章 23: Chapter 23: The Forbidden Forest Excursion
Since Easter, Augustus had rarely seen Malfoy at the Slytherin table. Malfoy and his two sidekicks, Crabbe and Goyle, seemed to have vanished, appearing only during classes. Even then, they remained elusive, their whereabouts shrouded in mystery. Whenever Augustus happened to cross paths with Malfoy, the latter greeted him politely but quickly departed.
By 10 p.m., the Slytherin common room was typically empty. Augustus had taken to using this quiet time to study materials borrowed from the library. The dimly lit room exuded tranquility, warmed by the emerald flames crackling in the fireplace. Occasionally, tiny green sparks leapt from the fire, casting fleeting shadows on the stone walls. This peace suited Augustus perfectly; silence was a rare and cherished luxury for any wizard.
Suddenly, the stone door of the common room creaked open, shattering the stillness. At this hour, it was unusual for anyone to return. Augustus looked up, curious. Midnight was fast approaching, and yet someone had come back so late.
The door swung open to reveal Malfoy. He looked weary, his shoulders slumped, and his expression a mix of frustration and defeat. Spotting Augustus, Malfoy froze momentarily, his face betraying a flicker of complex emotions.
"Lord Augustus," Malfoy began, his voice tinged with despair. "I've really messed up this time. I was caught by Professor McGonagall in the castle tower. I planned to expose Harry and his friends for smuggling a dragon, but instead of catching them, I ran into McGonagall. She didn't believe me about the dragon. Not only did Slytherin lose twenty points, but I've also been given detention. And guess what? Detention is in the Forbidden Forest. I'm doomed!"
"How did you know they were planning to move the dragon tonight?" Augustus asked, intrigued.
"They left a letter for Bill hidden in a book they borrowed. I found it and pieced things together. Honestly, I wasn't planning to report them at first, but after they caught me spying on Hagrid's dragon, they assumed I'd snitch and rushed to move it. Since they already thought I'd betray them, I decided to ruin their plan. But... things didn't go as expected."
"So," Augustus said, suppressing a smile, "you've been plotting this for a while, only to end up catching no one. Instead, you were caught by McGonagall, failed to explain yourself, and got both the house punished and yourself sent to detention?"
"Yes, that's exactly it," Malfoy admitted, looking thoroughly miserable. "Lord Augustus, you must help me! If I go into the Forbidden Forest alone, those dark creatures will kill me for sure."
Amusement flickered in Augustus's eyes. Poor Malfoy seemed to have the worst luck. If Harry and his friends knew that not only had Malfoy failed to thwart their plan, but he had also been punished, they would be ecstatic.
"I'll ask Professor McGonagall tomorrow if I can join you in the forest," Augustus said after a pause. "If she agrees, I'll accompany you."
Malfoy's face lit up with relief. Augustus's words felt like a lifeline. With Augustus by his side, detention seemed far less terrifying—perhaps even tolerable, like an unusual excursion.
The next day, however, Augustus noticed that Harry and his friends were too preoccupied to mock Malfoy. Overnight, Gryffindor's house points had plummeted by a shocking 150 points. Already trailing in the House Cup standings, Gryffindor had now fallen to last place.
Initially, Gryffindor students passing the hourglasses thought there had been a mistake. How could their house have lost so many points in a single night? The truth soon spread: Harry Potter, the celebrated hero of two Quidditch victories, and two other first-years had been responsible for the devastating loss.
Once popular among his housemates, Harry now found himself the target of their frustration. Even students from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff regarded him with disdain. They had all hoped to see Slytherin lose the House Cup, but now Slytherin's hourglass was brimming with points, thanks in no small part to Augustus.
Surprisingly, Malfoy refrained from joining the jeers directed at Harry. He was too consumed by anxiety over his impending detention. What if Augustus decided not to accompany him? The thought of entering the perilous Forbidden Forest alone felt like a death sentence. For the first time, Malfoy regretted his antics. Were his petty schemes really worth risking his life?
At eleven that night, Augustus and Malfoy descended to the entrance hall. Filch was waiting for them, along with Harry, Hermione, and Neville. The trio's eyes widened in surprise upon seeing Augustus.
"You should count yourselves lucky," Filch sneered. "Professor McGonagall agreed to let Mr. Augustus join you. He might just save your sorry hides." His tone was a mixture of malice and mockery.
Harry and the others exchanged hopeful glances. With Augustus accompanying them, the terrifying prospect of venturing into the Forbidden Forest suddenly seemed less daunting.
Filch, clearly irritated by their sense of relief, coughed loudly and led them toward the forest. They marched across the dark grounds, the cool night air filled with the rustling of leaves. Neville sniffled nervously, his steps faltering. Clouds occasionally obscured the bright moonlight, plunging them into moments of near-total darkness.
As they approached the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Augustus's eyes gleamed with curiosity. Though he had been at Hogwarts for some time, he had never entered the forest before. He suspected that tonight's detention might turn out to be far more intriguing than anyone anticipated.
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