(Y/n)'s POV
Ron woke up with his hand green. I tried to treat it the night before, but I'm nothing compared to Madam Pomfrey, so he had to go to the hospital wing, we went to see him after classes, and he said something alarming.
"Malfoy told Madam Pomfrey he wanted to borrow one of my books so he could come and have a good laugh at me. He kept threatening to tell her what really bit me – I've told her it was a dog but I don't think she believes me – I shouldn't have hit him at the Quidditch match, that's why he's doing this."
"No, Ron, it was a good thing you did, actually, I think he needs some more" I was angry, not only was he making our days harder by itself, but now he was threatening us? Why would someone enjoy other people's suffering so much? I tried to stand up, but Hermione stopped me, being the voice of reason, as she usually is.
"(Y/n), Don't you see? This is what he wants, if you go and do something against him now, we'll be even more in the palm of his hand." She said, and even though it made me angry, she was right, so I reluctantly sat down again.
"It'll all be over at midnight on Saturday" I know Hermione was trying to make us all feel better, but this last part made Ron stand up straight out of nowhere.
"Midnight on Saturday! Oh no, I've just remembered, Charlie's letter was in that book Malfoy took, he's going to know we're getting rid of Norbert!"
The next few days I asked Professor Flitwick about a Charm in our extra classes, and he finally taught us about it, although, I could see Hermione not wanting me to try it for the first time on Saturday night, but I had to, we didn't have any other time aside from that one.
—------------------------------------------------------------
The day finally came, midnight on Saturday, and I think I was handling it better than I expected. Sure, I was trembling, but who isn't when you're trying to smuggle a Dragon?
Anyways, we came to pick up Norbert from Hagrid's with Harry's invisibility cloak, Harry didn't seem to understand why I wanted to go too, given there wouldn't be much space, but it didn't feel right to just leave them there, besides, I wanted to try out the spell Professor Flitwick taught us, against Hermione's complains about it.
"He's got lots o' rats an' some brandy fer the journey, an' I've packed his teddy bear in case he gets lonely" Said Hagrid, with tears in his eyes.
Norbert was in a crate, and from the noises it made I think it was safe to say the teddy bear was long gone, I wanted to say something to Hagrid, but I couldn't, as Hermione and Harry put the Cloak over the crate, and before they got in, Harry said.
"There's not enough space for you, (Y/n)"
"Oh, don't worry Harry, I got Professor Flitwick to teach me this spell specifically for this." I said, pulled out my wand, and twirled it around me, as if I was wrapping myself with something, and suddenly, my body started to look like my surroundings, honestly, I was relieved it even worked at all.
Why? Because it wasn't perfect, if someone paid enough attention, they could still see some blurred parts, but it should work.
"I told him to not use it, Harry, it's not smart to use spells you've never used before on a crucial task such as this." Said Hermione, a bit annoyed.
"L-Let's go guys, I don't know for how much time I can keep this charm on..." I said, which was true, I focused so much on studying it that I didn't paid enough attention to the practical side of it.
Somehow, we were able to get the crate to the castle, I was only able to see them because usually I would bump into them, not the best solution to the problem but sometimes you have to work with what you had, and it didn't help that anytime I bumped into them, the charm wore off a bit on the part that got hit, making it seem even more blurry.
I was.... uh, following them? And suddenly bumped into them, I didn't know why they stopped in the corridor beneath the tower, but I realized why when I heard the recognizable voices.
"Detention! And twenty points from Slytherin! Wandering around in the middle of the night, how dare you!" Said the recognizable voice of Professor McGonagall.
"You don't understand, Professor, Harry Potter's coming, he's got a dragon!" Said Malfoy, trying to defend himself.
"What utter rubbish! How dare you tell such lies! Come on, I shall see Professor Snape about you, Malfoy!"
Thankfully, after they left, we managed to get to the top of the tower with no problems, everything seemed to be working in our favor, and I for one couldn't complain. Hermione and Harry got out of the Invisibility Cloak, and I became visible again.
