"Remember, blood is thicker than water. Thank Heaven."
Morticia Addams
Chapter 17: The Forbidden Forest
Erica had no recollection of the full moon and her transformation beyond pain. Horrible pain. She'd drifted in and out of consciousness all night, her body aching and sore and burning with new scrapes and cuts that she knew would scar. She managed to piece together through haze recollection and deduction that her transformation had been so painful she'd convulsed and practically thrown herself against a wall with exposed nails and splintered wood.
And between the pain of the transformation, her exhaustion from the days leading up, and her sudden injuries, Erica passed out. She woke later in the night, confused and scared and in pain. She'd howled with it, but then forced herself to calm down, and spent the night lying there on the floor, bleeding from her face and side and legs. She'd eventually drifted off to sleep.
And when she'd woken next, she was in the hospital wing, still in pain and terrified.
Erica hurriedly looked around, ignoring the way her skin pulled tight over her injuries. Where was it? Where was it?
Erica sighed when she spotted a flash of gold on her bedside table. The only time she ever took off her necklace from Remus was for her transformations, and she always put it on again right afterwards. The mere sight of it calmed her.
Erica didn't risk reaching for it, though. She hurt too much.
Erica had never blacked out like she had last night before. And it absolutely terrified her. She eventually pieced the hazy memories of her night back together, but at first, she had been absolutely beside herself, and practically out of her mind scared at the possibility that in her pain-filled, transformed haze, she had hurt someone.
But as Madam Pomfrey bustled over, she assured Erica that the only person she'd hurt had been herself. Which explained the severe, burning pain on Erica's right side.
But still, the memory lapses scared Erica. And though she realistically knew this most likely wasn't going to be the last time this would happen, the mere thought of it happening again sent her into a panic.
Madam Pomfrey was forced to sedate her.
Erica didn't stir again until the late afternoon. Her memory wasn't as hazy, and her body didn't hurt as much. But she was still in pain. The outside of her right thigh burned lightly, and a pair of scabs on her cheek pulled horribly as she yawned. Her stomach grumbled (more like yowled with hunger). But more than anything, Erica had to pee.
Madam Pomfrey instantly noticed that Erica was up and bustled back over to begin fussing. For ten minutes, Erica couldn't get a word in edgewise. But when she finally did, Madam Pomfrey immediately helped her to the bathroom.
Erica snagged her necklace on the way.
It was slower going than Erica liked. Her legs were weak, her knees shaking and aching. But Erica got there, and took her time in the bathroom. She pulled her messy, messy hair into a braid, hoping to keep whatever tangle-free strands she had left from knotting. She knew detangling her curls was going to be a nightmare later.
Erica clasped her necklace around her neck, the sun charm warming the skin over her chest. She instantly felt better.
Erica lightly prodded her cheek, looking at them in the mirror. The scabs smarted, but she'd had worse. Erica's hazy recollection remembered the initial pain on her face last night, but not what had caused it. Maybe exposed nails? Or raw wood?
What about her thigh?
Erica pulled up the leg of her shorts. Her thigh was bandaged, so she peeked in them. Almost her entire upper thigh was red and scabbed and angry. It practically hissed at being exposed to air.
Definitely exposed wood. It was like a bad road rash, or a strawberry from sliding in baseball or softball.
Erica then looked at her arm. She had a few new pink scrapes on her bicep, slightly scabbed, and warm to touch. Even warmer than the rest of her body. Erica hadn't even noticed them at first.
Erica lifted her shirt. She prodded lightly at the bandages around her middle. She hissed as she applied the barest pressure. Whatever her injury was, it wasn't minor.
She wondered if she had a potion in her system that numbed the majority of the pain, and if that was why she hadn't been truly bothered by it yet. Or maybe she was still in shock over what had happened. Or rather, her lack of recollection of what had happened.
Whatever the case, she knew her next few days were going to be hell. Moving in any form would be a nightmare.
Erica eventually left the bathroom. Her legs felt a bit more stable, so the trip back to bed was smoother than the trip to the bathroom.
Hermione was waiting beside her bed when Erica emerged. It wasn't until Erica climbed into bed and settled that she realized Hermione had been crying.
Erica was startled. Her first thought was that Ron had said something stupid and mean again, but she nixed that.
Then Erica remembered: Norbert. And Hagrid.
"We got caught." The whisper was so quiet Erica almost didn't hear it. Hermione sniffed and looked up, her eyes puffy and her face pale. "We got Norbert out, but we… Harry and I got caught coming down."
"What about the Invisibility Cloak?" Erica whispered, trying not to draw Madam Pomfrey's attention.
