The three boys had a relaxing Christmas break, but before they knew it the rest of the school had returned. With the rest of the student body came the rain. The raindrops thudded hard against the slates and tiles of Hogwarts. In Gryffindor Tower the rain sounded akin to hail on a tin roof. With the rain came the wind which howled through the chimneypots and around the towers, like a dog chasing its own tail. Very soon the outcrops of snow which had remained melted and before long the castle grounds were a bog that none of the students could cross cleanly without brooms. Mr Filch was particularly annoyed by this, complaining viciously about all the extra work he had to do mopping up the mud. But not even a ticking off from Filch for dragging mud into the castle could compare to the talking to the boys got from Hermione for failing to get access to- or even trying to get access to- the restricted section.

'How are we supposed to find out more about the stone, if you aren't prepared to put in the hours and do the hard work on research?'

'But why do we want to know more about the stone 'Mionee.' Ron whinged,' We already know what it does.'

'Because it never hurts to know everything about something. Besides, we don't know it actually is the stone. All we know is that it's a small thing Harry saw taken from Gringotts'. We don't know what protections that have been put around it, let alone what protections it has inbuilt! You can never know too much!' Hermione snapped, somewhat waspishly.

When they told her about the invisibility cloak, Hermione's jaw had dropped. She was disappointed that they hadn't thought of using it to get into the restricted section and she said so. In the end the only way the boys could get her to stop talking about her disappointment was to mention that it was time for potions.

Realising they were running late, the foursome ran down to the dungeons, jumping over trick steps, taking short-cuts, by now long-learnt. None of them wanted to be late for Snape.

They ran into the dungeon just in time, taking the last four seats, right at the front of the classroom, next to Snape's desk. Seconds later, Snape swept in, his black robes billowing out behind him. The Christmas break had seen him lose none of his menacing and imposing nature. Once more he began the term's lessons with a sharp talk to the class.

'I see you have all managed to return to Hogwarts this term and I should like to offer you my congratulations on this amazing achievement.' Snape said, his voice dripping with disdain. 'This term we shall be studying a couple of exceedingly basic memory potions. Now these are some of the most dangerous potions you will come across this year, since if they go wrong you can lose your memory of everything that has ever happened in your life. Not,' Snape said, looking pointedly at Neville, 'that some of you actually need a potion to manage that. Memory potions are a large group, which are closely related to love potions, as they all contain mind-altering substances. The most important ingredients in memory potions are waters from the river Lethe for potions which require removal of memory and lilac blossom for those which require its preservation. Lethe water is the most dangerous thing you will deal with this year. It is the prime ingredient in the forgetfulness potion which we shall be making today. Now, this is a very simple potion to make, so I dare say that some of you may be able to manage it if you're lucky. You start by grinding up some porcupine quills, and dissolving these in water. Ordinary water, that is.'

'Are you paying attention, Mr Malfoy?' Snape suddenly bellowed.

'Yes, sir.' Draco replied immediately. He wasn't scared of Snape. Well, maybe a little bit.

'Well if you were paying attention Mr Malfoy you will be able to tell me why we grind the porcupine quills before adding them to the water.'

'You didn't say anything about that, sir'

'Ten points from Gryffindor for not paying attention Mr Malfoy, I clearly stated last term that we grind porcupine quills, so that the water may penetrate all parts of the quill so that it may be added safely to heat. A further ten points for lying to me when you said that you were paying attention Mr Malfoy.'

'Now, after we add the quills to the water, you put it on a low heat and leave it to start simmering, and then you add in flobberworm jelly to thicken it. Into this you add a couple of drops of Lethe water, making care not to spill any on yourself. Now stir three times clockwise, three times anticlockwise, then a further three clockwise turns. Now leave it to simmer. It should turn a shade of russet. Then add four finely diced daisy roots and a grated rat's tail. It will now turn a violent orange and you must bring it to the boil immediately. If you do this the colour will change again to a deep pink. Cool it and you have successfully brewed a forgetfulness potion. Does anyone have any questions? No? Good. Then you may start.'

The potion making was uneventful, Harry was partnered with Ron, Draco with Hermione. They were progressing well and both pairs had achieved the russet stage, when a vast explosion filled the room.

