Last time on The Lord and Lady Phoenix: The Stone…
Saturday night had arrived. Harry and Ginny had gotten up and decided to take a stroll around the school. They found Ron and his friends running loudly as they carried a wrinkly Norwegian Ridgeback up the stairs.
They had been so focused on Ron that they had not realized that their disillusion charms had fallen.
And at just the wrong time too.
"Well, well, well." Came the grouchy voice of one Mr. Filch. "Students out of bed."
Harry and Ginny looked at each other. They saw a gloomy faced Malfoy standing right behind Filch.
Ron, Seamus, and Dean chose that exact moment to run down the stairs. Flich's smile grew even wider.
"Oh dear, we are in trouble!" Filch smirked.
The Lord and Lady Phoenix: The Stone
Chapter Twenty Five
The Forbidden Forest
"You all are coming with me!" Filch said, his voice full of glee.
Harry, Ginny, and Draco nodded. They understood that they had broken the rules and deserved to be punished. Ron and his crew however, were not so agreeable.
"What? I didn't do anything!" Ron yelled.
"You're out of bed. That's against the rules." Filch said. "At least these brats are admitting their guilt and doing what I say. Now, follow me." He turned around and began walking. "And don't even try to run off and hide. All the headmaster needs is a memory and there are four witnesses here." He waved an arm to himself , Harry, Ginny, and Draco.
Ron cursed and began muttering to himself as he began to follow the caretaker.
Filch took them all down to the first floor where Professor McGonagall's office was.
Ron continued moaning and groaning about how the stupid Squib shouldn't even be at the school. Filch shook his head and continued on.
They arrived at the office and Filch swung the door open with pride.
McGonagall opened the door. Whatever she had been expecting, it sure was not Filch followed by two Ravenclaws, Three Gryffindors, and a Slytherin.
"Well…let's here it." McGonagal said with a sigh.
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Filch explained the whole story, not once allowing the three Gryffindors to cut him off, which they attempted multiple times.
"Well…I am passed shocked. Mr. Potter, Ms. Weasley, you two are my top students. Because of that and due to the fact that this is your first detention in Hogwarts, I will only be taking ten points each. Mr. Malfoy, you are also a highly intelligent student. I will only take ten points from you as well. I wish to not see you three in detention again. I will be tolerant this time but do not mess up again."
The three nodded.
"You three will have to serve detention however." She sighed.
The three nodded once more, accepting their punishment without a single word.
McGonagall stared at the three first years. They were all so very mature, much more than some seventh years she could easily name. She then turned to Ron and his gang.
"You three however, are not off the hook. I am beyond mad. This is your twentieth detention in a term that has only begun a few months! This will be fifty points."
"FIFTY!" Ron roared.
"Each." The aged professor added.
"Professor it not our faults!" Dean yelled.
"Really, then tell me Mr. Thomas. Who's fault is it?"
Ron shot a finger right at Ginny. "Her! It's her bloody fault!"
"And, why, Mr. Weasley, why is it her fault?" She asked, interested at what cock-and-bull story the boy would come up with this time.
"She's corrupted Harry's mind!" He bellowed. "Harry is my best friend! She took him away from me!"
Harry stared at him. "Ron, Ginny has been my friend since the day we met. She has always been there for me and never tries to take advantage of me. You on the other hand are different. You only care about the money and fame I could bring to you if you we my friend."
"Don't worry Harry. I'll save you from my stupid sister. You'll be in a right mind soon enough." Ron reassured him.
McGonagall shook her head and sighed. The boy still couldn't get over the fact that his sister was friends with Harry and not him.
"Ron, you and I are not friends. I do not focus on getting fame and fortune. I have enough of that. Which, by the way, I never even wanted in the first place."
"You see Harry? She's hypnotized you. Who wouldn't want fame and fortune? She just wants it all to herself." Ron told him.
"Ron, I have tried all year to teach you that I am not being forced into anything. But I am done. You can say whatever you want. I don't really give a crap anymore. You are not my best friend and never will be. Period."
"Harry she's already gone and-" Ron began.
