Disclaimer: Warner Brothers Entertainment Inc. own all rights to Harry Potter
Authors Note: Thank you to everyone who has supported this story so far by reading, reviewing, favouriting and following it and my apologies for the long wait in between chapters.
A special thanks to the latest people to review, favourite and follow the story; Twilightfan1978, DZ2, dk88, lynneas73, Scrappy8, Hpenjoyer and Monster King.
Hope everyone has enjoyed the story so far and had a good Christmas and New Year.
This chapter is much longer than most, due to the difficulty in finding a good place to cut it off.
Harry Potter-Weasley Chapter Twelve:
Harry had taken Dumbledore's advice to stop visiting and looking into the Mirror of Erised and had instead, at the insistence of Hermione, been searching hard for information on Nicholas Flamel.
For the past month Harry, Ron and Hermione had been juggling their time between information searching on Flamel, homework and classes and, in Harry's case, Quidditch practise which was now taking place four times a week in the evening and every Saturday and Sunday up until lunchtime. Unfortunately, Harry's Captain Oliver Wood was obsessed with Quidditch practise having a burning desire to win the Quidditch Cup that year. The result was that Harry was finding less and less time to research Flamel and was having to prioritise homework instead alongside his Quidditch training.
It was now the middle of February, the fifteen of February to be precise and the second Quidditch match of the season was due to get underway in an hours time.
With his mind distracted by multiple problems, Snape and his suspicious behaviour, homework, worries of whether he was doing well enough in classes, Norbert the Dragon and the fact they were helping to hide him and, of course, the upcoming match against Hufflepuff.
"Penny for your thoughts Ickle Harrikins?", Fred cut into his thoughts as they sat listening to Wood droning on about crushing Hufflepuff.
Harry was too distracted to even scowl at the nickname. He sighed "just feeling a bit exhausted by school work and homework, you know how it is".
Fred grinned. "Well not as much as you I'd say, you know that me and Forge aren't really academically minded".
Harry smiled. "Yeah, I think the constant pranking and attempts at creating joke items proves that", he replied.
Fred laughed. "Well we do try". He gave Harry a serious look "but seriously though little bro, if there's anything or anyone upsetting you or if you just need to unburden yourself you know me and Forge are always here, right?", he bumped Harry's shoulder and did an impression of Percy which made Harry laugh. Fred always knew how to cheer him up as did George for that matter. All of sudden his worries didn't seem that important. He decide to focus his attention on the match against Hufflepuff.
Harry thought about getting up into the air on his broom he grinned widely. He didn't much like attention but he loved flying and he loved Quidditch. 'This year is our year', he thought with determination.
"Lets get out there and give everyone a damn good show!", Wood concluded his speech. Harry and the rest of his teammates cheered and then stood up.
Broom under his arm, Harry followed his teammates from the changing room, through the tunnel and out onto the pitch to be greeted by the roar of the crowd and the familiar commentary of the Twins' friend Lee Jordan. He grinned as he heard the usual words of Lee hyping up the crowd and the teams and of Professor McGonagall chiding him sternly for showing bias to Gryffindor.
As Harry joined his teammates in the centre circle for the coin toss he found himself facing Cedric Diggory of Hufflepuff. He knew Cedric from the times the two had met at the Ministry's bring your child to work day and also from occasional parties thrown by the Weasley's or the Diggory's. Cedric had always been pretty cool to him when they had talked despite the other boy being two years older.
"Hello Harry", Cedric greeted him with a nod.
"Hi Cedric", Harry cast a look at the sky which was overcast and appeared to be threatening rain. Gazing back at Cedric he commented "the weather isn't as nice as the last time I played. Could be a wet one if those rain clouds open up".
Cedric nodded. "Yeah, looks like it", he agreed "unfortunately if it does it'll be the second time this year that my team's played in the wet. Here's hoping it holds off until we finish eh".