'LONGBOTTOM!' Snape yelled,' Can you do nothing right? I explicitly said to stir clockwise then anticlockwise then clockwise. Did you only stir clockwise?'

'Yes, Sir.'

'Idiot boy! Why did you do that?'

'I forgot, sir.'

'You forgot. How apposite. Since you no longer have enough time to redo your potion, you may as well go back to your dormitory. I will expect three feet of parchment on my desk describing appropriate stirring methods for safe brewing of potions by Monday.'

The rest of the class proved uneventful, with Harry and Ron and Draco and Hermione successfully managing to brew the potion. Snape looked at them disapprovingly before giving them their marks. They all got 'Acceptable'.

The next week they didn't have potions, since the dungeons had flooded from all the rain, which hadn't abated since the start of term. Eventually, however it did stop. The sun came out and the muddy quagmire outside slowly began to form a hard crust. Harry and Ron decided it was time to introduce Draco to the delights of Hagrid's cooking. A note had come through this morning inviting them down. It had mentioned the words "Rock cakes", two words capable of sending fear through the heart of Godric Gryffindor himself, when written on an invitation from Hagrid.

The four were walking down, Draco and Hermione in front, Ron and Harry behind.

'You'll love his rock-cakes, Draco.'

'Yeah, best things I've ever had.'

Ron and Harry struggled not to start laughing, as they played what they were sure was the greatest prank they had ever played on Draco – it would however only be complete when he bit into one of Hagrid's rock-cakes.

'Hello there you three and a new face too! Always nice to 'ave company. Come in! Come in!' Hagrid waved them inside.

'Nice to be able to get down again to see you, Hagrid. Have any problems with the rain?' Draco noticed that Hagrids eyes darted to a something in the corner, covered with a large tarpaulin. He wondered what was under it.

'Anyway,' Harry continued, 'this is Draco, he's in our dorm.'

'Nice t' meet you.' Said Hagrid, offering Draco his huge hand. Draco took it and shook it.

'Nice to meet you too.'

The conversation revolved around the usual topics, Quidditch, lessons, the weather until eventually, Hagrid mentioned that he'd not been able to bake the promised rock-cakes.

'Oh. Why's that?' asked Ron, disappointed that the poorly-planned prank had fallen at the first hurdle.

'I've been using my stove for other things. Shouldn't have said tha'. Should not have said tha' ' said Hagrid, suddenly going red and falling silent. Draco felt that the suspicious tarpaulin and the suspicious non-use of stove were somehow related. He got up, and subtly sidled over to the old waxed cloth. Lifting it up, he saw a strange thing underneath. Everyone fell silent and it was Ron who spoke first.

'Hagrid,' he said, slightly nervously, 'is that what I think it is? Is that a dragon's egg?'

'Migh' be'

'Hagrid' interjected Hermione, 'aren't they, well. Illegal?'

'Tha's only to stop people who don' know wha' they're doin' from getting hurt.' Replied Hagrid suspiciously quickly. At that moment, they heard a quick tap, tap, tap. The egg shell was being broken from the inside. At that moment, they were all witness to the first home birth of a Dragon in the best part of a century.

'Hagrid' Said Draco,' That's a dragon.'

'An' he knows his Mummy!' Hagrid replied, mistaking Draco's tone as he fawned over the baby dragon. 'I think I'll call him Norbert.'

'But Hagrid, your house is made of wood. That's a dragon. Dragon's breathe fire.'

For the rest of the evening, they tried to persuade Hagrid to get rid of the dragon, but to no avail.

The next few weeks saw the four visit Hagrid's hut more regularly than ever before, each time trying to persuade him to get rid of the dragon.

'My brother in Romania works with dragons, Hagrid, he could look after Norbert.' Ron suggested on one such occasion.

'But Norbert might get lonely, homesick- what if the other dragons are mean to 'im?'

After this notable exchange, they headed solemnly back to the castle. In the entrance hall, were two looming shadows. They stepped through the doors, and started to go up the stairs. The shadows moved.

'Oi! Gryff Scum! Wot you doin' up this late?' It was Crabbe and, presumably, Goyle. They turned. Ron had to swerve to one side, to avoid a mysterious golden spell which only just whistled past his left ear.

