"Well?"

It had been two minutes and all Ron could do was stare in utter terror at the Deputy Headmistress and head of Gryffindor House. He gave a dry swallow and opened his mouth with a shaky inhale.

He attempted to speak, but he felt as if his mouth was full of cotton and he merely uttered a squeak.

"Mr. Weasley, tell me now and your punishment will be less severe."

Ron licked his lips and attempted to speak again.

"I-"

"OH GOSH HELP ME!" A bloodcurdling scream came from the staircases. "IT HURTS! IT BURNS!"

"Colin?" Ron gasped, having recognized the voice as well as a mangled camera dangling from his neck.

Colin Creevey was standing there, covered in boils and blisters. His skin had turned completely green and the boils were an angry red with pus coming out of them. His legs had been turned into tentacles and he had small black spikes on him. He looked like he was halfway transfigured into a Bubotuber plant. On top of that, his eyes had been turned into red orbs with no pupils and he had mousy brown antennae on his head where his hair used to be. His nose and ears had also vanished. The clothes he was wearing looked like they were corroded from acid spills and he currently had a torn piece of cloth across his chest and overstretched boxers on.

"Creevey, what happened?"

"THE HORROR…THE HORROR!" He screamed, scratching at his noodle-like arms. A green leaky substance came out of his arm. "I'M BLEEDING!"

He ran up to the two professors with tears in his eyes. If not for the fact that Ron had said his name, he would have been unrecognizable. Up close, they saw that his teeth interlinked as if it was a zipper.

Professor McGonagall waved her wand. "Finite."

Colin's appearance returned to normal except for the green skin, the torn clothes, and the teeth. The camera had vanished into nothingness.

"Mr. Creevey, what on earth happened?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

Colin took several deep breaths and promptly toppled over in a dead faint.

"Alright, we shall continue this discussion later Mr. Weasley." Professor McGonagall said. "Take Creevey to the Hospital Wing. Bear in mind that tonight's events are by no means excused. You and your friends have very much explaining to do. I expect you three in my office as soon as Hagrid returns with Granger and Potter. I'll leave you to bring Granger and Potter, Albus."

"Certainly" Professor Dumbledore said.

Ron grabbed Colin's arm and heaved him up. Professor McGonagall led the way to the fourth floor. As they ascended the stairs, Ron looked back to catch a knowing look in Dumbledore's eyes.

Bloody hell, Harry asked Dumbledore about the kid…Harry's right, we're doomed. Ron thought. And what's more is that Mum and Dad are going to hear about this and so are Hermione's parents and Harry's relatives….Oh bugger, his Aunt and Uncle will kill him for being expelled. How's Harry supposed to beat You-Know-Who if he's been expelled and his wand snapped in half? How am I supposed to face my brothers and Ginny…BLOODY HELL, I FORGOT ABOUT GINNY! She and Luna will be in so much trouble if anyone finds out that they're a part of this. Mum will kill me for sure. Not to mention that Luna's dad would be upset that we got his daughter in trouble…maybe the two of them will be safe from expulsion but the three of us won't be. And how much does Creevey know? If he's discovered, he'll be in trouble too…unless Luna and Ginny didn't say anything. If that's the case, he'll be in less trouble than Luna and Ginny. Maybe some lines will be given to him about not going along with ridiculous plans. The girls will get weeks worth of detention or possibly months…Hermione could narrowly avoid expulsion, but then again the whole thing was her idea….WHAT AM I THINKING? I CAN'T RAT THEM OUT! If Harry and I say nothing, then we'll be expelled…EITHER WAY AN EXPULSION IS BOUND TO TAKE PLACE AND WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO-?

"Poppy, I have a student for you to take care of." McGonagall called.

Ron gave a start; he hadn't realized they'd arrived at the Hospital wing already.

Madam Pomfrey came out in a nightgown and sighed. "Bring them in." She said, bustling off to get a bed ready. Neither of them had noticed the ginger's panicked face before he heaved Colin onto the bed and panted with exhaustion.

