Please check out my Unicorn Prince website, I promise you'll love it! http: www. starflowergem .com / the_unicorn_prince .html
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
The Unicorn Prince
Chapter 10: Goodbye
Dumbledore sat at the head table partaking in the newly fashionable passed time of Harry-watching. While he suspected most people were admiring the boy's fair looks; this was far from his own reasons they could be polar opposites.
Something strange was going on, and as any good teacher had learned, anything odd happening around the castle could be easily traced back to the Potter boy.
He wasn't exactly sure how the young Gryffindor tied into things this time around, but it was only a matter of time before things cleared up.
Hopefully it wouldn't take very long to find what that influx of magic he had felt the other night meant. Maybe he would be able to puzzle out why he was missing hours on the most important night of the month: the new moon.
Dumbledore did not make a habit of forgetting things; just because he was getting on in years did not mean he was growing senile. It had to be some strong magic because no simple obliviate could have this sort of effect on him, especially on a night like that, when wild magic pulsed barely under the surface and so sweetly calling-begging- to be used.
He'd figured it out soon enough, all he had to do was wait and watch. Hopefully he'd be able to see what was coming ahead of time and be able to prepare for or counter whatever it was.
dmhpdmhpdm
Night was still in the Tower as the two boy's met at the base of the stairs to finish their task.
Neither wanted to be the one to take that first step up the staircase, yet both knew they had no choice. They had chosen their path the night the owls came.
"Let's get this over with." The older boy said, gathering what little courage he had left to start walking. How he wished he was more brave, maybe then he wouldn't have to do this.
No, if he was braver he would have told a teacher what was going on. Or, even better, He would have rescued her himself!
That was what Harry would have done.
But he wasn't Harry, and he wasn't brave. He would do what he was told, then crawl under a rock where he could wallow in self-pity in peace.
For now the boy led the way up the dark stairs, his heart like lead in his chest.
The room, too, was dark. The silence was broken only by the violent, almost random, snores emerging from one of the beds.
The two boy's slipped down to the bed from the night before, ignoring all else. The elder reached out to pull the hangings apart, inwardly marveling over the rich new fabric.
Another eternity passed as they stared at the figure on the bed. He was lying on his side tonight, curled into a small ball, his head tilted slightly causing his hair to fan over his pillow, an inky black on crimson sheets. His skin was so pale and soft looking it was easy to imagine the boy was glowing. He just looked so…
"He looks so Innocent." The other person breathed in a whispery voice.
That was all he needed to break the spell. Shaking his head he stepped back, "Just get on with it." He grunted.
The smaller teen obediently moved forward, his wand already at work.
After the incantation had been cast it was his turn again. He pulled a salve out of his pocket and began gently moving his fingers in feather-light circles over the boy's throat. Then he traced a line across the boy's nose from one cheek to the other. At last he completed the markings by etching a rune into the boy's forehead, right between his eyebrows, under his mark.
He paused for a moment when he thought he had brushed against something hard with his knuckles. But there was nothing there, just hair and a prominent scar, so he shrugged it off as his imagination.
The other boy started casting another spell while he unstoppered the last potion and forced it between the boy's lips.
He eased the potion down his friend's throat by stroking his exposed neck. At last he removed himself to the background to watch the final stage.
The other boy cast one more spell; completing their task by pressing his want to their victim's temple.
All the runes he had etched onto the boy's pale skin the night before burned white-hot and the body arched off the bed.
The other boy stumbled backward into him and they both watched wide eyed and afraid, as the boy writhed in agony.
Afraid the boy would cry out, he quickly cast a silencing charm and pushed the other boy from the room before returning to his own bed.
He had to force himself not to look at the boy tossing in obvious pain just feet from him. There wasn't anything he could do about it now. It was done.
hpdmhpdmhp
He needn't have bothered with a silencing charm. Harry had long since learned the art of silent screaming. It just wouldn't do to wake the Dursley's with his night terrors, and he would feel guilty to keep his friends up with his screaming.
Not that this was anything like his ventures into Voldemort's mind, as painful as that could be.
No, this was worse.
Harry's new body was fighting back against the invading magic, his reaction having been delayed by a clever spell meant to disguise the magic, temporarily as his on. At the same time it had also weaved the foreign elements so deeply with his own magic that it was impossible to untangle alone.
