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!.

the only ones who stood by him were Hermione, Harry and Ron. "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."

"expect im the son of the dark lords most loyal they all probably think i did it on purpose" Rigel said. "i dont its my fault if Malfoy hadn't had taken my book none of this would be happening Ron said. "no Ron its my fault i choose to take the blame " Rigel said looking away. "hey cousin thanks for loosing all of Gryffindors points" Draco said walking by. "shove off Malfoy you lost Slytherin fifty points" Ron said.  "yes but thanks to my whittle cousin we are back in the lead" Draco said. Rigel had enough and ran away from the scene. he found a quiet spot and began to cry and lean against the wall .

Rigel wasn't the only one suffering Harry, Hermione and Neville were suffering, too. They didn't have as bad a time as him, because he was the main reason they lost the points, but nobody would speak to them, either. Hermione had stopped drawing attention to herself in class, keeping her head down and working in silence. people on the Gryffindor Qudditch team stopped talking to harry or they refereed to him as "the seeker".

Rigel was glad that soon the school year and exams would be over. All the studying he had to do kept his mind off his misery. He, Harry Ron, and Hermione kept to themselves, working late into the night, trying to remember the ingredients in complicated potions, learn charms and spells by heart,memorize the dates of magical discoveries and goblin rebellions...."

a week before exams Rigel decided to skip studying with Ron,Harry and Hermione. he was in his dormitory lying on his bed staring at the ceiling. he looked at his bedside table to the picture of his parents. he picked it up and hugged it tight to his chest. he felt a small tear leave his eye.

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The following morning, notes were delivered to Rigel, Hermione, Harry and Neville 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 McGonagall Rigel had hoped she had forgotten their detentions but no they were still on . He half expected Hermione to complain that this was a whole night of studying lost, but she didn't say a word. "this is all my fault" he thought.

At eleven o'clock that night, they said good-bye to Ron in the common room Rigel hugged ron "try not to get eaten by a werewolf" Ron said. Rigel for the first time in a while smiled "dont worry Ronny boy i wont" and after that they went down to the entrance hall with Neville. Filch was already there and so was Malfoy. Rigel smirked at the sight of Draco who also had detention with them."Follow me," said Filch, lighting a lamp and leading them outside.I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you,eh?" he said, leering at them. "Oh yes... hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me.... It's just a pity they let the old punishments die out... 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.... Right, off we go, and don't think of running off, now, it'll be worse for you if you do." Rigel shuddered at the image of what he was saying and began to wonder how in the world did this man get a job at the school.

They marched off across the dark grounds. Neville kept sniffing. Rigel wondered what their punishment was going to be. It must be something really horrible, or Filch wouldn't be sounding so delighted.The moon was bright, but clouds scudding across it kept throwing them into darkness. Ahead, Rigel could see the lighted windows of Hagrid'shut.

Then they heard a distant shout."Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started." Rigel sighed at relief for a moment he thought he would be in the Dark Forrest alone with filch. His relief must have showed in 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 you're going and I'mmuch mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece."At this, Neville let out a little moan, and Malfoy stopped dead in histracks. "The forest?" he repeated, and he didn't sound quite as cool as usual."We can't go in there at night there's all sorts of things in there werewolves, I heard." Draco said

Neville clutched the sleeve of Harry's robe and made a choking noise."That's your problem, isn't it?" said Filch, his voice cracking withglee. "Should've thought of them werewolves before you got in trouble,shouldn't you?"Hagrid came striding toward them out of the dark, Fang at his heel. Hewas carrying his large crossbow, and a quiver of arrows hung over hisshoulder."Abou' time," he said. "I bin waitin' fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Hermione, Rigel?""I 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 lecturing' 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," said Filch, "for what's left of them," he added nastily, and he turned and started back toward the castle, his lamp bobbing away in the darkness.Malfoy now turned to Hagrid."I'm not going in that forest, he said, and Rigel was slightly pleased to hear-the note of panic in his voice."Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts," said Hagrid fiercely."Yeh've done wrong an' now ye have 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.

