Chapter Thirty: Forbidden Activity
Harry was anxiously waiting behind Hagrid's hut the day after his first potion's class with professor Malfoy. He could easily call Malfoy professor because he played this role for almost half a year now. Harry was still oblivious to the reason for meeting with Malfoy here outside, especially after so much protest from him last time when they trained on the Quiddich pitch.
"Surprisingly, you are right on time," a whisper came behind Harry's back, which made him shudder.
"And I am very curious to know about the aim of all of this," Harry said almost confidently.
"Come, we must to do a lot of work this evening," Draco threw above his shoulder and started walking towards the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
That evening Draco was wearing his usual robes, but with the hood raised, making Draco almost invisible in the darkness. Harry couldn't help but notice this. "What's up with the masquerade, Marko? And why…"
He was cut off by Draco's whisper where irritated notes could be heard. "I told you how to call me once yesterday. Is your memory that short?"
"But why?" Harry couldn't help asking. There were too many whys about the whole situation.
"That, Potter, is none of your business. It is especially of no importance compared to the matters at hand."
"And what are those mysterious matters which caused me to come outside this late and in Quiddich robes? If I may ask this, professor?"
"No, you may not, but you've already asked so I have to answer." Draco stopped and Harry almost bumped into him. Only now Harry noticed that they were standing in front of the Forbidden Forest.
Harry didn't like it one bit. The Forest was always the symbol of danger, forbiddance and darkness itself. Thin trees stood out from the dark mass of the forest. Shadows of Merlin knows what creatures crept from one tree to another. Flashes of small lights of animals' eyes, appearing and disappearing next moment they are noticed. Definitely not the place Harry wanted to spend his evening.
"As I understood from Dumbledore's words," Draco began in his lecture tone. "You visit this marvelous forest almost each year, so it became a tradition. But that's not the point. We are here not to uphold the tradition, but to teach you a very important thing." Now Harry was all ears. "You'll learn to kill today," Draco stated.
"To kill?" Harry asked astonished.
"Yes, to kill. But you must understand, neither Dumbledore nor I want to make a killing engine out of you. But you are a gryffindor and that's why you may vacillate on the point of killing somebody out of your high principles or pity or anything else that is as stupid as these things. You must be able to kill in defense, without even thinking about the moral side of the deal. I think it's quite obvious that when someone's strangling you, you want to do anything you can make his hands leave your neck." Harry nodded agreeing. "I am glad we reached the point of agreement in this case. Now to the practical part of today adventure. The Forbidden Forest will be your playground for today's lesson." On this, Harry slightly paled. Slightly, but Draco noticed it. "Are you scared?" Draco asked with a smirk.
"Of course, I am not," Harry answered defensively.
"Your face is pale and your hands are trembling. You are scared," Draco stated.
"And you aren't? It's against the rules to go there not because there is a playground, but because it's a trip with a ticket to one end!"
"Even if I am afraid, I am not showing it. And about the rules, I have any permission possible, even Hagrid's to our presence here. So don't think about losing points because of being in the Forbidden Forest after the curfew, your reputation of being a good boy won't be tarnished. It's nonexistent by the way, but still the honor of the House and blah-blah-blah," Draco rolled his eyes and Harry was trying not to laugh.
His reputation was far from clean and Malfoy knew it, that's why it was a good thing to make a joke out of, standing in the dark near one of the most dangerous places in England. "Returning to the tasks you need to accomplish today. Listen to me very attentively, Potter. Due to my promotion, so to say, you can receive a pretty amount of points for your suffering, that's why you need to do your best."
"Stop babbling. We don't have all night. Just say what I must do and let me do it."
Draco shook his head. "A gryffindor to the tips of his hair. So eager to endanger your life. Ok, I won't restrain you any longer. For perfectly carrying out each task you can earn fifty points. Fate has chosen your victims; you must get me a werewolf, a unicorn and a boar. Easy, isn't it?" Draco finished with irony.
"You want me to kill a unicorn!" Harry shouted with disbelief.
"Hey! Not so loud!" Draco hissed. "Do you want the whole castle to be here? You have great problems with ears recently. I told you to get me a unicorn. The choice of the weapons is always yours," he said with a slight bow. "Now, as you mentioned earlier, you don't have all night, go. You can light your way with a wand, but during the tasks wand using is forbidden, except only when there is a life or death situation," Draco said intently looking into Harry's eyes.
Harry took a deep breath and stepped into the forest. "And remember, Potter, you won't die tonight. I'll always be near by," with these last words he disappeared.
