Half Blood: Philosopher's Stone

Wizard's Chess and Logic's Puzzles

As Maddy left for her detention she ran into Malfoy, who was also heading to the same detention. She swore under her breath when she realized this and the two walked to the Entrance Hall in a disgruntled silence.

When they arrived only Filch was there, but Harry, Hermione and Neville soon arrived.

"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..."

"That's concerning," Maddy muttered under her breath.

"Right, off we go, and don't think of running off, now, it'll be worse for you if you do."

They marched through the dark grounds, Maddy noticed the moon was bright, but clouds were swarming across it and kept throwing them into darkness. Ahead, she 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!"

Maddy supposed if they were working with Hagrid it wouldn't be that bad even if it made Filch happy. Then again, Hagrid did have a very warped perception of fairly basic things like what was safe and what could kill you. Harry was obviously following a similar train of thought as he started to smiled, so he obviously forgot about the warped sense of safeness thing.

"I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf," Filch said to Harry. "Well, think again, boy. It's into the forest you're going and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece." Neville moaned and Malfoy stopped in his tracks.

"The forest?" he repeated, and he didn't sound quite as cool as usual. "We can't go in there at night. There's all sorts of things in there. Werewolves, I heard." Neville clutched the sleeve of Harry's robe and made a choking noise.

"That's your problem, isn't it?" said Filch, his voice cracking with glee. "Should've thought of them werewolves before you got in trouble, shouldn't you?"

"Has anyone realized that we're going against the rule we're being punished for breaking by doing this and another one along with it?" Maddy asked suddenly. Filch snapped at her about it being a punishment and thus okay.

Hagrid approached the group with Fang, carrying a large crossbow, some arrows and a lantern.

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

"You shouldn't be too friendly to them, Hagrid," said Filch coldly, "They're here to be punished, after all."

"That's why yer late, is it?" said Hagrid, frowning at Filch. "Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot your place ter do that. Yeh've done yer bit, I'll take over from here."

"I'll be back at dawn," said Filch, "for what's left of them," he added nastily, and he turned and started back toward the castle, his lamp bobbing away in the darkness. Malfoy now turned to Hagrid.

"I'm not going in that forest," he said, and Maddy caught a note of panic in his voice.

"Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts," said Hagrid fiercely. "Yeh've done wrong an' now yehve got ter pay fer it."

"But this is servant stuff, it's not for students to do. I thought we'd be copying lines or something, if my father knew I was doing this-"

"He'd tell yer that's how it is at Hogwarts," Hagrid growled. "Copyin' lines! What good's that ter anyone? Yeh'll do summat useful or yeh'll get out. If yeh think yer father'd rather you were expelled, then get back off ter the castle an' pack. Go on." Malfoy didn't move. He looked at Hagrid furiously, but then dropped his gaze.