Harry grinned. "Fingers crossed, don't relish my glasses getting drenched with rain, makes it really hard to see the snitch, know what I mean?".
Cedric looked thoughtful. "Pass me your glasses a second", he replied.
Harry looked sceptical. Cedric rolled his eyes and said dryly "Harry if I wanted to smash your glasses I would have done it already, you know I wouldn't do that kind of thing".
Harry did know that Cedric wouldn't treat him like that and so he passed the glasses over. The world went blurry for a moment but he could just about make out the other boy extracting something wooden looking from a pocket of his Quidditch robes and tapping Harry's glasses. "Here you go", Cedric handed them back and Harry blinked a few times after slipping them back on.
Harry looked around. "What did you do? Nothing seems different".
Cedric grinned. "I used a charm to repel water from your glasses. It only lasts for a few days and then has to be reapplied but it's really useful and it means if you get water on you, rain or otherwise then your glasses will be immune, the water will not touch the lenses".
Harry smiled and thanked him. "Thanks Cedric, I'm very grateful. You're a good guy".
Cedric waved it away looking embarrassed at the praise. "Just don't tell my Hufflepuff friends, they tease me if they knew I was helping a Gryffindor", he joked.
Harry nodded and grinned. "No worries and thanks again".
Madam Hooch blew her whistle and the two teams sat astride their brooms, kicked off and rose high into the air.
Harry and Cedric's joint prediction of rain during the match proved prophetic. The rain clouds had burst open half an hour into what was proving a close and thrilling contest, with the result that all fourteen of the Quidditch players were soaked to the skin, their robes clinging to their wet skin.
More than once, Harry had to swipe wet hair from in front of his eyes and swore to himself that he would get a hair cut at the first opportunity.
"Bloody hair is getting too long in front", Harry muttered. He tried looking down below him to find out what was happening with the rest of the players but the rain was coming down in heavy sheets and was so thick that all action below was obscured from his view.
Harry had just begun to cast his eyes about in search of the snitch when a glint of gold appeared on his left hand side. "There you are", he grinned.
Adjusting his Nimbus 2000, Harry zoomed off in high pursuit of the small golden ball.
Even as he pushed him broomstick faster and faster, Harry found Cedric flying alongside him almost level with him.
Without warning, Cedric put on a burst of speed and pulled ahead, his fingers within touching distance of the snitch. "No!", desperate to win the game for Gryffindor, or at least what he hoped would be a win, Harry pushed his broom to it's absolute limit. He managed to draw level with Cedric, his fingertips brushed the snitch.
Harry came perilously close to slipping and falling from his broom but one firm lunge found his hand clasped around the struggling snitch.
"Bugger!", he heard Cedric curse. Harry gave him an apologetic look and said "sorry Cedric".
Cedric shrugged. "You won fair and square, lets alert Madam Hooch", he replied.
The two seekers flew down through the heavy rain and eventually found Madam Hooch, showed her the snitch and then shook hands good naturedly as she blew her whistle calling the match to an end.
As it happened Gryffindor had been winning 50 points to 40 when Harry had caught the snitch meaning a final score of 200 for Gryffindor against a final score of 40 to Hufflepuff. "You know, if I hadn't caught that snitch your team would have won, it was close too. You nearly took it before I had a chance", Harry remarked.
Cedric smiled. "Ah well, you win some you lose some. Gryffindor was the better team today. Who knows it may be Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff in the final match". Harry nodded and grinned "there's a good chance it will be. Either way I'll be routing for Hufflepuff against Slytherin next month".
Cedric patted Harry on the shoulder, landed and went to join his teammates. "What a bloody catch Harry!", Ron enthused as he, Hermione and Neville joined him on the pitch to congratulate him.
"It was an amazing performance Harry! We could just about see it through the rain. How did you get it in such wet conditions?", Hermione asked.
"I've never seen a performance like it, you have such command of that broom it's incredible!", Neville added.
Harry blushed at the praise. "I was just lucky I guess".