"Draco its either this or get expelled and how would Uncle Lucius react to that not to happy i think so just suck it up " Rigel said. "thank ya Rigel" Hagrid said to him" Malfoy didn't move. He looked at Hagrid furiously then at Rigel with the same angry gaze, but then dropped his gaze."Right then," said Hagrid, "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."He led them to the very edge of the forest. Holding his lamp up high, hepointed down a narrow, winding earth track that disappeared into thethick black trees. A light breeze lifted their hair as they looked intothe forest."Look there," said Hagrid, "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 te r put it out of its misery.""And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first?" said Malfoy,unable to keep the fear out of his voice.

"There's nothin' that lives in the forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang," said Hagrid. "An' keep ter the path. Right, now, we're gonna split inter two parties an' follow the trail in different directions. There's blood all over the place, it must've bin staggerin'around since last night at least.""I want Fang," said Malfoy quickly, looking at Fang's long teeth."All right, but I warn yeh, he's a coward," said Hagrid. " So me, Harry,an' Hermione' ll go one way an' Draco, Rigel and Neville, an' Fang'll go the other.Now, if any of us finds the unicorn, we'll send up green sparks, right?Get yer wands out an' practice now that's it an' if anyone gets introuble, send up red sparks, an' we'll all come an' find yeh so, becareful let's go."

The forest was black and silent. A little way into it they reached a fork in the earth path, and Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid took the left path while Malfoy, Neville, Rigel and Fang took the right.They walked in silence, their eyes on the ground. Every now and then aray of moonlight through the branches above lit a spot of silver-blue blood on the fallen leaves.

"I swear if my father knew what we were doing he would" Rigel interrupted him "well he isn't Draco" Riguel said. "whats got you so angry cousin" Draco asked. "lets see my entire house hates me, im stuck in the dark Forrest and have to listen to you complain" Rigel said. "well thats what you get for being in Gryffindor now if you were in Slytherin the whole of Slytherin wouldn't be angry with you" Draco said. "well unfortunately i didn't have a choice Draco" Rigel lied. "whats been goign on with you and Weasley" Draco asked. "what are you talking about" Rigel asked. "your defensive of him always around him always hanging out with him" Draco said. " h-he does have a point" Neville said looking about the dark shadows of the Forrest. "if i didn't know any better id say you had a crush on him" Draco said smirking. Rigel went wide eeyd. "well i dont we are just friends" Rigel said looking away.

"OH MY MERLIN YOU DO" Draco said shocked."i dont" Rigel said. "how could you a Weasley a pathetic poor as dirt weasley" Draco asked. "THATS IT IVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU INSULTING RON AND IM SICK OF YOU I ONLY AGREED TO COME WITH YOU TWO SO YOU DIDN'T GET YOURSELVES KILLED" Rigel shouted before he start ed marching Further into the Forrest. he heard shouts of protests from Neville and Draco but ignored both of them.

Rigel didnt know which way to turn. it appeared he had gotten lost within the the Forrest. he began to feel scared and frightened like when a little boy was separated from its mother. he heard the sound of painful whimpering he followed the sound to a clearing where he saw a injured unicorn. "hey there buddy are you alright" Rigel asked kneeling next to it. " the creature looked at him and nodded to a small red hole in its ribs. "dont worry ill help you" he said taking out his wand. as he raised his wand the unicorn began to panic. "what is it " he said. he was about to turn around when suddenly something heavy hit him on the back of his head. Rigel fell to the ground and felt something warm leaking out the back of his head. he touched it and saw blood. he turned around and saw what looked like Draco and Harry. "H-help me" he whispered before everything went black.

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when Rigel began to wake up he saw he was i the hospital wing again. "i swear Mr Lestrange ive probably seen you more this year than most of the other students in your year" Madam Pomfrey said handing him his medicine. Rigel saw Ron sleeping in a chair next to him. "Mr weasley has been here all night Mr Lestrange he refused to go even when i kicked him out he would sneak back in" Madam Pomfrey said. "you've got a good friend in Mr Weasley Mr Lestrange" she said before leaving. Rigel smiled at Ron's sleeping body. "yeah i sure do" he said feeling happy and so lucky to have Ron as a friend