Chapter Five – Detention
Once the Christmas season was over and Hogwarts retuned to its normal term – time routine. The school also welcomed a replacement for the late Professor Quirrell. One snowy afternoon in January a short, balding, middle - aged wizard called Ned Lower strolled through the main doors armed with more books than it was possible to carry. Some were floating over his head, some in front, some behind his back and others in a muggle trailer he dragged with him. Professor Lower was hired by Professor Dumbledore to fill the position of Defence Against The Dark Arts at last minute.
Professor Lower was a sweet and amiable man but seemed to be somewhat of a loner. He'd spend a great deal of time (when not teaching) in his chambers or, for some odd reason, in the hospital wing. Aside from these issues, however, he was an excellent teacher and really knew his stuff. He seemed to genuinely have experience of battling just about every type of dark magic in existence and students seemed to like him. The only drawback was that he seemed distracted at times in lessons and had the odd habit of taking his pulse every ten minutes. He also, peculiarly, had a muggle poster of the inside of a human body on the wall of the DADA classroom which was much like the sort of thing one might see at a muggle doctor's office. The room also smelled of disinfectant but students, especially Harry and Draco, much preferred that to the nasty smell that used to emanate from Professor Quirrell's head.
One day during a DADA lesson Slytherin had with Hufflepuff (which Harry and Draco particularly enjoyed as Hufflepuff students were easy to wind up) Professor Lower was demonstrating how to cast and counteract a leg locker curse. Justin Finch - Fletchy kept screaming like a girl every time his legs got locked which Draco found utterly hilarious. After the practical part of the lesson was over both Houses were asked to sit down and take notes on what to do should one happen to find oneself cursed in the middle of nowhere. Suddenly, half way through the lesson, Professor Lower whipped out a muggle blood pressure monitor and started to take his own blood pressure. It didn't seem to be part of the lesson but everyone just went along with it regardless. After that particular lesson Harry and Draco were just leaving the classroom when they were accosted by Fred and George Weasley in the corridor.
"He's mad isn't he?" said George.
"Really off his rocker," said Fred.
"We think he's a hypochondriac," said George.
"Better than Quirrell though," Fred said.
"Much better than Quirrell," George agreed.
"We think we know what that smell was," Fred said grinning.
Draco impatiently snapped "What are you talking about Weasley Twins?"
"The smell - we think he was possessed," Fred explained.
"What? Don't be stupid," Draco barked.
Fred trapped the little blonde boy against the wall by placing an arm either side of him. "Ah yes," said Fred, "but you see it was sulphur…sulphur is a sure sign of…"
"…evil," finished George widening his eyes.
"Wait, what?" Harry butted in.
"That's what the smell coming from his head was: sulphur. He was possessed. That's why they burnt his head - his head was possessed," said Fred eagerly.
"Get away from me crazy Weasley Twin," said Draco ducking under Fred's arm and marching off.
Harry glanced back at the twins in acknowledgment of their message then trotted after his friend. "It would explain why they burnt his head" Harry whispered noticing other students approaching.
"The twins are insane, ignore them," said Draco.
"I think they're quite nice," said Harry carefully.
"It's like I told you though, they're still Weasleys," Draco said firmly. "What does it matter anyway whether Quirrell was possessed or not? He's dead"
"I dreamed of him. It was really horrible," said Harry.
"Of burning him alive?"
"Yes!"
"That might not mean anything…"
"What if it does? We're both seeing similar things. Why would I have that dream then the whole weird cremation thing after Quirrell's death? It's like the twins said - it's as if something was going on and the teachers were trying to cover it up."
Harry had Draco's attention.
"Well what can we do about it anyway? It's too late now whatever it is. It's over".
"Maybe," said Harry, "or maybe - maybe we need to know about this."
"What good could knowing about it do?"
"I don't know but maybe we'd be in less danger if we did."
"Danger?" Yelled Draco "We're not in danger!"
"Let's just not forget about it totally ok, in case we need it for later on I mean."
Draco thought for a moment. "What would we need it for?"
"I don't know I just think it might be important and…"
"…you can never know too much," the boys echoed and each gave a little shiver at the odd way in which their affinity was growing.
Harry and Draco agreed to put the head burning head incident on ice for the time being and take each day as it came. Their priorities remained their work and stealing food from the kitchen with the aid of the invisibility cloak. Every time they used it they would discuss who they thought it might be from but they never reached a conclusion. They were also working particularly hard in Charms Class in order to prove they were as good as Ron and Hermione. Finally potions class with Gryffindor came around again. Harry and Draco hoped Ron and Hermione would fall into their cauldrons. One Tuesday afternoon when they reached the potions room door they felt rather disappointed to see the Gryffindor duo sitting right at the front of the class where Harry and Draco normally sat. Hermione and Ron must have had a plan.
