Alexithymia

Break was over and students returned to Hogwarts. Exams were coming up and people were gathered in the Great Hall to study. Percy was leaning over [Names] shoulder, a book sat in front of them and a page full of notes beside it. Percy would point at certain things in written, asking questions and such to help [Name] study for their test. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were grouped up next to them, Harry and Hermione studying while Ron was looking through his card collection.
A snow owl lands directly on top of [Names] book, bumping its head against their chin. "Hello, Hedwig."
Harry glances over, a small smile appearing on his face at the scene, "Hi, Hedwig."
Percy attempts to swat Hedwig away gently but the bird refuses to budge. "Harry, please move your owl out of the way."
[Name] shakes their head softly, "No, it's fine. I understood it since the beginning but you seemed happy to help." Percys face erupts into a bright red, both from the embarrassment and the thought of them pretending to not understand their work just to spend time with him.

"Look at you, playing with your cards. Pathetic!" Hermione tells Ron, finally looking up from her book to see a stack of collectable cards in his hands. "We've got final exams coming up soon."
Ron places one of his cards down and looks at Hermione confidently, "I'm ready. Ask me any question."

"Alright, what are the three most crucial ingredients in a Forgetfulness Potion?"

Ron looks down at the table, losing all his confidence with that one question. "..I forgot."

"And what, may I ask, do you plan to do if this comes up in the final exam?"

"Copy off you."

"No, you won't. Besides, according to Professor McGonagall, we're to be given special quills bewitched with an Anti-Cheating Spell." Hermione informs smugly, causing Ron to have an outburst.
"That's insulting! It's as if they don't trust us!" Ron then looks down at the card he just got, "Dumbledore again!" He throws it down angrily onto the table.

The Great Hall suddenly gets louder. Students were looking towards the entrance and laughing at something, causing Harry and co, to look as well. "Leg-Locker Curse?"
"Malfoy."

In comes Neville, his legs stuck together with a spell, causing him to have to hop around to get where he wants to go. Neville makes his way slowly over to [Name], placing his hand beside them to steady himself.
"You have got to start standing up to people, Neville." Ron tells him, watching him struggle to keep balance.

"How? I can barely stand at all!"

Seamus immediately stands up from his seat, readying his wand. "I'll do the countercurse!"

"No, that's all I need! You to set my bloody kneecaps on fire!"

"I don't appreciate the insinuation, Longbottom. Besides, if anyone cared to notice... my eyebrows have completely grown back!" Seamus points to his eyebrows before slamming his wand down and walking away, revealing the missing patch of hair on the back of his head.

"[Name].. Can you help me?" Neville asks, his face looking almost pleading as the students around him continue to poke fun at his predicament. Ever since the incident during Flying class, Neville has been depending on [Name] to help him with whatever comes his way, whether if its a spell mishap or something he needs to study in class.
[Name] gives a small hum, picking up their wand. Pointing it at Nevilles legs, they move their wand in three counter clock wise motions, Nevilles legs then sprang apart, freeing him from the curse.
A big smile stretched across Nevilles face, him grabbing onto [Names] hand that was holding the wand and shaking it as he gives his thanks. "Oh, thank you! Thank you!"
"C'mon, [Name]." Harry says while passing by, him as well as Ron and Hermione all leaving the Great Hall.
"Wait, where are you going?" Neville asks, watching his upperclassman friend get up to follow the other three.
"I'm unsure." Is all [Name] replies with before leaving the Great Hall as well.

Arriving in the library, Harry and Ron sat down at one of the tables while Hermione went somewhere else in the library, looking for a book. Walking into the library soon after is [Name], who sits down in between Ron and Harry. While waiting for Hermione, the two boys take out their books and notes again to continue studying, and every once in awhile they'd get stuck, asking [Name] for help.
After about twenty minutes, they heard the voice of Hermione become louder as she came closer, "How could I be so stupid?" [Name] looks up, seeing Hermione coming over to them while holding a book. Hermione once reaching their table, slammed the book down on top of Ron and Harry's work.
"I checked this out weeks ago for a bit of light reading." She sits down across from the three, flipping through the pages of the very large book.

