Chapter Summary: Hermione is an outcast again. From fame to folly; how will she deal? This chapter also does detention from Hermione's point of view (big surprise since this whole fic is from Hermione's point of view). See what happens when Harry's off with Malfoy among other things.
--- Begin Fic Here ---
Hermione felt like she was in a nightmare that she couldn't wake up from. Only a few weeks ago she was happier than she'd ever been in her entire life. She was at the one of the greatest schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Europe. She had friends, one of them being the famous Harry Potter. She was even beginning to be respected by her peers. Now she had nothing. The only people who would speak to her were Ron and Harry and they barely said anything as well.
The entire school had turned on Harry, Hermione and Neville. They had lost so many points from Gryffindor that there was no way they could win the house cup. Slytherin had been winning it for years now and this was the first year that Gryffindor had a chance to defeat them. Now there was no hope.
Hermione had other things to worry about though. Monday morning, she got a letter. She had been dreading its arrival as she knew it would be from her parents. When she opened it though, she found that it wasn't from her father but rather her mother which made the words ten times worse.
"Hermione,
We just received word from your deputy headmistress that you and your friends were caught out of bed Saturday evening. From what we can gather you and your friends were playing a joke on another student and it got dangerously out of hand.
I don't think I need to tell you that your father and I are very disappointed in you. I can understand that you want to balance your school work and social life, and you know that I've always supported your choices, but after reading this letter I can see things have gotten way out of control. Perhaps you are just too young to be off of your own.
I know how happy you've been at Hogwarts but your father and I have to do what we feel is best for you. So we're going to have a nice long talk when you get home at the end of term about what we're going to do for school next year. There definitely need to be some changes. We hope that you will stay out of trouble for the remainder of the year as we do not want to receive any more disturbing correspondences from your school.
Remember that we love you Hermione and that we're not doing this to make your life miserable. We just want to do what's right for you. We'll talk more about it when you arrive home."
Hermione read and reread the letter all that week. There was no doubt; her parents were going to pull her out of Hogwarts. There was nothing she could do about it. McGonagall's letter had sealed her fate. She didn't know what to do except end the year on as positive a note as possible and hope that her negotiating skills could at least keep her out of boarding school for the rest of her academic career.
Hermione began to realize how fickle people could really be. At the beginning of the year she was despised by almost everyone because she knew so much. Then she became friends with Harry Potter and people started to like her. Then when the rumor spread that she had saved Harry's life, she was fairly popular. Now she was an outcast again. It made her realize that she couldn't depend on anyone. The only person who didn't seem to be fickle was Harry but right now that hardly mattered since everyone hated him now too. She wondered if it would ever blow over. She wondered if it even mattered since the chances of her returning next year were non-existent.
As much as she wanted to, Hermione didn't return to her secret place on the ramparts because she didn't want to risk sneaking out of Gryffindor in the middle of the night. So she spent most of her time with Harry and Ron in the library or off in a corner of the common room. Everyone left them alone and she was actually glad for this. She made sure to go to bed long after her two roommates because she didn't want to be in the same room alone with the two of them. She had no idea what they thought of the whole ordeal and didn't want to know.
The thing that upset Hermione the most was that they had gotten in trouble to protect Hagrid and now it looked as if Hagrid wasn't going to stick up for them. Of course Harry would never tell on the gamekeeper, not after all he had done to keep him out of trouble, but Hermione had thought that when word spread about what happened, Hagrid would finally speak up and admit to Dumbledore what was really going on. It seemed though that Hagrid was either too broken up about losing Norbert or too afraid of what might happen to him if word got out about his illegal dragon. In either case, he had said nothing on their behalf.
The only true blessing was that time seem to go by remarkably fast now. She floated through each day in a haze. She barely remembered anything about her classes, meals, or any time that involved interacting with her schoolmates. The only times that seemed lucid in her memory were when she was with Harry and Ron, alone. They only spoke about homework and exams and Hermione was grateful for this. She felt that talking about their present predicament would only make things worse.
