A/n: i promised this chapter earlier but when i wanted to copy it over to i as hide they deleted the text as saved the file. so i had to retype it all... so you'll get this one now, and later today Chapter 10. I'll make sure to get it done today as a way to apologize i guess. *shrugs* Enjoy and review!

Chapter 9: Parselmouthed

"Oi! Scamander!" It was near midnight when Filch led Draco, Neville, Harry, Hermione and Kiba outside the castle and towards Hagrid's hut. "You think I'm daft, eh? Get back with the others, and don't even try to escape" Filch spat, he pushed Kiba forward and pointed his lamp right into his face. "if it were up to me, then you'd be hanging by your ankles in my office" the door to Hagrid's hut opened and illuminated the surrounding garden and the nearby treeline of the forbidden forest. "and if you ever touch my cat again, I'll make you wish you were never born"

"tha's enough now, Filch" Hagrid said as he stepped out into the dark

"good night kids, watch out for the werewolves. They have an appetite for Troublemakers"

"alrigh', of yeh go now Argus. There's no need to made 'em scared" huffed Hagrid. Filch grinned and showed his nasty half rotten teeth and wandered off into the darkness. "follow me"

"he was joking, right? About the werewolves.." Draco asked with a hint of panic as Hagrid led them towards the treeline. "If you think I'm going in there, then… t-then I'll-"

"Then you'll do wha'?" Hagrid said harshly, stopping and turning to face the Slytherin "Cry ter' yer daddy? This is how 's done in Hogwarts. Suck it up, o' go home" Hagrid turned back to the forest and continued without another word. Draco looked as though he might cast a curse at the Half-Giant, or yell at him but he didn't. They reached a small puddle of some silvery substance, which Hagrid explained to be Unicorn Blood. "our goal is ter' find the unicorn, and bring it ter' me hut. However, wha' attacked it is possibly still ou' there, so be careful" Hagrid said. "seein' as we are six, we'll split inter three groups of two's."

Neville was paired with Hagrid and his cowardly hound Fang, which Neville was ecstatic about, and Draco was to go with Harry. Draco heavily protested and suggested going with Kiba but Hagrid didn't let up, and after some convincing the two Nemesis were stuck together. "Neville and I will be taken the left route," Hagrid said "'arry and Draco you go through the middle. Signal me if yeh find anathin'" the four began trotting into their given directions which left Hermione and Kiba to take the right route.

Kiba didn't know how to react. Being in such a close vicinity to Hermione made him happy an he had missed talking to her. Yet, it remained awkward for a long while. The crunching of the leaves ave the snapping of twigs underneath their steps seemed to grow louder by the second. Hermione was obviously happy to be next to Kiba again, but she didn't speak either. "eeeeek!" Hermione jumped and latched herself into Kiba's arm.

"wha? What is it Hermione?!" Kiba asked frantically

"nothing… i thought i saw something move" she said relaxing her grip on his arm "didn't mean to scare you"

"scare me..?" Kiba echoed, he swallowed hard and regained his composure "I'm not scared, you were" Hermione smiled at him "Hermione you can let go now, it's fine"

"you don't mind right?" she replied, Kiba slowly shook his head and the two began walking again, now much closer to one and other. They spotted another puddle of the silvery substance and decided to investigate. "do you think it's close?"

"might be… the puddle is quite large, it might have been attacked here" Kiba replied "here there's more" a series of smaller puddles and drops led further in to the thicket of the forbidden forest but Hermione wasn't moving, she had stopped and was stareing at the large silver puddle of Unicorn Blood. "oh man… i never should have left the Common room…"

"not like you do anyways.." Hermione sighed silently

"huh? is everything alright, Hermione?"

"oh yeah" she said hopping back to Kiba "I'm fine" But Kiba saw something, in her eyes as she passed him. He had interrupted a deep thought, he watched Hermione walk further away before going after her.

"are you sure you're fine?"

"of course"

"Hermione, are you mad at me?"

"Hermione?"

"yes, Kiba? What do you want?"

"are you mad at me?"

"Yes!" she hissed. She grabbed Kiba by his arm and stopped him underneath the arch of combining tree crowns, her hair seemingly reacted to her anger as it shook wildly "of course i am"

"is this really the time for this?" Kiba asked "i mean we are in the Forbidden Forest, searching for a Unicorn"

"well it wasn't me who shut himself off from everybody and it wasn't me who stopped talking when all of my friends were in trouble"

"it's not just that…" Kiba replied removing her hand from his arm

"then what is it, Kiba? we've known each other for close to a year now. can't you at least tell me… Something?!"

"I-I… can't." Kiba replied turning himself away "not, yet.. so don't get pushy with it" he said sternly. Kiba turned his head to face Hermione and he looked into her eyes forcibly. Even though his eyes seemed cold and empty at that moment, Hermione knew there was that hidden fire in there, somewhere. It was some type of sentience, an honestly scary one to be exact. Kiba sighed and softened his expression.

