Thank you for the reviews again you guys! Much appreciate your support. Okay so here comes the next chapter. The first half is set after James and company return from the train station and the rest of it takes place a few days later. Do you follow? Okay. Cool. If you don't just read on. Talk 2 ya!
"You authorised him to search for the stone? James……I cannot believe that you would put our son in such danger!" Lily was standing in front of the kitchen sink with her resting behind her on the edge of the draining board. James was sitting at the table studying her face.
"Lily I did not put Harry in danger and secondly I never authorised him to….."
"Did you permit him to search for the stone?"
"I would never place him in danger…."
"DID YOU PERMIT HIM TO SEARCH FOR THE STONE?"
"I….no. I did not permit him to…."
"So in that case you must have forbidden him to search for it. Right?"
"I…eh….well no not exactly…"
"What do you mean no not exactly James? What did you tell him?"
"I didn't literally authorise him to go in pursuit of the stone….."
"Oh right so you didn't actually tell him to go find the stone but at the same time you didn't discourage him. Have I got that right now James?"
"Ya…something like that."
"I see. So there is a psycho loose at Hogwarts but nobody knows for sure who it is. He is after the philosophers stone which will allow Voldemort to become immortal…..and you decide at this very moment in time to give our eleven year old son your invisibility cloak to track down the culprit! Oh you have really out done yourself now James Potter!"
"Lily please…."
"Oh don't Lily please me James! Why didn't you just hand him over to Malfoy? That way it would be a lot quicker!" She stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind her. James sighed as he rolled his head back and rubbed his face in frustration.
A few days after they returned to Hogwarts, Harry suggested that they go and see Hagrid that night. During dinner Harry asked Rob and Hermione if they were coming.
"Ah mate I don't know. I mean….McGonagall already gave me detention for speaking constantly in class today. If we get caught….she will reprimand me even more. You know she will!"
"Yes but…" Harry lowered his voice to no louder than a whisper….."We have the invisibility cloak now. We can't get caught Rob. So….what do ya say?"
"I say I better stay here and do an outstanding essay for ole McGonagall. I am sorry Harry but….i reckon I need to play it safe for a while. You know….get back on side with her! Don't want to be pushing my luck now do I?"
"Alright fine. Hermione what about you?"
"What about me?"
"Are you coming to Hagrids or not?" Ron asked.
"Well we have an exam in a fortnight in transfiguration…"
"So what? Hermione that is two weeks away! You know…fourteen days?"
"I am quite aware of that thank you Ronald! But Harry….what if we get caught? We could loose points for Gryffindor or worse…get detention!"
"Oh Hermione would you get a grip! You need to learn to live a little. Take a risk every now and then…detention isn't the end of the world!"
"No but poor grades are…."
"For you ya…."
"Would you two shut up? Oh come on Hermione. We haven't seen Hagrid since before the holidays! We promised him that we would visit him as soon as we got back and we have been back for three days now…so..?"
"Oh alright fine. Just so long as we use the cloak!" Harry and Ron smiled at each other.
"Excellent!" Harry muttered triumphantly.
After dinner the trio headed down to Hagrids under the invisibility cloak. Their biggest mistake was putting it on outside the entrance hall where an undetected spy was lurking. Harry banged loudly on Hagrids door after the cloak was removed. They heard Fang barking inside and Hagrid sayin….
"Alrigh alrigh! I'm comin! Keep your wigs on!" Hagrid pulled open the door roughly.
"Oh. Harry…Ron….Hermione. What are ye doing here? You shouldn't be out this time of night!"
"Hagrid can we come in? We need to talk to you." Harry said hurriedly.
"Alrigh but I am a little bit on then." He replied stepping aside. As they entered and took a seat at his table, Hagrid asked….
"Well….what is that is so urgent with you lot then?"
"Its about the philosophers stone…" Hagrid who was standing guard beside a boiling pot over the fire turned to face Harry looking abashed. "Well what abou it?" He asked meekly.
"Hagrid…we know why somebody is after it but we can't prove who it is! So we were wondering if you could help us."
"What do you mean you know why someone is after it?" Hagrid asked coming over to the table.
"We were talking to James and Sirius over the holidays and well…it turns out that whoever is after the stone wants it for…..you know who." Ron said to a disgruntled Hagrid.
"We think it could be Snape…."
"Snape? Hermione Snape is helping to protecting the stone!"
"Protecting it?"