"Malfoy's got detention, I could sing!" Said Hermione I looked at her and gestured a shh, and Harry said.
"Don't" After a while, four broomsticks came, and Charlie's friends built a harness, which was honestly cool, they made sure Norbert was safely put, and then shook hands with each of us.
"Okay... mission accomplished" I said, feeling pretty relieved of the whole situation, sure, it wasn't the best experience when it comes to domestic dragons, but I'm pretty sure it chalks up to species, yeah, I'll convince myself of that.
When we started to go down the tallest tower, I put on the Disillusionment Charm, again, parts of me still looked pretty blurred, but if it worked it worked.
I was ahead of them, and when I got out of the staircase, I saw a face in the darkness.
Filch, I looked back, and thought At least Harry has his Cloa- that was until I saw they were coming down with nothing, they forgot the cloak on top of the tower.
I knew that Harry didn't mind getting caught, sure, he would lose some points, and that's it, but Hermione would take it the worst, knowing how she is around teachers, it would pain her for the teachers to see her that way, so without thinking, I put myself in front of Filch, moved my wand around me, and deactivated the Charm.
I was really nervous, I didn't want to lose my House any points or be expelled, but I think it would be better if they found only one student here, instead of three. Filch's face lit up, as if finding me made his night so much better.
"Well, well, well, we are in trouble" He said, at least, Harry and Hermione didn't come out, that means they saw me, as Filch dragged me to McGonagall's office.
I sat there for a few minutes, until Professor McGoganall entered the office, dragging Neville.
"(Y/n)! I was trying to warn you, I heard Malfoy saying he was going to catch you, he said you had a dragon" Said Neville, I couldn't really stop him, and McGonagall looked angry, really angry, her face looked like Ron's hair does.
"I-I-I can ex-explain, Professor McGonagall!" I said, trying to come up with a solution.
"Very well, explain yourself" She said, with her voice icy cold, she went from red angry to cold angry, I don't know which one I feared the most, anxiety was already starting to get a hold of me.
"W-Well, you see..." I said, and I did the only thing I could manage to think at that time, "I-It was because of... Malfoy! He... uh, stole a book of Hermione, a very important one, and told us he would leave it on the tallest tower, I was talking to Harry and Hermione to come and pick it u-"
"So Miss Granger and Mr Potter were with you?" I messed up, and as soon as she said that, I realised it.
"N-No! I told them to come, but they thought it was too dangerous, so I went by myself, t-they weren'-" She interrupted me again.
"Then what is this whole deal about Hagrid keeping a dragon in his hut?" She asked, Malfoy must've told her.
"U-Uh, m-maybe Malfoy confused a dragon with... Blaze" I say, taking her out of the hand-made pocket.
"She's been throwing a lot more fire recently, m-maybe that's what Malfoy saw, I've been asking Hagrid tips for taking care of her."
She didn't look exactly convinced, and I noticed her expression was sad, disappointed.
"I'm sorry, Mr (L/n), but I believe you should go see the headmaster, I am sorry to tell you, but roaming at this hour of the night is unacceptable, I wouldn't rule out you being expel-"
At that moment, the nervousness and anxiety were so big, that when I heard the sudden stomp on the office's door, I was startled, I looked back to it, and saw two figures I recognized, which I thought would already be in the common room, Harry and Hermione.
"Professor! Don't expel (Y/n), it's not only his fault" Said Harry, those green eyes of his filled with bravery. Hermione on the other hand, looked like she was about to pass out, trembling, I was shocked to see them here.
"W-What are you guys-" I tried to say, but Professor McGonagall just shot me a look and I was quiet.
"I'm disgusted, five students out of bed in one night! I've never heard of such a thing before! I thought you, Miss Granger, had more sense, and I thought that Gryffindor meant more to you than this, Mr Potter, all four of you shall receive detentions, and fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor" Said Professor McGonagall.
Hermione kept trembling, I wanted to do something to calm her down, but I couldn't find anything, so I did what she did when I felt scared of the heights on the Quidditch stands, I just grabbed her arm, I don't know if it worked, but at least she stopped trembling as much.
