Chapter 89: Figures Shimmer in the Night
The following morning, notes were delivered to Harry, Hermione, Phoenix, and Neville 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
Phoenix forgot about detention because of the points issue. She half expected Hermione to complain. This was going to lose them a full night of studying, but she didn't say a word.
At eleven o'clock that night, they said goodbye to Ron in the common room and went down to the entrance hall with Neville. Filch was already there- and so was Malfoy. Phoenix smiled. 'I didn't know Malfoy had detention.'
"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.
'Depending on what rule, not really.' Phoenix thought. 'I wonder what Malfoy is here for?'
"…. hang you by your wrists from the ceiling for a few days. I've got the chains still in my office."
'That's not creepy.'
"…. Right, off we go, and don't think of running off. Now, it'll be worse for you if you do."
Phoenix rolled her eyes. 'What could be worse than detention with Filch and Malfoy?'
The clouds scudded across the moon as they marched off across the dark grounds. Ahead, Phoenix could see the lighted windows of Hagrid's hut. Then heard the distant shout.
"Is that you, Filch? Hurry, I want ter get started."
Phoenix noticed the relief on Harry's face, but didn't feel the same about how Hagrid dressed.
"I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf?" Phoenix heard Filch say. "Well, think again boy-it's into the forest you're going and I'm much mistaken if you'll come out in one piece."
This took Phoenix by surprise. 'I thought we weren't allowed in there?' she watched Malfoy stop. He didn't seem his usual cool self.
"The forest?" he repeated. "We can't go in there at night-there's plenty of things in there-werewolves, I heard."
She saw poor Neville clutch the sleeve of Harry's robe. She felt sorry for Neville.
"That's your problem, isn't it?" said Filch, his voice cracking with glee. "Should've thought of them werewolves before you got in trouble, shouldn't you?"
Phoenix shook her head. 'I wonder if these wolves are as bad as when my mom and aunts turned.' She thought. 'From the stories I heard, they were scary.'
"I shouldn't be too friendly to them, Hagrid." Phoenix saw Hagrid standing around them. She must have missed him coming up. "They're here to be punished after all."
"That's why yer late, is it?" said Hagrid, frowning at Filch. "Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot your place ter do that. Yeh've done yer bit, I'll take over from here."
"I'll be back at dawn," said Filch, "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.
Phoenix smirked when she saw Malfoy turn to Hagrid, a panic expression matching his voice. "I'm not going in that forest."
"Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts," said Hagrid 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 goods 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."
Phoenix tried to stifle a laugh. She knew the punishment fit the crime. She watched as Malfoy stayed planted in his spot, looking at Hagrid furiously, then eventually dropped his gaze.
"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. Follow me over here a moment."
Phoenix looked over at Hermione and Harry and shrugged. 'This should be interesting.' Now she was getting curious and nervous. Poor Neville shivered.
They followed Hagrid to the very edge of the forest. Holding his lamp up higher, 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.
'This is a start of a horror movie.' Phoenix thought. Something was telling her there was something dark in that forest. Her instincts told her to be cautious. She knew she couldn't go anywhere. Malfoy wouldn't let her hear the end of it. She had the feeling something or someone was watching. 'Yep, definitely a start of a horror movie.'
"Look there," said Hagrid, "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."
"Aw poor thing! Who would want to kill or hurt a unicorn?" Phoenix asked.
Hagrid was about to answer. "And what if whatever hunt the unicorn finds us first?" said Malfoy, 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," said Hagrid. "An' keep ter the path. 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."
Phoenix looked back at the forest entrance. She couldn't shake off the eerie feeling of being watched.
"I want Fang." Said Malfoy quickly, looking at Fang's long teeth. Phoenix shook her head.
"All right, but I warn yeh, he's a coward," said Hagrid. "So, me, Harry, an Hermione'll go one way an' Draco, Neville, Phoenix, an Fang'll go the other."
Phoenix dropped her shoulders in disappointment. 'Why do I get Malfoy?' she thought, then glanced at Neville. 'Well, I guess I can make sure he won't pick on Neville.'
"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, Fang, and Phoenix took the right.
They walked in silence, their eyes on the ground. Now and then, a ray of moonlight through the branches above, lit a spot of sliver-blue blood on the fallen leaves. Phoenix kept her ears open. Fang's whining and hard breathing mixed with Neville's was hard to separate from the forest.
"This is servant stuff." Malfoy groaned, carrying the lantern with distaste. His eyes darting in all directions.
"Are you scared, Malfoy?" Phoenix teased, stopping to face him.
Malfoy lifted his lamp. "I'm not scared." He stopped, eyes wide as he heard something.
"Seems like you are." Phoenix, grabbing Neville, continued walking, glancing back at Malfoy.
He gave her a snarl and headed after them, a howl heard in the vast distance. Phoenix continued to feel uneasy. Along with Neville, the two continued to follow and look for more unicorn blood. But she glanced in the forest, feeling eyes on her.
"What is that?" she heard Neville squeal.
