This morning Harry and Hermione told us that they indeed got caught and received detention. And to make things worse, Neville was in trouble as well. What they didn't tell me was that with their detentions, they had also lost a hundred and fifty points. At first, I was furious, but, I began to pity them when I noticed the hateful looks they were receiving from the entire House.

Ron and I were the only ones that stood by them. Poor Harry was getting most of the hatred being the most popular.

"They'll all forget this 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." Ron pats Harry's back with a smile.

"They've never lost a hundred and fifty points in one go, though, have they?" Harry asked him.

"Well — no," Ron admitted.

Harry seemed to be hurting himself over the entire situation as well. I had even heard him ask Wood, the captain of our Quidditch team if he could quit.

Hermione and Neville were simply being ignored, which wasn't better, but at least they weren't being bullied. Hermione seemed to be affected though, since she began keeping her head down and working in silence.

We had all been thankful exams were approaching, since it allowed us an excuse to study and get our minds off the entire thing. We would all silently study together at night, trying to remember all the spells and dates we learned from our classes.

But tonight, we were in the library. Hermione was quizzing Ron on Astronomy, while I was reading my notes.

Harry had gone to get a book for Herbology, but once he returned, he told us all about the conversation he just overheard between Snape and Quirrell. From what Harry heard, it seems like Quirrell finally told Snape how to get the stone.

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

"There's still Fluffy, though," I try to reason.

"Maybe Snape's found out how to get past him without asking Hagrid," Ron said, before jumping up and reading the spines of the books around us. "I bet there's a book somewhere in here telling you how to get past a giant three-headed dog. So what do we do, Harry?"

Ron, who had not been involved in our last adventure due to his injury, was eager to cause a bit of mischief.

Hermione and I were not having it, "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 !" Harry added. "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."

"If we just do a bit of poking around —" Ron continued, adventure sparkling in his eyes.

"No," said Harry flatly, "we've done enough poking around." Harry ended the conversation by opening his Herbology book and going to the bookmarked page.

The next morning, the expected letters were delivered to Harry, Hermione, and Neville at breakfast listing the following,

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

What I was shocked by was the letter that came for me from McGonagall saying the same thing with an added note at the bottom.

Did you think I wouldn't know that you took part in this?

I roll my eyes, of course, McGonagall would still find a way to discipline me. I didn't complain, though, because I knew I deserved it.

So at eleven o'clock that night, we parted ways with Ron in the common room and marched down to the entrance hall with a sobbing Neville. Filch was already there of course — and so was Draco, who from what I was told, was the one who tried to snitch on us.

"Follow me," Filch sneered, grabbing his oil lamp and walking outside.

"I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh?" he leered at us before turning to spit something on the ground. "Oh yes . . . hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me."

"We won't sir," I politely respond, causing Filch to glare at me before walking back.

"It's just a pity they let the old punishments die out. When I was in charge—"

"You were never in charge, Mr. Filch," I boredly tell him, not in the mood to hear one of his made up stories.

"...they used to 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."

I roll my eyes before saying in an exhausted voice, "That isn't true."

Harry, Hermione, Neville and even Draco laugh at my annoyance of Filch's insistent blabbering.

"Right, here we are, and don't think of running off, now, it'll be worse for you if you do."

To my surprise, we reached Hagrid's hut. Hagrid was just clocking his door when he saw us, "Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started."

Filch must have noticed our relieved expressions, "I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf? Well, think again — it's into the forest you're going, and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece."

At this, Neville let out a little moan, ready to cry again, and Draco stopped dead in his tracks. "The forest? We can't go in there at night — there's all sorts of things in there — werewolves, I heard."

"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?"

My mouth was gaped open, there was no way that I was going into the forest in the dead of night.

"Abou' time," Hagrid muttered tying up Fang on his leash. "I bin waitin' fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Hermione, Ella?"

"Shouldn't be too friendly to them, Hagrid," said Filch coldly, "they're here to be punished, after all."

"That's why yer late, is it?" said Hagrid, frowning at Filch. "Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot, your place ter, do that. Yeh've done yer bit, I'll take over from here."

"I'll be back at dawn," Filch began to turn to return to the warm and cozy castle that was safe from the horrors of the night and the beasts lurking outside. Filch smiled a sick grin, "for what's left of them."

I made sure to shout, so both Filch and Hagrid heard me, "Dawn!?! I need to sleep!"

Draco nodded beside me, "I'm not going in that forest."

I point to the annoying boy in agreement, "I never thought I'd say this but Draco's right."

"Yeh both are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts," Hagrid fiercely told Draco. "Yeh've done wrong an' now yeh've got ter pay fer it."

"But this is servant stuff, it's not for students to do. I thought we'd be copying lines or something, if my father knew I was doing this, he'd —"

"— tell yer that's how it is at Hogwarts," Hagrid growled, he obviously missed Norbert. "Copyin' lines! What good's that ter anyone? Yeh'll do summat use-ful or yeh'll get out. If yeh think yer father'd rather you were ex-pelled, then get back off ter the castle an' pack. Go on!"