"What happened?" The matron asked.

"I honestly don't know." Ron said. "He came out like this. I swear it wasn't planned at all."

"Why was he out of the dorm at this hour?" McGonagall said. "Obviously he should have come straight here. Why did he come to the Entrance Hall?" she asked as Madam Pomfrey began examining Colin.

"With all due respect, I'd rather wait for Harry and Hermione to help me." Ron mumbled.

Both witches gave a disapproving look, but dropped the subject.

A bright red flame appeared in thin air right in front of them and disappeared as quickly as it had come.

"Alright Weasely, to my office." McGonagall said.

"Mr. Creevey is fine in my care." Pomfrey said. "By the way, he was wearing these." She held up a plastic set of teeth above Colin's open mouth.

Neither of them noticed Colin open his eye and give Ron a wink. Ron gave weak smile before putting on a puzzled expression at the sight of the teeth.

"That would explain why magic didn't work." Professor McGonagall said.

"Why not?" Ron asked as they left the Hospital Wing.

"The spell I used ends most hexes and curses used. Since he was wearing those imitation teeth, it had no effect on the non-transfigured teeth."

"Oh."

"Was this your idea as well?"

"I can honestly say that I did not expect Colin." Ron said.

"Are your sister and Miss Lovegood part of this?"

"Er…"

"I believe they were the ones who told Hagrid where you'd be. Unfortunately you didn't count on Severus listening in."

"Stinkin' snake." Ron muttered under his breath.

"I am going to pretend I did not hear that." Professor McGonagall said. Ron's ears turned pink. "But you three are going to have to explain being outside with no supervision or permission whatsoever. Your families will be notified."

Ron's face changed color to match his ears. "Please don't expel us."

"Weasley…you, Granger, and Potter broke major school rules in your first year alone."

"I know, Professor."

"And in your second year."

Ron cringed. "I had to save my sister."

"Your sister was not endangered when you flew a car into the Whomping Willow."

"Technically no one told us we couldn't fly to school in a car that we didn't enchant."

"Technically you had an owl."

Ron closed his mouth; it was true that Hedwig had indeed been with them. And in reality, his parents could have Apparated to the car and taken the boys to school.

"Also in third year, Potter managed to be caught several times out of bed and the three of you left the castle at night."

"But-"

"I know what followed, but it was still a rule."

"We didn't break any rules in fourth year."

"Potter got in a duel with Mr. Malfoy. I believe it led to Miss Granger hiding out in the Hospital Wing to shrink her teeth."

"Still, it wasn't me."

"This may not have been a school rule, but you broke your loyalty to Mr. Potter."

"I know!" Ron grumbled. "Why does everyone have to keep reminding me? One time people, one time…"

"Last year…well, I think you know what happened last year."

"It wasn't a rule yet! And it was Umbridge's rule so-"

"Forget her, you three still left school grounds with Longbottom, Lovegood, and your sister in the evening."

"Yeah, I don't think Harry wants a repeat of that knowledge." Ron said, rolling his eyes.

Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow. "Watch the sarcasm, Weasley; you are still speaking with a teacher."

"Right. Sorry Professor, it won't happen again."

"Do I honestly believe that?"

"I suppose not. But we're teenagers; we break rules all the time. Even Percy broke a rule!"

Professor McGonagall looked shocked. "Really? Are we talking about your brother? What on earth was the rule?"

"Yeah, him, he broke a rule. It happened when he was fourteen. It's a bit stupid, really, but he was out in the village and came home one minute past his curfew. His tearful apology came the next morning. Mum and Dad were honestly trying not to laugh…Fred, George, Ginny, and I couldn't keep it in. When he left for Hogwarts, Mum told us that she'd seen him from the window. He hadn't seen her at all because he was staring at his watch. She and Dad pretended to be asleep when they heard him sneaking up the creaky stairs." He scowled inwardly, remembering that he no longer spoke to his distant brother.

