Chapter 10: Forbidden Forest
Filch escorted them to Hagrid's hut after dark one evening. Filch moaned that he wished the old punishments could still be used. "How I miss the screaming." He said.
Arriving at Hagrid's, they were met by Hagrid armed with a crossbow and followed by Fang.
"We'll be goin' into the Dark Forest tonight," he said.
"The Forest!" yelped Draco. "We're not allowed in the forest, there's Werewolves in there, and…"
"Yeh'll go where I tell yeh," said Hagrid. "Or yeh'll be sent home, which will it be?"
Sulkily Draco followed them into the forest.
"There's somethin' killin the Unicorns in there. Found one last week, looked like it had been dead a few weeks. Must a bin somethin' evil, Unicorns are pretty powerful magical creatures."
Presently they came to a pool of a silvery substance. "Unicorn blood," said Hagrid. "It looks like it's hurt bad"
We'll split up and follow these two trails. Don't stray off the trail, and if yeh see anythin' shoot some red sparks into the air. Draco and Harry will follow that trail, Hermione, Neville and I'll follow the other.
Draco said, "Fine, but Fang goes with us."
"Jes' so yeh know, Fangs a right coward," said Hagrid.
Draco didn't look so brave now.
Hermione wanted to go with Harry, but Hagrid wanted to keep her close to him for safety. Hermione and Harry insisted, so Hagrid switched Hermione and Draco. Harry and Hermione felt safer in their own company. They knew together they could do better than apart.
Following the trail, they spotted the unicorn's blood every few feet. The forest grew darker and they heard strange rustlings. Harry and Hermione stayed close. Suddenly they spotted the unicorn. It was lying on its side, and something seemed to be drinking its blood. Harry's scar burst with pain when he looked at what was drinking the blood. Both He and Hermione doubled up with pain. Harry could hardly see the pain was so great.
Hermione managed to grab her wand and shoot red sparks into the air, as the creature advanced on them. They tried to scramble away, but tripped on some roots. The pain increased and Harry almost passed out, when a galloping of hoofs and a large shape leapt over them and charged the creature. After the creature had gone, a Centaur galloped back toward them.
"Harry Potter, the forest is not safe for you," said the Centaur. "You two must leave at once."
"What was that thing you chased away," Harry asked, gasping for breath and holding his head.
Hermione also looked quite pale, and pain also showed on her face.
"That was a most foul creature, for those who drink the blood of a unicorn, can survive, even if they are an inch from death; but at a cost. They will live a half life, a cursed life."
"But who was that?" Harry persisted.
"Can you think of no one that would benefit from the innocent until they can retrieve what is hidden in Hogwarts?" asked the Centaur.
"You mean that was Voldemort?" shivered Harry.
At that moment Hagrid burst into view. "Hello Firenze." He greeted. "Everything OK?"
"Greetings Hagrid, you should know better than to bring children into the forest, especially at night. Especially Harry Potter. I will leave you now; you will be safe with Hagrid." With that, Firenze trotted off.
***
"So Snape's not after the stone for himself," said Harry. "He wants it for Voldemort!"
"I figured that greasy git was a Death Eater," said Ron. "He must not know how to get past Fluffy. I wonder what else is protecting the stone?"
"Well, if the professors are involved, that would suggest some specialty from each of them," Hermione thought. "Let's see, Professor Sprout… must be a magical plant. Professor McGonagall… something transformed. Snape would have a potion. Something from Dumbledore and something from Professor Quirrell. No telling what they might be, but it'll be something very clever from the Headmaster, I bet."
"We should see Hagrid, there's something odd I just thought of," said Harry. "Isn't it odd that Hagrid got a dragon's egg, when he'd always wanted a dragon? Something's not right there."
They walk to Hagrid's place and found him outside carving a flute.
"Hagrid," Harry started, "Where did you get that dragon egg?
"Won it in a card game. Why?"
"What did the person look like that you won it from?"
"Dunno, he kept his hood on all the time, his face was in shadow. Seemed glad to get rid of the egg, now I think about it."
Harry persisted. "Did he say anything about the egg?"
"He seemed concerned I wouldn't know how to take care of a dragon, but I says, after Fluffy, a dragon would be no trouble."
"Did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Harry asked.
"Yeh, I mean how many three headed dogs are there, but I tol' him, just play him a bit of music and he goes right to sleep." After revealing this bit of crucial information, Hagrid looked shocked. "Oh, dear, you don't suppose…? Listen, you ferget I said that! Hey, where are yeh all goin'?"
"Gotta go Hagrid," replied Harry. "Hurry, we've got to see Dumbledore!"
Running back to the castle, they found Professor McGonagall.
"We have to see Professor Dumbledore; immediately!" exclaimed Harry.
"I'm sorry, the Headmaster was called away, what's this about," asked McGonagall.
"We think that someone is trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone, Professor," stated Hermione.
"The Philosophers Stone? How do you four know about that? Never mind, the stone is quite safe. Go back to your dormitory. The Headmaster will be back tomorrow," McGonagall said crossly.
"Now what do we do," asked Neville. "It'll probably be gone by tomorrow."
"We'll go down the trapdoor tonight. It could be dangerous, you don't have to come you know," said Harry.
"We won't let you go alone Harry!" said Ron, Hermione and Neville, together.
"Fine, we'll sneak out under the invisibility cloak after everyone's gone to bed."
Don't forget Hagrid's flute, Hermione reminded Harry.
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