Twice Chosen | Esmerelda Potter

25. Detention with Hagrid

"Nothing, I repeat nothing, gives you the right to wander the corridors at night!" Professor Mcgonagall scolds. 

All of us shuffle our feet and look down on the ground uncomfortably. Malfoy stands to the right of all of us, as proud as could be. I suddenly become interested in my black shoes, not wanting to face Professor Mcgonagall or the rest of my friends.

"As punishment, fifty points will be taken," Professor Mcgonagall says while shaking her head and writing something down with her quill.

"Fifty?" Harry exclaims while looking at us all.

"Each," Professor Mcgonagall replies. My jaw drops. That's two hundred points, completely gone. I'm pretty sure that is at least half of the Gryffindor total. I'm very sure we just cost ourselves the House Cup. 

Malfoy doesn't even bother hiding his smile. I bore my gaze into his and he looks back down at his shoes.

"To ensure that it won't happen again, the five of you will receive detention for tomorrow night," Professor Mcgonagall glances at each one of us, including Malfoy.

"Excuse me Professor, I think I heard you incorrectly," Malfoy stammers nervously. "I thought I heard you say the five of us."

"No, Mr. Malfoy, you very well heard me correctly. As honorable as your intentions were, you too were out of bed after hours," Professor Mcgonagall speaks. "We'll be seeing you five at detention tomorrow night."

All of us smirk at Malfoy while he tries to give us his most menacing glare. After Professor Mcgonagall sends us out, all of us quietly go up the stairs to bed.

==========

I'm completely determined to stay in my room the rest of the day. Word got around that two hundred points mysteriously disappeared from the Gryffindor House last night. And of course, Malfoy was the one to fill everyone in on who got rid of the points.

I haven't even left my room today because I'm afraid of what everyone else will have to say. The last thing I need right now is people yelling at me on top of exams and Quidditch practice. 

Hermione bursts through the girl's dormitory doors, where I've been all day.

"Esmerelda, it's time to go!" Hermione grabs hold of my ankle and attempts to pull me out of bed. I've done nothing in bed except read the books that Dora gave me for Christmas, and finish the homework assigned yesterday.

Now, it's time to go to detention. Hermione insists that we get there early, but I see no point. Finally I grow tired of her pulling at my ankle and get out of bed, sighing.

"Yes! I've done it!" Hermione cheers when I stand up. I get dressed in my Gryffindor robes and meet Hermione and the boys downstairs. 

Apparently, we have to meet Filch for detention in his office, and he'll be telling us what to do there. 

When we finally get there, not getting lost this time, Malfoy is already there, glaring, like always. 

Filch leads us outside toward Hagrid's hut, Mrs. Norris on his tail. 

"You'll be serving detention with Hagrid tonight. Be going in the Dark Forest. Good luck, you'll need it!" Filch cackles, which sends a chill down my spine. 

Not again. 

When we reach Hagrid, his shoulders are slumped and his eyes misty. 

"What's wrong, Hagrid?" I ask.

"Norbert's gone," Hagrid sniffles. "Dumbledore sent 'em offta Romania to be with te other dragons." 

"But that's good!" Hermione says. "He'll be with his own kind!" Ron and Harry nod.