Chapter 14: - The Forbidden Forest
Things couldn't be any worse.
Filch took them down to Professor McGonagall's study on the first floor, where they sat and waited without saying a word to each other. Kari was grim, she couldn't think of a single good excuse for them being out of the dorms without landing Hagrid in trouble, while excuses, alibis and wild cover up stories chased each other round Harry's head, none of which would work. He couldn't see how they were going to get out of trouble this time. They were cornered. How could they have been so stupid as to forget the cloak, or forget to use the Orb. There was no reason on earth Professor McGonagall would accept for their being out of bed and walking around the school at the dead of night, yet alone being up the tallest astronomy tower, which was out of bounds, except for classes. Add Norbert and the Invisibility Cloak and they might as well have been packing their bags already.
Had Harry thought that things couldn't get any worse? He was wrong, when Professor McGonagall appeared, she was leading Neville.
"Harry!" Neville burst out, the moment he saw them, "I was trying to find you to warn you, I heard Malfoy and Bakura saying they were going to catch you and that you had a drag…" Harry shook his head violently to shut Neville up, but Professor McGonagall saw. She looked more likely to breath fire then Norbert as she towered over them.
"I would never have believed it of any of you. Mr Filch says you were up the astronomy tower. It's one o'clock in the morning. Explain yourselves."
It was the first time Kari refused to answer a teacher's question, she was staring at a stain on the floor and wondering if she could escape to her Soul Room.
"I think I've got a good idea what's going on," Said Professor McGonagall, "it doesn't take a genius to figure it out. You fed Draco Malfoy and Bakura some cock-and-bull story about a dragon, trying to get them out of bed and into trouble. I've already caught them. I suppose you think it's funny that Longbottom here heard the story and believed it too."
Kari's head shot up, that wasn't it at all, but she couldn't tell Neville that in front of McGonagall.
"I'm disgusted," Continued the Professor, "Five students out of bed in one night! I've never heard of such a thing before! You, Miss Ironhide, I'd have thought you'd have more sense then to try to 'get one over' on the former host of the Millennium Ring. As for you Mr Potter, I thought Gryffindor meant more to you then this. All three of you will receive detention… yes, you too, Mr Longbottom, nothing give you the right to walk around school at night, and fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor."
"Fifty?" Harry gasped, they would lose the lead they'd gained in the last Quidditch match.
"Fifty points each." Continued the Professor, breathing heavily through her long, pointed nose.
"Professor, please!"
"You can't!"
"Don't tell me what I can and can't do Ironhide. Now get back to bed, all of you. I've never been more ashamed of Gryffindor students."
A hundred and fifty points lost in one night. That put Gryffindor in last place. In one fell swoop they'd messed up any chance Gryffindor had of getting the House Cup. Harry felt as though the bottom had dropped out of his stomache. How could they ever make up for this?
Harry didn't sleep all night. He could hear Neville sobbing into his pillow for what seemed like hours. Harry didn't know what to say to comfort him, and he knew Ombre had been woken by Kari's emotions and was sat in the Common Room with her hikari, having met them at the entrance. What would happen when the rest of Gryffindor found out what they'd done?
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At first, Gryffindors passing the giant hour-glasses that recorded the house points next day thought there'd been a mistake How could they suddenly have a hundred and fifty less points then yesterday? And then the story got out; Harry Potter, the famous Harry Potter, their hero of two Quidditch matches, had lost them all those house points, him and a couple of other stupid first years.
From being one of the most popular and admired people in the school, Harry was suddenly the most hated. Even Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs turned on him, because everyone had been longing to see Slytherin lose the House Cup. Everywhere Harry went, people pointed and didn't trouble to lower their voices as they insulted him. Slytherins on the other hand, clapped as he walked past them, whistling and cheering. "Thanks Potter, we owe you one!"
Only the gang stood by him. "Don't worry, Ron said, trying to cheer him up the following Saturday, as they sat around the lake, "They'll forget about it in a few weeks. Fred and George have lost loads of points in all the time they've been here, and people still like them."
