Forbidden Forrest. Aurora stood shocked as he spoke about the mysterious figure who drank the blood of a unicorn and the centaur who saved him from sure death.
"Why were you even alone?" Aurora asked. They were supposed to be in groups. She could've gone with him rather than Malfoy, rather than leave him to face the strange occurrence alone.
"I tripped and got separated. But I swear it had to be Vol-"
"Don't say the name!" Ron scolded.
Harry got up from his seat on the couch in front of the fire and started to pace. Aurora could practically feel the nervous energy bouncing off of him.
"Don't you guys see it?" Harry said. "Snape isn't trying to get rich off the Stone. He's getting it for Vo- He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. To heal him! When Firenze saved me, he was talking about interfering with what the planets say will happen. He thinks Voldemort is coming back. Bane thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me.. I suppose it's written in the stars as well."
"Will you stop saying the name!" Ron hissed again, but Harry ignored him.
"So all I've got to do now is wait for Snape to steal the Stone. Then Voldemort will be able to come and finish me off... Well I suppose Bane will be happy."
"We won't let him Harry," Aurora whispered from her spot on a chair.
Hermione looked very frightened, but she had every word of comfort. "Harry everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid of. 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."
It was morning by the time the group had stopped talking and it when the light began to cut into the tower did they return to their rooms for some much needed sleep.
Aurora anxiously climbed the stairs to the girl's dormitory. Voldemort was coming back, and he was coming to kill Harry. She didn't know what could be done right now, but she knew she would protect him. She would protect all of her friends. Though the anxiety thickly coated her, she was far too weighted down by exhaustion. She would sleep now.