"Now I'm thinking I don't really want to read this one." said Remus looking over to Sirius.

"What makes you think I want it?" said Sirius leaning away from him.

"I think you are stuck Remus, you'd better just start right now." said Dumbledore with a saddened expression on his face.

Remus chewed his lip but cleared his throat loudly and bravely continued.

Things couldn't have been worse.

"We were so wrong!" moaned Harry and Hermione.

Filch took them down to Professor McGonagall's study on the first floor, where they sat and waited without saying a word to each other.

"Remember the first time we got caught, Moony?" asked Sirius, trying to lighten Remus' mood. "We spent a majority of the time, before she got there and when she was there, bickering about who did what to get us caught."

Remus' mouth twitched slightly. "You got us caught, you stepped on Mrs. Norris' tail." he said with small smirk.

"No I didn't, I shoved Peter and HE stepped on Mrs. Norris' tail." said Sirius defensively.

Hermione was trembling. Excuses, alibis, and wild cover-up stories chased each other around Harry's brain, each more feeble than the last.

"I wouldn't have been in the mood to hear excuses at the moment." said McGonagall sternly.

He couldn't see how they were going to get out of trouble this time. They were cornered. How could they have been so stupid as to forget the cloak?

"Very good question." said Sirius shaking his head.

"Stuff it, Paddy." said Harry.

He paid dearly for his cheek when Sirius reached down and tickled him mercilessly.

There was no reason on earth that Professor McGonagall would accept for their being out of bed and creeping around the school in the dead of night, let alone being up the tallest Astronomy Tower, which was out-of-bounds except for classes.

"At least you knew enough not to give me a cock and bull story." said McGonagall.

"Not that he doesn't try." said Snape with smirk on his lips.

"Hey now, I only remember lying to you...maybe...three times." said Harry ticking off the incidents that he could recall.

Snape snorted in disbelief.

Add Norbert and the Invisibility Cloak, and they may as well be packing their bags already.

"We wouldn't have been surprised if you did send us home packing." said Harry and Hermione.

Had Harry thought that things couldn't have been worse? He was wrong.

"It was going to get even more worse than what happens next." said Harry.

When Professor McGonagall appeared, she was leading Neville.

"How does that make it worse?" asked Kingsley.

"Wait for it." said Neville sadly.

"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—"

"Never mind." said Kingsley shaking his head.

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.

"Sorry, ma'am." said Harry sheepishly.

"Don't be, Mr. Potter, nice to know that I'm like an enraged dragon when I get mad." said McGonagall with a smirk.

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

"I don't think I would have believed you, even if you told me under Veritiserum." said McGonagall shaking her head.

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.

Several students stared at Hermione in shock. How could she not answer a question?

"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.

Pansy snickered loudly. Harry looked over to her quickly.

"You want to have a go? I can take you on with wands or insults. Choose your weapon."

"Wands then, cause I've had enough of your mouth." she said sneering and slipping the wand from her robes.

"Mr. Potter, don't make me give you a detention." smirked Professor Snape.

"You actually can't, sir, I'm defending the honor of my Head of House, school rules state that I can, it actually encourages it." Harry said standing up and flicking his wrist. His wand came swiftly down his sleeve and lodged firmly in Harry's grip.

The battle was over in an instant, and Pansy's friends were trying to pick her up off the floor. Harry, unharmed and unphased sat back down in the bowl. "You and another fellow Slytherin should learn not to pick a fight with me. I took you on alone, with him, I have lots of backup." said Harry.

I've already caught him. I suppose you think it's funny that Longbottom here heard the story and believed it, too?"

"We didn't...we wouldn't..." said Harry a switching from a taunting behavior to a fretful one, looking between McGonagall and Neville. Sirius gave his arm a squeeze.

"We know, cub, we know. She didn't know at the time though, she does now, I'll bet." said Sirius with a smile.

McGonagall shifted nervously.

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—

Remus turned and looked at Harry slowly. Before he could fully turn around, Harry quickly apologized to a Neville who just smiled back.

Harry knew what it must have cost him to try and find them in the dark, to warn them.

"We appreciated it, Neville, but...you shouldn't have risked expulsion just to find us." said Hermione kindly.

"You guys are worth risking that for though!" said Neville happily. Ron, Hermione and Harry turned a bright pink.

"You, Miss Granger, I thought you had more sense. As for you, Mr. Potter, I thought Gryffindor meant more to you than this.

"That hurts. Bad form, Professor." moaned Charlie.

"Indeed, Minerva, not even I would say that to my Slytherin students." said Snape looking at her with widened eyes.

Professor McGonagall looked over to Harry, she had an apologetic look on her face.

All three of you will receive detentions—yes, you too, Mr. Longbottom, nothing gives you the right to walk around school at night, especially these days,

"What was going on in those days?" asked a fourth year Ravenclaw.

"I think the reason will make itself known in this chapter, Mr. Tomen." said Dumbledore addressing the student

it's very dangerous—and fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor."

"Fifty? For being out of bed? And getting someone else out on a prank?" asked Sirius and George incredulously. "What were you playing at? You never took that much off of us for being out of bed and flooding the lower dungeons/setting off fireworks in the corridors!" they shouted. Then they looked at each other in shock. "You did what?"

"I...I...I didn't want Potter to be as much of a troublemaker as his father was." said McGonagall, trying to defend herself.

"One has to look at him, listen to him talk, and watch him walk and see he isn't going to be anything like his dad!" said Lupin sternly.

Fifty?" Harry gasped—they would lose the lead, the lead he'd won in the last Quidditch match.

"Oh, come on, Professor!" moaned Charlie.

"Fifty points each," said Professor McGonagall, breathing heavily through her long, pointed nose.

"Each?" asked Remus faintly.

Sirius let out a breath of air. "McGonagall, that was going overboard."

"Amazingly, I agree with the mutt, Minerva." said Snape quietly.

"Professor—please—"

"You can't—"

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

"If you think you were upset, I wonder if it will say how upset we were." said Neville wonderingly.

"I really hope it doesn't." said Harry sadly.

A hundred and fifty points lost.

That put Gryffindor in last place. In one night, they'd ruined any chance Gryffindor had had for the house cup. Harry felt as though the bottom had dropped out of his stomach. How could they ever make up for this?

Harry looked down in shame.

Harry didn't sleep all night. He could hear Neville sobbing into his pillow for what seemed like hours.

McGonagall looked a little upset, but she still held onto what little ground she had.

Harry couldn't think of anything to say to comfort him. He knew Neville, like himself, was dreading the dawn. What would happen when the rest of Gryffindor found out what they'd done?

Several balls of light popped out of the book in Remus' hands and began to spin around. Lionus, Rivers, Nightstrike and the two Doctors stared in amazement.

"What are those things?" asked Lionus quickly.

"They're called Scatter Shots, they reveal a past event, it's not like a Scroll though. But why would it show us this part, I don't know." replied Sirius quickly. The balls shattered and each of the fragments shot straight into each person in the Great Hall. The slightly familiar darkness claimed their sight for a brief instant.

They found themselves in the Gryffindor Dormitory, where Dean and Seamus were found to be fast asleep. Members of the other houses looked around the dormitory eagerly.

