Chapter 5

Unfortunately, Yaxley wasn't able to let Reece return home for Christmas as he was away in France doing business for the Ministry. The worst part was that every Slytherin in his year was going home for the break. Everyone but him.

He sat at the Slytherin table, watching the chess game between Potter and Weasel from behind his book. He'd taken the book about dark arts and defensive spells out of the library for something to do, but the game on the Gryffindor table caught his attention more.

On Christmas Day he woke up to find a couple of gifts. One from Yaxley, one from the Malfoys, one from Blaise and one from Pansy. Yaxley had sent him a black ring with the Lestrange family crest carved into it. He had no clue where Yaxley had found it but Reece loved it nonetheless. The note with the gift said that it used to be his father's long ago, and he felt a sudden connection when wearing it. The Malfoys had sent him some expensive sweets and Reece set himself a mental reminder to thank Narcissa and Lucius (as well as Draco) when he next saw them. Blaise had given him a smart new pair of shoes and Pansy had sent him a designer perfume. She had also written a note explaining that although he did not smell bad, he could smell better.

With that Christmas had passed and the snow had cleared just after everyone returned to Hogwarts. Reece was sauntering casually through the library, looking for a new book after returning the previous one. He was standing with his hands in his pockets when the bushy haired Gryffindor pranced past with a huge book in her arms.

"Mudblood, mudblood, muddy-muddy mudblood." He taunted in a sing-song tone. She whipped round to see who was being so loud in the library and came face to face with Reece.

"What do you want?" She asked in her bossy tone while glaring at him lightly.

"A good book if I'm honest. I've been through most of the good magical books in this bloody library and there's no way I'm going near the muggle section." He turned to look away from her and scanned the titles on the shelves for effect.

"Leave me alone Lestrange." She commanded as she turned back to walk off in the direction that she was headed.

"You wound me Granger. Pissing you off highlights my day." Reece retorted sarcastically.

"Then you're sick." Hermione shot back as she strut away quickly. He allowed the arrogant, Machiavellian grin to spread across his lips and devour his facial features.

"I know."

"I'm so sick of Potter." Draco spat as he and Reece walked around the grounds. The two had decided that they needed fresh air – and time away from Crabbe and Goyle. "And those two that he hangs around with." He was in the middle of his rant when Reece cut in rather suddenly.

"Speak of the devil." Draco follow his friend's line of sight to see the three on their way down to Hagrid's hut.

"Let's follow them and see what they're up to. Get them into trouble if we can." Draco said with a newfound enthusiasm. He set off at a slow jog in pursuit and Reece followed at his pace. Once they had reached the hut, Reece and Draco both peered through a window to see Hagrid carrying what looked like an egg over to the table.

"That's a dragon egg." Reece whispered confidently. He knew that dragons were banned and that keeping one was illegal. Hagrid would be in a lot of trouble if anyone found out. The two watched as the dragon exited the shell in spectacular fashion. That was until Hagrid spotted Draco peering through the glass. As soon as he had been spotted, Draco ran off and up the hill as fast as he could – quickly followed by Reece.

"Let's tell Professor McGonagall on the way past. She'll have their heads." Draco said breathlessly as they re-entered the school halls. "Professor," Draco said coolly as he swaggered into the classroom. Reece wandered in after him with a charming stride as Malfoy informed the head of the Gryffindor house. She managed to intercept them and the five were now in her classroom. Draco and Reece stood off to the side – Malfoy looking incredibly smug and Lestrange looking indifferent, whereas the golden trio stood in front of McGonagall's desk.

"Nothing. I repeat, nothing, gives a student the right to walk about the school at night." She began to lecture as Reece rolled his eyes. The woman could lecture for hours on end and not be at loss for words. "Therefore as punishment for your actions fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor,"

"Fifty?" Potter asked in disbelief as the other two shared a gutted glance.

"Each." Draco seemed to be on the verge of laughter once Minerva had said that they would lose one hundred and fifty points. "And to ensure it doesn't happen again, all five of you will receive detention." Reece frowned slightly and Draco's smug expression soon turned to one of confusion and annoyance.

"Excuse me Professor," Draco said as he stepped forward. "Perhaps I heard you wrong. I thought you said the five of us?"

"No, you heard me correct Mister Malfoy. You see, as honourable as your intentions were you too were out of bed after hours." It was Potter's turn to look smug now. "You and Mister Lestrange will join your classmates in detention."

"Ha." Reece had finally spoken up on the matter. His body was still leaned against the desk smoothly and his face was emotionless. "You must be insane to think that I'd serve a detention for something as petty as this."

"You think you're all that, don't you Mister Lestrange?" McGonagall asked coolly once she had calmed her shock after being spoken to the way she had been spoken to by a student. "Think that you're above everyone else along with Mister Malfoy?"

"Curiosity killed the cat, Professor." Reece shot sharply. "But I guess I'll do the detention. Maybe make some new friends during that time." He smirked scarily at Harry and Ron.

"Off to bed now, all of you." Minerva was slightly shaken by his way with words. Everything he wanted to sound intimidating would sound threatening, and everything that he wanted to sound smooth was simply suave.

After what could have been described as banter between Hagrid and Filch, the five students along with Fang and Hagrid entered the forest. While they were trekking through the forest Hagrid discovered unicorn blood. He split the five off into two groups, Hermione and Ron with him and Draco, Reece, Harry and Fang.

"Wait 'till my father hears about this." Draco spat as Reece followed the two uninterested by the current predicament. He walked behind the other three but made sure to stay close enough to the lantern.

Suddenly Fang walked ahead and the three boys came across a tiny clearing. In that clearing was a black hooded figure, looming over the deceased unicorn. Draco screamed and ran as soon as he noticed the figure with Fang closely behind him. Reece glanced at Harry and noticed him touching his scar, then he looked back at the figure that was now on its way towards them.

"Potter, get back." Reece muttered as he took out the wand that he had refused to hand over to Hagrid earlier. He pointed the wand towards the leering figure, stepping back as it neared him. Harry had also fallen back against a stack of roots and the two were utterly helpless as Reece had no idea what spell would affect the cloaked creature. Just when hope seemed to be an impossible thing, a centaur leapt out of the clearing – frightening the figure enough to make it retreat.

"Harry Potter," He said as he made himself known. What was Reece? A root? He was there the whole time as well. "You need to leave, the forest is not safe at this time, especially for you."

"What was that thing you saved us from?" Well at least Potter remembered that he was standing right beside him.

"A monstrous creature." The centaur replied. "It is a terrible crime to slay a unicorn; drinking the blood of a unicorn will keep you alive even if you are an inch from death. But at a terrible price. If you slay something so pure, from the moment the blood touches your lips, you will have a half-life. A cursed life."

"But who would choose such a life?" An oblivious Harry asked. Reece was still there, blending in with the roots and all – just in case you were wondering.

"Can you think of no one?" The centaur asked as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Do you mean to say, that that thing that killed the unicorn, that was drinking its blood, that was Voldemort?"

"Do you know what is hidden in this school at this very moment Mister Potter?" He asked Harry as he moved towards the two boys.

"The Philosopher's stone." Harry said as Hagrid approached the scene with the rest of the group in tow. Reece just stood like a lemon as the centaur and Hagrid exchanged a greeting. Once the detention was over, he head back to the Slytherin common room with one question on his mind.

What in the world was the Philosopher's stone?