WE ARE DOOMED. We are so doomed.

That's what Harper was thinking when Filch brought them to Professor McGonagall's office on the first floor. When she glanced aside, she could tell Harry was trembling too.

When Professor McGonagall appeared, she was not alone. I was surprise to see Neville behind her.

"Harry! Harper!" Neville bursted out the moment he saw them. "I was trying to find you to warn you, I hear Malfoy saying he was going to catch you. He said you had a drag—"

Harry and Harper quickly shook their heads to shut Neville up, but their luck was on its end as Professor McGonagall had seen it. She towered over them and Harper would rather face Norbert than an angry McGonagall.

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

No one answered as they all looked at their feet.

"I think I have a good idea of what's been going on," she continued. "It doesn't take a genius to find out."

Oh no, she knew.

"You fed Draco Malfoy some cock-and-bull story about a dragon, trying to get him out of bed and into trouble," McGonagall went on and I had to hide my relief. "I've already caught him. I suppose you think it's funny that Longbottom here heard the story and believed it, too?"

Harper glanced at Neville, her eyes trying to tell him that that wouldn't be the case. He had tried to warn them. She didn't want to think they had fooled him.

"I'm disgusted," McGonagall said. "Four students out of bed in one night! I've never heard of such thing before! The three of you will get detention—yes, you too, Mr Longbottom, nothing gives you the right to walk around at night. And fifty points will be taken."

"Fifty?" Harper repeated, trying to understand if she had heard it right.

"Fifty points each," Professor McGonagall continued.

"Professor—please—" Harry started.

"— you can't—" Harper begged.

"—do this!" Harry finished.

"Don't tell me what I can and can't do, Potters. Now, get back to bed, all of you. I've never been more ashamed of Gryffindor students."

Harper paled. One hundred and fifty points. Oh Merlin, they were going to hate them.

When she reached the girl dormitory, her eyes were dull and she just fell on her bed, hoping this would be a nightmare and that she'd wake up soon.

• ✧ •

     SO FAR, HARRY WASN'T AS FAMOUS AS HE used to be. Every Gryffindor who passed the hourglass that recorded the housepoints the next day, thought it had been a mistake at first. How could Gryffindor have one hundred and fifty points fewer than yesterday? And then the story spread.

They didn't like Harper anymore but they hated Harry.

Even Ravenclaws and Hufflepufs had been turning on him, they had longed to see Slytherin lose the House Cup. Only the Slytherins would clap as he walked past, cheering and whistling. "Thanks, Potter, we owe you one!"

Ron, Fred and George were the only ones who didn't hit on them and Harper was grateful for that.

Harry and Harper had even offered to resign the team but Oliver wouldn't have had any of it.

"Resign?" he exclaimed. "What good that'll do? How are we going to get any points back if we can't win at Quidditch?"

But Quidditch had lost it fun, too. Though Fred and George weren't pissed at them, Katie and Angelina were. They often referred to them as 'the Seeker' or 'the other Chaser'.

Harper was almost glad that exams weren't far away. Almost. It was a good distraction from all the misery. She often found herself sitting in the far rest corner of the library, trying to avoid people. She didn't look up from her book to try and make eye contact with someone, she just tried to disappear from everything.

A person slipped onto the chair before her and she didn't bother to look up, he or she was going to scowl at her anyway.

"If you're going to complain," Harper began, "get in line."

She could hear the person in front of her chuckle and she glanced up. Harper blushed when she noticed it was Cedric who had sat down in front of her. She looked down, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.

"I'm not going to complain. I'm sure you did it for your own reasons," he said.

Looking up, she gave him a small smile.

"Thank you."

His eyes sparkled. "But I'm all ears if you want to tell me why you were out last night."

Harper chuckled. "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you."

He leaned forward. "Try me."

Harper looked at him, unsure of what to do. Although she didn't know him that well, she always felt good around him. Fortunaly, Harry, Ron and Hermione arrived and gestured for her to follow them.

"I'm sorry," Harper excused herself while putting her things in her bag. "I have to go. It was a nice talk, we should do it more often."

I stood up and walked towards the others, greeting them with a smile, but that faded away when I saw their expressions.