"Fifty?" Said Harry.
"Fifty points each" Said Professor McGonagall, her nostrils flaring with anger.
"Professor, you can't-" Tried to say Harry
"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." I felt bad, but mostly, I felt annoyed, of course everything had to go bad in the end, I jinxed us.
When we entered the common room, Neville just went straight to bed, and I spoke up.
"Why did you guys come back?!"
"Hermione said they could expel you, (Y/n), of course we would go back! She thought that if it was three of us, they wouldn't outright expel us" Said Harry.
I looked at Hermione, and she was frozen in place, I sighed and said.
"Y-You guys were right, I was almost expelled, actually, you got there in time, so... thanks, just don't forget your cloak again, Harry."
Hermione didn't talk, and just went upstairs, and so did we, although it took me some time to sleep, dreading what would happen tomorrow, at least people didn't know me all that well.
—------------------------------------------------------------
The next few days were rough, Hermione wasn't asking any more questions in class, and that worried me, so just to be sure, I took notes of everything, even Herbology.
Harry wasn't all that good either, the Slytherins always made snarky remarks everytime they passed by him, and no one talked to him, I mean, is it really that important? It's just a stupid cup.
Ron was the one who made them stop every time they did it, and honestly, I admired him for it. I don't know how he does it, but he always finds his voice against people. I wish I was like that more often.
The exams were approaching fast, and we always stuck together, even if the whole school turned against us. I believed that if the four of us were together, we'd be alright.
When a week was left for the exams, Hermione, Ron and I were studying – or rather – Hermione and I were helping Ron to catch up with Astrology. It was a weird subject, but what can you do?
Harry came to the library, where we were, and told us that he heard Quirrel, hinting that Snape already knew how to get past his defence.
"Snape's done it then!" Said Ron "If Quirrel told him how to break his Anti-Dark force spell-" He was interrupted by Hermione, who quickly said.
"There's still Fluffy, though" I added my bit to it.
"Yeah, I don't know how capable Snape is, but... Fluffy looks pretty tough, and I don't think Hagrid goes around telling everyone about him."
"What do we do, Harry?" Asked Ron, a fire rekindled in his eyes, I was about to answer him, but Hermione beat me to it.
"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.
"Harry, I know, but... I think it's better to try, who knows, maybe if-if we look aroun-" I tried to say, but apparently, people like to interrupt me nowadays.
"No! Who do you think they'll believe, him or us? It's not a secret we hate him, and don't forget, we're not supposed to know about the stone or Fluffy, that'll take a lot of convincing" Said Harry.
"If we just do a bit of poking around-" Said Ron
"Who else will do anything, Harry? Everyone else believes that Snape is-"
"No, we've done enough" Said Harry, flatly, as he took a map of Jupiter.
—------------------------------------------------------------
Now, my worst nightmare has come true. We got the notes for the detention the next morning, at eleven O'clock, tonight, we were supposed to meet Filch, at the Great Hall.
Harry, Hermione, Neville, Malfoy, who we all stared at with hate and me met Filch at the time they told us, and Filch took us across the dark grounds, that's what was my worst nightmare, the dark, I was nervous, and I think it showed, because Hermione approached me and said.
"Hey, are you alright?" I just nodded at her, and said.
"Y-Yeah, I... I don't really like dark places.... I don't know, they make me nervous"
"Don't worry, I don't think the school would make us do anything too dangerous." Said Hermione, trusting on the school staff again, though I could hear a bit of hesitation in her voice.
We continued to follow Filch, until we heard a familiar voice, a voice that made me feel less anxious.
"Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started" Said the voice of Hagrid.
Suddenly I felt better, at least we weren't going to be on Filch's hand for the night.
"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" Said Filch.
"At least it's better than being with you...." I whispered, and only Hermione heard, she nodded a bit.
Malfoy looked paralyzed, which was a relief in the darkness.
"The forest? We can't go in there at night, there's all sorts of things in there, werewolves, I heard" His tough mask was falling out, and I think we all realised it.