"Mr. Weasley that is enough." McGonagal snapped. "You all will serve your detentions tomorrow night at eleven o'clock. You will meet Mr. Filch in the entrance Hall. I will be writing to your families about this. Now may you please leave so I can get a little sleep tonight?"
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The next day found Mrs. Weasley washing the dishes. So much had gone wrong. Harry Potter was not best friends with her little Ronnykins. Not that it was either of their faults. It was that….daughter of hers, Ginevra. The girl had always been an independent one, but lately she had gone way too far. Getting into Hogwarts a year early? Something had happened.
Dumbledore could not even find the answer. How could that even be possible? Dumbledore knew everything! He was the leader of the light for Merlin's sake. H e had always been there to help the family when they needed it. And then, of course her daughter, being the fame seeking girl she is, somehow bewitched poor Harry into not trusting Dumbledore. The man who had always been looking out for him his entire life!
Ginevra was the reason everything was going wrong.
All she had to do was know her place in life. Be a proper pureblooded witch, marry a rich and proper wizard and produce many heirs without a single complaint in her entire life. Was that really so complicated to follow? She was the last female Weasley and she was already ruining the family name!
The girl had better start to learn the truth and quickly. Or else she would never make it anywhere in life. What proper wizard would want a rambunctious, smart mouthed, hot headed witch who would not follow a single command?
Mrs. Weasley looked out the window and sighed.
Her only daughter, Ginevra, had better learn who she was and fast or she would never amount to anything in life.
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Harry and Ginny met Filch in the entrance Hall. Draco stood next to him.
"Ah there you two are. Right on schedule. Now we just need those Gryffindors to get down here and we'll be off." Filch informed them.
A minute passed and Filch's patience had worn out its welcome. He called out for Peeves, the school poltergeist. Peeves was a tiny little man with large and wicked eyes, darting everywhere at once. His mouth was always open, whether to throw out curses at passing people or spitting out raspberries with his long and noisy tongue.
"Ooooooh!" He cackled evilly as he swooped down upon them. "Ickle firsties in itty bitsy baddy detention." He grinned. "What big fun!"
Peeves, got to Gyrffindor tower and pull a prank on Ronald Weasley, Seamus Finnigan, and Dean Thomas. I don't care what you do as long as it get's them down here in the next fifteen seconds."
Peeves grinned. He shot up into the air like a rocket and disappeared through the ceiling.
Ten seconds later, a rumble shook the castle and a messy looking Ron, Dean, and Seamus zoomed down the stairs, a mad look in their eyes. Black soot covered their pajamas.
"Ah, there you are!" Filch called. "Next time, be where you're supposed to and Peeves will not try to pull a prank on you as often. Now don't think about running off, cause it'll be much worse if you do. Follow me." He lit a lamp and walked out into the grass.
They followed him out the door. Harry, Ginny, and Draco followed him, while the grumbling Gryffindors lagged behind.
The moon shined dimly as they made their way across the dark grounds. The many grey clouds soaring slowly past made the ground beneath them even more invisible.
"I know you'll think twice before you go and break a school rule again, won't ya?" His voice sneered at them.
The only thing they could see was the tiny flame in the lamp. The castle could not even be seen any longer. It had vanished into the night.
"Tis a pity the old punishments died out. Hard work and pain are the best teachers there are. I can still
remember them hanging you in chains from the ceiling for a few days. I still got the chains in my office in
case they're needed. Keep them well oiled to so they're ready at a moment's notice. God I miss the
Screaming."
Harry saw that they were walking over to Hagrid's hut. If this was a detention with Hagrid…
"I suppose you think you will be enjoying yourselves with that lumbering oaf. Think again, cause it's off
into the forest with you. I will be much mistaken if you'll all come back in one piece."
Ron stopped dead in his reluctant tracks. "The forest? Are you mad? We can't go in there! Student's
aren't allowed."
"Which means that you'll check into the forest A-okay Mr. Weasley." Filch snarled with a grin.
Ron gulped. "Bu-but there are…werewolves!"
"I'd expect you to find much worse than werewolves in there Weasley."
They finally arrived at Hagrid's hut. Harry and never really visited Hagrid during the year. HE had made
the trip once or twice. But he didn't really trust Hagrid too well. The big guy trusted people way too easily,
and Harry knew that anything he said would be sent straight to Dumbledore. Hagrid was just to loyal to
the headmaster.
