Hogwarts Boys: an amateur collection

Harry Potter - Feeling Lucky

𝓘𝓷 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓬𝓱 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓳𝓸𝓲𝓷 𝓗𝓪𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓸𝓷 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝓐𝓻𝓪𝓰𝓸𝓰'𝓼 𝓯𝓾𝓷𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵

As a loyal student to Rubeus Hagrid, and a fond lover of all kinds of magical creature, it came as no surprise to yourself when you received an owl with a hastily scribbled letter, telling you that his pet gigantic tarantula had sadly passed away. Hagrid requested your company and assistance for Aragog's final farewell. He warned you to sneak out of the castle late into the evening and to avoid being spotted by anyone else. Seeing as Aragog had been kept a secret for so long now, it would be a total waste if the cat got out of the bag after the huge spider had died. Following Hagrid's advice, you waited until near nightfall to make an excuse to your friends that you left one of your books in the Great Hall and you needed to find it.

'Oh, I'll come with you!' your friend, Polly McMeekin offered, beginning to rise from the armchair was was sat in. 

'NO!' you yelped, shoving her back down. 

'Uhm...'

The cogs in your brain whizzed as you tried to think of a believable lie. Polly was sharp as a whip and wasn't easily fooled, so it had to be something that sounded plausible. 

'Well, you see... you know how I had profiteroles for pudding? They give me terrible leg jitters if I don't walk off all the sugar before bed! So I'm going to have a good stretch of my legs before I come back.'

Polly stared at you, her green eyes flickering with doubt in the candlelight. 'But, (Y/n), curfew is in ten minutes.'

'I'll run.'

Figuring you would be less noticeable if you wore normal civilian clothes than house-coloured robes, you quickly pulled on dark grey skinny jeans and a black crew-neck jumper. Polly tried to make a comment about you getting changed but you brushed her off, pointing your wand to tie the laces of your running shoes.

'Oh, give over,' you scowled at her frown. 'What's the point in magic if I can't use it for the little things?' Standing up from your bed, you dusted off your clothes and removed a few stray cat hairs. 'I won't be long.'

Ducking out of your dorm and quickly leaving the common room, you made your way to the entrance hall so you could head down towards Hagrid's house. Seeing as it was close to curfew, there were few students about. Apart from the occasional prefect, who you could deflect by saying you'd left a roll of important parchment in the Great Hall that you were going to collect. Seeing as you were a sixth-year, they didn't bother to confirm your story and just warned you to hurry up. At one point, the distinct scuffling of Mrs Norris' claws rang from the end of the western corridor, but you managed to sidestep her and avoid being caught by a murderous Filch. As you neared the front door, you could hear two voices talking, once of which was particularly familiar.

'Harry!'

'Sir!'

Turning the corner and peeking round the stone bricks, you could see Professor Slughorn staring incredulously at your friend, Harry Potter. Harry was also dressed in muggle clothes; normal, scuffed denim jeans and a plain red t-shirt. He made a stark contrast to the professor, who was dressed in his fleecy dressing gown and matching slippers.

'It's nearly nightfall! Surely you realise I can't allow you to go roaming the grounds by yourself?!'

'Well then, by all means, come along, sir!'

Slughorn grumbled quietly under his breath, but you heard him weighing up the pros and cons and also mentioning the ability to collect Acromantula venom.