Harry seemed to be thinking along the same lines. He didn't have to worry about his aunt and uncle being mad at him. In fact from what she could tell, they didn't even read the letter that McGonagall had sent. Still, he had to stay away from the other students. He had it much worse than she did. All Hermione had to do was stay quiet and class and avoid pretty much everyone and she was left alone. But Harry was already so famous and so well known that people from every house sought him out to mock him or express their anger. He had nowhere to escape. Even the other members of the house quidditch team had completely abandoned him. So now he, like Hermione, was spending all his free time studying for the upcoming exams. He rarely spoke about anything else, until one early afternoon about a week after they'd gotten into trouble.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the library studying astronomy when he suddenly slammed his book down. "I've got to have a break. I think I'll go up to the tower and grab a snack from our dormitory." He got up from their table and started out of the library.
"Bring me something too, would ya," Ron called after him. "Oy, he's havin' a time," he said to Hermione. "I've never seen him like this."
Hermione only nodded numbly.
"You're not looking well yourself," Ron said concerned. "You shouldn't worry so much; it's the end of the year. By next term, this'll be old news."
"Too bad I won't be here next year," Hermione thought to herself.
"Come on, quiz me," Ron said.
"What?"
"I want to see how much of this stuff I've actually learned. Quiz me."
Hermione sighed and picked up their astronomy book. "Alright, you asked for it."
She drilled Ron on the material for several minutes. To her surprise he was doing quite well. Then suddenly, Harry burst back into the library.
"Did you bring me back something?" Ron asked. "I'm starved."
"You just had lunch," Hermione chastised.
"It's happening," Harry said, a look of panic on his face. "Snape's done it."
"He's got to Quirrell?" Hermione asked.
Harry nodded.
"Snape's done it then," Ron sighed. "If Quirrell's told him how to break his anti-dark-force spell…"
"There's still Fluffy though," Hermione reminded him. She knew where Ron's logic was going. She could see the light of adventure being rekindled in his eyes.
Ron shrugged. "Maybe Snape's found out how to get past him without asking Hagrid. I bet there's a book somewhere in here telling you how to get past a giant, three-headed dog."
Hermione seriously doubted this as she had been looking on and off for creatures like Fluffy ever since she'd seen him and hadn't found one yet.
"So what do we do Harry?" Ron asked finally.
"Go to Dumbledore," Hermione pleaded. She knew how persuasive Ron could be and for once she didn't want Harry to go along with one of his schemes. "That's what we should have done ages ago. If we try anything ourselves, we'll be thrown out for sure."
Harry plopped down in his seat. He looked utterly defeated. "But we've got no proof. 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 will think we made it up to get him sacked. Filch wouldn't help 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. "
He turned and looked at Hermione and she knew he was serious. He didn't want to get involved. He didn't want any part of the Sorcerer's Stone. He just wanted to get out of this mess. She nodded at him as if to tell him that she understood.
Ron however didn't seem to understand, "If we just did a bit of poking around…"
"No! We've done enough poking around," he said pulling an astronomy chart towards him.
"But Harry, we can't let Snape get the stone," Ron pressed.
"Yes we can Ron," Hermione reasoned. "What do you think will happen when he does? Dumbledore will know about it. Even if Snape tries to run, the Ministry of Magic will be after him. He won't even be able to enjoy the stone when he steals it. We should just let them handle it when it happens and stop trying to do it ourselves."
"Yeah but if we stop Snape, then maybe we can earn back the points that were lost for Gryffindor. We'd win the house cup and we'd be heroes to boot," Ron said with a gleam in his eyes.
Hermione had had enough. "I don't believe you Ron Weasley! Is that all you can think of; just a little more fame and glory. Never mind that Harry and I have been completely ostracized by the entire school. Never mind that McGonagall will be watching our every step and wouldn't hesitate to expel us if we so much as put one toe out of line. Oh no, you don't care at all. So long as you're not in the line of fire, you just keep pushing and pushing. You're a rat, Ron. No, that's an insult to Scabbers. You're worse than a rat." She grabbed her bag and stormed out of the library.
