Chapter 16 – The Forbidden Forest

The relief of getting rid of Norbert didn't last long. The exams were edging ever closer and they were still swamped with revision and homework.

It was the Saturday night, exactly one week after Norbert had gone, and Emma and Hermione were still working in the common room after the boys had given up and gone to bed. They had been asking each other test questions from Defence Against the Dark Arts, as they both thought it was their weakest subject when it came to the theory. Transfiguration, though, was still Emma's worst practical lesson, so much so that she was actually doing worse than Neville.

'Name one of the ways to treat a werewolf bite.' said Hermione.

'Apply a mixture of powdered silver and dittany.' replied Emma, mechanically.

She paused for a second, distracted by an errant thought, while Hermione waited for a counter question.

'I wonder how we'd treat a vampire bite?' asked Emma.

Hermione opened her mouth to answer, but stopped short, realising it wasn't a question about the exam.

'I don't know.' she said, thoughtfully. 'None of the books we've read have even mentioned it. Maybe there isn't a way, or maybe we learn it in later years.'

'Maybe.' murmured Emma. 'That's a bit odd though, don't you think? I mean, we've learned that vampire bites are incurable, just like werewolf bites. But that's it. We've learned a lot more about werewolves than that.'

'Maybe Professor Quirrell is too scared of vampires to teach us about them?'

'And yet he doesn't see one sitting in his class, right under his nose?'

'To be fair, you're not exactly a normal vampire, are you?'

'I'm not sure whether to take that as a compliment or not.' said Emma, smiling a little. 'But that's kind of my point. What would happen if I bit someone?'

Emma opened her mouth, showing her fangs and put her thumb under one of them and pressed, not piercing the skin.

'Am I even venomous? How would I know? And how would it work?' asked Emma, letting her mind wander.

'Well,' said Hermione, getting that look she normally had when quoting a book. 'Venomous snakes typically have a groove running the length of their fangs that the venom can run down. They act very much like hypodermic needles. Unless vampires infect in a different way, I guess they would work very similarly.'

Emma started feeling her fangs with her tongue, to try to find any grooves, but couldn't feel any.

'You know,' said Hermione, looking a little embarrassed. 'my parents would love to see your teeth.'

Emma stopped short and giggled a little.

'Of course, they're dentists aren't they? That'd be interesting...' said Emma thoughtfully, but paused suddenly, eyes wide. 'Oh, no!'

'What's wrong?'

'Mrs Cole is going to make me go to a dentist when I get back, during the holidays! How am I going to explain these?' worried Emma, pointing at her fangs. 'I had normal human teeth the last time I saw them.'

'Never mind that.' said Hermione looking shocked. 'Won't they expect you to eat at dinner? And how will Dumbledore get you your... food? And how will you be able to warm it up without magic?'

Emma slumped in her chair as if she was suddenly deflated. She had been deliberately avoiding thinking about going back to the orphanage for the holidays. She really didn't want to go back, there was nothing for her there, but now, there were many very good reasons not to.

'Dumbledore can't make me go back, can he?' she asked. 'It's one thing for witches or wizards to find out, but muggles?'

'Maybe he'll let you stay here, where it's safer for everyone. I know Harry wants to stay too.'

'I'm not surprised, with the way his aunt and uncle treat him!' huffed Emma. 'Even the orphanage never treated us like slaves, like they do with Harry. I do hope Dumbledore let's me stay here though. I don't think I could cope going back there again.'

'Well, worst case, I'll ask my parents if you can stay over during the summer.' said Hermione smiling.

'You'd do that for me?' blinked Emma.

'Of course I would. We're friends aren't we?' she said giving Emma a hug.

'Thank you! But do you think your parents would be okay with having a vampire under their roof? I know you don't like to keep secrets from them. And I wouldn't want to be a burden.'

'A burden?' asked Hermione giggling. 'Dumbledore gives you your food and you don't need to sleep. How much of a burden could you be, really? Besides, I told you, they'll probably spend all summer trying to study your teeth.'

They both laughed quietly. It felt good to Emma to be having an honest one-on-one conversation with Hermione again. They really didn't get much time to do that since they'd become friends with Harry and Ron.