"This is a little different than ours are." whispered Ernie. "They have different color curtains on their beds."

They watched as Neville and Harry both came in, Neville was bawling while Harry was looking as white as Dumbledore's beard.

Neville fell heavily onto his bed, without undressing and cried loudly into the pillow. McGonagall looked at the sobbing boy in shame. It seemed like forever that eleven year old Harry stood in the corner, beside his bed and watched Neville, with regret and deep emotional pain radiating off his body. Sirius wanted to go over and hold him, tell him everything was going to be alright, but he knew he couldn't. Neville stopped crying and turned his head.

"What...what...what are we going to do, Harry?" he said tearfully.

"I don't know...I do know what I'm going to do now, though." said Harry weakly.

"What is that?" asked Neville.

Harry stood up and walked into their dorm's bathroom and closed the door behind himself. The dorm was silent, until they heard a retching sound. Madam Pomfrey, and most of the adults turned towards Harry and stared at him.

"I want an honest answer, Potter," said Madam Pomfrey angrily. "Did you make yourself sick."

"No, I didn't. I know better than to do that on purpose, it sucks when it comes about on its own." he said looking down sadly.

The Harry of the past came back, several minutes later, and laid down on the bed. His face, drawn, pale and sweaty. He clutched at his stomach and whimpered slightly. Neville continued his crying while Harry got up several times, and repeated the actions that he had done behind the closed doors. Sirius hugged Harry tightly and whispered in his ear, "I don't want you getting that upset again."

"Neither do I." said Dr. Clark with a shocked face.

"I don't get that upset on purpose." said Harry quietly. He thought back to the past summer and flinched, if it showed them that summer, they would be seeing another repeat performance.

The balls of light left their bodies and they were back in the Great Hall. Remus sent Harry a worried look and sent a scowl over to McGonagall, who looked devastated. Reluctantly, he continued on reading.

At first, Gryffindors passing the giant hourglasses that recorded the house points the next day thought there'd been a mistake. How could they suddenly have a hundred and fifty points fewer than yesterday?

"We actually went and grabbed Professor Flitwick and asked him if it was malfunctioning." said a sixth year Gryffindor.

"It was very hard trying to explain to them what had happened." said Flitwick sadly.

And then the story started to spread: Harry Potter, the famous Harry Potter, their hero of two Quidditch matches, had lost them all those points, him and a couple of other stupid first years.

"We didn't know all the facts, now we did." said the sixth year apologetically.

From being one of the most popular and admired people at the school, Harry was suddenly the most hated.

"That almost seems to happen at least once a year." said Harry absently. Several students cringed in their seats.

Even Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs turned on him,

Tonks and Rivers looked sternly at their two houses.

"Hufflepuffs are supposed to be loyal!" she growled to her House.

"And I would have expected more of my fellow Ravenclaws." said Rivers sternly.

because everyone had been longing to see Slytherin lose the house cup. Everywhere Harry went, people pointed and didn't trouble to lower their voices as they insulted him.

"Harry..." said Dumbledore quietly.

"Yes, sir?" asked Harry looking over to the Headmaster.

"Have you told a teacher about this?" asked Dumbledore seriously. The teachers sat up.

"No sir, I felt that I deserved what I was getting." said Harry quietly.

Most of the teachers and guests groaned at that statement. "No Harry, you most certainly did not deserve that kind of treatment from your fellow students." moaned Dumbledore.

Damned Dursleys thought Sirius and several others.

Slytherins, on the other hand, clapped as he walked past them, whistling and cheering, "Thanks Potter, we owe you one!"

Sirius, Remus and Dr. Clark snarled over to the students of Slytherin House.

Only Ron stood by him.

"Good for you, Ron!" said Charlie. But Ron only stared at his knees, remembering his behavior last year.

"They'll all forget this in a few weeks. Fred and George have lost loads of points in all the time they've been here, and people still like them."

"They've never lost a hundred and fifty points in one go, though, have they?" said Harry miserably.

"No, no we haven't." said Fred and George quietly.

"Well—no," Ron admitted.

It was a bit late to repair the damage, but Harry swore to himself not to meddle in things that weren't his business from now on.

"Seriously? You were that upset?" said Dean with his mouth hanging open.

"At the time, I had had it." said Harry bitterly.

He'd had it with sneaking around and spying. He felt so ashamed of himself that he went to Wood and offered to resign from the Quidditch team.

The Quidditch members of the other houses all gasped. Potter...quitting? Professor McGonagall's hand flew to her mouth and horror. She almost caused her star Quidditch player to resign!

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

But even Quidditch had lost its fun. The rest of the team wouldn't speak to Harry during practice, and if they had to speak about him, they called him "the Seeker."

The Gryffindor Quidditch team shuffled their feet miserably. Fred and George turned and scowled at the chasers.

"We didn't turn our backs on them." said Fred.

"Yeah, we figured that a prank went wrong and we thought nothing of it. We knew that with Hermione answering all kinds of difficult questions and Harry's flying, we'd get back on top in no time flat. " said George.

Hermione and Neville were suffering, too. They didn't have as bad a time as Harry, because they weren't as well-known, but nobody would speak to them, either.

"We didn't have a bad time at all, compared to you." said Hermione sadly.

Hermione had stopped drawing attention to herself in class, keeping her head down and working in silence.

The teachers all looked down slowly, they remembered her keeping her hand down. They hurried to Professor McGonagall to tell her, they were shocked to learn that she was party to the massive loss of points for Gryffindor.

Harry was almost glad that the exams weren't far away.

Dean, Seamus, Neville, and Ron turned to stare at the black haired teen.

"It said 'almost'" said Harry without looking at them.

All the studying he had to do kept his mind off his misery. He, Ron, and Hermione kept to themselves, working late into the night, trying to remember the ingredients in complicated potions, learn charms and spells by heart, memorize the dates of magical discoveries and goblin rebellions...

"I hate end of term exams!" moaned Ron. Almost all of the students nodded their heads in agreement. Hermione and a few Ravenclaws however looked slightly irritated.

Then, about a week before the exams were due to start, Harry's new resolution not to interfere in anything that didn't concern him was put to an unexpected test.

"One gets the feeling you didn't pass." sneered Snape.

Walking back from the library on his own one afternoon, he heard somebody whimpering from a classroom up ahead. As he drew closer, he heard Quirrell's voice.

"No—no—not again, please—"

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

"What the..? Who is talking to him?" asked Dr. Clark.

"Harry's there! He'll find out!" said Dennis quickly.

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

Next second, Quirrell came hurrying out of the classroom straightening his turban.

"Why would he be straightening it?" asked Tonks loudly. "Did he get in a fight with someone?"

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.

"Well, well, you did fail miserably, didn't you?" said Snape with a smirk.

"Wait for it." warned Harry.

It was empty, but a door stood ajar at the other end.

Harry was halfway toward it before he remembered what he'd promised himself about not meddling.

"I stopped myself before I could even begin to meddle." said Harry with a small smile. "But you are right, I did just about fail." continued Harry, giving Snape (surprisingly) some credit.

