LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 18: The-Forbidden-Forest.
Harry they thought Filch would punish them with something far from Professor McGonagall.
Instead, he simply took them to Professor McGonagall's office on the first floor, where they sat waiting, not exchanging a word between them. Hermione was trembling. Apologies, alibis, and fantastic justifications replaced one another in Harry's head, each more feeble than the last. He couldn't see how they were going to get out of this mess. They were cornered. How could they have been so foolish as to forget the cloak? There was no reason in the world for Professor McGonagall to accept that they were out of bed, sneaking through the school at that hour, much less in the Astronomy Tower, which was forbidden to students except during classes.
Harry thought things couldn't get any worse. He was wrong. When Professor McGonagall appeared, she was bringing Neville.
- Harry! - He exclaimed, running to his only source of salvation at the moment, clinging to him for protection from McGonagall. - I was trying to find you to warn you that I heard Malfoy say he was going to catch you, said you had a drag… - Harry shook his head vigorously to shut Neville up, but Professor McGonagall saw. She looked more likely to breathe fire than Norbert as she glared at the three from head to toe.
- I would never have believed you were capable of this. Mr. Filch says you were in the Astronomy Tower. It's one o'clock in the morning, don't you know the risks of being there without adult supervision? Explain yourselves. - It was the first time Hermione failed to answer a teacher's question. She stared at her shoes, as still as a statue. - I think I have a good idea of what's been going on. - Professor McGonagall said. - It doesn't take a genius to add two and two. You told Mr. Malfoy a story to attract his attention 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 Mr. Longbottom heard the story and believed it too. - Harry caught Neville's eye and tried to tell him without speaking that it wasn't true, because Neville looked shocked and hurt. Poor clumsy Neville. Harry knew what it must have cost him to try to find them in the dark to warn them.
- I am disappointed. - Said Professor McGonagall. - Four students out of bed in one night! I've never heard of such a thing before! - Actually, she had, and she just had a sudden déjà vu of four other Hogwarts troublemakers. - You, Hermione Granger, I thought you had more sense.
- And you, Harry Potter, I thought being a Divergent meant more to you than it seems. You three will get detention, and you too, Mr. Longbottom. You have no right to be wandering the school at night, especially in these times, it's very dangerous, and I'll take fifty points from Gryffindor.
- Alright, Professor, but let's be honest... These rules are quite simplistic. - Harry said, approaching her desk. The elder's gaze was intense, but there was a hint of curiosity about what Potter meant. - Think about it: Hermione and I just wanted to practice spells we've been studying, but there's never a time we can do that outside of classes. And it's always impossible during classes because there's too much theory and not enough practice, it's forbidden in the corridors, and on the grounds, Severus is always flying over everyone like a bat.
- I don't need theoretical material; my mind retains everything I read. I need practical lessons to use these spells without draining my magical core. And how can I achieve that if there's no practice during classes, how can I do it at night if I'm working in the library, or how especially can I do it if we're required to go to bed at 10 PM?
- I know you're angry about all this, but if the rules weren't so rigid, screwing the students more than imposing order, none of this would have happened.
Harry's explanation had a positive point. Many older students needed to study, practice, and do it in groups. There were stairs that delayed students, and when they were late, they lost points, as there was no excuse. They weren't allowed to cast spells in the corridors, not even a simple levitation spell to carry materials and avoid being late. Many had Quidditch training at night or extra tasks like in the library, where Harry could read and delve deeper into the fundamentals of the wizarding world located in the restricted section. Lastly, the curfew prevented anyone from doing their tasks or studying later.
- You have a point, Mr. Potter... However, rules are rules. If you want to change something, volunteer for the prefect service. - McGonagall said authoritatively. - Fifty points from each of you. - Added Professor McGonagall, breathing heavily through her long, pointed nose.
- Professor... You can't...
- Don't tell me what I can and cannot do, Harry James Potter. You're acting just like your father. Now go back to bed, all of you. I've never felt so ashamed of Gryffindor students before. And you being a Divergent should be careful, or do you want all four houses against you?
- Alright. - Harry murmured, head down, leaving the Transfiguration classroom.
Little did the others know that a faint smile spread across Potter's face as he crossed the door. He had removed a significant burden and mitigated the situation. It would have been terrible for McGonagall to discover Charlie's friends or that Harry had paid them to send a fake dragon.
- "At least I took a weight off Hagrid's shoulders and wasn't caught for the real crime." - Harry thought contentedly, heading towards his dormitory, followed by Hermione and Neville.
[ ... ]
A hundred points lost for Slytherin, a hundred and fifty lost for Gryffindor, and fifty lost for the other two houses. This put Gryffindor in last place. In one night, they had ruined Gryffindor's chances of winning the house cup. Harry felt as if the bottom had dropped out of his stomach.
How would he make up for the loss? He didn't want an entire house as his enemy.
Harry didn't sleep all night. He heard Neville sobbing into his pillow for what seemed like hours. Harry couldn't think of any words to console him. He knew Neville was becoming braver, but the possibility of being expelled was terrifying to anyone, especially to him who always believed he was a squib.
What would happen when the rest of Gryffindor found out what they had done?
At first, the Gryffindor students passing by the giant hourglasses that marked the house points the next day thought there had been a mistake. How could they suddenly have one hundred and fifty points less than the day before?