"We left it at the top of the tower by accident."
Hermione sounded devastated. Erica could only guess what happened.
"Filch caught us. Took us to McGonagall. Malfoy was out of bed, too, so he also got in trouble. But Neville… He tried to warn us that Malfoy was trying to get us in trouble. He didn't know… We didn't realize…"
Hermione put her face in her hands, her eyes squeezing against an onslaught of tears. "Professor McGonagall gave us detention. And she took off fifty points."
It could've been worse.
"Each."
It was worse.
"What?" Erica breathed.
"Gryffindor's in last place," Hermione quietly sobbed. "And it's all our fault."
Erica had mixed feelings. On one hand, she was horrified that Professor McGonagall had taken off so many points. On another hand, she knew Professor McGonagall felt it was deserved. And on another hand, Erica knew that detention and losing house points was better than Hagrid getting caught with an illegal dragon and fired, even arrested. But on the other hand… Erica was just so disappointed that Gryffindor had gotten in so much trouble.
And Erica was mad. She was mad at Snape for being such a bully. And Quirrell for being so strange. And she was mad that a life-endangering mystery had pretty much defined her first year at Hogwarts. And she was mad at Malfoy for being such a horrible person who could only have fun by trying to get others in trouble and bullying them. And even though it was irrational, she was mad at Hagrid for not thinking of the consequences of trying to raise a dragon.
But Erica knew her anger would do nothing. So she instead squeezed Hermione's hand comfortingly and murmured, "What homework did you bring for me?"
Hermione seemed to appreciate that Erica didn't push, and quickly withdrew the numerous assignments Erica had missed when she had been too unwell to come to class. The girls worked together quietly until it was time for dinner. Hermione reluctantly left, not keen to be stared at by the rest of her House.
Erica didn't want to be in her shoes. She, Harry, and Neville definitely weren't popular right now.
Erica quietly ate her dinner, continuing to work on her homework. It wasn't too difficult. She had her books with her, so she was able to read the material. It wasn't the same as being in class with actual instruction, but she had to make due.
It was getting harder the closer they got to exams though.
Eventually, Erica felt he got to a good stopping point. She could finish the rest tomorrow. She yawned, her brain fried. She was tired and ready for more sleep.
"I'll let you return to your dormitory," Madam Pomfrey said, "but I want to check your injuries one last time."
Erica didn't argue.
Madam Pomfrey checked her face first, lightly touching it and asking Erica where it hurt most. Then she moved on, glancing at Erica's arm. She didn't seem terribly concerned about it however and quickly moved to Erica's leg. Madam Pomfrey unwrapped the bandages, and Erica realized that her leg was worse than it had looked when she peeked at it earlier. The skin was entirely raw, and where it wasn't scabbed, it was red and angry and covered in clear fluid — serous drainage. Madam Pomfrey frowned as she studied Erica's leg and procured a medicinal balm.
"This won't feel good."
Madam Pomfrey was right. It didn't feel good. Erica's leg stung and burned as Madam Pomfrey liberally spread the balm over the injured area. Erica clutched her necklace like it was a lifeline, gritting her teeth against the pain and cries (and curses) that she wanted to release. Madam Pomfrey apologized every time Erica winced, and was as gentle and efficient as she could be. Soon, it was over, and fresh bandages were applied to the wound.
"Almost over," Madam Pomfrey assured. Then she cut away the bandages around Erica's middle and had the girl roll onto her side.
Erica gasped as the cold air met her skin. She bit her lip to the point of bleeding and tried not to cry out as Madam Pomfrey examined the wound.
"Why does it hurt so much?" Erica gasped out.
Erica had been able to ignore the pain while she was with Hermione, but her side had slowly gotten worse through the evening. Now, with the cold air, Madam Pomfrey's gentle touches, and the mixture of powdered silver and dittany seeping into her wounds, the pain was growing unbearable.
Erica clutched her necklace harder as her eyes watered.
"When your side was originally injured, I think you tried to touch it and accidentally slashed your side in the process."
Erica's memory seemed to magically repair itself. That was exactly what had happened. Her face reddened with shame and pain. "Oh."
Madam Pomfrey switched from the powdered silver and dittany to the medicinal balm she'd used on Erica's thigh. "Well, your side is the most severe of your injuries, but it's already showing signs of healing. And I don't see any signs of infection. But it will definitely be painful while it is healing. I have some potions that will help with the pain, and some that will help speed up the healing process, but you will have a rough few days, Erica."
"Nothing I'm not used to," Erica sighed dryly.