"They've never lost a hundred and fifty points in one go, though, have they?" Said Kari miserably.
"Well…no." Ron admitted.
It was a bit late to repair the damage, but Harry swore to himself not to meddle in things that weren't his business from now on. He'd had it with sneaking around and spying. He felt so ashamed of himself that he offered to resign from the Quidditch team, something that caused Oliver Wood, the team captain, to storm at him for about twenty minutes. But even Quidditch had lost it's fun, with the team only ever referring to him as 'The Seeker.'
Kari and Neville were suffering too, they didn't have it quite as bad, because they weren't as well known, but no one body outside the gang would speak to them either. Kari had stopped competing with Hermione in class, letting Hermione answer all the questions, and keeping her head down and working in silence.
Harry was almost glad the exams weren't too far away. All the revision he had to do kept his mind off of his misery. He and the gang kept themselves to themselves, working late into the night, trying to remember the ingredients in complicated potions, learn charms and spells off by heart, memorise dates of magical discoveries and goblin rebellions…
Then, about a week before the exams were due to start, Harry's new resolution not to interfere in anything that didn't concern him was put to an unexpected test. Walking back from the library on his own one afternoon, he heard someone wimpering 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, Harry moved closer.
"All right, all right." He heard Quirrell sob.
Next second, Quirrell came hurrying out of the classroom, straightening his turban. He was aple and looked as though he was about to cry. He strode out of sight; Harry didn't think Quirrell had even noticed him. He waited until Quirrell's footsteps had disappeared, and then looked into the classroom. It was empty but a door stood partly open at the other end. Harry was half way towards it it before he remembered what he'd promised himself about not meddling.
All at the same time, he'd have gambled twelve Philosopher's Stones that Snape had just left the room, and from Harry just heard, would be walking with a new spring in his step, Quirrell had given in at last.
He raced back to the library where Kari was testing Yugi on potions, while Hermione tested Ron on Astronomy. Harry told the group what he'd heard.
"Snape's done it then…" Yami said, "If Quirrell's told him how to break his Anti-Dark-Force spell…"
"There's still Fluffy, though." Said Yugi.
"Maybe Snape's found out how to get past him without asking Hagrid." Said Joey, looking up at the mountain of books surrounding them. "I bet there's a book here somewhere, telling you how to tame or get past a three headed dog. So what's the plan?"
The light of adventure was back in his eyes, something Yugi and Yami recognised all too well, but Hermione answered before Harry or Yami could.
"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!" Ombre growled, "Quirrell's too scared to say anything, 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 dislike coughhatecough him. Dumbledore will think we made it up to get him sacked. And don't forget that student's aren't supposed to know about the Stone or Fluffy. That'll take a lot of explaining."
"If we just do a bit of poking around…" Joey started.
"No," Said Harry, "We've done enough poking around." He pulled some of his books out and started to study.
The following morning, notes were delivered to Harry, Neville and Kari at the breakfast table, they were all the same.
Your detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight. Meet Mr Filch in the Entrance Hall.
Professor M. McGonagall.
Harry had forgotten they still had detentions to do in the chaos over the points they'd lost. He half expected Kari to complain that it was a night of revision lost, but she was glaring at the piece of paper, as if just looking at it would set it alight.
At eleven o'clock that night they said goodbye to the group and went down to the Entrance Hall with Neville. Filch was already there, as was Malfoy and…Bakura. Kari groaned, she'd forgotten the two Slytherins had detention too. If she'd have remembered though she would have left the Orb with Ombre, she didn't trust Bakura as far as she could throw him.
"Follow me," said Filch, lighting a lamp and leading them outside, "I'll bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh? Oh yes, pain and hard work are the best teachers if you ask me… it's just a pity they let the old punishments die out… hang you by the wrists from the ceilings for a few days, I've got the chains still in my office, just in case their ever needed… Right off we go, and don't think of running off, now, it'll be worse for you if you do."
