Filch was undeniably a bitter old man; Gemini was certain of that. The man's hunched figure loomed like a dark shadow as he led them through the labyrinthine pathways of the dimly lit grounds, his grumbling resonating ominously in the stillness of night. "Why work at a school if you despise children so much?" she mused to herself, stifling a laugh that threatened to bubble over at the sharp, barbed words tumbling from his lips.
With a raspy cough, Filch continued, "It's a shame they let the old methods die. Back in my day, detention meant hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons. By God, I miss the screams." Draco Malfoy's eyes widened in horror as he glanced nervously at Gemini, who couldn't help but slice through the tension with her wit. "You must be really old if you remember that," she remarked loudly, a playful lilt in her voice that cut through the heaviness of the atmosphere. Filch shot her a venomous glare, his eyes narrowing to slits as he retorted, "You'll be serving detention with Hagrid tonight. He has a job to do in the Forbidden Forest."
Just then, the imposing figure of Hagrid came into view, crossbow in hand, his eyes glistening with unshed tears that caught the moonlight like rare jewels. "A sorry lot this is, Hagrid. Oh, for crying out loud, you're not still fretting about that bloody dragon, are you?" Filch sneered, his disdain palpable.
"Well, Norbert's gone," Hagrid replied woefully, wiping his nose with the back of his calloused hand. "Dumbledore sent him off to Romania to live in a colony." Hermione, sensing his distress, stepped forward, trying to console the giant. "That's good news, isn't it? He'll be with his own kind." But Hagrid shrugged, a deep frown creasing his brow like dark storm clouds gathering. "Yeah, but what if he doesn't like it there? What if the other dragons are mean to him? After all, he is just a baby."
Ron's face turned an ashen shade, his brows knitting together in concern. "A baby that breathes fire!" he exclaimed, his voice rising in alarm, earning a swift elbow jab to his side from Gemini, who was trying to stifle a giggle at the absurdity of the situation. Filch, reveling in their discomfort, rolled his eyes and barked, "For crying out loud, pull yourself together, Hagrid! You're heading into the Forest—you need to keep your wits about you," his tone a mixture of impatience and mockery.
Draco Malfoy, ever the coward at heart, squeaked, "The Forest? I thought that was a joke! We can't go in there; students aren't allowed. Besides, there are werewolves!" A look of disdain crossed Gemini's face as she shot him a withering glare, while Filch's gleeful cackle echoed in response, a sound that sent chills down her spine. "There are more than just werewolves lurking behind those trees, lad. You can be sure of that." Draco's frightened expression made her mood lighten slightly, but the unease lingered in the air. "Right. Let's go," Hagrid instructed solemnly, adjusting the crossbow on his back as he led the way.
As they entered the ominous forest, twisted branches clawed at the sky, creating a canopy through which little light dared to penetrate. The path was narrow and obscured, swallowed by shadow, leading them deeper into the heart of the ancient woods, where whispers of the unknown danced in the air. Hagrid stopped beside a mysterious silver puddle that shimmered in the little light that broke through. Crouching, he rubbed the strange substance between his thick, calloused fingers, contemplating its origin.
"Hagrid, what is that?" Harry asked, curiosity brightening his emerald gaze as he peered down at the puddle. Hagrid glanced around cautiously before answering, "That's unicorn blood. I found one dead a few weeks ago, and now this one's been hurt badly by something. It's our job to find the poor creature." Ron nodded weakly, still processing the reality of their situation. "Okay." Hagrid turned to the others, regarding them with a seriousness that sent a shiver down their spines. "You three stick together."
Harry and Gemini exchanged apprehensive glances, their hearts racing, while Draco visibly recoiled at the thought of adventure. "Then I get Fang!" he declared, taking charge, clearly eager for the protection of the boarhound. Hagrid readily agreed, a slight smile breaking through his troubled demeanor. "Fine, just so you know, he's a bloody coward." Fang whined in agreement, glancing back as if questioning the wisdom of their expedition.
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SABAISM | H. POTTER
FanfictionSABAISM (noun) : The worship of stars. For centuries, people have looked up to the stars and became instantaneously bewitched due to the pinpricks of light. Such an enigma they are, burning bright in the darkest of atmospheres. Never snuffed by the...
