Fixing the Future

2.5

'Nice job!' Marlene grinned.

The next night, the five of them were lead by Filch out of the castle.
'A pity they let the old punishments die. There was a time detention would find you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons. God, I miss the screaming.'

They all looked horrified, especially Alice, Lily, Cissa and Andy.
'They need to fire him.'

The quartet and Draco looked disturbed, Alyssa leaning towards Ron.
'How old is he?! 300 years old?!'
Ron managed a chuckle, bumping his shoulder into Alyssa's as they came upon Hagrid's hut.

'You'll be serving detention with Hagrid tonight. He's got a little job to do inside the dark forest. A sorry lot this, Hagrid.'
Hagrid sniffles, much to Filches irritation.
'Oh, good god, man, you're not still on about that bloody dragon, are you?'
Alyssa glared at Filch in annoyance.

'Oh, yeah? How would you feel if you had to send Mrs. Norris off?'
She asked him and he glared back to her whilst Hagrid shot her a grateful look before explaining.
'Norbert's gone. Dumbledore sent him off to Romania, to live in a colony.'
'Well, that's good, isn't it? He'll be with his own kind.'
'Yeah, but what if he don't like Romania? What if the other dragons are mean to him? He's only a baby, after all.'

Many couldn't help but snigger, even Alyssa couldn't help but smile at his comment.

'Oh, for god's sake, pull yourself together, man. You're going into the forest, after all. Got to have your wits about you.'

'THE FOREST!?' Alice yelled in indignation, 'that's dangerous.'
'It's called forbidden for a reason.' Lily added and Regulus frowned,
'Can't help but pick up on the irony that the forbidden forest is banned to all students for safety reason yet they're sending you there at night for detention.'

'Anyone else find it ironic that we're forbidden to enter but are now being forced to go in for sentions at night?' Alyssa commented to to others.

'Okay but that's just freaky.' Sirius said in disbelief as they all looked between Reg and Alyssa who had just said almost the exact same thing. The two looked rather surprised themselves.

'The forest? I thought that was a joke. We can't go in there. Students aren't allowed. And there are - - werewolves!'

Remus fiddled with his sleeves nervously. Sirius interlaced their fingers in reassurance.

'There's more than werewolves in those trees, lad. You can be sure of that.'
'Whatever it is can't be worse than you.' Alyssa snarked causing a snigger from Harry who happened to be the only one who heard.

'Legend!' James grinned.
'Yeah, I'll admit I was wrong in that respect.' Alyssa confessed making the others worried.

'Nighty-night.'
'Right. Let's go.'

Hagrid lead the five through the dark forest, stopping when he saw a silver puddle.
'Hagrid, what is that?'
'What we're here for. See that? That's unicorn blood, that is. I found one dead a few weeks ago.'

Most of them gasped because of how rare Unicorns were whilst Luna and Reg looked devastated at the thought of a dead one and Alyssa bowed her head in remembrance of it'll vulnerable state.

'Now, this one's been hurt bad by something.'
Harry turned his head and saw a cloaked figure gliding through the shadows of the forest.
'So, it's our job to go and find the poor beast. Ron, Hermione, you'll come with me.'
'Ok.'
'And, Harry, you'll go with Malfoy and Alyssa.'
Alyssa groaned, not even trying to hide her distaste as Draco said,
'Ok, then I get Fang.'
'Fine. Just so's you know, he's a bloody coward.'
Draco's face dropped, Alyssa bent down to stroke Fang with a smile.