Unicorn Blood

Irlynn and Harry followed silently after Snape as he led them down to the dungeons. They reached his office were instructed to take seats. Harry squirmed nervously in the chair. He hadn't yet had detention with Snape and he was not looking forward to it at all. Snape didn't speak for a few minutes. Finally he just disappeared.

"What do you think he's going to do to us?" Harry croaked out.

"I don't know…" Irlynn mumbled. She was more worried about leaving Professor McGonagall's classroom covered in old newspapers. When Professor Snape finally returned again, he was being trailed by Professors McGonagall and Flitwick.

"Severus, would you please explain what this is about?" Minerva asked before she saw the two students sitting in the room.

"I found them out of bed after hours and thought it courteous to notify both of you as their Heads of House," Snape drawled.

"We…lost track of time," Irlynn said, looking at her hands.

"They claim they were working on some sort of project," Snape interjected.

"I know what they were working on," Minerva said sharply before turning to the two students.

"I allowed them use of my classroom," she added.

"That does not negate the fact that they were out of bed after hours," Snape barked. Harry jumped at the professor's tone.

"I understand that. And for that reason, I will be taking ten points from both houses," Minerva said, receiving a confirming nod from Flitwick.

"You may assign them detention as you wish," she said and walked out. Harry could feel the small hairs on the back of his head begin to stand on end as they were left alone.

"You will report tomorrow night at seven sharp to the Forbidden Forest. I believe Hagrid has work to do," Snape said.

"Now get back to bed," he ordered. Harry and Irlynn sprinted from the room, eager to get away from him.

"Detention with Hagrid can't be too bad," Irlynn said as they headed back to the Transfiguration classroom to gather their things.

"Yeah…it could even be fun," Harry agreed. They gathered the papers together and split them into two piles; discard and unsearched.

"I can take the ones we haven't looked through yet. I imagine we can just throw away the ones we've already looked at," Irlynn said as she managed to levitate the unsorted papers.

"Alright. Good night. See you tomorrow," Harry called as they parted ways. Both fell to sleep rather quickly that night. The following day's classes dragged on for both of them. It wasn't that they were really eager to serve detention, but it was time they got to spend with Hagrid and it was generally enjoyable.

Harry sat at dinner, just pushing food around on his plate. Hermione noticed his lack of appetite and silence but decided not to press him. She got the feeling he didn't want to discuss whatever was bothering him. He let out a sigh as the clock in the tower began to chime quarter to seven.

"I have to go," he announced.

"Where to, mate?" Ron asked, still shoveling food into his mouth.

"Snape gave me detention last night for being out past hours," Harry mumbled and stood up. He received sympathetic looks from several of the surrounding Gyrffindors who had overheard his statement.

'Best of luck," Fred and George called.

Harry trudged out of the castle and towards Hagrid's hut. When he got there, Irlynn was waiting. Hagrid was nowhere to be seen but they could hear the loud howls of Fang in the hut.

"I wonder what work Hagrid has to do in the Forest. It's usually off limits to students," Irlynn breathed just as Hagrid's large form ambled towards them.

"Evening you two," Hagrid said.

"Hi,' they replied somberly. It was detention after all.

"Well we better get going before it gets too dark," he said, picking up a crossbow and a sling of arrows. Fang loped along beside him.

"What are we doing, Hagrid?" Harry asked as they headed into the forest.

"Well…there have been a bunch of attacks on unicorns," Hagrid said, his voice starting to choke with emotion.

"Unicorns?" Irlynn repeated.

"Something's been feeding on them. Killing a unicorn is bad enough…but to drink it's blood is to live a half life…a cursed life," Hagrid explained as they wound their way deeper into the woods.

"What would drink unicorn blood?" Harry gasped.

"Something near death I reckon. It gives you temporary life you see," the half-giant explained, stopping them at the sight of a fallen form ahead of them.

"What…is that?" Irlynn asked, pointing to it. They got close enough to the silvery white hide and delicate silver hooves of a unicorn. A long silvery stain pooled beneath its neck.

"That would be a unicorn, poor thing. So innocent and pure," Hagrid sniffled. He bent down and gave its mane a stroke before standing up.

"So what exactly are we looking for?" Harry asked.

"Trying to find what's doing this," Hagrid said.

They wandered on some more and Hagrid wandered a little ways off. Irlynn and Harry, accompanied by Fang, wandered on ahead about two yards when a sound caught their attention. It was breaking branches and a pained whine of a unicorn.

"Hagrid," Harry tried to call but he couldn't find his voice.

"Go get Hagrid," he finally managed to get out. Irlynn took off in the opposite direction, not even thinking about the fact that she was leaving her friend alone to face whatever was attacking the unicorn. Harry inched forward until he came upon a hooded figure, bent over the slain body of another unicorn. The figure lifted its head just enough to show the silvery substance on its lips. Harry tried to back up but soon found himself lying on the forest floor.

The figure caught sight of Harry in his entirety and lost interest in the fallen creature. It began to swish and squirm through the air towards him. Harry could feel the fear radiating from every pour in his body as the creature advanced on him. He squeezed his eyes just as the creature was upon him but nothing happened. There was a loud nay and hoof beats. He chanced a look to see a large beast, half horse and half man shooing the creature into the foggy depths of the forest. The centaur turned and offered his hand down to Harry. The boy took it and stood up. Just then Hagrid and Irlynn appeared.

"Are you ok?" Irlynn asked, rushing to Harry's side.

"I'm ok," Harry assured her.

"Thank you, Firenze," Hagrid said, addressing the centaur. He merely nodded his head in the other man's direction.

"It is not a safe place here for you Harry Potter…or anyone," Firenze said. Hagrid let out a breath as he ushered the two students closer to him.

"Thank you for saving me," Harry called.

"The stars are watching out for you," the centaur replied as the three wizards walked away.

They made their way out of the forest and both students were glad when they were free of the constricting tree branches and underbrush. When they reached the castle, Hagrid bid them good night.

"Are you sure you're ok. What was that thing?" Irlynn pressed.

"I'm ok. I don't know what that thing was…but it was definitely feeding on a unicorn…what if…what if it was Snape…maybe he's dying?" Harry rambled.

"He looks pretty healthy to me," Irlynn commented just as he walked by, glaring at them in his usual manner.

"Then what else could it have been?" Harry hissed.

"Maybe Snape is trying to get the stone to save the thing that attacked you?" she offered.

"Maybe," he sighed as they stopped in the Entrance Hall.

"I think I'm going to turn in. I don't want to be caught out of bed after hours again," he said.

"Ok…maybe we should try to look at the papers during the day in a place with more light," she offered.

"Alright. I have to do laps tomorrow before Quidditch practice. Wood will kill me if I skip again. We have a game against Slytherin soon," he said. Irlynn gave him a smile.

"Ok. We can look at it next week," she said and they parted ways for the night. Harry reached the Common Room to find a couple of seventh years studying but that was it. However when he walked into the boys' dorm he found Ron still awake.

"How was detention?" Ron asked.

"Um…scary. Something tried to attack me," Harry said and went to change into his nightclothes.

"Snape attacked you?" Ron gasped when Harry reappeared.

"No…not Snape," Harry retorted.

"Just…some creature that's been killing unicorns and feeding on their blood," Harry sighed and climbed into bed. Ron shook his head at his friend's explanation. He would ask about it more in the morning. Tonight, Harry was glad to be going to bed early. He was going to need all the sleep he could get.