Chapter 19: Unicorns, Voldemort, and Quirrell

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"Now, we're lookin' for a Unicorn. Something's hurting her in the forest, so ah want to find it. If you find the Unicorn, summon me somehow. I'm sure you can 'Arry, seeing as how you're so good with spells." Hagrid looked around, then added, "Stay on the path, too. Lots o' things live in this forest."

Harry blushed slightly to the compliment, then the two teams went separate ways at a fork in the path.

"Well, this is fun," Harry commented after about half-an-hour of walking the path.

Draco nodded. Harry watched as the boy tilted his head in concentration. The two stopped.

"What?" Harry asked.

Draco pointed. "What's that? Is it what I think it is?"

Harry leaned in and looked at the spot of silver on the brown tree trunk. "Lumos," Harry whispered, making his wand glow. "Unicorn blood?" he asked Draco.

Draco brought his head close to the trunk and squinted at the blood. "Yea. Yea, I think it is."

Harry brought his wand up and looked around in the light. "Hmm." He looked over the ground around where the initial silver Unicorn blood was. "More," he said, pointing.

Draco shuffled his feet. "Hagrid said to stay on the path."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Er... I think it's worth it, Draco."

The blonde boy glanced around nervously. "If you say so."

Draco followed Harry off the path, illuminating his wand as well. Harry leaned over the ground, following the track of Unicorn blood.

"There's more and more with every step..." Draco pondered out loud.

Harry nodded, still leaning over. "Yea..."

"Which means-" Draco stopped abruptly. "Oh my gods."

Harry followed Draco's gaze up ahead, to where his light barely reached.

A dark, cloaked figure was leaning over a glowing white one, drinking silver liquid that was flowing from the white one's wounds. The white one was recognizable as a brutally injured, if not dead, Unicorn. And the cloaked one looked strangely familiar to Harry. Even Draco recognized him somewhat.

The figure turned around, and both boys' eyes widened. Draco turned to run, but Harry was frozen in place.

The cloaked man-thing-straightened.

Watching it, Harry felt his body begin to burn, the focal point of the pain at his scar. He collapsed under the force of the unspoken torture as the figure began to move closer.

Then, with a roar, a white Centaur galloped in.

With a small shriek, the cloaked figure turned and ran off. The Centaur followed after it a few feet before returning to Harry and beckoning for the boy to mount him. Harry mounted the Centaur, and the two hurried out of the forest.

Hagrid, Vanella, Malfoy, Ron, and Fang were waiting at the forest's edge. Hagrid was preparing to re-enter the forest, crossbow slung over one shoulder.

"Ah, Harry!" he yelled at the boy's approach on the creature. "Ah see you've met Bolt. He's a beauty, ain't he? Can' talk though. 'Tis unfortunate, but ya can' 'ave everything."

Harry nodded, dismounting the gleaming white Centaur. "Yea."

Hagrid smiled, then thought better of it and frowned. "Ya found the Unicorn, 'Arry?"

Harry nodded again. "And what's been hurting them. A person, I think."

Hagrid's eyes widened. "Detention is dismissed, folks." He and Fang retired into his cabin as the four students walked back up to the castle in the night.

"Well... That was... interesting," Draco offered.

"Yea," Harry said, "Interesting." He gathered his thoughts together and formed a plan. "Do you guys know how bad it is to hurt a Unicorn? What the penalty is?"

Vanella and Ron shrugged, but Draco nodded. "You can live off of it, but your life is a mere half-life. I can't see why anyone would make the sacrifice."

Vanella's Sapphire eyes lit up. "I can," she said, a smile forming. "I get it."

The foursome reached the castle and stopped. "You want to explain that, El?" Harry asked the girl.

She looked around, checking for teachers and/or Filch. It was almost after curfew, after all. "Well, did you guys hear about the break-in to Gringotts in July?"

Ron and Draco nodded.

"Well, Harry and I were there that day. Professor Snape emptied the vault they broke into, but Harry didn't know what Snape had taken out."

She met all their eyes to make sure they were following. "But you see, from the description of the package, I knew, that it must have been Nicolas Flamel's Stone."

At their blank looks, she continued. "Nicolas Flamel was-er, is-a famous alchemist. He was in possesion of the only known Sorcerer's Stone.  He's friends with Dumbledore!"

She looked around again and continued. "When Voldemort fell, my mother told me that the only thing that could possibly bring him back to his full power was the Sorcerer's-also known as the Philosopher's-Stone. So when Death Eaters or Voldemort discovered that the Stone was being held at Gringotts, he broke in and tried to take it. But it was gone, because Snape had taken it here earlier that day.

"Do you guys get it?"

Harry had a look of realization on his face, but Ron and Draco still looked a bit confused.