"Yes Harry. You heard right." Hagrid said before he returned to his pot.
"But then you must have some idea who is after it…."
"Do you mean Hagrid that there are spells and enchantments protecting the stone too?"
"I….I have said too much as it is! No more questions from you lot. Now if you don't mind….." The pot started bubbling so Hagrid returned his attention to it whilst the trio looked quizzically at each other. Hagrid returned to the table, juggling a roasting hot large egg in his hands.
"Hagrid….what exactly is that?" Harry asked as the egg lay on the table beginning to hatch.
"That is a dragon's egg. Can you believe my luck? The other night I won it at the Hogs head pub in Hogsmeade!" The egg burst open and out popped what Harry, Ron and Hermione had been eagerly awaiting for in great anticipation for.
"Aww look. Isn't he beautiful?"
"Wow! Hagrid you have got a Norwegian Ridgeback there. They are really rare. Worth a fortune…."
"Oi! Norbert is not for sale!"
"Norbert?" They all questioned in unison.
"Ya. Why? Don't ya think he'll like it?"
"Oh I am sure he will Hagrid." Hermione replied sweetly before smiling over at a grinning Harry and Ron.
"Oh no…." Harry exclaimed sorrowfully.
"What is it Harry?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"Malfoy was starring in the window. He is gone now but….."
"The sly git must have seen us coming here!" Ron said bitterly.
"Come on. Hagrid we have to go." Harry stated as he rose from the table.
"Alright then…"
"Malfoy has seen him so don't be surprised if you don't see us for the rest of the year…."
"Malfoy saw you? Oh dear…."
"See you later Hagrid!" They replied in unison as they smiled and left.
Harry, Ron and Hermione ran back to the castle in the hope that Malfoy had not conveyed their whereabouts to any professor, but in particular Snape. As they were rounding the corridor to go up the stairs by the entrance hall, McGonagall spotted them.
"Potter! Weasley! Granger! Follow me…..NOW!"
The three reluctantly followed her into her office where a smug looking Malfoy awaited. McGonagall sat down behind her desk while the trio stood adjacent to it looking like frightened kittens.
"Will one of you please explain the meaning of you all gallivanting around the school at this time of night?" McGonagall barked but with anxiety evident in her tone. The three looked at each other before Hermione spoke up.
"Well…you see Professor….we wanted to speak to Hagrid."
"And tell me Miss Granger why this could not have waited until the morning?"
"Oh well…I suppose it could have….."
"You did not answer my question Miss Granger. What was so important that could not have waited until the morning?"
"Um…well…uh…"
"I think that I can answer that Professor." Malfoy exclaimed stepping in front of the desk.
"Really Mr Malfoy?"
"Oh yes of course! You see I do believe that Hagrid told them about his precious dragon egg and these misguided students could not have refused his offer of coming and observing its birth…"
"Indeed Mr. Malfoy? Well if that be the case it does indeed seem like an emergency…"
"Luckily though I was there to catch them in the act!"
"You are quite right Mr. Malfoy. I suppose I should thank you but instead I shall opt for my first intuition and give the four of you detention as well as taking fifty points off your houses…each!"
"Each? But Professor…." Harry started but was cut off by Malfoys outburst.
"Excuse me Professor but I did not do anything wrong…"
"Oh but you did Mr. Malfoy. Though your intentions were indeed honourable…you too were out of bed after hours. So now would you all please return to your dormitories….unless you wish to have your detention extended to the end of the year?"
"No Professor." They all replied in unison.
"Right then…go to bed this instant please. I shall be speaking to Hagrid in the morning."
Harry, Ron and Hermione smiled sadly at each other before muttering….
"Good night Professor." They left but Malfoy glared at them and at McGonagall.
"Was there something else Mr. Malfoy?"
"No Professor…"
"Then go to your dormitory this instant." He nodded and left.
The next night Harry, Ron, Hermione and Malfoy all met in the great hall at 8:00, just as dinner was over. Filch was then to escort to their detention.
"What the hell were you doing over at that oafs house anyway? Its all your fault that I am now stained for life!" Malfoy spat.
"Actually you already were stained Malfoy but it was your choice and curiosity that landed you in this mess…and us…"
"Rumour has it that the four of you have been breaking school rules…but I suppose I should not be surprised at you Potter seen as who your father is. Come on then, follow me." Filch droned as he walked out onto the grounds with the four in tow looking begrudged.
