Bad Reputation

Chapter 13

Things couldn't have been 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. Hermionewas trembling. Excuses, alibis, and wild cover- up stories chased eachother around Riguel knew it was pointless. He couldn'tsee 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?There was no reason on earth that Professor McGonagall would accept for their being out of bed and creeping around the school in the dead of night, let 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 be packing their bags already.Had Rigel thought that things couldn't have been worse? He was wrong.When Professor McGonagall appeared, she was leading Neville."Neville what are you doing here" Rigel asked

"I was trying to find you to warn you, I heard Malfoy saying he was going tocatch you, he said you had a drag --"

Rigel shook his head signalling to stop but Professor McGonagall had seen. She looked more likely to breathe fire than Norbert 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 teachers 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," said ProfessorMcGonagall. "It doesn't take a genius to work it out. You fed DracoMalfoy 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?"  Rigel 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 Rigel couldn't help but feel guilty about this all he did was helping."I'm disgusted," said Professor McGonagall. "wait Professor it was my fault i got out of bed and Harry and Hermione just followed me they had absolutely no idea what was going on" Rigel said to her. Hermione and Harry went wide eyed at what Rigel had said he was taking the blame for everything. "is that true Mr Potter, miss Granger" Professor McGonagall asked. "it is" Rigel said.

"Be that as it may Four students out of bed in one night! I've never heard of such a thing before! You, Mr Lestrange I thought you had more sense. All four of you will receive detentions yes, you too, Mr. Longbottom, Mr Potter, Miss Granger 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.""Fifty?" Riguel gasped. Riguel jaw droped so fast you could hear it.

"Fifty points each," said Professor McGonagall, breathing heavily Through her long, pointed nose."Professor please"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."A hundred and fifty points lost. That put Gryffindor in last place. In one night, they'd ruined any chance Gryffindor had had for the housecup. Riguel barley slept at all that night he spent most of it tossing and turning He could hear Neville sobbing into his pillow for what seemed like hours.what concerned him most was What would happen when the rest of Gryffindor found out what they'd done?

At first, Gryffindors passing the giant hourglasses that recorded the house points the next day thought there'd been a mistake. How could they suddenly have a hundred and fifty points fewer than yesterday? And then the story started to spread: Rigel Lestrange Son of Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange, two of the Dark lords most loyal followers had cost them all their points

every one hated him even Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs turned on him, because everyone had been longing to see Slytherin lose the house cup. Everywhere Rigel 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 Lestrange, we owe you one!.