"Come on," said Draco, "Let's just pretend we don't care and sit right next to them. There are two spare seats - look".
Harry grunted. "OK," he agreed and walked casually in.
"Take a seat quickly please," said Snape as he wrote on the backboard. "The lesson officially started one minute ago."
Draco smiled sneakily at Hermione and sat next to her.
"Nice of you to join us boys," said Snape looking at Harry and Draco.
Ron giggled.
"As most of you by now are totally and completely inept at producing a cure for boils we are going to temporarily move on to the forgetfulness potion," said Snape.
Hermione and Ron glanced at each other guiltily.
"Can anyone give me the name of just one of the main what the ingredients required to make such a potion?" asked Snape wearily.
Hermione's hand shot up on the air and Draco's quickly followed.
"Yes Miss Granger?" Snape said reluctantly
"Professor Lethe River Water Sir".
"Correct" the potion master said solemnly. "Can anyone give me another?"
Draco's hand shot straight up again but Hermione had beaten him to it and this time leaned over her desk slightly to block his view.
"Yes Miss Granger, as you're so especially eager today…" Snape asked.
"Mistletoe berries Sir."
"Correct," Snape confirmed.
Draco scowled and Hermione stuck her nose in the air with superiority.
"Finally can anyone… else…give me another?" Draco's hand beat Hermione's to it this time but the Gryffindor girl almost pushed him out of his seat and yelled "VALERIAN SPRIGS SIR!"
"That's not fair Sir she pushed Draco!" Harry yelled.
"Silence both of you!" Snape bellowed.
Draco snapped at Hermione "You stinking rotten little…"
"And you're a sly little imp," Hermione interrupted quickly.
"And you Miss Granger are an insufferable little know it all" said Snape.
"No she isn't she's the cleverest person in the class!" yelled Ron.
"Enough!" Snape yelled getting red with anger. "All four of you will remain silent for the remainder of the lesson. Ten points from Gryffindor!"
"What?" yelled Ron "No that's not fair!"
"Shut up or you'll get us into trouble again!" yelled Neville.
"You messed up Hermione's potion last time so you can shut up Neville," snapped Ron.
"No I didn't we both messed it up - me and Hermione."
"SILENCE!" Snape screamed. "One hundred points from Gryffindor!"
"You couldn't brew a cure for boils if you're life depended on it Longbottom!" Draco yelled.
"Ron you're so two faced!" Harry squealed.
Snape slammed a very huge book down his desk making everyone jump and turn to face him. "Potter, Malfoy, Granger, Weasley, Longbottom – detention." he said calmly.
The remainder of the lesson was excruciatingly painful. Hermione and Ron were forced to sit at the back and at the end of class Snape asked Harry and Draco to remain behind. Once the final student had left the potions master called the two Slytherins over to him and gave them both a very stern look. "I am disappointed in you both," he said with a raised eyebrow. "I expected much better."
Draco started to speak but Snape silenced him "I know how infuriating Miss Granger and Mr Weasley are being but that does not give you an excuse to rise to the bait." "But Sir they're like this all the time Sir we just snapped today we couldn't take any more," said Harry. "It's not just in your lesson either it's in every lesson not to mention during breaks as well."
"Mr Potter," Snape continued towering over the two little boys, "these things do not go unnoticed by staff but I am warning you for your own sake's to keep the right side of trouble. You two are my best students and I need you to stay focused."
"Very sorry Sir."
"Won't happen again professor."
"Very well. I will owl you regarding detention boys and I expect you to be there promptly."
"Yes Sir," both boys said and bid farewell glumly heading back to the dorms.
"That's it I've had it with them we have to do something!" Draco yelled throwing his books on his bed.
"Do what?" Asked Harry. "Take revenge?"
Draco nodded towards Harry's wardrobe.
Harry took the hint. He glanced around. They were not alone so he decided not to bring the invisibility cloak out into the open lest their plans be revealed.
"We still don't know who it's from," he reminded Draco. "What if it's cursed or something?"
"It would have harmed you by now if it was," Draco said and sat forward onto the edge of his bed.
Harry inched closer. "So just how do you suppose we do this?" he asked. Could we creep into their dorm somehow?"
"We could if we waited for someone else to go through the portrait hole door first," said Draco, smiling craftily.