Then the story began to spread. Harry Potter, the famous Boy Who Lived, their Quidditch hero, a Divergent who could score points for all houses, was responsible for the loss of all those points, he and two other first-year dunces.
From the position of the most popular and admired student in the school, Harry became the most hated. Even the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students turned against him, because they had long wanted to see Slytherin lose the House Cup. Everywhere Harry went, people pointed at him and didn't bother to lower their voices to insult him. The Slytherins, on the other hand, clapped when he passed, whistled, and cheered. Despite Draco's incompetence in losing fifty points, Harry, Hermione, and Neville were now titled by the Slytherins as the Golden Trio, responsible for the snake house's advantage.
Harry was making enemies with three houses, and the only one that should be hostile to him was now welcoming him, even if sarcastically. Even the students who were about to graduate had some sympathy for the boy, pulling him into their study groups for the future graduates of 1992.
He didn't want trouble with any of them, but he had to find a way to recover those lost points.
Only Hermione stayed by his side. Ron barely spoke to Harry and joined a new group of friends who were obsessed with mocking Harry's name, which Harry found childish. However, what really affected him was the older students ignoring him and seeming genuinely irritated. Fred and George didn't care much; they just wanted to see the chaos. Neville was doing alright, since the fight he had with Crabbe and Goyle in the stands had stopped them from attacking him.
- They'll forget in a few weeks. Fred and George have lost loads of points since they got here, and people still like them. - Hermione said as she walked beside Harry.
- They never lost one hundred and fifty points in one go, did they? - Harry retorted, unhappy.
He had to come up with something quickly. It was only after studying some of McGonagall's scrolls that he discovered the house points or the House Cup were not just symbolic titles but honors for the graduates of the school year in question, with a direct recommendation from Hogwarts when seeking employment through the Mirror Dimension of the Kingdom of England.
Something he put aside for further study, as brief glimpses at the scrolls showed that they mentioned everyone being in a kind of alternative dimension separate from planet Earth, and not in a land area hidden by magical barriers as Harry had thought.
- Well... No. - She admitted. - Look, forget it... everyone might be ignoring you, but I'm still here and I'm not going anywhere, ever. - She said, smiling, and he responded by giving her a kiss on the forehead.
- Thanks, Jean... it's just that being ignored and feeling this air of anger and coldness... it reminds me of my relatives, and I know nothing good comes from this if it continues. - Harry confessed, ruffling his hair in exasperation.
- "I just hope it doesn't continue for long, because if it gets to the point where they act like Vernon and Petunia, I'll have to respond as I always have." - Harry thought, touching the hilt of his sword, his only means of security against physical aggression.
[ ... ]
It was a bit late to fix the damage, but Harry vowed never to get involved in things that weren't his business again. Enough with spying and snooping to satisfy his adrenaline. He felt so ashamed that he went to find Oliver to offer his resignation from the Quidditch team.
- Resign? - The captain thundered. - What good would that do? How are we supposed to recover the points if we can't win at Quidditch? - But even Quidditch had lost its fun. Half the team didn't want to talk to Harry during practice, and when they needed to refer to him, they called him "the Seeker".
Only Katie Bell and two of her friends who "comforted" Harry, but even that didn't help.
In the case of Oliver and the Quidditch team members, high points and chances of winning the House Cup were specifically well-regarded by professional team scouts, who aimed to watch the games and study the captains and team members for potential future recruitment. This was a specific reason why Oliver was so irritated with Harry, as professional Quidditch was his dream career.
Hermione and Neville were suffering too. They weren't as ostracized as Harry, because they weren't as well-known, but no one spoke to them either. Hermione stopped drawing attention in class, kept her head down, and worked quietly.
Harry was almost glad the exams weren't far off. All the revisions he needed to do distracted him from his unhappiness. He, Neville, and Hermione spent time alone, working late into the night, trying to remember the ingredients for the complicated potions, learning the spells and charms by heart, memorizing the dates of magical discoveries and goblin rebellions...
Then, a week before the exams began, Harry's new resolution to not get involved in anything that wasn't his business was put to an unexpected test. Returning from the library alone one night after finishing his work, he heard someone whimpering in a classroom ahead. As he approached, he heard Quirrell's voice.
- No... No... Not again, please... kill me. - The man said in pure painful lament. - But don't make me continue with this, Dumbledore is too powerful, and that brat Potter seems even more sadistic than Severus when he looks at me.
It seemed someone was threatening him. Harry moved a little closer.
- Alright... Alright. - He heard Quirrell sob in defeat and pure pain. - I'll do what you say, but please, stop the torture. - He said, holding his right hand firmly with his left, pointing a wand at his own forehead with a red spell finally being cast, causing him to fall into pure spasms on the floor.
Quirrell seemed to have finally given in to something. Harry even thought of Snape, but it wasn't Snape who threatened Quirrell... it was something much bigger than Potter's current knowledge. Even believing that sinister voice in the forest was a lie, he now began to notice that Quirrell seemed more like a tortured slave, without control of his own body, and this left him with a bitter taste in his mouth, as if he didn't like seeing this at all.
