Blabbering of a Bibliophile - RUNNER-UP'S ENTRY!

Things couldn't have been worse. I had to serve detention because of that Potter and Granger girl. I did not even realize what happened. Anyway, I just hope my Father does not hear about this. Or else he will get me murdered for falling into trouble for some worthless Gryffindors.

The following morning, I got a note from McGonagall, the Head of Gryffindor house at the breakfast table.

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

Professor M, McGonagall

I threw the note aside and it landed on Crabbe's plate who was sitting right in front of me feasting on bacon. I looked away when my eyes met Professor Snape's. He has standing still, looking straight at me, trying to show me his displeasure. He did not give me a chance to explain my side. Strange fellow he was. But he would not show that he was displeased with his Slytherin students in front of everyone. Unlike McGonagall.

At eleven o'clock that night, I said goodbye to Crabbe and Goyle and gave Pansy a hug before I left the common room for detention. I met Snape outside. "All the best, Mr. Malfoy." Snape said and pushed me in front. I reached the entrace hall. Filch was there with Mrs. Norris. Potter, Longbottom and Granger reached there soon. "So come on fellas," Filch sniggered. "I bet after this you will think twice before breaking a school rule, eh?". I wondered what our punishment was. Seriously, I wasn't meant to be here. My parents would never approve of all this. It si ridiculous to punish a pureblood and make him serve detention with a strange scar headed guy, an useless idiot and a dirty bookworm. Longbottom looked like he would vomit any moment, sweating. Harry kept quiet and Granger looked like she was doing some great job.

We marched along the dirty grounds. The sky was chocolate coloured. A few stars could be seen. The moon was bright. We can never see anything from our common room, as they are in the dungeons. But I have heard stories about how people wonder what goes on down there. I like being seen as mysterious. It fascinates me. Being hated has another aura of its own. Half-bloods and mud-bloods show respect to the pure-bloods by hating them.

Father says so.

"Is that you Filch? Hurry up! I want ter get started." It was Hagrid. He met Filch and us in the grounds. I wondered whether we would be working with him. I could ask Potter whether he was dangerous. But Potter would make fun of me. So obviously I did not put my thoughts into action. I never understood why this oaf was allowed to stay here after getting expelled at the first place. Harry's face lit up as Hagrid arrived.

"Eh, if you are thinking you will have a great time with that oaf? Well, you are mistaken boy. It is in the Forest you are going and things won't be as easy as breaking rules! Ha!" Filch said. Forbidden Forest! My heart skipped a beat when I heard the name.

I had heard terrible, nasty things about that place. It looked awful from outside, and no doubt, it was as awful inside. It was the most dangerous place for first years. "Forest?" I mumbled, "we, we can't go there at midnight. There are all sorts of things in there"werewolves.." I was afraid I would lose my calm. "You should've thought of all that before getting into trouble, no?" Filch smirked with glee. I wondered what made him so happy if a student got detention. This was ridiculous. This chool would be closed overnight if anything happened to me. I could guarantee that. I am not meant for all this, I said to myself. After Filch left, I turned towards Hagrid. "I am not going into that Forest." I said, not being able to hide my fear. I just hated myself too much for exposing I was afraid in front of Potter and Granger. "You are if you want ter stay in Hogwarts." Hagrid said. This situation was something I would love to erase from my mind. I could not even say anything to this oaf. I so wish the Slytherins were here. "If you dont want ter stay, go back to the castle, and pack er bags." the oaf pointed at Hogwarts. I smirked and looked away. I had no choice but no carry on. I hate having no choice. We should always have the power to make our own choices.

I tried looking at the stars and the trees to divert my mind but was unsuccesful. Dark thoughts kept on lingering in my mind. All sorts of things lived here in the Forbidden Forest. Just then, we spotted something. I knew at once. It was unicorn blood. I had heard stories of werewolves as a child. Awful, they were until you were their friend. There were spots of blood on our way. Silver in colour, they twinkled as the starlight fell of them. Something had killed a unicorn. I did not know what other than a werewolf could. Hagrid said we had to find out who hurt the unicorn. he had found one dead before. Silly things. How did we care anyway why a unicorn died. We should care more about the dangerous situation we are in. "Let us er do one thing.." Hagrid said at the middle of the Forest. "Malfoy, Neville and Fang can go one way and I, Harry and Hermione can go another way." Hagrid said. Fang was this pet dog of Hagrid's. Neville was almost half dead by then. Harry and Hermione was steady. I did not make any more comments and went on the other side with Longbottom. He is such a fool. According to Hagrid, splitting would help us find the culprit soon. I felt petrified at the thought of meeting a werewolf in the dark. I would have to defend myself. I am sure Longbotton had never cast one spell correctly. A;; Gryffindors were foolish. They were known for their bravery, but no one saw the foolishness they had in themselves. Most brave people are foolish. Father said that. "Dr"raco.." Neville said, trembling and clutching to my arm like a child. "Malfoy." I corrected him, "What is it? Stay away from me." I snatched my arm away and Neville clutched Fang. I was so bored of looking at spots of unicorn blood and trees that I decided to do something. A trick came to my mind. Longbottom was still looking as though somebody had threatened to take his life away or something. I tried to scare Longbottom by making noises like a werewolf. It was so slow that even Fang did not mind but the idiot got so charged up he sent sparks flying from his hand, which definitely meant we were in trouble. Hagrid told us that if we would be in trouble, or find something we should send green sparks as signal. The fool did that. I could not stop laughing. I put my hand over my lips and started laughing when Hagrid came running at our direction. "What er you all doin?" he scolded us. I still could not control my laughter. What a fool can these people be. I did not even use any spell and this stupid Longbottom was acting as if I had cursed him or something. "This is ridiculous.." Hagrid said in his stupid accent. "I wer not let nobody do this. We will change the groups for ter time." he said, pulling Neville with one arm and holding Fang on other. I followed him and reached Potter and Granger. I smirked at Potter as he heard what happened. Neville went with Hermione, and Harry came with me.

We started walking without wasting time. "I had heard you Gryffindors were so foolish. Got to see myself today." I whispered to Potter. We spotted more unicorn blood in the way (Potter noticed it). Potter tried to avoid conversation as much as possible. I was feeling so bored that I had no choice but to say things. Such a stupid detention where you sent four students to have a walk in the Forbidden Forest. "How did you get that scar?" I asked Harry, finding no other topic. "I don't remember." Harry said quietly. "Fine. But, what made you think the other day that I was a bad friend?" Potter turned towards me at this. I was talking of our first day at Hogwarts obviously. I wanted to be his friend, but he said its his choice who he wants to be friends with and he does not need my help. He actually chose Weasley over me. Inexperienced, I must say. Before Potter could reply, we saw something in front. Fang gave a slow bark. We slowly went closer to it, and there it was, the dead unicorn everyone was looking for. The uncorn actually looked pretty as it lay lifeless in front of us. I never knew death could be so beautiful. For a moment, I admired the sight when something slowly approached the dead unicorn. I stood there motionless next to Potter, as the figure, his face covered with a cloak started drinking the blood of the unicorn! The pretty sight became awful within moments. I felt my fingers sweating. What if it spotted us/ Would it not come to attack us! What if it was a werewolf! I did not think of anything and ran away from that place, screaming my lungs out. Harry did not follow me, he remained there. God knew what would happen to him. I would not be surprised if he would be brought to the Hospital Wing within sometime.