Reborn - A Harry Potter Fanfiction

i.xvii chapter seventeen

Spring, 1992; The Forbidden Forest

This was going to be the story of how Ember Swan died. She just knew it. Ember had never seen McGonagall look so angry. Regretfully, they were marched into her study. A march to death.

"Nothing. I repeat nothing gives a student the right to walk about the school at night" she began, her voice cold and firm. Ember hung her head in shame. If McGonagall only knew the troubles they were facing! Malfoy was looking smugly at his post beside her, acting as if he were her pet.

"Therefore, as punishment for your actions...fifty points will be taken from each of you."

"Fifty?!" Ron gasped in horror, clawing his face with his hands.

"And to ensure it won't happen again, all five of you will receive detention" McGonagall finished and Ember groaned out loud. This was the end!

Maybe it wasn't? Ember paused when she realised what McGonagall had said...five. Malfoy obviously had realised too and looked slightly scared.

"Perhaps I heard you wrong Professor. I thought you said the five of us" he laughed nervously.

"No, you heard me correctly Mr Malfoy. As you too were up past hours, you will join your classmates in detention" McGonagall declared sternly. Ember cracked a grin, as had the others when realising Malfoy had finally been caught out. The only downside to it was...they would have to spend time with the delightful Draco Malfoy.

***

The next evening, the five of them were led by Filch to Hagrid's humble hut. It was a starless night and Ember felt positively miserable.

"A pity they let the old punishments die. There was a time when detention would find you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeon. God I miss the screaming" Filtch moaned, leading them through the darkened grounds. Hermione and Ember looked at each other for support.

"He's so intense" Ember whispered, her face the epitome of woe.
"Tell me about it" Hermione whispered back, holding on tightly to Ember's arm. A howl turned their blood cold as it echoed through the trees and the girls nestled close together. Harry and Ron were up ahead with Filch and Malfoy, but still the girls stayed back, following silently.

"You'll be serving detention with Hagrid this evening. He's got a little job to do in the dark forest" Filch explained as they drew nearer to Hagrid's hut. The man himself was there, sniffling beside Fluffy, looking as miserable as Ember felt.

"Oh, good god man, you're not still upset about that bloody dragon are you?" Filch chastised Hagrid, judging him with disgusted eyes. The caretaker had no sympathy for anyone or anything. No wonder no one liked him. Ember however couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt. If they'd not gone to see Hagrid last night, perhaps he'd still have his dragon.

"Norbert's gone" Hagrid sniffled. "Dumbledore's sent him away to Romania to live in a colony."

"But that's good isn't it? He'll be with his own kind" Hermione tried to offer a word of kindness. It didn't seem to work.

"But what if he don't like Romania? What if the other dragons bully him?" Hagrid cried, shaking his head.

"Oh god, pull yourself together man. You're going into the forest after all. Got to have your wits about yah" Filch snapped, looking at Hagrid as if he was the most pathetic thing in the world.

"The forest?! I thought that was a joke! We can't go in there! Students aren't allowed! And there are...werewolves" Malfoy squeaked, having previously been rather quiet, which was a first. Ember didn't like the boy, but for once she agreed with him. The woods were not a particularly appealing place to go right this second.