She continued, "Voldemort infiltrated the castle. He's been living these past years by using someone else's body. Obviously, he's inhabited one of the teachers-"

Ron blurted, "Snape!"

Harry hit him on the back of the head. "Of course not! I know Snape, he's not a bad person!"

Ron sent Harry a look.

"Well, he's not a bad person to Slytherins," he added.

Ron nodded.

Vanella shook her head, rolling her eyes. "No you git! Quirrell!"

Harry's eyes widened, but Ron and Draco began to laugh.

"Quirrell?" Ron asked. "P-poor s-s-stuttering Q-quirrell? I don't think so."

Draco nodded, but Vanella shook her head again. "That's what he wants you to say and think. Harry, you wince every time you get near him, explain."

Harry tilted his head and bit his lip. "Alright. My scar hurts every time I get near him. I didn't know why until I looked up some information on scars. Apparently, scars caused by dark magic will burn whenever they are near dark magic or the doers of it." He shrugged. "Once I'd read it, I passed it off as ridiculous. I mean, my scar used to hurt every time I got near Vanella. I figured it was just coincidence or me."

Then his eyes widened. "Vanella?"

She cringed. He had to find out sooner or later. "I'll explain it all to you later, Harry, I swear.

"But now we have business to deal with." She began to pace. "The locked door on the third corridor seems suspicious. If I was to hide a Stone in desperate need of protection, wouldn't the best bet be to make sure the students don't find it?" She stopped. "Make it off limits. Warn people they might die if they enter through the door."

Draco smirked. "I've been through that door."

Ron stared at him until it clicked. "You've seen Fluffy, too?"

Draco looked at the other boy like he was about to turn and walk away slowly. "Excuse me? Fluffy?"

"Fluffy. The three-headed-dog," Ron mumbled. "He's Hagrid's. Hagrid and Hermione and I have been talking lately, ever since the little incident with the troll. Dumbledore got the insane idea of hiring Hagrid to be a sort of counselor between me and her."

Harry stifled laughter. "Are you serious?"

Draco shook his head in amazement. "That big goon named a three-headed-dog Fluffy?"

Vanella intervened, "People, we're straying off the topic." A terrified, glazed look came over her eyes. "Er... Hello, Professor."

The three boys turned the way she was facing, following the gaze of the Sapphires to land on Professor Snape.

He sneered. "Students should be in their dorms by this time, not discussing forbidden topics."

Harry looked down at the floor, but noticed something odd about Snape's stance in the process. He was leaning on one leg, apparently trying to keep the weight off his right one. A small, dark stain was seeping onto his robes from his leg. Harry tilted his head in thought, and, as Snape began to speak again, the robes opened just enough for Harry to see why Snape was avoiding putting weight on that leg.

"...and it is past curfew; maybe I should deduct points for your-"

"Professor," Harry interrupted. "I think you should go to the hospital wing for that," he said, pointing at the bloody leg.

The tall man followed the direction of Harry's arm, looking down at his almost-shattered leg.

Ron caught a look at it too. "Looks like a Fluffy bite. See! I told you it was him that was after the stone!"

Snape's eyebrows raised, and he gave Ron the goldfish-look, the infamous open-mouthed stare.

The look on Snape's face made Vanella burst out laughing, and she struggled to regain her equilibrium. She was stifling laughter under the cold glare of Snape until interrupted by Harry whacking Ron over the head for his comment. Then she didn't bother to stifle it.

"You bloody idiot! He's not the one after the Stone!" Harry whacked Ron again. "Quirrell is!"

Vanella continued to laugh as Snape turned his Onyx eyes to Harry. "What did you say?" he asked, slowly, quietly.

Harry realized his mistake. "Er... nothing.... Sir?"

Snape stood straight up, revealing just how tall and deadly he really was. "Follow me," he said, limping in front of the students. When they hesitated, he turned. "Now!" he growled.

The four hustled after him, and it wasn't long before each one realized they were heading to--

"Lemon drop."

--Dumbledore's office.

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Author's Note: Well this should be exciting. Another big discussion to come, in Dumbledore's office. My guess is that when they give answers, they'll get answers. The Centaur is my own, I didn't feel like looking up the facts. Sorry; blame it on laziness. No translations for this Chapter, but there are some reviews... Anyhow, (hey, that does work) I'm going to my dad's again for the weekend, but I'll be back on Monday this time, (I'm not going for the week), so it shouldn't be so long for the next update. Sorry the chapter wasn't longer, like requested, but I need to pack my suitcase for my dad's while eating lunch. Oh, I'm rambling again; sorry.

Thanks to everyone who sent me the name of the Slytherin Quidditch Captain, cause I need it for the first Quidditch game (should be in either chapter 20 or 21). [Marcus Flint.] I don't suppose anyone remembers some of the people on it, huh? Ah, well, Anyways, I think I ought to say sorry for the Cliffhanger I believe I just wrote. Really, really, terribly sorry. The next chapter will be as long as I can make it, too, I'll work on it all weekend. Usually I just stuff whatever makes sense together into a chapter and what comes out, comes out. But I digress. Moving on...