The moment the wand came in contact with his horn, the illusion shattered, exposing the true benevolent nature of the spells and potions.
By then it was too late. Harry's magic raced like fire through his veins and through the forest of his mind, trying to cleans him of the invading substances. Pain laced his thoughts and scorched his flesh, making the boy writhe and twist on his mattress.
But the magic was too deep The foundation spells and anchoring runes had done their job, and Harry finally settled down. Soaked with sweat and trembling, he slipped into a dreamless slumber.
As his mind, body, and magic worked on repairing itself, the potions and enchantments had time to work, as they were no longer having to fight him.
As plans were set in motion inside the supposed safety of the castle walls, the creatures in the forest were restless; some were downright frightened.
Something that did not belong in the forest had appeared; something that posed a threat to any magical creature.
The current target of this fiend was a small, sunshine-gold ;creature. Impossibly large garnet orbs shone bright with terror as it flitted rapidly through the trees, darting under branches and through thick brambles in a desperate bid for freedom.
The poor creature's stalker was the best. Trained in stealth and speed, he tailed his quarry unerringly, thrilling in the creatures blind fear as well as the high of the hunt itself.
This little treasure had eluded him for far too long; leading him on a merry little chase far from it's nest and any nearby sanctuary's that may have gotten in his way.
That the Hunt brought him to Hogwarts was an added bonus. Sure, he saw Blaise every night, but the distance was always a strain on his powers.
It was about time to finish this Hunt, it was becoming a bore. The bird was getting predictable.
From the small, bottomless pouch tied onto his belt he withdrew a carefully pieced together net he had made himself. He shook it out as he ran nimbly through the foliage, the magical strands gleaming in the faint moonlight.
From there it was a simple act to get in front of the young bird and send his net flying.
Even the perfect reflexes and high speeds of the bird could not protect it from the veil-like trap. It's delicate wings couldn't move under it's pressure, and without their support the creature was sent spiraling backwards.
The hunter wasn't overly concerned about his trophies wellbeing. He had cast more then enough charms on the net to protect it from any damage, and besides, it was worth just as much to him dead as it was alive.
Triumphantly he strode forward to collect his prize, only to come up short as a ghostly blur barreled into his path, impeding any advancement he had in mind.
He quickly withdrew his diamond edged dagger and took a defensive stance when he found himself at the deadly point of a protective unicorn's horn.
H sneered at the creature, not at all displeased with this new development. His original prey was going nowhere anytime soon, and unicorn's had an annoying habit of avoiding him. This would be easy money.
The magnificent beast pawed the ground and tossed it's head. It's beautifully spiraled horn caught the moonlight and practically glowed.
Out of all the creatures he'd Hunted, Unicorns would remain his favorite. There was nothing like watching that silvery blood leak out onto the ground and stain his hands; the warmth lasted far longer than normal crimson blood and had such powers he could practically smell the money coming off it.
Hunter darted forward, slashing at the creature, who shied away from the blade. This brought a crazed grin to the boy's lips. Unicorns hated confrontation.
He switched his dagger for his wand in one movement, and with a muttered spell, send a barrage of small pebbles panting towards the animal. She reared back, hoping that would help.
This was just what he'd been waiting for. With a violent wave and downward slashing motion of his wand he was able to render this beauty immobile. Vines shot from all sides, wrapping like thick ropes around her neck and legs-front and back. More twisted around her belly and even more found her horn.
The unicorn fought valiantly, trying to buck and twist. She put all her weight on the vines, whinnying and baying desperately. But she could do nothing, suspended in the air as she was.
Hunter stored his wand away again and brought his blade back out. A simple slash across her jugular brought forth a rainfall of warm silver blood to taint the night.
Harry hadn't been asleep for long before he was dragged back to conciseness once more.
The unease from before had quadrupled, it's overwhelming urgency leaving him immobile for an eternity of endless moments, before he bolted from his bed. He paid no mind to the prickle of needles on his face, arms, stomach and thighs as he shattered a spell that had been cast over his bed. He didn't pause to slip on shoes, nor retrieve a cloak from his trunk.
He dashed through the castle and over the grounds. He was in the forest before he was even aware that's where he was going.
Once he was in the trees it hit him like Hagrid's boarhound: Something evil was in his forest harming his people.