"Luck nothing", Wood declared "that was a fine catch Harry and you've put us one step closer to the final".
Harry felt embarrassed. "It wasn't just me Oliver, it was all of us".
"You're far too modest Harrikins", George interrupted and turned to his twin asking "isn't he Forge?".
"Indeed he is my dear Gred", Fred agreed with a grin.
After a quick trip back to the changing rooms, the Gryffindor players were changed and began the walk back up to the castle with the rest of an overjoyed Gryffindor House who all seemed, like Harry and his teammates, sure that this was their year at last after five years of back to back Slytherin Quidditch Cup triumphs and seven years of back to back Slytherin House Cup victories.
The the next few months went by in a rush for Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville as coursework increased in difficulty and the amount of homework doubled in preparation for their end of year exams which were due to take place at the end of May and the beginning of June.
Harry in particular was feeling rather exhausted as the last week of May arrived, this was due to also having Quidditch practises most evenings and for as long as possible on the weekends.
To add to all the other pressures Harry, his brother Ron and their friends Hermione and Neville had all been helping Hagrid to hide Norbert the dragon and tonight, the twenty-fifth of May was the night on which they would take the dragon up to the castle and off to meet their brother Charlie and his three friends, all dragon keepers, who had agreed to help transport Norbert to the Romania dragon sanctuary where he would be cared for and meet other dragons.
"This is the most insane thing we've ever done, you realise that right?", Ron muttered as they, along with Neville walked down the sloping lawns of Hogwarts towards Hagrid's Cabin.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Will you stop moaning Ron. It's nowhere near as dangerous as when we came face to with Fluffy and in any case you're only helping to get Norbert up to the castle, Neville, Hermione and me will be carrying the crate up to the Astronomy Tower while you relax in the Common Room".
"Do you really think I'll be relaxing? I'll be worrying about you three the whole time, if you're caught you'll all be expelled", Ron retorted with a grimace.
Harry opened his mouth to reply but Neville spoke first. "We're outside the cabin guys".
Harry blinked. He had not noticed just how far they'd walked. He threw off the cloak, walked up onto the step and knocked firmly and loudly on the front door.
A booming bark resounded throughout the cabin in response and Hagrid could be heard in his gruff voice calling out "get back you daft thing. Get back Fang, I can't reach the door!".
The door soon opened to reveal a ruffled looking Hagrid with a tear streaked face and red eyes. He looked to Harry as if he had been crying a lot. Harry wouldn't cry over a dragon if it was him 'but then again' he mused 'if I had to send Hedwig away I'd be devastated about that for sure'. Suddenly, he felt a great deal of sympathy for his large friend.
"Hey Hagrid", Harry patted the half-giant on the shoulder.
"Hullo Harry, Ron, Neville", Hagrid greeted each of them in a choked voice as he ushered them inside.
Immediately as they stepped inside Harry caught sight of a large wooden crate situated atop the dining table. "Since I can't see him I'm assuming Norbert is already in there", he commented.
Hagrid nodded and told him "I've put in a large supply of his favourite food for the trip and plenty of water to drink. I've also packed his teddy bear in case...", he gulped "...in case he gets lonely".
Harry felt it was bizarre to pack a teddy bear for a dragon but didn't want to hurt Hagrid's feelings so kept this thought to himself. "In that case we'll be off. Don't worry Hagrid, we'll get him away safely and he'll like being with his own kind, you'll see", he declared confidently, in reality he was a bundle of nerves at this audacious endeavour.
"Yeah, I know you're right. I'll just...I'll miss him is all", Hagrid replied and then promptly burst into tears. When he blew his nose it sounded like a fog horn.
Harry, Ron and Neville, hiding the crate and themselves under the cloak, departed to return to the castle.
They reached the Entrance Hall without incident where they met Hermione who took over from Ron. "Good luck and be careful", Ron urged the three of them as he headed off back to Gryffindor Tower, taking great care to avoid teachers on his way.
