CH24: Deep In The Heart Of The Woods

~Draco, Hermione, and Harry crept past them. They didn't speak until they arrived at the Gryffindor common room to drop off Hermione. Fred and George were waiting.

"What's wrong?" they asked when they saw the worried looks.

"Ron," said Hermione.~

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The news that Ron Weasley had lost Gryffindor 50 points travelled through the school very fast. Now, not only was the red and gold House out of the running for the Quidditch Cup, but the House Cup as well.

Let's just say, he didn't gain many fans.

Fred and George just shook their heads sadly.

"There's nothing we can do."

"We told him to forget that Hermione left, but .... "

And it wasn't as though any of them had time to worry about the youngest Weasley boy's problems. Now that Norbert was out of the way, the group still had to figure out the mystery of 'Who Was After The Philosopher's Stone'.

It wasn't going well.

Harry stared at 'Famous Alchemists'.

'Nicholas Flammel,' Harry read. 'is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone. The Stone is a legendary substance that with amazing powers ..... ' I know that already. Doesn't anybody write anything else?!? This was the fifth book he found with the exact same passage.

He slammed the text shut with frustration and left the library. He didn't get very far.

"Oomph!"

"Sorry, Neville," Harry said, as he realized who he had run into.

"It's no problem," replied Neville. "Hey, what's that - " He paused, staring at Harry's neck.

Harry quickly looked down and he inwardly swore: his locket was hanging out.

"Andy," Neville breathed. "Is that a Phoenix Ring?"

He was puzzled, until he looked down again. It was the flame covered ring that had caught the boy's attention. He let out the breath he was holding: he really didn't want to have to explain why he had a locket with a picture of the Potters inside.

"Er, yeah."

"Where'd you get it?"

"My dad left it to me."

"Wow." He stopped gapping abruptly. "What do you mean 'left you'?"

"He - he died. When I was little."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I should have asked. I'm always saying the wrong things - "

"It's fine, Neville, I - "

"No. I shouldn't have mentioned it. I know what it's like ...... "

Harry looked puzzled for a second. A string was pulling at the back of his mind, something he should remember. And then it hit. He didn't know how he knew, but ......

'The Longbottoms, both prominent fighters in the war against You-Know-Who, were found tortured to insanity this morning,' the Daily Prophet had written.

Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Harry realized Neville was still babbling on.

"Neville," he said. "I know."

"What?"

"About your parents."

"Oh." He looked down at the ground until Harry put a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, if you never need anyone to talk to about ... anything, just come to me. Alright?"

Neville smiled hesitantly. "Okay."

As Harry started to walk away, Neville called him back. "Andy. That works both ways."

"I'd like that."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"If he tries to poison us again, I swear I'll hex him," Draco exclaimed, pulling his cloak around him tighter.

"I doubt he will," said Harry reasonably. "If he was, he'd do it in front of lots of people. Not late at night. You know Snape likes to humiliate us."

"True."

Harry and Draco made their way to the Entrance Hall where they were to report for there second detention with Snape. In the hubbub of the Philosopher's Stone they had forgotten all about it. Unfortunately, Snape hadn't.

They were sure they were in for a night of horror and torment (pretty much an after-hours Potions Class), but the Potions Master wasn't waiting for them. It was Filch.

They weren't sure which one was worse.

At the same moment, Ron Weasley rushed down the hallway opposite them.

"I forgot we'd have to spend the night with him," whispered Draco disgustedly. Harry had to agree with his tone: ever since the youngest Weasley had tried to rat them out to McGonagall, the Ravenclaws had liked him even less.

"Follow me," said Filch, lighting a lantern. "I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule now," he continued as they marched across the grounds. "Pain is always the best teacher, don't you think? I wish they hadn't let the old punishments die out. Children tend to listen better after they been hung upside-down for a few days."

The group reached Hagrid's Hut and, in the light from the windows, saw the huge man waiting for them. Harry and Draco exchanged worried looks. They new that their friend wouldn't hurt them intentionally, but Hagrid's views on what was and wasn't dangerous were somewhat out-there.

"You're late, Filch," Hagrid called through the darkness. "Bin lecturin' them, eh?"

"I just thought they should now what they're getting into. The Forest is a dangerous place this time of night."

Ron paled, his freckles standing out. "The Forest?" he croaked. "We can't go in there - there's all sorts of things. Werewolves, I heard."

