Chapter 7: Chapter Seven - Goodbye Norbert and Hello Punishment
POV Jade/Hermione
Soon we were involved in work and homework left by the teachers, and I had to help Harry and Ron with it, it wasn't that difficult, it was then that the meeting with Hagrid came, also with the fact that Ron and Harry were talking about the stone shamelessly; the date with Hagrid in his hut... that only indicated that he would soon tell us about Norbert.
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Back at Hagrid's hut, the boys started asking questions, while Hagrid was somewhat reluctant to speak; if memory serves me correctly, Hermione had softened Hagrid up with compliments about how trustworthy he is. To help the boys, she had to say something, something similar to what Hermione had said at the time.
- "Come on, Hagrid, even if you don't want to tell us anything, it's no surprise to us that you know, there isn't a person in the school who knows as much as you do besides Dumbledore," - He smiled at me, indicating that I was on the right track, - "I wouldn't doubt Dumbledore's trust in you, I once heard from the Headmaster himself, that he trusted you so much that he would trust you with his own life."
At that, Hagrid's chest flared with pride, Harry and Ron looked surprised but also proud. After all, both Hermione and I could be clever, who says that only Voldemort had the gift of the gab? After that, he told us only the main thing, the teachers who had done their part to protect the stone.
They talked about the egg, about the care it would take, it was time to go back to class, where Ron can't be the least bit discreet, so we ended up being listened to by Malfoy, he hadn't heard much, I was sure of it, but boy, as nosy as he turned out to be he would find out.
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We went back to Hagrid's hut the next day to witness Norbert's birth, I made sure to close the curtains properly so that nothing could be seen, I even soundproofed the hut, that would only make Malfoy more curious, but at least there was no danger of that idiot finding out.
I had the boys send the letter to Charlie ahead of schedule, to speed up Norbert's departure without causing problems, we soon received a reply and decided to try and convince Hagrid, and after persuasion which lasted three days, he agreed, and we sent the affirmative letter to Charlie.
Ron's bite didn't take long to arrive, so he ended up going to the infirmary, I could have cured him myself, but I had plans, among them was Charlie's letter, in which I modified the date, instead of saying that we would take Norbert on Saturday, I would take him one day earlier, on Friday.
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Soon we visited Ron, and he told us that Malfoy had gone to bother him in the infirmary along with his gorillas, it was then that he opened his eyes in fear.
- "Oh, no, oh, no... I just remembered... Charlie's letter was in the book that Malfoy took, he's going to find out about Norbert, and how we're going to get rid of him." - He got as upset as he's ever been.
- "Calm down, Ron." - I said, but before I could explain he interrupted me even more upset.
- "Calm down?! Calm down?! Calm down?!" - After that, I hit him on the head.
- "Shut up, Ronald!" - I reprimanded him already angry - "Everything will be fine, when you brought the letter, I changed the date, he won't bother us, he'll probably get into trouble, but we won't have any obstacles, a day before, Malfoy will probably be wandering around Hogwarts late at night, the best thing about this is that it will be for nothing."
- "I'm glad I'm not your enemy," - Said Ron, calmer and relieved, to which Harry nodded fervently and I smiled.
We told Neville about the plan, so he wouldn't worry about what Malfoy might say, after all, I didn't want Neville to be affected and get into trouble because he was worried about us either, he's a very noble boy.
Time passed faster than I expected, the day we were to release Norbert came with the wonderful news that Slytherin had been deducted 50 points because of Malfoy the night before. Ron and Harry were happy, they praised me over and over again, even Neville was happy with the idea and, as night fell, we told him that we would be careful, plus, to put his mind at ease, we told him about the invisibility cloak in our possession.
I took care of everything, I didn't want to lose points and feel bad, I had already taken care of one of the turning points, and now it was time to get out of this without them taking points away from us. What happened, we arrived, handed Norberto over, and said goodbye, the boys were about to go down without the cloak, so I pulled them out of the jumper and put them under it.
On the way down Filch was passing by, to which we narrowly avoided him, everything went as expected, but then the next day we were called into Professor McGonagall's office by Professor McGonagall, to which the boys seemed to have panicked. They thought we'd been found out, and I had to admit that for a moment I thought about it.
- "I had to talk to you, it's regarding this," - She said pulling out the letter as she looked at us questioningly, - "Mr. Malfoy gave it to me, assuring me that on Friday night you were going to deliver a dragon." - The boys couldn't answer - "Well, anything you'd like to say?"
- "Well, I..." - I started to say, drawing the attention of the boys and McGonagall - "It's just that Malfoy kept bothering us and trying to get us in trouble... so when Ron went to the infirmary because he was bitten by a dog, I took the opportunity and put the letter in his book, hopefully, nothing would happen, but knowing Malfoy, he could go and annoy him, just as it happened" - I said ducking my head - "It was my fault, I wanted to teach Malfoy a lesson, he just kept bothering us, he even went so far as to hex Neville, I just wanted to teach him a little lesson, I never thought he'd go and check it out himself. So it would just remain a white lie."