They walked across the dark grounds, Kari was preoccupied by the fact Bakura was preoccupied with her Millennium Orb, so Harry was left to wonder what their punishment was by himself, it had to be bad or Filch wouldn't sound so happy.
The moon was bright, but the clouds scudding across it kept throwing them into darkness. Ahead, Harry could see the lighted windows of Hagrid's hut. Then they heard a distant shout.
"Is that you Filch? Hurry up, I wanna get started!"
Harry's heart rose; if they were going to be working with Hagrid it wouldn't be so bad. His relief must have showed on his face because Filch said, "I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf? Well, think again, boy… it's into the Forest your going and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece."
At this, Neville let out a moan and Malfoy stopped dead in his tracks. "The Forest?" Malfoy repeated, and he didn't sound as calm as usual, Bakura actually looked excited, "We can't go in there at night. There's all sorts of things in there… werewolves I heard."
Neville clutched at the sleeve of Harry's robe and made a choking noise, Kari went pale.
"That's your lookout, isn't it?" said Filch, his voice cracking in glee, "Should've thought of them werewolves before you got into trouble, shouldn't you?" Hagrid came striding out of the darkness, Fang st his heel. He was carrying a large crossbow, and a quiver full of arrows hung over his shoulder.
"Abou' time." He said, "I bin waiting for half an hour already. All right Harry, Kari?"
"I shouldn't be too friendly with them, Hagrid, they're here to be punished, after all."
"So that's why yer late is it?" said Hagrid, frowning at Filch, "Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot your place to 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." Filch hobbled away, and Malfoy got into a loud argument with Hagrid, which ended with Hagrid telling Malfoy to go back to the castle, which he didn't do. Hagrid explained that they were looking for a wounded unicorn, and that they might have to put it out of it's misery.
"Right then, were going to split into two parties, an' follow the trail in two different directions."
"I want Fang!" Malfoy said, almost immediately.
"Alright, but just so I warn yer, he's a bloody coward." Said Hagrid, "So me, Harry an' Kari'll go one way an' Fang, Draco, Bakura an' Neville'll go the other. We'll send up green sparks if we get into trouble and if any of you get into trouble you send up red sparks." They practised and once Hagrid was happy they could do that they split up. Kari had to admit that though they were hunting something dangerous, she was happier now they'd split up away from Bakura.
The forest was dark and silent. A little way into it they reached a fork in the path and Harry, Kari and Hagrid went one way while the others took the other path. They walked in silence, their eyes on the ground. Every so often a ray of moonlight lit a spot of silvery unicorn blood. Harry saw that Hagrid was very worried.
"Could a werewolf be killing the unicorns?" Harry asked.
"Not fast enough, it's not easy to catch a unicorn, they're powerful magical creatures. I never knew one to be hurt before."
They continued walking, they could hear running water so there had to be a stream near by. There were still spots of blood along the earthen path.
"You alright Kari?" Hagrid whispered, "Don' worry, it can't have gone far if it's this badly hurt an' then we'll be able ter – GET BEHIND THAT TREE!"
Hagrid seized their robes and dragged them behind a tree, he pulled out an arrow and fitted it to the crossbow, ready to fire and the three of them listened. Something was slithering over dead leaves nearby; it sounded like a cloak trailing along the ground. Hagrid was squinting up the dark path and Kari sensed a terrible dark magic, greater then anything she'd ever felt before, the feeling hitting her like a ton of bricks. But the sense faded with the sound, and after a few seconds both were gone.
"I knew it," Hagrid murmured, "There's something in this forest that shouldn't be."
"A werewolf?"
"That's no werewolf, Harry." Kari said, her face ash white. "That was something else."
They walked more slowly now, listening for the faintest sound, in the clearing ahead something defiantly moved.
"Who's there? Show yerself – I'm armed!" Hagrid called. It was a centaur and his name was Ronan. It drove Hagrid up the wall, as he was unable to get a sensible or straight answer out of it.
"Never…" Hagrid growled after Ronan had left, "try to get a straight answer out of a centaur. Ruddy stargazers, not interested in anything closer then the moon."