"Now you've done it," Harry said not troubling to look up from the chart he was reading.
"Why's she wound so tight?" Ron asked.
"She's got a lot on her mind. Maybe if you did more than argue with her, you'd see that."
Ron shook his head. "I can't help but fight with her, she asks for it."
"Funny, I manage just fine," Harry said, moving on to another chart.
Ron opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again.
-----
Hermione, keeping true to her promise not to go sneaking around out of bounds, didn't go to the ramparts after she stormed out of the library, though she really wanted to.
She needed to just get away from things but that wasn't really an option. So instead, she found a corner of the common room and piled as many books as she could in front of her so that no one would see her or bother her. It worked for a while but then a freckled faced, red-headed boy poked his head over the stack of books.
It was Ron. "Oy, is there a Hermione Granger in there somewhere," he said cheerily.
Hermione gave him a disgusted look. "What do you want?"
Ron held up his hands as if he were surrendering. "I just wanted to talk that's all."
"About what?"
"Uh, I don't know," Ron admitted. "You seem to be a little stressed lately. Just thought I'd see if you were okay."
"You know me," Hermione scoffed. "I'm just all caught up in school work. It's all I can think about: school, school, school!" She wasn't going to make this easy on Ron.
Ron sat down and pushed the books to one side so he could see her. "Okay, I guess I deserved that bit of sarcasm."
Hermione returned to her reading. "Yes you did."
"Well, I just came over to say sorry for giving you such a hard way to go. I know you've got a lot more on your mind and that you don't want to get in any more trouble. I guess I was being just a little selfish."
"Yes you were," Hermione agreed readily.
Ron huffed. "And I'm apologizing."
Hermione finally put the book down and smiled at him. "Apology accepted."
"Good, 'cause for a moment there I thought I might have to put it in writing."
"Next time you might have to," Hermione assured him as she returned to her reading.
-----
The next morning at breakfast, Hermione received a note telling her that she was to serve detention that evening starting at 11. They were to meet Filch in the entrance hall, but it didn't say what they would be doing. Hermione found it vaguely ironic that they would be serving detention at almost the same time they snuck out of Gryffindor the night they were caught. Perhaps this was some sort of poetic justice. Harry had gotten the same note and she could see that Neville had gotten a note as well. So it looked like they would all be serving detention together.
"Well at least I won't have to be with Filch alone," she thought to herself. Although she didn't know how Neville would feel about it.
Neville hadn't spoken to her or Harry since the incident. He had been just as cold to them as the rest of the students even though he was being shunned by the school as well. Hermione wondered if he'd finally come around during their detention.
It didn't seem that she would have long to wait. The day flew by and before she knew it, it was almost 11. She didn't even realize the time until she felt a hand on her shoulder while she was sitting in the common room.
"Come on," Harry said quietly with a sigh. "It's time."
Hermione stood automatically. She felt like she was on autopilot.
Neville descended the stairs from the dormitories. "Well, let's get this over with."
Hermione could tell by the tone in his voice that he was more scared than angry now. He didn't know what Filch had in store for them but it was bound to be horrid.
"I'll wait up for you," Ron offered as the trio started towards the portrait exit.
Hermione, Neville, and Harry made their way slowly to the entrance hall. Filch was there, along with Malfoy.
"Great, we have to serve detention with him," Hermione thought to herself. She remembered how excited she was when she found out Malfoy had gotten detention, now she was almost wishing he had gotten off. The evening would be all the worse if they had to serve their punishment with him.
Filch led them out of the castle and started ranting about how if he had his way, they'd be hanging from their wrists instead of serving detention. Hermione ignored him. Filch didn't really scare her and neither did whatever detention he had in store for them. She knew that whatever it was she would be coming back from it alive. Dumbledore would never allow Filch to go too far. No, what occupied her mind was what would happen after the detention. Exams were close and then she would be back on the train; headed home to face her parents.
Hermione finally noticed that they were walking directly towards the lighted windows of Hagrid's Hut. Hagrid himself was waiting outside. Hermione smiled.
