They sat in the living room and chatted for a while. When Albus got there Ginny turned to Fred, "Great work on that prank. It came just in time for Harry. He was really getting tired from all that abuse."
"What abuse?" James asked.
"Voldemort is constantly attacking Harry's Occlumency shields." Ginny said.
"It's just a headache." Harry grumbled.
"It's the worst headache I've ever had." Ginny said.
Harry looked at her in alarm, "Are you feeling them?"
"Sometimes when you're in class." Ginny said, "They've been getting worse."
Harry glared at her, "Why didn't you tell me you were feeling them?"
"Why aren't you telling them how bad they really are?" she glared back.
"Short of getting rid of Quirrell there isn't anything anyone can do about them." Harry said, " I just wish he would make his move already."
"Isn't there a better way to capture him then to lure him to a school full of kids?" Ginny asked.
"There isn't any where else where we could control it as well." James said, "If we can capture and contain him until Harry's ready we can make it easier on Harry. But we need to find a way to help with these headaches."
"I think Quirrell is doing something to make Voldemort stronger somehow." Harry said, "At the beginning of school it was just a minor headache and only during class. Just before the prank they were bad and almost constant."
"I think you're right and I think I know how." Albus said, "Hagrid found a dead unicorn in the forest yesterday."
The entire group shuddered and James said, "We may need to round them up and put them someplace safe."
"Maybe I can talk to them." Harry said, "Make them understand what's going on."
"I don't know if you can talk to animals like you can to people." James said.
"I can talk to Fawkes." Harry pointed out, "But we won't know until we try it out."
"I don't want you walking around the forest." James said, "If there is any possibility that Quirrell may be out there too."
"Actually Gred and I…" George started.
Fred added, "have prepared another letter…"
"…for our dear Professor."
"We planned on waiting…"
"…until just before school started."
"But we bow to your will…"
"and wisdom…"
"Oh great guardian of the realm." They finished together.
They both bowed to Harry, he sat up straight and said in his most pompous voice, "Since I have already dubbed you Sir Gred and Sir Forge what will you ask for this great deed of service you are providing?"
"We only ask…"
"…to accompany you…"
"…on this dark and dangerous…"
"…journey that you are…."
Together they said, "…undertaking."
"I'll see if that can be arranged." Harry declared. By this time the rest of the room was laughing so hard most of them couldn't sit up straight.
A few days later Quirrell sat at the staff table for breakfast. Albus had called a breakfast staff meeting to discuss something about a small group of students wanting to start a defense club. Quirrell didn't want to be there, he had been instructed to get to the forest and find a unicorn as soon as possible and he knew the punishment would be severe if he couldn't leave in time. During the meeting the morning mail came in. Quirrell received another advertisement for garlic. It seemed to him that some student must have put him on their mailing list just to annoy him. He banished the ad and went back to his breakfast. It wasn't long until he started coughing again. Madam Pomfrey was at the meeting and came over to check him as soon as he started to cough.
"Professor Quirrell, you haven't been following my instructions and you are having a relapse of your flu. Back to the hospital for you, now move it." She ordered.
Quirrell tried to get out of it but he was admittedly feeling worse by the minute. He was in bed and had a sleeping draught down him before he could really think straight. His master was not going to be happy with him. Hagrid accompanied Harry, Fred, George and Ginny into the forest. Ginny had been added to the group because only maidens were able to approach the unicorns. When they were well into the forest Harry changed into his unicorn while Fred and George became a set of red foxes. Ginny didn't change as she was to be the bait so to speak but Harry didn't want her to have to walk so she rode on his back. After about twenty minutes Harry stopped, the two foxes and Hagrid stopped too.
Harry thought to Ginny, "Walk ahead about ten feet and then stop. They are just out of sight and I don't want to scare them."
Ginny did as Harry asked and was not surprised when a beautiful unicorn came to her from the left. Ginny heard a voice in her head, "Why have you come with this pretend unicorn?"
"We need to warn you about an evil man in the forest and we weren't sure you would understand us." Ginny tried to explain.
Harry heard the same voice, "I know you are not a real unicorn, but your friend is worried for us and we can't understand her."
"She said we need to warn you about an evil man in the forest and we weren't sure you would understand us." Harry thought back, "That's why I came in this form so that I could speak to you. But I'm a boy and can't approach you."
"We have lost two of our number in recent months, is this because of the evil man?" The unicorn asked.
"We are fairly certain that at least one of them was killed by the evil man." Harry replied, "We want to ask you to move to a safer place deeper in the forest. We do not wish to lose any more of our friends."