"Abou' time," The giant said. "I bin waitin' fer yeh fer half an hour already."
"Sorry Hagrid. Some of us," He waved an arm towards the Gryffindors, "Had seemed to have forgotten that they had detention tonight."
"Alright then." Hagrid said.
"I'll be back at dawn to collect them, or rather, what's left of them." He added and vanished into the darkness.
Ron stared at Hagrid.
"I'm not going in there." He said stiffly. Everyone present could easily hear the panic in his voice.
"Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts." Said Hagrid fiercely. "Yeh've done wrong an' now yeh've got ter pay fer it."
"But it's there faults!" Seamus shouted, pointing at the three non-Gryffindors.
"They followed us around and told Filch!" Dean added.
"Um…no. Harry and I were just taking a walk around the school and were caught by Filch." Ginny said.
"Liar!" The Gryffindors yelled.
"That's enough! Now we're going into the forest to-" Hagrid began to explain.
"But this is servant stuff!" Ron moaned. "I'm a pureblood. I'm above this. Make them do it!" He pointed to the others. Hagrid stared at him along with everyone one else there.
"Yer blood don' matter." Hagrid said sternly. "An' yer sister's pureblood to. Harry's half-blood. Both of them are at the top of the class."
"Whatever." Ron said dismissively. "Make Malfoy do it then. He's a slimy Slytherin!"
"Ron, shut up." Harry said.
"Draco is a Slytherin yes. But does that really matter?"
"Yes! He's a dark wizard!" Ron yelled.
"How so?" Harry asked.
"He's a Slytherin!" Ron shouted.
"Ron your are repeating yourself. How about giving us a reason that doesn't involve Draco's house?" Ginny asked.
"He's a bloody Sly….er…he's a son of a death eater!" He quickly accused.
"Ron…you are pathetic. Draco's father may or may not have been a death eater. But that does not define who Draco is. He's allowed to choose his own path." Harry said slowly.
"No! See Harry? Draco's poisoning you too! He's making you think Dark wizards are superior! He and Ginny are probably working together to get your money!"
"Ron, I'm not going through this again. Draco can choose what he want, not what others label him as."
Draco stared at him.
"Harry, I will free you from these dark bastards!" Ron yelled. He reached for his pocket, where he kept his wand. He dug in and pulled out a Bertie Box of Every Flavor Bean.
"Nope." He reached in again. Cauldron cake.
"Not that." He was creating a small mountain of candy.
"Maybe it's in this pocket." Me mumbled out loud, switching sides.
A few more pieces of wizarding candy, and out came a very sticky wand, complete with melted chocolate running down the side. He looked up.
His face met the tip of Draco's wand.
"Don't even think about it Weasley." Draco threatened.
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The group had entered the forest. After a few minutes of walking Hagrid halted them. Ron, of course, wasn't listening and stepped in something very gooey.
"Ugh! What is this disgusting stuff? He scraped the "slime" off he boot with a fallen branch.
The trees rustled harshly in the breeze.
"That…is unicorn blood." Hagrid said bitterly. "Or was until you soiled it." I found one dead last Wednesday. This one…has been hurt badly. Our job, is to go an' find the poor thing. We're gonna split into groups. Ron, yeh'll be with yer sister an yeh'll go left. Dean an Seamus'll go with me down the middle. And Harry, you'll go with Malfoy on the right path."
Harry looked at the Slytherin member of their party. He didn't seem hateful towards this idea. Ron however, was.
"No! Harry is in my group!"
"Sorry Ron. But we'll get thins done a lot faster if we jus' accept it an' go."
Ron looked beyond annoyed. "Fine, but I get Fang then." He pointed to the large boarhound by Hagrid's legs."
"Alright. Just so yeh know, he's a bloody coward." Hagrid said. Fang whimpered.
Ron shot them all a dirty look and walked away. Ginny let out a sigh. She looked at Harry, smiled warmly, and chased after her idiotic brother.
"Well…you two best be off then." Hagrid said nervously.
"Alright then." Harry said. He and Malfoy looked at each other and nodded. They walked off without another word.