"Do you think it was a centaur we heard earlier?" Harry asked, Kari shook her head hard but it was Hagrid that answered.
"Did it sound like hoofs to you? Nah, if yer ask me, that was what's bin killing the unicorns… never heard anything like it before." Kari stared at him, then no one knew how much magic the creature had. They carried on walking through the dense, dark trees. Harry had the feeling someone was watching them, he was very glad Hagrid and his crossbow were here. They had just passed a bend in the path when Kari growled. "Hagrid, look, red sparks, the others are in trouble."
"You two wait here!" Hagrid shouted, "Stay on the path, I'll come back for you." They heard him crash through the bushes and Kari and Harry looked at each other, pale and frightened.
"You don't think they've been hurt do you?" Kari asked, remembering what she'd sensed.
"I don't care if Malfoy or Bakura have but if any things got Neville, it's our fault he was here in the first place."
The minutes dragged by and Harry and Kari waited until a great crashing announced Hagrid's return. It seemed Bakura and Malfoy had thought it would be funny to scare the living daylights out of Neville and Neville had sent up red sparks.
"All right, we're splitting into 3 groups and changing partners, Sorry Harry, you're with Malfoy, Kari, you're with that bloody idiot, Bakura, if we catch anything now we'll be lucky, Neville you stay with me." Kari nodded grimly, and they split up again.
Kari and Bakura had only just left the other two groups eyesight when Bakura turned on her. "Well then, since we're alone…" The forest disappeared and shadows rose around them. Kari lost sight of the forest almost completely, the world now around them dark and cold.
"Where are we?" Kari growled, aware of the Millennium Ring's glow from its place beneath Bakura's robes, the light showing through.
"I forgot, you're the only barer of a Millennium Item who has never played a shadow game. Welcome Kari, to the Shadow Realm. I bet you have your deck on you, a true duellist is never without it."
Bakura had guessed right, but Kari was feeling odd, sort of drained, like something was pulling on her. A scream cut through the air, it was from outside the shadows and Bakura growled, and the shadows faded, "What is it with all the interruptions?" He growled, "First Kaiba and now this…" Kari didn't have a chance to explain as she sensed the magic she had earlier, she knew Bakura did too, that was probably why he'd dropped his 'Shadow Realm'? She'd have to ask Ombre about it, once… she ran towards the scream. And arrived at the point where Harry was just as Hagrid and Neville did, Malfoy returning from a different direction and Bakura was not that far behind her.
The group had mostly fallen asleep in the Common Room waiting for them, and Ombre and Ron were roughly shaken awake, who in turn woke the others a little more gently. Ron and Joey were sleepy but Harry couldn't sit still as he explained what had happened, while pacing in front of the fire.
"Snape wants the Stone for Voldemort… and Voldemort's waiting in the Forest… and all this time we thought Snape wanted it for himself, to get rich…"
"Stop saying the name!" Said Ron in a terrified whisper, as if he thought Voldemort could hear them. Harry wasn't listening.
"Firenze, he's a centaur, saved me, 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 Voldemort's coming back… Bane thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me… I suppose that's written in the stars as well."
"Will you stop saying the name!" Ron hissed.
"Voldemort!" Joey yelled at him, effectively silencing Ron.
"So now all I've got to wait for now is for Snape to steal the Stone," Harry continued, "then Voldemort will be able to come and finish me off… I suppose Bane'll be happy."
Everyone was pale, Kari had forgotten what she was supposed to ask Ombre in her concern for Harry. Hermione had a word of comfort.
"Harry, everyone says Dumbledore is the only wizard You Know Who was ever afraid of. With him around You Know Who won't touch you. Anyway who says the centaurs are always right? It sound's like a branch of fortune telling to me, and Professor McGonagall says that's a very imprecise branch of magic."
The sky had turned light before the seven had stopped talking. They went to bed exhausted, their throats sore. But the night's surprises weren't over.
When Harry pulled back his sheets, he found his invisibility cloak folded neatly under them. There was a note pinned to it:
Just in case.