Madam Pomfrey shot her a cross look, not amused.
"Sorry."
A few more seconds passed. "Sit up, now, Miss Addams."
Erica did, and Madam Pomfrey quickly wrapped new bandages around her middle. Once they were secure, Erica was all set. She carefully climbed out of bed and eased her bag over her shoulder.
"Thanks, Madam Pomfrey," she said.
"Just a moment!"
Erica wondered what else the matron had to fuss over, but turned back regardless. The woman shoved no less than three potion vials in her arms.
"Take these two tomorrow with breakfast, and dab the third on your injuries nightly. And here —" a tin was also shoved into her hands "— apply this twice daily on your injuries before rewrapping."
An Invigoration Draught, a Wiggenweld Potion, a Wound-Cleaning Potion, and a Murtlap Essence balm.
"Thanks, Madam Pomfrey."
Then, Erica was free to leave.
The common room was fairly crowded when she got back. Most people were enjoying the last hours of the weekend while some others were studying. Erica saw Percy Weasley studying diligently for his OWLs at a quiet corner table, and Hermione was also studying away. Erica considered joining her, but she honestly was so tired that she just wanted to go to bed.
"Erica, what happened to your face?"
The question came from Fred, who appeared on her right side. George materialized just behind him, also staring at her scratched and scabbed cheek.
Erica forced a smile. "You should see the other guy."
The twins grinned. "Nice!"
Without saying anything else, they left her alone, Harry and Ron immediately taking their places.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked.
Erica sniffed and nodded, averting her gaze.
"You weren't in a fight," Ron said. "You were in the hospital wing all night."
Erica bit her lip and mentally cursed. She forced a lie from her lips. "Apparently I was in a lot of pain last night again, and Madam Pomfrey says I scratched myself in my sleep."
The boys winced.
Erica shrugged. "It's not a big deal. Honestly, I just want to go back to bed."
Harry nodded. "Then we won't keep you. It's just…" He hesitated, then looked so completely despondent. "Hermione told you?"
Erica nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, she did. Look, I know it's bad, but I'd rather lose the House Cup than have let Hagrid get caught."
Harry nodded, slowly, then firmly.
"Yeah. Yeah, me too. I just…"
Erica touched his shoulder. "I know. I don't blame you."
"You should," he huffed. "Leave the Cloak… It was stupid."
"It was an honest mistake," Erica corrected. "One I know you won't make again. But for now, we have other things to focus on than House points. Exams are approaching, and the year's not over yet. We still have time to earn back the points."
The more Erica tried to distract Harry, the more it worked. Honestly, she felt bad for the guy. He'd gone from the most popular person in their year to the most hated overnight. She couldn't imagine how that felt for him.
Harry eventually left, and Erica and Ron were left standing together.
"Is it bad that I can't help but be mad at Hagrid for all this?" Erica whispered to him. Ron seemed surprised, but he shook his head.
"No. That dragon was horrible, and we all knew it except him."
"Don't get me wrong, I love Hagrid, but he really didn't think through the consequences of keeping a dragon. They're dangerous, and illegal for a reason, that's why there are reserves all over the world, like the one Charlie works at. There was no way Hagrid was going to keep it hidden — he's loose-lipped at best. But even if he had managed to keep it secret, the dragon was eventually going to be full-grown. And then what? Move it into the Forbidden Forest for it to fly around and escape and hunt and terrorize the school?"
Erica sighed and sank into a chair. Ron sat near her. "Sorry, Ron. Didn't mean to unload on you like that."
He merely shrugged. "We were all thinking it. No shame in voicing it now." He eyed her. "But there's something else bothering you, isn't there?"
Erica was surprised. That was oddly perceptive of Ron.
"Yes…" she admitted. "But I'm sure it's nothing."
There were a lot of things that were bothering Erica about that dragon. And the Sorcerer's Stone. But the dragon was gone now, so what use was it to keep worrying herself into a tizzy?
She did not need more stress right now.
"Hey, you said something a while ago about a Cerberus?" Ron asked. "What exactly is that?"
"Oh." Erica blinked. "Well, a Cerberus is a three-headed dog from Greek mythology. He guards the gates of the Underworld and keeps the dead from escaping, as well as the living from entering. He belongs to the god of the dead, Hades."
"Oh," Ron said.
"I just thought it was interesting," Erica said. "I wonder if you can get past Fluffy the same way some of the old heroes got past Cerberus."
"How's that?"
"Well, in one story, Heracles chained Cerberus around the neck and dragged him out of the Underworld. In another, Cerberus is fed a loaf with herbs and honey that makes him go to sleep. In another, Orpheus plays his lyre for Cerberus, and the dog is so amazed that he is tamed."