"Well that rule didn't endanger his life if your parents knew exactly where he was. We didn't know you three had gone after the Sorcerer's Stone until too late. We didn't discover that you'd gone into the Chamber of Secrets until well past midnight. No one knew you were going to Hagrid's to support his Hippogriff. No one knew what Mr. Potter had seen-"

"Sorry, but I must say that Snape did know." Ron interjected. "Harry gave Snape a coded message that should have been given a confirming nod or something. Maybe a message in Occlumency."

Professor McGonagall rolled her eyes. "Occlumency is not telepathy." She opened a door. "But it is a way to find out where you three have been."

Ron sighed and entered the office.

Harry and Hermione were sitting there, staring at their laps. Both were unharmed, but covered in dirt and leaves. Hermione looked the paler of the two and bit her lip until it was almost as pale as her skin. Harry simply gazed downward with a blank expression.

Professor Dumbledore sat in a chair he'd conjured up. Professor McGonagall sat next to him in her own chair while Ron sat between Harry and Hermione.

"I told yeh." Hagrid said gruffly. "I told yeh, Ron. You ought not meddle in this. I told yeh from the start ter leave this for the professionals, did I not?"

"You did." Ron admitted, not making eye contact.

"You both realize that Miss Weasley and Miss Lovegood are going to be in trouble as well." Professor Dumbledore said.

There's that tone again. Harry thought. I wish he'd just yell or something…

But no, Dumbledore didn't yell. He spoke in a slow, doleful, disappointed voice.

"P-please sir, they wanted to help." Hermione said. "We told them it was dangerous."

"They will be receiving two months worth of detention as well as a written note explaining that they'd taken part in something foolish." Professor McGonagall said.

"But they didn't go outside, Professor." Ron said. "I made sure of that."

"No, but they allowed you three to leave the castle at night." Professor Dumbledore said. "Was Mr. Creevey part of your initial plan?"

"Colin?" Hermione asked. "Why would Colin be part of this?" She looked to Harry who could only return a shrug.

"By this, I will assume not. If Miss Lovegood and Miss Weasley put him up to it then he shall be receiving a reasonable punishment such as lines."

Ron sighed, and then he tensed. "A-and us, sir?"

"First, we must discuss this. I am certain you three realize that the castle has been secured more than ever." The trio nodded. "You put your lives in danger for a quest best left to the Aurors."

"We know." Harry mumbled.

"Harry, this is especially dangerous for you. I must ask why you three left school grounds. I assume it is not the poor excuse you gave Mr. Hagrid. Whose idea was it to embark on a nighttime journey that could have gotten you killed?"

All three of them fidgeted uncomfortably, feeling as if they were toddlers getting scolded for hitting someone.

Hermione let out a terrified squeak and Harry raised his head a few inches, but Ron spoke before either of them could say anything.

"Mine." He said. "It was my fault. I convinced Hermione to read this article in the Quibbler and I got her to believe that I wanted to see if this legend was true. Please don't punish them, I dragged them into it. I just really wanted to go into the forest and see for myself if it was true. I prodded Hermione into following-"

"Hold it, Ron." Hagrid said. "Yeh hate the fores', I know it. All them spiders creep yeh out."

"It does seem odd that you would want to go back to a place that does not settle with you." Professor McGonagall said, raising an eyebrow.

"I-er…"

"Mr. Weasley, I do understand if you do not wish to tell on your friends, but I implore you not to lie about this." Professor Dumbledore said. "I know that all three of you have been looking. Researching in the library, asking others. Harry, was this your idea?"

Harry could feel three sets of eyes on him. He chose to look at a point above Hagrid's right shoulder. "Well…" he said. "It's actually…er…it's hard to explain really…"

"Honestly Mr. Potter, it's a straightforward yes or no. Was this or was this not your idea?" Professor McGonagall asked sternly.

"The thing is…about that…Hey, how about them Chudley Cannons?"

Ron snickered.

"Harry!" Hagrid snapped.

Harry's eyes locked onto Hagrid's. The half-giant's brown eyes seemed to be goading him towards the truth. He couldn't lie to Hagrid…and somehow, he knew that his mother couldn't either…

"It wasn't."