Another memory tickled the back of Harry's mind at this, but he shook it off.

"Should've thought about werewolves before you got in trouble." Ron glared at Draco and Harry, but said nothing else.

"I'll be back at dawn," said Filch, with a gleeful look at the kids. "I'm sure I won't be seeing you then."

"Just when we thought Snape was the most sadistic man in Hogwarts," Harry muttered, staring at Filch's retreating back.

"Right then," said Hagrid. "Now listen carefully, 'cause it's dangerous what we're gonna do tonight an' I don' want no one takin' risks." He pointed a lantern into the trees, down a winding path. "Look there. See that silvery stuff on the ground? That's unicorn blood. One's been hurt badly by summat. It's the second time this week. I found one dead last Wednesday. We're gonna try an' find the poor thing and we might have ter .... put it out of its misery. Right, we're gonna split inter two parties once we get in a bit farther an' follow the trail in diff'rent directions. There's blood

all over the place, it must've been staggerin' around."

The Forest was silent. In the moonlight, Harry saw Hagrid look a little worried.

"Could a werewolf really be killing the unicorns?" Draco asked.

Hagrid shook his head. "Not fast enough. It's not easy ter catch a unicorn. Bu' if it's this badly hurt, it can't've gone far - GET BEHIND THAT TREE!"

Into the clearing came .....

A centaur? Harry thought in wonder.

To the waist it was a man, with red hair and a beard, but below that was a horse's chestnut body.

"Oh, it's you, Ronan," said Hagrid in relief. He walked forward and shook his hand.

"Good evening to you, Hagrid," said Ronan. "Who are your young friends?"

"Students up at the school. An' this is Ronan, you three. He's a centaur."

"We'd noticed," quipped Draco.

"It's nice to meet you," said Ronan. "Students, are you? Do you learn much, up at the school?"

"A bit," said Ron. Harry jumped: he had almost forgotten the red-head was there.

"Well, that's something."

"Listen," Hagrid said. "I'm glad we've run inter yeh, ' cause there's a unicorn been hurt - you seen anythin'?"

Ronan tilted his head up towards the sky and sighed. "Always the innocent are the first victims. So it has been for ages past, so it is now."

Hagrid went on impatiently. "Yeah, but have yeh seen anythin'?" he repeated.

Ronan stayed silent and the trees behind him moved. Hagrid noticeably went on guard, but it was only another centaur. Black-haired and bodied, it addressed Hagrid.

"Good evening, Hagrid. I hope you're well."

"Hullo, Bane. I've just bin askin' Ronan if he'd seen anythin' odd lately. A unicorn's bin injured."

Bane walked over next to Ronan and also looked skywards.

"Mars is bright tonight. Unusually bright."

"The God of War," Harry whispered. Both centaurs whipped their heads up and stared at Harry.

"That's right." Ronan smiled. "Perhaps you learn more at that school then you think, Harry Potter."

Harry's eyes widened and he heard Ron gasp behind him.

"How did you know?"

"We centaurs have our ways." Harry glanced to the stars and Ronan winked at him. "Be careful, the Forest hides many secrets." The pair galloped out of the clearing.

Harry turned back around and saw Ron staring at him, mouth agape. "Tell anyone about this, Weasley, and I'll blast you six ways from next Thursday."

Ron just gulped and nodded his head.

"This is where we split up," said Hagrid. "Harry, you and Fang go tha' way. Draco, yeh'll come with me. An' Weasley - "

"I want Fang," Ron said quickly.

I thought Gryffindors were supposed to be brave," mumbled Draco.

"All right, but I warn yeh, he's a coward," Hagrid continued, ignoring Draco. "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 come an' find yeh. Let's go."

Harry and Ron walked for nearly half an hour, deeper and deeper into the Forest, until the path was so thin they had to walked down in sideways. The blood was appearing more often as though the creature had thrashed around in pain.

"Do Fred and George know who you are?" Ron asked suddenly.

"Yes, Weasley," replied Harry shortly.

"How come - " But he stopped when they reached a clearing. Something bright white was gleaming on the ground.

It was the unicorn. And it was dead. Harry had never seen anything so beautiful and sad. It's mane was spread across the dark leaves and it's slender legs stuck out at odd angles.

Ron stepped forward and Harry was about to follow him when a sudden pain shot through his scar.