All the same, he'd have gambled twelve Sorcerer's Stones that Snape had just left the room,

Snape slowly extended an open palm to Harry, "I'll take the stones now," he said with a smirk.

Harry looked down, thinking deeply. He then stood up and walked over to the Potions Master. He reached behind his neck, appearing to unfasten something. When he pulled his arms back, in his hands was a fine golden-wrought chain. He held it out for the Professor to take.

"It's not a Sorcerer's Stone, but it's the most valuable thing I have." he said seriously.

Snape slowly took it, he was only kidding about taking anything from the boy, he looked at the small charm in his hands. It was small locket, ornately decorated with a delicate gold flower, a lily.

"What is this?" he said, he wanted to sound snarky, but it only came out in a pale whisper.

"I bought this last year, it's nothing special to anyone else but me, so I'll do anything to win it back." said Harry looking down at the golden bauble. The phial that Luna had captured his tear in, was still glowing silently.

"What's this inside?" said Snape opening it. It held a small, glass bead, with a lock of red hair inside.

"I had to go to Godric's Hollow just to get that." said Harry quietly. "Took me some doing to find it."

"What is it?" pressured Snape. He had a feeling what it was, but he needed to know for sure.

"It's a lock of my mother's hair. I scoured all over the remnants of my parents' house just to find it." said Harry with a small smile. "Took me all day to find it."

Dumbledore sat forward in the chair and stared, as some of the other teachers started to blow their noses loudly.

Snape held it out for Harry to take it back. "I can't take this." he said in a hoarse whisper.

"Take it, till I win it back." he said finally.

He left the chain with Professor Snape and went to go sit back down. Snape couldn't take his eyes off the locket, or the lock of hair resting inside.

"But Harry you bet your broomstick! And you didn't give it to him!" said Zacharias loudly, he had to dodge a smack from Hannah.

"The broom is there for him to grab, the remnants anyway." said Harry with a smirk. "Though I think the tree might make a grab at him first."

and from what Harry had just heard, Snape would be walking with a new spring in his step—

"That's a horrible picture, right there." said Ron to Neville, who chuckled, but looked nervously over to Professor Snape. But he wasn't listening, the locket captured his attention for the time being.

Quirrell seemed to have given in at last.

"He lasted longer than what I gave him credit for." said Bill.

Harry went back to the library, where Hermione was testing Ron on Astronomy.

"He wasn't doing too badly." said Hermione honestly.

Harry told them what he'd had just heard.

"Snape's done it, then!" said Ron. "If Quirrell's told him how to break his Anti-Dark Force spell—"

"His what?" said Draco with a smile.

"Hey, I was panicking a little." said Ron defensively

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

"Maybe Snape's found out how to get past him without asking Hagrid," said Ron, looking up at the thousands of books surrounding them. "I bet there's a book somewhere in here telling you how to get past a giant three-headed dog.

"Actually, there is no book that states how to get past Fluffy. That's a special quirk only he has." said Dumbledore with a smile.

"Unless you count a Greek Mythology book in the Muggle World." muttered Harry.

So what do we do, Harry?"

The light of adventure was kindling again in Ron's eyes,

"I don't want to hear it!" screeched Mrs. Weasely.

Dr. Clark looked over to her. "I wish some parents were a lot like her. Protective, instead of neglectful."

"Have you seen many parents like the Dursleys?" asked Hermione.

"Quite a few, but none nearly as bad as the Dursleys." said Dr. Clark with a dark look.

but Hermione answered before Harry could.

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

"But we've got no proof!" said Harry. "Quirrell's too scared to back us up. Snape's only got to say he doesn't know how the troll got in at Halloween and that he was nowhere near the third floor—who do you think they'll believe, him or us? It's not exactly a secret we hate him, Dumbledore'll think we made it up to get him sacked. Filch wouldn't help us if his life depended on it, he's too friendly with Snape, and the more students get thrown out, the better, he'll think. And don't forget, we're not supposed to know about the Stone or Fluffy. That'll take a lot of explaining."

"Very true, it would have been almost impossible to explain." said Dumbledore wisely, he didn't however smile. Professor McGonagall looked down in shame.

Hermione looked convinced, but Ron didn't.

"If we just do a bit of poking around—"

"Yeah! That will help you guys figure it out!" said Colin excitedly.

"No," said Harry flatly, "we've done enough poking around."

"Wow, he was still staying true to his word?" said Dennis in wonder.

He pulled a map of Jupiter toward him and started to learn the names of its moons.

"That must have taken a lot of self-control, Harry." said Dumbledore over to him.

"It was either that or giving up and poking around." said Harry quietly.

The following morning, notes were delivered to Harry, Hermione, and Neville at the breakfast table. They were all the same:

Your detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight.

Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.

Professor McGonagall

"Eleven o'clock? You are going to give first year students detention at eleven o'clock?" shouted Sirius.

"It was a Friday night!" she said defending herself.

"I DON'T CARE IF IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE! YOU..." shouted Sirius, but stopped when Harry, and Dr. Clark gripped his arm and shoulder, trying to calm him down.

"Since then Sirius, I have placed into teacher/detention policy that no detention should start past nine o'clock, especially for students under fourth year. Having a detention starting that late is very excessive." said Dumbledore sternly, while looking over to McGonagall.

Harry had forgotten they still had detentions to do in the furor over the points they'd lost. He half expected Hermione to complain that this was a whole night of studying lost, but she didn't say a word. Like Harry, she felt they deserved what they'd got.

"You didn't deserve that many points lost, or that late of a detention!" snarled Sirius.

At eleven o'clock that night, they said good-bye to Ron in the common room and went down to the entrance hall with Neville. Filch was already there—and so was Malfoy. Harry had also forgotten that Malfoy had gotten a detention, too.

"Seeing Malfoy down there made me feel a lot better." said Neville quietly.

"Follow me," said Filch, lighting a lamp and leading them outside.

I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh?" he said, leering at them. "Oh yes... hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me...

"Exactly." said Umbridge quickly.

"I don't normally bite garbage, but if you don't shut up soon, you're going to be in a lifetime worth of hurt." snarled Nightstrike.

It's just a pity they let the old punishments die out... hang you by your wrists from the ceiling for a few days I've got the chains still in my office,

Harry blinked heavily and then turned to Dumbledore, before he could say anything, his wrists and ankles began to slowly burn.

"Sir?" said Harry rubbing his wrists.

"Yes, Harry?" Dumbledore looked irate, but Harry bravely continued to speak.

"I think I remember something from the incident," said Harry quickly.

"Harry we discussed this three times now, don't try to remember, it only hurts you further." said Dumbledore worriedly.

"There were chains, on my wrists and ankles." said Harry quietly.

Dumbledore paled, "Are you sure?"

"I think so, I remember that I marked the chain on accident." He looked down at his hand, several nails were jagged, "I dug my nails into the steel so much that I broke several of them. They should have some scratches on the cuff."

Dumbledore left the Great Hall quickly, his robes fluttering angrily behind him. Suddenly, the students heard several deafening 'bangs' and then Dumbledore returned, with a satisfied yet grim look on his face.