"This is light?"

Hermione gives Ron a glare before looking back down at the book, stopping on a page. "Of course! Here it is!" She points to a specific section of the page, "Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone."

"The what?" Both Harry and Ron synchronize, giving Hermione a weird look.

"Honestly, don't you two read?" Hermione rolls her eyes before reading off the page she was just pointing to, "The Philosopher's Stone is a legendary substance with astonishing powers. It can transform any metal into pure gold and it produces the Elixir of Life which will make the drinker immortal."
"Immortal?"
"It means you'll never die." Hermione informs Ron, only for him to get mad, as it was a rhetorical question.
"I know what it means!"
"Shh!" Harry holds a finger to his lips, causing the two to quiet down, allowing Hermione to continue.
"..The only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel, a notable alchemist who last year celebrated his six hundred sixty fifth birthday. That's what Fluffy's guarding on the 3rd floor. That's whats under the trap door, the Sorcerers Stone."

Later that night, the four sneak out of the dorm rooms, using their black school uniforms to conceal themselves within the dark. After meeting up with [Name], the four head straight to Hagrids cabin and knock on the door. Soon after, the door swings open to reveal the man himself.
"Hagrid-"

"Oh, hello, sorry, don't wish to be rude, but i'm in no fit state to entertain today." Hagrid slowly closes his door on the four students, causing them to quickly shout, "We know about the Philosopher's Stone." With that new information, Hagrid opens his door again with a simple, "Oh." Leaving the door open while he walks back into his house. Taking that as a invitation, the four walk in after him.
"We think Snape's trying to steal it."

"Snape? Blimey, you're not still on about him, are you?"

"I'm not-" Hermione gives a soft jab to [Names] side, causing them to look at her questioningly, not understanding what they did wrong. Hermione ignores their stare, opting to sit in a rather large chair, Harry and Ron sitting on a wooden bench, leaving [Name] to stand. Ron quickly noticed this so he patted on his own seat, trying to ask them if they want to take his spot. Taking it the wrong way, [Name] walked over and sat directly on top of his lap. Ron's face flushes a deep red, raising his hands in the air, unsure of where to put them. Seeing this, both Harry and Hermione give Ron a jealous glare but Harry forces himself to move on to the topic at hand.
"Hagrid, we know he's after the Stone. We just don't know why."

"Snape is one of the teachers protecting the Stone. He's not about to steal it." The three Gryffindors look at each other, unsure on how to feel about what Hagrid just told them. "You heard right. Come on, now, I'm a bit preoccupied today."

"Wait a minute. 'One of the teachers'?"

"Of course! There are other things defending the Stone, aren't there? Spells, enchantments."

"That's right." Hagrid confirms Hermiones thoughts. "Waste of bloody time, if you ask me. Ain't no one gonna get past fluffy. Ain't a soul knows how, except for me and Dumbledore." Hagrids eyes widen in realization, now unable to hold eye contact with any of the students. "I shouldn't have told you that. I should not have told you that." Suddenly, a tapping sound is heard from the pot hanging over Hagrids fireplace. He turns around and gently picks up the object in the pan with oven mitts on, only to let out small pained noises as the copper colored egg in his hands could still burn through the mitts. He quickly sets the egg down onto the table, the four students getting up from their spots to see what it is.
"Hagrid, what exactly is that?"
"That? It's.." Hagrid stutters, unsure if he should reveal any more kinds of information to these kids.
"I know what that is!" Ron says excitedly before turning to Hagrid confused, "But, Hagrid, how did you get one?"

"I won it. Off a stranger I met down at the pub. Seemed quite glad to be rid of it, as a matter of fact.." The tapping gets louder but now its accompanied with a cracking sound, the three first years backing up a little in worry. Parts of the shell come flying off, Ron covering his face as to not get hit. A little wing pops out of the shell, a small dragon body coming along with it.
"Is that... a dragon?" Hermione gives a scrutinizing glare at Hagrid.