He spent the entire day with a face of pure concern and even anger at not being able to control the conflicting sensations he was feeling for the first time. His eyes even gleamed with pure dark power like that of a demon, which had once served to scare his uncle, but now left some students frightened.
[ ... ]
- So Snape did it. - Exclaimed Ron, interrupting Harry and Hermione's conversation. - If Quirrell told him how to break the spell. - He said as if nothing had happened in the past few weeks, and as if he hadn't been badmouthing Harry to everyone around him.
- But we still have Fluffy. - Hermione reminded, ignoring the redhead.
- Hermione, I calmed the Cerberus with affection... Do you really think the dog would stop someone from invading? After so many problems they've had to get in, they must have figured something out."
- I bet there's a book around here that teaches how to get past a three-headed dog. So, what are we going to do, Harry? - Ron asked, making Harry look at him intently.
- I thought you weren't talking to me. - Harry said coldly, with Ron giving an awkward smile.
- I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me... I think I got caught up in everyone's talk and distanced myself... my bad. - He said. However, Harry didn't care much because he knew that, in reality, it was the others who were getting caught up in Ron's talk. It irritated him that someone he had started calling a friend would simply turn their back and even tell others that he had always been afraid of Harry's presence. Like... was he a monster or a freak? If that were the case, he had known and accepted it a long time ago, but it really bothered him for a friend to make that clear to others, as if he were some kind of serial killer around children.
The spark of adventure returned to Ron's eyes, but Hermione responded before Harry could, knowing he would likely give Ron a harsh reply in front of everyone, only worsening his image.
- Let's go to Dumbledore. This is what we should have done ages ago. If we try anything on our own, we'll definitely get expelled.
- But we don't have proof. - Harry said. - It will require a lot of explanation and why we're getting involved in something that isn't our business.
Hermione seemed convinced, as she always believed in the authorities and thought they could handle everything, at least she did, but not Ron.
- What if we just took a peek...
- No. - Harry responded decisively to Ron. - We've taken too many peeks already. It's not our problem. Albus must know what he's doing, especially since he's an adult. And let's be honest, just his presence here at the castle is a lot of security against Quirrell, or whoever is controlling him.
[ ... ]
The next morning, Harry, Hermione, and Neville received notes at the breakfast table. They said the same thing:
"Your detention will begin at 11:00 PM. It may have taken a while because we've all been very busy, but don't think I forgot about your nighttime adventure.
Wait for Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.
Professor McGonagall."
In the frenzy caused by the loss of points, Harry had forgotten they still had detentions to serve. He expected Hermione to complain that it meant losing an entire night of revision, but she didn't say a word. She thought, like Harry, that they had gotten what they deserved.
At eleven o'clock at night, they said goodbye to Ron in the common room, at least Hermione did, as Harry was more focused on remaining completely silent than talking nonsense. They then descended with Neville to the entrance hall. Filch was already there with Malfoy. Harry had forgotten that Malfoy also got detention, mainly because the boy had been far away from them in recent weeks, punished from what he heard from Severus, who acted more like a father to him than Lucius Malfoy, who only served to spoil the boy and give him everything he wanted.
- Follow me. - Said Filch, lighting a lantern and leading them outside.
- Bet you'll think twice before breaking school rules again, won't you? - He taunted. -Ah yes, hard work and pain are the best teachers, if you ask me. It's a pity they've stopped using the old punishments, hanging students by their wrists from the ceiling for a few days. I still have the chains in my office, keep them oiled just in case. Now, off we go, and don't think about running, it'll be worse for you if you do.
They walked across the grounds in the dark. Neville kept sniffling. Harry wondered what the punishment would be.
It had to be something really horrible, or Filch wouldn't look so pleased.
The moon was shining, but the passing clouds cast them into darkness, hiding the beautiful stars in the sky, very different from what No-Majs were able to see. Ahead, Harry saw the illuminated windows of Hagrid's cabin. Then they heard a distant shout.
- Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I want to get started.
Harry's spirits lifted. If they were going to work with Hagrid, then it wouldn't be so bad. His relief must have shown on his face because Filch said:
- Think you're going to have fun with that oaf? Think again, boy. It's the Forbidden Forest for you, and you're very wrong if you think you'll come out in one piece. - At that, Neville let out a whimper, and Malfoy froze.
- The forest? - Malfoy repeated, finally showing fear. - We can't go in there at night... There's all kinds of things there... Werewolves, I've heard. - His father had told him many things in life, but one thing was certain: don't go into the forest. Unlike a long time ago, once a paradise for students, it was now home to the most dangerous creatures in the world, and even he wasn't foolish enough to enter the realm of those creatures, given his prejudice against their species.
Neville clung to Harry's robe and seemed to choke, with Harry pulling the left side of his Invisibility Cloak, which on the opposite side was quite beautiful with the Deathly Hallows symbols, and served well to cover the boy, since the right side was already sheltering and protecting Hermione.
- That's what you think, isn't it? - Filch said, his voice cracking with satisfaction. - You should have thought about the werewolves before getting into trouble, shouldn't you? Because there's much more than werewolves in there.
Hagrid emerged from the darkness, walking towards them with Fang at his heels. He carried a large bow and a quiver with arrows of pure silver slung over his shoulder.
- Finally. I've been waiting half an hour. All right, Harry, Hermione?
