CRIMSON TEARS | Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone [1]

𝘅𝘅𝗶 | 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁

The next morning, Gwen, Harry and Neville all received identical letters at the breakfast table.

Your detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight.

Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.

Professor McGonagall

In all her distractions with exams and being shunned from the rest of the school, Gwen had forgotten about detention.

That evening, she, Harry and Neville said goodbye to Ron and Hermione in the Common Room and went down to the entrance hall, where Mr Filch and Malfoy were waiting.

Gwen had forgotten that Malfoy had detention too.

'Follow me,' said Filch, lighting a lamp and leading them outside. 'I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh?' he said, leering at them. '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, keep 'em well oiled in case they're ever needed... Right, off we go, and don't think of running off, now, it'll be worse for you if you do.'

Gwen and Harry exchanged a fearful look.

They marched off across the dark grounds. Neville kept sniffing. Gwen wondered what their punishment was going to be. It must be something horrible, or Filch wouldn't be sounding so delighted.

The moon was bright, but clouds scudding across it kept throwing them into darkness. Ahead, Gwen could see the lighted windows of Hagrid's hut. Then they heard a distant shout.

'Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started.'

Gwen could have sung. If they were with Hagrid, nothing could be that terrible. Filch must have seen the relief on her face; he said: 'I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf? Think again, girl-- you'll be going into the forest and I'm much mistaken if you'll be coming out in one piece.'

Neville whimpered and clutched at Gwen's sleeve. Malfoy stopped dead in his tracks, looking at Filch as if he'd just told him he was going to die.

'The forest?' he said incredulously. 'We're not even allowed in there! There's all sorts of things at night. Werewolves, I've heard.'

'Should've thought of that before you broke the rules,' Filch said. He had a sort of triumphant look on his face.

Hagrid came striding toward them out of the dark, Fang at his heel. He was carrying his large crossbow, and a quiver of arrows hung over his shoulder.

'Abou' time,' he said. 'I bin waitin' fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Gwen?'

'I shouldn't be too friendly to them, Hagrid,' said Filch coldly, 'they're here to be punished,
after all.'