"He doesn't have them anymore." he said fiercely. "And he better not catch me in a bad mood, because I will not be kind."

"I just had a thought," said Bill quickly. "When does he get back?"

"Today." said Lionus, "I have one of Hangman's crew bringing him."

"Who's Hangman?" said Charlie.

"She's the Chief Jailer. Warden, as it were." said Lionus.

keep 'em well oiled in case they're ever needed...

"They won't be." snarled Dumbledore.

Right, off we go, and don't think of running off, now, it'll be worse for you if you do."

They marched off across the dark grounds. Neville kept sniffing. Harry wondered what their punishment was going to be. It must be something really horrible, or Filch wouldn't be sounding so delighted.

Sirius clutched Harry to him tightly.

The moon was bright, but clouds scudding across it kept throwing them into darkness. Ahead, Harry could see the lighted windows of Hagrid's hut. Then they heard a distant shout.

"Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started."

"Well, at least if it's with Hagrid he won't make the detention too hard. Hell...if you start falling asleep, he'll take you to his hut and let you sleep." said Charlie with a fond smile up to Hagrid.

Harry's heart rose; if they were going to be working with Hagrid it wouldn't be so bad.

His relief must have showed in his face, because Filch said, "I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf? Well, think again, boy—it's into the forest you're going and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece."

"The forest? You're taking them into the forest?" growled Sirius threateningly. McGonagall and Hagrid both shuffled their feet nervously.

At this, Neville let out a little moan, and Malfoy stopped dead in his tracks.

"The forest?" he repeated, and he didn't sound quite as cool as usual. "We can't go in there at night—there's all sorts of things in there—werewolves, I heard."

"There aren't any werewolves in there. Who told you that?" asked Remus looking over to Malfoy.

"My father." said Malfoy, a little indignantly.

"There was a werewolf in the forest when he was there. But not now, right Moony?" said Sirius with a grin. Remus almost heaved the book towards his head.

Neville clutched the sleeve of Harry's robe and made a choking noise.

"I was about to either faint or start bawling." said Neville.

"Or wet your pants." said Draco quietly with a smirk.

"You DID the last time I saw you in the forest." said Harry when he heard that.

Draco blushed heavily as Ron sniggered.

"That's your problem, isn't it?" said Filch, his voice cracking with glee. "Should've thought of them werewolves before you got in trouble, shouldn't you?"

"How can they think of them, when they aren't there, and..." said Sirius with a dark look. "you should never have thought that the teachers would send you in there."

McGonagall gave up trying to defend herself.

Hagrid came striding toward them out of the dark, Fang at his heel. He was carrying his large crossbow, and a quiver of arrows hung over his shoulder.

"Abou' time," he said. "I bin waitin' fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Hermione?"

"At least he wanted to see if you two were alright, seeing as how it was sort of his fault you got in trouble." said Mrs. Weasely.

Hagrid shuffled his feet.

"I shouldn't be too friendly to them, Hagrid," said Filch coldly, they're here to be punished, after all."

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

"Let him have it, Hagrid." said Fred and George.

"I'll be back at dawn," said Filch, "for what's left of them," he added nastily,

"More than what's going to be left of you when I get ahold of you." muttered Dumbledore darkly.

and he turned and started back toward the castle, his lamp bobbing away in the darkness.

Malfoy now turned to Hagrid. "I'm not going in that forest," he said,

"Let's see how far that statement takes you." sneered Angelina.

and Harry was pleased to hear the note of panic in his voice.

"Why?" asked Dr. Clark.

"It was his fault he was there. He wanted to get us three in trouble, and instead, he pulled himself down in the muck." said Harry with a smile.

"Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts," said Hagrid fiercely. "Yeh've done wrong an' now yeh've got ter pay fer it."

"Wasn't talking to the you three, just Malfoy." said Hagrid quietly.

"We knew, Hagrid." said Harry and Hermione, Neville just nodded.

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

"Tell you that is how it is done, if you're out of bed, you don't just copy lines. You work." said Sirius and Remus.

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

"I didn't want to leave, really." said Malfoy quietly.

Malfoy didn't move. He looked at Hagrid furiously, but then dropped his gaze.

"Right then," said Hagrid, "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."

"D-D-Dangerous?" squeaked Sirius. "Just how much danger were you in?" he said weakly. Harry didn't answer, he merely squeezed Sirius' hand. Remus gulped but continued on.

He led them to the very edge of the forest. Holding his lamp up high, he pointed down a narrow, winding earth track that disappeared into the thick black trees. A light breeze lifted their hair as they looked into the forest.

"Look there," said Hagrid, "see that stuff shinin' on the ground? Silvery stuff? That's unicorn blood.

"Uni...Unicorn b-b-blood?" whispered the students crossed the hall.

There's a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday.

Everyone, including the Rangers, paled and had a sorrowful look on their faces.

"That is what danger was lurking about Hogwarts, Mr. Tomen. Something was killing our unicorn herd." said Dumbledore sadly.

We're gonna try an' find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery."

"I hope you don't." said Tonks faintly.

"And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first?" said Malfoy, unable to keep the fear out of his voice.

"That is a very good question to ask." said Bill, looking pale.

"There's nothin' that lives in the forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang," said Hagrid.

"That is true." said Charlie. "Hagrid has earned the respect of the creatures in the forest, and if they see him, or if they see Fang. They won't come near you guys. The centaurs may come and visit a bit, but only if Hagrid is with you."

"An' keep ter the path. Right, now, we're gonna split inter two parties an' follow the trail in diff'rent directions.

"You split them up?!" moaned Sirius weakly.

"If Fang or Hagrid was with them, they would have been fine." reminded Charlie.

There's blood all over the place, it must've bin staggerin' around since last night at least."

"That poor thing." moaned Lavender and Parvati.

"I want Fang," said Malfoy quickly, looking at Fang's long teeth.

"All right, but I warn yeh, he's a coward," said Hagrid.

"That wasn't comforting." said Malfoy quietly.

"So me, Harry, an' Hermione'll go one way an' Draco, Neville, an' Fang'll go the other.

"Pairing me with Malfoy wasn't a very good idea." said Neville shaking his head.

"I wasn't about to put him with 'ermione." said Hagrid gruffly. "And 'arry had the sharpest eyes. I wanted him to help me with findin' the unicorn."

Now, if any of us finds the unicorn, we'll send up green sparks, right? Get yer wands out an' practice now— that's it—an' if anyone gets in trouble, send up red sparks, an' we'll all come an' find yeh—so, be careful—let's go."

The forest was black and silent. A little way into it they reached a fork in the earth path, and Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid took the left path while Malfoy, Neville, and Fang took the right.

They walked in silence, their eyes on the ground. Every now and then a ray of moonlight through the branches above lit a spot of silver-blue blood on the fallen leaves.

Several people flinched, and others were trying to stop crying.

Harry saw that Hagrid looked very worried.

"That's not good." said Charlie.

"Could a werewolf be killing the unicorns?" Harry asked.

"Since Malfoy brought it up, I was concerned." said Harry defensively.

"Werewolves aren't fast enough." said Remus looking down at him.