"That's not just a dragon. That's a Norwegian Ridgeback. My brother Charlie works with these in Romania." Ron explains to the group, staring at the baby dragon as it looks around curiously. The dragons eyes eventually landed on Hagrid, causing the older man to smile. "Isn't he beautiful? Oh, bless him. Look, he knows his mummy." Hagrid reaches his hand down towards the dragon, giving a gentle rub to its neck. "Hello, Norbert."

"Norbert?"

"Yeah, well, he's gotta have a name, don't he? Don't you, Norbert?" Hagrid tickles it, causing the dragon to cough and spew a fire ball out, catching Hagrids beard on fire. Hagrid quickly pats at his beard, trying to put out the fire. "He'll have to be trained up a bit, of course."
The five look down at Norbert, watching as it spits up a few more sparks. Something in the corner of his eye catches Hagrids attention, causing him to lean forward. "Who's that?" Everyone looks towards the direction Hagrid was referring to, seeing a pale blonde haired boy peaking through the window.

"Malfoy."

"Oh dear."

After catching Malfoy tailing them, the four decide to head back to the Hogwarts castle. A owl coos softly, its sound echoing throughout the silent hallways that would soon be ended by the four students who decided to stay up late. "Hagrid always wanted a dragon. He told me so the first time I met him." Harry whispers to his friends, trying to keep his voice low as to not catch the attention of anyone who may be lurking in the hallways.
"It's crazy. And worse, Malfoy knows." Said Ron, also trying to keep his voice down but not well enough, seeing as McGonagall and another student is now rounding the corner, three out of the four not realizing it. "I don't understand. Is that bad?" Hermione asks the Weasley. "It's bad." Replied the boy.

"Good evening." McGonagall greats, Malfoy soon peaking out behind her with a smirk. The four keep silent, awaiting for the Professor to speak again. "You four, please, follow me." Is all she says, the four and Malfoy following after her in the barely lit hallways. Soon, they reach her classroom, in which Professor McGongall stepped into and up to the front of the class where she stood behind her desk. The three Gryffindors and singular Ravenclaw lined up in front of her, the Slytherin boy known as Draco standing a bit away from them. The smirk on his face only growing bigger at the scene. "Nothing, I repeat, nothing.. gives a student the right to walk about the school at night. Therefore, as punishment for your actions, fifty points will be taken." At McGongalls words, the three Gryffindors mouths hang wide open in shock, [Names] lips nearly tugging into a frown.
"Fifty!?"

"Each." The students mouths somehow get even wider at such a punishment. "And to ensure it doesn't happen again.. all five of you will receive detention." Hearing her say "five", Dracos eyebrows furrow in confusion. He steps up to her desk, "Excuse me, Professor, perhaps I heard you wrong. I thought you said the five of us." He asks, expecting her to change her mind and correct it to four.
"No, you heard me correct, Mr. Malfoy. You see, honorable as your intentions were, you too were out of bed after hours. You will join your classmates in detention." Now its the three first years turn to smile, while also trying to avoid Dracos harsh glare. [Name], opting to stare back, gave the Slytherin boy a small wave, him only getting angrier and turning away with a huff.