"Aren't we always?", Harry called after him.
"Not as much as we should be", Hermione stated as she joined Harry and Neville under the cloak.
Harry laughed. "Why are you so worried Hermione, it's an adventure. I mean I'm a bit nervous too but it's fun as well".
Hermione shook her head in exasperation.
The three of them headed up through the castle, dodging past patrolling teachers and the Head Boy and Head Girl who were busy chatting in a corridor rather than actually patrolling. "Lucky for us", Harry remarked with a grin as they slipped past them.
Just before the winding staircase up to the top of the Astronomy Tower they were forced to pause as they spotted Filch and his cat, Mrs Norris, up ahead. He was standing there with a hard grip on the arm of one Draco Malfoy while Professor McGonagall lectured Malfoy. "In all my years as teacher in this school I have never had to deal with such a blatant and ludicrous lie as this! A dragon Mr Malfoy? No one in this school would be helping to hide or raise a dragon much less bring it all the way up here to send it off to foreign parts. Not to mention the fact that you are out of bed after curfew and thus breaking a major school rule".
"Bugger, he must have overheard the plan", Harry whispered.
"At least he can see us", Hermione replied optimistically.
"But Mrs Norris might smell us", Neville cut in, "she seems to know when students are out of bounds".
Harry grinned. "That's why I'm going to do this", he took out his wand and waved it over each of them in turn while whispering several words. "What did you just do?", Hermione demanded.
He smirked. "Masked our scent. Mrs Norris won't even know we're here now".
The three of them slipped past Filch, who was grinning evilly at Malfoy, no doubt anticipating punishment of some kind being meted out, while Professor McGonagall instructed "Mr Filch, take Mr Malfoy down to my office. I will finish my patrol and then return there to explain to him his punishment for being out of bed after curfew".
Harry watched in satisfaction as Filch dragged a protesting Malfoy away. "I'm telling the truth!", he shouted "Potter will be here any minute with those friends of his and that dragon! Let go of me, my Father will here about this!".
"I look forward to telling your father a few home truths Mr Malfoy", Professor McGonagall called out as Malfoy disappeared around the corner.
Harry, Neville and Hermione waited for a few moments and then started up the winding staircase. "I'm not looking forward to coming up here for the Astronomy exam in a few days", Harry remarked.
"Me neither", Neville agreed.
"I think it'll be fascinating", Hermione disagreed, "seeing the stars and constellations".
Harry snorted. "Doesn't stop it being knackering though does it and just think of all the work we'll have to do before even using the telescopes".
The three of them finally reached the top of the Astronomy Tower and at once spotted Charlie and his friends floating just above the tower on broomsticks. They threw off the cloak revealing themselves and the crate which rattled as Norbert moved about inside it.
Charlie grinned when he saw them. "Hello Harry, I'd ask if you're keeping out of trouble but given you're on top of the Astronomy Tower, after curfew and with a crate containing a dragon no less, it would be a waste of time", he laughed "so I'll ask how you're doing instead. Oh and I see you have company too, friends I'm assuming".
Harry grinned back. "Boy am I glad to see you Charlie. It's been a nightmare keeping this dragon", he gestured to the crate, "concealed from the students and staff. By the way this Neville Longbottom and Hermione Granger, best friends to me and Ron".
"Nice to meet you both", Charlie greeted them, "any friend of Harry's is a friend of mine. Can't believe he and Ron roped you in to this hair brained scheme".
Harry scowled. "It's not that hair brained", he grumbled.
"Yes it is!", everyone else said at once. Charlie and his friends laughed as did Neville and Hermione.
With introductions and other pleasantries out of the way, Charlie and his friends hooked the crate to their brooms by way of thick chains and spells. "There, all secure", Charlie patted the crate "won't break loose now". He turned to Harry and pulled him into a hug "we'd better be off", he ruffled Harry's hair and said "take care of yourself and Ron as well, tell him I said hi and I hope he's well. I'll see you when I can, bye Harry".