Draco didn't move, he looked to the castle then back at Hagrid before fixating his gaze to the ground. But I quickly spun on my heels and began walking up the trail, but I was yanked back by Harry and Hermione.

"Right then," Hagrid nodded before pulling Fang towards the edge of the forest, "now, listen carefully, 'cause it's dangerous what we're gonna do tonight, an' I don' want no one takin' risks. Follow me over here a moment."

We all looked at each other hesitantly before following him, Hagrid stopped around the outskirts of the forest before pointing to some silvery substance on the ground.

"Look there," Hagrid handed me the lamp to hold so he could point better, "see that stuff shinin' on the ground? Silvery stuff? That's unicorn blood. There's a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday. We're gonna try an' find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery."

"And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first?" Draco asked us his voice breaking at the end.

"There's nothin' that lives in the forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang," Hagrid smiled proudly. "An' keep ter the path. Right, now, we're gonna split inter two parties an' follow the trail in diff 'rent directions. There's blood all over the place, it must've bin staggerin' around since last night at least."

"What happened to sticking with you?" I look at Hagrid in horror. 

"I want Fang," said Draco quickly, looking at Fang's long teeth. I laughed, he may look big and scary, but Fang is a little baby.

"All right, but I warn yeh, he's a coward," Hagrid grunted. "So me, Harry, an' Hermione'll go one way an' Ella, Draco, Neville, an' Fang'll go the other.", I frown at the group arrangements.

"Why am I stuck with the three scariest boys of the group?" I whine. Hagrid looks at me, not taking my attitude well, but my resting time is not to be messed with.

"Now, if any of us finds the unicorn, we'll send up green sparks, right? Get yer wands out an' practice now", we all quickly did the simple spell before Hagrid continued, "— that's it — an' if anyone gets in trouble, send up red sparks, an' we'll all come an' find yeh — so, be careful — let's go."

Draco, Neville, Fang, and I took the right path of the forest. We were silent as we looked around for any sign of a unicorn. None of us wanted to be here, and we were all scared out of our wits.

I didn't see anything, and after a while, I began to believe that the unicorn was taken by someone. Neville may have had the same idea because he couldn't stop whimpering.

Draco too was scared, since he kept looking over his shoulder and pulling Fang closer. 

I kept walking on the path ahead of the two, enjoying my comfortable pace. I hadn't realized that I had left Draco and Neville until I had turned back to see both of them were gone.

I immediately looked around, trying to find them, but I couldn't. I even tried whispering their name as loud as I could without gaining too much attention, but still nothing. I didn't want to send sparks to worry Hagrid, so I decided to just find them on my own.

As I attempted to retrace my steps, I couldn't help but feel like I was being watched. I began to quicken my pace and placed my hand on my wand to be sure.

When I heard leaves crunching behind me, I tightened my scarlet robe before full out sprinting. I wasn't sure how far or long I ran, but I eventually bumped into someone. Or something.

I looked up to see the body of a horse attached to the upper half of a man, a centaur. I backed away, scared of what the centaur might do, but to my surprise, all he did was kneel down before me. "Forgive me for asking, Miss Ambrosio, but what are you doing in the woods so late at night?"

I opened my mouth then closed it speechless. How did he know who I was?

"I could sense your power," he responded. Did I say that aloud?

I cleared my throat nervously before folding my hands together, "I believe that I am lost. I was with a couple of my friends, but I think I accidentally lost them."

He nodded before looking up. It was only then that I could notice his white blonde hair, much like Draco's. "I can bring you back to them if you'd like."

I smile, "I would like that, and you can just call me Ella."

He shook his head, not happy with the thought before crouching down to allow me to crawl on his back, "It is very dangerous. You should not be here."

I shake my head in agreement as he begins to walk, "We are trying to investigate the unicorn killing," I bite my lip, not wanting to discuss the topic, "What is your name?"

"Firenze."

I nod my head before we are once again enveloped in silence. I was about to ask another question when I felt Firenze suddenly crouched down. I was confused about what could have caused him to do so, but when he began galloping eastward, I decided not to question anything and just clutched him tight, not wanting to fall off.

I felt Firenze, rise on his hind legs in a threatening way, and looked down to see a black figure running away. My eyes widened in fear, terrified of what Firenze just scared away.

I looked down to calm my heart, which did not work because instead of seeing bushes, I saw Harry crouched down, clutching his forehead in pain. "Harry?"

Harry looked up, opening his eyes, "Ella?"

"Are you all right?" Firenze asked Harry, helping him up.

"Yes — thank you — what are you doing, Ella?" Harry dusted off his robes, looking up at me.

I wave my hand in the air, brushing off Harry's question before looking back where I just saw the black figure, "What was that?"

"You are the Potter boy," Firenze asked, noticing Harry's scar. I frowned, realizing that we were all asking different questions but getting no answers. "You had better get back to Hagrid. The forest is not safe at this time — especially for you. Can you ride? It will be quicker this way.

"My name is Firenze," Firenze added, as he lowered himself on to his front legs so that Harry could clamber onto his back behind me.

Harry clambered on his back and wrapped his arms around me to make sure he didn't fall off. We were about to leave when two centaurs stopped us.

"Firenze!" A dark-haired centaur thundered. "What are you doing? You have humans on your back! Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?"