"Not fast enough," said Hagrid. "It's not easy ter catch a unicorn, they're powerful magic creatures. I never knew one ter be hurt before."

"So what could be killing them?" asked a first year nervously.

They walked past a mossy tree stump. Harry could hear running water; there must be a stream somewhere close by.

Lionus and Moody were getting more and more impressed by the minute. Despite the danger, and the late hour, he was taking in his surroundings. They wanted him badly now.

There were still spots of unicorn blood here and there along the winding path.

"You all right, Hermione?" Hagrid whispered.

"She was shiverin' somethin' awful." said Hagrid looking down at Hermione.

"Don' worry, it can't've gone far if it's this badly hurt, an' then we'll be able ter—GET BEHIND THAT TREE!"

"Oh F# &! WHAT NOW?" bellowed Sirius pulling Harry up to his lap and twisting his body around as if to protect him from an invisible foe.

"Sirius, I'm fine!" said Harry quickly.

Not till you're out of this damned forest, you're not! thought Sirius frantically, not willing to untangle himself from his godson.

Hagrid seized Harry and Hermione and hoisted them off the path behind a towering oak. He pulled out an arrow and fitted it into his crossbow, raising it, ready to fire. The three of them listened. Something was slithering over dead leaves nearby: it sounded like a cloak trailing along the ground.

Sirius screwed his eye shut and hugged Harry tighter. Harry couldn't breathe, he wanted to whisper to Sirius to let him go, but couldn't. He was about to pass out from lack of oxygen when he felt Sirius grip lessen considerably.

"SIRIUS! HE CAN'T BREATHE!" shouted Dr. Clark. Harry fell back into Sirius' outstretched arms and breathed deeply.

"I-I'm sorry Harry." whimpered Sirius.

"I'm fine, just relax, I'm right here. Nothing major happens." said Harry weakly, but smiled up to his godfather, massaging his ribs. Sirius stretched Harry out crossed his and Dr. Clark's lap and held onto Harry's hand as he tried to control his breathing. Remus had to be reassured that Harry was okay before he would continue.

Hagrid was squinting up the dark path, but after a few seconds, the sound faded away.

"I knew it, " he murmured. "There's summat in here that shouldn' be."

"A werewolf?" Harry suggested.

"That wasn' no werewolf an' it wasn' no unicorn, neither," said Hagrid grimly. "Right, follow me, but careful, now."

They walked more slowly, ears straining for the faintest sound. Suddenly, in a clearing ahead, something definitely moved.

"Who's there?" Hagrid called. "Show yerself—I'm armed!"

And into the clearing came—was it a man, or a horse?

To the waist, a man, with red hair and beard, but below that was a horse's gleaming chestnut body with a long, reddish tail. Harry and Hermione's jaws dropped.

"A centaur! Oh..." moaned Charlie.

"Disgusting half-breeds." snarled the ever ignorant Umbridge.

A flying disc zoomed over people's heads and crashed right into Umbridge's chest. It flew back to its owner, who was standing in the doorway.

It was a centaur woman, she had light blue eyes and long flowing white hair, her humanoid torso was covered in what would have passed for an Amazon woman's battle armor, intricately designed, and very well kept. The rest of her body, the body of a Irish Cob horse, was a sleek white, the shade of which matched her long hair perfectly.

"I would prefer that you keep your filthy mouth shut, woman." said the centaur.

"Ah! Tempest, how kind of you to stop by, did you bring Filch?" said Lionus innocently.

"I did, little pest barely lasted the two days, and we kept him in Isolation." said the centaur named Tempest. She reached behind herself and Filch came stumbling out from behind her.

He was horribly sunburnt, but behind the burns, you could see that he was pale, his whole, now extremely gaunt body trembling. He didn't hold that malicious look in his eyes anymore, now they were filled with an almost ever present fear.

Tempest smacked the back of his head and he slowly hobbled over to Harry. He whispered, for he could barely talk, an apology and then backed away very slowly.

"You can go now." said Tempest in a warning tone. Filch hurried out of the hall and went to barricade himself in his office.

"What you do with him is up to you, he's paid his debt. What do I take back with me?" she said at first to Dumbledore, but then addressed Lionus.

"You take the thing you just smacked, back with you. But I, unfortunately, I promised it that it could sit and listen to the books, if it behaved." said Lionus with a smile.

"Has it?" said Tempest with a raised eyebrow.

"Not really, but it's making other people feel better." said Lionus turning his smile to a smirk. "They get the opportunity to smack the living daylights out of it."

Remus shuffled his feet guiltily. Tempest caught sight of it.

"Seems one person regrets it." she said with smile.

"Why is that 'cousin'?" asked Nightstrike with a smile.

"So he's a werewolf, eh?" mumbled Tempest to herself.

"I don't know what came over me..." whispered Lupin.

"Full moon is in a week, could be that." said Nightstrike plainly. Remus' head snapped up, his eyes widened with fear.

"Don't worry lad," said the Ranger's doctor. " I can give you the same medicine I give all the other werewolves. Makes them as innocent and gentle as lambs."

"Why not..." said Hermione.

"Not many people have earned the right to that medication. Mr. Lupin has." said the Doctor.

With a slightly new spring in his step, Remus continued on with the reading, as Tempest went over and stood beside her new prisoner. But before Lupin could start. Sirius had a question to Lionus.

"Why are you calling Umbridge, 'it'?" asked Sirius.

When we take a criminal in custody, they aren't people anymore. When they get out, after they serve their sentence, we give them back their humanity. They learn to appreciate being a person more, and not likely to commit another crime." said Lionus with a smile. "Umbridge won't have that luxury, she's never getting out. So she better appreciate the readings, because if she pushes her luck, off she goes. And when it's all done, off she goes." said Lionus with an evil grin.

"Oh, it's you, Ronan," said Hagrid in relief. "How are yeh?"

He walked forward and shook the centaur's hand.

"Good evening to you, Hagrid," said Ronan. He had a deep, sorrowful voice. "Were you going to shoot me?"

"I wouldn'ta shot unless I was sure of what I was shootin'" said Hagrid.

"Can't be too careful, Ronan," said Hagrid, patting his crossbow. "There's summat bad loose in this forest. This is Harry Potter an' Hermione Granger, by the way. Students up at the school. An' this is Ronan, you two. He's a centaur."

"We'd noticed," said Hermione faintly.

"Nice manners that girl has." smirked Tempest. Hermione blushed heavily.

"Good evening," said Ronan. "Students, are you? And do you learn much, up at the school?"

"Erm—"

"A bit," said Hermione timidly.

"A bit. Well, that's something." Ronan sighed. He flung back his head and stared at the sky. "Mars is bright tonight."

"One of the reasons I left my herd, they all want to preoccupy their times with the stars, when actions are called for!" said Tempest pawing the ground warningly.

"Yeah," said Hagrid, glancing up, too. "Listen, I'm glad we've run inter yeh, Ronan, 'cause there's a unicorn bin hurt—

Tempest gasped and clutched at her heart.

you seen anythin'?"

Ronan didn't answer immediately. He stared unblinkingly upward, then sighed again.

"Always the innocent are the first victims," he said. "So it has been for ages past, so it is now."