"Bye Charlie", Harry waved a hand as Charlie and his friends stepped back on to their brooms and took off, soaring high into the night sky.
Once Charlie, his friends and the crate were out of sight Harry wiped a hand over his perspiring forehead. "Bloody glad that's over with", he stated in relief.
"Me too", Neville agreed.
"And me. Maybe now we can go back to normal and focus on our exams instead of worrying about Hagrid's house possibly being consumed by dragon fire", Hermione said.
They all laughed a little as the tension was dispelled.
The trio walked down the stairs of the tower feeling lighter than they had in months. Although the mystery of Nicholas Flamel and the Philosopher's Stone still hung over them one thing had at least been dealt with.
Their good feeling lasted only until they reached the corridor that connected to the staircase. They all stared at Professor McGonagall feeling glad that the cloak hid them from view. Until, that is, she spoke. "Three of my students out of bed, after curfew. I would never have believed it of you!", she stated.
It was then that they realised a dawning horror just what they had left at the top of the Astronomy Tower, the invisibility cloak. Professor McGonagall could see them perfectly.
Harry gulped. There was no getting around it, they were in deep trouble. "My office...now", Professor McGonagall stated firmly and led them down through the castle.
Harry knew this was a very serious situation. Whether their Head of House believed Malfoy about the dragon they had still been caught out of bed after curfew. At the very least they would be getting detention, possibly several and, likely, points would be taken. At worst? Well the worst possibility was so bad that he didn't even want to contemplate it.
The trio trudged dejectedly behind Professor McGonagall. The happiness at successfully seeing Norbert away was all but gone. An irritated Hermione snapped at him "so much for your bright scheme Harry Potter! I wouldn't be surprised if we get expelled for this!".
Harry hung his head in shame. "I'm...I'm sorry Hermione". There was nothing else he could say and he knew that even these words weren't enough. "Sorry Neville", he mumbled miserably.
Neville seemed just as despondent as his friends but still patted Harry on the shoulder and murmured "not your fault. We all forgot to put the cloak back on, not just you".
"In here Potter-Weasley, Granger and Longbottom", Professor McGonagall said sternly as she pushed open the door of her office and ushered them inside.
Professor McGonagall gestured to the chairs in front of her desk. "Sit", she said simply and curtly.
Knowing better than to argue, the trio sat down quickly and kept silent. Harry watched miserably as their Head of House strode over to the fireplace, took some floo powder and threw it in and stuck her head in, calling out "Headmaster Dumbledore's Office, Hogwarts". Green flames sprang to life and Harry heard her speaking "Albus, I have three students in my office. They have been caught outside of their Common Room after curfew". He couldn't hear Dumbledore's response but judging by the way Professor McGonagall nodded and replied "very well", he assumed Dumbledore must be coming down.
Harry felt sick with dread, as if he had a whole bunch of flobberworms burrowing through his stomach as he, Neville and Hermione awaited their fate.
"Not so smug now, eh Potter", Malfoy sneered from a seat just behind Harry.
Harry rolled his eyes and wearily replied "it's Potter-Weasley Malfoy, I know it's difficult for you due to your limited brain power but do try to get it right".
Malfoy scowled and retorted "Potter or Potter-Weasley it's all the same, you're a blood traitor in a family of blood traitors and not one to speak of limited brains considering you got caught and are about to be expelled", he looked jubilant.
Harry sighed and didn't bother replying. 'What could I reply with anyway?' he thought miserably 'for once Malfoy's right, partially at least, I really screwed up with this and am probably being expelled. Mum and Dad are going to be furious'.
He heard the sound of footsteps by the door and looked over to see his least favourite professor enter the office, Professor Snape. "Hello Minerva", Snape greeted his colleague who greeted him equally politely "hello Severus, I apologise for having to drag you out of your quarters at this hour".