"Well this is a clever twist of fate. We get detention for protecting Hagrid and it's Hagrid who we're serving detention with."
"It's into the forest you're going," Filch was saying now. "And I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece."
Hermione had to contain a giggle as she watched Malfoy stutter with rage at the prospect of going into the forest. Of course it was forbidden for a reason; there were all sorts of creatures lurking inside. She had read all about the forest in "Hogwarts: A History" and she knew that though the forest was extremely dangerous there were very few instances of anyone being killed inside it. Of course she was nervous too, but they had Hagrid and his large boarhound Fang with them. She was fairly sure that they would be fine no matter what they had to do.
She waited patiently and quietly as Malfoy argued with Hagrid now about going into the forest. He was fighting a losing battle. Apparently he expected his detention to be with Snape, just like the last one he got when McGonagall caught him out of bed after Ron's night birthday party. Hermione had heard from the Patil twins that Malfoy was bragging about having an easy detention. He'd spent an hour copying lines in Snape's dungeon classroom and that was it.
"Serves him right," Hermione thought to herself as they headed towards the forest. She would gladly spend a few hours with Malfoy in the forbidden forest if it meant he was getting the kind of punishment he rightfully deserved. After all, this whole fiasco was partially his fault. "If he'd have just minded his own business, the little snot, we wouldn't be in this mess now."
Hagrid was explaining their task and Hermione gasped as she looked at the path leading into the forest, not because of the forest itself but the silver liquid that Hagrid was showing them and what it represented. A unicorn, one of the most beautiful creatures in the magical world, was dying in the forest. Hermione was amazed to learn that some creature in the forest had hurt it and had apparently killed another one several days before. She didn't think there was anything in the forest that could hurt a unicorn; they were far too fast and magical. Not even the three-headed beast, fluffy, could catch one. She shuddered, this time it was because she was afraid of what awaited them.
Malfoy voiced the same fears. "And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first."
"There's nothing that lives in the forest that'll hurt you if you're with me or Fang," Hagrid said matter-of-factly. He sounded very sure about this and Hagrid was big enough to protect himself but Hermione seriously doubted that he knew everything about the forbidden forest. Still she figured as long as they kept to the path, as Hagrid advised, they'd be relatively safe, at least that's what she kept telling herself.
Hagrid divided them into two groups. Neville and Malfoy would go with Fang the boarhound down one path and she and Harry were with Hagrid and his large crossbow down another. The four students practiced sending up different color sparks from their wands; green to indicate they'd found the unicorn and red if they were in any danger.
Hermione noticed that Hagrid didn't have a wand. From what she had heard about the game keeper, he wasn't allowed to do magic because he was expelled from Hogwarts when he was young. He never said why, though Hermione thought she could guess. Hagrid was likely to be the kind of student who would raise monsters in his dormitory.
The two groups finally started into the forest. Hermione's curiosity soon overcame her fears. She'd probably never have another opportunity to see the inside of the forbidden forest so she took everything in. The trees seemed to have an aura of their own and she knew that even if it were high noon, it would probably still be almost pitch black underneath these trees. Moonlight did filter in every now and again, but they were basically walking in darkness. Hermione considered lighting her wand, but she didn't want to draw any undo attention.
"Are you alright, Hermione," Hagrid asked after a while. She realized she'd been unusually quiet the whole time. Hermione was about to answer when suddenly Hagrid ceased her and Harry. "Get behind that tree," he said as he placed the bodily behind one of the dark oak trees on the side of the path.
Hermione didn't know what to think as she watched him raise his crossbow, aiming it at the black nothingness ahead. There was a rustling sound, and Hermione involuntarily shivered. Something was out there. The noise drifted further away and Harry and Hermione came from behind the tree.
"I knew it. There's summat in here that shouldn't be," Hagrid said as he lowered the crossbow.
Hermione gulped, and she began to wonder if perhaps this detention was a little too severe for their crime. Would they really make it out alive? Why had Dumbledore allowed something like this? He should be concerned for the student's safety.
