Part 4 : The Beauty and The Beast
It was Saturday, early in the morning. Eveyone in the Gryffindor dormitories was asleep, except for a first year girl. Juniper had been awake for 3 tree hours when at last the Sun rose. With the first golden rayons leaking between the thick curtains of the window, she sprang out of bed and got dressed. Even though, she had selpt only for 2 hours, she felt completely energetic. Actually, it was this energy exact, springing from the exicetement, that had kept her awake almost whole night. After putting on her black, wool cloak and grass-green boots, she got out of the sleepy, peaceful dormitory room and descended to the Common Room to wait for Morgan. She was expecting to find it empty and had got herself ready for waiting for Morgan for at least an hour. But to her utter suprise, when she got there, she found Morgan pacing up and down near the burning fireplace. When he heard Juniper's light steps, he looked up and whispered loudly :
'' At last ! I have been waiting here for 15 minutes ! I was considering coming to the girls' dorm, sleepyhead ! ''.
Juniper laughed and said :
'' Wow ! Look who's calling me a ' sleepyhead '. I woke up in the middle of the night and the only reason I haven't come before was that I had no hope of finding you here this early. Actually, I, myself, have even made a plan how to come and wake you up in the boys' dorm ! ''.
Morgan looked at her unbelievingly :
'' June ! You really don't know me ! Waking up late for the everyday classes is one thing and going to the forest is another. Can't you make this discrimination ? Come on ! ''. Then he walked towards the portrait hole, Juniper just behind him, walking and chuckling.
'' Sorry, my fault. Congratulations for your priorities, by the way. And for your information, if you had tried coming to the girls' dormitory, then we would have been surrounded by students and a scowling Professor McGonagall now. Though, it's totally ok, my coming to your dorm. ''.
'' Why is that ? '' asked Morgan, climbing from the hole.
'' Well, Hermione told me this thing. Unlike the boys', the girls' dorm is protected by a spell, 'cause the founders considered boys less trustworthy. '' she twittered happily, now both of them on the other side of the portrait.
'' Huh ! Where is the gender equality ? The founders are good and all that but I think they were unnecessarily suspicious. ''.
So, the two fellows went down to the Great Hall and got out of the door, chattering happily all the way, ready for the adventure.
When they were finally on the grounds, the Sun greeted them warmly. It was a cold but sunny weekend morning. Woken up with the day, the birds were singing all over and the wind was blowing lightly, caressing their hair. Juniper and Morgan were really in high spirits. As they got closer to the edge of the forest, they saw smoke coming from the chimney of Hagrid's, the keeper of the keys and the grounds, hut. Though she has never talked with him untill that day, Juniper liked him. He had such sparkling, soft eyes and a kind, full of goodness smile. Also, she knew that Hagrid spent a lot of time in the forest and he was in charge of taking care of the magical creatures. This might be Juniper's dream job as she has always wanted to do something that involved animals, beasts and the nature.
'' I hope Hagrid doesn't see us. Otherwise we may find outselves in McGonnagal's room in a second. ''. said Morgan looking around carefully.
'' Yeah.. But our luck went well untill now. Let's get faster and keep hoping for the best. We shall be fine once we are in the forest ''. said Juniper and they sped up.
After a few minutes, they were at last under the first shadows of the Forbidden Forest. Juniper laughed merrily jumping around joyfully. She hadn't felt this good since two weeks ago. She started running, still chuckling and screaming out of joy.
For a while, Morgan watched her happily and then followed her, him too laughing madly. Then he tripped of a tree root and realised that the the Sun lights were growing weaker.
'' Gosh ! June, one might as well think that you have just been set free of Azkaban. Slow down a little, will you ? '' he said and leaned on a tree, waiting for Juniper to come back.
So, she ran back and went next to Morgan, breathing heavily.
'' Wow ! Sorry ! I lost myself for a moment. You must be missing the weekend breakfast, right ? '' Juniper said brightly.
'' You bet I do ! Oh, I can smell the sweet pastry from here. I need to eat as soon as possible June ! Hunger really isn't my thing. So, let's stop running around like we've gone mad and focus. Ok… Unicorns.. Where can we find yours ? Do you have a secret spot or something ? ''.
'' Oh, what a fool I am ! No ! We haven't decided on anywhere. Well, I mean, if I had told Wind a particular place, I'm sure she would have come and found us there. But, no… And I haven't thought about this part before. '' she said calmly.
'' Ah, great ! Still you look hopeful. You must have a plan. We just can't search whole forest. ''.
'' Well.. I really don't have one. How about continuing to walk and maybe calling her name ? ''.
'' I should have listened to mom. She kept telling me to make friends with clever people who have nothing in common with my brother. But look at me ! I befriended maybe the most silly of my term. June ! This forest is huge and there is a reason it's '' Forbidden '' ! And there is something killing unicorns. Do you think it would pity us and let us pass looking for an old friend ? ''.
Juniper didn't seem moved. She was naturally cheerful.
'' Come on mate… You're exagerating again. I think I kind of feel Wind and I guess she feels me too. Let's keep walking. ''. Then she started proceeding into the depths of the forest. Morgan had no other choice than going with her, murmuring to himself, but still effected by his friend's vivacity : '' She is getting madder day by day. We are litterally feeling our way, like dogs. ''.