The three stopped. There was something in front of them. The shaking light from the lantern didn't help. Phoenix swallowed. Looking at the boys, she slowly walked towards it.
"Phoenix." Neville squeaked, raising his wand shakingly.
She looked behind her, seeing Malfoy with his wand out and shaking. She looked forward, grabbing her wand. "Lumos," she whispered. The light shined enough for Phoenix to make out some features. There was someone on a horse or next to one. She raised her wand higher, her left hand ready for an attack. She saw a torso of a woman and legs of a horse. 'A human body and legs of a horse. A centauress!' she realized, lowering her left hand and eyes wide. 'I have never seen one before.' The centauress's body was light tan. Her legs were black from the knees down and her tail. Her human body was a little darker and her hair a light chestnut brown. She was beautiful in Phoenix's eyes.
Phoenix waved the boys over and placed her wand away. "Hello." She said, turning back over to the centauress and bowed her head in respect as her mother and aunts taught her. The centauress looked at Phoenix with concern, then looked behind her. Phoenix turned around and motioned the boys to lower their wands.
"Good evening." The centauress said, watching the exchange. "Students, are you?"
"Yes, ma'm." Neville said timidly.
She looked at the three, then stared at the sky. "Mars is bright tonight." She said.
Phoenix looked up, following her gaze. "Yes, it is." She noticed.
The centauress looked at Phoenix. "Have you seen a hurt unicorn or anything unusual in the forest?" Malfoy asked, the lantern still shaking.
She looked at him. "The forest hides many secrets." She said, glancing back at Phoenix. "I know who you are. I feel the power strengthen in you and with him."
Phoenix looked at her, confused. "What…" she was about to ask when she heard a familiar sound. She turned around, seeing three demons behind Malfoy and Neville. They were the same demons she and Katie fought on their birthday. She flicked her hands, blowing off one of the demon's arms.
The boys looked behind them, hearing the demon's painful howl. They screamed and ran behind Phoenix. Phoenix glanced up, seeing the three red sparks Neville released, then dodged quickly as three energy balls and a few fire balls whizzed by her. Placing her wand in her robe, she flicked her hands twice, trying to blow and freeze one demon like she and Katie did before. This time, it didn't work. Instead, only an arm blew off and froze. 'This is not good.' She thought.
Frustrated, she looked behind her. The centauress motioned Malfoy and Neville behind her while she angled herself to protect them. Phoenix released a breath. That was one issue she didn't have to worry about. She looked ahead, horrified, as she watched the demon's arm grow back.
The demon smiled, then threw a fireball, grazing her arm. Phoenix winced as she dogged two energy balls thrown by the other two. She flicked her good arm, hitting one of them in the chest. The demons took one last look before shimmering out. Before the last demon left, he smiled and faded back into the forest. Phoenix heard rustling and footsteps beside her. When she saw it was Hagrid, she let her guard down.
"Everythin all right here? I thought I heard some ruckus," Hagrid asked, breathing heavy. "Shaelyn." He greeted.
Phoenix glanced over at the centauress who returned the greeting, then at the boys. Shaelyn looked at Phoenix with caution in her eyes. "Malfoy sneaked up on Neville and scared him. I was talking to… Shaelyn when this happened. Before I heard anything, Neville already sent the sparks." Phoenix said. Shaelyn looked at the boys, whispered something to them, and nodded.
"Is tha true?" Hagrid asked, noticing the exchange.
"Yes." Neville and Malfoy said. Phoenix noticed the horrified looks on their faces.
"Okay, uh, let's head back to Hermione and Harry." He looked around. "Where is Fang?"
"He is here," said Shaelyn.
"Thanks." Hagrid said, nodding towards the direction he came. The centauress gave a slow nod to Phoenix before leaving. Malfoy and Neville placed their wands away and followed Hagrid. Phoenix watched the centauress leave and looked around. 'What just happened?' Not seeing the demons, she turned around and followed the boys and Hagrid.
Moments went by as they walked behind Hagrid, who was fuming. He fell for the story. They came upon Harry and Hermione, who looked at Neville and Phoenix with concern. "We'll be lucky ter catch anythin' now, with the racket you three were makin'. Right, we're changin' groups-Neville, you stay with me an' Hermione, Harry, you go with Phoenix, Fang an' this idiot. I'm sorry," Hagrid added in a whisper to Harry and Phoenix, "but he'll have a harder time frightenin' you an' we've gotta get this done."
Phoenix and 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 patch became almost impossible to follow because the trees were so thick. Phoenix watched as Malfoy glanced around him and back at her. He was looking out for the demons. She, too, did the same. 'Does this mean they can shimmer onto Hogwarts' grounds?' she thought.
Phoenix winced when Harry grabbed her arm. He let go with concern, then pointed to the blood. To them, it looked 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. They could see a clearing ahead, through the tangled branches of an ancient oak.
"Look-" Harry murmured, holding out his arm to stop Malfoy.
Something bright white was gleaming on the ground. The three inched closer. Phoenix gasped. It was the unicorn, and it was dead. Poor thing. How can something be so beautiful and be the saddest experience for Phoenix? 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.
