Harry Potter and Claire Smith's Adventures: Book One

The Reason Why the Forest is Forbidden

Chapter 11: The Reason Why the Forest is Forbidden

Filch led them to Professor McGonagall's study on the first floor, where they waited without saying a word to each other. Hermione was trembling, Harry was trying to come up with a believable cover-up story, and Claire seemed to be the only who thought there was no use in worrying or trying to get out of trouble. What's done is done. Things can't get any worse. Claire thought. When Professor McGonagall appeared, she was leading Neville. Scratch that. Claire thought.

"Harry!" Neville burst out, the moment he saw the other three. "I was trying to find you to warn you, I heard Malfoy saying he was going to catch you, he said you had a drag-"

Harry shook his head violently to shut Neville up, but Professor McGonagall had seen. She looked more likely to breathe fire than Norbert as she towered over the four of them.

"I would never have believed it of any of you. Mr. Filch says you were up in the astronomy tower. It's one o'clock in the morning. Explain yourselves."

It was the first time Hermione had ever failed to answer a teacher's question. She was staring at her slippers, as still as a statue.

"I think I've got a good idea of what's been going on." Professor McGonagall began.

Oh, I really don't think you do. Claire thought.

"It doesn't take a genius to work it out. You fed Draco Malfoy some cock-and-bull story about a dragon, trying to get him out of bed and into trouble. I've already caught him. I suppose you think it's funny that Longbottom here heard the story and believed it, too?"

Harry caught Neville's eye and tried to tell him without words that this wasn't true, because Neville was looking stunned and hurt. Poor, blundering Neville- Harry knew what it must have cost him to try and find them in the dark, to warn them.

"I'm disgusted." Professor McGonagall said. "Five students out of bed in one night! I've never heard of such a thing before! Miss Smith, Miss Granger, I thought you two had more sense. As for you, Mr. Potter, I thought Gryffindor meant more to you than this. All four of you will receive detentions- yes, you too, Mr. Longbottom, nothing gives you the right to walk around school at night, especially these days, it's very dangerous- and fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor."

That's not too bad. At least it's not more. Claire thought

"Fifty?" Harry gasped- they would lose the lead, the lead he'd won in the last Quidditch match.

"Fifty points each." Professor McGonagall said.

"What? Professor McGonagall- please-" Claire said.

"You can't." Harry said.

"Don't tell me what I can and can't do, Potter. Now get back to bed, all of you. I've never been more ashamed of Gryffindor students." Professor McGonagall said.

Two hundred points lost. That put Gryffindor in last place. In one night, they'd ruined any chance Gryffindor had had for the house cup. Harry felt as though the bottom had dropped out of his stomach. How could they ever make up for this? The next day, Gryffindors passing the giant hourglass that recorded the house points thought there'd been a mistake. And then the story spread: Harry Potter, the famous Harry Potter, their hero of two Quidditch matches, had lost them all those points, him and three other stupid first years. Harry, who was one of the most popular and admired people at school, suddenly became one of the most hated. Even the 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 thanking him. Only Ron stood by him.