"But we'd have to be careful not to bump into anyone or anything," said Harry.
"Then we'll have to make sure we're behind and not in front of anyone," said Draco.
"I put cress seeds in Dudley's bed once," said Harry enthusiastically, "we could do that."
"Perfect," Draco grinned.
"Do you think they'll know it's us?" Harry asked.
"Granger and Weasley might but the teachers won't," Draco smirked.
The following morning before breakfast both Slytherin boys received an owl from Snape instructing them to meet Filch at the main doors that evening at 11pm. Their minds started racing. What on earth was in store for them? It was bad enough they had to spend detention with the two people they disliked the most let alone with Filch in charge. As they approached the main doors they saw the squib caretaker standing alone, hunched over, with a lamp in his hand. "Evening boys," he grinned.
"Where are we going?" Draco demanded.
"To see Hagrid" said Filch.
"Hagrid? What for?" Asked Harry.
He was interrupted by Hermione, Ron and Neville joining the group.
"OK now as we're all here let's get going" Filch said looking as if he was taking great pleasure in his duties.
"I don't like the look of this. I don't like the look of this one bit" Hermione said as she trailed behind Harry and Draco. Ron and Neville were silent.
As the young group of students waked out of the castle they saw Hagrid waiting out-side his hut with a cross bow and Fang. Filch gave out a sick laugh. "Have fun," he said and walked back towards the castle. "Hi Hagrid", said Harry nervously. "What are we doing here?"
"Yer've got to help me in the Forbidden Forest," he explained.
"What?!" yelled Draco.
"You're joking?" Hermione gasped.
"No I'm not joking yer've done wrong an' now yeh have to pay for it."
"So you're just going to leave us in there? You wait until my father hears about this," said Draco.
"If yeh'd rather not do it," said Hagrid, "yeh can pack yer bags and leave".
Draco glared up at Hagrid but the giant seemed serious. Their mission was to follow some silver unicorn blood and find the injured animal with a view to putting it out of its misery. This did not appeal to Draco who felt that whatever killed the unicorn might also take an interest in him and his fellow students.
"There's nothin' that lives in the forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang," said Hagrid. "An' keep ter the path. 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."
"I want Fang," said Draco quickly, looking at Fang's long teeth.
"All right, but I warn yeh, he's a coward," said Hagrid. "So me, Harry, Ron an' Hermione'll go one way an' Draco, Neville, an' Fang'll go the other."
Harry and Draco reluctantly went their separate ways and crept into the dark forest. The sounds of owls hooting echoed above then they heard a rustling followed by the sound of hooves. A pair of centaurs approached and muttered something about stars then went on their way. Harry couldn't help but wonder if the rustling sounds had come from something other than the centaurs. Reassuringly Hagrid believed they probably did. 'Great', Harry thought, 'a blood sucking murderer is on the loose and we're in the middle of it all'. Then things got even worse: Draco and Neville let out red warning sparks. Hagrid bolted in their direction. Hermione whispered to Ron: "You don't think they've been hurt, do you?" she said. "I don't care if Malfoy has, but if something's got Neville... it's our fault he's here in the first place."
"You what?!" Harry snapped back at the Gryffindor girl in astonishment.
"Nothing," said Hermione looking at her feet guiltily.
"You don't care if Draco's been hurt, or worse?" Harry asked angrily.
Hermione said nothing - just folded her arms and looked away.
"It's your fault we're all here Granger!" shouted Harry angrily "If anything happens to either one of them it'll be your fault. He bit down momentarily on his fist as if to stop saying something he'd really regret. He took a breath. "You make me sick!"
"Don't talk to her like that!" Ron shouted.
"Stay out of it Weasley you two faced moron you hated her on the way up here on the train now you're her best mate!" Yelled Harry.
"I did not say I hated her…he's lying," said Ron desperately. Hermione looked quickly from Ron to Harry as if she was wondering what to think of it all.
"You said you hoped you wouldn't be in the same House as Hermione 'coz she was stuck up," said Harry
Ron faltered. "No I…didn't…" he said slowly and quietly.
"You liar!" Yelled Harry.
Suddenly they were interrupted by the returning half-giant. "Hey, hey what's all this? Not more squabbling?" asked Hagrid with a relieved expression on his face. Draco and Neville were safe and in tow - it was a false alarm. Draco had tapped Neville on the shoulder who panicked and sent up warning sparks.Harry felt exceedingly grateful.
