The Stone

Chapter Twenty-Eight

If I wrote a Walking Dead book, would anyone read it? 

I'm getting excited for the new season! IT'S GONNA GO DOWN!!!

Still confused with the ending of the trailer though...oh well!

Enjoy!

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The next morning, notes were delivered to Harry, Bella, and Neville at the breakfast table. They were all the same:

Your detention will take place at eleven o' clock tonight. Meet Mr Filch in the Entrance Hall.

Prof. M. McGonagall

Bella had forgotten they still had detentions to do in the furore over the points they'd lost. She half expected Hermione to complain to her about this was a whole night of revision lost, but she didn't say a word. Like Bella, she felt they deserved what they'd got even though she wasn't there.

At eleven o'clock that night they said goodbye to Ron and Hermione in the common room and went down to the Entrance Hall with Neville. Filch was already there - and so was Malfoy. Both Bella and Harry had forgotten that Malfoy had got a detention, too.

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

They marched off across the dark grounds. Neville kept sniffling. Bella wondered what their punishment was going to be, It must be something really horrible, or Filch wouldn't be sounding so delighted.

The moon was bright, but clouds scudding across it kept throwing them into darkness Ahead, Bella and Harry 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"

Bella's heart rose; if they were going to be working with Hagrid it wouldn't be so bad. Harry seemed to be thinking the same thing. Her relief must have shown on her face because Filch said, "I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf? Well, think again, girl - it's into the Forest you're going and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece"

At this, Neville let out a little moan and Bella and Malfoy stopped dead in their tracks. 

"So we get into trouble for being out of bed and wandering the grounds, yet we're out of bed at night again and wandering the grounds for our punishement...how does that seem right?" Bella said at the same time Malfoy spoke up, sounding scared.

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