Hermione suddenly felt heat rush to her cheeks, as quickly turned away from the boy to hide her now pink cheeks. Luckily the darkness dulled her face enough to hide the colour, and gave off their impression that she was sad rather then embarrassed. The embarrassment that was het getting flustered by just looking at him. Hermione was hurt by Kiba not wanting to talk to her, but she decided to let him take his time as she continued on.

It didn't take long for Kiba to be back in closer vicinity to Hermione, so close in fact that he had no time to react when she suddenly stopped. Her breath hinched and grew louder. It took Kiba a few seconds to recognise why… a cloaked figure was slithering across the forest floor, and it hadn't spotted the young Gryffindors until Kiba stepped onto a branch. The Crack that emitted was loud enough that every creature in the forest could hear it. The figured whipped it's head and faced them, though it had no visible eyes Kiba knew it was stareing right at them, it's chapped lips curled upwards and a bit of silvery fluid dripped from them.

'That Boy… Leave the Boy, Kill the Mudblood!' the creature hissed as it began swiftly moving toward them. Hermione had already begun running and Kiba was close behind. 'Kill the Mudblood, Kill the Mudblood' the figure repeated. It wanted Hermione, but not Kiba. But why it was so hellbent on getting her, Kiba did not know. Hermione suddenly tripped and stumbled, Kiba reached her quickly but the figure was close, to close!

"Back! Get Back, I'm warning you!" Kiba shouted jumping inbetween them,

'Slytherin's tongue...' the creature snarled and paused. Kiba turned to get Hermione back onto her feet, but she crawled backwards and away from him. She looked at him as though he was a wild animal, a beast trying to eat her. That's when it hit him

'did i just speak… Parsel? But… how?' he thought. He shook his head and pulled Hermione to her feet and told her to keep running. Kiba was right behind her and retrieved his wand from behind his right ear. He tried to think of anything he could do. He could see the giant log of a fallen tree which Hermione had just climbed over. Kiba pointed his wand to the sky and released colourful sparks in the hope that Harry or Hagrid would see it. The log was fast approaching and Kiba prepared himself, and jumped over it with a well timed leap. He flicked his wand at the log and spoke "Wingardium Leviosa"

The log rose of the ground as Kiba continued running, but it didn't stop the creature as Kiba had hoped. Instead, the figure seemingly flew over it without trouble. "Kiba!" he heard Hermione shout loudly as his foot got caught on a giant root. Kiba tumbled and fell hitting the ground with the right side of his face and rolling at least 5 times. The noise around Kiba drowned out and all he heard was a loud ringing, he shook his head and got onto all fours but he fell to his right and layed down on his back.

'is this it? Is this how i die?' Kiba thought 'it'll surely get me now' even though he mostly hard ringing he heard the cloaked figure as it bent over him.

'Pure Blood… Fresh Blood… Our Blood' it hissed silently, unicorn blood was still dropping from the corner off it's chapped lips and onto Kiba's robes.

"AAAAAARGGHH!" thunderous roar could suddenly be heard as Hagrid ran at the figure, stomping with his massive boots. The figure hissed once more and then quickly disappeared into the thicket. "Kiba! Kiba? Can yer hear me? C'mon talk ter me!" Harry, Draco and Neville now caught up to Hagrid and all looked shaken from head to toe. Harry had his hand placed firmly on his forehead, and a pained expression overtook his face.

"What… was that?" Kiba asked finally

"no matter wha' tha' was, 's gone now" Hagrid assured the boy "yeh fell an' got a nasty cut. 'arry, Neville. 'elp me will yeh?" Harry and Neville quickly helped Hagrid get Kiba to his feet, his head hung low and he could barely stand. Hermione was still in a state of complete shock but followed closer begins them. Draco was left in the back, he spotted Kiba's wand add picked it up.

Hagrid escorted them all to Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse. Madam Pomfrey was, like Lucy Crawford, a Kind, Loving and generous person at heart. But she knew to be strict when required. She tried to heal the cut that went from the boys right cheek along his ear to his forehead, luckily just past his Eye. She bandaged the wound so it could heal over night and sent the five children to their dorms.

"Here, Kiba. Your wand" Draco said before their ways parted. Kiba had one of his arms over Harry's shoulders as accepted his wand and silently thanked the Slytherin. Harry immediately sat Kiba down on the couch, and then ran up the speak staircase. Hermione sat down in an armchair which was by Kiba's side.

"you okay?" Kiba asked softly, Hermione smiled weakly and looked at the boy

"shouldn't i be asking you?"

"heh. Maybe.." Kiba chuckled "i feel fine"

"bloody hell!" Ron said as he sat down beside Kiba and saw his bandages "what happened?!"