"We'll be lucky ter catch anythin' now, with the racket you two were makin'." Said Hagrid looking down at Draco and Neville."Right, we're changin' groups - Neville, you stay with me, Ron an' Hermione, Harry, you go with Fang an' this idiot."
Hermione smirked at Harry and Draco. "Come on let's get moving," Hagrid urged the group of children.
Harry was pleased to be rid of Hermione and Ron as he walked off with Draco and Fang but as they came across more and more unicorn blood Harry's fears grew. "What was all that about back there?" Asked Draco - referring to the squabble between Harry and the Gryffindors.
"Oh nothing," Harry lied not wanting to upset Draco —"Just Hermione being Hermione that's all." The truth was Harry was getting angrier by the minute and not just with the Gryffindors but with Hagrid for calling Draco an idiot just because he pulled a prank when Hermione had got away scot free after wishing Draco dead. What was up with that?!
Suddenly Draco whispered, "Look—what's that?" In front of them was a lifeless body of a beautiful unicorn and something was hovering over it—a cloaked figure that seemed to have no real form. The tiny hairs on the back of Harry's neck stood on end. He wanted to send up sparks for Hagrid to see but he couldn't move. He was rooted to the spot in fear, unable to move (even if he wanted to) as if glued to the grassy earth. Suddenly the scar on his head ached furiously again as the figure came rushing towards them. Fang turned and bolted – so much for the pathetic dog protecting them. Draco screamed and pulled hard at Harry's robe begging him to follow him out of the forest. "Argh!" he yelled in a desperate need to get away, "Harry move – please! Run!" The little blonde boy tugged harder still then fell back onto the damp ground with the effort, pulling Harry with him. Then came the sound of hooves again and a male centaur scared the blood sucking creature off just in time. The centaur walked slowly towards the two little boys and helped them to their feet. "Are you all right?" it asked.
"Do we look alright to you?" Draco screeched sarcastically. "That 'thing' nearly had us for desert." The centaur recognised Harry and introduced itself as Firenze lowering himself on to the floor so that the little boys could climb on to his back. Draco climbed on first and held tightly on to Firenze; Harry followed holding on to Draco.
"What if we fall off?" Asked Draco.
"Hold on tight, you will be fine. We need to get you out of here." Firenze explained. Their conversation was interrupted, however, by two other centaurs who started getting angry at the fact that Firenze was carrying two humans on his back. It also wasn't particularly great news that they inferred that Harry was actually supposed to have been killed by the hooded blood sucker. The planets had foretold it apparently. Firenze ignored them however and galloped off with the boys.
After a while Firenze slowed to a trot and eventually stopped - explaining to the little boys that unicorn blood can be used to help the un-dead remain un-dead. It didn't sound too great to Harry or Draco who both thought full death would be the better option. Firenze agreed with them but suggested such a vile method of artificial survival might be used by someone who needed to remain alive long enough to find a more permanent and reliable way to immortality.
"Young humans, do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment?" Firenze asked.
Harry and Draco looked at each other in confusion.
"No…" murmured Harry.
"Something's hidden?" asked Draco, "what?"
"The philosopher's stone," said Firenze.
Suddenly Harry got a déjà vu-y again.
"What's that?" Draco asked.
"It once belonged to Nicholas Flamel – the great alchemist. It was placed in the school for protection because the un-dead creature you saw tonight is searching for it."
Suddenly and without warning Harry had a particularly vivid image race into his head much like a train passing through a station. He was burning professor Quirrell to death again but this time the stuttering idiot had two faces – one of which was hidden underneath his turban. "I feel sick," said Harry almost losing his grip of Draco.
"I don't feel too great either," said Draco clinging more tightly on to Firenze.
"We're there now. You're safe" the centaur whispered as they came to a clearing and saw Hagrid walking towards them. "Good luck, Harry Potter," said Firenze. "The planets have been read wrongly before now, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times."
"So do I," said Harry, "and thank you so much for saving us."
"You're very welcome" Firenze nodded and galloped off into the distance. Just then Hagrid came running towards them. "My goodness Harry, Draco I was worried sick" the half-giant said breathlessly.
"Really? Well, that's funny because we didn't see any sign of you," said Draco.
"You left us!" Said Harry
"I'm sorry Harry I thought…"
"We could have been killed!" cried Draco.
'My goodness' thought Harry 'the adults really are outdoing themselves this time.'
"Where are the others?" Asked Harry. "Are they still ok?"
"Yes they're fine they went back t' the castle" Hagrid explained.