Hermione looked mortified at Harry's answer. She shakily looked up at Professor McGonagall with tears in her eyes.

"I-it's m-my fa-fault." She stuttered.

"Miss Granger, why did you go looking for this legend?"

"I had to see if he was real." She mumbled dejectedly. "And he is."

"Pardon?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

All eyes were on her.

"He's real. I saw him get the food I set out for him."

"It's true; we followed him as far as we could. I think he actually stopped to listen to Hermione before Hagrid found us." Harry said, looking Dumbledore in the eye.

"But it's still dangerous there." Professor McGonagall said. "I- Albus, are you alright?"

A smile appeared on Dumbledore's face as well as the twinkle in his eyes. "I am fine, Minerva."

"P-Professor?" Hermione said.

"Alright, I am certain the three of you do not want to be expelled."

"We do not." Harry said.

"How do we fix this?" Ron asked.

"I have a challenge for you three."

The students looked puzzled.

"What do you mean, Professor?" Harry asked.

"I won't expel you-"

"YES!"

"I was not done, Mr. Weasley."

"Sorry."

"I will not expel you if you can complete a rather tedious task."

The trio stared at the headmaster.

"What is it?" Hermione asked nervously.

"You three are to find the boy, in broad daylight mind you, and bring him to the castle. From there, you are to teach him proper behaviors and speech. You are also going to be monitoring his progress for me and keeping him out of trouble. If he has improved by the end of Easter holidays, I will reconsider your expulsion."

The students gaped at him.

"And you believe this is fitting, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Oh yes, nothing more troublesome than raising a child who has spent four years in the forest."

"In that case, I am going to bed. Good luck, you three." She stood up and briskly into her private quarters.

Hagrid sighed and left to return to his hut.

"Are you sure we can do this?" Ron asked.

"We don't have a choice, Ron." Harry said. "Professor, does this include our lessons?"

"Yes, Harry, you must still come when I inform you. I do realize you have busy sixth year schedules, but I think you can make room for mentoring."

"Right." Ron muttered.

"Come on, we can do this!" Hermione said. "I for one am glad to have a chance to change a life."

"Well, if you put it that way then I'm in." Harry said.

"I'm in as soon as you get him out of the forest." Ron said.

Harry rolled his eyes and grinned.

"Then I suggest we exit before Professor McGonagall kicks us out." Professor Dumbledore said.

The four of them left the office and headed up to the seventh floor.

"No more nighttime wanderings, please." Professor Dumbledore warned as the students climbed into the portrait. He shook his head slowly as he received mixed and vague responses.

"Tell me about it." The Fat Lady said as the portrait closed. "I wish I could grab them and throw them back in, but alas, I am just a painting."

"Much more than that my dear Lady, you are a piece of history." Dumbledore said. "And a rather remarkable one as well."

"Why thank you- GO TO BED."

Laughter was heard from inside the portrait hole.

The Fat Lady sighed. Dumbledore bid her goodnight and went back to his office.

Colin had been released when it was discovered that his skin was spray-painted green. Madam Pomfrey made him take three showers before she was satisfied. His skin still had a greenish tinge, but was unharmed. He and Ginny were waiting for the trio to enter.

"You're not in too much trouble." Harry said. "Just lines or something."

Colin seemed satisfied and went off to bed.

Hermione yawned and told Ginny she'd explain to her and Luna what had happened that evening.

While Hogwarts fell into slumber, one child was awake and alert. This child didn't know that big changes were about to present itself to him. He didn't even know that that night was a big change. He wished to hear the voices again and see the two people who had followed him. They looked close in age to him like the short young ones he saw. He had been frightened of the giant man, but not the tall young ones. He burrowed into his makeshift bed among the trees and shivered at the cold. He fell asleep to a warm feeling that covered and protected him. He was so exhausted and full of good food; he didn't see Giant Man return to his hut or the bigger giant fall asleep in a location much closer to his hideout than before.