Hagrid approached us, and said
"Abou' time. I bin waitin' fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Hermione, (Y/n)?"
"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."
"I'll be back at dawn," said Filch, "for what's left of them," he added nastily, and he turned and started back towards the castle, his lamp bobbing away in the darkness.
"Why does he like doing that?" I asked.
"Eh, I don't know" Answered Hagrid.
"I'm not going in that forest." Said Malfoy, whining about it.
Honestly I kind of dissociated because I was staring at how dark the forest looked, which didn't help at all, I didn't notice them starting to walk, if it wasn't for Hermione who pushed me to start walking.
"Look there" Said Hagrid, after following him for a while, he pointed at something, which looked like a silver liquid.
"That's unicorn's blood, 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. We're gonna try an' find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery"
"But w-why would someone hurt a unicorn?" I asked Hagrid.
"Horrible stuff, killin' a unicorn I mean." Was all Hagrid said.
Hagrid then said we should split up, which wasn't what I had in mind but whatever, I got to be with Hermione, Harry and Hagrid, as Malfoy said he wanted Fang, and got sent out with Neville and the dog to another side of the forest.
We were in silence, Hermione grabbed the sleeve of my hand as if not to get lost and for me to not freeze up in fear, after a while, Harry asked.
"Could a werewolf be killing the unicorns?"
"Not fast enough, it's not easy ter catch a unicorn, I never knew one ter be hurt before." Said Hagrid, great, whatever we were facing here was faster than a unicorn.
I looked at Hermione, and felt bad. I've been worrying about myself ever since we got to the forest, but they were scared too, maybe more than me, so I said to Hermione.
"Are you alright Hermione? D-Don't worry, I don't think we're going to find anything, everything will be alright-" I tried to sound positive, at least a tiny bit, to even convince myself, but we heard Hagrid yell
"GET BEHIND THAT TREE!" He grabbed all of us with one of his hands and put us behind a tree. Blaze got nervous, maybe sensing something, and perched herself on my shoulder.
Hagrid pulled an arrow, and prepared to shoot it with his crossbow, but he lost whatever that was.
"That wasn' no werewolf an' it wasn' no unicorn, neither." Hagrid said. "Follow me, but be careful now"
Hagrid yelled to the one hiding to show itself, and we were surprised when we saw it was a Centaur, in flesh and bone, I was more impressed honestly.
"Oh, it's you, Ronan, how are yeh?" Said Hagrid, my nerves went down a bit seeing Hagrid knew him.
"Good evening to you, Hagrid, were you going to shoot me?" Asked the man? horse?
"Can't be too careful Ronan, there's summat bad loose in the forest. This is Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and (Y/n) (L/n), by the way. Students up at the school, an' this is Ronan, you lot. He's a centaur." Said Hagrid, though, that much was obvious....
"We'd noticed," Said Hermione in a low voice.
"Good evening, students, are you? And do you learn much, up at the school? I didn't know they allowed salamanders now."
"A bit" Answered Hermione, I couldn't find my voice, between the dark, the creature lurking in the forest, and meeting someone new, it was too much, so I just nodded.
"Well, that's something, do not fret, young man" Said Ronan, as he looked up at the dark sky, "Mars is bright tonight." I wonder what that means? Maybe I should've paid more attention to Astrology classes...
Hagrid asked Ronan if he saw any wounded unicorn, to which Ronan answered.
"Always the innocent are the first victims, so it has been for ages past, so it is now" Hagrid looked impatient, and I couldn't really understand everything he said.
"Yeah, but have yeh seen anythin', Ronan?" Asked Hagrid.
"Mars is bright tonight, unusually bright." The tone in which Ronan said that wasn't really comforting. "The forest hides many secrets"
Another centaur arrived, who surprisingly Hagrid knew too, Bane, he called him, who said the same thing that Ronan said about Mars, and we left, with Hagrid a bit frustrated, muttering to us,
"Never try an' get a straight answer out of a centaur" At least we learned something.
I was too focused on Hermione and Harry, that's why I didn't notice what Hermione pointed out to Hagrid.
