The dead unicorn.

The upcoming examinations and the concomitant panic about them were a godsend for Harry, Hermione and Neville. Nobody had time to dwell on the lost points. Harry took Snape's advice to heart and helped the others as much as he could. Hermione did the same, and the other Gryffindors soon got over their anger.

Ron accepted the outcome with Norbert philosophically, but he pointed out that it was no wonder that Harry got into trouble since Snape had been involved. He turned a deaf ear to the fact that it had actually been Professor Mc Gonagall who took the points away, and eventually Harry gave up in correcting his friend.

-xox-

One morning Harry jolted awake after a nightmare. He was drenched in sweat, and his scar throbbed painfully. His dream had been awful, and Harry wasn't sure what to think about it. Everything in the dream had felt unusually real, and it had been terrifying. He didn't dare to close his eyes again. He was sure as soon as he did, the horrible pictures would return.

Even at breakfast he was still upset and couldn't eat anything. Hermione and Ron were worried.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked after Harry pushed his plate away and wrapped his arms around himself, shivering.

But Harry couldn't talk about his dream. He still had no idea what it meant and why his scar had burned so badly after waking up. He shook his head and scrubbed at his scar. It still tingled a little bit.

"You should go and see Madam Pomfrey. You look pale," Hermione suggested, rather bossily.

"No," Harry snapped. "I just didn't sleep very well, okay?"

Before Ron or Hermione could reply, three owls landed on the breakfast table. One in front of Hermione, one in front of Neville and one in front of Harry. Harry took the letter from his owl and opened it. It was about the detention and informed them that it would take place that evening.

-oxo-

Snape looked angrily up from his work at the sound of a soft knock at his office door.

"In," he grumbled, but then he raised an eyebrow in surprise when Harry stepped inside.

"Harry. What brings you down to my office on a Sunday afternoon?"

"Can I…" he started but trailed off. He looked down and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Then he shyly looked up again. "Today I had… I… can I… talk with you?"

Severus didn't understand much of this babble, but it was clear Harry wanted to talk about something and so he pointed to the chair in front of his desk and said, "Sit."

"Thanks," Harry whispered and sat down. But he still had no idea where to start. He studied his fingers and searched for words.

Severus waited for a while, studying Harry's facial expression. It seems the boy was troubled about something. As Harry stayed silent, he asked, "Is it the detention?" Draco had already visited him to complain about it.

"No." Harry shook his head. "It's not that. I had… it's… well, it's ridiculous… maybe… I should go. I'm sorry I -" Harry stood up again.

"Wait!" Severus stopped the boy, "If whatever is in your mind brought you down to my office, then it's important enough to talk about. What's the problem?"

Harry sighed and sat back. Playing with his fingers, he said, "I had a strange dream, well, it was more a nightmare. As I woke up my scar burned terribly."

Still not looking up, Harry waited for Snape to snap that he should not be so childish. But the question that followed took Harry by surprise.

"What exactly happened in your dream?" This question, asked in a calm and stern voice, made it clear that Snape would not laugh about Harry's problems.

Harry looked up to be sure no hidden sneer was in his professor's eyes.

"I dreamed I was in the Forbidden Forest. I was floating over the ground somehow. I'm not sure how, but I definitely didn't walk. There was this light. I was gliding towards it. It wasn't just a light it was a creature sending light. It looked like a horse with a horn. Are there unicorns in the forest?"

"Yes, there are," Severus said and wondered why Harry was hugging himself as if he was freezing cold. The boy was getting very pale.

"Harry, what's wrong?" Severus asked, worried.

"It was so beautiful," Harry whispered, nearly soundlessly, staring at a point on Severus' desk.

"Well, they are indeed. But they are also very shy and it's not easy to find one," Severus said to bridge the growing silence.

Harry gulped and tightened his arms around his torso. This act got on Severus' nerves. What the hell was wrong? The boy looked like he would sick up any minute. But what Harry said next still caught him off guard.

"I… killed one," the boy whispered, sheer horror written across his face.

"But it was just a dream, wasn't it?" Severus asked to hide his helplessness.

Slowly Harry shook his head. "I'm not sure," he whispered. Two fearful eyes met Severus'. "It felt so real. I killed it and felt joy at doing so. At the same time I was trying desperately to wake up, but I couldn't. I was full of feelings I never had before, but somehow they seemed to be mine; this anger and then this pleasure in killing someone. Does… does it mean I'm… going to be a… bad wizard?"

Severus was shocked by the story, but he didn't show it. He was glad that Harry seemed to be more concerned about being a dark wizard than about the act of killing a unicorn, because on this point he could reassure the boy.

"I don't think that your dream meant that. You said you tried to wake up, so you knew it was wrong. Maybe the point loss still gnaws at your conscience. Nearly all young wizards concern themselves with the question of becoming a Dark wizard at one time or another, and especially during hard times. But I promise you, you will not turn into a dark wizard. Not as long as I have a say in it."