Snape waved the apology away. "No apology necessary Minerva, you had a good reason clearly", he declared as his eyes focused on Malfoy. Harry did not smirk openly but he was pleased to see that the Slytherin was suddenly far less sure of himself than a few moments earlier.
"Thank you Argus, you may leave us", Professor McGonagall addressed the thin balding Caretaker who grinned malevolently at the students and left with a short goodbye to the two professors.
It took awhile for Professor Dumbledore to arrive. When he did appear, it was not through the fireplace as Harry had expected, no doubt it was not connected up for travel.
Harry gazed up at the Headmaster and noted the disappointed look on Professor Dumbledore's face. He had asked Harry not to sneak out after curfew again and yet he had done so. He knew even without the old wizard speaking that he had let the man down. It was an awful feeling.
"well Mr Potter-Weasley, Mr Longbottom, Miss Granger, would you mind telling me whose idea it was to be out after curfew and who is responsible?", Dumbledore presented it as a question but it was to Harry that it was a demand.
Harry swallowed hard, having already decided to take full responsibility. He met Dumbledore's impassive gaze with difficulty. "It was all my fault Professor Dumbledore. I wanted to go out for a midnight stroll to the Astronomy Tower to observe the view. Neville and Hermione didn't want to come with me but got locked out of Gryffindor Tower when they came out to stop me".
Dumbledore's gaze was intense and searching. It was clear to Harry that he didn't believe this story at all. And yet, to Harry's puzzlement, the old wizard did not call out the lie merely commenting "I am afraid they came with you and are thus just as culpable as you are Mr Potter-Weasley", he turned to Professor McGonagall and enquired "do I have your permission to set the punishment for Mr Potter-Weasley and his friends? I would not ask but given Mr Malfoy's story about a dragon being smuggled up to the Astronomy Tower and the fact that all three were caught out after curfew near the Tower, I believe we have no choice but to take the story as true to some extent, unfortunately we have no evidence of a dragon but clearly enough to enforce a points deduction and detentions for all three students".
"I agree entirely Albus", Professor McGonagall gazed sternly at Harry and his friends through her spectacles. "If I may Albus?".
"Of course Minerva", Dumbledore deferred to the Deputy Head.
Professor McGonagall was silent for a moment before she said. "Never in all my years have I been more disappointed of my House or my students. If the Headmaster agrees then I feel it prudent to take 50 points from you for tonight's events".
"Fifty?!", Harry was outraged. It was his mistake, Gryffindor House should not be punished for such a thing.
"Fifty points...each", Professor McGonagall corrected flatly. Harry's mouth dropped open in shock and dismay. Judging by the lack of protest from his friends, both Neville and Hermione must also be horrified.
"But...please Professor, don't punish Gryffindor House", Harry begged after a moment.
"I have no choice Potter-Weasley, it is the only way yourself and your friends will learn to be more considerate and realise that your actions affect not only yourselves but your House as a whole", McGonagall replied.
Harry hung his head feeling miserable. "As for their detentions I shall leave that up to you Albus", McGonagall told Dumbledore.
"I feel that an appropriate punishment would be helping Hagrid just inside the Forbidden Forest. It is not a detention I hand down lightly but Hagrid needs some help in there and it would teach the three of you to consider your actions more carefully in future", Dumbledore informed them.
Harry was stunned. While he hated the idea of going inside the Forest, it did not seem as big of a punishment as it could be, especially since he and the others would be doing something for Hagrid. He had been worried that he would be forced to do something for Snape.
"I feel that Mr Malfoy should likewise be punished Headmaster", Snape spoke up.
Before Dumbledore could reply, Malfoy blurted out "that's not fair Professor! it's thanks to me that they were caught! I was doing the right thing!".
Snape eyed Malfoy with a severe expression and replied coldly. "That in no way excuses being out of bounds after curfew. You could have spoken to myself or another professor at any time instead of breaking school rules yourself". He turned to Dumbledore and asked "have I your permission Headmaster?".
