"Well, that's it. We should get some sleep"—Minerva said.
They all said goodnight and went to their rooms.
Monty and Dorea's room
Dorea sat on the couch in the corner. – "Why didn't you tell me about Sirius and Severus incident?"
"Because I didn't find out until after he showed up at our house. I heard Remus and James speaking about it."
"What did you tell him."
"I was disappointed, that he tried so hard not to be like them and ended up doing something as horrible. I was the one that asked Dumbledore to get him off the team."
"I'm scared for him."
"He's a good boy Dorea, but he's angry at the world. I tried to get him a mind healer and he lashed out, and them being in this war isn't helping."
"Now add Peter's betrayal…"
"What did Remus say?"
"Nothing, I'm also worried about him. I'm worried about all of them, even Severus and I just met him. They are young adults who should be worried about what they are going to study, where are they going to holiday… not watching their backs for killing curses."
Monty stated serving himself a drink.—"That boy is in love with Lily."
"Oh, I have noticed, he stares at her too much, James doesn't seem bothered by it."
"James doesn't get bothered by much, but he doesn't care for the boy"
"We let it happen"—Dorea stated— "What Marlene said is true, we encouraged that behavior."
Monty looked at her with a serene look— "Yes, we should have been more clear about that but I don't regret it. Dumbledore wasn't doing anything to protect the students, attacks were happening everywhere, you know Mathew received threats regarding Marlene, I wasn't the only father that put their sons on alert."
Dorea sighed exasperated. — "I'm tired of this war, my children dead, alone and hurt. I wasn't there, we weren't there. They put their faith in Dumbledore, and he failed them, and it kind of feels we are doing the same thing right now."
Monty pulled her close and kissed her temple— "I won't let that happen. Lily and James will live I will make sure."
"I know you will. I'm just scared. I have no idea what these books are going to say and Albus keeps giving us details of a life we might not live."
"It's his way of getting us invested, he wants us to understand this is real, this could happen."
"I know, it just makes me feel hopeless, it's our grandson who lived all of this and he was alone"
"It doesn't seem like he was alone."
"His family wasn't there."—Dorea shook her head, taking his drink—" What is done is done, I can't fix that, but I will fix this one. We are going to start by being better parents. Go to sleep, I must talk to Sirius. James and Severus' fight was enough, the next one will be more aggressive, and someone might get hurt."
Monty agreed though he didn't tell her, it might be Lily who would attack, he stood up. —"Very well, just remember to be kind to the boy. You Blacks have no Subtleness or Emotional tact."
Dorea rolled her eyes but walked to Sirius and Marlene's room.
"Auntie?"—Marlene said opening the door.
"Go see what Remus is doing. I need to speak with my son in private."
Sirius was already in bed, he sat up on his elbows with a frown, Marlene grabbed her bathrobe and ran to Remus's room.
"Mom?"—Sirius asked— "Are you ok?"
"I want to know a few things; I know Remus already warned you I would try talking…"
Sirius stood up angrily. —"Right now? I'm tired."
"Yes, right now."—Dorea said sternly— "Your brother already had a fight with the boy, and I don't want a repeat. I want to know when everything became so bad you decided to send him to his death, that's hate. You hate him and he hates you with the same passion. And I want to know why it happened, you used your friend against him, that's cruel."
Sirius looked down at his feet. —"Do you think I don't know that? I regret it."
"I know you do, but I want to know why you did it."
"Because he's not a good person."
"That's not justifiable to hurt someone."
"Isn't that what we are doing now? The death eaters attack us, and we attack back because we know they are not good people."
Dorea looked up at him— "That's different, he wasn't a death eater at fifteen."
"Oh, he was. Everyone who has the mark started young, I would have started at sixteen. He hangs around with all of them, his best friend is a Rosier. We know he's a confirmed Death Eater, whatever Dumbledore has over his head, must be big."
"How did the animosity start?"—She asked again.
"It started on the train, but it continued for each one of us for different reasons."
"Since then?"
"Yes, we were on the train, he and Lily joined us last. James said something about Gryffindor, and he mocked us, James mocked Slytherin, and I said something about purebloods and muggle-born, Lily asked, and I told her to ask her friend. We offended him and they left the comportment."
"That's how all of this started?"—she said Skeptical.
"That's how all of this started and then it got out of control. When I say that Hermione reminds me of Lily is the truth, everyone was wrong, and she was right, and all the first year she spent with Snape. And do you know who his friends were?"-Sirius made a gesture-" Everyone who should have been my friend All who knew what I had become, I didn't care when Rosier, Mulciber, or Avery yelled at me that I was a blood traitor or asked about my mother, I expected it, but why did Snape believe he could, he eventually started joining the taunting… he had no right, I didn't even know him? What gave him the right to talk about my living situation? When according to Lily, he was living the same thing with his father."
Dorea nodded at his words. — "So, the first two years it was normal house rivalry."
"I think so, it was around the third year when we started taunting each other more, it's when he cemented his relationship with the noble houses of Slytherin. Lily was already good friends with the girls as well and she was trying to bring him into the group and James forbid Marlene from getting close to him. But Marlene had already decided she wanted to do nothing with him because of Rosier, but Lily found out about us meddling and she got mad."—he said going for a cigarette, Dorea pinched her lips, but he shrugged.
"I still don't understand."