A fight began. Nothing particularly spectacular, since as first years they didn't know how to cast any really damaging spells, but they did know enough spells to cause some mild discomfort. They were so busy casting and avoiding the spells that they didn't notice when a small, furry thing crept off around the corner.

Five minutes later, the fight came to a sudden halt. Crabbe and Goyle stopped first, looking terrified. Then spells from each of the fourGryffindors hit them. Only then did they slowly turn, to discover none other than Professor McGonagall standing behind them. Their hearts dropped into their toes. It was McGonagall. And she was fuming.

'In all my years at Hogwarts,' she shouted,' I have never seen such behaviour. Up past bedtime! Fighting in the entrance hall! I'm surprised at you. 50 points from each of you and detention!'

They returned to their dorms, feeling utterly miserable.

The next morning was even worse. A couple of first years had lost all of Gryffindor's points. 200 points overnight! What few friends they had in the house turned on them. Being thus ostracised however did serve to bring them closer together, so it was as even closer friends that the four Gryffindors went to serve their detention with Hagrid.

'Righ' you lot. We've got a dangerous job to do today. We'll be going in there.'

'What!' exclaimed Draco, 'The Forbidden forest? But students aren't allowed. The clue's sort of in the name.'

'Tha's where we're goin'. If you do summat wrong at Hogwarts, you do something useful or you get out. Lines! Ha! What good did that ever do anyone?!'

Hagrid explained how he'd found unicorn blood scattered throughout the forest. Tonight they would be trying to find the creature.

'Righ'. Now. We'll split up into two groups. Harry, you and Malfoy go with Fang. I'll be wi' Ron and Hermione. If you find it send up green sparks. If you need help send up red ones. All clear? Good. Let's be off then.'

They set off into the forest as a large group and soon split up at a fork in one of the many winding paths that went through the middle of the trees. Harry and Draco took the path to the left, which Draco fancied to be less taken than the other.

They walked about the forest for a while, jumping whenever they stepped on old, dry twigs, looking nervously about when they heard the rustle of leaves in the trees. Eventually they came to a small clearing. In the centre of the clearing lay a large, silvery-white body and over the body stooped a man in a dark black cloak. Fang scarpered.

Harry pulled Draco to the ground. They fell noisily, but the hooded figure didn't look up.

'What do we do?' whispered Draco, 'something tells me sending up sparks isn't a good idea.'

'Yeah, you're right. We've got to find Hagrid somehow. But how do we lead them back here?'

'I don't think I'd remember the way back anyway.'

'Me neither.'

'Merlin! What're we supposed to do?'

'Send up sparks and run away?'

'Yeah. Run away. Even if we can run faster than that thing- unlikely if it took down a unicorn- that is such a brave thing to do. I didn't want to be in Gryffindor. But since I'm here I may as well do my best to fit in.'

'You didn't want to be in Gryffindor?'

'No. But I don't want to talk about it.'

'Then why bring it up if you don't want to. Oh! Never mind.'

'Well, I wanted to be in Slytherin like my father.'

'I see.'

'But. LOOK OUT! HE'S SPOTTED US!' Draco screamed as the menacing black shadow began to drift towards them, seemingly without legs. Silvery unicorn blood could be seen glistening beneath the foul hood.

'RUN!' yelled Draco as he took flight. They darted between the trees, stumbling over the occasional roots until suddenly Harry tripped up and fell. The black shadow swept down on him, and even as Draco's mind descended into sheer panic, he had the presence of mind to send up red sparks.

Hagrid came running through the undergrowth, with Ron and Hermione panting behind to keep up. Whilst half-giants seem often to be slow and lumbering people, they are quite capable of a remarkable turn of speed when required. It's probably the long legs.

They don't move quietly however at such speeds and the noise of Hagrid's approach, which rather reminded the boys of the Hogwarts express, scared off the man in the black hood.

'Wha' on earth is goin' on here then? Who was tha'?'

'No idea,' said Harry, 'But' He shuddered, unable to complete his sentence.

After Draco had led Hagrid to the dead unicorn, they returned to the castle. That night they slept soundly, despite a strange cloaked figure floating through their dreams.