"I don't fancy trying to chain Fluffy."
Erica laughed. "No, me neither."
~)8(~
The rest of the week was not fun for Harry. Everywhere he went, people pointed and didn't bother to lower their voices as they insulted him. And Slytherins were unbearable as they clapped and cheered as he walked by, thanking him for their lead in the House Cup.
Only Ron and Erica stood by him.
"They'll all forget this in a few weeks. Fred and George have lost loads of points in all the time they've been here, and people still like them."
"They've never lost a hundred and fifty points in one go, though, have they?" Harry said miserably.
"Well — no," Ron admitted.
It was a bit late to repair the damage, but Harry swore to himself not to meddle in things that weren't his business from now on. He'd had it with sneaking around and spying. He felt so ashamed of himself that he went to Wood and tried to resign from Quidditch.
Wood hadn't accepted, saying that without him, it would be impossible to win the points back.
But even Quidditch had lost its fun for Harry. The rest of the team wouldn't speak to Harry during practice, and if they had to speak about him, they called him "the Seeker."
Hermione and Neville were suffering, too. They didn't have as bad a time as Harry, because they weren't as well-known, but nobody would speak to them, either. Hermione had stopped drawing attention to herself in class, keeping her head down and working in silence.
Erica had tried to pick up the slack, answering as many questions as she could in order to try and win points back. But that only went so far.
Harry was almost glad that the exams weren't that far away. All the studying he had to do kept his mind off his misery. He, Ron, Hermione, and Erica kept to themselves, working late into the night, trying to remember ingredients in complicated potions, learn charms and spells by heart, memorize the dates of magical discoveries and goblin rebellions…
Then, about a week before the exams were due to start, Harry's new resolution not to interfere in anything that didn't concern him was put to an unexpected test. Walking back from the library with Erica one afternoon, they heard somebody whimpering from a classroom up ahead. As they drew closer, they heard Quirrell's voice.
Erica unexpectedly stiffened, and stopped Harry from getting closer.
"No — no — not again, please —"
It sounded as though someone was threatening him. Harry would've moved closer if not for Erica's surprisingly strong grip.
"All right — all right," they heard Quirrell sob.
Next second, Quirrell came hurrying out of the classroom straightening his turban. He was pale and looked as though he was about to cry. He strode out of sight; Harry didn't think Quirrell had even noticed him or Erica. They both waited until Quirrell's footsteps had disappeared, then peered into the classroom. It was empty, but a door stood ajar at the other end. Harry was halfway toward it before he'd realized it.
"Harry."
Erica's voice halted him.
He looked back.
"Harry, let's just go."
They did, and Harry was glad. He'd been about to break his promise to himself to not meddle in things that weren't his business anymore.
All the same, Harry would have gambled twelve Sorcerer's Stones that Snape had just left the room, and from what Harry and Erica had just heard, Snape would be walking with a new spring in his step — Quirrell seemed to have given in at last.
But unknown to Harry, Erica was more sure than ever that something was wrong with Quirrell. And that he, not Snape, was after the Stone.
After all, the only voice, or footsteps, that Erica heard leaving that room, were his.
Harry and Erica went back to the library, where Hermione was testing Ron on Astronomy. Harry told them what he and Erica had heard.
"Snape's done it, then!" Ron said. "If Quirrell's told him how to break his anti-Dark Force spell —"
"There's still Fluffy, though," Hermione said.
"Maybe Snape's found out how to get past him without asking Hagrid," Ron said, looking up at the thousands of books surrounding them. "I bet there's a book somewhere telling you how to get past a giant three-headed dog. And Erica's got theories even without them. So what do we do, Harry?"
The light of adventure was kindling again in Ron's eyes, but Hermione answered before Harry could.
"Go to Dumbledore. That's what we should have done ages ago. If we try anything ourselves we'll be thrown out for sure."
"But we've got no proof!" Harry said. "Quirrell's too scared to back us up. Snape's only got to say he doesn't know how the troll got in at Halloween and that he was nowhere near the third floor — who do you think they'll believe, him or us? It's not exactly a secret we hate him, Dumbledore'll think we made it up to get him sacked. Filch wouldn't help us if his life depended on it, he's too friendly with Snape, and the more students get thrown out, the better, he'll think. And don't forget, we're not supposed to know about the Stone or Fluffy. That'll take a lot of explaining."
Hermione looked convinced, but Ron didn't.