So it happen that Ron and Hermione had chosen that very evening to pay Hagrid a visit. Everything was as always: giant mugs, stony biscuits, talk about school and Quiddich until Ron looked out the window. "Hey! There is somebody at the edge of the forest!" he said urgently.
Hermione looked too and, when the light of a full Moon matched to siluettes from the darkness, yelled. "It's Harry and some cloaked figure! I saw Harry going out with his Quiddich robes on. What are they doing there?"
"And who is that person in the black cloak with him?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"Eh, don't worry guys! Everything's all right." Hagrid was far from pleased with their discovery. The whole deed was supposed to be a complete secret. And knowing those two… It meant trouble.
"But who is it with him?" Ron couldn't calm down.
"It is his Dueling teacher," Hagrid answered reluctantly.
"Harry has his personal Dueling teacher and he's never told us!" Ron exclaimed indignantly.
"Who is it?" Hermione as always was right to the point.
"You see, I can't tell you, lads. They are having a practical lesson," Hagrid answered closing the topic with a broad smile.
"Whoever he is, if Harry isn't coming after an hour, we are going after him," Ron said with determined look.
Harry chose to begin with the unicorn. A warming up of sorts.
'Yes, Malfoy is really unpredictable. When I received the message, The Forbidden Forest hasn't even come to my mind as an option. Another pitch training or even swimming in the lake, but the forest… Extreme even for Malfoy. It seemed that it hadn't been planned like all his lessons were. What is the reason of such a sudden move? Does he think that I am ready already? I don't know about him, but I don't think so. This place gives me the creeps! And killing… I remember what my reaction was in the fifth year, when Dumbledore had told me that I had to kill Voldemort, it was the only option to win. But it was almost two years ago, I thought I got used to the thought, prepared myself morally. Well, we'll see today.'
Now back to the task!
Harry stopped walking and activated his Vision concentrating on the view of a unicorn in his mind. Right away he felt a pull and his legs started to carry him to the location of a unicorn. After about fifteen minutes the pulling disappeared.
Harry had seen a unicorn in his first year, but it was nothing compared to the beauty of an alive unicorn, which was standing in front of him. The silver figure with its grace and shine of its skin in the moonlight made the unicorn represent the good side in this ocean of darkness. It was eating grass oblivious to Harry's presence. Such a peaceful picture which Harry couldn't dare to disturb.
'How can I raise a hand on such a beautiful creature? But still I must slay it somehow. What can I do to catch it, but at the same time not harm it?' Then he had an idea. Harry concentrated on the aura of the unicorn. It was a mixture of silver and blue with white sparks here and there.
Thick smoke started coming from his hand surrounding the unicorn. It was a sleeping draught in its air form which they had learned in Potions. The bright colors of the aura began to fade until they became almost grey. Harry was afraid that the dose could be too large, but the sparks were still present. Due to that, Harry concluded the unicorn was still alive.
When the smoke reduced, Harry again looked at the creature: even the sight of a sleeping unicorn was fascinating. He conjured a thin net and put it around the animal. Just in case.
The next task made him shudder. A werewolf. It was a Dark creature. This encounter won't be a pleasant one. He summoned all the knowledge he received during his third year from a report to Snape. 'Full Moon, biting, silver…Yes, this could come in handy.'
Next second, Harry was stunned by a loud howl, which unmistakably belonged to a werewolf. 'Coming to me on its own, I am flattered. I bet it thinks it can have me for dinner,' Harry thought sarcastically.
During the next five minutes, Harry readied himself for the upcoming attack. The outcome of this little battle was determined by Harry: he'll win and won't be bitten. The sight of a werewolf which came through the bushes was horrible. Its eyes were blood shot, blue-grey droll fell from between yellow teeth, dirty brown fur stood on end, presenting an animal that will do anything to reach his goal.
Harry intentionally hasn't used his Vision right at the moment the werewolf appeared: he wanted to see the face of the enemy. The werewolf seemed to be young, that's why he was bloodthirsty and irrational. It made him inexperienced, it suited Harry. After seeing the ugly muzzle, he opened his Vision and faced a dirty brown aura with a clearing in the middle. 'Still has the human part in it.'
The creature wasn't waiting for invitation and jumped, grabbing Harry's right leg. Fortunately, Quiddich leather protection prevented the penetration of the werewolf's claws into Harry's flesh. He couldn't wait any longer for an opportune moment, Harry used a fire bolt to blind and confuse the creature, then without hesitation conjured a heavy silver chain, which went to the neck of the werewolf.