- I wouldn't be so friendly with them, Hagrid. - Filch said coldly. - After all, they're here for punishment.
- Is that why you're late? - Hagrid said, frowning. - Been giving them a hard time, eh? That's not your job. You've done your part; I'll take it from here.
- I'll be back at dawn to collect what's left of them. - Filch said nastily, turning back to the castle, swinging his lantern in the darkness.
Malfoy then turned to Hagrid:
- I'm not going in that forest. - He said, and Harry was pleased to hear the note of panic in his voice.
- Oh, yes, you are, if you want to stay at Hogwarts. - Hagrid said fiercely. - You did wrong, and now you've got to pay for it.
- But this is servant stuff, not for students. I thought we were going to copy lines or something. If my father finds out I'm doing this, he...
- ...will tell you that this is how it's done at Hogwarts. He himself was well punished in the past with his buddies. - Hagrid growled. - Copying lines! What's the use? You're going to do something useful or you're going to leave the school. And if you think your father would prefer you to be expelled, then go back to the castle and pack your bags. Let's go!
Malfoy didn't move. He glared at Hagrid furiously and then lowered his eyes.
- Very well then. - Said Hagrid. - Now, listen carefully, because what we're doing tonight is dangerous, and I don't want anyone taking unnecessary risks. Come with me. - He led them to the edge of the forest. Raising the lantern high, he pointed to a winding dirt path that disappeared among dark trees. A light breeze lifted the boys' hair as they turned towards the forest.
- Look there, do you see that shining on the ground? Silver? That's unicorn blood. There's a unicorn in there that's been seriously hurt by something. It's the second time this week. Luckily, none have died, but they are extremely injured. We're going to try to find the poor thing. Maybe we'll need to put it out of its misery.
- And if the thing that hurt the unicorn finds us first? - Malfoy asked, unable to keep the fear out of his voice.
- There isn't any living creature in the forest that will harm you if you're with me and Fang, not with his mother being the sweetie she is and what she represents in this forest. Stick to the path, never stray off it or at least don't go too far. Alright, now, we're going to split into two groups and follow the trail in opposite directions. There's blood everywhere, it must have been stumbling around since at least last night. - Said Hagrid, though Harry saw it as pure hypocrisy since if he was the security, why was he dividing them?
- I want Fang, - Malfoy said quickly, looking at Fang's fangs.
- Alright, but I'll warn you, he's a coward. So me, Harry, and Hermione will go this way, and Draco, Neville, and Fang will go that way. Now, if any of us find the unicorn, shoot green sparks into the air, got it? Take your wands and start practicing now, like this. And if anyone gets in trouble, shoot red sparks, and we'll all come to find you, so be careful. Let's go. - He said, without the others even contesting that Hagrid had just used a spell from his umbrella.
The forest was dark and silent. Entering it, they came to a fork in the path, and Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid took the left path while Malfoy, Neville, and Fang took the right.
They walked in silence, eyes on the ground. Here and there, a ray of moonlight pierced through the branches, illuminating a patch of silver blood on the fallen leaves.
Harry saw from afar that Neville seemed very worried, only distancing themselves further.
- Could a werewolf be killing the unicorns? - Harry asked the gamekeeper. - And are there really werewolves here?
- Not this quickly, it's not easy to kill a unicorn; they're powerful magical creatures. I've never heard of one being injured before. - Hagrid said with a laugh. - And yes, there are many more than werewolves here. Unlike all other magical societies, this is the epicenter of magic, the first mirror dimension created and of such magnitude, it may be corrupted by the government, but in the Golden Age, it was the kingdom of beasts, and to this day, it's the only place where politics and government can't impose their rules and corruption. Yes... Hogwarts is much more incredible than just a magical castle, the Black Lake, the forest, or Hogsmeade. Everything, from what you step on to what you breathe, everything in the event horizon that occurs from the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron, to the limits of the mirrored wings, everything is the Magical Mirror Dimension of the Kingdom of England... but it doesn't matter at the moment, it's something you'll study only in the future.
They passed a moss-covered tree stump. Hermione heard running water; there must be a stream nearby. They still saw patches of unicorn blood here and there along the winding trail.
- Are you alright, Hermione? - Hagrid whispered. - Don't worry, it can't have gone far if it's that injured, and then we can... BEHIND THAT TREE! - Hagrid grabbed Harry and Hermione and pulled them off the trail and behind a huge oak tree. He drew an arrow and notched it in the bow, raising it, ready to shoot. The three of them listened intently. Something was sliding through the dead leaves nearby, sounding like a cloak dragging on the ground. Hagrid squinted to see the dark trail ahead, but after a few seconds, the noise disappeared. - I knew it! - He murmured, looking like a professional and dangerous hunter with all his physical strength and stature, making Harry see him in a different light from the kind and gentle friend he had made. - There's something here that's out of place.
- A werewolf? - Harry suggested, eager to know if they would show yellow, blue, or red eyes.
- That wasn't a werewolf, nor a unicorn. - Hagrid said seriously, as if sniffing the air and sensing something distant, like Harry's hearing picking up something crawling far from them. - Alright, follow me, but be careful.