"Kiba and I, both had an encounter," Harry began "Separately. With a cloaked and hooded figure… a Centaur saved me"

"but why was it killing the unicorns?" Hermione asked

"Unicorns have very powerful, lifesaving blood. However to kill a creature as pure as a Unicorn is a sin, and as soon as it's blood touches your lips you live a so named; Half-life… a Cursed life" Kiba explained

"it's Voldemort. he's surviving off of Unicorn Blood, ever since he killed my parents" Harry stated "it's obvious now. Snape doesn't want the stone, Voldemort wants it!"

"don't say his name" Ron whispered, as though the dark wizard could hear them.

"if Snape gets it and takes it to him, then he could come back. Voldemort would come back. And i think he would come for me… Voldemort is going to kill me"

"Stop saying his name!" Ron hissed,

"i think it's wrong to keep thinking on it. Dumbledore his here, and he will protect the school. You-Know-Who always feared Dumbledore" Hermione Said "Besides, finals are coming and you two seriously need to study"

"I'm ready! Ask me any question" Ron challenged Hermione

"alright, what are the three most crucial ingredients to a forgetfulness potion?"

"i forgot" Ron complained.

"what are you all doing out of bed?" a voice suddenly came from the ddarknes, "go now, back into your beds" it was Percy Weasley, the proud Prefect of Gryffindor. His polished and shiny plaque with the Crimson and gold colours reflected even the small fire, that was steadily fading in the fireplace, perfectly.

The four children nodded and headed to bed. Ron and Harry carefully helped Kiba up the stairs and into his bed, but sleep didn't cone as fast to him as the others. 'Slytherin's tongue… My Blood' he couldn't get that heinous voice out of his head, and the figure kept appearing in his mind. He felt Hotaru snuggle into his chin in an attempt to comfort the boy, and Kiba finally did fall asleep.

Hermione had never been those right before, the finals were coming up, and studying all the topics was hard. At least it kept their minds away from Voldemort and the forbidden forest, and on their studies. The practical exams went by smoothly for Hermione, Harry and Kiba, but Ron had trouble in Transfigureation. The written exams were harder to get through, especially their last one in History of Magic. Kiba saw the cloaked figure every he mentioned a dark Wizard or a war. And Harry's scar was hurting like never before.

"Sweet, sweet release" Ron said as he flopped backwards onto the grass by the lake "and in just a week we'll have or results and be on our way home"

"Harry you should check with Madam Pomfrey" Hermione suggested. Harry had his hand firmly pressed to his scar, but shook his head.

"it's been hurting ever since the forest, and the encounter" Harry replied "we never should have gone in there"

"yeah, but we had to serve detention" Kiba said as he laid down too, his wound had completely healed but Kiba still felt like it was there. "just 'couse of a dragon" he added

"Dragon…" Harry suddenly stood us turned to look at the castle "Dragon!"

"what is it Harry?" Hermione asked

"isn't it weird? What did Hagrid want most?"

"A Dragon" Kiba replied sitting upright

"yeah… and some stranger in a pub just happens to have one" Harry said

"No. You don't think –" Kiba said standing up and facing Harry

"we can't be sure, Dumbledore has to be warned"

"I'll go" Kiba replied

"we're going to Hagrid's" Harry said. Together with Hermione and Ron he ran, straight for Hagrids hut. Meanwhile, Kiba ran back into the castle and headed for Dumbledore's office. He spoke the password and let himself in,

"Professor! Professor!" Kiba shouted barging into the office. He paused and tried to catch his breath. Not realizing he had actually run in on a conversation between Dumbledore and McGonagall.

"Good day, Mr. Scamander" Dumbledore said calmly "what brings you inside on a day like this?"

"The Philosophers stone" Kiba said. McGonagall's facial expression quickly grew shocked but Dumbledore didn't even flinch. "Professor Snape is going to steal it!"

"Minerva, i think the children outside might need some supervision" Dumbledore said. Professor McGonagall nodded and with another look at Kiba left the office.

"didn't you hear me, Professor?" Kiba semi-yelled in frustration "You-Know-Who is in the forbidden forest, and Snape is stealing the stone for him"

"i don't know how you found out about the Stone, but your claims are very serious. Accusing a Hogwarts Professor…" Dumbledore said. He rose from his seat and walked around his desk "i assure you, dear boy. The Stone is perfectly Safe, and protected"

"but, Professor-"

"Ah ah. I have no time to Dilly-Dally, Hogwarts business" he reached for a letter from his desk which was marked with the symbol of the Ministry of Magic and faced Kiba once more "Curiosity is not a sin, Kiba. But we should exercise caution with our Curiosity" he winked, and then disappeared without a trace.

"always speaking in riddles…" Kiba thought, he quickly left the office and headed for the common room. Harry, Ron and Hermione were already inside and told him what they found out. "Dumbledore left, he got a letter from the ministry"

"Snape's making his move" Harry muttered "it's up to us now, we're going through the trap door. Tonight"

...