Harry let a small laugh escape, then he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, releasing it with a sigh.

"So you think nothing is wrong with me?"

"Correct. Rest assured, you will not become a dark wizard," Severus repeated. But in his mind he was still shocked by Harry's dream. Something was very strange about it, but in a way the boy would never guess.

Color came back to Harry's face and he dried his sweaty palms on his trousers.

Although the dream was unsettling, Severus was glad Harry had approached him with it, and he felt the need to let the boy know that.

"Harry, I really appreciate your coming to me with this problem. If you feel the desire to talk more about your dream you are welcome to visit me again, but I know you have an appointment in a few minutes."

"Yes, thank you, sir." Harry said, turning red at the reminder of his upcoming detention.

Severus nodded once and Harry hurried from the room. The boy never saw the worried look on Severus' face.

-x-

"Severus, my boy!" Albus greeted his colleague with twinkling eyes.

Before Albus could offer a seat, Severus asked: "What exactly is the detention of the children about?"

"Didn't I inform you? Hagrid has a problem and asked for help."

"What kind of problem?" Severus asked impatiently.

"He said he found some blood from a unicorn in the forest. He wants to find it."

"A unicorn?" Severus repeated, shocked anew. He had really hoped Harry's dream would turn out to be just a nightmare. But now his hopes were shattered.

"Yes, it's very unfortunate. It is hard to believe that someone would harm them."

Severus paced the room and finally stopped by the window. It was getting dark already. Just a small sliver of red was visible at the horizon. While Severus looked down to the forest, Albus became aware of the concern on his face.

"What's wrong?" Albus asked.

"It's too dangerous for Harry to be out there. How the hell can you approve a detention in the Forbidden Forest? Since when are we penalizing rule breaking with another violation of the rules? The Forbidden Forest is forbidden, because it's too dangerous for the children!"

Severus turned around and looked at Albus. The headmaster noticed that there was more behind the outburst than just the anger about the detention.

"Did something happen that I should know about?"

"Harry just visited me. He told me about a dream in which he killed a unicorn. He was pretty troubled about that. He told me he felt emotions he never had before. How, Albus, how is it possible? Even if he is out there anywhere, how can he influence the boy in that way?"

"You mean Voldemort?" Albus asked now in a serious tone.

"Yes. Harry told me his scar hurt after that dream. Why would it do so, if it was just a normal nightmare? He also told me once that his scar sometimes tingles in Professor Quirrell's class. That's not a coincidence."

"You believe Quintus is cahoots with Voldemort? But he isn't a death eater. He has no mark."

"And because of that he has to be harmless?" Severus snapped "He may not have a mark, but he is acting strange; you can't tell me you haven't noticed."

"I don't deny that he is a bit odd, but we shouldn't jump to conclusions. Wouldn't it be possible that Harry's scar hurts in Quintus' class because it is about Dark Arts?"

"What about the dream? Why is Harry dreaming about unicorns? And why is he dreaming about killing one and the next day Hagrid tells you that he had found the blood of a unicorn?"

Dumbledore looked thoughtful. He stepped to the window next to Severus and looked out. If Voldemort really walk abroad in the Forbidden Forest, then it was indeed too dangerous for Harry to go into the Forest. But Hagrid was already on his way by now. It was too late to stop him.

As he turned his head towards Severus he noticed a strange expression on his colleague's face. "Severus? Everything alright?"

"I'm not sure. I thought I felt Harry."

"You felt Harry?" the headmaster asked, bewildered.

"I gave Harry the emerald Lily had given me," Severus explained.

"Oh? Is Harry in any danger already?" Albus asked, a bit worried.

"No. Not yet," Severus answered, again looking out of the window, lost in thought. Severus was angry at himself. He should have trusted his instincts and refused to allow Harry to go to his detention. He should have brought the boy straight to the headmaster.

It was unthinkable for an eleven year old boy to receive visions from a wizard so weak that he had to drink the blood of a unicorn. It was unthinkable that a bodyless creature could break into the mind of a healthy and strong little boy. Severus still had problems believing his deduction, although it was obvious.

Finally he asked, "Do you consider it possible that Harry's dream was a vision from the Dark Lord?"

Albus was quiet for a while. He stroked his beard while thinking. "Well, if Harry isn't a Natural in divination, then it's the only logical explanation, although it is astonishing."

"Astonishing? I would say alarming!" Severus said angrily, and with these words he stepped to the door, leaving Albus thinking by the window.

In long strides he walked through the corridors. He had to find Hagrid and the kids. If the Dark Lord was powerful enough to intrude into Harry's mind then he was strong enough to harm Harry.

-x-

It took him some time before he saw a small light through the trees and heard Hagrid's deep voice.

"Hagrid!" Severus called out, and the big man turned in astonishment.

"Professor Snape. What a surprise! Are you joining us?"