Sirius gripped Harry a little tighter, but making sure he didn't hurt Harry this time.

"Yeah," said Hagrid, "but have yeh seen anythin', Ronan? Anythin' unusual?"

"Mars is bright tonight," Ronan repeated, while Hagrid watched him impatiently. "Unusually bright."

Tempest rolled her eyes. "He sounds like an elder, you won't get anything out of him."

"Yeah, but I was meanin' anythin' unusual a bit nearer home, said Hagrid. "So yeh haven't noticed anythin' strange?"

Yet again, Ronan took a while to answer. At last, he said, "The forest hides many secrets."

"He better hide himself, he's not helping that unicorn, or helping you find it! If I catch him..." Tempest pawed the ground again.

A movement in the trees behind Ronan made Hagrid raise his bow again, but it was only a second centaur, black-haired and-bodied and wilder-looking than Ronan.

"Hullo, Bane," said Hagrid. "All right?"

"Good evening, Hagrid, I hope you are well?"

"Well enough. Look, I've jus' bin askin' Ronan, you seen anythin' odd in here lately? There's a unicorn bin injured—would yeh know anythin' about it?"

Bane walked over to stand next to Ronan. He looked skyward.

"Mars is bright tonight," he said simply.

"Bane's no better than Ronan." muttered Tempest angrily. No one else dared make a comment while she was here.

"Ronan wasn't so bad." said Harry absently. People looked up and saw Tempest staring at him. Lionus looked at Harry with a sort of new interest. No one would have dared spoken to her while she was commenting on something, let alone tell her she was mistaken on something!

"We've heard," said Hagrid grumpily. "Well, if either of you do see anythin', let me know, won't yeh? We'll be off, then."

Harry and Hermione followed him out of the clearing, staring over their shoulders at Ronan and Bane until the trees blocked their view.

"Never," said Hagrid irritably, "try an' get a straight answer out of a centaur. Ruddy stargazers. Not interested in anythin' closer'n the moon."

"Not all of them, it seems." said Dumbledore, smiling up to Tempest. Tempest looked down at the Headmaster and gave him a smile. If one thought no one could possibly improve on her beauty, they were sorely mistaken.

"Are there many of them in here?" asked Hermione.

"Oh, a fair few... Keep themselves to themselves mostly, but they're good enough about turnin' up if ever I want a word. They're deep, mind, centaurs... they know things... jus' don' let on much."

"D'you think that was a centaur we heard earlier?" said Harry.

"I was clutching at straws." said Harry to himself.

"Did that sound like hooves to you? Nah, if yeh ask me, that was what's bin killin' the unicorns—never heard anythin' like it before."

They walked on through the dense, dark trees. Harry kept looking nervously over his shoulder. He had the nasty feeling they were being watched.

"Knowing your feelings, you are being watched." said Tonks with a shudder.

He was very glad they had Hagrid and his crossbow with them. They had just passed a bend in the path when Hermione grabbed Hagrid's arm.

"Hagrid! Look! Red sparks, the others are in trouble!"

Snape turned swiftly and looked at Malfoy, while Mrs. Weasely looked over to Neville in horror.

"You two wait here!" Hagrid shouted. "Stay on the path, I'll come back for yeh!"

"Don't leave them!" cried Dr. Clark.

They heard him crashing away through the undergrowth and stood looking at each other, very scared, until they couldn't hear anything but the rustling of leaves around them.

"You don't think they've been hurt, do you?" whispered Hermione.

"We weren't." said Draco, sheepishly.

"I don't care if Malfoy has, but if something's got Neville... it's our fault he's here in the first place."

"Thanks Harry." said Neville quietly.

"Yeah, thanks Potter." said Malfoy rolling his eyes.

The minutes dragged by. Their ears seemed sharper than usual. Harry's seemed to be picking up every sigh of the wind, every cracking twig.

"Yours maybe, not mine, I was too busy panicking." said Hermione.

What was going on? Where were the others?

At last, a great crunching noise announced Hagrid's return. Malfoy, Neville, and Fang were with him. Hagrid was fuming.

"Not a good idea to piss off Hagrid." said Fred

"You won't like it." said George.

Malfoy, it seemed, had sneaked up behind Neville and grabbed him as a joke. Neville had panicked and sent up the sparks.

"Either you apologize right now, or I'll drag you out of here by your ear again." muttered Snape in Draco's ear.

Draco hurriedly stood up and apologized to Neville for scaring him.

"We'll be lucky ter catch anythin' now, with the racket you two were makin'.

"You kind of made it sound like you all were fishing." said Kingsley with a small smile.

"We were going to take you fishing, sadly that never happened." said Dr. Clark with a frown.

"We can go fishing this summer. No harm in it." said Lupin and Sirius with bright smiles.

Right, we're changin' groups—Neville, you stay with me an' Hermione, Harry, you go with Fang an' this idiot.

"Apt description." said Lionus with a frown over to Draco, who flinched horribly under his stern gaze.

I'm sorry," Hagrid added in a whisper to Harry, "but he'll have a harder time frightenin' you,

"It's almost impossible to scare him, we've tried." said George shaking his head sadly.

an' we've gotta get this done."

So Harry set off into the heart of the forest with Malfoy and Fang. They walked for nearly half an hour, deeper and deeper into the forest, until the path became almost impossible to follow because the trees were so thick. Harry thought the blood seemed to be getting thicker. There were splashes on the roots of a tree, as though the poor creature had been thrashing around in pain close by.

"You're a good tracker, Potter." said Madam Bones, she, like Moody, was dead-set on having Harry join her Aurors.

Harry could see a clearing ahead, through the tangled branches of an ancient oak.

"Look—" he murmured, holding out his arm to stop Malfoy.

"Wow, you were shielding Malfoy?" asked Neville in a hushed voice. "You'll protect anybody, won't you?"

Harry blushed.

Something bright white was gleaming on the ground. They inched closer.

It was the unicorn all right, and it was dead.

A sorrowful moan creeped through the students of the hall. People began to dab at their eyes, and cry into their neighbor's shoulders.

Harry had never seen anything so beautiful and sad. Its long, slender legs were stuck out at odd angles where it had fallen and its mane was spread pearly-white on the dark leaves.

"You have such a horrible way of putting things, boy." said Tempest, flinching a little.

Harry had taken one step toward it when a slithering sound made him freeze where he stood. A bush on the edge of the clearing quivered... Then, out of the shadows, a hooded figure came crawling across the ground like some stalking beast.

Dr. Clark now tightened his grip on Harry's right hand and wasn't about to relinquish it's hold.

Harry, Malfoy, and Fang stood transfixed. The cloaked figure reached the unicorn, lowered its head over the wound in the animal's side, and began to drink its blood.

"AAAAAAAAAARGH!"

Several people screamed as well. They weren't even aware of the fact that someone in the book had screamed as well. Though, Lupin may have just screamed for his own purposes.

Malfoy let out a terrible scream and bolted—so did Fang.

"It doesn't say that you ran as well." said Dr. Clark worriedly

"Umm...cause I didn't." said Harry quietly.

