"Lumos!" commanded Hermione as she and Neville stepped onto the path in the Forbidden Forest. Theghostly wand light cut through the dim. They walked on, taking in the way the canopy of the ashe trees with their silver trunks blocked out the sky.

"Let's find that portkey and get out of here." Hermione said, all business. She cast a quick locating spell to point the way.

Neville shivered slightly although it was not really cold. "I can't believe we are doing this," he said. "You don't think Malfoy was joking, do you?"

"It's a chance we can't take," said Hermione as they trudged through the forest. "If one of the creatures here were to find it and end up in Regent's Park, it would be disastrous!"

The students walked on, their footsteps sounding as though the wet ground was reluctant to give up their feet. Tall ferns littered the path on either side.

"Look!" Neville gasped. "Did you see it?"

Hermione strained her eyes in the darkness. She saw nothing.

"There it is again..." Neville whispered.

This time Hermione thought she saw a flash of white in the path ahead.

"It was a horse...a big white horse..." Neville said. "Maybe a unicorn?"

Hermione wracked her brain to recall all of the creatures that could be white and horse-like. She hoped it was a unicorn since they would surely avoid contact.

"Ter you, Hullo!" roared a thick Geordie dialect.

They whirled to look behind them. Standing there was a tall man. His black hair was wet and slicked back into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. He seemed to have an awful lot of hair all over his arms and neck. Hermione thought she'd never seen eyes quite that shade of blue. It was like falling into a hole in the ice to look at him. Neville had a strange feeling about this man.

"You nearly scared us to death!" Hermione blurted out. "Who are you?"

"Well, now," he said charmingly, "that'd be quite ter tale...in short, I'm Jack Flynn com ter visit me sister. And you two'd be students from Hogwarts?"

Neville glanced nervously at the man.

"Oh...not ter worry! Yer secret'd be safe with me." Jack said, "But ye really shouldn't be here, not safe, ye know. If'n you'll follow me, I'll show you path to the lake."

Hermione couldn't remember being so charmed by a man since Professor Lockhart. "We have to find something first." she said firmly.

"Ah...and what might that be?" asked Jack.

"A portkey," blurted out Hermione, "It goes to Regent's Park and we have to find it before..."

Neville dug his elbow into Hermione's ribs.

"Well, then," Jack smiled. "We'll just look for it on our way. I really must insist...this is a very dangerous place and I'd not feel right leaving you here. Once we get to the lake, you'll be quite safe."

Jack leads the way to a shortcut and they set out down a narrow path. Neville and Hermione kept an eye on the glowing tip of the wand until it began to pulse green. There it was, a rusty beer tin in the middle of a clearing.

Surrounding the portkey were about twenty chicken-like creatures with the heads of old women. They pecked and flapped around looking quite harmless.

"Urgh. Harpies." said Hermione.

Neville dashed into the group of creatures. He retrieved the portkey and placed it in his bookbag, grinning with triumph. Hermione tried to shout out a warning, but it was too late. The harpies had rushed Neville and were rubbing their ugly little heads all over him.

"Cor! Wot a stench!" Jack grimaced.

"Hermione's eyes were watering at the overpowering smell of month old rotted flesh that seemed to be coming from Neville. Neville was trying not to gag.

"Harpies." said Hermione. "Harpies make everything they touch stink. You'll be sitting in a vat of Magical Mess Remover for a week, Neville."

Neville's face fell. "How am I supposed to explain that!"

"Not to worry, lad...a quick dip in the lake will solve that problem." Jack said, exuding charm. "Come along, then."

The two followed the glib Yorkshireman further into the forest. Neville trailed behind out of respect for everyone's insulted noses. He just didn't seem to be able to do anything right. He was really happy to get the chance to prove himself to Hermione by getting the portkey, but all he managed to do was get himself royally stunk up. And Now she was tripping along whispering and giggling with that Geordie bloke whom Neville didn't trust one bit.

Hermione was so entranced by Jack's banter that she felt the world slide away. It was all she could do to keep walking while he spoke in his sing-song lilt. She didn't even notice that Neville was no longer behind them.