Anyway, review answers:

BlackSparrow, Incensio Lady: Thanks for the names! I couldn't find it in the book; it was driving me insane. Anyhow, thanks for the reviews!

shirriez: Thank you! For now, the group is Draco, Ron, Vanella, and Harry, but I promise, when Hagrid comes in, Hermione will become part of the group. I think this may turn out to be quite an interesting little group, if I do say so myself. Slytherins and Gryffindors, united for the common good. Ah, anyway, yep, the captain is Flint. After all the people reminding me, it clicked. Thanks though! Sorry about the update-less week. I was preoccupied. And thanks again. I know I repeat that a lot. Oh, well... thanks!

Starlight Dreams: Thank you! Ah, Harry and Ron will coexist; I honestly do not know whether they will become friends eventually or not. I think my fingers typing have more to do with the story than my brain does. Oh, well. It's Marcus Flint, as I've been informed. Anyways, thanks again.

Kayla Summers: Harry, with some help, has now figured Quirrell out. I'm kind of proud of it myself. In the next chapter, more will be explained. I'm trying to stay on the existing plot line of the book (like the same problems, only different adventures and circumstances) with my characters adding in their own help. Like my Harry and his perceptiveness, then Vanella who can [hint] probably feel her dad moving around the school. But anyways, thanks for the review!

Prophetess of Hearts: Thank you. Er.. as for the chapters longer... I'll try. I'm not sure how I can do it, because usually I just write until it feels like the right time to move onto another chapter. Like, when specific things happen, I like having things that make sense in the same chapter to be in the same chapter, whereas, things that don't, aren't. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone but me, but I said it anyways. Ah, well. Thanks for the review!

Mistress-Genari: First Review: I just like the idea of having billowy robes. I don't know why, it just seems neat, LoL. Second Review: I don't know, I'm a sucker for Cobras. I actually have a cat named Cobra, but he has his reasons and it's a long story. Vitesse's venomous-ness will come in handy... I've got plans. Ah, the Third Review: Thank you! I don't think I've ever read a fiction thingy where he was in anything but Slytherin or Gryffindor. People just don't really write them. Vanella and Harry teamed up; and the story has Quirrell and his idiocy. [ : ) ]. Thanks again for the reviews!

starangel2106: So much math. I think I may collapse. Anyhow, (you're right; that does work pretty well), yea, I update whenever I get a chapter done, and that's whenever I can. I'm somewhat of a very fast typist, wich my fingers typing almost, if not, as fast as my brain is thinking it. I don't know if I could sleep for two days; I know I'd want to, but chances are I'd just sit around. Lazy, indeed. Anyways, I'm glad I made up for 16. Sometimes you just have to write something to get it up there. But I think some of the happenings in 16 were necessary for my plot.... Ah, who wouldn't want to see Draco Malfoy like Jell-O? It'd be a funny sight, I think. Moving on... no, life's not too bad... 200 points!? That's great!

ReflectionsOfReality: Hmm. I honestly have no idea what a Severitus Challenge fic is. I could probably use to be filled in on that though. Er... yea. Um... what is it that I've done now that is cliched? (Sorry, this is WordPad, I can't get the accent.) Alright, here I go:

A.) 'cure Lupin.' Impossible. He is a werewolf. That cannot be cured.

B.) 'discover wormtail.' I have to, sorry. If I'm doing this like the books, Pettigrew has to come in eventually. It won't be for quite a while, now, but I'm sure it'll happen. That's one of the things Harry has to face, isn't it?

C.) 'cure Neville's parents' insanity.' If someone is insane, I believe it is impossible to cure it. I may be wrong, but I highly doubt Neville's parents really would serve a large purpose in my story, here.

D.) 'Catch Crouch Junior.' Er... Sorry. That has to happen, too. How would the fourth book ever come out right if Crouch Junior didn't die? What do you want me to do, set him free? Eek. Madman, he is. I don't think I could ever manage to not catch him.

Lockhart's memory cannot be restored, either.  How is that possible?

Draco as a Veela is a possibility, but probably not going to happen. And Harry being a half elf vampire who's grandfather is Voldemort himself? That wouldn't work either. That would make Vanella his mother, but she is younger than him. Not to mention that I don't think it's possible for me to turn my Harry into a half elf vampire. Eek again. Sorry.

And, now, I may sound stupid here, but, did you just call me a monkey? Last time I checked I wasn't, although it has been quite a while since I was checked for monkey-genes. Anyhow, thanks for the review... I think. Er... yea.

Moving on... that's it for now. My endless ramblings have taken a short break until the next chapter. So long.