They continued down the path even more slowly and in complete silence this time. Then suddenly there was another rustling. Hermione had the almost uncontrollable urge to run as Hagrid quickly raised his crossbow again and started shouting into the darkness. This time though, something appeared in the clearing ahead of them. Hermione recognized it immediately as a centaur. It was half man, half horse. She never knew that centaurs lived in the forest but they were supposed to be relatively friendly creatures and this was confirmed when Hagrid lowered his weapon, a look of relief on his face.
"Oh, it's you Ronan. How are you?" Hagrid obviously knew him.
Hermione and Harry waited quietly to be introduced as the two friends greeted each other. "This is Harry Potter and Hermione Granger by the way, students up at the school." Hagrid said finally. "And this is Ronan, you two; he's a centaur."
"We'd noticed," Hermione muttered. She'd overcome most of her initial shock and was now staring in awe at the majestic creature in front of her.
Ronan stared at her with large blue eyes that seemed to see her very soul. "Good evening; students are you? And do you learn much up at the school?"
Hermione was caught in his gaze, almost transfixed. "A bit," she managed to answer.
She wondered why he had chosen to focus his attention on her instead of Harry. After all, he was the famous Harry Potter. She expected him to take some notice of the scar on his head and be amazed that he was meeting the 'boy who lived.' But Ronan was staring at her so hard she felt like the creature could read her very thoughts.
Finally he looked away from her and up at the night sky. Hermione sighed again. She finally realized she was sweating and wiped her brow.
Hagrid tried to glean information from the centaur about the injured unicorn but it was a futile effort. Hermione could tell that he was definitely preoccupied with something because all he would ever say was "Mars is bright tonight." It seemed like he was trying to tell them something without actually telling them. Centaurs were extraordinarily wise creatures but kept their knowledge to themselves. She knew they could tell the future from the stars, but didn't know enough about astronomy or divination to discern what the brightness of Mars impacted. She silently wished she had one of her books with her.
Hagrid finally became impatient with Ronan and Hermione could tell that he was about to take his leave when a second centaur appeared.
"Hello Bane; alright?" Hagrid greeted him.
"Good-evening Hagrid," said Bane. He didn't seem to notice Hermione or Harry.
Harry elbowed Hermione in the side. "Are you listening to me?"
"Huh?" Hermione looked at him. She hadn't even noticed he was talking.
"I was asking if you knew much about centaurs. Terribly odd creatures, aren't they?"
"I dunno,' Hermione admitted with a shrug. "I think they may be trying to tell us something."
Hagrid hadn't gotten any new information from Bane so he dragged the two students off down the forest trail. "Never try and get a straight answer out of a centaur; ruddy star gazers." he growled. "Not interested in anything closer than the moon."
"Are there many of them in here?" Hermione asked him.
Hagrid nodded but kept his eyes on the path in front of them "Oh a fair few. Keep 'emselves to themselves mostly but their good enough about turning up whenever I want a word."
Hermione thought about this as Hagrid continued on. "Centaurs don't 'turn up' for anyone. They're known for being reclusive." She looked at the half-giant. What was it about Hagrid that he had that much respect from these creatures? She thought about what he had said earlier. Nothing in the forest would hurt them as long as they were with him or Fang. She was beginning to believe this now. Perhaps Hagrid really did hold some secret to the forest. She wouldn't be surprised if he even had influence over the werewolves that were reported to be lurking around.
Just as she began to reassure herself that they were safe, a distant noise caught her attention. She looked up in the night sky and saw red flashes some distance away. "Hagrid look; red sparks! The others are in trouble!"
Hagrid was quick to action. "You two wait here. Stay on the path," he warned again. "I'll come back for yer." He started through the woods towards the sparks.
Hermione felt another chill as a cool breeze whipped through her hair. She tried to occupy her mind as she and Harry stood in the darkness waiting for Hagrid to return, but for the first time that night, she couldn't find anything to think about.