They continued to walk more slowly, and as the minutes passed in pure silence with only the sound of the forest, Harry smiled to himself and began to recite macabrely with a voice that echoed through the forest:
1... 2... Don't look back...
3... 4... Running won't help anymore...
5... 6... It's your turn...
7, 8, 9, 10... HE'S GOING TO GRAB YOUR FEET!
- Harry finished, deepening his voice and his eyes becoming pure dark power with his pupils glowing emerald green, which he looked at Hermione and left her in shock.
- AAAHHHH! - Hermione screamed, kicking Harry in the balls, causing him to fall to his knees on the ground.
- It's a joke! It's a joke. - Harry shouted, rolling in the leaves, holding his private parts. - Oh, my balls.
- Hehehe, punishment for a fool is not enough. - Hagrid said with amusement. - Just like Lily terrorizing James, they just need to get married. - He finished, with Hermione blushing and going to help her friend.
And just as everything calmed down again, they heard noises behind the trees. They both looked at Harry, but even he was focused, indicating it wasn't him. Something in the clearing ahead, something undoubtedly moving, and Harry noticed it was coming very quickly from a distance.
- Who's there? - Called Hagrid. - Show yourself. I'm armed! - And in the clearing appeared a figure: was it a man, or a horse? Up to the waist, a man with red hair and beard, but from the waist down, a sleek chestnut horse with a long reddish tail. Harry and Hermione's jaws dropped.
- Oh! It's you, Ronan. - Exclaimed Hagrid, relieved. - How are you?
He stepped forward and shook the centaur's hand.
- Good evening to you, Hagrid. - Said Ronan. He had a deep, sad voice. - You were going to shoot me?
- One can never be too cautious, Ronan. - Said Hagrid, patting his crossbow. - There's something loose in this forest. Ah yes, these are Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. Students from the school. And this is Ronan. He's a centaur.
- I noticed. - Said Hermione in a faint voice.
- Good evening. - Greeted Ronan. -Students, are they? Do you learn much at school?
- Hmm... - Harry murmured. - If it's useful, yes.
- A little bit. - Hermione replied timidly.
- A little bit. Well, that's something. - Sighed Ronan. Then he threw his head back and gazed at the sky.
- Mars is bright tonight.
- Yeah. - Said Hagrid, also looking up at the sky as if seeking Mars, which the centaurs seemed capable of sighting. - Look, it's good we ran into you, Ronan, because there's a unicorn injured. Have you seen anything?
Ronan didn't answer immediately. He continued to gaze upward without blinking and then sighed again:
- The innocent are always the first victims. It was so in the past, it is so now.
- Yeah, but have you seen anything, Ronan? Anything unusual?
- Mars is bright tonight. - Ronan repeated while Hagrid watched him impatiently. - An unusual brightness, as if awaiting a great change.
- Yes, but I'm referring to something closer to the ground and our realm. Haven't you noticed anything strange?
Once again, Ronan took a while to respond. Finally, he said:
- The forest hides many secrets.
A movement in the trees behind Ronan made Hagrid raise his crossbow again with incredible speed and aim, which increasingly captivated Harry, but it was only a second centaur, with black hair and body, and wilder-looking than Ronan.
- Hello, Bane. - Greeted Hagrid. - All right?
- Good evening, Hagrid. I hope you're well.
- Quite well. Look, I was just asking Ronan, have you seen anything strange around here lately? A unicorn has been injured. Do you know anything?
Bane went to stand beside Ronan. He looked at the sky.
- Mars is bright tonight. - He said simply.
- We know. - Hagrid replied, exasperated. - Well, if either of you see anything, let me know, please. Let's go then.
Harry and Hermione left the clearing with him, glancing back at Ronan and Bane over their shoulders until the trees blocked their view.
They barely noticed the fixed gaze of the centaurs on the sky, and a smile appeared on their faces when they saw the trio moving away, especially the boy Potter who barely understood his existence and what it represented when he entered the Mirror Dimension.
- The King is finally returning. - They both whispered, staring at Mars. - Soon we'll have our home back.
- Never... - Hagrid said, irritated. - Try getting a straight answer out of a centaur. They spend their time gazing at the stars. They're not interested in anything closer than the moon, specifically fixated on Mars as if that place could be a home for all magical creatures.
- And are there many of them here? - Hermione asked.
- Oh, a good number, I don't know exactly, because the forest can be vast... They mostly live in isolation, but they're kind enough to show up when I need to have a word. They're intelligent, you see, the centaurs... they know things beyond what other creatures understand... they just don't talk much.
- Do you think it was a centaur we heard earlier? - Harry asked.
- Did you think it was the sound of hooves? - Knowing that Harry had abnormal hearing that had drawn the gamekeeper's attention. - No, if you want to know, that's what's been killing the unicorns. Never heard anything like it before, but the footprints were quite natural for a wizard and not a creature.
They continued to walk through the dense, dark forest. Hermione kept glancing nervously over her shoulder, feeling a bad sensation that someone was watching them. She was glad they had Hagrid and his bow with them, along with Harry and his katana. They had just rounded a bend in the trail when Hermione grabbed Hagrid's arm.
- Rubeus! Look! Red sparks, the others are in trouble. - Hermione pointed to the sky where the sparks were rising and then falling.
- You two stay here! - Hagrid shouted. - Stay on the trail, I'll come back for you.
