Into the Forbidden Forest

"Ohh, my stomach hurts," Ron moaned.

"You shouldn't have had that brandy," Hermione said.

"It's not my fault people were offering drinks here and there and here and there," Ron said. "Seriously, Harry, does anyone there actually drink water?" he asked.

"Very rarely," Harry said. "And that's usually when they accidently breath in while they're swimming,"

"The bonfires were fun though," Ron said.

"You're lucky they actually cooked some of the food," Harry said. It was late at night on May 2nd, the festivities were still going on, but they had to get back to Hogwarts before breakfast. "Hey, Ron, what did they serve the brandy to you in?" Harry asked.

"Um... a red bowl," Ron said.

"Glass or plastic?" Harry asked.

"Plastic,"

"We'd better get you to Madam Pomfrey then," Harry said.

"Why?" Hermione asked.

"Well, plastic bowls are used to hold the 'experimental' drinks," Harry said. "Just tell me if you start feeling any symptoms of typhoid or small pox,"

"Will do," Ron said.

"Did you drink anything, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Cider," Hermione said. "It was in a cup,"

"Okay, that's good then," Harry said. "And since everyone here still has their skin, I'll say none of you made any 'bad phase of the moon' jokes around the Black Furies," a strangled scream came from behind them. "And there's someone who did,"

"They do look like a vicious lot," Ron said. "Why are they so angry?"

"They're Black Furies, Ron," Harry said. "Being vicious and angry is like their job or something,"

"Harry, that's not fair," Hermione said. "I talked to one of them and she was very educated actually,"

"Hermione," Harry said. "They kill their male children,"

"Until recently when they started giving them to other tribes," Hermione said. "They say that the women have a better connection to the mother earth than men do, and that the moon goddess Artemis created them and told them to protect the wild, avenge women and punish men." She said as they emerged from the forest.

"Who did you talk to?" Harry asked.

"A woman named Posy," Hermione said.

"I don't know her," Harry said. "She must be new here or something,"

"Hey, this may be the brandy talking, but does anyone else see that little white person?" Ron asked.

"It's only when you open your eyes, Ron," Harry said.

"No, there really is a person over there," Hermione said squinting. Harry rubbed his eyes and squinted, he saw a person running into the castle.

"Oh great," he said. "We'll have to run,"

"I don't feel up to running, Harry," Ron said. "I feel kind of--" he hit the ground with a thump, making Harry and Hermione turn around.

"This is fun," Harry said, crouching so he could look at Ron. "I knew there was something funny about that brandy,"

"YOU THERE!" it was Filch, and he was walking towards them.

"Where's the invisibility cloak?" Hermione asked.

"Back with Felan," Harry said. "This cannot be happening,"

---------

Filch took them to Professor McGonagall's study, where they sat and waited without saying a word to eachother (although, on Ron's part it was because he was unconcious and beginning to grow green fur). Hermione was shaking. Excuses, alibis and wild cover-up stories chased each other around Harry's mind, each more feeble than the last. How could he have forgotten the cloak? In Felan's den? It was sitting right there when they left. Professor McGonagall wouldn't take any excuses about being out of bed, and--- even worse, they had been near the forbidden forest which was totally out of bounds. They might as well have packed their bags already.

And the cloak. If the cloak was in Felan's hands, it would probably be in Marlaina's hands by morning. And knowing Marlaina... oh no, she was going to sell it.

"Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall walked briskly into the room. "Potter," There were two things that could happen when she called him "Potter", he would either be on the Quidditch team, or he would be in trouble. Seeing as he was already on the Quidditch team, it would probably be the latter. "I would never have believed it of any of you-- especially you Miss Granger-- on the edge of the forest, at one o'clock in the morning. Explain yourselves," she said.

There was silence. Hermione stared at her slippers, Harry stared at the window (hoping that Marlaina hadn't already auctioned off his cloak) and Ron snored slightly.

"It doesn't take a genius to work it out. You fed Draco Malfoy some cock-and-bull story about a dragon, trying to get him out of bed and into trouble. I've already caught him. I suppose you think it's funny that--- Weasley, look at me!" she snapped. Harry started a mantra in his head, don't notice the fur, don't realize what happened, don't notice the fur, don't realize what happened.

