All The Houses

In The Deep Dark Forest

It was Saturday and I decided to go visit Professor Hagrid and thank him for my birthday present and see the baby hippogriff and the winged horse.
"Calandra, come in" said Professor Hagrid when he saw me.
"Hi Sir. I just came to thank you for my birthday present, and see the baby hippogriff and the winged horse."
"They're round the back" he says pointing outside. I followed him to what looked like a pony paddock, and saw Roughclaw, the baby Hippogriff and the winged horse all staring at me. Roughclaw looked excited, but he was too proud to let it show too much.
"Do ya want to name de baby 'ippogriff? Hagrid asked.
"I'd love too say" I say while bending down to pet the baby Hippogriff. I get inspiration for names for animals by petting them. I forget to bow to it, because it's so small and he nips my fingers.
"Ok, ok, don't get your feathers in a ruffle...... Ruffledwing......Your name is Ruffledwing!" I exclaimed, scaring the poor thing.
"Ruffledwing.." says Hagrid, thoughtfully. "I like tha', so I do".
"Well, I better go"
"Wait... Tonight.. I'm goin into de woods, to see if I can catch the animal that's hurtin these creatures. It's dangerous, but I think ye deserve to come with me." He explains.
"I'd love to!"
"Really? Your a bit mad, ye know that. Most firs' years tremble at even the mention of the woods." He says suprised. "Well, ye can't really go in there unless it's for detention. So I'm gonna have to give ye detention"
"Ok" I agree "but I don't want my detention to be for nothing" I say. A worried look crosses his face. Suddenly I open Ruffledwing's pen. I laugh as he runs around gleefully, while Hagrid chases him. It was quite funny watching Ruffledwing hop around lightly as Hagrid stomps around after him. Hagrid doesn't look mad though. He looks like he's having fun. Eventually Hagrid catches the escaped Ruffledwing.
"Well, yer definitely getting a detention now" says Hagrid, but I can see him smiling. "Meet me here at half eight".
"Ok, bye".
                   ***************
I had to get past the inquisitive Teresita before I could head down to the forest. She asks way too many questions.
"Where are you going?"
"What are you doing?"
"Why do have detention?" And a load of other questions I can't remember. It was cold night, like every other night for the past few weeks. It was dark as I walked down and I tried to remember the spell to make a little light in your wand.
"Lo..la...lumos" I mutter. A light flickered to life on the end of my wand. I see the faint outline of Hagrid as get nearer the forest.
"Hello sir" I greet him.
"'Ello Calandra. Ya ready"
"Yep". Hagrid pause for a moment. He looks like he's remembering a sad memory. "No matter what, stay close to me. And stay on the path".
"Ok" I reply sincerely. He was really serious about this. We brought Fang his dog with us. We trudged through the forest, looking for signs of a wild animal that would kill other creatures. I thought it was a wolf, but Hagrid thinks it's something smaller, looks like coyote. We were about to give up and go home, when we saw a dead hippogriff, sprawled across the ground. It was covered in blood and bite marks. Hagrid bent down and touched the poor creature.
"Blood is still warm" he says. "Stay close to me and if you see something tell me and defend yourself with this. He pulls a small, sharp dagger out of his pocket. If this wasn't so serious I would have said "Cool". I was never more alert in my life. All my senses were working overtime. It made me notice the fresh smell of pine and the quite rustles of bushes as a rabbit hoped in out of them. I was ready to defend myself, with a dagger in one hand and my wand in the other. Fang barked. I turned around so fast I stumbled. I hit my head hard against a tree. I looked up and saw two glowing eyes looking at me, and suddenly everything went dark.