Harry thought that it had found its place itself. Right to the neck without any other options. With the strength of his will, he began to tighten the chain around its neck to strangle him. Harry didn't feel the coldness of the chain or didn't see how the blue tongue started to fall out from the werewolf's mouth, but he heard the cracking sound of neck bones in his head, felt the agony it was coming through, reaching its last moment of life. The aura started fading quickly until it completely disappeared.
Harry breathed out and the dead body fell to its legs. He took a few deep breaths. His first murder. He didn't want to repeat the experience. In the very end he felt like a drop of darkness entered him, as if branding him as a murderer.
Shimmers ran down his spine. Another one was ahead. Just a boar. Nothing dark, just a wild animal. 'Why should I kill him? It doesn't seem to be a training challenge. But ok, it'll be the last one for today and then sleep and in the morning say to yourself that it was just a nightmare.'
Harry was tired and sweaty. All this took a lot of energy: magical and physical. For the last time he concentrated on his goal picturing it in his mind. This time it took him less than ten minutes to reach the destination. Harry glanced through the bushes on the daring, where stood a wild boar minding its own business. But he was huge! Like a middle-sized bear! It had huge fangs, which slightly reminded him of an elephant.
'Yes, just a boar. An easy task.' Harry thought rolling his eyes. He never came across wild animals, but still knew the basic, that's why standing behind the bushes he organized a circle of fire, so it was a winning variant from all points of view. Harry felt the creature's fear, its panic when the circle began to tighten around him. The boar madly threw himself from one side to another trying to find a way out, but in vain.
Fate likes to play jokes on mortal people, that's why right at the moment, when the boar could've died from a heart attack or suffocate, Hermione and Ron appeared with a lamp, lighting their way. As Ron promised, they went on a rescue mission and had been looking for half an hour for a trace of Harry.
"Harry!" Hermione yelled with fear seeing the situation. Her yell was so loud and unexpected that it broke Harry's concentration and the fire disappeared. Completely mad animal somehow found its attacker and jumped on Harry, knocking him down.
"Fools!" Draco shouted and Ron and Hermione were thrown with an invisible force, landing ten feet away. Draco quickly came to Harry. "Any ideas, Potter?" he asked Harry indifferently, who at that time struggled under the hundred pound boar, which was determined to use its fangs on his neck.
Harry shook his head frantically, trying to give a negative answer. Receiving such response, Draco took a dagger out of his robes. It was a real piece of art and an armorer's masterpiece. It had a long and thin blade, its handle crowned an emerald with silver "M" on it. It was the Malfoy family heirloom. But nobody could appreciate the beauty of the dagger, because it was dark and all their attention was centered on Harry, who still was in grave danger. Draco swiftly stabbed the dagger under the boar's left shoulder blade, right into the heart. In a second the beast was dead. Draco pushed it off Harry. "You still had an opportunity to finish it, mind you," Draco said with light reproach.
"How could I? In such a position?"
"Exactly. You could do this," Draco came to the dead body and two streams of fire came from his eyes, burning through the fur. Harry was stunned, even his mouth slightly opened. "Cool, don't you think? Came up with it the other day. In your position it would be perfect. You were face to face, so to say, if you'd done this not only its eyes, but its brain would've been burnt too. Wanna try? Just wish it really hard."
And Harry really wanted to, it wasn't only cool, it was, well, great! Harry always wanted to understand how Draco could come up with so many ideas for 'weapons'. 'I'll ask him on the next lesson, but now Fire Eyes.' He wished really, really hard and so awaited fire came from his eyes, then, "Shit! It hurts!" Harry shouted, closing his eyes and rubbing them with his hand.
"Of course, it does," Draco said, holding back laughter. "But we proved that looks could kill and a bit of pain is worth it, right?"
Chatting about lethal looks Harry and Draco didn't noticed Ron and Hermione, who came round already and walked towards them. "You!" was Ron's shocked reaction. Hermione just couldn't master a word.
"Quite a familiar expression, right, Potter?" Draco glanced at Harry with laughing eyes.
"Indeed." But Harry couldn't restrain himself from laughing loudly at his friends' reaction to Draco's presence.
"Until Potter is in an inadequate condition to argue with me," Draco began suddenly very serious, "I would like to repeat what fools you are! You could be the reason of his death!" Harry abruptly stopped laughing. "What the Hell are you even doing here! Weakness and strength at the same time," he muttered the last sentence under his breath. "We certainly must do something about it."
"And what the Hell are you doing here!" came a question from Ron, who finally found an ability to speak. It wasn't clarified whom he asked: Draco or both Harry and Draco, so Draco answered for both of them.