It turns out, their detention just so happened to be with Hagrid. The man who was the main reason of their little rule breaking of going out at night. Mr. Filch held a lantern in his hand, being the man to guide them to their punishment for the night. "A pity they let the old punishments die." Mr. Filch started, his voice gruff but his tone teasing, "There was a time detention would find you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons. God, I miss the screaming." The first years out of the group seemed a bit disturbed at his words, awkwardly looking at him as they continued on their trek to Hagrids hut.
"You'll be serving detention with Hagrid tonight. He's got a little job to do inside the Dark Forest." Mr. Filch tells them just as Hagrid leaves his hut, his own lantern in hand.
Standing across the fire pit that Hagrid set up in front of his place, Mr. Filch and the five kids stared up at Hagrid who was fiddling with arrows he had stored in his pocket. "A sorry lot, this, Hagrid." Hagrid stays silent, only sighing to himself and refusing to meet the eyes of anyone. "Oh, good god, man, you're not still on about that bloody dragon, are you?"
Hagrid, sounding tearful, sighs hesitantly through his nose, finally glancing up at the people standing across from him. "Norbert's gone. Dumbledore sent him off to Romania to live in a colony."
"Well, that's good, isn't it? He'll be with his own kind." Hermione looks up at the half giant, confused at his despair.
"Yeah, but what if he don't like Romania? What if the other dragons are mean to him? He's only a baby, after all." Mr. Filch rolls his eyes at Hagrid's unnecessary worry, "Oh, for god's sake, pull yourself together, man. You're going into the Forest, after all. Got to have your wits about you.."

Acknowledging all this forest talk, Draco looks up at the two adults in alarm, "The Forest? I thought that was a joke. We can't go in there. Students aren't allowed. And there are.." Mr. Filch turns slowly to the Slytherin first year, staring directly into the young boys eyes causing him to get caught up in his words, which cued a perfect timing for a wolf to howl in the background. "..Werewolves." Draco ends off, feeling more nervous than ever.
"There's more than werewolves in those trees, lad. You can be sure of that." Draco and the three others in his grade break into a cold sweat, Mr. Filch secretly finding pleasure in their despair as he takes this as his moment to leave. "Nighty-night."

"..Right. Let's go." Gesturing his hand to the forest behind them, Hagrid turned away from the students and walked forth.
"Don't worry." [Name] stepped up, grabbing ahold of both Ron and Dracos hand, seeing as those two were the most visibly worried. "I may not know too many spells but I could probably make something up well enough to allow you to escape if anything goes wrong. And, Hagrid's with us. He's pretty strong. And it's most definitely not his first time in the Forest." They attempt to reassure, not just the two they were holding onto, but the whole group of first years. Hesitating for a moment, Draco gave [Names] hand a squeeze before deciding against it and instead ripping his hand out of [Names], and refusing to make eye contact with them or anyone else. Ron considered removing his hand away from theirs as well, just in a more delicate matter, but instead he gripped their hand tighter, leaning into their side for comfort. The five quickly moved forward to catch up behind Hagrid, [Name] in the lead behind him while the first years, Draco included (although him unintentionally), seeming to crowd around the Ravenclaw. The six of them, and Hagrids dog, walked a long while through the foggy and dark forest, hardly being able to make out a thing except the distant silhouettes of the trees being illuminated by the moon that was hardly peaking through. They followed blindly behind Hagrid, who was still in possession of their only real light source. Reaching an entangled bunch of branches, Hagrid crouches down next to it and reaches towards the moss covered floor. A small puddle of a shiny silver liquid coated the ground, Hagrid scooping up a bit using two of his fingers to get a closer examination. Hagrid stands up from his position on the floor, turning himself just enough for the students to catch a glimpse, Dracos face scrunching up a bit in disgust. "Uhm, Hagrid, what is that?" Harry asks, a bit frightened to know the answer.
"What we're here for. See that?" Hagrid holds up his hand covered in the strange liquid, making sure the students saw it. "That's unicorn blood, that is. I found one dead a few weeks ago. Now, this one's been hurt bad by something." Hagrid pauses, the trees and bushes ruffle softly due to the wind, causing even more pressure to be put on the students as they glance nervously around at their surroundings, terrified that the thing that injured the unicorn could be near. "So, it's our job to go and find the poor beast. Ron, Hermione, you'll come with me."
"Okay.." Ron barely squeaks out, hesitant to leave his upperclassmans side, especially at a place like this.
"And, Harry, Malfoy, you'll go with [Name]." Draco's face grows disturbed at Harry's name before he sighs, glancing up at [Name], along with Harry who also sighed, but in relief that he was paired up with one person who seemed somewhat reliable. "Okay. Then I get Fang." Draco practically demands, causing Hagrid to agree. "Fine. Just so you know, he's a bloody coward." Dracos face droops again, the dog looking up curiously at the group when he heard his name.
The group of six (seven if you count Fang) then split up, Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid going one way while Harry, Draco, [Name], and Fang go the other.