At my words the teacher sighed, the boys didn't know what to say, McGonagall made them leave her office, leaving just the two of us, although the boys gave me one last worried look, I just smiled at them to reassure them that everything would be alright, although with McGonagall you never know.
- "I understand that you didn't mean it badly, but I'm surprised at you, I thought you'd never get involved in this kind of scandal..." - Her voice sounded very disappointed, I just lowered my head again - "I think it's only fair that you serve your punishment along with young Malfoy...." - She said, and I just nodded. - "You may go, I'll let you know your punishment later," - I walked out of there, concentrating on my thoughts.
I was hoping to get out of the punishment, at least I saved the boys from that, I knew what my punishment would be, in the end, I would have to go into the forbidden forest, I wasn't sure how we would organize ourselves, after all, one of us would have to go with Hagrid or Fang.
What I feared was meeting Voldemort face to face, I couldn't imagine witnessing the death of the unicorn, but if I could do something for him, I would do it without hesitation, I would also have to carry a dyctamus, because if I found the unicorn before Voldemort did and applied it in time, maybe it wouldn't die.
Ron and Harry attacked me with several questions, at least they hadn't lowered points to Gryffindor, after hearing what was said, the boys didn't know how to react, Neville didn't believe what he was hearing, he wanted to go and talk to the teacher, but I stopped him, in the end it was better this way, that scene had to happen, I didn't want to leave Hagrid alone either, it wasn't fun to have to deal with Malfoy knowing how he is.
The next morning, at breakfast time, my note arrived, "Your punishment will take place at eleven o'clock tonight. Mr. Filch will be waiting for you in the Entrance Hall." It read.
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Harry, Ron, and Neville had come down to see me off, I already had the dyctamus in my bag, I had my wand, also some things I needed to defend myself, because even if I met the unicorn, it was not sure that I would be defended like Harry, most of the centaurs didn't think to do much... just follow what they read in the stars.
After Filch's twisted lectures, Draco and I arrived with Hagrid, it was then that he told us that our punishment would take place inside the forbidden forest, Malfoy started to complain and that was when Hagrid fell for it, deciding that he would go with Fang and I would go with Hagrid....
I went with Hagrid following the traces of unicorn blood, I held on to my bottle of dyctamus, I had to trust that I would make it, I just needed to get away from Hagrid, then I could move on to the clearing to treat the wound before Voldemort arrived, but Hagrid wouldn't take his eyes off me, so I just waited for Malfoy to do his thing, so I could go with Fang.
We met Voldemort, but we didn't see him directly because we were hiding, it was then that we heard some sounds nearby, probably centaurs, Hagrid held his crossbow up, meeting Ronan, he and his typical phrase "Tonight, Mars is bright", and then Bane arrived, with a similar phrase "Tonight, Mars is very bright" which ended up making Hagrid desperate, as we couldn't get any answers to our questions from him.
Luckily, things went similarly to the book, as Malfoy didn't have Neville to bother, he ended up scaring Fang, and Hagrid had to leave me in Fang's company to keep a close eye on Malfoy. Once they were away, I sighed and walked to the opposite side next to Fang, and making the "portal" that would take me to the clearing I concentrated, I wanted to save the unicorn with all my might.
I went through the portal together with the fearful Fang and started to search with my eyes; I spotted the unicorn lying in the clearing while its breathing was unsteady, I looked all around and approached quickly taking out the dictych. I carefully cleaned the wound and began to apply the potion, the unicorn was becoming unconscious... I was afraid it wouldn't work, but when I saw it slowly begin to close, tears of relief welled up in my eyes as the unicorn's breathing became steadier and calmer.
I stroked his face for a moment, then I stood up and took distance from it; I was about to throw the signal, only far away from the unicorn so as not to scare him, it was then that this figure appeared, he was crawling on the ground towards the exhausted unicorn, Fang ran in the opposite direction, I came out of my shock and by instinct I threw a stone at his head to get him away from the unicorn, to which he stood up threateningly and advanced in my direction.
I didn't even look at what card I was pulling out, I just introduced magic and threw it in his direction, the flames didn't take long to come out making him retreat, I ran to the unicorn's side, I doubt that kind of signal didn't attract attention when he approached me again, a gallop was heard and soon a centaur appeared that took him away from me and the unicorn, making him flee instantly.
He was younger than Ronan and Bane, with a brownish-white body, beautiful blond hair, and stunning blue eyes, like two sapphires that seemed to be able to hypnotize anyone who looked into them, I turned my attention back to the unicorn, the flames had already died down.
- "Are you alright?" - Said the centaur as he helped me to my feet.