Filch took them down to Professor McGonagall's study on the first floor, where they sat and waited without saying a word to each other. Kari was grim, she couldn't think of a single good excuse for them being out of the dorms without landing Hagrid in trouble, while excuses, alibis and wild cover up stories chased each other round Harry's head, none of which would work. He couldn't see how they were going to get out of trouble this time. They were cornered. How could they have been so stupid as to forget the cloak, or forget to use the Orb. There was no reason on earth Professor McGonagall would accept for their being out of bed and walking around the school at the dead of night, yet alone being up the tallest astronomy tower, which was out of bounds, except for classes. Add Norbert and the Invisibility Cloak and they might as well have been packing their bags already.
Had Harry thought that things couldn't get any worse? He was wrong, when Professor McGonagall appeared, she was leading Neville.
"Harry!" Neville burst out, the moment he saw them, "I was trying to find you to warn you, I heard Malfoy and Bakura saying they were going to catch you and that you had a drag…" Harry shook his head violently to shut Neville up, but Professor McGonagall saw. She looked more likely to breath fire then Norbert as she towered over them.
"I would never have believed it of any of you. Mr Filch says you were up the astronomy tower. It's one o'clock in the morning. Explain yourselves."
It was the first time Kari refused to answer a teacher's question, she was staring at a stain on the floor and wondering if she could escape to her Soul Room.
"I think I've got a good idea what's going on," Said Professor McGonagall, "it doesn't take a genius to figure it out. You fed Draco Malfoy and Bakura some cock-and-bull story about a dragon, trying to get them out of bed and into trouble. I've already caught them. I suppose you think it's funny that Longbottom here heard the story and believed it too."
Kari's head shot up, that wasn't it at all, but she couldn't tell Neville that in front of McGonagall.
"I'm disgusted," Continued the Professor, "Five students out of bed in one night! I've never heard of such a thing before! You, Miss Ironhide, I'd have thought you'd have more sense then to try to 'get one over' on the former host of the Millennium Ring. As for you Mr Potter, I thought Gryffindor meant more to you then this. All three of you will receive detention… yes, you too, Mr Longbottom, nothing give you the right to walk around school at night, and fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor."
"Fifty?" Harry gasped, they would lose the lead they'd gained in the last Quidditch match.
"Fifty points each." Continued the Professor, breathing heavily through her long, pointed nose.
"Professor, please!"
"You can't!"
"Don't tell me what I can and can't do Ironhide. Now get back to bed, all of you. I've never been more ashamed of Gryffindor students."
A hundred and fifty points lost in one night. That put Gryffindor in last place. In one fell swoop they'd messed up any chance Gryffindor had of getting the House Cup. Harry felt as though the bottom had dropped out of his stomache. How could they ever make up for this?
Harry didn't sleep all night. He could hear Neville sobbing into his pillow for what seemed like hours. Harry didn't know what to say to comfort him, and he knew Ombre had been woken by Kari's emotions and was sat in the Common Room with her hikari, having met them at the entrance. What would happen when the rest of Gryffindor found out what they'd done?
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At first, Gryffindors passing the giant hour-glasses that recorded the house points next day thought there'd been a mistake How could they suddenly have a hundred and fifty less points then yesterday? And then the story got out; Harry Potter, the famous Harry Potter, their hero of two Quidditch matches, had lost them all those house points, him and a couple of other stupid first years.
From being one of the most popular and admired people in the school, Harry was suddenly the most hated. Even Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs turned on him, because everyone had been longing to see Slytherin lose the House Cup. Everywhere Harry went, people pointed and didn't trouble to lower their voices as they insulted him. Slytherins on the other hand, clapped as he walked past them, whistling and cheering. "Thanks Potter, we owe you one!"
Only the gang stood by him. "Don't worry, Ron said, trying to cheer him up the following Saturday, as they sat around the lake, "They'll forget about it in a few weeks. Fred and George have lost loads of points in all the time they've been here, and people still like them."