"If we do just a bit of poking around —"
"No," Harry and Erica said together. Erica went first. "That'll just break more rules. And give Dumbledore a bigger reason to get rid of us."
"Besides," Harry added. "We've done enough poking around."
He pulled a map of Jupiter toward him and started to learn the names of its moons.
~)8(~
The following morning, notes were delivered to Harry, Hermione, and Neville at the breakfast table. They were all the same:
Your detention will be at eleven o'clock tonight.
Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.
Professor M. McGonagall
Harry had forgotten they still had detentions to do in the furor over the points they'd lost. He half expected Hermione to complain that this was a whole night of studying lost, but she didn't say a word. Like Harry, she felt they deserved what they'd got.
At eleven o'clock that night, they said good-bye to Ron and Erica in the common room and went down to the entrance hall with Neville. Filch was already there — and so was Malfoy. Harry had also forgotten that Malfoy had gotten a detention, too.
"Follow me," said Filch, lighting a lamp and leading them outside.
"I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh?" he said, leering at them. "Oh, yes… hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me… It's just a pity they let the old punishments die out… hang you by your wrists from the ceiling for a few days, I've got the chains still in my office, keep 'em well oiled in case they're ever needed… Right, off we go, and don't think of running off, now, it'll be worse for you if you do."
They marched off across the dark grounds. Neville kept sniffling. Harry wondered what their punishment was going to be. It must be something really horrible, or Filch wouldn't be sounding so delighted.
The moon was bright, but clouds scuddling across it kept throwing them into darkness. Ahead, Harry could see the lighted windows of Hagrid's hut. Then they heard a distant shout.
"Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started."
Harry's heart rose; if they were going to be working with Hagrid it wouldn't be so bad. His relief must have showed in his face, because Filch said, "I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf? Well, think again, boy — it's into the forest you're going and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece."
At this, Neville let out a little moan, and Malfoy stopped dead in his tracks.
"The forest?" he repeated, and he didn't sound quite as cool as usual. "We can't go in there at night — there's all sorts of things in there — werewolves, I heard."
Neville clutched the sleeve of Harry's robe and made a choking noise.
"That's your problem, isn't it?" Filch said, his voice cracking with glee. "Should've thought of them werewolves before you got in trouble, shouldn't you?"
Hagrid came striding toward them out of the dark, Fang at his heel. He was carrying a large crossbow, and a quiver of arrows hung over his shoulder.
"Abou' time," he said. "I bin waitin' fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Hermione? How's Erica? Heard she was a bit ill."
"She's fine, Hagrid," Harry assured. "Just one of the bad months, I suppose. And we're okay, too."
"I wouldn't be too friendly to them, Hagrid," Filch cut in coldly, "they're here to be punished, after all."
"That's why yer late, is it?" Hagrid said, frowning at Filch. "Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot your place ter do that. Yeh've gone yer bit, I'll take over from here."
"I'll be back at dawn," Filch said, "for what's left of them," he added nastily, and he turned and started back toward the castle, his lamp bobbing away in the darkness.
Malfoy now turned to Hagrid.
"I'm not going in the forest," he said, and Harry was pleased to hear the note of panic in his voice.
"Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts," Hagrid said fiercely. "Yeh've done wrong an' now yeh've got ter pay fer it."
"But this is servant stuff, it's not for students to do. I thought we'd be copying lines or something, if my father knew I was doing this, he'd —"
"— tell yer that's how it is at Hogwarts," Hagrid growled. "Copyin' lines! What good's that ter anyone? Yeh'll do summat useful or yeh'll get out. If yeh think yer father'd rather you were expelled, then get back off ter the castle an' pack. Go on!"
Malfoy didn't move. He looked at Hagrid furiously, but then dropped his gaze.
"Right then," Hagrid said, "now, listen carefully, 'cause it's dangerous what we're gonna do tonight, an' I don' want no one takin' risks. Follow me over here a moment."
He led them to the very edge of the forest. Holding his lamp up high, he pointed down a narrow, winding earth track that disappeared into the thick black trees. A light breeze lifted their hair as they looked into the forest.
"Look there," Hagrid said, "see that stuff shinin' on the ground? Silvery stuff? That's unicorn blood. There's a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday. We're gonna try an' find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery."
"And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first?" Malfoy said, unable to keep the fear out of his voice.
"There's nothin' that lives in the forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang," Hagrid said.
"What about the werewolves," Neville squeaked.
Hagrid frowned. "Aren't no werewolves in the forest, I can tell yeh that. An' no matter, the moon isn' full."
Everyone glanced up, and saw through the clouds that the moon, indeed, was not full.
