The Mystery of the Philosopher's Stone.

Chapter 18: The Forbidden Forest

Filch took them down to Professor McGonagall's study in utter silence. She was not there when they arrived, but two minutes later she appeared, followed by Neville.

"Harry!" Neville burst out, the moment he saw the other two, "I was trying to find you to warn you, I heard Malfoy saying he was going to catch you, he said you had a drag-"

Harry shook his head violently to shut Neville up, but Professor McGonagall had seen. She looked more likely to breathe fire than Norbert as she towered over the three of them.

"I would never have believed it of any of you. Mr Filch says you were up the astronomy tower. It's one o'clock in the morning. Explain yourselves."

It was the first time Hermione had ever failed to answer a teacher's question. She was staring at her slippers, as still as a statue.

"I think I've got a good idea of what's been going on," said Professor McGonagall, "It doesn't take a genius to work it out. You fed Draco Malfoy some cock-and-bull story about a dragon, trying to get him out of bed and into trouble. I've already caught him. I suppose you think it's funny that Longbottom here heard the story and believed it too?"

Harry caught Neville's eye and tried to tell him without words that this wasn't true, because Neville was looking stunned and hurt. Poor, blundering Neville-Harry knew what it must have cost him to try and find them in the dark, to warn them.

"I'm disgusted," said Professor McGonagall, "Four students out of bed in one night! I've never heard of such a thing before! You, Miss Granger, I thought you had more sense. As for you, Mr Potter, I thought Gryffindor meant more to you than this. All three of you will receive detention-yes, you too, Mr Longbottom, nothing gives you the right to walk around school at night, especially these days, it's very dangerous-and sixty points will be taken from Gryffindor."

Harry had difficulty getting to sleep that night, worried about the other Gryffindor's reaction. 

Next morning, Ron tried to console him, "They'll all forget this in a few weeks, Fred and George have lost loads of points in the past and people still like them."

It turned out that Ron was right, especially as he spread the rumour that it involved dragons. Many of the boys were impressed. Harry had promised himself he would not interfere in anything else that didn't concern him. However, a week before the exams were due to start Harry's resolution was put to an unexpected test.

As Harry was walking back from the library alone one afternoon, he heard someone whimpering from a classroom ahead of him. As he got closer, he recognised Quirrell's voice.

"No-no-not again, please-"

It sounded as though someone was threatening him. Harry moved closer.

"All right-all right-" he heard Quirrell sob.

Next second, Quirrell came hurrying out of the classroom, straightening his turban. He was pale and looked as though he was about to cry. He strode out of sight; Harry didn't think Quirrell had even noticed him. He waited until Quirrell's footsteps had disappeared, then peered into the classroom.

It was empty, but a door stood ajar at the other end. Harry was halfway towards it before he remembered what he'd promised himself about not meddling. All the same, he'd have gambled twelve Philosopher's Stones that Snape had just left the room and from what Harry had just heard, Snape would be walking with a new spring in his step- Quirrell had given in at last. Harry hurried off to find Ron and Hermione.

They debated what they should do. Hermione wanted to go to Dumbledore to tell him everything. Harry didn't want to as they had no proof. Ron wanted to investigate further.