"It is none of your business, Ronald," Draco said sternly. Ron jumped at using his full name, especially if the user was Malfoy. "And we didn't finish it. I hope you two don't want to stay all night in this damn forest, so you let us finish and maybe then some questions could be answered."
Without waiting for an answer Draco turned to the dead body of a boar. "Ok, let's start with the end. What can I say, Potter?" Draco said with a dull expression, looking around the clearing.
"Not bad, but far from good. The choice of a fire was good, but not in this form. You could put it around him to restrain him from running away. Then throw something at him. The weakest spot of a boar are his eyes. So you could throw a thorn or something like it." Draco said in a discussing tone.
Harry nodded. Hermione and Ron looked at them like they were mad. "Taking into account that I killed it, I'll give you twenty five points for this task including your lying on the ground; it was a pretty good struggle."
"Yeah, pretty good. I felt as if I was under the Hogwarts Express," Harry grumbled. Draco smirked. Ron and Hermione couldn't help but smile at the comment.
"I still need to finish my business here," Draco again took out the dagger and cut the boar almost in half, after some not describable actions he took out the boar's liver, rolled it in parchment and put it in a bag that he carried with him. "Now, to the next trophy," proclaimed Draco.
They walked in complete silence to the place, where the werewolf lay. Only the light of Hagrid's big lamp held by Ron gave light during their journey. On reaching their destination, Harry began to tremble slightly as if from the coldness of the night, but Draco knew better. "You felt it, didn't you?" he whispered for only Harry to hear.
"What do you mean?" Harry whispered back.
"The darkness after you killed it. The pain of your victim."
Harry nodded and looked away. He didn't want to refresh those memories. The whole experience was horrible, but somehow, Harry considered it to be useful. It was really complicated to comprehend, especially now. Finally they came to another dead body. Hermione gasped and turned away reaching for Ron for support that he willingly gave her, needing it himself.
Draco looked intently at the werewolf then squatted, removed the fangs with his dagger and saying only, "Fifty points" started walking away. The procession followed him.
The final stop was more pleasant than the previous. The unicorn slept peacefully like a baby. Hermione even stroked it. The fur was so soft. 'Like Ron's hair,' she thought absent-mindedly.
"Brilliant, Potter," Draco said with real pride in his voice, which was heard by Ron and Hermione and left them even more bewildered. "Another fifty points to your House. What a moment in history! I willingly gave to Gryffindor hundred and twenty five points! Amazing! So, Potter, I am really satisfied with the condition of the creature."
He came closer to the unicorn and lifted up its eyelid, then sniffed the air. "Assilisium? Somebody's done his Potions homework," he praised with a smirk. Now Hermione too felt proud. 'At last Harry started to study properly.'
"What? I know it too!" Ron said with offence.
"Of course you do, dear," Hermione said smiling, which brought a smile on Ron's lips also.
"Stupid love, always on my way this year," Draco muttered, cutting of the unicorn's horn and throwing it in the bag with frustration. "Common, lover birds, let's go already!"
Finally emerging from the forest Draco wanted to run to the castle and into the bed. He was tired, he was so angry with Ronald and Granger that pushing them took lots of his energy and other stuff. Hell, it was almost one in the morning! But his dreams weren't supposed to become true in the next thirty minutes because Granger came in front of him. "You promised answers."
"Yes, that was the deal," Ron supported her.
"Ok." Draco sat down on the grass right where he was stopped. "Potter, you may go. Today same time, same place." He turned to Hermione. "Now I'll answer your questions," Draco said with a tired sigh.
Surprisingly to everybody Harry didn't leave, but sat to the right of Draco. "I'll stay, I want some answers too." Ron and Hermione sat down too. The sight was pretty funny: four teenagers sitting in the middle of the way from the Forbidden Forest to the Hogwarts castle: four black spots on the huge expanse of green lawn.
"What are these for?" Hermione gestured to the bag.
"It's none of your business."
"But that's my business," Harry said firmly. "I risked my life to get them, so I have all the right to know the purpose of my actions."
"Yes, you have," Draco gave up. "I'll answer you this way: I am doing what you tried to do at the end of your fifth year." Then he stood up and went to the castle without another word.
"What the Hell?" asked Ron dumbfounded. "You went to the department of Mysteries at that time, he can't do it now."
"No, there is something else, Ron," said Harry deep in thought.
"You were trying to save Sirius," Hermione gave another clue.
"That's it! You're always right, 'Mione. He is saving his Godfather." Ron and Hermione looked at him blankly.
"He is saving Snape."