"Keep ter the path," Hagrid continued. "Right, now, we're gonna split inter two parties an' follow the trail in diff'rent directions. There's blood all over the place, it must've bin staggerin' around since last night at least."
"I want Fang," Malfoy quickly said, looking at Fang's long teeth.
"All right, but I warn yeh, he's a coward," Hagrid said. "So me, Harry, an' Hermione'll go one way an' Draco, Neville, an' Fang'll go the other. Now, if any of us finds the unicorn, we'll send up green sparks, right" Get yer wands out an' practice now — that's it — an' if anyone gets in trouble send up red sparks, an' we'll all come an' find yeh — so, be careful — let's go."
The forest was black and silent. A little way into it they reached a fork in the earth path, and Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid took the left path while Malfoy, Neville, and Fang took the right.
They walked in silence, their eyes on the ground. Every now and then a ray of moonlight through the branches above lit a spot of silver-blue blood on the fallen leaves.
Harry saw that Hagrid looked very worried.
"I know you said there aren't werewolves in the forest, but could one have gotten in and be the thing killing the unicorns?" Harry asked.
"Not fast enough," Hagrid said, "An' trust me, werewolves are fast. An' strong. But it's not easy ter catch a unicorn, they're powerful magical creatures. I never knew one ter be hurt before."
They walked past a mossy tree stump. Harry could hear running water; there must be a stream somewhere close by. There were still spots of unicorn blood here and there along the winding path.
"You all right, Hermione?" Hagrid whispered. "Don' worry, it can't've gone far if it's this badly hurt, an' then we'll be able ter — GET BEHIND THAT TREE!"
Hagrid seized Harry and Hermione and hoisted them off the path behind a towering oak. He pulled out an arrow and fitted it into his crossbow, raising it, ready to fire. The three of them listened. Something was slithering over dead leaves nearby: it sounded like a cloak trailing along the ground. Hagrid was squinting up the dark path, but after a few seconds, the sound faded away.
"I knew it," he murmured. "There's summat in here that shouldn' be. That wasn' no werewolf an' it wasn' no unicorn, neither. Right, follow me, but careful, now."
They walked more slowly, ears straining for the faintest sound. Suddenly, in a clearing ahead, something definitely moved.
"Who's there?" Hagrid called. "Show yerself — I'm armed!"
And into the clearing came — was it a man, or a horse? To the waist, a man, with red hair and beard, but below that was a horse's gleaming chestnut body with a long, reddish tail. Harry and Hermione's jaws dropped.
"Oh, it's you, Ronan," Hagrid said in relief. "How are yeh?"
He walked forward and shook the centaur's hand.
"Good evening to you, Hagrid," Ronan said. He had a deep, sorrowful voice. "Were you going to shoot me?"
"Can't be too careful, Ronan," Hagrid said, patting his crossbow. "There's summat bad loose in this forest. This is Harry Potter an' Hermione Granger, by the way. Students up at the school. An' this is Ronan, you two. He's a centaur."
"We've noticed," Hermione said faintly.
"Good evening," Ronan said. "Students, are you? And do you learn much, up at the school?"
"Erm —"
"A bit," Hermione said timidly.
"A bit. Well, that's something," Ronan sighed. He flung back his head and stared at the sky. "Mars is bright tonight."
"Yeah," Hagrid said, glancing up, too. "Listen, I'm glad we've run inter yeh, Ronan, 'cause there's a unicorn bin hurt — you seen anythin'?"
Ronan didn't answer immediately. He stared unblinkingly upward, then sighed again.
"Always the innocent are the first victims," he said. "So it has been for ages past, so it is now."
"Yeah," Hagrid said, "but have yeh seen anythin', Ronan? Anythin' unusual?"
"Mars is bright tonight," Ronan repeated, while Hagrid watched him impatiently. "Unusually bright."
"Yeah, but I was meanin' anythin' unusual a bit nearer home," Hagrid said. "So yeh haven't noticed anythin' strange?"
Yet again, Ronan took a while to answer. At last, he said, "The forest hides many secrets."
A movement in the trees behind Ronan made Hagrid raise his bow again, but it was only a second centaur, black-haired and bodied and wilder-looking than Ronan.
"Hullo, Bane," Hagrid said. "All right?"
"Good evening, Hagrid, I hope you are well?"
"Well enough. Look, I've jus' bin askin' Ronan, you see anythin' odd in here lately? There's a unicorn bin injured — would yeh know anythin' about it?"
Bane walked over to stand next to Ronan. He looked skyward.
"Mars is bright tonight," he said simply.