"I am disgusted," Professor McGonagall said. "Four students out of bed in one night, I have never heard of such a thing. And one of you seems to be under some type of spell also,"

"He's sick," Harry said. "He accidently ate something bad... out of the lake," he immediately regretted saying anything. Would Professor McGonagall believe that story?

"What did he eat?" Professor McGonagall asked shrewdly.

"Seaweed, I don't know," Harry said.

"All three of you are to recieve detentions--- yes, even Mr. Weasley, nothing gives you permission to be out at night, especially near the forest. And fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor,"

"Fifty?" Harry gasped. They would lose their lead.

"Fifty points each," Professor McGonagall said. "I've never been more ashamed of Gryffindor students. Now you two go to your bedrooms. I'll have Mr. Weasley taken to the hospital wing,"

A hundred and fifty points lost. That put Gryffindor in last place, and any chance they had at the house cup, gone. How could they ever make up for this? Worse, everyone would know about this by the time the morning came.

As the Gryffindors passed the giant hourglasses that recorded the house points, they thought it was a mistake at first. How could they lose one hundred and fifty points within a night? And then the story spread: Harry Potter, the hero-with-the-bad-eyesight-and-glasses, the first year that one two Quidditch matches, had lost them all those points. Along with his other two friends; one of which was in the hospital wing with what Madam Pomfrey said was a very contagious form of a strange mix of small pox, typhoid and (surprisingly) syphilis. This also made Harry wonder what exactly the Fianna were putting in their drinks.

From being the most admired and popular person at the school, Harry plummeted to being hated by everyone. Except for maybe the Slytherins who cheered when he went by. The only person who managed to stand by him, was Ron. In his hospital bed, looking horribly pale and sweaty with heavy-lidded eyes.

"They'll get over it in a few weeks," Ron wheezed. Apparently whatever he'd drinken also managed to attack his voice box. Harry sent a letter to Torra asking her what they put in the Beltane brandy. Hedwig came back looking like he just went to hell and back, and Harry promised he'd never send her back there again. Torra sent Felan up with another bottle of brew, antidote brew (at least, that's what she called it).

"It does wonders," Felan said. "It's the same stuff that Torra shoves down Fi's throat a few times a day. Puts you out like the dead for a few hours, then you're up and feeling better than ever but really hungry. I think that's where the brandy kicks in; but after that, you're puking a lot, and then, nothing."

"You've tried it then?" Harry asked. Felan nodded.

"And it tastes like goats milk and honey," Felan said.

"Goats milk?" Harry asked. "And here I thought it was all about the intestines,"

"Trust me, it isn't," Felan said.

"What does it have in it?" Harry asked.

"I dunno, and Torra's not telling her secret recipes to anybody but her cat," Felan said.

Later, Harry managed to get Ron to drink the 'Antidote brew' and Ron fell asleep for about a day, and then he seemed fine. Five hours after that, he started vomiting up his stomach contents, and after that he was fine again.

"Water, milk and pumpkin juice, the rest of my natural life," Ron swore.

"Good for you," Harry said.

"Maybe a bit of Odgen's Firewhiskey, but it must be bottled and sealed," Ron said.

"Very good for you," Harry said.

Then Harry was subjected to more insults and ridicule from other people. So he did something he thought he'd never do; he studied for the upcoming exams. He, Ron and Hermione kept to themselves, working late into the night, trying to remember the ingredients in complicated potions, learn charms and spells by heart, memorize the dates of magical discoveries and goblin rebellions... Everything was going so well. And then he got the letter from Dymphna.

Harry was almost reluctant to open the letter first, he was committed to not meddling in anything anymore. But eventually he opened it and read it.

Dear Harry,

Sorry I haven't been mailing you lately. I was in Greece having a vacation (courtesy of my father). Katerina got a new job though, she now works at a hypermarket in France. So, now I am without a flatmate again. She'll come back and visit, but it won't be the same, so I'm putting an advertisement in the paper for another flatmate.

And so, to answer your question from... a long time ago. The Philosophers stone can turn any metal into gold and makes the Elixer of Life. Sorry, I've got to go, I've got a dinner party with Aunt Grizzy and Uncle Ansgar to attend (they always serve caviar, I hate the stuff. Really).