Like this, the two friends continued walking for another fifteen minutes, from time to time calling Wind's name. But they didn't see or hear her or anything else. Now, they were really getting into the dark parts of the forest and even these two chivalrious Gryffindors were getting afraid now. Juniper was trying hard to keep her initial calm and hope. She was actually sweating in the cold weather. She was whistling to comfort herself and Morgan a little. When it comes to him, Morgan was doing his best to not to tremble. He was aware of Juniper's anxiety and he was trying to do his usual not-so-funny jokes in order to distract themselves. Nevertheless, his nervous voice was preventing it.
Suddenly, they arrived to an opening. There, they could feel again the warm sunlight. Juniper sat down under a tall tree and Morgan followed her. Both of them felt much better, now that they could see the sky clearly.
'' Ah, I wonder if anyone has realised our absence yet. The girls must have recognised it by this time but I wonder if anyone has told it to the professors or not. I hope not ! ''. she said, looking straight to another path that led to the opening.
'' Yeah.. Though we can easily make up something. Nobody has seen us. We would say that we were in a dark corner of the library or something like that. So, let's worry about something else. What are we doing ? Surely we can't continue wandering around like some trolls here. I'm tired and hungry and I know you are too. Also, we have advanced a lot in the forest. It is very creepy here and don't wanna go on like this. If you go, I'll come but I swear I won't stop whining for even for a second ! ''.
Juniper laughed and said :
'' Oh, I just can't stand that. When you start, you just can't stop. Ok, let's return. The previous time, I saw Wind and Firenze much closer to the edge of the forest. Alright then ! Let's go back ! ''. Then she enthusiastically jumped on her feet and waited for Morgan to do so.
Morgan stood up and said :
'' So you are giving up that easily ? And you don't even look sad or disappointed ! Ok, tell me ! Spill the beans. ''.
Juniper laughed and took his right hand, almost running, she dragged startled Morgan into the path that she had been gazing since they sat under the tree. They didn't need to run a lot, because after a few steps they saw a beautiful, shiny, golden unicorn approaching. Juniper shrieked and dropped Morgan's hand to go and meet her beloved friend. Finally they were together. Juniper hugged Wind and Wind put her head on Juniper's shoulder. They stayed like that for a while and Morgan watched them smilingly. A ray of sunlight was falling upon them, reflecting orange and golden sparkles. They look like characters of a tale like this, Morgan thought, she looks like belonging in here more than any other place.
Juniper hugged, patted, talked with Wind for a few minutes and then she remembered Morgan who was still standing behind her.
'' Try coming closer Morgan, Wind may accept meeting you. Usually unicorns aren't very fond of males but she is still a foal. She may let you touch her. '' she said. Then she turned and whispered to the unicorn's ear that Morgan was a close friend of hers and she too could trust him. So, Morgan approached Wind and very slowly put his hand on her soft mane. The unicorn, as Juniper had guessed, let him pat her.
'' Wow ! This can be the most awesome thing I've ever done ! '' cried Morgan in amazement.
The three of them spent some time happily like this and finally setting off for the school. Wind was walking next to them and Juniper was very glad to be able to walk to the edge of the forest with her. This made her feel safe. The forest looked very welcoming now. As they advenced, it got less dense but still they had some way to go. They were walking slowly, laughing and joking and would have continued like that if they hadn't heard a loud, painful whinny which faded out in an instance. It wasn't Wind but it was clearly a unicorn and it wasn't very far away. The birds were no more singing and suddenly it got so cold that Juniper and Morgan started to tremble. Wind bent its knees down and whined nervously.
'' She wants us to get on her back. '' said Juniper and did so while pulling Morgan with herself.
'' June, you sure she can carry us both ? '' asked Morgan before yielding.
'' Yeah, unicorns are really strong, even if they are still foals. Come now, something bad is happening. ''.
Well, Juniper was quiet right. Something terrible was happening at this early hour of the weekend. A monster, hiding in the darkness of the forest since a while, was attacking again. It was preying on one of the most innocent of the Earth's creatures. As Wind carried fastly the two children towards the edge of the forest, for fear of them getting hurt too, Juniper realised the reason of the bitter whinny. It came from a dying unicorn. Struck with the reality, she told it to Morgan. But what could they do against such a terror except for informing the teachers and the headmaster ? They decided that it was the best thing that they could do. Then, Wind stopped suddenly, her ears pointed towards the place from where the unicorn's sound came. They all heard a sinister rustling on the leafs. Wind reared and sped up so did the rustling. Juniper was almost sure that it came from the thing that killed the unicorn. She was too afraid to look back and sure that Morgan kept his eyes shut too. It all happened in less than a moment. Something hit Wind's hind legs and they all fell down. Juniper heard Morgan screaming with pain and opening her eyes she saw a dark figure trying to get on the unicorn which was doing all her might to prevent it. Juniper couldn't see what the figure was like, everything was blurry. Though terrorized with what was going on, she wanted help Wind. However, upon making an attempt to stand up, she felt a sharp pain on her head and neck and found out that she couldn't move. Slowly, she realised the condition she was in. She couldn't even use her hand to check the aching areas but she felt that her head was bleeding. She had fallen on a rock and hit her badly on it. She tried to call Morgan but her lips didn't move.
'' We are so going to die, she thought, We are so going to die and all is because of me. If it wasn't me sulking, Morgan wouldn't have come here and Wind would have been somewhere safer. God ! What about our family ? They will be devastated… Oh, God… ''. Slowly, she fell into a darkness. She couldn't see or move. She kept hearing the fight between the dark creature and the light's creature for a while. She heard Morgan calling her name. And before passing out completely, she heard the sound of hoofs. She couldn't make it whether they were approcahing or getting far away. But the last thing she thought was a happy one :
'' Maybe it's Wind saving herself… Morgan… ''.