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Harry and Draco trudged along the uneven dirt of the forest. There were small pools of silver every now and then along the winding path so they knew that they were facing the right direction.
The trees were becoming thicker and thicker. They were very deep in the forest now. What little moonlight had been available before was no a mere trickle through the canopy high above. They were surrounded in pitch black silence.
"Potter, I'm sorry." A voice said. Harry turned. It had been so quiet that had nearly forgotten Draco was walking with him.
"Wh-what?" He asked, curious.
"I'm sorry." He repeated.
"For what?" The scar clad wizard said.
"I was such a jerk at the beginning of the year. I never knew anything about you besides the fact that you're Harry Potter. That was it. And here I was thinking that I could easily become your friend."
"Draco I-"
Malfoy held up a hand. "I need to say this Potter. Don't interrupt me." He took a deep breath. "I just don't know how to explain it. I was raised to believe that blood type is all that matters in the world. That being pureblood means that you are superior to others. I always was shown examples of how and why. My father has tortured muggles in front of me. He's forced me to do it a few times as well. Building character he'd say. He is a fanatic of the dark arts. My mother however, was forced into marriage with him due to a marriage contract to keep her family name pure. She hates the ideas of wizards vs. muggles. My family has attended numerous political meetings and parties. Everyone I met always spoke about blood superiority. I truly did believe that purebloods were supreme and muggles were filth."
Harry stared at him. This was the reason why the students at Hogwarts believed the blood superiority ideas. Their parents taught it to them, as their parents did and so on.
Malfoy continued. "But after what you told me on the train, and seeing all the amazing things you've done all year toppled my beliefs into the ground. You are a halfblood, The Weasley's are Pureblood. And Granger is muggleborn, yet she's one of the top in the class. Ginny is amazing at magic while her brother…Ron…sucks at it."
'True.' Harry thought. 'Very true.'
"Then a few days ago, I overheard the Weasley idiot talking about the Dragon. I knew no one would believe me. So I was trying to figure out what to do with this information. Then, the night came and I knew I had to tell someone. The first member of the staff that I found was Filch and….
"He gave you detention."
"Right. And then, about what you and Ginny had just said earlier. You two defended me. A Slytherin and a Malfoy. Someone who everyone thinks is completely evil. Why?"
Harry did not speak for a few seconds. Then he said, "Well Malfoy…I have never really known you. We've only talked with each other a few times. The first time was iffy. But then, all first meetings with someone are. After that, you seemed quiet most of the year. You never did anything bad. You did what a student is supposed to do in school. Who am I to judge you?"
Malfoy smiled. "I understand. Thank you Potter."
"Please…call me Harry." He held out a hand.
"Draco's the name." A second hand came and shook the first.
"So…friends?"
"Friends." Draco confirmed.
A shriek filled the woods. The two first years jumped at the noise. It sounded close. Very…very close.
The two new friends ran to where the sounds of pain was coming from.
They found themselves right behind an open clearing. There, against the base of a giant rotted tree, bathing in its own blood, was the unicorn.
It looked like it was just a foal. A small innocent creature. It fell to the ground with a thud. Harry was about to make for it when Draco held an arm out in front of him. The Slytherin pointed over towards the side of the clearing.
A form darker than the shadows of the night crept upon the fallen creature. A unnatural chill filled the air. Harry and Draco stood silent. The dark figure raised its arm. The moonlight able to break through the forest trees gleamed off of metal. Then, the figure brought the metal down into the screeching unicorn's skin.
A river of silver rushed down the creatures side. Before Harry or Draco could do anything, the figure brought its head down upon the fresh wound. Many slurping and sucking sounds were greedily coming from the hooded figure's mouth.
Then, the figure turned its head, looking straight at Harry. Silver blood running down its lips. He felt a powerful pain enter his lightning bolt scar. This…this was…Voldemort.
The figure rose from the still body of the unicorn. It seemed to float over towards them. The pain in his scar only increased.
Harry and Draco stood still, paralyzed in fear.
Suddenly, the sound of hooves filled the air. A powerful force rode right passed them. It jumped over their heads and kicked its hooves. The hooded man backed off and rammed into a tree. It was cornered. But it quickly flew up and shot through the air, vanishing into the night.