"They've never lost a hundred and fifty points in one go, though, have they?" Said Kari miserably.
"Well…no." Ron admitted.
It was a bit late to repair the damage, but Harry swore to himself not to meddle in things that weren't his business from now on. He'd had it with sneaking around and spying. He felt so ashamed of himself that he offered to resign from the Quidditch team, something that caused Oliver Wood, the team captain, to storm at him for about twenty minutes. But even Quidditch had lost it's fun, with the team only ever referring to him as 'The Seeker.'
Kari and Neville were suffering too, they didn't have it quite as bad, because they weren't as well known, but no one body outside the gang would speak to them either. Kari had stopped competing with Hermione in class, letting Hermione answer all the questions, and keeping her head down and working in silence.
Harry was almost glad the exams weren't too far away. All the revision he had to do kept his mind off of his misery. He and the gang kept themselves to themselves, working late into the night, trying to remember the ingredients in complicated potions, learn charms and spells off by heart, memorise dates of magical discoveries and goblin rebellions…
Then, about a week before the exams were due to start, Harry's new resolution not to interfere in anything that didn't concern him was put to an unexpected test. Walking back from the library on his own one afternoon, he heard someone wimpering 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, Harry moved closer.
"All right, all right." He heard Quirrell sob.
Next second, Quirrell came hurrying out of the classroom, straightening his turban. He was aple and looked as though he was about to cry. He strode out of sight; Harry didn't think Quirrell had even noticed him. He waited until Quirrell's footsteps had disappeared, and then looked into the classroom. It was empty but a door stood partly open at the other end. Harry was half way towards it it before he remembered what he'd promised himself about not meddling.
All at the same time, he'd have gambled twelve Philosopher's Stones that Snape had just left the room, and from Harry just heard, would be walking with a new spring in his step, Quirrell had given in at last.
He raced back to the library where Kari was testing Yugi on potions, while Hermione tested Ron on Astronomy. Harry told the group what he'd heard.
"Snape's done it then…" Yami said, "If Quirrell's told him how to break his Anti-Dark-Force spell…"
"There's still Fluffy, though." Said Yugi.
"Maybe Snape's found out how to get past him without asking Hagrid." Said Joey, looking up at the mountain of books surrounding them. "I bet there's a book here somewhere, telling you how to tame or get past a three headed dog. So what's the plan?"
The light of adventure was back in his eyes, something Yugi and Yami recognised all too well, but Hermione answered before Harry or Yami could.
"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!" Ombre growled, "Quirrell's too scared to say anything, 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 dislike coughhatecough him. Dumbledore will think we made it up to get him sacked. And don't forget that student's aren't supposed to know about the Stone or Fluffy. That'll take a lot of explaining."
"If we just do a bit of poking around…" Joey started.
"No," Said Harry, "We've done enough poking around." He pulled some of his books out and started to study.
The following morning, notes were delivered to Harry, Neville and Kari at the breakfast table, they were all the same.
Your detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight. Meet Mr Filch in the Entrance Hall.
Professor M. McGonagall.
Harry had forgotten they still had detentions to do in the chaos over the points they'd lost. He half expected Kari to complain that it was a night of revision lost, but she was glaring at the piece of paper, as if just looking at it would set it alight.
At eleven o'clock that night they said goodbye to the group and went down to the Entrance Hall with Neville. Filch was already there, as was Malfoy and…Bakura. Kari groaned, she'd forgotten the two Slytherins had detention too. If she'd have remembered though she would have left the Orb with Ombre, she didn't trust Bakura as far as she could throw him.
"Follow me," said Filch, lighting a lamp and leading them outside, "I'll bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh? Oh yes, pain and hard work are the best teachers if you ask me… it's just a pity they let the old punishments die out… hang you by the wrists from the ceilings for a few days, I've got the chains still in my office, just in case their ever needed… Right off we go, and don't think of running off, now, it'll be worse for you if you do."
