Hostage - Draco Malfoy

Chapter 3

I woke up earlier than everyone the next morning. It was 4am and I could barely fall back asleep – stress does that to me.

I decided I would get dressed straight into my robes, not wanting to be back here when everyone else had awoken.

As I crept around the room trying to acquire everything I needed, I heard Lavender Brown snort and roll over. I froze in the middle of a step panicked and sighed in relief when I found she was still dead asleep.

I quickly left my dorms and walked into the nearly empty common room. There was only a young girl sitting one of the tables. She seemed to be lost in great thought, so I only gave her a courteous nod and went about my way.

I made my way through the dark and quiet stony halls of the castle, not really having any idea of where I am going. The castle was different in the early mornings, it didn't have it's familar at home, warm feeling; instead, it was cold, and lacked it's usual ray of sunshine peeking through the windows to light it up, but was filled with dark shadows that haunted its walls.
Midst observing the night, I was turning a corner before I saw Professor Quirrell not far ahead.

I stopped abruptly swinging back against the other side of the corner. My heart was racing – getting caught out was not the plan.

What the hell is he doing here at 4 in the morning? Part of me wanted to go back in bed before I got handed a detention, another part of me, was curious.

I made sure he was facing the opposite way before I started to sneak behind him. He was jittery, on edge perhaps. It was as if someone was... pressuring him to do something he wasn't sure of.

I had to speed up as he hurried through the corridors, although it seemed he had trouble keeping up the pass, something wasn't right.

This went on for a while, left, left, right; the size of the castle is no joke. We eventually made it outside where I had to be more careful, I couldn't hide behind walls, or statues. The more we walked the more curious I had become.

We walked towards the forbidden forest; the closer we got, the more unsure I became, but I was determined to figure out what's going on.

I stayed 20 metres away from him, hiding behind trees where I could. I ran to the next tree as he went deeper into the forest. Just as I was about to reach the tree I stood on a twig. I quickly panicked and hid, peaking around the trunk I saw Professor Quirrell had stopped, nervously looking around. I stayed in the same spot trying to not let my panting give my spot away.

I turned back around and saw him knelt down, face in a puddle. I was confused, why would he walk into the forest at night, just to drink water – and like an animal? Before I could continue pondering on what was happening I spotted a nearby animal; It was a unicorn, lying stiff on the ground. It was then that I noticed he was not drinking water, but what seemed like the unicorns' blood.

I panicked and ran in the opposite direction; I wasn't looking where I was going as I was looking at the ground to make sure I don't trip on any fallen trees.

Before making it to the edge of the forest I ran into a tall figure, thinking it was just a tree I went to walk around it, before noticing it was actually Professor Quirrell.

"Miss C-corbyn, what what are you d-doing out so.. early?" His stutter was oddly bad.

"Me? I'm just out.. about to go to quidditch practice. Season's in a few months and we would like to be prepared." I stood confident in my answer.

"B-but you're in ffirst year"

"What of it Professor?"

"You c-can't play q-quidditch"

"Who said anything about quidditch?"

"Y-you said you were g-going to p-practice" He had a very confused expression on his face at this point.

"Practise for what Professor?"

"Q-quidditch, Miss C-Corbyn"

"Quidditch? There's no quidditch today, quidditch doesn't start for another few months. Here Professor, I think you should see Madam Pomfrey, you seem awfully delusional and confused. Stress tends to do that to people."

"B-but I" The Professor didn't know whether to follow my lead or not, looking back and forth between myself, the forest and towards the quidditch pitch.

"First time teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts – I don't blame you for being a little on edge." He shook his head not believing his own thoughts and went towards the castle.

Once I thought he was distracted enough and he was turning the corner, I bolted in the opposite direction towards the common room.

By this time, there were more students in the hallways, but it was still too early to see everyone out. I made it up the moving stair case towards the Fat Lady's portrait and entering my common room.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were already out of their dorms and seated by the fire. Hermione was catching up on some studies, well probable doing next week's work knowing her.

I ran up to Harry sitting next to him on the empty spot of the couch. Both Ron and Hermione looked up confused as I entered so suddenly.

"Harry, I saw something in the forest, it's Professor Quirrell." I whispered to Harry in a panicked voice, looking around to make sure no one is listening.

"Professor Quirrell? Why was he in the forest?" Harry asked confused.

"I- I'm still not sure. He looked very nervous and he, I think he went in there to kill a unicorn, there was one ne-"

"Are you sure it was a unicorn" Hermione said in a know it all manner. I looked up at her with an expressionless face.

"Yes Hermione, I know what a unicorn is." I proceeded to turn back to Harry, I wasn't in the mood for an argument first thing in the morning.

"Very well then, if you say so" Hermione gathered up her books, gave Ron and Harry one last look before walking out of the common room.

"What's got her wand in a knot, have you both still not made up?" Ron questions

"Not until she apologises. Harry I promise, something is going on with professor Quirrell, do you have defence against the dark arts today? Ron and I don't have it until tomorrow" I was overwhelmed with curiosity about this whole ordeal with the Professor.

"I-I think so" Harry was now also overwhelmed, but by my odd excitement.

"Perfect! Let me know what happens!" And with that I was out of the common room and in my empty dorm. I gathered my book bag with everything I needed for the day and left to get to my classes.