It was a Saturday night and I made my way down to the ground floor through the secret passageways, careful to keep my map open at all times to prevent any unfortunate run-ins with the basilisk.

When I made it to the main doors I eased through them, thankful they weren't locked. Closing the book I whispered the password to clear any traces of the map before shrinking it and putting it in my pocket.

Taking a deep breath and focused until I felt every part of my body stop changing. I gave a full body shake to get used to my new form before descending the castle steps. My claws making quiet clacking noises against the stone.

Once I reached the bottom of the steps I broke out into a run. I headed straight for the forest, not wanting to risk anyone looking out their bedroom window and seeing a large black wolf (a.k.a me) frolicking around the grounds.

I wasted no time in breaking through the tree line, dodging trees and jumping over rocks and roots. It was much darker in the Forbidden forest but in wolf form it was easy to see my surroundings. The only source of light was the occasional blueish beams of moonlight.

I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, and I wouldn't be surprised if I was lost, but at the moment I didn't care. Being able to run this fast and feeling the wind rushing through my fur made me feel free.

My reckless running was interrupted when I burst into a clearing. I dug my paws into the ground and came to an instant stop, making me pitch forward and land on my face.

Slowly peeling off of the ground I sat back and changed out of my animagus form. I rubbed my nose to try and get rid of the pain and when I looked up my whole body froze, but not in fright.

Standing in the clearing was a small group of pure white unicorns. The light from the moon was shining into the clearing and making their coats look as though they were glowing. They were all bunched up at the other side of the clearing. No doubt my sudden entrance had spooked them. I was surprised they didn't just run away.

Their head were turned towards me and we all had a quiet staring contest. I slowly crossed my legs underneath me and set my hands on my knees, not wanting the unicorns to think I was threatening.

Some time passed and throughout that time I was able to observe the unicorns, just like they were observing me. I couldn't believe I was actually seeing a unicorn at all, let alone six.

One unicorn seemed to have deemed me uninteresting and broke its unwavering observation to begin grazing in the surrounding grass. The rest of the unicorns followed its lead and spread out a little; although they still gave me a wide berth.

I didn't know how much time had passed but eventually I started to get up from the ground. My legs were stiff from sitting and I stretched. The unicorns were watching me from the corner of their eyes, making sure I wouldn't do anything.

I turned to leave the clearing when I heard a small whinny from behind me. Turning around a saw a unicorn foal cautiously trot up to me. I couldn't stop a smile from forming on my face and I crouched to my knees so I could be eye level with the foal.

"Hey buddy," I said gently. All of the unicorns were definitely looking at me now.

The foal snorted and came a little closer. I slowly brought up my hand and held it out between us, letting the foal come to me if it wished.

It looked at my hand curiously for a moment before coming closer and giving it a cautious sniff before butting its muzzle against it. My smile grew wider and I ran my hand over its nose and down its neck.

The moment was broken by a loud snap the echoed through the clearing from behind me. The foal ran away to who I was assuming was its mother and I spun around to see a grey wolf emerging from the foliage with a snarl.

The unicorns were nervously shuffling behind me, and I was sure as soon as any sudden movements were made they were going to bolt. Thinking quickly I knew the wolf was too close and I would never get my wand out in time, so instead I planted both hands onto the ground and shook myself out–just like a dog would.

As I shook fur replaced my clothes and my body grew out until I was once again in my wolf form. Holding my head higher I easily towered over the other wolf and looked down my snout at it. The wolf no longer looked as menacing but it still had a slight snarl and was growling a little bit.

I knew that if I didn't get rid of the wolf soon it would become even more dangerous for the unicorns. I gave it my own snarl and a growl of warning, but the only thing it did was cause the wolf to take a step back.

Taking a my own step forward caused the other to take one back. I paused and suddenly lunged forward and was rewarded with the strange wolf to give a frightened whine and bolt back into the trees. It seemed my size and the fact I was pure black was rather intimidating.

I turned and faced the clearing and was a little surprised to see the unicorns were still there. I would have thought they ran off by now.

