Harry's Twin - Book One // Complete // Editing

He's a Coward

'All right then. Yehs listen carefully, now,' says Hagrid. 'What we're doing tonight is dangerous. Don't want anyone taking risks. Come over here.'

We follow him to the edge of the forest. Draco and I hang near the back (for his sake, not mine), with Neville joining us. Neville stands next to me, and I think Draco knows as well as I do why he choose to.

Hagrid holds his lamp high in the air, revealing a narrow path made of earth, leading into the forest. A light breeze blew across us, waving our hair. 

'See that shinin' stuff? There on the ground? Silvery? Unicorn blood that is. A unicorn 'as been hurt- bad- by somethin',' Hagrid looks sadly at the gleaming trail. 'Second one this week. Found one dead last Wednesday. We're gonna try find the one that left this blood 'ere. Might... might have to put it out of it's mi-misery.'

I could tell Hagrid was tearing up. I'm about to offer some words of comfort, when Draco speaks up. 'What if the thing... whatever it is... that hurt the unicorns, finds us before we find it?' He sounds scared. I didn't know he was so afraid of things.

'Absolutely nothin' in that forest is gonna hurt yeh, if you're with me or Fang 'ere,' Hagrid sighs. 'Keep ter the path. We're gonna split inter two parties and then go in different directions. I think the unicorn must've been wanderin' since last night. Blood everywhere, there is.'

'I want Fang!' Malfoy says, quickly. I see him eyeing his big teeth. I laugh to myself, because I know Fangs a big softy.

'Okay, but gotta warn yeh Malfoy, he's a coward this one,' Hagrid replies. 'Suppose yeh'd want Lydia, too?'

I go red, and I can tell Draco would've, too. I start speaking. 'Hagrid... n-... well... uh.'

Draco cuts me off. 'I- I mean, you don't have to put her with me, but... but I'd like that, yeah.'

I can hear Hermione stifling a laugh. She's right in front of me, so I kick her in the back of her leg, making her stop instantly.

Hagrid grins in the lantern light. 'Righty then. Harry, Hermione. Yehs are with me. Draco, Lydia, Neville, yehs are with Fang. Find the unicorn, send up green sparks, okay? In danger, send up red. We'll come find yehs. Got it? Be careful. Let's go.'

A little way down the earth path, there is a fork. Draco and I head one way, following a white faced Neville and Fang. Hagrid and Hermione turn down the other path. Before Harry follows them, he looks back at me. 'Be careful, Lyds.'

'You too, Scar,' I smile. Harry shoots a look at Draco, which is more of a knowing look than a glare. Weird. I shrug it off, grab Draco's hand and pull him behind Neville, waving to Harry as we go.

I scan the ground and spot some drops of unicorn blood. I point it out to the other two, who agree to follow it. We follow for a minute before hearing water running. Neville spots the stream up ahead. We jump over it and continue.

'You two okay?' I ask, still holding Draco's hand.

'Y-yeah,' Draco replies, whimpering slightly.

'I'm fine,' Neville replies from the front of the pack, sounding surprisingly confident.

Fang barks, causing us to stop. We spot something dark and slithering over a small hill a little but in front of us. It moves quickly heading towards the others. 'Should we warn them?' I ask.

'No, they'll be fine, Hagrid will know what it is,' Neville says, eyes fixed on the unknown creature. It moves on and we begin our walk again.

A few minutes later we hear Hagrid yell. 'GET BEHIND THAT TREE!' we hear the words vibrate through the forest. 'Well, maybe not...' Neville says. 'But they'll be okay.'

A while later we hear two horses cantering past. Except they weren't horses. They were centaurs. 'Ronan! Hurry, there may be intruders further up the track!' the first one yells. He has white-blond hair, which perfectly compliments his bright blue eyes.

The one behind him, Ronan, I guess, made a horse-like noise. 'But Firenze, what if it's Hagrid?' he questions. He had red hair, with a red beard. His bottom half- the horse half- was chestnut brown. They hurry past, apparently not noticing three scared kids and a cowering dog. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

We walk on, following the blood trail. Neville suggests we stop and look around for a little while. He looks by some trees, while I look behind a bush. Draco went to look in a little cave in between Neville's spot and mine. As he's walking from beside Neville, he trips on a root. He grabs Neville on the way down, causing Neville to panic and send sparks into the air. Red sparks.

We hear a yell echo through the trees. 'Hold on, don't move! I'm coming for yehs!'

I can just imagine Harry and Hermione's conversation right now... Hermione asking solemnly if she thinks we're okay. Harry's reply, being something alone the lines of 'Well, I hope Lydia is. And Neville- it's our fault we're in here. But Malfoy? I don't care if he's hurt.'

I try to yell back, tell Hagrid we're okay. 'Hagrid, don't worry, we're fine! It was an accident!' But it becomes clear he didn't hear my yells, because a minute later, he bursts through the trees.

'Lydia, what is ruddy well going on 'ere?'

'I was an accident Hagrid! Draco, tell him what happened.'

Draco looks at me, worry written all over his face. I mention him to hurry up and hesitantly he tells the story. 'We came to this little clearing and decided to stop and look for a minute. I was walking near Neville and tripped and I grabbed Neville to stop myself from falling. I didn't really work, Neville got a fright and sent the up the sparks,' Draco explains hurriedly.

'Come on, I'm taking yehs back to the others,' Hagrid says, turning and walking away. The three of us practically have to run to stay close to him. Fang was running beside me, looking happy to see Hagrid again.

Hagrid looks positively mad by the time we get back. 'We'll be lucky ter find anything with the racket you three were makin'. Now, changin' groups... Neville, Hermione, yehs are with me. Harry, yeh go with Fang and this idiot. Lydia... yeh'd better go with yeh brother.'

Draco gets ready to head of and Hagrid leans into Harry and I. 'I'm sorry, but he'll have a hard time scaring the two of yehs, and we've got ter get this done. And fast. Lydia, you don't mind, do yeh?'

'No, it's fine Hagrid. I'll try and keep him in line this time,' I laugh. Hagrid grins and stands up straight. He turns to his two companions. 'Come on then, Neville, 'ermione.'

They head one way, and we head another.

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Guys I'm sorry for not updating but idk I haven't been in the mood + kinda busy... I'll try and get into the habit of updating at least twice a month- on each story. Okay, bye love yehs.