Here it is ;) Not much in length or excitement, but after three chapters of heavy suspense and one with action, I thought a cool-down was in order.
Danny sat on his bed, growing increasingly annoyed the more Tucker paced back and forth across the room. Hagrid had made good on his promise to let Dumbledore know what had happened. Harry and Hermione had been left out for saving them, but Ron, Danny, Sam, and Tucker were all now supposed to see Dumbledore. Danny, Sam and Tucker were in Danny's room, waiting. Ron had gone on his own and they hadn't seen him all day. Tucker continued his pacing.
"Will you stop that!?" Danny finally shouted.
"Hey, I'm nervous!" Tucker said, "What if we have to clean this place? What if we have to live in that forest? What if we have to leave! Hey, my electronics would work then…"
"Maybe you should have thought of that before dragging us in there!" Sam hissed. She was sitting next to Danny, and had also been getting tired of Tucker's constant pacing.
"Well no one asked you to come along!" Tucker shouted, getting angry.
"Like I had a choice!?"
"What about Danny!? You didn't have to come!" Tucker rounded on Danny as if he had been on Sam's side all along.
"I didn't say anything!" Danny shouted back, "And what was I supposed to do, let you guys drag Sam into the forest and get yourselves killed!?"
"You didn't know what was in there!"
"Why do you think it's called the Forbidden Forest!?" Danny and Tucker hadn't been this angry at one another in quite a while. They looked like they were on the verge of breaking into a fight when a knock came at the door. It was Harry.
"He's ready."
----
The trio followed Harry through the castle. They stopped at a large, ugly gargoyle.
"Chocolate mousse" Harry said. The gargoyle seemed to pull upwards, dragging behind it a spiral staircase. Harry nodded to it. Apparently, he wouldn't be coming along with them. With a gulp, Danny, Sam and Tucker began up the staircase alone.
They reached a door with a brass knocker in the shape of a griffin. Danny opened the door. They found themselves in a very interesting room. It was a large, circular, beautiful room, full of strange little noises and curious silver instruments on spindle-legged tables. Old portraits of headmasters and headmistresses gone by adorned the walls, all of them sleeping away in their frames. A claw-footed desk was at the back of the room, a brilliant, sleeping red bird perched on a stand on it. Sitting in the desk, looking very serious indeed, was Dumbledore.
"Sit down," he motioned towards three chairs opposite him by the desk. With yet another gulp, the trio did so. Dumbledore fixed a piercing stare on them, as if he were looking right through them and into their minds.
"I must say, I am very disappointed," he shook his head, "very disappointed indeed. Why would you go into the Forbidden Forest alone?"
"Malfoy…" Tucker began, but Dumbledore held up a hand to silence him.
"That has already been explained by Ron. I will be seeing Malfoy shortly. But why would you go with Ron after him?" Tucker slumped back into his chair. None of them had a way to justify their behaviour.
"And going down to the feast when no one is to see you…" Dumbledore shook his head again, "I'm afraid this changes everything. You will no longer be allowed to go around the castle when the students are up and about. If you want to look around, you must do it at night, and only under the Invisibility Cloak. This goes for you as well, Danny," Dumbledore looked directly at him before continuing, "Furthermore, you are not allowed outside the school grounds and will follow the same guidelines as students in where you can and cannot go anywhere in the castle. Harry, Hermione, and Ron are now forbidden from seeing you any time other than weekends. And I'm afraid that, should anything like this happen again, I will have to make things even more strict. Do you understand?" all three of them nodded. Danny felt horrible. All the fun and wonder of being in this place…and they'd blown it by doing something this stupid.
"Off you go," Dumbledore nodded to the door. The trio gathered themselves up and moved towards it. Danny stopped and turned around.
"Uh, Dumbledore, sir?" he asked gently, "The Quidditch matches…I can fly over the crowds and go invisible…and wouldn't house ghosts go out to cheer…"
"You can go," Dumbledore said, "But just you," behind Danny, Tucker's face gained an expression of jealousy and disappointment.
"Thanks," Danny nodded, and the trio headed downstairs. Harry, Ron and Hermione were waiting for them, and they headed back up to Danny's room.
Danny couldn't help but notice that Ron's prefect badge was now missing on his robes.
I may do Chapter 15 all on my own before really struggling for a partner. I'm working with Trevor the Enchanted right now on ideas, so I think this fic can still go on.