"By all means Severus", Dumbledore replied.
Snape nodded and turned back to Malfoy. "In view of your rule breaking I feel it only fair to deduct...thirty points from Slytherin House", he said sourly as if it were physically hurting him to take points from his own House. "I feel also that you should be assigned to the same detention as Mr Potter-Weasley, Miss Granger and Mr Longbottom so that you may learn a similar lesson to them".
"A fine idea Severus", Professor Dumbledore sounded approving. The old wizard sternly informed Harry, Hermione, Neville and Malfoy that "Hagrid is planning to enter the Forbidden Forest tomorrow night, the twenty-sixth of May at midnight. you shall thus join him and follow his instructions and orders to the letter, is that clear?".
Malfoy was the only one to protest this. "We can't go in there! It's out of bounds...and it's dangerous!", he proclaimed.
"Yes it is dangerous but only further in. You shall only be on the edge of the forest and as such in no danger. As for it being out of bounds that argument means little when you have already been out bounds tonight Mr Malfoy".
Dumbledore turned to McGonagall and Snape and requested "would you mind seeing your students back to their common rooms?", he gave one last disappointed look at the four students and then exited the office.
Ron was eating and eating all that he could from the buffet table in front of him. There were pies and cakes, meats and trifles and many pitchers full of pumpkin juice. His dream was punctured by the sound of miserable muttering and something sitting down next to him.
Ron yawned heavily, scratched his head and stared at Harry, Hermione and Neville through bleary eyes. "What happened? Did you get the dragon away safely?", he asked in concern.
Harry nodded but said nothing, he still felt too sick to speak.
"That's good", Ron took in the expression on his brothers face and asked "why are you so miserable? You look like you've lost a galleon and found a knut".
Harry swallowed down the bile in his throat and explained croakily. "We got Norbert off safely with Charlie and his friends...he says hello by the way, but we got caught", he closed his eyes for a moment and sighed heavily. He felt exhausted, like he'd played a game of Quidditch having had no sleep. "I forgot the cloak. Left it at the top of the Astronomy Tower and...McGonagall was at the bottom of the stairs", he shook his head "she was furious. I've never seen her so angry".
"She dragged us to her office", Neville added "Malfoy was there and acting all smug, like us being caught was some kind of massive accomplishment", he spat.
Ron shook his head and scowled. "That Malfoy is not only a prat but a bloody creep as well. So what happened next?", he asked.
"We've been given detention...with Hagrid", Hermione continued.
"Well that's not too bad", Ron stated.
"In the Forbidden Forest", Hermione corrected him.
Ron's mouth dropped open. "You're not serious!".
"No, we're saying these things for a laugh!", Hermione snapped.
Ron held his hands up. "Sorry, sorry. Didn't mean to upset you", he apologised hastily.
"It's not your fault", Hermione sighed and threw a glare at Harry, leaving no doubt as to who she blamed. Harry couldn't blame her, he believed himself to be at fault.
"That's not even the worst of it", Harry told his brother.
"What do you mean?", Ron demanded "what precisely could be worse than going into the Forbidden Forest?".
Harry gulped. "McGonagall deducted 50 points from Gryffindor for our...my reckless actions".
"Fifty isn't too bad, definitely not worth getting upset over", Ron consoled them.
"Not...not 50 on it's own...50 each", Harry confessed.
Ron didn't seem to know what to say. For awhile he was silent but eventually tried to cheer them up by assuring "don't worry about it. Fred and George have lost loads of points here, you know they have Harry, so it's not the end of the world".
"Yes but I imagine even Fred and George have never lost 150 points in one night before, have they?", Hermione demanded.
Ron answered "err...well...no...".
"They're going to hate us", Neville moaned miserably with his face in his hands.
"We'll be like lepers. We'll be outcast by everyone", Harry lamented. He hated how the next month was going to go and the for the first time since coming to Hogwarts he truly wished to be back at home and with the comfort and understanding of his parents.