"Look, Hagrid! Red sparks, the others are in trouble!" Said Hermione, which sent my nervousness a bit higher.
"You three wait here!" Said Hagrid, and disappeared in the darkness, so we just stood there.
"You don't think they've been hurt, do you?" whispered Hermione, she looked really worried.
"I don't care if Malfoy has, but if something's got Neville ... It's our fault he's here in the first place." Said Harry.
"Honestly, I'm with Harry on this one, if it wasn't for Malfoy in the first place we wouldn't be here." I said.
Hagrid came back a minutes later, and told us that Malfoy had the brilliant idea of sneaking on Neville and scaring him almost to death.
I usually was a pretty calm person, I don't know if it was the nervousness or me being scared already, but I almost smacked him if it wasn't for Hermione.
Hagrid spoke up, and I had a bad feeling.
"We're changing groups, Neville, you stay with me an' Hermione'" I didn't like where this was going. "(Y/n), Harry, you go with Fang an' this idiot" Of course, three kids in the dark, nothing bad can happen, right?!
We had no choice but to listen to what Hagrid said, and the three of us alongside Fang went along a path, in silence, after a while, me and Harry noticed splashes, and Harry noticed a clearing up ahead.
"Look" He whispered, holding an arm so that Malfoy doesn't ruin things again, it was that silvery liquid again.
"I-It's what Hagrid said, unicorn's blood, t-t-the creature must be close" I said, Blaze was starting to flare up, but if it could kill a unicorn, which Hagrid said were really fast, I don't think she could do much.
We got closer to the clearing, and saw a beautiful white creature that almost brought tears to my eyes.
I never saw a dead animal before, and I didn't like it, immediately I felt we shouldn't be here, something screaming in the back of my head to run.
And it proved to be right, because out of the shadows, a hooded figure came out, crawling like a mindless beast, exuding cold and death from it, my blood turned cold, and my sweat too, the crawling creature approached the poor unicorn, and started to drink it's blood as we all watched, it was disgusting.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" And to top it all off, Malfoy screamed his lungs out, and ran away, Fang following him, giving away our hiding spot.
The hooded creature snapped his neck – if it even had one – in an unnatural way, and it got to its feet and swiftly moved towards us.
I never felt anything like this before, at least with the troll, I had enough control of my body to pull my wand, but looking at the shadow it had for a face beneath the hood, I felt smaller than I've ever felt, something about this creature disturbed me in a way that I never felt before.
Apparently, Harry was in the same position I was, only he was stepping back.
Blaze, wanting to protect me, jumped towards the creature, and started to throw fire at it, she wasn't that powerful, but the creature just swiped its arm, and the fire went out
Blaze, in a last and panicked effort, jumped again, trying to bite the creature, but the monster just moved its other arm, and Blaze went flying to a nearby tree, where she laid knocked out.
I felt ashamed, even a small creature, a baby like Blaze, was able to move to protect me, and I was paralyzed, that gave me the courage to finally move, that gave me the anger I needed.
I was still scared, but was able to pull out my wand, and again, remembered one of the spells my dad showed me, one that caught my attention, one I tried to do secretly in Professor Fliwtick's advanced classes.
As I did the wand movements, the spaces between the scales of my wand felt warm, as if something was filling them, the same feeling I had when I first used it on Ollivander's, the creature stopped dead on its track, maybe feeling something was coming.
I did what my father showed me, the triangle in the air, I pulled back, the warm feeling surrounding me, thrusted, and with every bit of my body yelled,
"INCENDIO!"
From my wand, a ball of fire emerged, taking away all that was accumulated on between the scales of it, the creature looked surprised for a moment, looking straight into the fire I managed to erupt.
And when I thought it was over, when I thought I finally did a high level spell right, before the fire hit the creature, inches from its face, it extinguished, only embers remained, and passed through the creature.
As if what I put on the spell, the sentiment, wasn't enough, and as the fire went out, so did my courage, the hopes of getting out of here.