"Lily, Mom, everything changed because of Lily. The moment James realized that she was a girl, he started asking her out. He even got her flowers once. I think it was the first and last time Lily thanked him for the flowers until they started officially dating in 6th year. Snaped made the mistake of threatening James to stay away from her and James laughed. I mocked him and told him Lily would never see him as anything but a slimy thing grasping her skirts."—Sirius let the smoke out. –"But after that, the taunting was more intense, the jinxes became curses, and the words in the hallways became personal, eventually we were in their way, they were in ours, Peter was our weak lane, Snape was theirs. We took advantage."
"I didn't know about Lily's friendship."
Sirius shrugged.—" Marlene tried to explain to her that Snape wasn't a nice person and that his friends were hurting people but Lily yelled at her that the only people hurting other students were us. Remus got mad at Lily for that one."
Dorea narrowed her eyes.—"Did they…"
Sirius laughed not letting her finish. — "I thought you loved Lily?"
"I do, she and Marlene are like my daughters, but that doesn't mean I don't want to know."
"Lily cared for Snape the same way I care for Jamie. Snape was her family, the only one that didn't judge her for her magic, no one wants to see their family fall into Dark magic, Merlin knows I rage at Regulus."—Sirius sighed—"We all tried to tell her it was time to let it go, many times I yelled at her to ask him what his friends said about her, eventually she did."-he shrugged
"And?"
"And I don't know. I don't know the full story of Lily and Snape that's Jamie's place. I just now they started fighting by the end of the fourth year."
"What did they say about her?"
Sirius rolled his eyes-"That she was a mud blood, Mulciber talked about her as if she was a thing. Remus once heard Mulciber and Snape talking in the library, he asked him If Lily was a natural redhead and the git only laughed, Remus quickly told James and James made sure Snape knew we had heard. We tormented him for weeks making him believe we were going to tell her."
"Did you?"
"No, we told Marlene. With me yelling at her and Marlene's advice I think it was when Lily started questioning everything. Look Ma, it started as something pity and then it escalated into personal and hurtful, when the taunting became personal, Regulus started to get involved, and it infuriated me even more when Snape called him his friend. I didn't tolerate that, every time I saw his face, I just wanted to punch him. By 4fth year the attacks in the streets started, I still remember."—Sirius said sitting next to her—" the summer before fifth year we were invited to the engagement party of Olina Rosier, as heir, I was forced to go, Walburga cursed me into Submission. Do you know who I found?"-he pointed at her-" Snape. Do you know where the Rosier had been? In France with the Dark Lord and then I get to your house and Monty warns us about this new Dark Lord that is murdering muggles and recruiting people…"—Sirius flicked his cigarette into the trash. He pursed his lips and shrugged—"by fifth year Snape was nothing but another Slytherin scum. Lily and he were already fighting, and he knew we had something to do with that, he tried to threaten Marlene and she told us. Eventually, he got it in his hateful little head that he had to get rid of us, he started following us around, spying, and taunting Remus. It got me fed up."
Dorea got up and started pacing around. — "He already knew about Remus; I thought you had been careful"—
"We were, but the man isn't an idiot. He figured it out I believe at the same time as Lily, but he was obsessed with us. The incident of fifth year involves only me and him and he wants to blame all of us. He blamed us for destroying his friendship with Lily and he was going to destroy ours, but in reality, it was me who almost destroyed everything."—Sirius passed a hand through his hair—" I regret it, the words came out of my mouth very easy and everything James and Remus said and did to me, I deserved it. How was I supposed to know the idiot boy would go down there?"
Dorea sighed and turned to look at a defeated Sirius, giving what they were living she forgot how young they truly were.-"Because he was as angry as you. Because he wanted revenge the same way you wanted revenge. The people around you failed you, you and your brother should have come to us with this problem, but I guess we didn't encourage peace, did we? And now you're on different sides of the war."
"He's trying to kill our side, you know. That's why Mad-Eye doesn't like him because he tried to kill Hestia. He was in the group that put Caradoc in St mungo's."
Dorea shook her head. —"And yet he is here. Why?"
"I don't know, no one that takes the mark deserves redemption"—Sirius said angrily.
Dorea looked at him sadly— "What about your brother?"
"I mourned and cried him even if I don't know for sure if he's dead, but he fucked up he had choices we all did."—Sirius shook very similar to padfoot when stretching. —" I don't want to talk about Regulus, this isn't about him. I know what you're doing here, you want me to feel sorry for what I did. I feel sorry for using Remus. I feel sorry for how easily those words came out of my mouth. I'm ashamed. But I don't care about Snape, you want me to behave? fine, I won't seek a fight, but I won't stay quiet when we hear about the abuse he put Harry through, because If we all die and he is left behind to keep Harry safe, he will still treat Harry like shit just because he is James son."
Dorea stood up and went to him, she hugged him tightly making him relax. She looked up at his grey eyes.—"I just don't want this hatred, this anger to keep consuming you."—
"I'm angry, we all are."
"I know, and you have every right, but if you keep bottling it up…bad things will happen, now more than ever we need to keep a steady mind."
Sirius sighed and kissed her forehead—"I know, Mom. I'll try, Marlene forces me to talk about my feelings."
Dorea nodded, she had gotten enough for today, this was a learning process, and she knew they still had more to go with him. – "Just please start reigning your emotions, talk to Remus please, don't just ignore it."
Sirius nodded he had been considering it but with all the doubts they had for each other it was best to leave things at peace, before Dorea left, he talked to her— "Ma, don't bother James with this yet. Believe me, he won't do anything else to Snape."
"Very well, I'll wait"—
The next morning… Dorea saw James staring at her, but she shook her head, making him nod with a tired expression. She would make him wait and he was going to fret about it.