"Where is Potter?" he asked, ignoring Hagrid's question.

"He is with Mr Malfoy and Fang; somewhere in this direction I would guess," Hagrid said, pointing.

Severus couldn't trust his ears. "You don't know exactly? You let the children run through the forest on their own? Have you taken leave of your senses?" he ranted.

"I gave them proper instructions!" Hagrid explained, hurt.

"And what if anything happen? How fast can you get to them?" Severus demanded. "Neither Potter nor Malfoy are-" Severus stopped midsentence as he heard Harry's voice in his head.

'Snape!' was the only word he heard, but it sounded as if Harry was not just panicked but also in pain.

"Harry's in trouble," he hissed, angrily casting a glare at the half giant.

Neville moaned and Hermione chewed on her under lip. Hagrid wanted to ask how Severus knew that, but the Professor held his hand up, pulling out his wand.

He placed the wand on his hand and cast a point me spell. The wand started to twist wildly but finally stopped pointing in one direction.

"This way!" Severus said and hastened through the forest, leaving the main path. Hagrid, Hermione and Neville followed him nervously. After some minutes they heard Fang bark and a boy scream in panic. But it wasn't Harry, it was Draco running to them with an ashen face and eyes full of horror.

"Professor Snape!" the boy yelled, relieved at the sight of his head of house. "There is… there is... a monster!"

"Where is Potter?" Severus asked immediately.

Draco was offended that Snape's first words weren't directed at his welfare.

"I don't know," Draco grumbled, still out of breath from his run. "We found the unicorn dead, and Potter froze, and as this thing came through the trees to drink at the unicorn Harry started to scream. I guess it was in pain, but I'm not sure. Fang fled and I just ran after him. I thought Potter would come with us."

Severus blood nearly froze in his veins. So Harry was in the worst kind of danger.

"How long did you run until you got to us?" Severus demanded.

"I don't know," Draco shrugged.

Severus took both of Draco'a arms and shook the boy.

"Try to remember! What way did you come? Can you bring me back to where you left Potter?"

Now alarmed, Draco shook his head. "Please Sir, I really don't know," he said desperately. "I just ran after Fang. I didn't pay attention to where we were going."

Severus swore under his breath. He released Draco and pulled out his wand one more time.

Hagrid watched, perplexed and pale. "I… I didn't know the children would get attacked," he stammered.

Furious, Severus turned to him. "Why should you? These are all just harmless pets running around, right? You imagined the hurt unicorn would want to be found so you can heal it. But did it ever occur to you that whatever hurt the unicorn may be a danger to the children, too?"

Hagrid was silent for a while. "But Professor Dumbldore-" he started before he got interrupted.

"Professor Dumbledore is just an old and credulous fool. You are the gamekeeper and you should have used your brain. It was foolish enough to let the children into the forest, but to let them out of your sight was incredibly stupid."

Hermione gaped, shocked at the vitriol in the potion master's words. Neville cowered fearfully behind the girl, while Draco found a certain gratification in Hagrid's reprimand from his head of house.

Just as Professor Snape was ready to continue his search, the group heard the sound of heavy hooves and breaking branches heading in their direction.

Draco screamed again in panic. Snape grabbed the boy and shoved him protectively behind him.

"That's just Firenze!" Hagrid said, as the centaur came into sight.

"And Harry!" Hermione yelled and started to make a beeline for the two. Severus shot his hand out in time to catch Hermione's arm and prevent her from colliding with the big centaur.

"Hey!" she complained but was silenced by a death glare from Professor Snape. Their little dispute was cut short as Firenze tried to turn around to look at Harry.

"You are safe now, Mister Potter!" he said but Harry didn't move. His face was hidden, and his fingers were firmly curled around strands of Firenze's mane.

"Harry!" Hermione called at the motionless figure on Firenze's back, but the boy still didn't react.

Severus noticed the white knuckled grip. The boy still held on to the centaur as if his life depended on it.

"Potter, are you okay?" Snape asked, unable to hide his worry any longer.

At the sound of his professor's voice, Harry loosed his grip on Firenze's mane and slowly looked up.

"Professor!" Harry whispered, relieved and astonished at the same time. Carefully he sat up. His forehead around the scar was an angry red.

"The unicorn, Sir. It is really dead. The unicorn I killed last night was real!" Harry said, looking distraught.

"First of all, get down here," Severus said in a calm voice and took the boy under his armpits to pull him down from the centaur.

Feeling the ground under his feet, Harry tried to stand but his knees were still weak and refused to hold Harry's weight. The boy clutched at Severus' arms.

"But I didn't really kill it," he went on with an unfocused look "It was him… not me… I don't understand. How... and why? It's so… cruel." Harry closed his eyes, taking in a shuddering breath.

"Harry. Please calm down. It's important to get you out of the forest. We can talk in my office."

The boy nodded. Still dazed, he stumbled through the forest back to the castle, following the others.