It grabbed Buffy's leg and tried to pull her away from her brother. Buffy screamed at feeling the coldness the creature represented. Harry grabbed her tightly trying to prevent the creature from taking his sister. Harry held on tightly but the creature was stronger and his hold was beginning to slip. Suddenly there was movement above them as a giant centaur leapt over their heads landing right behind the dark creature. The Centaur raised its hooves as if to strike and the dark figure quickly let go of Buffy's leg and fled. The centaur watched until he could see it no more and then turned toward the twins. Harry had pulled Buffy up into his arms and was hugging her tightly. They were both trembling and Buffy had even let a few tears fall.
"Harry and Elizabeth Potter, you must leave. You are known to many creatures here. The Forest is not safe at this time. Especially for you two."
"But what was that thing you saved us from?" Harry asked his voice steadier than he felt.
"A monstrous creature. It is a terrible crime to slay a unicorn. Drinking the blood of a unicorn will keep you alive even if you are an inch from death. But at a terrible price. For you have slain something so pure that the moment the blood touches your lips you have a half-life, a cursed life."
"But who would choose such a life?" Buffy asked in a shaky voice that that were still filled with the tears that had fallen.
"Can you think of no one?" Firenze asked the two.
"You mean to say that thing that killed the unicorn that was drinking its blood that tried to take Buffy that was Voldemort?" Harry asked.
"Do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment, Mr. Potter?"
"The Sorcerer's Stone!" The twins said looking at each other.
"Harry!" Hermione called out.
"Buffy!" Ron called out at the same time.
"Hello there Firenze. See you've met the Potter twins. All right there Harry? Buffy?"
"I'm fine Hagrid, but Buffy won't stop shaking."
"I-I'm okay Hagrid. Thanks to Firenze here."
Hagrid nodded and moved closer.
"Potter twins, this is where I leave you. You are safe now. Good luck."
They watched Firenze leave. Harry finally stood up pulling Buffy with him. He was really becoming concerned as her shaking had not stopped yet.
"We bettah get ya to Madam Pompfrey." Hagrid said as he scooped Buffy into his arm.
"I'm okay Hagrid. I can walk." Buffy protested as they began heading back to the castle. The event had taken its toll on Buffy who was asleep before they even entered the school.
Hermione wasn't sure what had woke her up. It was still dark outside so she knew it wasn't time to get up yet. Rolling back over she intended to go back to sleep when she heard the sound of crying and thrashing she went to investigate. Using her wand Hermione lit one of the nearby lanterns. Once she could see she found that the noise that had awoken her was coming from the bed beside hers. Buffy was caught up in a nightmare. She could just barely make out what Buffy was saying but she was having a nightmare about what happened earlier that night.
"Harry!"
Buffy screamed shooting straight up in bed panting hard and tears streaming down her face. She looked around not really comprehending what was going on. Her roommates were all looking at her.
"Buffy?"
Buffy's head quickly turned toward the stairs hearing her brother's voice. Buffy jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs to where her brother was waiting. She ran right to him hugging him tightly.
"It was just a dream. I'm okay. Voldemort didn't drink my blood."
Through their bond Harry had been able to see what she had dreamed. Instead of Voldemort biting into a unicorn he had been biting into Harry's neck. He had woken up screaming too and instantly ran downstairs. Buffy always had bad dreams after traumatic experiences. Harry was always there to soothe her fears away.
"It felt so real." Buffy finally spoke.
"It wasn't."
"Everything all right mate?"
Ron asked having come down the stairs followed by Dean, Seamus and Neville. On the other side stood Hermione, Parvati, and Lavender who were concerned about Buffy.
"Just a nightmare, I just need to talk to Harry." Buffy said her voice very shaky.
"Why doesn't everyone head back up to bed?" Harry suggested.
They all nodded taking one last look at the two. Once Harry was sure they were gone he maneuvered Buffy over to the couch where they both sat down. Like he had done many times before Harry held his sister why she cried her fears away or until she fell asleep. When Ron and Hermione came down thirty minutes later to check on their missing roommates they found them both asleep on the couch. When Hermione and Ron spotted each other they both smiled at having the same idea of bringing a blanket down.
Over the next few weeks, lessons continued and exams were taken. Harry, Buffy, Ron, and Hermione did everything they could to try and earn house points back but it wasn't enough. Gryffindor was in last place for the house cup.
"I'd heard Hogwarts' final exams were frightful, but I found they're rather enjoyable." Hermione told them.
"I don't know how you can consider that enjoyable. I studied with you and I was a nervous wreck." Buffy told her glad that exams were over. Double hisses were heard and Ron and Hermione looked to see Buffy and Harry rubbing their scars.
"You two alright?" Ron asked.
"My scar. It keeps burning." Harry said still rubbing it.
"Mine too," said Buffy.
"It's happened before?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, but not like this." Buffy told them and Harry agreed.
"Perhaps you should see the nurse." Ron suggested.
"I think it's a warning. It means danger's coming."
"I agree." Buffy told them as they continued to walk. They could just hear the sound of Hagrid flute.
"Ah. Oh, Of Course." Harry said.
"Exactly." Buffy said hearing the thought in her mind.
"Mind sharing with those of who don't share a magical bond?" Hermione asked.
"Don't you think it's a bit odd that Hagrid wanted more than anything is a dragon and a stranger turns up and just happens to have one? I mean, how many people wander around with dragon eggs in their pockets? Why didn't I see it before?"
"Too many other things on your mind. Come on let's ask Hagrid." Buffy said as they approached Hagrid.
"Who gave you that dragon egg Hagrid? What did he look like?" Harry asked.
"I dunno. I never saw his face. He kept his hood up."
"This stranger though, you and he must have talked." Once again Harry asked.
"Well, he wanted to know what sort of creatures I looked after. And I told him, after Fluffy a dragon's gonna be no problem."
"Did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Buffy jumped in.
"Well of course he was interested in Fluffy! How often do you come across three headed dogs do you come across even if you're in the trade? But I told him, I said, I said, "The trick with any beast is to know how to calm him." Take Fluffy for example, just play him a bit of music and he falls straight asleep."
All four them gave a slight smile at that bit of info, and took off running for the castle not hearing him call after them. They ran straight to Transfiguration hoping that Professor McGonagall would be there. They were in luck and went straight to her.
"We have to see Professor Dumbledore immediately!" Harry and Buffy said at the same time. If the situation hadn't had been so serious they would have laughed. McGonagall just looked at them in her normal carefree way.
"I'm afraid Professor Dumbledore's not here. He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and left immediately for London."
"For London? But this is really important Professor. It's about the Sorcerer's Stone!" Buffy said hoping that Professor McGongall would take action.
"How did you know -?"
"Someone's going to try to steal it!" Harry tried to impress upon her.
"Someone very evil," said Buffy.
"I don't know how you three found out about the Stone but I assure you it is perfectly well protected. Now would you go back to your dormitories? Quietly!"
