Chapter 20
The next morning, McGonagall came over and delivered Neville, Harry and Hermione their notes:
'Your Detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight. Meet Mr. Filch in the Entrance Hall.
Prof. M. McGonagall'
Hermione sighed, wondering just what their detention could be, so late at night.
At Eleven o'clock that night, Harry goodbye to Ron. As they went to the Entrance Hall. Filch was there waiting on them, as was Malfoy and so was Lucifer.
They were extremely surprised to see him there, "Eve was caught, attacking Mrs. Norris...."
"Bloody moron, just pushed her down from the stairs....."
"Rowena's definitely smart enough to wipe her tracks...."
Both Hermione and Harry started chuckling at Lucifer's miserable fate, especially, this bushy-haired girl, who thought, he really deserved it for making fun of her.
Malfoy also gave a laugh, he also didn't like that cat.
"Follow me," was all Harry heard from Filch, because he tuned him out after that.
This boy, just kept his eyes forward and saw they were marching out towards Hagrid's Hut.
He could only imagine what their detention would be.
"He's not going to kill us, is he?" But, Hermione asked Lucifer, fear laced in her voice.
He didn't answer, instead just squeezed her hand tighter protectively and moved forward, "Let's go, Hermione, there could be Dinosaurs inside?!"
"....." Hermione, who thought, Lucifer was going to protect her.
But it turned out, this boy's attention was somewhere else, the whole time, and just started dragging a very, horrified, looking Hermione with him.
Only, Filch was also very excited, and hastily, led these children out, "I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh?"
This keeper showed that creepy smile, which also showed off his rotting, chipped teeth. "Oh yes... hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me... 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."
Hermione, moved even closer to Lucifer, holding his hand harder, cutting off the circulation, "I want to ride Dinosaurs again....."
Only, this boy's talk, was just trying to make Hermione go insane, not helping her to calm down at all.
"Keep 'em well oiled in case they're ever needed..." Filch continued. "And don't think of running off now, it'll be even worse for you!"
The lights inside of Hagrid's hut were lit and the door opened as they neared.
"Is that you, Filch? Hurry up I want ter get started." A voice came, it was Hagrid's.
Hermione, then decreased the strength of her grip on Lucifer's hand and let out a sigh of relief, that Hagrid was in charge of their detention.
Filch must have seen the happiness etched onto the Gryffindor's faces since he turned around and gave them more to fear.
"I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourselves with that oaf? Well think again, it's into the Forest you're going to and very mistaken about wishing to come out in one piece."
Lucifer, who couldn't help, but complain a little, "Just get on with it already!" Very irritated with Fich's talk, that he even ignored, Hermione's death-like, grip on his hand.
It's just Neville moaned at this time, and felt around in his pockets.
"I've forgotten my wand!"
"Too late for that, boy. Into the Forest with you!" Filch pressed.
Malfoy stopped dead in his tracks and widened his eyes at Filch.
"The Forest?!" Harry couldn't repress the smile that formed on his lips at the sound of Malfoy being scared.
"We can't go in there. There's all sorts of things in there, Werewolves, I heard." Neville began choking on his own saliva and his face went chalk white.
Lucifer, now started to feel Hermione's hand shake within his.
"This scum doesn't even know, it's not a full moon tonight," he whispered into her ear, which finally made Hermione calm down.
"Should've thought of Werewolves before you got in trouble, eh?" Filch cackled with glee.
His favourite thing in the whole world was to make students of Hogwarts develop a fear of him, as if he feasted on children's scared looks.
Just like Hermione's favourite food was Lucifer's....she would do a lot of things to get it.
Hagrid strode over to the group, who had now stopped to hear Filch gravel on about the Forest, carrying a large crossbow over his shoulder, while Fang barking at his heel.
"Abou' time," he said. "I bin waitin' fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Lucifer, Hermione?"
"Shouldnt be too friendly to them, Hagrid. They're here to be punished after all." Filch sneered, he clearly disliked Hagrid's cheerful attitude, who was already hiding the fact, about just losing a baby dragon very well.
"That's why yer late, is it? Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot your place ter do that. Yeh've done yer bit, I'll take over from here."
Filch frowned at Hagrid and steered himself off back to the castle and out of sight, but not before saying, "I'll be back at dawn... for what's left of them." and walked off chuckling to himself.
Not even a second after Filch had left the grounds did Malfoy turn to Hagrid and order him to not take him into the Forbidden Forest.
"Yeh will, if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts," Hagrid said in a raised voice. "Yeh've done wrong and now yeh've got ter pay fer it."
"But this is servant stuff, it's not for students to do. I thought we'd be writing lines or something. If my father knew I was doing this, he'd-"
"Tell yer that's how it is at Hogwarts." Hagrid was growling at Malfoy now, making him cower away a little. "Writin' lines! What good's that ter anyone? Yeh'll do summat useful or yeh'll get out. If yeh think yer father'd rather you were expelled, then get back ter the castle an' pack. Well? Go on!"
That made Malfoy shut up. He didn't want the blame for dishonouring the Malfoy's name.
That honour fell to Lucius, or Draco's children.
The group of five followed Hagrid into the Forest while listening to his pep talk on, what they're doing and how to be safe doing it.
"Right then, now, listen carefully, 'cause it's dangerous what we're gonna do tonight an' I don' want no one takin' risks." Hagrid led them to a strangely coloured and shiny puddle resting in the middle of the path.
"Look there, see that stuff shinin' on the ground? You know what that is?"
"Bird poo?" Lucifer questioned, hoping to ease Hermione's nerves more, so she would let him go wild, in the forest.
Hagrid let out a chuckle before telling them that it was unicorn blood, which must have been hurt very badly.
This didn't help Hermione feel any better. Their mission was to find it and either help it or put it out of its misery.
But of course, Malfoy had to put an eerie mood on the group.
"And what if that thing, who damaged the unicorn finds us first?!"
Lucifer was now beginning to forget what having a hand felt like, and just by taking a look, Harry knew, Hermione's strength probably rivalled Uncle Vernon's.
"There's nothin' that lives in the Forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang." Hagrid tried to reassure Malfoy, while moving his chest upwards, "An' keep ter the path. Right, now, we're gonna split inter two parties an' follow the trail in diff'rent directions. There's blood all over the place, it must've bin staggerin' around since last night at least."
"I want Fang!" Malfoy called dibs.
""Kay then. Harry, Neville -" He went to say Hermione but caught sight of Lucifer and her combined hands. "With me. And Lucifer, Hermione, keep an eye on Malfoy, will yeh? Just send up red sparks if yer in trouble an' we'll find yehs."
The now two groups split off on different trails in search of the injured unicorn.
They walked in silence, Hermione sticking close to Lucifer, walking a little behind him, at his words.
Just in case something attacked them, Lucifer would take the blast for her.
What's even more reassuring, is that he finally gained his marbles back, and did not seem to be running away, to find his lost friends or something like that.
"Bloody fool. My father will hear about this," Malfoy muttered, clutching onto his wand and pointing it forward. "Fat oaf giving me orders... what does he think he is? Human?"
"Probably half?" Lucifer wondered out loud, after hearing Malfoy's question, besides he didn't want to lose the bet, with Hermione.
"Half-human....." Malfoy was now lost in thought.
"..." Hermione. 'Why are these two behaving in such a civil manner?'
'Did he make a new friend?'
This bushy-haired girl, is now really thinking about cursing Malfoy, and blaming it on a wild animal.