- "Yes... Thank you..." - I said a bit stunned, actually seeing that was very different from the movies, it was scarier than I thought it would be. - "I'm Hermione," - I said awkwardly.
As he looked off into the distance, down the path where Voldemort had disappeared, I couldn't help but admire him, he was really beautiful. He turned his gaze to me causing me to avert my gaze, he was Firenze, no doubt about it, I felt his intense gaze on my person scanning me up and down.
- "You'd better get back to Hagrid. The forest is not safe at this time of year...." - He said, pulling me out of that awkward moment - "Can you ride? It will be quicker that way... My name is Firenze," - He said as he lowered his front legs so that I could get on.
It was then that the sound of the galloping of the other centaurs came, followed by the arrival of Bane and Ronan, who looked furious while sweating a little from all the running; I knew what was coming.
- "Firenze!" - Roared Bane, making me jump - "What are you doing, you have a human on your back, aren't you ashamed, are you a common mule?" - His words made me angry, the unicorn had already stood up with some difficulty.
- "The sooner she leaves the forest, the better." - Said Firenze, referring to me.
- "What have you been saying to her?" - Bane growled, - "Remember, Firenze, we swore an oath not to oppose the heavens, haven't you read in the movement of the planets what will happen?"
Ronan kicked the ground nervously.
- "I'm sure Firenze thought he was doing his best." - He said in a grim voice.
- "What's that got to do with us, we centaurs must deal with what he's predicting! It's none of our business to go around like donkeys looking for stray humans in our forest!"
Firenze raised his paws in fury, I felt I would fall at any moment, so I held on to him, being careful not to use too much force.
- "Haven't you seen that unicorn? If it wasn't for this human, it would be dead by now, don't you understand the reason, or haven't the planets let you in on that secret? I will go against the one that lurks in this forest, with humans on my back, if I have to."
Firenze set off quickly, with me on his back as I avoided falling from the speed, the cold was intense, but the centaur that carried me had such a comforting warmth, I knew he had a great heart, the unicorn followed close behind, leaving Ronan and Bane, who went into the trees.
Quite unlike Harry, I didn't ask any questions, I knew the answers. Firenze slowly slowed down, telling me to keep my head down, through the branches. We continued to move for a while through the branches, for me, it was a comforting silence, it helped me to assimilate everything that had happened tonight.
When we reached a particularly dense place, Firenze looked at me, as if he could see my very soul, and stopped.
- "You didn't ask anything..." - His voice was deep, very pleasant to me - "You didn't have to be there, did you? You seem to know more than you appear to understand... even the others haven't noticed that your presence has changed many things, even the planets are confused."
- "Excuse me?" - I said nervously.
- "I'm sure you know what I mean, you know what will happen, even so, you are willing to change it, you have been very cautious, I want to trust that we are doing the right thing, I want to believe that your mere existence is a symbol of hope."
- "I understand... Thank you..." - It was funny, but it was the first time I saw someone so beautiful live and direct, the personification of attractiveness, and that unfortunately, he was not human, and that in one way or another, he is flattering me, is something that makes my heart beat wildly. - "Thank you for everything."
- "Hermione!" - Shouted Hagrid, running in our direction with Malfoy and Fang, - "Are you all right?"
- "Yes, I'm fine, Firenze saved me." - I said as I smiled at the centaur, but I heard a "Puagh" from Malfoy, who rolled his eyes in disgust.
- "This is where I leave you..." - He murmured as Hagrid examined the unicorn's condition - "You're safe now, Hermione." - Hagrid carefully bent down to let Hermione off his back. - "Remember this, the planets have been read wrong before, even by centaurs. Good luck, I hope to see you soon."
After that, he took off into the deepest part of the forest, my gaze didn't leave his gallop until he was lost in the trees, I could only think that, deep down, I was hoping to see him soon too, I reacted when Malfoy waved his hand in annoyance in front of me.
- "React Granger, let's get out of here already." - He said, annoyed.
- "You can go without me Malfoy, I think you're very capable, I have something important to talk to Hagrid about," - I said as I looked back at him annoyed.
- "Suit yourself," - He said as he walked away cursing under his breath, the only thing I understood was - "Why would I wait for her?"
I approached Hagrid and the unicorn and told Hagrid what had happened, that I found the unicorn and treated it, as well as what happened when Voldemort came and how Firenze saved me, exempting Voldemort's identity.
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I returned to the castle and went to the common room in the company of Peeves, who was telling me about his last pranks made with my little toys, one of them made to Snape and Filch, when I arrived at the common room, a tiredness seized me, but I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived, finding the boys, who were waiting for me inside even though it was one o'clock in the morning.
I woke them up, it was then that they hugged me without thinking, I told them what had happened to me, and how I saved the unicorn, exempting my abilities, also explaining about the philosopher's stone, because, although that talk never happened with Firenze, it was of great importance that the boys knew about it.
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