They ate breakfast and sat back down to keep reading.
— CHAPTER FOURTEEN— Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback
"Excuse me, what?"
"Hagrid"—Dorea said angrily.
Why, why are you saying my name like that?
"Because you're the one who wants a dragon."
Hagrid smiled wide— "I do want one."
Quirrell seem to be getting paler and thinner, but it didn't look as though he'd cracked yet.
"A guilty conscience tends to do that" –
"I think this is more than a guilty conscience, he sounds sick"—Alice said.
Harry passed Quirrell these days he gave him an encouraging sort of smile,
All the adults shook their heads.
"They think they are helping in their little minds."
"Hermione needs to calm down, she will burn herself out."
"This happens in exam seasons; we all get anxious."
Do you realize we need to pass these exams to get into the second year?
Lily sighed sadly; she knew where Hermione was going with this. She caught Ted smiling at her, and he too realized.
"Hermione is concerned she won't be admitted next year, we have to do good so we can come back"
—Lily stated— "Muggleborn are afraid we can't come back."
Minerva pressed her lips. Maybe it was time to add someone to speak with the children.
Dumbledore turned suspiciously to Hagrid.
Ron impressively. 'And we know what that dog's guarding, it's a Philosopher's St–''
"Shh, for heaven's sake be quiet."
"Children are so loud"—Alastor said.
"Harry shut up. Anyone can be listening."
'SHHHH!' said Hagrid again. 'Listen – come and see me later, I'm not promisin' I'll tell yeh anythin', mind, but don't go rabbitin' about it in here, students aren't s'pposed ter know. They'll think I've told yeh
Dumbledore looked amused at Hagrid, he cared for the man, but he never told him everything for this exact reason, what was future him doing?
"Hagrid mate, you did tell them."
"No, I spoke out loud."—Hagrid defended himself.
'Dragons!' he whispered. 'Hagrid was looking up stuff about dragons! Look at these:
"Oh, did I get one?"—Hagrid said excitedly
Kingsley frowned— "Hagrid between the magic you're doing and the dragon that's a year in Azkaban and a very expensive fine."
"Rons knows his dragon stuff."
It was stiflingly hot inside. Even though it was such a warm day, there was a blazing fire in the grate.
"It's an egg"—Lily said alarmed— "How the hell did you get one?"
Hagrid, you might not want to tell us, but you do know, you know everything that goes on around here,' said Hermione in a warm, flattering voice.
"Good job Hermione"
"Ah no, she's taking advantage."
Hagrid huffed—"Nosy children"
Hagrid's chest swelled at these last words. Harry and Ron beamed at Hermione. 'Well, I don't s'pose it could hurt ter tell yeh that
"No! Hagrid"—Minerva reprimanded. – "We should have tongue-tied you."
Hagrid blushed. —"I'm sure I didn't mean it with intention"
"That's the problem, you didn't mean it but those children are looking for trouble"—Augusta said
Professor Sprout – Professor Flitwick – Professor McGonagall 'Professor Quirrell – an' Dumbledore himself did somethin', Professor Snape.'
"So, if Snape doesn't want it. Who does?"-
"Quirrell"—Mad-eye stated
"Yes, but for who?"—Sirius said— "Quirrell looks like a man with no ambition."
"It's in act"—James stated.
If Snape had been in on protecting the Stone, it must have been easy to find out how the other teachers had guarded it. He probably knew everything – except, it seemed, Quirrell's spell and how to get past Fluffy.
"Oh, why do they keep insisting is him?"—Hagrid asked.
"Because he is the one who keeps antagonizing them."
"Because they think that he wants to kill Harry."
Sirius whispered to Marlene— "I still suspect him"— she nodded—"Dumbledores man or not he's hiding something"
"Jesus, it is an egg"—
"Whose Jesus?"
Lily opened her mouth to answer Frank but James answered first –"Muggle god. Read a book, Frank."
Frank gave him the Finger.
'Where did you get it, Hagrid?' said Ron, crouching over the fire to get a closer look at the egg. 'It must've cost you a fortune.'
"One egg Is between 50,000 to 100,000 galleons. It depends on the dragon"—Monty said—"I don't think Hagrid has that much gold"
Hagrid shook his head; he had a very good amount because of the years of working for the school but not enough to spend it all in one go.
Sirius stated. — "He got it in the hogshead"
Mad-eye turned to Dumbledore— "Your brother is doing illegal shit?"
Dumbledore looked at him in surprise concerned— "I don't know."
"The dumb look isn't your thing Albus."
Dumbledore smiled amused.
A.P. laughed, Aberforth had just recently passed away in his world, but he remembered the men, who gave his father a lot of grey hair for all the fines he received for not cooperating with the Law.
what I got there's a Norwegian Ridgeback. They're rare, them.'
Monty whistled—"A Ridgeback is almost 90,000 in the market."
"This is all wrong. Who the hell bets in egg."
"They probably wanted to get rid of it. The egg gets you a fine, having a dragon if it hurts someone is two to three years in Azkaban, and the breed, Ridgeback are in danger so that adds five more"—Kingsley said.
"Or someone that wanted information"—Alice stated.
"Hermione stating the obvious."
So now they had something else to worry about: what might happen to Hagrid 'Wonder what it's like to have a peaceful life,' Ron sighed.
Dorea pinches her lips— "Hagrid dear, you're a grown man. You realize what is wrong here, right?"
Hagrid blushed— "I…yes, but I know what I'm doing. I didn't mean to bother them."
