The next two weeks were a flurry of back and forth with Charlie, planning out what would happen. The original plan was to take Norbert up to the tallest Tower at midnight on the Saturday, but, as Draco had pointed out, there were sometimes teachers up about, and Filch, especially not since Theodore Nott had overheard them discussing the Tower, and they were certain he had tipped Filch off, since during Harry's attempts to map out the path they'd use, hidden under the cloak, he saw the man lingering there, and there was no way that they would be able to get them all under the cloak along with Norbert, though they'd tell Hagrid that was the plan. Instead they arranged to meet up just inside of the Forbidden forest, where no one would think to look for them.
Once it was all arranged they set the date. Unfortunately for them, when Ron had gone down to help Hagrid feeding Norbert when the dragon had bitten him, and after his hand swelled up to twice it's normal size Draco ended up dragging Ron to the hospital wing, where they gave the excuse that he'd been bitten by a dog. .When the time came Ron was still in the hospital wing, so they decided that it would just have to be the three of them, and they headed down to Hagrids, hidden under the cloak.
When they arrived Hagrid had Norbert packed and ready in a huge crate, and when they removed the cloak he informed them that the dragon had rats and brandy for the journey, and his teddy bear in case he got lonely. Before long they were bidding Hagrid goodbye and covering themselves and Hagrid in the cloak, working together to slowly move towards the meeting point in the forest, on the path. None of them were entirely sure how they managed to get it there, but eventually they arrived at the meeting spot.
Charlies friends arrived soon enough, and they greeted them cheerfully and took Norbert, flying away with his crate rigged up to their brooms. Before long they were shaking hands with the dragon crazed wizards and watching them fly away with Norbert.
The three friends exchanged relieved looks and were about to pull the cloak back on when they heard a frantic whinnying noise, and a golden foal came running out towards them, stopping right before it hit them. Hermione surged forward, gently trying to sooth it as Draco frowned, "A baby unicorn... I've never seen one..."
"It's got something on it's coat." Hermione frowned, moving her hand slowly, shoving a silver-blue glowing liquid on it,
"It... it feels like-"
"Blood." Draco breathed out, swallowing hard, "We need to go get Hagrid, it's hurt."
"No." Hermione shook her head, "I can't find a cut where the blood is, I don't think that this one's hurt." Hermione's voice shook slightly, "There must be another one. This one must just be a baby."
"We need to find the other one then." Harry stated firmly. Draco, you go tell Hagrid, Hermione, you stay with the baby unicorn." he swallowed hard. "I will go into the forest and see if I can find the other unicorn... try and help."
"Harry-" Hermione shook her head, "This is too dangerous!"
"Hermione is right Harry you have to wait-"
"And let it die?" Harry demanded, "I'm going!" and with that he took off, running into the forest, looking around with wide eyes peering in the eerie shadows that filled the forest. After a few minutes he managed to spot a few drops of silver-blue glowing in the moonlight, and some more, a trail. He followed it carefully, his face pale. Eventually he spotted something bright white gleaming on the ground and he inched closer, his heart breaking as he stared at it. It was a unicorn, dead. Its long slender legs were stuck out at odd angles where it had fallen and it's mane was spread pearly white on the dark leaves.
He took a step towards it before a slithering sound made him freeze where he stood. A bush on the edge of the clearing quivered.
Then out of the shadows a hooded figure came crawling across the ground like come stalking beast. And Harry watched with wide horrified eyes as the figure reached the unicorn, lowered its head over the wound in the animals side and began to drink its blood. Harry watched, unable to move, his entire body shaking from fear, and after a few long moments the thing looked up, and looked right at Harry. He screamed as a pain shot through his scar, worse than anything he'd felt before, worse than the first time at the start of school feast, or the time when Quirrell had nearly caught him in the forest. He staggered backwards desperately, heard hooves behind him, a galloping, and then something was jumping over Harry and charging at the figure.
Harry dropped to the ground, curling into a ball and crying. But after a minute or two it faded, and when he looked up the figure was gone, and what could only be a centaur was standing over him.
"Are you all right?" the centaur pulled Harry to his feet, a concerned look on his face.
"I.. I think so. Thank you... what was that?"
The centaur didn't answer, but after a moment he crouched down, "Climb on child, you're barely able to stand and this forest is not safe... especially, it seems, for you. I shall take you back to the egde."
Harry hesitated before pulling himself onto the centaurs back "My name is Firenze"
There was a sudden sound of more galloping from the other side of the clearing and two more centaurs came bursting through the trees, their flanks heaving and sweaty.
"Firenze!" one of them thundered, "What are you doing? You have a human on your back, have you no shame! Are you a common mule?"
"The boy was nearly attacked." Firenze shot back furiously, "He was near crippled from pain when I found him. I was not going to leave an innocent child to die."
"What have you been telling him? Remember, Firenze, we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. Have we not read what is to come in the movements of the planets?"
The second centaur pawed the ground nervously.
"I'm sure Firenze thought he was acting for the best."
The first centaur kicked his legs back in anger. "For the best? What is that to do with us? Centaurs are concerned with what has been foretold, it is not our business to run around like donkeys after stray humans in our forest!"
Firenze reared onto his hind legs in anger, and Harry had to grip his shoulders tightly to stay on. "Do you not see that unicorn? Do you not understand why it was killed? Or have the planets not let you in on that secret? I set myself against what is lurking in this forest, Bane, yes, with humans alongside me if I must." He span around at that, with Harry clinging as best as he could, plunging through the trees and leaving Ronan and Bane behind them.
"Why's Bane so angry?" he asked. "What was that thing you saved me from, anyway?"
Firenze slowed to a walk, warned Harry to keep his head bowed in case of low-hanging branches, but did not answer Harry's question. They made their way through the trees in silence for so long that Harry thought Firenze didn't want to talk to him anymore. They were passing through a particularly dense patch of trees, however, when Firenze suddenly stopped.
"Young man, do you know what unicorn blood is used for?"
"No," said Harry, startled by the odd question. "We've only used the horn and tail hair in Potions."
"That is because it is a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn," said Firenze. "Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime. The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenseless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips."
Harry stared at the back of Firenze's head, which was dappled silver in the moonlight.
"But who'd be that desperate?" he wondered aloud. "If you're going to be cursed forever, death's better, isn't it?"
"It is," Firenze agreed, "unless all you need is to stay alive long enough to drink something else - something that will bring you back to full strength and power - something that will mean you can never die. Young man, do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment?"
"The Stone, of course the Elixir of Life, but I don't understand who..." and Harry felt his blood run cold as Firenze spoke again.
"Can you think of nobody who has waited many years to return to power, who has clung to life awaiting their chance."
And he could, and it terrified him. Because that meant Voldemort was alive.