They heard him breaking through the underbrush at an incredible speed for someone his size, and they stood there staring at each other, very frightened, until they couldn't hear anything but the rustling of the trees.
- Do you think they're hurt? - Hermione whispered.
- I hope not... It's my fault Neville is here.
- It wasn't your fault, Harry. - Hermione explained, holding onto his arm for protection.
The minutes dragged on. Their ears seemed sharper than usual. Harry seemed to be registering every whisper of the wind, every twig that snapped. What was happening? Where were the others?
Finally, a great noise of breaking branches announced Hagrid's return. Malfoy, Neville, and Fang were with him.
Hagrid was furious. Malfoy, it seemed, had grabbed Neville from behind to scare him, Neville got scared and sent the signal.
- We'll be lucky if we catch anything now with the racket you made and the signal in the sky. All right, let's switch groups: Neville, you and Hermione stay with me. Harry, you take Fang and this idiot. Sorry. - Hagrid added to Harry in a whisper. - But it will be hard for him to scare you, and we need to finish our job before 3:00 AM; that time is never good to be wandering around, especially in a place so magical and saturated with distinct entities.
So Harry went into the heart of the forest with Malfoy and Fang. They walked for almost half an hour, delving deeper, until the trail became impassable as the trees grew too close together. There were splashes on the roots of a tree, as if the poor creature had struggled in pain there.
Harry saw a clearing ahead through the tangled branches of an old oak.
- Look. - He murmured, raising his arm to stop Malfoy. - Something very white was shining on the ground. They approached slowly.
It was the unicorn, and it was dead. Harry had never seen anything so beautiful, yet so sad. The long, slender legs were stretched at odd angles where it had fallen, and its mane was spread across the dark leaves.
Harry took a step forward, but the sound of something sliding at an alarming speed made him freeze. A bush at the edge of the clearing quivered... Then, out of the shadows, came a hooded figure, crawling across the ground like a hunting reptile. Harry, Malfoy, and Fang were paralyzed. The hooded figure approached the unicorn, lowered its head to the wound on the animal's flank, and began to drink its blood like a brutal, anguished vampire thirsty for blood after a long period of drought.
- AAAAAAAHHHHH! - Malfoy let out a terrible scream and fled, followed by Fang. The hooded figure raised its head and looked directly at Harry, the unicorn's blood dripping from its chest. It stood up and quickly advanced towards Potter.
Then a pain like he had never felt before seared through his forehead, as if his scar were on fire, as if something wanted to forcefully escape, tearing the scar and flying towards the cursed entity in the forest. He braced his right leg to maintain balance, and drawing his katana, he made a horizontal slash.
It was evident that he had wounded the advancing creature, for it recoiled with a great deal of blood spilling onto the ground and a piercing scream of horror and surprise, as if two entities had unique reactions. He heard hooves behind him, galloping, and then something leapt over him and attacked the figure.
The pain in Harry's head was so intense that he fell to his knees.
It took him about two minutes to pass. When he raised his eyes, the figure had disappeared. A centaur loomed over him, but it was neither Ronan nor Bane. This one seemed younger, with silver-blond hair. He was lucky that something had intervened because when he fell to his knees from the pain in his head, he would surely have been vulnerable to the enemy creature.
- Are you alright? - The centaur asked, helping Harry to his feet.
- I can do this all night. - Harry laughed as he wiped his scar and noticed it was bleeding something black. - I cut it... - Harry indicated the trail of a copious amount of blood on the ground that formed a path. - What was that?
The centaur didn't answer. He had astonishing blue eyes, like very clear sapphires. He looked intently at Harry, taking a long look at the livid scar on his forehead, and seemed to study something even more hidden, giving a slight smile.
- You are the Potter boy. It's best to return to Hagrid's company. The forest isn't safe at this hour, especially for you. Can you ride? It'll be faster. My name is Firenze. - He added as he bent his front legs for Harry to climb onto his back.
They suddenly heard the sound of hooves from the other side of the clearing. Ronan and Bane burst from the trees, their flanks heaving and sweating.
- Firenze! - Bane thundered. - What are you doing? Carrying a human! Have you no shame? Are you a mule?
- Do you know who he is? - Firenze retorted. - He's the Potter boy. The faster he leaves the forest, the better.
- What have you been telling him? - Bane growled. - Remember, Firenze, we swore never to interfere with the heavens. Haven't you read what's to come in the movements of the planets?
Ronan pawed the ground, nervous.
- I'm sure Firenze thought he was doing the best. - Harry said in a somber tone, seeing the blood dripping from his blade.
Bane kicked angrily:
- Doing the best! What does that have to do with us? Centaurs care about the foretold! It's not our job to run around like mules fetching lost humans in our forest.
Firenze suddenly reared up on his hind legs in anger, causing Harry to cling to his shoulders to avoid falling.
- You didn't see the unicorn. - Firenze shouted to Bane. - You don't understand why it was killed? Or did the planets not tell you that secret? I've taken a stand against what's lurking in the forest, Bane, yes, even on the side of wizards if necessary.
Harry, remembering the unicorn there, quickly jumped off Firenze and knelt before the beautiful and pure creature, as his sharp ears indeed picked up something faint but present.