Phoenix felt something off. Something was wrong. The hairs on the back of her neck and arms were rising. She watched Harry take a step toward the unicorn when a slithering sound made them both freeze. 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. Phoenix raised her hands. The cloaked figure reached the unicorn, lowered its head over the wound on the animal's side, and began to drink its blood.
Phoenix saw it coming before she could stop him. "AAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
Malfoy let out a terrible scream and bolted- so did Fang. Phoenix couldn't leave Harry by himself. She saw the hooded figure raise its head and looked right at Harry- unicorn blood was dribbling down its front. Phoenix heard the shimmering and noticed two demons holding their positions in the tree line. The hooded figure got to its feet and came swiftly toward Harry- he couldn't move for fear.
Phoenix watched Harry grab his forehead in pain and grabbed him when he staggered backwards. She heard hooves behind them galloping, and something jumped clean over Harry and another over her, one charging at the figure, the other positioning themselves by Phoenix and Harry as protection. Phoenix followed Harry as he fell to his knees.
"Breathe, Harry! Breathe!" she yelled, seeing the pain on his face.
It took a minute or two to pass. Phoenix watched Harry look past her. The figure must be gone as she felt him relax. She looked above them, seeing two centaurs standing over them. One, a male, had white- blond hair and a palomino body. The other was Shaelyn, the centauress she met earlier. She looked behind her into the tree line; the demons were gone.
"Are you all right?" asked Shaelyn, gently pulling Phoenix to her feet. "You should get that looked at," Shaelyn whispered, stroking her thumb over the fire ball graze.
"You are the Potter boy," the male centaur said, then finally acknowledged Phoenix, "and the Charmed daughter." Phoenix went wide eyed and looked over at Shaelyn, who smiled, then at Harry hoping he didn't hear. He looked at her questionably.
"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 on to his front legs so that Harry could clamber onto his back. Shaelyn did the same for Phoenix.
There was suddenly a sound of more galloping from the other side of the clearing. When Harry noticed who it was, he told Phoenix about them. She watched as two centaurs, Ronan and Bane, came bursting through the trees, their flanks heaving and sweaty.
"Firenze! Shaelyn!" 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?" said Firenze. "this is the Potter boy."
"And this is the Charmed daughter." Shaelyn added.
"The quicker they leave this forest, the better." Firenze finished.
"What have you been telling them?" growled Bane. "Remember, Firenze and Shaelyn, we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. Have we not read what is to come in the movement of the planets?"
Ronan pawed the ground nervously. "I'm sure they thought they were 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 on to his hind legs in anger. Phoenix felt Shaelyn's muscles tighten. "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 and Shaelyn set ourselves against what is lurking in this forest, Bane. Yes, with humans alongside us, if we 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.
"Hold on." Shaelyn whispered and followed Firenze into the trees.
Phoenix was lost. "Why's that one, Bane is it, so angry?" she asked. "What was that thing hurting Harry and why are demons in this forest?"
Shaelyn slowed to a walk, warned Phoenix to keep her head bowed in case of low-hanging branches. "You will receive some answers once we reach Firenze." Shaelyn said. They made their way through the trees in silence.
They were passing through a particularly dense patch of trees when they saw Firenze and Harry.
"Do you know what unicorn blood is used for?" Firenze asked once they were all together.
"No," said Harry, startled by the odd question.
"We've only used the horn and tail hair in potions," Phoenix added.
"That is because it is a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn." Shaelyn 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." said Firenze.
"But who'd be that desperate?" Phoenix heard Harry. "If you're going to be cursed forever, death's better, isn't it?"
"It is," Shaelyn 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, Miss Matthews, do you know what hides in the school at this very moment?"
Phoenix thought for a bit, then it clicked. She looked over at Harry. He, too, must have thought the same. "The Sorcerer's Stone!" they both said.
"Of course-the Elixir of Life! But I don't understand who-" Harry started.
"Can you think of nobody who has waited many years to return to power, who has clung to life, awaiting their chance?" Firenze asked.
Phoenix watched Harry, the look of knowing on his face. She looked back at Shaelyn and whispered. "How do the demons fit into this?"
Shaelyn looked at her. "Who would be powerful enough to aid? The one conceived but thought never been born." Phoenix wasn't sure what she meant. She wanted to ask more until she heard Hermione.
"Harry! Phoenix! Are you all right?" Hermione was running toward them down the path, Hagrid puffing along behind her.
"I'm Fine," said Harry, hardly knowing what he was saying.
"The unicorn's dead, Hagrid, it's in that clearing back there." Phoenix mentioned with sadness.
"This is where I leave you," Shaelyn murmured as Hagrid hurried off to examine the unicorn. "You are safe now." Phoenix slid off her back, noticing Harry doing the same.
"Good luck, Harry Potter, Charmed Daughter," said Firenze. "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.
"Good luck, Charmed Daughter," said Shaelyn. "Nothing is as what it seems." Then she too took off.