The hooded figure raised its head and looked right at Harry—unicorn blood was dribbling down its front. It got to its feet and came swiftly toward Harry—he couldn't move for fear.

"DON'T FREEZE, NOT THERE! RUN!" screamed Sirius. Several other people were hollering too, but not nearly as loudly so they were drowned out.

Then a pain like he'd never felt before pierced his head; it was as though his scar were on fire.

"It picked a bad time to start hurting." said Remus worriedly, his hands were trembling horribly.

Half blinded, he staggered backward.

"No...no..." moaned Sirius hugging Harry tightly. "Someone...anyone...save him...save my cub...please..."

He heard hooves behind him, galloping, and something jumped clean over Harry, charging at the figure.

Sirius sighed, "Someone came to save you, thank Merlin."

The pain in Harry's head was so bad he fell to his knees. It took a minute or two to pass. When he looked up, the figure had gone. A centaur was standing over him, not Ronan or Bane; this one looked younger; he had white-blond hair and a palomino body.

"Are you all right?" said the centaur, pulling Harry to his feet.

"I was afraid that you were hurt before I had time to arrive." said a voice towards the Great Hall doors.

The crowd in the Great Hall turned quickly in their chairs and saw the centaur from the book, standing in the doorway, as real as anything.

"Ah, Firenze, what can we do for you on this," Dumbledore looked at the sky, "dismal day."

"I come bearing a message, and, though it hurts my pride, a request. The message is, due to the Ministry cutting our access to our land, the centaurs are refusing to allow any wizard, or witch allowed in the forest." said Firenze solemnly.

"Oh, dear. Well, I don't blame them for wanting to protect their land, until the Ministry relinquishes their hold, I will comply with their wishes. Now, what is your request?" said Dumbledore thoughtfully.

Firenze took a deep breath and asked with great dignity." May I seek refuge here? I spoke in your def..."

"Of course Firenze, we would be most honored to have you in our company. Please, make yourself comfortable, and help us worry about the events of the past. Dear...me...Firenze...you have an arrow sticking through your arm!" he stated quickly as Firenze came over slowly and kneeled beside Dumbledore's chair.

"It was Bane's, you don't have any ginger root, do you?" He asked calmly. "It's an old centaur remedy. Ginger heals most of our ailments, and Bane poisons his arrows."

Harry reached into his knapsack quickly and pulled out a thick tan cookie slab.

"Will gingerbread work?" he said standing up and handing it to Firenze. The centaur looked at it cautiously but took it. He bit into the side of it slowly, when the taste filled his mouth, he ate the rest quickly.

While Firenze ate, and before Hagrid or Madame Pomfrey could hurry over. Harry snapped the side of the arrow and pulled the broken shaft and tip out of Firenze's arm. He took a bottle of healing potion out of his bag, and a thick, long bandage. He wrapped Firenze's arm and tied the ends.

"Feeling better?" asked Harry carefully.

"Much, it seems you've grown up, and learned much since our last meeting Harry Potter." said Firenze with a smile. "And seen much more than foals your age should." said Firenze sadly, looking into Harry's eyes.

"You rest Firenze, while we continue on with the story." said Dumbledore smiling.

"Yes—thank you—what was that?"

The centaur didn't answer. He had astonishingly blue eyes, like pale sapphires. He looked carefully at Harry, his eyes lingering on the scar that stood out, livid, on Harry's forehead.

"I needed no introduction to know who you were." said Firenze calmly.

"You are the Potter boy," he said. "You had better get back to Hagrid. The forest is not safe at this time—especially for you. Can you ride? It will be quicker this way. My name is Firenze," he added, as he lowered himself on to his front legs so that Harry could clamber onto his back.

Tempest whinnied suddenly, Firenze, had not noticed her, but when he did, he stood up quickly.

"You let him ride you?" she asked incredulously. Firenze nodded defiantly. People thought she was going to be upset, but she merely smiled. "Finally, a male centaur with some sense." Firenze blushed.

There was suddenly a sound of more galloping from the other side of the clearing. Ronan and Bane came bursting through the trees, their flanks heaving and sweaty.

"Firenze!" Bane thundered. "What are you doing? You have a human on your back!

"Bane's a genius." said Tempest rolling her eyes.

Firenze couldn't' t take his eyes off her, he had never seen such a lovely centaur woman. His heart pounded madly beneath his chest.

Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?"

"Do you realize who this is?" said Firenze. "This is the Potter boy. The quicker he leaves this forest, the better."

"What have you been telling him?" growled Bane.

"Nothing! You old nag!" snarled Tempest. Firenze was quickly starting to like her.

"Remember, Firenze, we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. Have we not read what is to come in the movements of the planets?"

"I have never forgotten, but that doesn't mean that I allow foals to die, just because the stars say it is so." he said bitterly. "And I have seen that your time, Harry, has yet to end."

"That's welcoming to hear." said Sirius with a small smile.

Ronan pawed the ground nervously. "I'm sure Firenze thought he was acting for the best, " he said in his gloomy voice.

"At least Ronan was kinda on your side." said Ron.

"He wasn't today." said Firenze, sadly.

"We'll get everything sorted out soon Firenze. just you wait." said Dumbledore kindly.

Bane kicked his back legs in anger. "For the best! What is that to do with us? Centaurs are concerned with what has been foretold! It is not our business to run around like donkeys after stray humans in our forest!"

"It's our duty!" shouted Tempest. "We are the guardians of the woods, caretakers of the unicorns and all creatures. If there is a stray child in the forest, we abandon our current activity and attend to the child!"

Firenze looked towards her, and she looked back. They stared at each other for a moment. Then broke apart, looking away.

"Bet you a galleon they get together." said Ron to Hermione.

Firenze suddenly reared on to his hind legs in anger, so that Harry had to grab his shoulders to stay on.

"My apologies." said Firenze looking over to the boy.

"Do you not see that unicorn?" Firenze bellowed at Bane. "Do you not understand why it was killed? Or have the planets not let you in on that secret? I set myself against what is lurking in this forest, Bane, yes, with humans alongside me if I must."

"Very noble of you, Firenze. And thank you for saving Harry. I don't want to think what might have happened to him, had you not been there." said Dumbledore gratefully.

And Firenze whisked around; with Harry clutching on as best he could, they plunged off into the trees, leaving Ronan and Bane behind them.

Harry didn't have a clue what was going on.

"I was scared, I didn't really want to think at that moment." said Harry honestly.

"Why's Bane so angry?" he asked. "What was that thing you saved me from, anyway?"

Firenze slowed to a walk, warned Harry to keep his head bowed in case of low-hanging branches, but did not answer Harry's question.

"I was debating how to tell you." said Firenze quietly. "One so young shouldn't be burden with such horrific facts."

They made their way through the trees in silence for so long that Harry thought Firenze didn't want to talk to him anymore.

"No, I was just thinking, and I am so used to not speaking to many people, that I remain silent for a majority of the time." said Firenze.

They were passing through a particularly dense patch of trees, however, when Firenze suddenly stopped.

"Harry Potter, do you know what unicorn blood is used for?"

"We don't use it for anything." said Snape coldly. "No potion uses it."