He touched the blood pouring from a bite in its neck that had torn the area; the blood was warm... and Harry had a faint impression of a pulse, similar to when he cared for an injured horse at the zoo.
The trio of centaurs watched him curiously, and Harry barely noticed but felt he had to do something.
His arm burned like the night he was involved with Rita Skeeter and the hot morning he had with two other women. However, unlike that time, something inside him made him feel anger, hatred, and bitterness for the brutality against such a beautiful and pure animal.
And with that, Harry finally drew with his left hand, the Elder Wand bound by magic to his arm.
- Vulnerar Sanentur... - Harry's voice was now calm, his wand glowing as if a condensed reddish magic spread through his hand and arm wielding it.
- Vulnerar Sanentur... - Harry continued to chant, feeling the creature's accelerated heartbeat that had just been still moments ago.
- Vulnerar Sanentur... - This time the creature's blood spread all over the area, began to return to its original point. It was silver, and the creature seemed to convulse under Harry's soothing touch.
- Vulnerar Sanentur... - Chanting for the fourth time, Harry felt a great weight lift off his shoulders. It was as if remaining without using the Elder Wand was negative, and when he used it, all the negativity and evil left with an extremely powerful surge of magic.
- Vulnerar Sanentur! - Finally, with this last incantation... Harry could see the creature's severe wound heal completely, leaving only the affected area hairless.
She was breathing heavily, and Harry calmly stroked her ears to keep her still.
- It's okay... there's no more danger. - Harry said as the creature looked at his katana, seeing the blood dripping from the beast that had attacked her and tried to attack Harry.
Harry, who had stood up, immediately helped the unicorn stay upright despite her imminent weakness.
Calmly releasing her, she made a kind of bow with her neck to Potter, which Harry quickly understood as a sign of gratitude and trust. She then left quickly.
Ronan and Bane stared at Harry strangely, and Firenze turned quickly to leave, with Harry climbing on and holding on as best he could to avoid falling. They plunged through the trees, leaving Ronan and Bane behind.
Harry had no idea what was happening.
- Why is Bane so angry? What was that thing I cut that you saved me from?
Firenze slowed down, warned Harry to keep his head down to avoid low branches, but didn't answer the question. They continued through the trees in silence for so long that Harry thought Firenze didn't want to talk to him anymore.
They were passing through a particularly dense part of the forest when Firenze suddenly stopped.
- Harry Potter, do you know what unicorn blood is used for?
- No. - Harry said, surprised by the strange question. - We only use the horn and tail in Potions class. - He continued, looking at his hand covered in the unicorn's silvery blood.
- Because it is a monstrous thing to kill a unicorn. Only someone who has nothing to lose and everything to gain would commit such a crime. Unicorn blood keeps a person alive even when they are on the brink of death, but at a terrible price. They have killed something so pure and defenseless to save themselves and will only have a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches their lips."
- But who would be that desperate? - Harry thought out loud. - If a person is going to be cursed forever, isn't it better to die?
- It is. - Firenze agreed. - Except if they need to stay alive long enough to drink something else, something that will restore their strength and full power, something that means they can never die. Mr. Potter, do you know what is hidden in your school at this moment?
- The Philosopher's Stone! Of course, the Elixir of Life. But I don't understand who... - Harry said, only to be interrupted.
- Can't think of anyone who's waited many years to regain power, clung to life out of fear of death, waiting for a chance?
It felt as if a firm hand suddenly squeezed Harry's heart. Above the rustling of the trees, he seemed to hear again what Hagrid had told him the night they met:
"Some say he died. Nonsense, in my opinion. I don't know if he had enough humanity left to die."
- You're saying... - Harry spoke hoarsely. - That the one who killed my parents, the creature that attacked me and I managed to wound tonight... was actually Vol...
- Harry! Harry, are you okay? - Hermione came running desperately towards them along the trail, Hagrid puffing behind her.
- I'm fine. - Said Harry, not even knowing what he was saying. - But tell me, Firenze... the unicorn I healed. Voldemort won't go after it like just now, will he? - Harry asked, to the shock of everyone there, who couldn't believe what they were hearing.
- Fortunately not... now that you've wounded the Dark Lord again, he'll be even weaker than he's been since his fall a decade ago. Everything he worked to strengthen up to now has been collapsed by your presence again. The blood on his wound caused by your blade is now spread throughout the forest, and everyone will track him... There's not a creature that wouldn't try to attack him in such a fragile state. Bane and Ronan will escort the unicorn... there's nothing to worry about. - Firenze explained, lowering his gaze to Potter. - You resurrected a unicorn that was already dead, Mr. Potter... be proud of that, because the wand that conjured such is something so powerful that even the knowledge of a legion of centaurs couldn't comprehend. - He continued, as Harry quickly sheathed it in his right arm, where the magical cord that kept it bound was located.
- And this is where I leave you. - Murmured Firenze, seeing the gamekeeper smile at him. - You are safe now."
- Good luck, Harry Potter. - Said Firenze. - The planets have been misinterpreted before, even by centaurs. I hope that's what's happening now. You are the change everyone has been waiting for... the chosen one responsible for maintaining the hope of both the wizarding world and the No-Mag world. - He turned and trotted into the forest, leaving a trembling Harry with such words and responsibilities.