He never had to think of where he was going, he simply followed the core of angry magic.
The scene he came upon had his blood running cold. Directly in front of him stood a man, dressing in all black robes of a style Harry had never seen before. He was facing away from Harry, his head hidden from view by some type of veil. He was wearing a belt of some sort with multiple straps, holsters, and bags attached to it, and above that was a blaring symbol on the ebony expanse of cloth. It was in the form of a phoenix and a dragon, combined into a circle. Both creatures were snapping at each other and encased in flames. The dragon was a deep emerald green surrounded in red flames, and the phoenix was it's opposite.
Once he had seen his fill of the strangers back, he was able to focus on the horror of what he had done.
It was a unicorn; and it was dead. Murdered. Silvery blood was everywhere, a grotesque testament of the evil committed that night.
"Who are you and what are you doing in my forest?" Harry didn't care about the first question and the second was rather obvious, but he felt like he should say something.
The stranger spun to meet him, dagger raised before him defensively, soaked in defiled-innocence. Behind him, the Unicorn's body began to shrink, bringing a dead weight to lay on Harry's heart with his realization of just what this man had done.
The strangers, after having caught sight of Harry's expression, glanced over his shoulder in a mildly curious manner.
Harry couldn't see the other man's face, but he was positive that when he turned back around he was grinning smugly.
Harry's eyes narrowed and he charged forward thoughtlessly. "Monster!" He growled as he went to tackle him, only to see him evaporate before contact.
"We'll play another time young Prince." The words were whispered into his ear as he came to a stop, making him shiver.
Great, just what he needed, another crazy stalker.
He wasn't given long to brood on that as he caught full sight of the Unicorn's body.
It was the Maiden from before, the one who always spoke to him. She was strung up like some sort of sick puppet. Most of her hair was gone, her horn had been sawed off, and Harry knew without looking that her eyes, too, had been taken. Her clothes were torn and barely more then rags, but worst of all was the fact that she had been skinned.
Harry sank to his knees in front of her dangling body, mindless of the silvery blood on his robes, and the tears running rivers down his cheeks.
"No…" he murmured, "No, no, no, no."
Movement to his right had him glancing over. Walking towards him with amazing silence was the second largest horse Harry had ever seen, (the largest being Madam Maxime's horses in his fourth year) It was almost a third larger than normal horses, and twice as big as a unicorn. It had a beautiful dark grayish blue pelt and a black mane and tail. It moved slowly as if afraid to approach, and in it's mouth swung some sort of net bag.
The horse stopped in front of him, waiting almost expectantly for him to take the net. He was surprised when it spoke, it's voice deep and full of sorrow. "I tried to stop her, my Prince, but she wouldn't listen. Illian could never stand to see another in pain, and insisted n rescuing the little one. I am sorry I failed." Then to Harry's further surprise the horse bowed it's front quarters, lowering it's head to the dirt in front of him.
The net he was holding was moving ever so slightly now. Vaguely curious, despite the aching whole in his heart, Harry pulled back the edges of the net.
Emerald eyes widened in surprised as they took in the quivering mass of feathers in his lap. He recognized it immediately, of course. It was a Snidget!
He'd seen pictures of them in his copy of Quiditch through the Ages, but he'd never thought he'd actually see one.
"Shh…your safe now." he murmured quietly s he trailed two fingers over the small creature's back. Warmth spread from his horn to his fingertips, pouring over the bird in calming waves. The adorable thing ceased it's trembling and cooed adoringly, leaning into his touch. This brought a small smile to Harry's lips.
Sadly it didn't last long, as his eyes glued back onto Illian's figure. He rose on shaky legs, and began pulling vines away, cradling the snidget in one hand.
He swallowed hard as the body collapsed limply on the muddy pathway. "What should we do now?" He asked.
"Don't worry about it, my prince. We'll take care of it." A new voice, this time obviously female, said from his left. He finally glanced up, only to find himself surrounded by more Unicorns. Wile some were maidens, others were normal unicorns, and Harry was surprised to realize he could tell them apart.
The large horse from before butted his shoulder gently, "You need rest, My prince. Return to your castle. You can return later."
Harry nodded, he was tired. Before he left he bent down and kissed the broken horn, "Thank you Illian."
Review!