"No," said Harry, startled by the odd question. "We've only used the horn and tail hair in Potions."

"At least you remember something from the classes, Mr. Potter." sneered Professor Snape.

"That is because it is a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn," said Firenze. "Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime. 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 pure and defenseless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips."

"Oh, dear...who would ever want such a life." whispered Mrs. Weasely.

Harry stared at the back of Firenze's head, which was dappled silver in the moonlight.

"But who'd be that desperate?" he wondered aloud. "If you're going to be cursed forever, death's better, isn't it?"

Remus groaned while Dr. Clark cringed. Sirius tugged at Harry and looked at his green eyes.

"I don't want you to say that...ever again." said Sirius warningly.

"What? I only said that I wouldn't want to be cursed forever." said Harry in confusion.

"You mentioned death, you'd rather die than be cursed." said Lupin fretfully.

"I'd rather die, then kill a unicorn." said Harry finally.

Lupin blinked, "Sorry, I'm getting really jumpy."

"You're telling me." said Harry shaking his head.

"It is," Firenze agreed, "unless all you need is to stay alive long enough to drink something else—something that will bring you back to full strength and power—something that will mean you can never die. Mr. Potter, do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment?"

"How did you know about its whereabouts?" asked Dumbledore curiously.

"The stars tell us many things, also we could sense the arrival of such a magical object." said Firenze. He would have left it at 'the stars' comment, but saw the look on Tempest's face and decided to elaborate quickly. Not wanting to incur her wrath.

"The Sorcerer's Stone! Of course—the Elixir of Life! But I don't understand who—"

"Can you think of nobody who has waited many years to return to power, who has clung to life, awaiting their chance?"

"Were you talking about You-Know-Who?" asked Parvati, who couldn't help but sneak glimpses at the centaur.

"Indeed I was." said Firenze simply.

"Must I say it again? HE...ISN'T...BACK!" shouted Fudge.

"Must I say it again? We will find out the truth in due time!" said Madam Bones crossly.

It was as though an iron fist had clenched suddenly around Harry's heart. Over the rustling of the trees, he seemed to hear once more what Hagrid had told him on the night they had met: "Some say he died. Codswallop, in my opinion. Dunno if he had enough human left in him to die."

"Like I said Potter, you have one hell of a memory." said Moody quietly.

"Do you mean," Harry croaked, "that was Vol-"

"Harry! Harry, are you all right?"

Hermione was running toward them down the path, Hagrid puffing along behind her.

"Where was Neville and Malfoy?" asked Fred.

"Hagrid sent them back with another centaur. I wouldn't go, I wanted to make sure Harry was alright." said Hermione.

"I'm fine," said Harry, hardly knowing what he was saying.

"It now seems to be that you use that statement for just about anything. I think those around you should take careful warning if you ever say it again." said Dumbledore with a small smile.

"The unicorn's dead, Hagrid, it's in that clearing back there."

"This is where I leave you," Firenze murmured as Hagrid hurried off to examine the unicorn.

"You left them alone, AGAIN?" moaned Mrs. Weasely.

"He had to go and see to the poor, innocent victim , Madam. For if any creature were to inadvertently start feasting on it, though highly unlikely for any decent sort of creature, the results would be disastrous." said Firenze calmly.

"What would have happened?" asked Dennis.

"I would rather not say." said Firenze quietly.

"You are safe now."

Harry slid off his back.

"Good luck, Harry Potter," said Firenze. "The planets have been read wrongly before now, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times."

"It was, and I was very glad." said Firenze with a smile.

He turned and cantered back into the depths of the forest, leaving Harry shivering behind him.

"Once Hagrid came back and saw Harry shivering like that, he picked Harry up, wrapped him in his coat and carried him to the castle." said Hermione thinking back.

"Hey! Hagrid gave me his coat to wear in my first year, too!" said Dennis excitedly.

"Harry didn't wear it, he was wrapped up in it." said Hermione, explaining it a bit further to the small Creevey brother.

Ron had fallen asleep in the dark common room, waiting for them to return. He shouted something about Quidditch fouls when Harry roughly shook him awake.

"It was a dream about the Chudley Cannons." said Ron defensively. "The other teams always smack them about."

In a matter of seconds, though, he was wide-eyed as Harry began to tell him and Hermione what had happened in the forest.

Harry couldn't sit down. He paced up and down in front of the fire. He was still shaking.

"You looked like you had a run in with a banshee, mate." said Ron.

"Snape wants the stone for Voldemort...and Voldemort's waiting in the forest... and all this time we thought Snape just wanted to get rich..."

Every time that Remus said "Voldemort" the crowd in the school would flinch and cringe. Except the Rangers, Dumbledore, Harry and a select few members of the Order.

"HE'S..." said Fudge angrily.

"I give you the same treatment I gave Umbridge, unless you be silent. I'm getting tired of you." said Tempest, fingering her disk.

"Stop saying the name!" said Ron in a terrified whisper, as if he thought Voldemort could hear them.

Harry wasn't listening.

"Firenze saved me, but he shouldn't have done so... Bane was furious... he was talking about interfering with what the planets say is going to happen... They must show that Voldemort's coming back... Bane thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me... I suppose that's written in the stars as well."

"Not quite, but close." said Firenze quietly.

"Will you stop saying the name!" Ron hissed.

"So all I've got to wait for now is Snape to steal the Stone,"

"What are you talking about?" asked Sirius looking down at him.

Harry went on feverishly, "then Voldemort will be able to come and finish me off... Well, I suppose Bane'll be happy."

Sirius and Remus both went silent, then they both looked over to Harry, staring with widened eyes.

"One so young shouldn't be dwelling on death." said Lionus darkly. "It's too bad you grabbed his family before we had a go at them."

"How does he know?" asked Harry.

"While you were sleeping in that thing he asked a lot of questions." said Bill.

Hermione looked very frightened, but she had a word of comfort."Harry, everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid of. With Dumbledore around, You-Know-Who won't touch you.

"That part made me feel a lot better." said Harry quietly.

Anyway, who says the centaurs are right? It sounds like fortune-telling to me, and Professor McGonagall says that's a very imprecise branch of magic."

"Very rarely does it actually prove itself to be even remotely useful." growled McGonagall.

The sky had turned light before they stopped talking. They went to bed exhausted, their throats sore. But the night's surprises weren't over.

"I hope nothing bad happens." said Sirius. Remus read a head quickly.

"It all depends on how you look at it, I guess." said Remus with a frown.

When Harry pulled back his sheets, he found his invisibility cloak folded neatly underneath them. There was a note pinned to it:

Just in case

"'Just in case'? Just in case of what?" moaned Sirius.

"Just in case he has great need of it." said Dumbledore simply.

"Who wants to read next? Because I don't want to." said Remus with distaste.

"We will!" shouted the twins. They hurried up to him and grabbed the book. When they turned the page and read the next chapter title, they paled.

"Oh..." said Fred.

"We picked a doozy, didn't we?" said George.

"Through The Trapdoor." said the twins.

"WHAT?" shouted some of the adults and some of the younger students. Ron and Hermione huddled closer together while Sirius, Remus and Dr. Clark took hold of Harry tightly.