"Ah, yes that's the problem you're not thinking."
"Mom!"—Frank said.
Augusta raised her hand—"Hagrid is committing a crime and now three children are involved, and Hagrid here isn't concerned about that. All four of them could get hurt."
Dumbledore sighed, he hoped none of them found out about Hagrid's acromantulas.
"Well, at least Hermione is keeping them in check."
Lily turned to A.P. – "What kind of student was Harry?"
"He was good, in the top five until fifth year, then in the top 10."
Lily relaxed; she was concerned her son's education had been disturbed by all this nonsense they were forcing him into.
It's hatching.
"Here we go."
"No, go to class. You will draw attention if all of you miss class."
"Oh, it's very rare to see a dragon egg hatch."
Malfoy was only a few feet away and he had stopped dead to listen. How much had he heard?
"Oh, that's not good."
"This boy, does he not know how to mind his business?"
Harry thought it looked like a crumpled, black umbrella.
"My son got to see a dragon hatch, that's wicked"—James said, and Lily rolled her eyes.
— "He's so grounded."
"This is so dangerous"—Molly was alarmed, the fact that one of her children lived and worked with these creatures made her incredibly nervous.
"Ridgebacks are poisonous"—Monty said.
'Bless him, look, he knows his mummy!' said Hagrid.
Hagrid beamed— "He does sound very cute doesn't he."
Snape stated—. "You are an idiot fool, if you think that dragon won't eat you"
"There is no need for such insults"—Dorea said as she gave the boy a disapproving look.
"I Hope not, and Hagrid!"—Minerva pointed her wand— "We are going to have a very serious conversation about your lack of judgment."
Malfoy had seen the dragon.
Everyone groaned— "For heavens, why is this boy so important?"
Dumbledore frowned, this interaction was reminding him so much of another and he didn't like it. He hoped Mr. Potter took care of it with better manners than his father.
"I have many ideas of how Harry could have fixed that situation already."
Lily looked disapprovingly—"Harry doesn't need to start something like that."
"Sirius is right Lily"—James said to his wife who huffed at him—"It's right and you know it, if Harry allows Malfoy to do this taunt, he will always do it and it will get worse. Harry needs to fight back."
"But not by hurting the boy"—Dorea stated.
"I never said hurt, but he needs to put Malfoy in his place for good."
Monty nodded— "The Malfoys have too much power here and it's bad, they are a lesser house I can't imagine how much that power went to their heads."
Lily sighed; she knew that in the end, everything was about power with the purebloods. – "Unfortunately, Harry knows nothing about the houses."
'Just let him go,' Harry urged. 'Set him free.'
Dorea closed her eyes— "The Potters will be responsible for Hogwarts burning down."—
"Can you imagine a dragon running loose in the forest?"—Marlene said making Remus shake his head— "Hopefully not, there are enough creatures in there."
'I've decided to call him Norbert,' said Hagrid, looking at the dragon with misty eyes. 'He knows me now, watch. Norbert! Norbert! Where's Mummy?'' He's lost his marbles,' Ron muttered in Harry's ear.
"You sound like a crazy person." –Frank told Hagrid
"They are beautiful creatures; they are just uncomprehended."
Charlie can take care of him and then put him back in the wild!'
"Oh, they are finally involved in adult"—Molly said— "Charlie will put a stop to this."
"Hagrid mate I like you but you're making my child worry for you and you're a fucking adult"—James stated
Hagrid blush. — "I don't mean any of it"
"Still we will be discussing this, between the dog and the dragon I don't know what else you're hiding"—Moody said
"Hagrid has a dragon, and no one has noticed?"—Andromeda asked, -"Everyone in Hogwarts does whatever they want? He's not doing his job."
Hagrid kept blushing and looking down at the floor, Marlene realized and spoke. —"No one is judging you Hagrid but it is worrisome that you're putting your job at risk, and your life, the dragon will grow and you will be food."
Ron appeared out of nowhere as he pulled off Harry's Invisibility Cloak.
"He trusted them a lot quicker with the cloak than you did"—Remus said to James, who smiled.
Monty was not so happy about that.
'It bit me!' he said, showing them his hand, which was wrapped in a bloody handkerchief.
"What!"—Molly gasped— "How poisonous are they"—she turned to Monty.
Hagrid looked alarmed, Marlene sighed—"This Is what I meant, you should be more concerned about Ron Hagrid, he could die."—
"Oh, no…how fast, how long does he has left?"—Molly panicked
Arthur turned to Hagrid—"For Merlin's sake Hagrid, it's a dragon not a fucking child. MY CHILD is the one in danger…"
"The venom spreads regarding the size, so he's not going to die. Don't worry but he needs to go to Madam Pomfrey."
A.P. was surprised, normally Hagrid wouldn't be so severely judged. He cocked his head to the side, he wonders what this meant for Hagrid's life?
I'd be glad to take the Norwegian Ridgeback, but it won't be easy getting him here . Could you get the Ridgeback up the tallest tower at midnight on Saturday?
Love, Charlie
"What!"—Molly gaped.
Sirius said clapping— "That's a brother, no questions needed, he did what had to be done."
"That's irresponsible, Charlie Weasley, oh how dare he."
Snape shook his head all Weasley children liked to run wild.
"Smuggling a dragon is almost two years in Azkaban"—Kingsley stated-"Obviously it would have been for Hagrid. Right now, you're adding almost seven years in Azkaban"—
Hagrid looked horrified.
"Wait, wait, wait"—Remus said— "This hasn't happened."