I stayed in my wolf form just in case any other dangers decided to show themselves. We were back to staring at each other from across the clearing until one of them broke off from the rest. I figured it was the head unicorn, considering I recognized it from the one who had started grazing from when I first got to the clearing.

He stopped right in front of me and it looked down at me. I only came up to about its shoulder. He craned his neck back and after a second faced me once again. Only this time there were silver hairs hanging from between his teeth.

I made eye contact with him before deciding to slowly shift out of my form. Reaching out my hand I carefully took hold of the hairs and the unicorn released them.

I brushed my thumb over the strands before taking my hand and slowly bringing it up to the unicorns snout where he allowed me to pat it. I was soon stroking the velvety smooth fur in awe, unbelieving that anything could be so soft.

Reluctantly I removed my hand from the unicorn and took a step back. I thought the unicorn would go back to the others but instead it lowered its head until the tip of its horn lightly touched the middle of my forehead. A gentle tingle spread through my entire body. When it lifted its head the tingling slowly disappeared.

Gently touching my forehead I felt the lingering cold and smiled slightly and I tucked the hairs into my pocket before flicking my wrist and allowing my wand to shoot into my hand. Intent on finding the castle I whispered Point Me and watched as the wand spun a few times and stopped, pointing northwest. Sliding my wand back into its holster I shifted into my wolf form and ran as fast as I could in the direction my wand pointed me in.

When I reached the edge of the forest I was surprised to see the moon was gone and instead the sun was slowly rising, casting orange ray's over the grounds and the castle.

Too early for anyone to be up I sprinted for the castle doors and got there rather quickly. Making it up the stone steps I turned back and quietly opened the door, happy that they were never locked.

I wanted to make it up to the third floor and was contemplating using a nearby passage way to get their quicker when I heard an unintelligible mumble from behind me.

I spun around but wasn't fast enough to dodge the spell racing towards me. I found myself hanging upside down, hanging over the floor by my feet. Looking forward I saw two boys that, even upside down, I recognized from the night I went to hit Riddle with my book.

The one on the left sneered at me, "Well well what's this?"

The other boy stepped forward, "Looks to me like a mudblood. A very familiar one too."

The first boy tapped his chin as if thinking of why I would be familiar before he gave a mock gasp, "I remember her now. She's the one who snuck into our common room and attacked Riddle."

I wanted to point out that I really didn't sneak in but decided now was probably a better time to keep my mouth shut.

"You're right Rosier, she did attack him." He looked at me menacingly, "I bet you thought you could get away with it too didn't you, you little mudblood?" My silence seemed to anger him, but if I opened my mouth I would probably say something stupid and make him even more angry.

He brandished his wand and sent a pale purple spell towards me, but before it could make contact with me it fizzled out. Both boys looked at the wand in confusion until he tried again, with the same result.

Rosier then took out his own wand and tried himself, but his spell stopped as well. They both glared at me in anger and apprehension. "What are you doing mudblood?" Rosier spat at me.

I looked at him calmly, "I'm not doing anything."

Both looked ready to punch me but suddenly feint footsteps could be heard from another corridor. We all looked in the direction of the noise.

"You're in luck mudblood." I looked back at the boys in time to see them quickly striding off, leaving me dangling in the middle of the corridor.

Uncomfortable with the blood rushing towards my head I took out my wand and intended to cast the counter curse, except I didn't know what it was. I wasn't sure what the exact spell was either so that didn't help.

Instead I posted my wand to the floor, "Expecto Patronum."

Expecting my normal eagle I was instead greeted with the sight of a large wolf. I blinked at it in shock but shook my head, deciding to think on it later.

Giving a sharp whistle to gain its attention I told it to "Go get the nearest person you can find" and waited for it to come back. Hopefully with someone who could help me.

A couple minutes later I heard heavy footsteps hurrying towards my hanging form and I hoped to god it wasn't a Slytherin.

"Danielle?" Hearing Hagrids familiar voice I almost cried out in happiness. Mostly because he wasn't a Slytherin.

"Hey Hagrid, do you think you could help me down?"

I saw his lumbering form come to stand in front of me and I saw he had his wand in his hand. It made me think of how he had a pink umbrella in the movies and it made me smile. "O'course I can!"