"Do you realize who this is, Bane?" said Firenze. "This is Miss Ambrosio and her friend, the Potter boy. The quicker they leave this forest, the better."

Bane faltered before bowing his head and bending down on his knee along with his friend, "Forgive me, Miss Ambrosio" Why are they doing that?

He turned back to Firenze "Tell me you haven't told the Potter boy anything or Miss Ambrosio. Remember, Firenze, we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. Have we not read what is to come in the movements of the planets?"

I furrow my eyebrows, curious of what they had seen in the stars. Centaurs were known to be very good with astrology and could sometimes predict the future. I am apparently part of whatever it is.

Bane's friend looked at his hooves before gloomily saying, "I'm sure Firenze thought he was acting for the best."

"For the best! What is that to do with us? Centaurs are concerned with what has been foretold! It is not our business to run around like donkeys after stray humans in our forest! Forgive me, Miss Ambrosio." Bane bowed his head after he realized what he had said, "But this mortal boy, is a risk to us all."

"Do you not see that unicorn?" Firenze yelled at Bane. "Do you not understand why it was killed? Or have the planets not let you in on that secret? I set myself against what is lurking in this forest, Bane, yes, with humans alongside me if I must because that is a greater risk!"

And with that Firenze turned around and ran in the woods. Harry looked very confused.

"Why's Bane so angry? What did you foretell?" I asked. "What was that thing you saved me from, anyway?"

Firenze slowed to a walk, and we made our way in silence through the trees. He slowed to a stop in a dense clearing.

"Do you know what unicorn blood is used for?"

"No," Harry responded, confused by the question. "We've only used the horn and tail hair in Potions."

"That is because it is a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn," Firenze looked down. "Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain would commit such a crime. The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenseless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips."

"But who'd be that desperate?" I wondered aloud. "If you're going to be cursed forever, death's better, isn't it?"

"It is," Firenze agreed, "unless all you need is to stay alive long enough to drink something else — something that will bring you back to full strength and power — something that will mean you can never die. Do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment?"

My eyes twinkled in understanding, "The Sorcerer's Stone! Of course — the Elixir of Life! But I don't understand who —"

"Can you think of nobody who has waited many years to return to power, who has clung to life, awaiting their chance?"

It felt like someone had reached in my chest and clenched my heart. I couldn't concentrate overall the noises in the woods, which seemed to be heightened. Voldemort. Snape has been trying to get the stone for Voldemort. It all made sense, he was a Death-Eater and a close one to Voldemort at that. Of course, his allegiances never changed, it was all a ploy.

"Do you mean," Harry croaked out, "that was Vol —"

"Ella! Harry, are you all right?" I heard Hermione's voice, but I couldn't move. I felt frozen in place.

"We're fine," I heard Harry behind me. "The unicorns dead, Hagrid, it's in that clearing back there."

"This is where I leave you," Firenze said bowing down so Harry could get off then help me off. "You are safe now."

"Good luck, Harry Potter," said Firenze. "The planets have been read wrongly before now, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times," He turned to me and bowed his head, "It has been an honor."

I nod before walking closer to him, making sure the others couldn't hear, "Firenze, what have the planets said about me?"

Firenze seems to falter before he frowns, "You know I am not at liberty to discuss that, Miss Ambrosio. Even if I wanted to...," Firenze seems to notice my desperation, or I his, kneeling down he whispers, "But I will give you a small piece of information, and that hint has always been a part of you."

I look at Firenze confused waiting for him to finish the hint but before he does, he quickly trots away. It has always been a part of me? What kind of hint is that?

Ron had fallen asleep in the dark common room, waiting for them to return. I took it upon myself to shake him to wake up so we could tell him about what happened in the woods. After Harry explained everything, they still looked a bit confused "Snape wants the Stone for Voldemort, I was wrong to trust him...and Voldemort's waiting in the forest."

"Stop saying the name!" said Ron in a terrified whisper, looking back and forth to make sure he wouldn't jump out at me for mentioning his name.

"Firenze and Ella saved me —", Ron quickly nodded his head," But he shouldn't have done so...Bane was furious...he was talking about interfering with what the planets say is going to happen...They must show that Voldemort's coming back...Bane thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me...I suppose that's written in the stars as well."

"Stop saying the name!" Ron hissed.

"So all I've got to wait for now is Snape to steal the Stone," Harry went on feverishly not caring about Ron, "then Voldemort will be able to come and finish me off...Well, I suppose Bane'll be happy."

Hermione looked very scared. "Harry, everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid of. With Dumbledore around, You-Know-Who won't touch you. Anyway, who says the centaurs are right? It sounds like fortune-telling to me, and Professor McGonagall says that's a very imprecise branch of magic."

I scoff, not allowing Hermione to trash the centaurs predictions, which usually are extremely precise, "The centaurs foretelling has nothing to do with fortune-telling magic, it is a gift they hold to be able to translate the planets."

Hermione didn't seem to be swayed by my words, and Harry seemed terrified, so I quickly added, "But they are wrong about you, Harry. You can change your course at any given time. Just today Firenze saved you, that means your future has already changed."