"Very well Harry Potter we will move farther." The unicorn said, "But may we ask something of you in return?"
"You may ask." Harry said.
"Please come and get us when you have stopped him." The unicorn requested.
"Of course I will do that." Harry happily agreed.
The unicorn turned away and walked into the forest. Harry changed back followed by Fred and George, "They are going to hide deeper in the forest. And I have promised to return and let them know when he has been stopped."
"Great can you turn into a horse with a saddle this time so the ride back is a bit more comfortable?" Ginny smiled.
Harry laughed, "Well you could just change and take yourself back." Then he thought to her, "But I'd much rather have you close."
Ginny thought back, "Me too." Out loud she said, "I'm tired, I've worked so hard today, you have to carry me back."
Hagrid started back laughing at the pair and turned to return to Hogwarts. Fred and George changed back into foxes and followed Hagrid. Ginny made sure they were all facing away and gave Harry a quick peck on the lips then he changed and she climbed on his back. He caught up with the others quickly and they all ran back to Hagrids house. When classes started up Quirrell was once again on the job. Harry noticed right away that the attacks were much weaker and they didn't strengthen. Good he thought, he hasn't found the unicorns.
A few weeks later Harry got an owl at breakfast. The note in loopy script said, "My office after breakfast, you are excused from first class today. I like Berty Botts every flavor beans." Harry glanced at the headmaster and nodded slightly. The nod was returned discretely and Harry finished his breakfast. He went directly to the headmaster's office and was met there by Hagrid. When Albus arrived the group trouped up to the office.
"It finally happened last night." Hagrid said.
"How?" Albus asked.
"He bought me a few rounds at the Hogshead and brought out a dragon egg." Hagrid said, "Said he wanted to sell it for a reasonable price but needed to make sure I could handle it. So I told him next to Fluffy I think I can handle anything, all you need to know is the key to controlling it. He asked me how I do that, then I said Fluffy just loves music, play a little tune and he falls right to sleep."
"Excellent." Albus said, "Harry how's your headache?"
"Weakened considerably." Harry said, "It took me several days to realize he was still trying. I think keeping the unicorns away will make him desperate and he'll try soon. So do you have the egg Hagrid?"
The giant of a man chuckled and said, "Right here." He pulled a large egg out of his pocket. It looked like black granite and Harry could tell it was heavy.
"What kind is it?"
"I think it's a Norwegian Ridgeback." Hagrid said, "But I'm not positive, Firefly will be here in a few moments to collect it."
"Hargrid would you like to go and visit when it's time to hatch?" Albus asked, "I think he's earned the right to do that, don't you Harry?"
"Well Little John." Harry grinned, "I think you're at least getting part of your wish."
"Yes, well I couldn't have the rest could I." Hagrid grinned, "I mean I live in a wooden house, how long could I keep a fire breathing dragon for a pet. At least I get time to see that it gets a good start on life."
Just then the fire flared and Charlie Weasley stepped into the room, "Alright there Little John, Flash, Granddad Al?"
All three replied that they were great and Hagrid said, "Here's the egg Firefly."
"Excellent a Norwegian Ridgeback. One of our females was attacked last week and had an egg stolen. Let me see if this is it." Charlie did a spell and the egg glowed green, "Congratulations Hagrid you found our missing egg. There's quite the hefty reward for the return of this. Any idea who stole it?"
"The Family knows." Albus replied, "But I know nothing except that Hagrid found a man wanting to sell it cheap and he wanted to get the egg to safety so he spent his own money to get it. And then he immediately called you."
"Can I know what the Family knows?" Charlie asked.
"Quirrell is sharing his skull with Voldemort." Harry said, "And he's the one who sold the egg to Hagrid."
"Yikes, that's not a pretty picture. You be careful Flash." Charlie said, "Tell everyone I said hello would ya. I need to get this baby back to the fire."
"Please don't forget to let me know when to come for the hatching." Hagrid said, "I wanna watch that."
"No problem Little John, it'll be in about three weeks." Charlie replied.
A couple months had passed and on this night quidditch practice ran late and Harry was running even later. Fred and George had needed to leave practice early for a detention with Snape, the girls had already left and Oliver was studying plays. Harry didn't want to stay and listen to Oliver debate plays, he had homework to do. So he was returning from quidditch practice alone, it rarely happened.
As he was trying to slip back to his common room he was hit with a bad headache. His occulumency shields were under a major attack and before he could gather his wits he was grabbed from behind. Harry knew it was Quirrell even though he couldn't see him; he was drug through the castle to the third floor corridor that was out of bounds because Fluffy was living there. He had been debating trying to get away but when he heard Ginny telling her father what was happening, he decided not to blow his cover.
