human again / hp.

Chapter 17

The air was thick with tension as Filch led us across the castle grounds, his lantern casting long, eerie shadows. The silence was broken only by the shuffle of our footsteps and the occasional murmur from Filch, lamenting the loss of "the good old punishments."

"A pity they let the old ways die," Filch grumbled, his voice gravelly and low. "There was a time detention meant hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons. God, I miss the screaming."

Draco, walking beside me, swallowed audibly, his usual arrogance faltering under Filch's macabre nostalgia. I glanced at him, catching the unease in his features, but he quickly turned his head away, feigning indifference.

Hermione, Ron, Harry, and I exchanged uneasy glances. This wasn't the detention we'd anticipated.

"You'll be servin' detention with Hagrid tonight," Filch continued, his gnarled hand gripping his lantern tightly. "He's got a little job for you... in the Dark Forest."

"The Forest?" Draco's voice cracked slightly. "I thought that was a joke! We can't go in there. Students aren't allowed! There are—"

A distant howl pierced the night, and Draco flinched. "—werewolves!"

Filch chuckled darkly. "There's more than werewolves in those trees, lad. You can be sure of that." He stopped outside Hagrid's hut and turned back to us. "Nighty-night," he said with mock cheerfulness, retreating toward the castle and leaving us with the looming shadow of the Forbidden Forest.

Hagrid emerged from his hut, his massive frame silhouetted against the lantern light. He sniffled, his eyes red and puffy. Fang followed closely behind, his tail wagging lazily.

"Norbert's gone," Hagrid muttered, his voice heavy with sadness.

Hermione tried to console him. "That's good, isn't it? He'll be with his own kind in Romania."

"Yeah," Hagrid said, his shoulders slumping, "but what if he don't like Romania? What if the other dragons are mean to him? He's only a baby."

Filch's words echoed in my mind as I stared at the dense, dark trees ahead. The Forest. I shivered, wondering what terrors lay hidden within.

The entrance to the Forbidden Forest was like stepping into another world. The air was damp, cool, and filled with the scent of earth and decay. Trees loomed over us, their twisted branches blotting out the moonlight. Hagrid led the way, his crossbow slung over his shoulder, while Fang trotted nervously beside him.

Hagrid knelt by a silvery puddle that shimmered faintly in the dim light. "See this?" he said, dipping his fingers into the liquid. "That's unicorn blood. Found one dead a few weeks ago. Now there's another hurt bad. We're here to find it."

Harry stepped forward, his curiosity piqued. "What could do that to a unicorn?"

Hagrid shook his head grimly. "Somethin' dark. Somethin' real dark. So, it's our job to go and find the poor beast. Ron, Hermione, you'll come with me."

"And Harry, you'll go with Celeste and Malfoy." Hagrid added. My Twin looked like he wanted to protest but then he got an idea.

"Wait a minute!" Draco exclaimed, his voice rising. "If I'm going, I get the dog!"

Hagrid raised an eyebrow. "Fang's a bloody coward, but fine. Take him."

Draco held the lantern as we made our way deeper into the forest, its light barely penetrating the oppressive darkness. Fang sniffed the ground cautiously, whining every so often.

"You wait till my father hears about this," Draco muttered, his voice breaking the silence. "This is servant's work. We shouldn't be out here!"

Harry smirked. "If I didn't know better, Draco, I'd say you were scared."