No one knew what to say, seeing the silver unicorn blood on Harry's hands and the blood of some creature on his blade.
He barely knew what he was doing, but Harry pulled out two vials that he always carried in his blazer. He let the unicorn blood drip from his hand into the first vial with a weak spell.
He did the same with his blade, which held more blood that filled half a vial.
- Harry... what's this about You-Know-Who? - Hagrid asked with strangeness and disbelief.
- Voldemort attacked me and Malfoy before disappearing. I cut him... so I think it might be important to keep his blood, right? - Harry finally asked, sealing the vials with magic and sheathing his blade.
Everyone there showed discomfort with that name and hardly knew what to discuss. With that, they finally finished their tasks in the forest since Hagrid assured he would be aware of how Harry saved a unicorn.
[ ... ]
Ron had fallen asleep in the dark common room, waiting for his friends to return. He shouted something about Quidditch fouls when Hermione shook him hard to wake him up. Within seconds, however, his eyes widened when Harry started his muttering reasoning state, where he kept murmuring about everything that happened, trying to find a logical answer.
Harry couldn't even sit down. He paced back and forth in front of the fireplace, still trembling.
Quirrell wants the stone for Voldemort... And all this time we thought it was Snape who wanted it. But it's Quirrell who's always talking to himself, who always seems to be receiving orders and being mainly tortured...
- Stop repeating that name! - Ron said in a whisper of terror as if Voldemort could hear them.
Harry didn't even listen to him:
- Firenze saved me the moment I cut him, but I shouldn't have done that. Bane was furious... He talked about interfering with what the planets foretold would happen. They must be indicating that Voldemort is coming back and that my interference caused a drastic change. Bane thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me for some distinct reason. I imagine that's also written in the stars.
- Stop saying that name! - Ron hissed.
Hermione looked very frightened but offered a word of comfort:
- Harry, everyone says Dumbledore is the only person You-Know-Who has ever feared. With Dumbledore around, You-Know-Who won't touch you. Anyway, who says the centaurs are right? This sounds like divination to me, and Professor McGonagall says predicting the future is a very inexact branch of magic.
The sky had lightened before they finished talking. They went to bed exhausted, with their throats burning.
But the night's surprises weren't over. When Harry arrived at the first class of the day, he discovered that Quirrell had taken leave due to being injured the night before... This only frightened Harry more, as it gave more proof that it was indeed the professor he mutilated. His thoughts were only linking to one thing:
What Quirrell hid in his turban was none other than the face of Voldemort. And according to the books he had been checking, somehow the professor was possessed by a strong dark magic or even a derivation of Legilimency that the book's author seemed proficient enough to bypass even Veritaserum.
That's why when he cut the creature that attacked him last night, it seemed to walk with its feet turned backwards, like the Brazilian creature, the Curupira.
If he was right, it was Voldemort all along, whether when classes started, during the Quidditch game, when the Weasley twins enchanted snowballs and threw them at the back of the professor's head, and even last night.
It was always Voldemort, not a dark wizard trying to rise to power, but a fallen Dark Lord seeking to regain his peak. These were no longer hypotheses and opinions; they were facts in his hands. They couldn't prevent his invasion because he was already infiltrated, and now no one knew his location.
Harry's mind was racing, paying little attention when Gryffindor received one hundred and fifty points due to Potter using an extremely advanced healing spell on a unicorn in the Forbidden Forest, and an extra one hundred and fifty points for the other three houses.
This didn't put them in the lead, but it made everyone forget the problems and theorize about how a first-year student was able to heal a severely injured unicorn that, according to Hagrid, was dead and reanimated by Harry's magic.
Harry was the only one preoccupied with books, ideas, plans, mental training, and everything he could use when he decided to read all the books in the Hogwarts library and its Restricted Section. He wouldn't be caught off guard by enemies and be so vulnerable again, starting with the first book he was really interested in, the book now in his hands under the strange gaze of the headmaster watching him read fervently from a distance:
"The Art of Domain Expansion - Tom Marvolo Riddle."
And with that, I conclude another chapter of Changed Prophecy.
I hope you are enjoying Harry's reasoning, how the Elder Wand behaves when Harry doesn't use it, and how it acts when he does.
How a spell to heal severe wounds has an extremely high effect when used by such a wand. Because, let's be honest, it's the Elder Wand and the mother of the Wand of Wands. Made with Death's own tears. I also showed that Harry doesn't have a katana just for decoration; he knows how to use it very well, he just hasn't had the opportunity to show his master skills in martial arts and Kenjutsu yet.
This matter of Legilimency and Occlumency will also be important because possession is something rare in the wizarding world, and Harry's mind is wide open for his number one enemy to discover that he can affect him directly without anyone being able to do anything.
Now, I ask: Send ideas for mental defenses for Harry. I need simple defenses for a first-year student who has never delved into this area, but also a mental defense complex enough for wizards, preferably things related to No-Mag, because wizards have minimal knowledge of technology and things surrounding No-Mag.
Thus, the value of Harry's defense will not be the imposed power, but the complexity of how everything is hidden.
Anyway, I really hope you are enjoying it, and don't forget to comment your ideas for mental defense. I'll be waiting in the comments section.