They walked across the dark grounds, Kari was preoccupied by the fact Bakura was preoccupied with her Millennium Orb, so Harry was left to wonder what their punishment was by himself, it had to be bad or Filch wouldn't sound so happy.
The moon was bright, but the clouds scudding across it kept throwing them into darkness. Ahead, Harry could see the lighted windows of Hagrid's hut. Then they heard a distant shout.
"Is that you Filch? Hurry up, I wanna get started!"
Harry's heart rose; if they were going to be working with Hagrid it wouldn't be so bad. His relief must have showed on his face because Filch said, "I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf? Well, think again, boy… it's into the Forest your going and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece."
At this, Neville let out a moan and Malfoy stopped dead in his tracks. "The Forest?" Malfoy repeated, and he didn't sound as calm as usual, Bakura actually looked excited, "We can't go in there at night. There's all sorts of things in there… werewolves I heard."
Neville clutched at the sleeve of Harry's robe and made a choking noise, Kari went pale.
"That's your lookout, isn't it?" said Filch, his voice cracking in glee, "Should've thought of them werewolves before you got into trouble, shouldn't you?" Hagrid came striding out of the darkness, Fang st his heel. He was carrying a large crossbow, and a quiver full of arrows hung over his shoulder.
"Abou' time." He said, "I bin waiting for half an hour already. All right Harry, Kari?"
"I shouldn't be too friendly with them, Hagrid, they're here to be punished, after all."
"So that's why yer late is it?" said Hagrid, frowning at Filch, "Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot your place to 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." Filch hobbled away, and Malfoy got into a loud argument with Hagrid, which ended with Hagrid telling Malfoy to go back to the castle, which he didn't do. Hagrid explained that they were looking for a wounded unicorn, and that they might have to put it out of it's misery.
"Right then, were going to split into two parties, an' follow the trail in two different directions."
"I want Fang!" Malfoy said, almost immediately.
"Alright, but just so I warn yer, he's a bloody coward." Said Hagrid, "So me, Harry an' Kari'll go one way an' Fang, Draco, Bakura an' Neville'll go the other. We'll send up green sparks if we get into trouble and if any of you get into trouble you send up red sparks." They practised and once Hagrid was happy they could do that they split up. Kari had to admit that though they were hunting something dangerous, she was happier now they'd split up away from Bakura.
The forest was dark and silent. A little way into it they reached a fork in the path and Harry, Kari and Hagrid went one way while the others took the other path. They walked in silence, their eyes on the ground. Every so often a ray of moonlight lit a spot of silvery unicorn blood. Harry saw that Hagrid was very worried.
"Could a werewolf be killing the unicorns?" Harry asked.
"Not fast enough, it's not easy to catch a unicorn, they're powerful magical creatures. I never knew one to be hurt before."
They continued walking, they could hear running water so there had to be a stream near by. There were still spots of blood along the earthen path.
"You alright Kari?" Hagrid whispered, "Don' worry, it can't have gone far if it's this badly hurt an' then we'll be able ter – GET BEHIND THAT TREE!"
Hagrid seized their robes and dragged them behind a tree, he pulled out an arrow and fitted it to the crossbow, ready to fire and the three of them listened. Something was slithering over dead leaves nearby; it sounded like a cloak trailing along the ground. Hagrid was squinting up the dark path and Kari sensed a terrible dark magic, greater then anything she'd ever felt before, the feeling hitting her like a ton of bricks. But the sense faded with the sound, and after a few seconds both were gone.
"I knew it," Hagrid murmured, "There's something in this forest that shouldn't be."
"A werewolf?"
"That's no werewolf, Harry." Kari said, her face ash white. "That was something else."
They walked more slowly now, listening for the faintest sound, in the clearing ahead something defiantly moved.
"Who's there? Show yerself – I'm armed!" Hagrid called. It was a centaur and his name was Ronan. It drove Hagrid up the wall, as he was unable to get a sensible or straight answer out of it.
"Never…" Hagrid growled after Ronan had left, "try to get a straight answer out of a centaur. Ruddy stargazers, not interested in anything closer then the moon."