"You wait till my father hears about this. This is servant's stuff." Draco complains, speaking more so to the eldest of the group who stood between the two boys. "If I didn't know better, Draco, I'd say you were scared." Harry teases the blonde haired boy, causing him to shake his head at the thought. "Scared.. I'm not scared, Potter."
A hand suddenly places itself on the Malfoy boys shoulder causing him to let out a small yelp, turning around to face the perpetrator. "It is all right to be scared, Draco. Do not worry too much, though. Hagrid would not send us out here if we were truly in danger at this time."
Draco jerks his shoulder out of their grasp, staring up at them with a slight glare, "I said I'm not scared. The only thing scary here is your dead fish face." He tries to smile in success of his insult, but he is still terrified of his surroundings especially when he hears the distant hoots of an owl somewhere in the forest.
"That's good to know. So you'll be fine as long as you don't look at me." Sadly, [Name] didn't take the insult as he wanted.

The three make their way further into the forest, trying to pay both attention to their surroundings and the ground as to not trip over the mangled roots littered throughout the forest floor. While following a path that lead up to a small clearing, [Name] stopped just right before the path opened up, catching the attention of their two companions. "We should not continue this way." [Name] whispers to the two boys, trying to lead them away from the path. Either ignoring their warning or he just didn't hear it, Draco continues down the path, causing [Name] to continue down the path in pursuit of him, Harry following close behind. Catching up with Draco, [Name] takes notice of his stiff stance. Fang growls at something ahead of them, causing Harry, who just caught up, to look at the dog confused. "What is it Fang?" Following the line of eyesight of everyone else, Harry sees a figure adorning a black cloak hunched over a dead unicorn, seemingly sucking the blood out of it. Once his eyes were locked on the figure, Harry groans in pain, holding his hand up to his scar and wincing. Draco lets out a terrified scream, causing both Fang and the figure to look up at him. Draco quickly turns around and hightails it, taking both their only light source and Fang with him.
[Name] immediately takes a stance in front of Harry, who clutched desperately and fearfully onto the back of their cloak. "Harry, run." But Harry refused to listen, instead taking steps back with [Name] as the figure slithered across the ground before abruptly standing up on its supposed feet and walking towards the two instead. The two continue to inch backwards, Harry ending up tripping on a branch, nearly taking [Name] down with him. [Name] fumbles a bit, feeling around the underneath their cloak trying to find their wand. Finally finding it, [Name] takes it out and points it up at the cloaked figure, but before they could utter a word, the clicking of hooves interrupts them. A large beast- part man and horse, jumps in front of the two kids and fights off the cloaked figure, effectively scaring it away into the forest. [Name] turns around, helping Harry up while the centaur waits for the two. The centaur begins speaking once the two were on their feet, approaching them slowly. "Harry Potter, you must leave. You are known to many creatures here. The Forest is not safe at this time. Especially for you."

"What was that thing you saved us from?"

"A monstrous creature. It is a terrible crime to slay a unicorn. Drinking 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 so pure.. that from the moment the blood touches your lips, you will have a half-life. A cursed life." The centaur towers over the two, glancing woefully at the deceased unicorn beside them.
"But who would choose such a life?" Harry asks, still standing behind [Name] but is peaking his head around enough to come in eye contact with the beast.
"Can you think of no one?" Asked the centaur.

"...He who shall not be named." [Name] mutters out, catching Harrys attention. With what they said in mind, Harry looks back up at the centaur, now with fear in his eyes. "Do you mean to say that thing that killed the unicorn.. that was drinking its blood, that was Voldemort?"