One mumbled incantation later and I was plummeting to the stone floor. I curled my head in to try and protect it, but I was suddenly stopped when something wrapped around my waist. "Sorry. Shoulda grabbed hold a ye before doin tha'."

I was then flipped over so my feet were reunited with the floor. Feeling the blood rush out of my head made me feel a little dizzy and I leaned against Hagrid for support. "Thanks Hagrid." I got out faintly.

"It was nothin' really" he sounded sheepish.

No longer as dizzy I stopped leaning against Hagrid and resumed walking up to the seventh floor. Hagrid fell into step with me and I flashed him a smile.

"If ye don't mind me asking, who did tha' to you?"

"Just some boys from Slytherin. Although I suppose I might have deserved it considering I hurt one of their…friends" calling Riddle anyone's friend didn't really sound right.

"I see," Hagrid grew silent and I was grateful. So far my morning has been eventful and I wanted nothing more than to go to bed.

We walked in silence for a little while and I noticed Hagrid was looking at me with a curious expression. "What?"

He seemed embarrassed that he was caught looking at me. "I'm sorry fer starin' at ye, but I was looking at the mark on her forehead. Where'd you get it?"

I looked up at him in confusion, "What mark?"

He pointed at my forehead, "Ye've got a mark on yer forehead an' I was wondering where you got it."

My eyes widened and I quickly felt along my forehead, and sure enough something was there. I just couldn't tell what. Looking around I ran towards the nearest bathroom, shouting for Hagrid to wait there.

Gripping the side of one of the bathroom sinks I looked into the mirror and sure enough, there was a mark on my forehead. In the very middle was a small silver dot with matching silver veins webbing out to reach halfway across my forehead.

I gaped at the mark in astonishment, wondering how it could have possibly gotten there. Thinking back I remembered how I ran into the unicorns in the forest, and that when the unicorn had touched me with the horn on its head, it touched me exactly where the small dot was located on my forehead.

Mouthing 'what?' to my reflection I gently poked the silver dot and I watched as it slowly disappeared,Malone with the veins. I set my hand back onto the sink and looked over to see Hagrid watching me nervously from the doorway.

"Are you alrigh' Danielle?"

"I'm not sure" I told him honestly.

"What was tha'?" He looked to see the mark but when he didn't find it returned his eyes to mine.

I wasn't sure how I should answer him. Telling him I was out after curfew in my illegal animagus form and met a blessing of unicorns isn't the greatest idea, but I didn't understand what was going on and if anyone knew it would be Hagrid. He was always big on magical creatures.

"Hagrid, what does it mean when a unicorn touches you with its horn?"

Hagrids eyes widened and he looked at my now blank forehead with understanding. I walked up to him, "You know what it means?" Not wanting to be in a bathroom I walked out and gently led him with me. I let go of him when he seemed to get a hold of himself.

"Yer sayin' Ye've been touched by a unicorn?"

I nodded in agreement to the question, "Why? What does it mean?"

"Well, because o' the mark on yer forehead that means a unicorn has blessed ye out of thanks or gratitude. They do this by touching ye with the tip of the horn on their own forehead." He looked over at me with interest and smidgen of awe, making me uncomfortable. "Nobody's been blessed for centuries. They say Merlin himself was blessed ye know."

I hadn't known, actually. Where he heard that I have no idea, but maybe nobody knew about it because he always had it hidden from view. Maybe touching the spot where I was blessed makes it disappear or something.

"Hagrid, do you think you could tell me anything else about it?"

As we walked in no particular direction I listened as Hagrid told me more about the whole blessing thing. What I was able to figure out was that the Slytherin boys hadn't seen the mark themselves was because they didn't have the qualities a unicorn would look for, like honesty and joy. Hagrid was able to see it because he has all of the qualities. If someone didn't have every single quality then they wouldn't see it. What those qualities are Hagrid isn't entirely sure.

It also seemed that the blessing was the reason the boys spells hadn't affected me if a spell was thrown at me with the intent to hurt then the blessing would react in a way that protected me from the spell. I made Hagrid test it out by throwing a cutting spell at me. He was reluctant to do so but I coaxed him into it.