Someone grabbed Neville, covering his mouth and pulled him into the bushes. Whoever--or--whatever was incredibly strong. Neville tried to cry out in warning but couldn't.

Looking up, he saw a strange face. The creature's eyes were slit like a goat's and he had pale lavender skin. His ears pricked over his head and his nose was long and sharp. Most amazing was his hair that was orange and stood out from his head as though he'd stuck his finger in a light bulb. Strange and ugly didn't begin to describe this fellow.

"If we're to save your friend, I'll need you to be quiet, oh stinky one." said a voice inside Neville's head.

Neville tried to speak, but the hand was still over his mouth.

"Think and I will hear." said the strange voice.

Neville was terrified and shaking. He managed to form some thoughts, "Wh--wh--what are you and what do you mean?"

"I am Gryffydd, one of the fenaderree of the forest. Your friend is in grave danger."

Neville gave a start of alarm. He wasn't sure why but he trusted this strange creature...whatever a fenaderree was...but he did.

"What can we do?" thought Neville.

"I'll run up ahead and stay here." Gryffydd said cryptically. "You must draw her back to you or she'll be drowned for sure."

Neville's mind attempted to wrap itself around what the fenaderree just said when the most remarkable thing happened. Gryffydd removed his hand and began to --split-- into two separate ugly strange creatures, looking like a Piccadilly Circus version of the Weasley twins.

"All right then!" They said to each other aloud and one sprinted off through the forest.

Neville's mouth hung open.

"No time to catch flies, lad." Gryffydd chucked Neville's chin with his purple hand. "Run on, now...she mustn't see me."

Neville dashed back onto the path. He couldn't see Hermione but could hear her laughing around the bend. They were getting close to the lake. He sprinted after them.

Coming around the trail, Neville could see them at the edge of the forest. The lake was lapping up against the edge of the wood. There was no boat nor any way of walking around the edge of the forest.

"Well, see..." Jack was saying, "I'm an animagus. I'll just change right quick and carry you across."

Hermione was smiling and nodding absently. Her eyes were glazed over. Jack morphed into a big white horse. Hermione was moving to mount him.

"Wait!" Neville screamed. "Don't do it! Hermione!"

Mud began to fly from no where. The other Gryffydd was pelting the horse with wet sloppy mud balls. One hit Jack in the eye and he sidled and shook his head. He managed to stomp on Hermione's foot in the process.

Gryffydd's voice sounded in Neville's head, "The portkey, boy...remind her!"

Neville dug in his bag for the beer tin. Hermione was rubbing her eyes to clear the confusion caused by Jack's attraction spell.

"Here! Hermione!" Neville yelled and tossed the can in the air.

Hermione stumbled toward Neville. They both caught the portkey at the same time. Neville heard a voice say, "Well done, Lad! My regards to Minerva!"

They both felt the curious pulling at their navels as they were transported to...

This wasn't Regent's Park, thought Hermione. This was the Shrieking Shack! Professor McGonigall was standing there with Hagrid looking very grim indeed.

"I'll take that, Miss Granger." Professor McGonigall said, taking the beer tin. "That will be fifty points from Gryffindor for that little excursion and detention for both of you."

"Professor...ohhh my!..." said Hermione as she realized what had just happened.

"That is correct, Miss Granger, you were nearly drowned by a kelpie. At least, you had the presence of mind to take Mr. Longbottom with you. I'm most disappointed in you." The Professor pursed her lips.

"As for you, Mr. Longbottom," Professor McGonigall continued, "You will stay here with Hagrid until he can scrub the harpy musk off you."

Neville kept his head down. He'd never had a detention before. It seemed as though he had messed up this along with everything else.

"Nevertheless," the Professor said with a smile creeping into her voice, "I will award you twenty-five points for your bravery in extricating Miss Granger from her, ahem...difficulties."

Neville's eye's shot up. He broke into a large grin. Maybe he hadn't messed up so bad after all!

"Professor," he ventured, "There was a...a...fenaderree that sent regards to you."

Professor McGonigall gave Neville an enigmatic look and a small smile.

"Yes, well...I'm sure he did."