บท 51: Detention.

A week before the exams were due to start, Draco was 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. Draco moved closer.

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

Next second, Quirrell came hurrying out of the classroom straightening his turban. He was pale and looked as though he was about to cry. He strode towards Draco's direction, Draco quickly acted as if he was just walking by but he could still feel Quirrell's gaze on him. Soon the footsteps were gone.

'Talking to Volde, I assume.' Draco thought.

As he was walking by, Harry came out of the classroom Quirrell was in. Draco looked at him suspiciously and the other party was doing the same. Draco didn't want to waste time with him so he strode off when he suddenly heard Harry call out to him, "Draco."

Draco turned back to look at him,

"I-I am sorry." Harry said awkwardly, "I wasn't thinking straight since I was angry about you eavesdropping on us and Ron was the same too. We should have known better."

"So?" Draco asked in an uninterested voice.

"That's it." Harry said, "I apologized since the whole stupid thing could have harmed Hagrid as well and due to us not thinking things through. Other than that, I am really not sorry. Since with this, we are finally equal."

Draco rolled his eyes and started walking off again, "I am not the one you should apologize to Potter."

Harry stared at Draco's back and sighed. He knew that Draco was right, he still needed to apologize to Hermione, Hagrid and maybe even Neville.

Harry went back to the common room, where Ron was working on his Astronomy. Harry told him what he'd heard.

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

"There's still Fluffy, though," said Harry unsure.

"Maybe Snape's found out how to get past him without asking Hagrid," said Ron, "I bet there's a book somewhere in the library telling you how to get past a giant three-headed dog. So what do we do, Harry?"

The light of adventure was kindling again in Ron's eyes, Harry's vow of ignoring things were wavering. Just then Hermione walked in.

"Can you two, not stay out of trouble even for a week?" She said with an annoyed tone, "Isn't losing a hundred and fifty points enough."

This was the first time in a week that Hermione had spoken to them.

"It's not that Hermione." Harry said quickly afraid of getting ignored again, "Also we are really sorry for breaking your trust."

Harry pushed Ron a little and he too stood up from his seat, "Yes, Hermione I am really sorry. I shouldn't have thought too much about this stupid plan."

"I am not the one you should be apologizing too." Hermione said angrily, "Because of you guys Draco and Theodore got into trouble and the whole cause of it was me, thank god that Draco and Theodore didn't have Norberta with them otherwise he would have really been expelled. Did you really wanted me to be the reason behind my friend's expulsion?"

"I-" Ron couldn't say anything.

"I apologized to Draco today." Harry quickly said, "So, please forgive us."

Hermione looked at them, "I can't forgive you right away since you guys broke my trust that we had built over the past months and you Ron... you should go apologize to Draco and Theodore as well. Otherwise, don't blame me if something bad happens to you."

"Something bad?"

"I don't know about Draco but Theodore will surely get you." Hermione warned them, "I don't know much about his character but I have heard that he is worse than Draco in certain things so if I were you, I'd go and apologize quickly."

Harry and Ron looked at each other in confusion but decided on apologizing sooner would be better, not because they were afraid but they didn't want Hermione to keep being upset with them. "We will."

Hermione nodded and started walking away "Also don't focus on the stone too much, go to Dumbledore. That's what you guys should have done ages ago. If you try anything else, you'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."

Harry quickly explained before Hermione could walk away, he really needed some advice from her, since talking with Ron always seemed to lead to trouble.

"Then don't do anything." Hermione harshly said, "The stone's not your property is it?" and walked away.

---------------------------

Next morning, Draco, Theodore, Ron, Harry, and Neville got the same letter which read,

Your detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight. Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.

"Sigh! I kinda forgot about it." Theodore said lazily, "But this might be a good time to take revenge."

"You are really stuck on that, aren't you?" Draco said smiling slyly, "What do you plan to do?"

"Haven't really thought too much about it." Theodore said, "But we can adapt to the situation, can't we?"

"Touche."

Draco was looking forward to tonight since meeting Voldemort seemed really interesting.

At eleven o'clock that night, they said goodbye to Daphne and Pansy in the common room and went down to the entrance hall. Filch was already there -- and so were Neville, Ron, and Harry.

"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... 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, keep 'em well oiled in case they're ever needed... Right, off we go, and don't think of running off, now, it'll be worse for you if you do."

Draco and Theodore rolled their eyes wishing Filch would shut up. They marched off across the dark grounds. Neville kept sniffing so Theodore went over and patted his shoulders trying to calm him down, unlike before Theodore had kinda developed pity over Longbottom who was always clumsy and scared.

"Don't worry buddy." Theodore said, "Relax, they aren't going to give us some traditional punishment, its just going to be a walk in the woods or something."

Draco really wanted to ask if Theodore was a transmigrator like him too but didn't say anything in the end.

Harry and Ron were walking together wondering what their punishment was going to be. It must be something really horrible, or Filch wouldn't be sounding so delighted, they thought.

The moon was bright, but clouds scudding across it kept throwing them into darkness. Ahead, They 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."

Harry's heart rose; if they were going to be working with Hagrid it wouldn't be so bad. His relief showed on his face, seeing it Filch snorted as he 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."

Neville let out a moan in fear,

"Sigh! Me and my big mouth." Theodore facepalmed, "I must have jinxed it."

Ron stopped on his track

"The forest?" Ron said, "We can't go in there at night -- there are all sorts of things in there -- werewolves, I heard."

"Not so cocky now are we?" Theodore said in a mocking tone but hearing about werewolves made Neville more afraid as he clutched the sleeve of Theodore's robe and made a choking noise.

"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?"