"What's the matter?" Harper questioned them.

Harry quickly told them he'd overheard Snape threatening Quirrell.

"That's it," Ron stated. "Snape's done it. Quirrell snapped. He told Snape how to get past his Anti-Dark Force spell."

"There's still Fluffy, though," Hermione said.

"Maybe Snape found out how to get past him without asking Hagrid," Harry suggested. "I bet there is a book somewhere that tells you how to pass a three-headed dog. So what are we going to do?"

"Go to Dumbledore," Hermione spoke up. "That's what we should have done ages ago. If we try anything ourselves, we'll be thrown out for sure."

"There is only one problem though," Harper replied. "We have no prove, I mean, yeah, sure we can tell him that Snape threatened Quirrell but when it gets that far, who do you thing he'll believe; four first-years or a Professor who has been teaching for a long time? My money will be on Snape. And we weren't supposed to know about the Stone in the first place, I don't want Hagrid in trouble, do you?"

"Harp's right," Harry said, "we can't go to Dumbledore."

• ✧ •

HARPER GOT HER NOTE CONCERNING THEIR detention the morning after. She, Harry and Neville would be having detention at eleven o'clock that night.

That night, they said goodbye to Ron and Hermione, and walked out of the common room to the entrance hall.

Filch was already waiting with Malfoy. "Follow me," Filch said while lightening his lamp. "I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh? He muttered. "Oh yes, . . . hard work and pain are the best teachers of you ask me . . ."

We don't.

"It's just a pity they let the old punishment die out," he continued. "Hang you by your wrist from the ceiling for a few days, I've got the chains still in my office."

Creep.

"Keep 'em well oiled in case they're needed . . . right, off we go, and don't think of running off now, it'll be worse for you if you do."

They marched over the dark grounds and Harper could see the lighted window of Hagrid's hut.

"Is that you, Filch?" I could hear Hagrid's distant voice. "Hurry up, I want ter get started."

Harper smiled in relief. They would be working with Hagrid. How bad could that be?

"I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf?" Filch asked while staring at them. "Well, think again, it's into the forest you're going and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece."

"The forest?" Malfoy repeated while looking horrified. "We can't go in there at night—there's all sort of things in there—werewolves, I heard."

"That's your problem, isn't it," Filch argued back. "Should've thought of that before you got in trouble, shouldn't you?"

Neville gripped onto Harper's arm tightly and she could feel him trembling. She put her hand onto his back and rubbed it gently.

"It's going to be all right," she told him. "We have Hagrid with us. What could possibly go wrong?"

Before he could reply, Hagrid came striding towards them with Fang on his heels. He was carrying a large crossbow with a quiver of arrows hanging over his shoulder.

"Abou' time," he began. "I bin waiting' fee half an' hour already. All right, Harry, Harper?"

"I shouldn't been too friendly to them, Hagrid," Filch spat. "They're here to be punished, after all."

"That's why yer late, is it?" Hagrid replied while frowning at him. "Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot yer place ter do that. Yeh've done yer bit. I'll take over from here."

Thank Merlin.

"I'll be back at dawn," Filch said. "For what's left of them." He turned around and made his way back to the castle.

"I'm not going in that forest," Malfoy stayed while turning to Hagrid.

"Yeh are if yeh want to stay at Hogwarts," Hagrid replied, clearly unimpressed. "Yeh've done wrong an' now yeh've got to pay fer it."

"But this is servant stuff, it's not for students to do. I thought we were copying lines or something. If my father knew I was doing this he'd . . ."

". . . tell yer that's how it is at Hogwarts," Hagrid finished. "Coppyin' lines! What's good that ter anyone? Yeh'll do summat useful or yeh'll get our. If yeh think yer father'd rather you were expelled, then get back off ter the castle an' pack, go on!"

Malfoy didn't move and looked at Hagrid furiously.

"Right then," Hagrid said. "Now, listen carefully, 'cause it's dangerous what we're gonna do tonight, an' I don' want no one takin' risks. Follow me over here a moment."

He led them to the very edge of the forest and pointed to some silvery stuff that laid on the ground.