"We've heard," Hagrid said grumpily. "Well, if either of you do see anythin', let me know, won't yeh? We'll be off, then."
Harry and Hermione followed him out of the clearing, staring over their shoulders at Ronan and Bane until the threes blocked their view.
"Never," Hagrid said irritably, "try an' get a straight answer out of centaur. Ruddy stargazers. Not interested in anythin' closer'n the moon."
"Are there many of them in here?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, a fair few… Keep to themselves, mostly, but they're good enough about turnin' up if I ever want a word. They're deep, mind, centaurs… they know things… jus' don' let on much."
"D'you think that was a centaur we heard earlier?" Harry asked.
"Did that sound like hooves to you? Nah, if yeh ask me, that was what's bin killin' the unicorns — never heard anythin' like it before."
They walked on through the dense, dark trees. Harry kept looking nervously over his shoulder. He had the nasty feeling they were being watched. He was very glad they had Hagrid and his crossbow with them. They had just passed a bend in the path when Hermione grabbed Hagrid's arm.
"Hagrid! Look! Red sparks, the others are in trouble!"
"You two wait here!" Hagrid shouted. "Stay on the path, I'll come back for yeh!"
They heard him crashing away through the undergrowth and stood looking at each other, very scared, until they couldn't hear anything but the rustling of leaves around them.
"You don't think they've been hurt, do you?" Hermione whispered.
"I don't care if Malfoy was, but if something's got Neville… it's our fault he's here in the first place."
The minutes dragged by. Their ears seemed sharper than usual. Harry's seemed to be picking up every sigh of the wind, every cracking twig. What was going on? Where were the others?
At last, a great crunching noise announced Hagrid's return. Malfoy, Neville, and Fang were with him. Hagrid was fuming. Malfoy, it seemed, had sneaked up behind Neville and grabbed him as a joke. Neville had panicked and sent up the sparks.
"We'll be lucky ter catch anythin' now, with the racket you two were makin'. Right, we're changin' groups — Neville, you stay with me an' Hermione, Harry, you go with Fang an' this idiot. I'm sorry," Hagrid added in a whisper to Harry, "but he'll have a harder time frightenin' you, an' we've gotta get this done."
So Harry set off into the heart of the forest with Malfoy and Fang. They walked for nearly half an hour, deeper and deeper into the forest, until the path became almost impossible to follow because the trees were so thick. Harry thought the blood seemed to be getting thicker. There were splashes on the roots of a tree, as though the poor creature had been thrashing around in pain close by. Harry could see a clearing ahead, through the tangled branches of an ancient oak.
"Look —" he murmured, holding out his arm to stop Malfoy.
Something bright white was gleaming on the ground. They inched closer.
It was the unicorn all right, and it was dead. Harry had never seen anything so beautiful and sad. Its long, slender legs were stuck out at odd angles where it had fallen and its mane was spread pearly-white on the dark leaves.
Harry had taken one step toward it when 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 some stalking beast. Harry, Malfoy, and Fang stood transfixed. The cloaked figure reached the unicorn, lowered its head over the wound in the animal's side, and began to drink its blood.
"AAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
Malfoy let out a terrible scream and bolted — so did Fang. The hooded figure raised its head and looked right at Harry — unicorn blood dribbling down its front. It got to its feet and came swiftly toward Harry — he couldn't move in fear.
Then a pain like he'd never felt before pierced his head; it was as though his scar were on fire. Half blinded, he staggered backward. He heard hooves behind him, galloping, and something jumped clean over Harry, charging at the figure.
The pain in Harry's head was so bad he fell to his knees. It took a minute or two to pass. When he looked up, the figure had gone. A centaur was standing over him, not Ronan or Bane; this one looked younger; he had white-blond hair and a palomino body.
"Are you all right?" said the centaur, pulling Harry to his feet.
"Yes — thank you — what was that?"
The centaur didn't answer. He had astonishingly blue eyes, like pale sapphires. He looked carefully at Harry, his eyes lingering on the scar that stood out, livid, on Harry's forehead.
"You are the Potter boy," he said. "You had better get back to Hagrid. The forest is not safe at this time — especially for you. Can you ride? It will be quicker this way.
"My name is Firenze," he added, as he lowered himself onto his front legs so that Harry could clamber onto his back.
There was suddenly a sound of more galloping from the other side of the clearing. Ronan and Bane came bursting through the trees, their flanks heaving and sweaty.
"Firenze!" Bane thundered. "What are you doing? You have a human on your back! Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?"
"Do you realize who this is?" Firenze said. "This is the Potter boy. The quicker he leaves this forest, the better."