I looked back, trying to find a route to run, but as I did, I looked at Harry wincing with pain in the ground, as if he tripped with the roots of a tree, so I didn't run, and put myself in front of Harry, trembling, but trying to protect him.
Because it didn't matter how I felt towards this creature, the fear of losing one of my closest and first friends was bigger than the fear I had from the hooded one.
The creature laughed, if you can call it that, a disgusting sound, with a hoarse beyond repair voice, and lunged at me, in a swift manner, I closed my eyes, and when I thought I was dead, I heard it, galloping, as if a horse was running towards us, I opened my eyes again, and I saw a centaur, younger than the other two I met before.
"Are you two all right?" It asked, helping Harry stand up, when I saw the creature was gone, I ran to get Blaze, tears in my eyes, I picked her up, and the centaur and Harry came to where I was.
"S-Sh-" I was sobbing "She tried to protect us, it's my fault, I froze up, and the spell didn't even work..."
Harry looked speechless, touching his scar with pain and concern in his face, and the centaur looked at the sky, and then at Blaze, and said.
"Do not worry, (L/n)" At the time, I was so focused on Blaze, that I didn't even notice I didn't tell him my name, "She won't perish today, she is simply asleep."
This, in a way, made me feel a bit relieved, but still I was worried about her, I would have to put her on the fireplace as soon as we got to the common room, but now, I had to keep her warm, so I put her in my hand-made pocket.
"And you, you are the Potter boy, you had better get back to Hagrid. The Forest is not safe at this time, especially for you two. Can you ride? It will be quicker this way, my name is Firenze." Said the centaur, as he lowered himself so that we could mount him, and as soon as we did, I heard a couple other hooves, galloping.
"Firenze! What are you doing? You have humans on your back! Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?" Said the centaur I knew was named Bane from before.
"Do you realise who these two are? The Potter boy, and the (L/n) boy, the quicker they leave this forest, the better" Said Firenze in our defence, I get why Harry, as he was special, but me?
Bane growled at him, and said.
"What have you been telling him?" in an aggressive manner "Remember, Firenze, we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. Have we not read what is to come of the planets?"
Apparently Ronan was some sort of leader of them, because he pawed the ground with his hooves, and tried to defuse the situation.
"I'm sure Firenze thought he was acting for the best"
"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!" Snapped Bane.
Firenze got angry, so much that he stood on his hind legs, I said something, but I couldn't hear him as I got more focused on grabbing onto something, and then Firenze started to gallop fast.
"Why's Bane so angry? What was that thing you saved us from?" Harry asked, and with those questions, Firenze slowed his pace.
"Harry Potter, (Y/n) (L/n), do any of you know what unicorn blood is used for?" Asked Firenze.
"I-I tried to ask Hagrid, but he wouldn't tell me, he only said it was a horrible thing to do." I said.
"Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime. The blood of the unicorn will keep you alive, even if you're an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenceless to save yourself and you will have but a half life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips."
Maybe that's why I felt so disgusted when I saw the unicorn dead, a living being who did nothing wrong, hunted down for something so petty.
Harry wondered who would be so desperate for that, but cogs were already running in my head, thanks to what mom and dad told me about history and magical catastrophes, there was only one name that came to my mind, someone who was supposed to be dead.
"It is, unless all you need is to stay alive long enough to drink something else – something that will bring you back to full strength and powe-" Firenze was talking, as if he already knew who it was, and that was all I needed to confirm my theory.
I interrupted him, not because I wanted to, but because the fear I felt was so big, I had to let it out in a way.
"Voldemort"
Firenze looked shocked for a second, but just remained silent, Harry understood.
"He's stalling for the Philosopher's Stone! The elixir of life!"
Firenze's face grimaced, and before we said something else, I heard a familiar voice.
"(Y/N)! Harry! Are you two all right?" Yelled Hermione, running down a path, I jumped off Firenze's back, and so did Harry, Hermione just hugged me, apparently they knew something was off.
"We're fine, the unicorn's dead, Hagrid, it's in the clearing back there" Said Harry, sensing I wasn't in a condition to talk.