She looked at Harry. He was staring at her, a worried look in his green eyes. She could tell what he was thinking and finally voiced the concern they both had on their minds. "You don't think they've been hurt, do you?" she started timidly.
"I don't care if Malfoy has," Harry said spitefully. "but if something's got Neville… it's our fault he's here in the first place."
Hermione nodded. "Poor Neville. He tries so hard and yet he always gets into trouble."
"Maybe…we should go see what's going on," Harry said after a few more minutes of waiting.
"No, Hagrid said to stay on the path. Are you crazy? We could get killed out here by ourselves."
Harry shifted from one foot to the other. "It's just taking so long."
"This was such a bad idea," Hermione muttered under her breath.
Finally Hagrid returned and they were relieved to see that Fang, Neville, and even Malfoy were with him. Hagrid however looked furious and Hermione soon found out why. Neville and Malfoy hadn't been in any real danger. Malfoy had gotten bored and decided to sneak up on Neville from behind and Neville, in a rare display of wizarding aptitude, had instantly sent up red sparks. Hagrid switched the search parties. Harry would take Neville's place.
Harry gave an audible sigh as he, Malfoy, and Fang started into the heart of the forest. Hermione Neville and Hagrid went in the opposite direction. She glanced back at her retreating friend and saw that Harry had done the same. Their eyes locked for an instant and then they both turned away.
"Are you alright," Hermione asked Neville finally.
Neville shrugged. He looked more angry than scared now. "I'm fine. I just hate it that that stupid git always gets the better of me."
"I'm sorry," Hermione said. "This is all our fault. We never meant for any of this to happen and we certainly didn't want to get you into trouble. Harry would never do that you know."
"Yeah I guess." Neville shrugged. "But he still shouldn't have gotten all of us and Gryffindor into so much trouble. I mean; I hate Malfoy too, but that practical joke went too far."
"Neville," Hermione sighed. "It wasn't a joke. We really were sneaking a dragon up to the astronomy tower." She figured it was safe to tell him now since the only other person around was Hagrid, who knew only too well what the truth was.
"That's not funny," Neville said grumpily.
"I know it's not funny, that's because it's the truth." Hermione said matter-of-factly. "Ask Hagrid."
Neville looked up at the gamekeeper who was trying his best to avoid the glare. "Er… she's right. It was… um… my dragon that got you all into trouble. I'm sorry."
"What!" Neville almost shouted. "You mean, all this time you three were hiding a dragon. You're insane. You know their illegal don't you?"
"Yes of course we do; that's why we were getting rid of it," Hermione said irritably. "And it would have gone smoothly if Malfoy hadn't been trying to get us back for the night party and for Ron hitting him at the quidditch game."
"That little rivalry is going to get ya'll into a world of trouble," Hagrid said.
"Excuse me!" Hermione snapped. "But if it weren't for your obsession with dragons, none of this would have even happened."
"Uh, yeah… sorry 'bout that," Hagrid said sheepishly.
Hermione finally asked the question that was weighing on her mind. "Why didn't you stick up for us when we got in trouble?"
"I… uh… I would have," Hagrid admitted. "But it's just that. If the Ministry of Magic found out, they might have thrown me in wizard's prison. Dumbledore wouldn't have been able to help me. I'm sorry," he said again.
No matter how angry she was with Hagrid, she didn't want to see him go to prison. So she let it drop. No wonder Harry had stood by him all this time. She knew he didn't want that for Hagrid either. They continued through the forest in silence.
"Ronan, yer back," Hagrid called.
Hermione looked up and saw that the centaur was once again in the path in front of them. He had the same sorrowful look on his face as before. He was staring directly at Hermione again.
"Anything wrong? Did you see summat?" Hagrid asked when Ronan didn't acknowledge him.
Ronan continued to ignore him but he walked closer to the trio, eyes still fixed on the young witch. "You're more special than you think."
"Huh?" Hermione said. She couldn't look away from his eyes. They looked so sad and yet she knew the centaur was trying to communicate something to her, something he couldn't tell her in words.
"It will happen soon and he will need you by his side when it does," Ronan whispered to her. He looked up at the night sky again. "Yes… Mars is bright tonight."