The hoofed figure turned to them. Harry recognized the black horse immediately.
"Morse!" He called out. The young Thestral had grown much in the past months. It bowed to Harry, who in turn, bowed back. His friend had saved his life.
The black horse turned its head toward the white unicorn.
Harry ran straight to the fallen creature. He checked its pulse. It was somehow…alive. The wound should have been fatal. But its breathing was very short. If something was not done in the next few minutes, it would die.
Morse looked at him. The Thestral closed its eyes and Harry understood.
Harry knew only one thing could save the creature now. In his mind he screamed, 'GINNY!'
Twenty six seconds later a red blur flew right past a still shocked Draco and ran right into Harry.
"What is it Harry?" She asked worried.
"The unicorn's about to die." He looked at her.
She nodded. "We need to pour our magic un to seal the wound." Together, they touch the large gash. Silver gushed rapidly onto their palms. They closed their eyes and concentrated. A river of magical energy was flowing through them.
A soft golden glow came from their hands. Harry poured as much of his energy as possible into the near dead being.
The two collapsed to the dirt, panting heavily.
"Harry! Ginny! Are you two alright?" Draco asked, helping them sit up.
"We're…okay. Just….exhausted." Ginny mumbled.
"But it looks like what ever you just did worked." Draco smiled, looking behind them.
They turned their heads and found the majestic creature alive. The wound was healed and there was no silver blood staining its coat. The unicorn looked at the three of them…and bowed.
They quickly bowed back in shock. Then, two more unicorn appeared behind the foal. They had to be its parents. The largest looked at them, bowed, and seemed to be giving its utter thanks.
The mother was rubbing her child with her head, making sure it was alright. Once it saw that the wound was healed completely, she bowed as well.
Then the father unicorn nodded to his child. The baby walked up to them. It nudged Ginny's bag. A few seconds later, a small vial dropped onto the soft grass. Ginny picked it up.
"What do you want me to do with this?" She asked. The unicorn used its head to nudge Harry and Ginny's hand together. It brought their hands grasping the vial to just below the once wounded spot.
Draco gasped. "It's not going to…"
The unicorn raised its horn proudly, and brought it down upon the skin. A golden light trickled out of the wound rather than the normal silver.
The vial filled completely and the wound sealed itself. The baby bowed to them once more and then disappeared into the night, joined with its parents.
"Do you two know what you're holding?" Draco asked, his mouth still dropped to the floor.
They nodded and together said, "Blood of a Unicorn, freely given."
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A/N: And that's the end of this chapter! Just one or two left to go! The Forbidden Forest is done for now and we've got some info on the Weasley's past as well as Draco's. What will they do with the freely given unicorn blood? You'll see later on. The Trapdoor is next! What will the conclusion of The Lord and Lady Phoenix: The Stone have in store for you all? You'll have to wait and find out!
And Buddygirl1004, sorry about not putting in the Pigfarts reference. I just couldn't find a good place for it. Maybe in the future….?
Thanks To….
JourneyRocks13, NUDGELOVER, Hikaru-pichu,
Nightwing509, The Spiked Dragon, Miss Millie,
Buddygirl1004, Luiz4200, azphxbrd,
Mrs YAYA, DanielWhite, jay-jaymne-sister-maple,
Jafr86, Mei Fa-chan, A Lou Kerr,
Harrypotterrules, harryandginnyforever
Bragging Rights go to….
NUDGELOVER-Voldy drinking blood, Draco's loyalties
Hikaru-pichu-Voldy drinking the blood, Harry and Draco's friendship
The Spiked Dragon-Draco's history
Miss Millie-Draco changes his ways
Buddygirl1004-Voldy is scared off. Harry heals Unicorn
Luiz4200-Harry and Draco talk.
Azphxbrd-Harry and Ginny heal the unicorn, unicorns honor Harry and Ginny
Alou Kerr-See Voldemort drinking blood. Narcissa forced into marriage contract.
Challenges.
1. What will happen in the Trapdoor?
2. What will Harry and Ginny do with the Unicorn Blood?
The finale is approaching quickly! See you soon!
SuperXBrother.