"I didn't say I was going to take him, but Hagrid needs to understand how irresponsible he's being."
Ted agreed-"I suppose we are here to learn from our mistakes and clearly Hagrid needs to get his shit together-"
"He needs to go to Poppy, or his hand will fall off."-Monty said nonchalantly while Dorea shook her head.
I've told her it was a dog but I don't think she believes me –
"I'm sure she didn't, but Poppy doesn't ask many questions"—James stated.
"It feels like she should"—Molly said.
"Then no one would go to her."
"This is what I meant about Malfoy, he needs to be put in his place. Ron hit him and he won, Malfoy should have taken it and mind his business."
"One always must win"—Remus said remembering.
Charlie's letter was in that book Malfoy took, he's going to know we're getting rid of Norbert.'
"Why didn't you destroy the letter"—Sirius said exasperated.
"Rookies, you read, memorized, and destroy."—Moody said disapprovingly.
"Why even lend him the book, Poppy must know about the rivalry, she should have kicked him out."
The baby banged its tail on the wall, making the windows rattle.
"It's a good thing Charlie answered quickly, they don't have enough time."
" I had no idea Dragons grew so fast"—Lily said, she had tried to keep her mouth shut but she wanted to reprimand Hagrid for being so irresponsible.
'Mummy will never forget you!'
How they managed to get the crate back up to the castle, they never knew.
"Hagrid mate."—Ted said— "I have doubts about your sanity."
"I'm surprised Hermione doesn't know about Levitating charms."
'You don't understand, Professor, Harry Potter's coming – he's got a dragon!' 'What utter rubbish! How dare you tell such lies! Come on – I shall see Professor Snape about you.
Snape sighed—"He should have come directly to me."
"He should have gone to anyone immediately. So did the other three"—Minerva said angrily.
"It does sound crazy, doesn't it?"—Augusta said.
Norbert was going … going … gone. They'd left the Invisibility Cloak on top of the tower.
"No! Harry why?"
"Oh, they are going to be in deep shit."
"Minerva isn't going to let them go easily."
"They left the cloak"—Monty said alarmed.
"Don't Worry the elves give it back."
— CHAPTER FIFTEEN — The Forbidden Forest
Hermione was trembling.
"Oh, poor thing. I remember my first detention."—Lily stated. Marlene snickered, they had been found out of bounds, trying to get to the kitchens.
'Harry!' Neville burst out, the moment he saw the other two. 'I was trying to find you to warn you, I heard Malfoy saying he was going to catch you, he said you had a drag– Harry shook his head violently to shut Neville up, but Professor McGonagall had seen.
"No Neville."—Frank lamented—"Bad moment son."
"He sounds out of breath."—Alice said—"I can't imagine what it took him to find them"
"How did he hear about it?"—
"Was he the only one?"
Mr. Filch says you were up the astronomy tower. It's one o'clock in the morning. Explain yourselves.'
"Oi don't say it in that tone, it's not like they were up there doing what you are imagining"—Marlene accused trying not to blush at the memory of her and Sirius in the tower, Professor Slughorn hadn't been amused.
You fed Draco Malfoy some cock-and-bull story about a dragon, trying to get him out of bed and into trouble. I've already caught him. I suppose you think it's funny that Longbottom here heard the story and believed it, too?'
The Longbottoms and Potters cried out angrily.
"That's on call for Minerva, you're making assumptions."
"You probably hurt Neville's feelings."
"You could ruin their friendship."
"What happened to you Minnie, you used to listen."
Minerva didn't know what to say.
Neville was looking stunned and hurt.
"See, now probably Neville thinks Harry was mean to him."
'Four students out of bed in one night! I've never heard of such a thing before! You, Miss Granger, I thought you had more sense. As for you, Mr. Potter, I thought Gryffindor meant more to you than this.
"Ey, that's just mean."
"You haven't even asked them to explain themselves."—
especially these days, it's very dangerous.
everyone looked confused at that.
"What does that supposed to mean?"
"What dangers? I mean yes, we know Quirrel wants the stone but…it sounds like there's more."
'Fifty points each,' said Professor McGonagall.
Minerva gasped.
"No, how…150"—Remus said looking at Minerva like she was crazy.—"Come on Minerva"
"They were out of bed"—Snape said— "And doing something illegal if she doesn't implement the rules…just because they are Gryffindor."
Lily defended her son—"No, how do you punish someone if you don't know what you are punishing them for? 150 for being out of bed, even though you were caught sometimes, did your punishment look like this?"
"She also doesn't know they were doing something illegal"
"I get it"—Minerva said— "I might have overreacted."
"You also didn't ask them if they were ok. I'm sure Hermione looks terrified."
Harry didn't sleep all night. He could hear Neville sobbing into his pillow for what seemed like hours.
"Oh"—Minerva said frowning sadly, Dumbledore hold her hand.
Harry Potter, From being one of the most popular and admired people at the school, Harry was suddenly the most hated.
"This sounds so different than when we were at school"—Alice said—"No one got that angry at you idiots when you lost us points"—she said looking at the Marauders.
"Lily did"—Frank said.
"Yeah, but Lily wouldn't stop talking to them or treat them badly, she would make sure they knew she disapproved. We still study together"—Marlene said.
"Perhaps it's different given who it is"—Kingsley stated.
"No one asked them?"—Remus said. –"Percy didn't ask Ron what his friends did?"
Hagrid sniffed—"Oh this is all my fault."
The older adults agreed.