"Look here," Hagrid ordered. "See that stuff shinin' on the ground? Silvery stuff? That's unicorn blood. There's a unicorn in there that's hurt badly. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday. We're gonna try an' find the poor thing. We might have ter take it out of its misery," he told them while patting his crossbow.

"And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds our first?" Malfoy asked fearfully.

Harper did not like to say it, but he had a point.

"There's nothin' that lives in the forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang," Hagrid answered. "An' keep ter the path. Right, now, we're gonna split into two parties an' follow the trail in different directions. There's blood all over the place, it must've been staggering around since last night, at least."

"I want Fang," Malfoy said quickly.

"All right, but I warn yeh, he's a coward." He then turned to Harry and Harper. "So me and Neville are going one way an' Harry, Draco and Harper go the other. Now, if any of us finds the unicorn, we'll send up green sparks, right? An' if anyone gets in trouble, send up red sparks, an' we'll all come an' find yeh—so be careful—let's go."

They followed Hagrid deeper into the forest until they reached a fork in the earth path. Harry, Malfoy, Harper and Fang turned right while the Hagrid and Neville went left.

They could hear Malfoy mutter under his breath, something along the lines of 'my father will hear about this'.

Harper sighed and hoped that they would find that unicorn soon. She didn't know how long she could tolerate being around Malfoy.

Time went by slow as Harper tried to put as much distance between herself and Malfoy, who kept on complaining. About half an hour later, they arrived at an open space. The unicorn laid on the ground, bleeding, but that wasn't what got Harper's attention. Bowing over the unicorn, drinking his blood, was something with a black coat. When it looked up, she could see its fangs and she immediately stumbled back into Malfoy.

Malfoy screamed and ran away, taking Fang with him. Harper grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him with her when that something stood up and flew over to them. Harry fell over a branch and pulled Harper with him. Her eyes widened when the black figure neared.

But then a centaur sprang between them and the figure and drove it away. Harper could still feel her heart beat in her chest when Harry offered his hand to pull her up.

"You are not safe in these woods, young ones," the centaur said with a deep voice. "Certainly not with your name."

"That thing," Harry began, "what was it?"

The centaur hesitated. "A monstrous creature. It's a terrible crime to slay a unicorn. Drinking of the blood of a unicorn will keep you alive even if you are an inch from death. But at a terrible price. You have slain something so pure that the moment the blood touches your lips, you will have a half life. A cursed life."

"But who would choose such a life?" Harry asked.

"Can you think of no one?"

"Voldermort," Harper piped up.

The centaur glanced at her. "Do you know what is hidden in the school this very moment?"

"The Philosopher's Stone," Harper replied.

Before the centaur could reply, Hagrid, Neville and Malfoy appeared.

"Harper!" Neville cried. "Harry!"

"Hello there, Firenze," Hagrid greeted the centaur. "I see you've met young Harper and Harry Potter. You alright there, Harry, Harper?"

The both of them nodded and Firenze looked down at them. "Harper, Harry, this is where I leave you. The both of you are safe now. Good luck."

And gone he was.

• ✧ •

     AFTER DETENTION WAS OVER, THEY HEADED back towards Gryffindor Tower. When they climbed through the portrait hole, they saw Ron already fast asleep on the couch. Next to him was Hermione, also asleep. Harper tried to carefully wake Ron up, but when that didn't work, she grabbed a pillow and slammed it into his face. "Wake up, Ron!"

"Aargh!" Ron exclaimed, jolting awake, and Hermione woke up as well. He didn't get a chance to complain since Harry and Harper quickly filled them in with everything that had happened. At the end, Ron was pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace while Hermione was staring worriedly at the Harry and Harper.

"Snape wants the Stone for Voldemort," Ron stated.

"And Voldemort's waiting in the forest." Harry added.

"Stop saying his name!" Ron hissed terrified.

"So all I've got to wait for now is Snape to steal the Stone," Harry continued, ignoring Ron. "Then, Voldemort will be able to come and finish me off."

"Harry," Hermione began looking frightened. "Everyone says that Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid of. With Dumbledore around, You-Know-Who won't touch you."

"She's right," Harper said, glancing at her watch. "It's getting late, we should go to bed."

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May 27th 2022
I hope you enjoy it & tell me what you think of it! :)