"What have you been telling him?" Bane growled. "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 plants?"
Ronan pawed at the ground nervously. "I'm sure Firenze thought he was acting for the best," he said in his gloomy voice.
Bane kicked his back legs 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 suddenly reared onto his hind legs in anger, so that Harry had to grab his shoulders to stay on.
"Do you not see that unicorn?" Firenze bellowed at Bane. "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."
And Firenze whisked around; with Harry clutching on as best he could, they plunged off into the trees, leaving Ronan and Bane behind them.
Harry didn't have a clue what was going on.
"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.
"Harry Potter, do you know what unicorn blood is used for?"
"No," Harry said, 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," Firenze said. "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. Mr. Potter, do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment?"
"The Sorcerer's Stone! Of course — the Elixir of Life! But I don't understand who —"
"Can you think of nobody who has waited many years to return to power, who has clung to life, awaiting their chance?"
It was as though an iron fist had clenched suddenly around Harry's heart. Over the rustling of the trees, he seemed to hear once more what Hagrid had told him on the night they had met: "Some say he died. Codswallop in my opinion. Dunno if he had enough human left in him to die."
"Do you mean," Harry croaked, "that was Vol —"
"Harry! Harry are you all right?"
Hermione was running toward them down the path, Hagrid puffing along behind her.
"I'm fine," Harry said, hardly knowing what he was saying. "The unicorn's dead, Hagrid, it's in that clearing back there."
"This is where I leave you," Firenze murmured as Hagrid hurried off to examine the unicorn. "You are safe now."
Harry slid off his back.
"Good luck, Harry Potter. Keep close to the Addams girl. She will help you," Firenze said. "The planets have been read wrongly before now, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times."
He turned and cantered back into the depths of the forest, leaving Harry shivering behind him. And wondering how he knew Erica.
~)8(~
Ron and Erica had fallen asleep in the dark common room, waiting for them to return. Ron shouted something about Quidditch fouls when Harry roughly shook him awake, and Erica fell off the couch when Hermione prodded her. In a matter of seconds, though, they both were wide-eyed as Harry began to tell them what had happened in the forest.
Harry couldn't sit down. He paced up and down in front of the fire. He was still shaking.
"Snape wants the Stone for Voldemort… and Voldemort's waiting in the forest… and all this time we thought Snape just wanted to get rich…"
"Stop saying the name!" Ron said in a terrified whisper, as if he thought Voldemort could hear him.
Harry wasn't listening.
"Firenze saved me, but he shouldn't have done so… Bane was furious… he was talking about interfering with what the planets say is going to happen… They must know that Voldemort's coming back… Bane thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me… I suppose that's written in the stars as well."
"Will you stop saying the name!" Ron hissed.
Erica whacked him with a pillow. There were more important things!
"So all I've got to wait for now is Snape to steal the Stone," Harry went on feverishly, "then Voldemort will be able to come and finish me off… Well, I suppose Bane'll be happy."
Erica looked furious, but Hermione looked very frightened. The latter had a word of comfort.
"Harry, everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid of. With Dumbledore around, You-Know-Who won't touch you. Anyway, who says the centaurs are right? It sounds like fortune-telling to me, and Professor McGonagall says that's a very imprecise branch of magic."
"Besides," Erica tacked on, "the stars, the movement of the plants… It's all predictable. We learn it all in Astronomy. It's all repeated over a cycle. Things rarely change, and when they do, it's often known ahead of time — like the eclipses, and the cycles of the moon, and the positions of the planets in the sky. Even solar flares and comets are predictable. I wouldn't put too much stock in what a centaur with no respect for humans says."
"By the way," Harry said, suddenly remembering, "Firenze mentioned you."
Erica looked truly shocked by that. "What?"
"He said to keep close to you. That you'll help me."
Erica seemed truly baffled. "How could he possibly know about me?"
"You've never met Firenze?" Harry asked, surprised.
Erica shook her head. "I've never met a centaur in my life." Her tone went sarcastic. "Do you think Mars told him about me?"
Erica, of course, knew that the centaur had likely known about her because word had reached them of a werewolf in the castle. But she wasn't about to tell her friends that.
Though it still didn't explain why Firenze knew she'd stick by Harry's side and help him no matter what.
The sky had turned light before they stopped talking. They went to bed exhausted. But the night's surprises weren't over.
When Harry pulled back his sheets, he found his Invisibility Cloak folded neatly underneath them. There was a note pinned to it:
Just in case.
Just three more chapters left in this story! Let me know what you think!
Sammiemoosam