Quidditch had lost its fun they called him 'the Seeker'. Hermione had stopped drawing attention to herself in class, keeping her head down and working in silence.
"No you don't do that"—Remus said—"Answer questions and receive more points"
"They are probably making fun of her."
"No professor has noticed this?"—Lily said looking at Minerva
Quirrell's voice.
'No – no – not again, please –'
It sounded as though someone was threatening him. Harry moved closer.
'All right – all right –' he heard Quirrell sob.
The next second, Quirrell came hurrying out of the classroom, straightening his turban. He was pale and looked as though he was about to cry.
Everyone in the room shared a look and A.P. was curious about who would get it.
Moody was the one who spoke. —"Someone in school is threatening him."
"He's just doing someone's bidding"—Augusta added.
"Yes but whose?"—Lily said—"Many wizards have tried to steal from the Flammels."
A.P. leaned forward when he saw Monty look up at him, his grandfather gave him a look that clearly said I understand what is going on. A.P. smiled, he was starting to see he was very similar to the men, pity he hadn't been able to meet him in his world.
Snape stared at Dumbledore, both understood that for Snape to be so involved Voldemort had to be involved. He looked around the room and realized not many had noticed that, or they were too lost in their emotions to see the answer. Snape frowned; the Dark Lord had many ways of communicating with his followers, but it seemed he had been right there with Quirrell. What was going on?
'Go to Dumbledore. That's what we should have done ages ago.
"That's exactly what they should do."
"But Harry is right, they have no proof. Dumbledore won't be able to do much."
"He's headmaster, he can force his employees to speak."—Alice demanded.
"They believe it's Snape, we know it's Quirrell."—Sirius rolled his eyes— "Dumbledore will dismiss them immediately because he trusts Snape and they will probably do something stupid."
"All of this is a fucking mess."—
Your detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight. Meet Mr Filch in the Entrance Hall.
Prof. M. McGonagall
Minerva looked aghast—"Why am I giving them detention so late?"
"No detention is allowed after curfew"—Snape said
"I know that Severus"—Minerva retorted"
"You've forgotten it."
Minerva was about to answer when Dumbledore stopped her—"Let's keep going"
said Filch, It's just a pity they let the old punishments die out … hang you by your wrists from the ceiling for a few days, I've got the chains still in my office, keep 'em well oiled in case they're ever needed
The Marauders snorted—"Well he's gotten more bitter"
"I hate that man"—Marlene spat.
"He never threatened me, just yelled and told me to move on"—Alice said
"I always snapped back"—Lily shrugged—"He's not so brave when someone gives him a one-on-one"
Dumbledore blinked in surprise. —"Does he always speak to you like that?"
"Yes"—Frank said—"Well the chains are new"
"I want this man fired"—Augusta said as she turned to her son—"Why not inform me of this mistreatment?"
"Because you want to fire everyone"—
Minerva quickly wrote it down, but she knew she would have to fight with Dumbledore about it. Maybe they could find Filch another job.
Alice leaned into her husband, they had already discussed what to do in case they died, and they knew Augusta had every right to raise their son, but Frank didn't like Neville's lack of confidence. He already decided to change those plans if Neville didn't get better in the following books. –"Why is their detention outside?"
"THE FOREST!"—Augusta and Dorea screamed.
"Oh dear…it's alright they will be with me"—Hagrid said.
"No offense Hagrid, they are in that mess because of you."—Ted said
"Ok, umm what the hell is wrong with you Minnie"—Sirius said—"Do you know what's in there?"
Minerva narrowed her eyes— "I'm sure Filch is exaggerating."
Remus shook his head; he didn't want Harry anywhere near that forest.
Malfoy stopped dead in his tracks. 'We can't go in there at night – there's all sorts of things in there – werewolves, I heard.'
Remus sighed and a few people turned to see him, he shook his head. He could say, there was no werewolf in the forest since his graduation, but he wasn't going to out his brothers. The Marauders shared a look, there couldn't be any other werewolf in the forest but there were Acromantulas, ghouls, thestrals, and multiple venomus creatures and they were sure a few other creatures that ate live prey.
"What the fuck does Filch know about werewolves, he's just scaring them for no reason."
"What's wrong with him, our caretaker was a very stern man, but he wasn't well…this"—Monty pointed at the book. he looked at his sons, hasn't he been paying attention when they discussed this at home or had they never talked about this man?
"He's a squib"—Andromeda said— "I suppose he's bitter of everyone."
"You sound so rude"—Alice told Hagrid who shook his head.
—"I don't like him, he's rude to me and the children."
Hagrid fiercely. 'Yeh've done wrong an' now yeh've got ter pay fer it.'
Lily turned to Hagrid—"They are there because of your wrongdoings"
Hagrid blush—"I see that…I'm truly sorry I didn't mean to get them in trouble"
"Yes well, Filch needs to be fired and Hagrid needs to be watched."—Augusta said, she knew she couldn't ask for Hagrid's job, Dumbledore would never allow it and the young adults in the room would fight it too.
"Damn look at Hagrid putting Malfoy in his place."
"If it's dangerous they shouldn't be doing it."—James stated
'Look there,' said Hagrid, 'see that stuff shinin' on the ground? Silvery stuff? That's unicorn blood. There's a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead.
Remus sits up straight. —"They definitely shouldn't be there. There are very few things that could hurt let alone kill a unicorn."
"A werewolf?"—Ted asks curiously.
"No, we are not fast enough. Apart from that no one would dare, Unicorns are sacred."-Remus swallowed, Ted asked nonchalantly and it unnerved him a little.