"Do you think it was a centaur we heard earlier?" Harry asked, Kari shook her head hard but it was Hagrid that answered.
"Did it sound like hoofs to you? Nah, if yer ask me, that was what's bin killing the unicorns… never heard anything like it before." Kari stared at him, then no one knew how much magic the creature had. They carried on walking through the dense, dark trees. Harry had the feeling someone was watching them, he was very glad Hagrid and his crossbow were here. They had just passed a bend in the path when Kari growled. "Hagrid, look, red sparks, the others are in trouble."
"You two wait here!" Hagrid shouted, "Stay on the path, I'll come back for you." They heard him crash through the bushes and Kari and Harry looked at each other, pale and frightened.
"You don't think they've been hurt do you?" Kari asked, remembering what she'd sensed.
"I don't care if Malfoy or Bakura have but if any things got Neville, it's our fault he was here in the first place."
The minutes dragged by and Harry and Kari waited until a great crashing announced Hagrid's return. It seemed Bakura and Malfoy had thought it would be funny to scare the living daylights out of Neville and Neville had sent up red sparks.
"All right, we're splitting into 3 groups and changing partners, Sorry Harry, you're with Malfoy, Kari, you're with that bloody idiot, Bakura, if we catch anything now we'll be lucky, Neville you stay with me." Kari nodded grimly, and they split up again.
Kari and Bakura had only just left the other two groups eyesight when Bakura turned on her. "Well then, since we're alone…" The forest disappeared and shadows rose around them. Kari lost sight of the forest almost completely, the world now around them dark and cold.
"Where are we?" Kari growled, aware of the Millennium Ring's glow from its place beneath Bakura's robes, the light showing through.
"I forgot, you're the only barer of a Millennium Item who has never played a shadow game. Welcome Kari, to the Shadow Realm. I bet you have your deck on you, a true duellist is never without it."
Bakura had guessed right, but Kari was feeling odd, sort of drained, like something was pulling on her. A scream cut through the air, it was from outside the shadows and Bakura growled, and the shadows faded, "What is it with all the interruptions?" He growled, "First Kaiba and now this…" Kari didn't have a chance to explain as she sensed the magic she had earlier, she knew Bakura did too, that was probably why he'd dropped his 'Shadow Realm'? She'd have to ask Ombre about it, once… she ran towards the scream. And arrived at the point where Harry was just as Hagrid and Neville did, Malfoy returning from a different direction and Bakura was not that far behind her.
The group had mostly fallen asleep in the Common Room waiting for them, and Ombre and Ron were roughly shaken awake, who in turn woke the others a little more gently. Ron and Joey were sleepy but Harry couldn't sit still as he explained what had happened, while pacing in front of the fire.
"Snape wants the Stone for Voldemort… and Voldemort's waiting in the Forest… and all this time we thought Snape wanted it for himself, to get rich…"
"Stop saying the name!" Said Ron in a terrified whisper, as if he thought Voldemort could hear them. Harry wasn't listening.
"Firenze, he's a centaur, saved me, 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 Voldemort's coming back… Bane thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me… I suppose that's written in the stars as well."
"Will you stop saying the name!" Ron hissed.
"Voldemort!" Joey yelled at him, effectively silencing Ron.
"So now all I've got to wait for now is for Snape to steal the Stone," Harry continued, "then Voldemort will be able to come and finish me off… I suppose Bane'll be happy."
Everyone was pale, Kari had forgotten what she was supposed to ask Ombre in her concern for Harry. Hermione had a word of comfort.
"Harry, everyone says Dumbledore is the only wizard You Know Who was ever afraid of. With him around You Know Who won't touch you. Anyway who says the centaurs are always right? It sound's like a branch of fortune telling to me, and Professor McGonagall says that's a very imprecise branch of magic."
The sky had turned light before the seven had stopped talking. They went to bed exhausted, their throats sore. But the night's surprises weren't over.
When Harry pulled back his sheets, he found his invisibility cloak folded neatly under them. There was a note pinned to it:
Just in case.