"You should all consider yourselves lucky because if it was up to me detention would be torturous. God be with the days when you would hear screams from the dungeons. That was the worst mistake Dumbledore ever made." The trio looked disgusted at one another but Malfoy just smirked a little.
"Right Hagrid….here they are. Oh dear god man you are not still pining for that wretched dragon are ya?" Filch barked as Hagrid just wiped away a tear from his left eye and looked at Filch with hatred.
"Dumbledore sent Norbert away…to a colony….in Romania. What if something happens to him? I will probably never see him again!"
"Ya but Hagrid at least he won't be lonely right? Surely his happiness is the most important thing."
"But we don't know that he will be happy Hermione. He might be scared or bullied…."
"Oh get a grip Hagrid you're going into the dark forest! Need to be aware of your surroundings."
"Excuse me? We are going into the forest? We can't…"
"You don't have a choice young Malfoy. But don't worry…if anything should happen to you…I am certain that your parents will spare no expense on your funeral arrangements." The trio smirked while Malfoy just stared at him in disbelief. "Have fun now." Filch said before leaving them.
"Okay. Let's go." Hagrid said as he led them in the woods.
As they all traipsed into the dark, eerie forest, the sounds of creatures who inhabited the land echoed throughout sending shivers down their spines. The four of them all were wary of their surroundings. Though Hagrid was with them, it didn't offer them sufficient compensation. They wandered into the depths of the forest and Hagrid put up his giant palm to stop them from going any further.
"What is it Hagrid?" Ron asked nervously.
"See this?" He asked pointing to a puddle in front of him. They all nodded so he continued…
"What we are dealing with is cold hearted monster Ron. Somebody has killed a unicorn and drunk its blood for nourishment. I fear that they could still be here. So…our task for tonight is to find as many unicorns as possible who were brutally slaughtered….and give them a proper burial. So Ron, Hermione you come with me. Harry you go with Malfoy…"
"That means that we get Fang since it would be uneven otherwise….."
"Alright but he's bloody coward! Mark my words. Let's go. Harry, be careful."
"Come on Potter! Let's go." Harry watched Hagrid walk away with his two friends and wondered what he meant when he instructed him to be careful.
"Potter! Come on will ya?" Malfoy bellowed. Harry looked at him and followed.
As they wandered into the heart of the forest, the echoes of creatures became increasingly louder. Both Harry and Malfoy were scared but would not let the other know that. After about ten minutes of walking silently, they came across another unicorn that was slaughtered but….the perpetrator was there also. Fang growled which alerted Malfoy to the sudden danger they were in. Harry already knew since his scar began to burn his forehead. The brutal killer looked up and approached them with their long black cloak billowing behind them. Malfoy screamed and retreated with Fang in tow. Harry began to walk backwards still nursing his scar. He then tripped over the root of a tree and the cloaked person saw this as his chance to finally kill him. Out of nowhere a canteur came galloping out of the bushes and frightened off the mysterious stranger. Harry stood up as the canteur approached him.
"Harry Potter are you alright?"
"I am now thank you. What was that thing you saved me from though? And why was he after me?"
"You do not know who that was?" Harry shook his head.
"That was a monstrous creature who is cold blooded by name and by nature. His name is feared by all in our world…."
"No…that can't be….Voldemort….?"
"Yes. He is weak. That is why he was drinking the blood of a fair unicorn. He is obviously close to death since a unicorns blood will save you if you are an inch to it…."
"So…is he back?"
"No but there is something that can aid his return. Something that is concealed at Hogwarts…2
"The philosophers stone…."
"How are you Frienze? I see that you have saved our young Mr. Potter. Thanks…."
"Harry, take care. Danger is never far behind especially with Voldemort close by. Good luck."
"You cannot be serious Harry!" Rob exclaimed.
"I am Rob. Voldemort is closer than we had anticipated. He is weak, drinking off the unicorn's blood but don't you see? He is close to Hogwarts. Close to whoever is helping him….
"You don't really believe that he…will you know? Come into Hogwarts do you?"
"I don't know Ron. But one thing is for sure. We must stop whoever is responsible before it is too late!"
"But Harry how? We don't know for sure who is responsible. Nobody does…"
"Nobody except Dumbledore maybe…"
"What are you saying Harry?"
"I am saying Ron that….we need to speak to Dumbledore. Express our concerns and lets hope that he will listen to us."
Okay I know that there wasn't much originality in this chapter but from now on there will be! What did ya think anyway?