When he casted the spell a large cut formed on my arm. I waved off his apologies and easily healed the cut. I then tapped the middle of my forehead where the dot should have been and asked Hagrid if he could see the mark. When he said yes I immediately told him to try another spell. Naturally he was very against the idea, worried he would end up hurting me again. I told him that if it happens then it happens, and he should think of this as a way to discover more about the blessing.

He caved and threw another spell, this time instead of affecting me like the first time it fizzled out before it could reach me, just like how the Slytherins spells did. I concluded that the mark only really did anything if I had it "showing".

I decided to keep it hidden. If someone was to see it when another couldn't then that would raise unwanted questions.

When Hagrid ran out of information to tell me we continued walking in a comfortable silence. It allowed me to think about my patronus' change. Big events or emotional changes in ones life. The only reason I could think of would be when I dueled with Grindelwald. That or when I killed that man. Thinking about it still made me shudder in horror and disbelief that I had actually killed him.

Ever since then it was Mcgonagall who noticed how I had changed over Christmas break. I had been more withdrawn and wasn't really talking to anyone. She was always there talking to me and trying to coax me away from the shell I was becoming. Our friendship grew even stronger. Otherwise I wasn't sure what could have changed it.

As we walked through the corridors Hagrid suddenly grabbed my arm and stopped me. "I want to show ye somethin'. It's only fair that I tell you a secret o' mine if I know a secret o' yours."

He began leading me down another corridor until we came across a door that I've never seen or either paid much attention to. He cautiously opened the door and brought me into a small room. Possibly a storage room.

Inside of the room there was a locked wooden box sitting on a bench. When Hagrid started walking closer, making possible cooing noises, the box started to shake a little bit.

Feeling apprehension start to sink in I backed away from the box as far as I could get. Hagrid unlocked the box and I pressed myself against the wall, hoping I would be able to sink through and run the other way.

The box burst open, making me jump in fright. I looked around the room for the explanation to why the box had opened that way. When I found nothing I looked at Hagrid, but I saw him looking down at his feet with an adoring expression. I slowly brought my eyes down to see what Hagrid was looking at and my whole entire body stiffened in absolute terror, unable to release the bloodcurdling scream that desperately wanted to escape.

Reaching up Hagrids leg was the biggest, most ugly spider I have ever had the displeasure of seeing. I faintly heard Hagrid tell me that it was Aragog, but the fear that gripped my insides prevented me from doing anything other then hug the wall and stay silent.

Aragog saw Hagrids gesture of introduction and it turned its many, many eyes onto my person. I made me want to throw up.

It started crawling towards me and I worked my mouth to hopefully produce some kind of noise. Preferably of protest.

"H-Hagrid, I'm, uh, rather terrified of spiders." I swallowed, "Do you think you could keep him away from me!" The last sentence came out as a high-pitched demand and Hagrid was quick to pick Aragog off of the floor, stopping its approach towards me.

"I'm sorry about tha'." He sounded so apologetic that I almost felt bad about my reaction. Almost. "I didn't know."

I took a shaky breath. "It's alright Hagrid. I know that you didn't know, just please keep it away from me." He nodded solemnly and locked it back into the box with a mumbled apology towards the spider.

When he was done locking the box we left the room and I was only too happy to leave. I wanted to stay as far away from that thing as possible. I would prefer the basilisk over the spider and I knew it wasn't even fully grown yet!

"Hagrid why do you even have him? It's illegal!" I'm not one to talk considering I have an illegal animagus form.

"I know," he still seemed solemn, "but he's just a little thing. He needs someone tee take care of him! What if he dies!"

I placed a comforting hand on Hagrids arm, "Its alright Hagrid. I won't tell anybody if you promise me you will be careful with him, ok? Don't let anyone else know." Hagrid gave me a serious nod and we continued our walk through the castle until it was time for classes to begin.

I knew Hagrid wouldn't tell another soul about Aragog's existence, and I wondered what had happened to cause Riddle to find out about him.


AN:I decided I wanted the patronus to be a wolf so I changed it. And I'm really trying to keep Danielle from being a Mary-Sue but if that isn't working then it wasn't intentional.