Dymphna

"Turn any metal into gold and makes the Elixer of life?" Harry asked.

The same morning, notes were delivered to Harry, Hermione and Ron at the breakfast table. They were all the same:

Your detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight. Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.

Professor M. McGonagall

Harry had forgotten that they still had to do detentions. He almost expected Hermione to complain about losing a night of study, but she didn't say a word.

At eleven o'clock that night, they left the common room and went down to the entrance hall. Filch was already there with Malfoy.

"Follow me," Filch said, lighting a lamp and leading them outside. "I bet you'll think twice about breaking the rules next time--" doubtful, but maybe, "Oh yes... hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me... It's a pity they let the old punishments die out... hang you by your wrists from the cieling for days, I've still got the chains in my office..." They marched across the grounds. Harry wondered how horrible their punishment would be. It must be really horrible, or Filch wouldn't be so happy.

"Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started." Hagrid shouted. This was good, if they were working with Hagrid, it wouldn't be so bad. Right?

"I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that big oaf?" Filch asked. "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."

Malfoy stopped dead in his tracks.

"The forest? We can't go in there-- there are... werewolves," he said with a note of panic in his voice. Harry suddenly felt vastly superior.

"That's your problem, isn't it?" Filch asked. Hagrid came striding toward them out of the dark, Fang at his heel.

"Abou' time," he said. "I bin waitin' fer half and hour already."

"I'll be back at dawn," Filch said, "for what's left of them," he added nastily. He turned and started back towards the castle. Malfoy turned to Hagrid.

"I'm not going into the forest," he said.

"Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts," Hagrid said. "Right then, now listen carefully, 'cuse it's dangerous what we're about to do. Follow me over here a moment," He led them to the edge of the forest. Holding up his lamp, he pointed into the forest. "See that shinin' stuff on the ground there, that's unicorns blood. There's a unicorn in there that's been hurt bad by summat. We're gonna try an' find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out out of it's misery."

"Right now, we're going to split inter two parties an' follow the trail in diff'ren directions." he said.

"I want Fang," Malfoy said quickly.

"All right," Hagrid said. "I warn yeh, he's a bloody coward. So me, Harry an' Hermione will go one way. Ron, Draco an' Fang'll go the other. If any of us is in trouble, or finds unicorn, send up red sparks an' we'll come and find yeh-- so be careful. Let's go." The forest was dark and silent. They walked a little ways before they reached a fork in the path, Malfoy and Ron went one way with Fang, Harry, Hermione and Hagrid went the other. They walked in silence with their eyes on the ground. Every once in a while, the moon would shine through the trees and illuminate a spot of silver-blue blood on the leaves.

"Hagrid," Hermione started. "Could a werewolf be killing the unicorns?"

"Not fast enough," Hagrid said. "It's not easy to catch one, they're powerful creatures."

"But what if they... got it as a fun?" Harry asked, strongly reminded of Trey and the others heading out to play jokes on humans and make their dogs bark at seemingly nothing.

"It's still not probable," Hagrid said. They walked past a mossy tree stump. Harry could hear running water; there must be a stream nearby. Suddenly, Hermione grabbed Hagrid's arm.

"Look, red sparks! The others are in trouble!" she said.

"You two wait here!" Hagrid shouted. "Stay on the path! I'll be back!" They heard him crashing away through the undergrowth and stood looking at each other, very scared. The minutes seemed to drag by until, at last, a great crunching noise was heard. Hagrid was back and looked very mad.

"I swear, it wasn't me!" Malfoy said. Apparently, Malfoy had snuck up behind Ron as a joke, and Ron panicked and sent up the red sparks.

"We're changin' groups," Hagrid said. "Ron, you come with me and Hermione. Harry, you go with Fang and this idiot,"

So Harry set off to the heart of the forest with Malfoy and Fang. They walked for nearly a half an hour until the path became to obscured to follow. Harry looked ahead and saw something white gleaming on the ground.

"Look," he whispered, holding out his arm to stop Malfoy. They inched closer. It was the unicorn all right, and it was definitely dead.

