Chapter One: The Forbidden Forest

AN: This is a revised version of the original chapter I wrote nearly five years previous- I would not be able to continue this story with the original chapters being so abysmal compared to later ones, as I like to think that my writing has improved quite a bit since then. Anyways, enjoy!

Harry and Hermione stood rather closer together than they would have normally, casting wary glances around their surroundings. They were in the Forbidden Forest, in the dead of night; punishment for being caught in the Astronomy Tower after curfew. The forest, which was always rather dark and spooky, was especially so this late at night. Harry was fairly confident that while they were with Hagrid, no harm would come to them, he still had to wonder who's idea it was to send first years into the forest at night as a detention. Every ambient noise from the forest made him and Hermione jump, and inch just a bit closer together. Hagrid stood ahead of the pair by quite a few feet, clutching his crossbow and muttering to himself. Owls would hoot, the leaves above their heads would rustle, and every so often, they heard a twig snap, snapped by something other than themselves. Here and there along the path, they saw spatters of the silver unicorn blood- Harry had the nasty feeling that with this much blood, they'd be lucky to find the unicorn alive.

Harry glanced at Hermione after they passed a particularly large pool. From the way that she was biting her lip, he sensed that she felt they would not find the creature alive as well. She was turning her wand over and over in her hand, a sign of nervousness, Harry noted. She did the same thing with her quill before a test, or when she was particularly stressed about homework. Harry decided it would be in both of their best interests to talk to each other quietly, to distract themselves from their present situation.

"All right?" He asked her, his voice coming out strangely huskier than normal. Hermione started, then looked around at him. She still looked tinged with nerves, but relieved as well. "Yes," She replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm a bit nervous, you know, but I feel better that we're with Hagrid, I know he won't let anything happen to us." She was quiet for a moment, then added, "And I'm glad I'm with you...rather than Malfoy or Neville." She turned her head away, which was lucky, as Harry felt his face go a bit red at this. "Thanks, I...I'm glad I'm with you too. Over Malfoy or Neville."

Hermione turned back around and smiled at him. Harry, despite his nerves, couldn't help but smile back, as he tried to cast around his head for something else to talk about. He settled on one of Hermione's favorite topics- school.

"So, how d'you think you did on Flitwick's last exam?" He asked. It worked; Hermione launched into a long-winded rundown of every question and her precise answer. Harry, relieved, listened to every word, happy to have something to distract him from the terrors of the forest.

"...and I expect I may have gotten 98% on it, which isn't great, I know, but it'll have to do I suppose." Hermione finished, ten minutes later.

Harry blanched, then laughed. "Hermione, that is great, what do you mean? I probably got at most an 88%, and that's best case scenario!"

Hermione cracked a smile. "Well if you and Ron studied more instead of trying to copy off of me, you might not have to worry about your grades!"

Harry grinned back, and nudged her playfully with his shoulder. "Hermione, you study all the time and you still worry about your grades!"

Hermione giggled now, and nudged Harry back. "I suppose it's just in my nature."

Their nerves mercifully diminished, they continued walking, chatting amicably. Both felt a weird sense of gratitude that Ron wasn't with them- he was their best friend, and the time they all spent together was great, but the pair rarely got to talk one on one, and it was a nice change from things. They were so absorbed in their conversation, that Harry didn't notice a bush growing slyly over the side of the path where he was walking, until he tripped over it, that was.

"Ouch!" He muttered, having landed on his knees. "Harry! Are you okay?" Hermione said breathlessly, kneeling down beside him.

"Yeah...knocked my glasses off though…" He replied, and began feeling blindly around for them. He heard Hermione make a scuffling noise off to his right, before feeling her hands slipping his missing glasses back on gently. Harry felt his skin warm a bit at this, and he hoped she wouldn't notice.

"Thanks," he murmured, and got a proper look now at what he had tripped on. It was a small bush, with dark leaves, and small, beautiful silver flowers. One had been knocked into the dirt when Harry had tripped. Harry, by impulse, knelt to pick it up. When it was in his hand, it began to glow ever so slightly. He heard Hermione breathe, "Oh! It's beautiful…"

Harry looked at the flower, then at Hermione. She was staring at the little blossom in an almost rapturous way, and before Harry could even think about it, or process what he was doing, he had extended his arm towards her, offering it.

Hermione looked at him in surprised, and Harry immediately felt like a prat. But then she smiled, a bright, happy smile that lit up their little dark spot of the forest. The foolishness Harry felt ebbed away as she took it, bringing it to her nose so she could smell it.

"Oh thank you Harry! It's lovely, and so unusual looking, I bet you anything it has magical properties. As soon as I see Professor Sprout, I'm going to ask her about it. She'll know. And I'll look up that Everlasting potion Professor Snape mentioned, and see if I can't brew it up." She smiled again, and gave Harry a quick hug. Harry felt a warm feeling spread in his stomach, and when she pulled away, both of them were rather pink. They grinned at each other again.

"Harry! Hermione! C'mon!" Hagrid called, from somewhere up ahead, and the pair realized that they had lagged behind. They scrambled up, and hurried along after Hagrid.