Monty turned to Dumbledore—"You know about this, the centaurs must have already informed you. Why are you letting the children into the forest?"
Dumbledore frowned and sighed—"I'm probably trying to understand something"
"By putting our children in danger"—Frank said angrily.
"No, not yours. Mine"—James said with a frown.
A.P. looked surprised, he was interested, he always assumed his grandparents had been completely devoted to Dumbledore something like his grandma and grandpa Weasley and it seemed that wasn't the case.
'So me, Harry an' Hermione'll go one way an' Draco, Neville an' Fang'll go the other.
"That's not going to end well"—Frank stated.
Harry saw that Hagrid looked very worried.
'Could a werewolf be killing the unicorns?' Harry asked.
'Not fast enough,' said Hagrid.
Remus took a deep breath, Marlene held onto his hand—"Him talking about it doesn't mean he hates werewolves"
Remus nodded— "I know"—he turned to A.P. and wanted to ask him about werewolf rights in his time but shook his head he wasn't ready for the harsh reality.
– GET BEHIND THAT TREE!'
Everyone in the room became alert.
"Get the children out of the forest"—Augusta was alarmed she turned to Hagrid, Frank held her hand— "Mum it hasn't happened"
The three of them
'I knew it,' he murmured. 'There's summat in here that shouldn' be.'
'A werewolf?' Harry suggested.
"Well leave"—Augusta said again—"The children shouldn't be there in the first place."
"Werewolves are being mentioned a lot"—Sirius said turning to Remus—"Do you think we will be seeing you soon?"—
"I hope so, Harry needs help"—James stated
Hermione's jaws dropped. 'Oh, it's you, Ronan,' said Hagrid in relief.
I still remember the first time I saw a Centaur."
Alice asked Remus— "You have seen them?"
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore introduced me to Bane Before I started Hogwarts, he had to be informed that there was going to be a werewolf around."
Monty turned to AP.—"How is our relationship with magical creatures… in your world?"
Remus tense and Marlene and Sirius hold him.
AP looked pensive. He saw a nervous Remus staring intently at him though he was trying to hide it well. —"Our relationship with magical creatures is a lot better than What it is right now, it didn't happen from one day to another, but people are more accepting, especially my generation. Most of our parents fought in the war, they took their reconstructions of the Magical world very seriously."
"Maybe that's what we need to start doing, small changes subtle that no one notices until they are already there"—James said looking at Monty, his father was the one in the Wizengamot.
Ronan sighed. 'Mars is bright tonight.'
Dorea—"They're predicting war."
"It's true though, it's the innocents that pay the consequences of someone else's actions."
"Why can't they just speak clearly"—Marlene exasperated— "Do they speak among themselves like this?"
"No"
"Children." -Molly said playing nervously with her hands—"Are the first ones to die in a war"
'Mars is bright tonight,' he said simply.
"Why do they keep predicting war around my son?"
"He ended one"—Frank said and raised his hands when James glared at him.
Harry kept looking nervously over his shoulder. He had the nasty feeling they were being watched.
Alastor shook his head—"Hagrid you wasting time, get out of there"
Monty was impressed and sad. Harry had good instincts but perhaps not all of it was inherited, many years of abuse make people very aware of their surroundings.
'Hagrid! Look! Red sparks, the others are in trouble!'
"Oh no, Neville. Hagrid! Go get my son."
'I don't care if Malfoy has, but if something's got Neville …It's our fault he's here in the first place.'
Alice trembled, different things were going around in her head about what could be eating her son at the moment. Augusta pinched her lips—"Neville didn't deserve the same detention as the others and now he's in danger"
"Yes well, Harry and Hermione didn't deserve this detention, not even the upper years get these types of detention."
Andromeda looked at her lap, she turned to her husband—"They don't care about Draco"—she said quietly but everyone heard her.
The other parents flinch, Sirius looked at his cousin with sympathy—"Maybe that's another thing you could do…get Narcissa out"
"Can she?"—
AP smiled.—"The Malfoys are intriguing, they are the least predictable but I suppose"—he shrugged
"So, the problem is Lucius"
"Simple we get rid of him"
"Yes, Sirius because it's been so easy"—Remus rolled his eyes
Hagrid was fuming. Malfoy, it seemed, had sneaked up behind Neville and grabbed him for a joke. Neville had panicked and sent up the sparks.
Andromeda shook her head—"Oh, not the moment to joke around"
"You never joke in the forest"—
"You left two children, to get the other two…you're all going to die"—
"Remus!"
"Moony mate don't make me hit you"
Hermione, Harry, you go with Fang an' this idiot. I'm sorry,' Hagrid added in a whisper to Harry, '
"He's a child, don't call him that."
"He did deserve it"—
"Ted!"
"No, don't separate them, grab them and leave the forest"—Kingsley said
"The unicorn is most likely dead, leave."
They walked for nearly half an hour, deeper and deeper into the Forest, until the path became almost impossible to follow because the trees were so thick. Harry thought the blood seemed to be getting thicker.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no."—James said. — "They're too far in, they need to leave. As they go deeper, they're going to arrive at the acromantula's nest."
"The Acro what?"—Dorea asked.
"You're telling me that it is real?"—Molly said alarmingly.
—"There are flesh-eating spiders in the forest?"
"Yes. —"
"How the hell do you know this?"
"Well, that's not important."—James said.
Dorea glared at her son. Lily and Marlene knew why they had been in the forest shook their heads, they understood, and they had even helped create a trial specifically for them but every time they came back with a new tail of whatever creature they encountered it made their skin crawl.