A hooded figure burst out of the shadows and crept towards the unicorn. It bent it's head and began to drink it's blood ....

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Ron screamed and he bolted - so did Fang. The cloaked figure looked Harry right in the eyes and slowly slithered towards him.

The pain in his head was more intense than it ever had been before. A cloud of silver filled his sight and he staggered backwards. The sound of hooves came behind him and Harry turned towards the noise. Whoever it was swore as he fell to his knees.

It took a few minutes for his vision to clear, but when he could see again, the figure was gone and a centaur with blond-hair was standing above him.

"Are you alright, my Lord?" he asked as he pulled Harry up.

"I'm fine - what did you just call me?"

"You are the Silver One, aren't you?"

"Yes, but - "

"The Forest is not safe at this time, especially for you. Can you ride? It will be quicker this way." He lowered himself to the ground as Harry clambered on. "My name is Firenze, by the way."

Suddenly, Ronan and Bane came bursting through the trees.

"What are you doing?" Bane thundered. "Have you no shame? You have a human on your back!"

"The quicker he leaves the Forest, the better."

"What have you told him? You seem to have forgotten that we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. It's not your place to meddle in the affairs of humans!"

"I'm sure Firenze thought he was acting for the best," Ronan interjected nervously.

"The best!" Bane exclaimed angrily. "Centaurs are supposed to only be concern with what is foretold!"

"Did you not see that unicorn?" Firenze bellowed back. "Do you not know 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, with humans alongside me if I must."

"But - "

"Don't you know who he is?"

"The Potter boy. What does - "

"He's the Silver One, Bane."

Bane looked shocked as Ronan whipped his head up, looking Harry deep in the eyes.

"Do you know what will happen if he dies?" Firenze said fiercely.

"The Balance will be disrupted," said Ronan quietly. "Go. Take him out of here as fast as you can."

"What was that about?" Harry questioned whisked through the woods.

"Do you know what unicorn blood is used for?" Firenze asked.

Harry was startled by the sudden question. "It'll keep you alive, even if you're an inch from death," he answered without thinking.

"Correct. Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime. To have slain something so pure and defenseless , will cause you to have a half life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips."

"If you're going to be cursed forever, death's better, isn't it?"

"It is. Unless you only need to stay alive long enough to drink something else - something that will cause you to never die."

"The Philosopher's Stone! But who - "

"Can you think of nobody who has waited many years to return to power? Who has clung desperately to life, awaiting a chance to truly live again?"

Harry's heart dropped. "You mean, that was Vol - "

"Harry! Harry, are you alright?"

Draco and Hagrid were running down the path.

"I'm fine," he reply, still deep in thought. "The unicorn's dead, Hagrid, it's in the clearing back there."

"This is where I leave you then, my Lord," Firenze whispered into Harry's ear. "You are safe now." Harry slid off his back. "Good luck. The planets have been read wrongly before, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times."

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Having asked Ron to tell the twins and Hermione to meet him, Harry and the gang corrugated in usual their classroom. Harry quickly filled them all in on what happened in the Forest.

He couldn't sit down, with all the adrenaline racing through his veins, and paced around in front of his wide-eyed friends.

"Whoever it is wants the stone for Voldemort ... and Voldemort's waiting in the Forest .... "

"Please stop saying his name," said Fred, flinching.

Harry wasn't listening. "Firenze saved me, but it seemed like he shouldn't have ... Bane was furious .... he was going on about interfering with the planets .... they must say Voldemort's coming back .... it would explain Mars being bright ..... war must be coming .... I guess Bane meant Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me .... Maybe that's written in the stars as well."

"Stop saying his name!" George hissed.

"So now we've just got to wait until the Stone is stolen. Then Voldemort will be able to come back and finish me off .... I suppose Bane'll be happy," he finished bitterly.

"Harry," Cho spoke up. "Everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You- Know- Who was ever afraid of. With Dumbledore around, You-Know-Who won't dare touch you."

"She's right," agreed Draco. "And who says the centaurs are right anyway?"

"It's sounds like fortune-telling," Hermione replied logically. "And Professor McGonagall says that's a very imprecise branch of magic."

As the group continues to discuss what to do, Harry was lost in his own thoughts, the part he hadn't mentioned. Why had Firenze called him 'my Lord'?

It seemed another talk with Albus might be in order.