"Right, well that's where we're going," said Harry adamantly. "Oh by the way", he said glancing back, "the unicorn's dead. And that 'thing' that killed it is still on the loose. It almost got us. It's looking for the sorcerer's stone."
"How did you know about that?" asked Hagrid.
"Firenze told us," said Harry abruptly.
Draco glared at Hagrid one last time and both boys ran up to the safety of the school.
Neither Harry nor Draco slept at all well that night in fact they remained wide awake discussing the night's events. Both felt furious and terrified.
"I feel like packing my bags and leaving" said Harry. "I'd rather be alive and with the Dursleys than dead and here."
"You can't leave," said Draco with panic in his voice. "I won't let you. You're my best friend." The little blonde boy sniffed, as if holding back tears, and stiffened up as if to distract himself from his new found sensibilities. "I'd just like to know what my father would make of this," he said in a more controlled tone. "He's a school governor and I don't understand why Professor Snape would put us in danger like that. It doesn't make any sense."
"We'll have to ask him tomorrow," said Harry.
"This is tomorrow," said Draco looking at the clock beside his bed. He lay back. "Oh it's no good, I can't sleep," he said sitting up and accidentally knocked a book from his table on to the floor. Both traumatised boys jumped at the sudden noise and screamed. Several heads shot up from their pillows and looked in Harry and Draco's direction.
"What's going on?" Blaise Zabini asked.
"We are scared to bits. Some…thing…in the forest tried to kill us" said Draco.
"Sorry we woke you," said Harry, "but it was mental. We had the fright of our lives. We're lucky to be alive."
"No way! Said Blaise. "Was that your detention?"
"Yes!" Harry and Draco squealed together.
"That's mad. That shouldn't be allowed," said Blaise, dumbfounded.
"I know I'm telling my father," said Draco. "Come on Harry. We've woken everybody up now we might as well go into the common room."
"Sorry guys," said Harry.
The other boys nodded in understanding and lay back down.
Settling into the common room Draco and Harry lit the fire and sat down to think. "Maybe telling my father wouldn't be such a good idea after all," said Draco prodding the firewood with a poker.
"Why not? Asked Harry "If he's governor he could do something."
"Do what though? All he'll do is get all angry and – well I'm afraid he might take me our of Hogwarts altogether," said Draco avoiding eye contact with his friend.
"What, why?" asked Harry feeling scared. He was sure Mr Malfoy would help.
"He just mentioned over Christmas that he felt I should have gone to Durmstrang. It's a school of Magic in Norway."
"Norway? That's miles away!"
"I know – I don't want to go there. And you can't leave either you can't go back to the muggles you have to stay."
Harry did have to admit to himself that Draco was the best friend he ever had and leaving Hogwarts would put and end to that. Besides this was his home now.
"I just can't believe Professor Snape would send us into the woods like that. There must be an explanation for it," he said thoughtfully.
"We'll talk to him about it first thing – before breakfast"
Draco nodded and pulled his knees up onto the chair underneath his chin. Both boys sat in silence gazing into the flames of the fire. Then Harry spoke.
"I saw visions again in the forest, when we were on Firenze's back."
"Really, like what?" Draco asked, perking up.
"Burning Quirrell again only this time he had two faces".
"Two faces?"
"One at the front…one at the back…that he was hiding under his turban."
Draco's eyes started to dart from side to side as he gave this matter some serious thought.
"Suppose the Weasley twins," Harry continued "were right?"
"Right?"
"About his head being possessed."
"People don't have possessed heads," said Draco resolutely.
"So why did he keep it all wrapped up then and why did I see him with two faces and why was there that funny smell and why did he keep taking to himself?" Asked Harry. Draco straightened himself up.
"And Firenze said there was a sorcerer's stone in the school somewhere hidden. That 'Thing' would have been looking for it."
"That 'Thing' that nearly killed us?"
"Exactly. Dumbledore must know it's on the loose."
"We should speak to Professor Snape," said Draco "And while we're at it…get that cloak out and plant cress in Weasley's and Grangers beds."
"We will have to work quickly and quietly with this one" said Harry thinking of both endeavours. "We need answers and we need to get revenge. Only this time we can't get caught. No way I'm getting detention and going into that forest again."
"Don't know why we couldn't have just copied lines," said Draco.
"Project Detention and Project Cress are on," said Harry earnestly.
"Not to mention Project Sorcerer's Stone," said Draco.
"Do you think Quirrell and The Thing in the forest are connected somehow?" Asked Harry.
"If they are we'll find out," said Draco.
The two friends shook on it, vowing to set all matters straight.
~Ned Lower is my own character~