"This is where I leave you, you are safe now, good luck, Harry Potter, the planets have been read wrongly before now, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times."
"And for you, (Y/n) (L/n), you look like an innocent child, if you haven't jumped to defend your salamander friend, perhaps I would not have interfered to save you, I hope the planets are wrong about your fate too." And with that ominous talk, Firenze left into the depths of the forest.
—------------------------------------------------------------
When we reached the common room, Ron was asleep, but it wasn't on my priority list, I approached the fireplace, grabbed Blaze, and put her on it. I didn't care if I burned my hands, I had to put her on the fire.
I stood there, waiting for a few seconds, until the colour returned to her, and she awoke, tears went out of my eyes, as she jumped on my hands, and I approached her to my face, the others were watching me, Ron woke up thanks to Hermione and Harry, and we proceeded to explain what happened to them, mainly Harry, I was still feeling bad.
"Snape wants the stone for Voldemort ... and Voldemort's waiting in the Forest..." Said Harry, Ron looked terrified when the name was mentioned, but Harry went on.
"Firenze saved us, but he shouldn't have done ... 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 us ... I suppose that's written in the stars as well" Ron this time snapped back and said.
"Will you stop using that name?!"
"Just shut up Ron!" I snapped back "We nearly died and you care about a bloody name?!" all the pent up tension finally leaving my body, and when I realised what I said, I apologised.
"I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled, I... it's been a long night, I'm truly sorry, Ron." He looked at me, then down, and said.
"Don't worry about it..." Harry continued.
"So all I've got to wait for now is Snape to steal the Stone, then Voldemort will be able to come and finish me off ... Well, I suppose Bane'll be happy"
Hermione looked horrified, she knew something happened in the forest, but knowing it shook her even more, even so, she tried to tell us something to cheer us up.
"Guys, everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid of. With Dumbledore around, You-Know-Who won't touch you. 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."
I assumed we were going to bed, but Harry grabbed my arm, which caught the attention of all of us in the group, and said.
"Thanks, I couldn't do anything, my scar hurt like never before, even when Malfoy ran away, and I was paralyzed, you stood up to him, don't ever listen to what Malfoy says about you, you're not a coward, you're one of the bravest persons I know."
"D-Don't thank me, Harry, the charm failed, if I was brave, Blaze wouldn't have gotten hurt, I wouldn't have been paralyzed by fear, and the fire would've connected..." I said, feeling down because of it all.
"(Y/n), the fact that you still tried, and almost managed to use a charm of that level is impressive, if what Harry told us is true, you just became one of the few people who faced You-Know-Who and survived! You shouldn't feel bad for being scared."
Said Hermione, trying to cheer me up, but I knew that what I said was true.
If I wasn't so scared, so anxious about the darkness, the forest, the creature, I wouldn't have paralyzed, I wouldn't have put Blaze in any danger, she was a baby, fighting for someone multiple times her size.
And for what good were the advanced classes if I couldn't pull out the spells properly? Anxiety started to get a hold of me again, until Ron punched me in the arm playfully.
"Bloody hell, (Y/n)! It doesn't matter if it worked or not, you're a true friend, you were there for Harry, isn't that enough?" Said Ron, and they all seemed to agree with it.
I don't know why, I knew we were friends, they were my closest and most important friends, but sometimes a feeling filled me, that maybe they didn't feel the same way about me, but seeing how everyone agreed at how Ron called me a true friend, it made me happy, chalk it up to never having friends before, and I'm not embarrassed to admit it, but I started to cry there.
Ron looked a bit taken aback, but Hermione hugged me, followed by Harry who did it in a more awkward kind of way, and Ron patted my back, it felt nice, knowing I had people who I could turn my back to, and that I knew they would catch me if I fell.
I cried for a bit, Blaze also got out and tried to cheer me up, and then we all went to our respective dorm rooms.
I fell asleep, with fear of what's to come, Voldemort... Snape... but also filled with courage, and a surge of bravery, because no matter what was going to come, I knew I wasn't going to be alone.
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