"Maybe what killed it is long gone," Malfoy said. If Harry hadn't been so scared, he would have probably laughed at the fear in Malfoy's voice. He heard a slithering noise, like a snake and a cloaked figure rose from behind the unicorn with silvery blood dripping from the robes. Malfoy screamed and bolted, along with Fang.

Harry seemed glued to the spot and couldn't really feel his feet anymore and his scar burned, his head pounded, everything seemed to hurt. As the thing advanced on him, he fell backwards onto his back. He heard hooves behind him.

Oh great, now it's calling it's friends, he thought. Something jumped clear over him and charged at the figure. Harry closed his eyes to try to shut out the pain in his head and when he opened them, the thing was gone. But somebody-- no, something-- was standing over him. A young man with white-blonde hair and a horses body.

"Centaur," Harry whispered, remembering a story that Felan's mother had told him.

"Are you all right?" the centaur asked. Harry nodded.

"What was that?" he asked. The centaur didn't answer. He had astonishing blue eyes, like pale sapphires. He looked at Harry carefully, his eyes lingering on Harry's forehead.

"Harry Potter," he said. Harry nodded again. "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," Firenze lowered himself so that Harry could clamber onto his back. He thought to ask the question again, but he might as well be polite.

"Firenze-rhya," he started, using the suffix for those greater in station. "What was that thing that attacked me?" Firenze stopped.

"Harry Potter, do you know what unicorn blood is used for?" Firenze asked. Really great lager? I don't know... Harry thought.

"No," Harry said. "We only use the horn and tail hairs in potions,"

"That is because it is a terrible thing, to slay a unicorn," Firenze said. "The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death. But at a horrible price. You have slain something so pure and defenceless to save yourself, that you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips,"

Pure and defenseless? Did that mean that Fi too would have a cursed life for killing rabbits to eat?

"Who'd be that desperate?" Harry asked. "If you're going to be cursed forever, death's better isn't it?"

"Unless, you need to stay alive long enough to drink something else that would sustain you. That would bring you back to full power," Firenze said. Harry remembered what Dymphna's letter said, 'The Philosopher's stone can turn any metal into gold and make the Elixer of Life'. "Do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment?" Firenze asked.

"Of course," Harry said. "The Philosopher's stone,"

"And do you know of nobody who had waited many years to return to power?"

"You mean, that thing over there, drinking the unicorn's blood--- that was Voldemort?" Harry asked.

"Harry! Harry are you all right?" Hermione was running down the path, with Hagrid puffing along behind her.

"I'm fine," Harry said.

"This is where I leave you," Firenze murmured. "You are safe now," Harry slid off of his back. "Good luck, Harry Potter," he turned and cantered back into the depths of the forest.

---------------

When they got back to the common room, Harry told Hermione and Ron what had happened in the forest.

"Snape wants the stone for Voldemort... and Voldemort's waiting in the forest... and all this time I thought he just wanted to get rich -- Snape I mean,"

"Stop saying the name!" Ron said in a terrified whisper. Harry didn't listen.

"So now we just have to wait for Snape to steal the stone," Hermione said. "Then we can prove it's him,"

"But then Voldemort might already be able to finish me off," Harry said.

"But you're forgetting something," Hermione said. "Who's the one person You-Know-Who was ever afraid of? Dumbledore. With Dumbledore around, You-Know-Who can't get anywhere near you. With Dumbledore around, you're safe,"

They finally went to bed, exhausted, when the sky turned light. But when Harry pulled back his sheets, he found his invisibility cloak folded underneath them. There was a note pinned to it:

Your lucky Marlaina didn't get her hands on it,


Felan

Then, it came to him. He crumbled the note and tossed it under his bed, then settled in between the sheets. The only way they could stop Voldemort from ever getting the stone, was to steal it themselves.

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A/N: About twenty minutes until I have to upload this. Two more chapters left to go until the end of the story, and then I start on the sequel. Once again, I've ripped off JKR oodles with this chapter, most of Firenze's speech and Hagrid's speech. I'm still pulling for seventy reviews though. Um....

(Clio: Why am I still here?) Because you're the muse of history, and I need history expertise here. (Clio: Dammit) I don't think I have anything else to say here... oh well, good-bye!