"What will happen?" Hermione asked breathlessly. She didn't need to ask who the 'he' was that Ronan had referred too. There was only one person the centaur could be talking about.
There was a distant noise which seemed to bring Ronan back to Earth. "Trouble brews in the forest. It is no longer safe for the likes of you. I must go now." And with that he took off into the dense forest without another word.
"What in the world's goin' on?" Hagrid growled.
"What was that noise?" Neville was clutching Hermione's robes now.
"I don't know but I have a bad feeling that Harry's in trouble," Hermione said gravely. "Maybe we should go find them. It's been almost a half hour and we still haven't seen the unicorn."
They heard a sudden crashing through the forest. Hagrid raised his crossbow again but lowered it when he saw that it was only Malfoy.
"What're you doing here?" Hagrid asked angrily. "Where's Harry?"
"That… that thing probably got him!" Malfoy said with a frightened squeal. He wasn't even troubling to hide his fear this time. "We found the unicorn. It's dead and then this thing just came outta the woods. It attacked us. It almost killed me!"
"And you just left Harry to fend for himself," Hermione shouted at the boy.
"It's not my fault he didn't run. I'm not Potty's little keeper," Malfoy snarled at her.
"If anything happens to him…" Hermione pulled out her wand and pointed it at his chest. "I'll turn you into the weasel that you are. And don't think I can't do it," she warned him. She really couldn't but she knew he'd believe the threat. "I don't care how much trouble I get into."
Malfoy gulped but stood his ground. "Better a live weasel than a dead duck like your boyfriend Potter."
"Stop it, both of ya," Hagrid ordered. "Where's Harry?"
Malfoy pointed wildly into the woods, "That way!"
Fang suddenly appeared from amidst the trees now, making everyone jump a little. The dog was whimpering.
"Ah, there you are," Hagrid said relieved. He turned back to the three students. "Okay you lot get back to the castle. Fang here will lead the way. I'm going to go find Harry."
"I'm coming with you," Hermione said with more determination than she thought she had in her.
"I don't want anyone else gettin' hurt," Hagrid said.
Hermione stood fast. "I want to make sure Harry's okay. I'm coming with you."
"Oh alright then, come on," Hagrid sighed as he ushered Hermione into the forest with him.
"Better you than me!" Malfoy called after them. "I'm not risking my neck for that stupid git."
"Oh shut it, Malfoy." Hermione heard Neville say as the two boys and the boarhound started back down the path.
Hermione started running through the forest with Hagrid close behind her. She didn't know where she was going or if it was even the right direction. All she knew was that she wanted, no needed, to find Harry. Hagrid silently followed, never correcting her heading, so she figured he was as clueless as she was about where they were going.
"There's a lot of blood up here," Hermione said. "That probably means we're near where they found the unicorn.
They heard voices in the distance. "That sounds like Firenze," Hagrid said.
"And Harry!" Hermione added with glee. She took off towards the sound and finally hit another path. Several yards away she could clearly see another centaur with Harry on its back.
She ran towards them. "Harry! Harry are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Harry said and she was relieved to see that whatever creature Malfoy had told them about didn't seem to have attacked Harry in any way. Still there was a definite look in his eyes that told her all too clearly something had happened.
Hagrid had finally caught up.
"The unicorn's dead Hagrid. It's in the clearing back there," Harry said finally. Whatever had happened, he didn't seem to want to talk about it.
The centaur said something to Harry that Hermione couldn't hear and then let him slide off his back.
"Good luck, Harry Potter," the centaur said before leaving. "The planets have been read wrongly
before, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times."
"What was that all about," Hermione asked him.
"It's a long story." Harry whispered. "I'll tell you when we get back up to the common room.
Hermione didn't think she could wait that long but soon Hagrid returned from where the dead unicorn was and told them that they could finally leave the forest and return to their dormitories.
"If this is detention, I'm never going to have another one as long as I live," Harry said as they started back.
"Maybe that was the whole point," Hermione mused.