Minerva kept her eyes on the parchment, she knew that if they asked, she wouldn't be able to deny that she knew about the nest and did nothing about it.
It was the unicorn all right, and it was dead. Harry had never seen anything so beautiful and sad. Its long slender legs were stuck out at odd angles where it had fallen and its mane was spread pearly white on the dark leaves.
"Oh, that sounds so sad."
"OK, they found it. Now leave."
"Whatever killed him might be close."
Then, out of the shadows, a hooded figure came crawling across the ground like some stalking beast. The cloaked figure reached the unicorn, it lowered its head over the wound in the animal's side and began to drink its blood.
Snape and Monty stood up in alarm. Dumbledore's eyes got wide.
Sirius started shaking, Marlene turned to him— "What is it?"
"It's dark magic."—Dorea said closing her eyes, she pointed at the book. —"Unicorn Blood is only used in dark magic."
"It damns your soul"—Monty said holding on to his wife.
Remus leaned forward— "And Harry is right there."
"Run Harry"—Molly whispered.
he couldn't move for fear. Then a pain pierced his head like he'd never felt before, it was as though his scar was on fire – halfblinded, he staggered backwards.
Lily sat up straight— "Why is his scar hurting? I have never read about a scar doing that."
"It's not normal Lily, it's made by dark magic they have their agenda."
"He sounds in pain." —James's voice broke – "He's all alone and in danger." —Lily turned quickly to her husband and grabbed his hand. —"It's not going to happen."
James shook his head, it still happened…he thought.
'You are the Potter boy,' he said. 'You had better get back to Hagrid. The Forest is not safe at this time – especially for you. Can you ride? It will be quicker this way. 'My name is Firenze,' he added, as he lowered himself on to his front legs so that Harry could clamber on to his back.
Everyone in the room was mouth opened and in shock.
"He's riding a Centaur."
Dumbledore looked pensive. —"I've met Firenze a few times. He tends to have more direct conversations than many of the other centaurs. But he's still young and he doesn't have a strong role in the horde."
"In how much danger is Harry that the Centaur allowed him to ride him?"—Arthur asked in shock.
'This is the Potter boy. The quicker he leaves this Forest, the better
Lily and James shared a look, they could only think of one person who would dare touch their son. They hold on to each other.
"He's known by the Centaurs"—Kingsley turned to A.P.— "How much does the wizarding world know him?"
"As a war Hero, James and Lily Potter became martyrs of the war, Monty is known for his potions, and after marriage, Mom added more fame. We are world known."
Snape made a face of disgust.
'Do you not see that unicorn?' Firenze bellowed at Bane. 'Do you not understand why it was killed? Or have the planets not let you in on that secret? I set myself against what is lurking in this Forest, Bane, yes, with humans alongside me if I must.'
"Fascinating he's willing to go against his horde."
"A Centaur is afraid of what is to come. They don't get involved in anything. I'm panicking." —Alice stated.
Firenze. you will have but a half life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips.'
"Who would condemn themselves to that."
"Do you want me to say it?"—Monty said.
"No. It cannot be him."—Lily started shaking her head.
'Do you mean,' Harry croaked, 'that was Vol–'
There was a collective gasp.
"How?"
"No, Voldemort cannot be near my son."—James stated angrily.
"He's so close to the school."—Augusta said looking around.
"So Quirrell is doing his dirty work…the stone can get him immortality"-
They turned to Remus who shrugged.
"How are you so calm"—Sirius accused him.
"I'm not, but it hasn't happened"—Remus patted his hand— "Keep remembering that."
'Good luck, Harry Potter,' said Firenze. 'The planets have been read wrongly before now, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times.'
"What does he hope is wrong, Voldemort or the war?"
"I hope is the innocents dying."—Molly couldn't help it she felt the nerves all over her body. — "We can't let this happen, this war…it won't be ours it will be our children, I will not allow my children…"
Arthur immediately hugged her. —"It's OK, Molly. A.P. gave us this opportunity and we will take advantage."
"Here here."—Augusta said.
'Snape wants the stone for Voldemort … and Voldemort's waiting in the Forest … and all this time we thought Snape just wanted to get rich …'
Snape dragged his hand through his face exasperated and a little concerned for his safety, he had been antagonizing Quirrell, if the Dark Lord thought he was getting in between his goals, the order for his death would be immediate.
Bane thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me … I suppose that's written in the stars as well.'
"No!"—Lily said alarmed— "Things can change, the future can change with one simple action that's why divination is so…"
"Calm down Lil's"
"He's talking about dying so calmly"—Marlene Frowned. Sirius smiled sadly at her, he knew what that felt like—"Oh, he is scared." -
Hermione looked very frightened, but she had a word of comfort. 'Harry, everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid of. With Dumbledore around, You-Know-Who won't touch you.
"Well, Voldemort will touch Harry if you keep sending him to stupid detentions"—Remus said angrily. He didn't want to lash out at Minerva or Dumbledore, but all of this was starting to feel overwhelming, Harry needed someone to help him, and no one was fucking doing anything especially him, he had no fucking idea where he could be.
"I agree with Hermione, Divinations is too imprecise to take seriously"
"And yet you went into hiding for a prophecy"—"Andromeda stated
"No, we went into hiding because a madman wanted my child dead"
There was a note pinned to it:
Just in case.
"Just in case what?"—Monty said turning to Dumbledore.
"I couldn't say
Molly asked for a moment to feed Ginny and the rest checked on the kids.