Hermione, Neville and Ron were sitting in the common room waiting on Harry when Angelina, Katie and Alicia walked in. Ron asked, "Is Oliver still yelling at Harry and the twins?"
"No the twins had a detention and left earlier." Angelina replied, "Oliver said he would walk with Harry when he finished going over the plays."
"There is no way Harry's going to wait around while Oliver goes over plays." Neville whispered, "I bet he's already on his way back alone, we better get the map."
Ron pulled the map out of his pocket and looked into the questioning faces of Neville and Hermione, "Harry asked me to start carrying it whenever they're at quidditch practice. I check and make sure no one is stalking around the pitch. Caught some Slytherin's last week."
He laid out the map and they began the search from the pitch, they were relieved to see Harry's dot at the front doors. They kept an eye on him and looked for possible trouble. None of them spotted the dot labeled Quirrell in an alcove along the hall Harry was walking. They were just as surprised as Harry was when the man jumped out and grabbed him. They watched horrified as Harry was dragged towards the third floor corridor.
"Neville, go get Aunty M." Hermione whispered furiously, "Ron and I are going to follow Harry and Quirrell." The group left the common room at a run with Ron stuffing the map in his pocket as they went. Quirrell had a head start and they could only hope their shortcuts would get them to the corridor before he reached it.
Quirrell roughly shoved Harry down the hole at Fluffy's feet, he had a harp that played magically and it put the dog right out. The next phase was the Devil's Snare, which he dispersed with a bit of fire. But when he got to the keys they gave him a bit of pause. He found the right key quick enough but getting to it was causing him some problems. He tried summoning it, paralyzing it even stunning it but none of them worked. Finally he tied Harry to a nearby column; he jumped on the broom and went after it. He was terrible on a broom but he did manage to catch it. Next was the chess set, Quirrell kept Harry close to him as they battled across the room.
Meanwhile, Ron and Hermione reached the sleeping Fluffy and jumped down the hole. When they landed on the pile of vines Ron said, "Wish Teddy was here, he'd know what it was and how to deal with it."
When it immediately started to coil around them Hermione yelled, "It's Devil's Snare." She swished her wand and produced a bit of fire and the plant quickly receded.
Next was the keys, Ron changed into his lion form and when the key dipped towards them he leaped and hit the key with one paw then twisted in mid air and landed on it. He changed back and put the key in the hole and opened the door and the two proceeded to the next room.
"That was brilliant." Hermione said, "You can leap probably ten feet in the air."
"Moony has been working on it with me." Ron grinned. His grin didn't budge from his face when they saw the next obstacle, "Yes, chess this is going to be so easy."
"Why not just try to walk across?" Hermione asked, "I'm sure Quirrell can't be too far ahead."
"Ok, let's try that first." Ron said, "But let me go first, I'm betting this is going to be wizards chess."
As they walked across the board Hermione asked, "What the difference between wizards and muggle chess." As they reached the other side the pieces moved to block their path, "Never mind I see the difference."
They retreated to their side and Ron began to play his way across the board. He was a knight and moved all over the board taking pieces. Hermione was a bishop and he worked hard to keep her safe. In the end he realized he would have to sacrifice himself to win the game. He turned to Hermione, "When I'm taken you must first go to the king and checkmate. Don't worry about me I'm going to be fine."
"Excellent strategy but you won't be sacrificing yourself today." Ron felt himself being levitated up and away from his knight and saw Aunty M, Granddad Al and Teddy. Ron told the knight to move, it was smashed then Hermione moved to checkmate the king and then he was lowered onto the board.
"Truly excellent game Leo." Albus said, "You all stay here only one can proceed to the next rooms."
Ron sighed with relief as Hermione said to Neville, "Teddy, I wish you had been there when we met the Devil's Snare. I didn't know what it was until it started to coil around us." Neville laughed and she said, "Hey can I see your animagus form? I got to see Leo a few minutes ago."
Neville changed into his brown bear form and let Hermione look him over, "Wow, do you know this kind of bear is a native of the British Isles but hasn't been seen since the tenth century?"
"Yes, I know." Neville changed back, "Moony makes you intensely study your animal when you find out what it is. The only way to know what your animal can do is to study it and find out what your animal can do."
Albus stepped gingerly into the room that he knew held a Troll. I was still out from Quirrell's attack so he went to the next room. He quickly drank the potion and hoped that there had been enough for both individuals before him. He stepped through the flames and was met with a very scary sight.
