Forgive me | Tom Riddle

Chapter 6 - The Forbidden Forest

Lillian

Naturally, Violet was curious about my diary.

As soon as I sat down, she tried peeking over my shoulder to read, but I always told her off. I mostly wrote about how much I despised Tom however I couldn't help but feel bad for wasting so much space in my diary just for him.

Especially after my birthday we often got into little arguments. The tension between us seemed to increase by the hour. It was like he needed to prove himself and I didn't back down.

When it came to the trio, we mostly spoke in the library as neither of us were allowed to enter each others' dorms. They still suspected Snape wanted to steal the stone.

One afternoon they invited me to go to Hagrid's hut together, as they wanted to ask him about the stone.

It was already getting late by that time and I asked them whether we should still go. If anyone caught us, we would earn ourselves a month's worth of detention after all, but they insisted. Apparently, it was "urgent".

The smell of burnt wood and a familiar warmth greeted us as soon as we stepped into the keeper's tiny home. I liked this place. It was so cozy and loving, Hagrid and the trio always welcoming me. A polar opposite to the Slytherin house in the dungeons.

He then proceeded to show us a huge golden egg, which was bigger than my whole head. Apparently he had gotten it from a hooded figure in the pub., who did not show their face. If it was for me, I would not so easily trust strangers, though knowing Hagrid, he most likely did not see any harm behind all of this.

He had also received instructions on how to hatch it. After a few minutes of incubation, it was done and he put it on the table. The egg shook violently, as though as it was about to burst any second. All four of us ducked our head when shells came flying towards us, revealing the creature inside. We could not believe our eyes when we saw what it was.

"Is that... a dragon?" Hermione asked first, mouth agape just like the rest of us.

Ron was astonished. "That is not just a dragon... that is a Norwegian Ridgeback! My brother works with these in Romania."

"How will you call him, Hagrid?" I asked, joining the conversation.

"He looks like a Norbert."

Harry and Ron glanced at each other. "Norbert?" Harry asked, confused.

"Yes" replied Hagrid, eyeing his new pet with a wide grin. Suddenly he looked up, not meeting any of our eyes but rather looking out of the window.

"Who is that?" He questioned, encouraging us to take a look for ourselves.

"Malfoy." Harry replied. We quickly made our way back into the castle before Draco could tell any of the professors. Though, as we entered, Professor McGonagall had already been waiting for us, the blonde boy right behind her.

"There is absolutely no reason for you four to be out of bed at night!" She scolded us, now sitting at her desk with us four standing in front of her. With none of us daring to answer, she spoke again. "You five have earned yourself detention."

Draco's grin faltered, his expression turning into a frown instead. "Sorry Miss, I thought I heard you say "you five"? I must have misheard."

"You heard me perfectly fine Mr. Malfoy. You as well have been out of bed after curfew, meaning you will join the others. Now follow Mr. Filch, he has a task for you."

Filch then explained we would join Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest, to the dismay of Draco.

"The forest? I thought that was a joke. We can't go in there!" He tried to explain.