They kept talking for a bit longer, eventually going back to quick-fire revision questions until Hermione's yawning was getting distracting.

'Hermione, go to bed.' said Emma bossily.

'M'not tired...' yawned Hermione.

'Suuure.' laughed Emma.

Emma quickly picked up Hermione's work before she could protest and put them in a neat pile in front of her. As Hermione relented and started packing them away, Emma did the same with her own notes.

'You're going exploring again, aren't you.' said Hermione, grumpily. 'I really wish you wouldn't.'

'I know, Hermione.' sulked Emma. 'But I just can't sit in here for eight hours with nothing to do and no-one to talk to. I'd go mad.'

Hermione nodded, frowning. She didn't like it and she didn't quite understand it. If Hermione didn't need to sleep, she'd spend all that extra free time reading, but she knew Emma was far more active and needed to stretch her legs. Also, given the amount of time they'd been spending in the library and common room, they were all getting a bit restless, Emma most of all.

'Alright.' said Hermione grudgingly. 'Just... be careful, okay?'

'I will.' smiled Emma, giving Hermione a quick hug. 'Good night.'

Emma waited for Hermione to close the door to their dormitory before racing out of the portrait hole and straight down to the Forbidden Forest.

The past few times Emma had been in the forest, she hadn't gone in very far. Not only did she know that there were dangerous creatures to avoid, but she was also well aware that forests had a habit of making you lose your bearings. It was very easy to get lost and start going in circles.

Last Sunday, Emma did go in quite far, but she followed one of Hagrid's well worn paths. It was a bit of a disappointing journey as she didn't find much at all. Maybe a lot of creatures had learned to avoid his paths and with good reason, considering he never entered the forest without his huge crossbow.

Tonight, Emma had decided to follow another one of his paths, but that idea was quickly thrown out of the window. She had barely entered the forest when she was faced with a very strong and very unusual smell. She tried to place it, but it was entirely foreign to her and made her feel incredibly uneasy.

Trying to find the source of the smell was very difficult as it seemed to be everywhere, however, she assumed it must be coming from deeper in the forest, so she headed that way. It wasn't long before her sharp eyesight found something unusual in the distance. There, on the ground, were two small drops of a silvery substance. She bent down to smell it and was certain that it was the source, but there wasn't enough of it to be making such an overpowering plume over the forest. As she delved deeper, she came across more spots of silver, getting more frequent and larger. They seemed to be forming a direct path to, or rather from something and the smell was getting stronger.

Emma followed the path for a good ten minutes, very slowly. She had been feeling more uncomfortable the closer she got to the source. She thought that maybe she was walking into a trap. As she cleared the top of a small incline, she was faced with a shocking sight. In the small clearing in front of her was by far the most beautiful creature Emma had ever seen. It was a unicorn. A creature so similar to a horse, yet it was pure white, glowing faintly silver in the dark, with a long horn on it's head. It was lying on its side, unmoving, in a large pool of the silvery substance. Terrified, Emma realised it must be blood and the unicorn was probably dead.

Unusually, for seeing blood, she realised her vampire side was completely indifferent to the scene in front of her. Looking around, she didn't see another living creature, so she moved closer to see what had happened. Emma thought that she'd have to tell Hagrid about it, but he was still ignoring her because of Norbert, the stubborn giant.

As she got closer, she was sure it was dead. She couldn't hear a heartbeat or breathing. Stepping up to it and kneeling, avoiding the pool of blood as best she could, she put her hand on the creature's side and bowed her head. The whole scene horrified her. What could possibly do such a thing. She got two conflicting answers when she leaned forward to find its wound. The first immediately made her think vampire as there were four very obvious teeth marks on its neck. This confused her as the smell had absolutely no effect on her. The second answer came when the breeze shifted and she was suddenly hit with a splitting headache, blurred vision and hearing like she'd been plunged underwater. Even though she couldn't smell anything over the unicorn blood, she only knew one thing that had that effect on her.

'Quirrell.' thought Emma.

Confused, Emma staggered backward, away from the unicorn as she covered her nose and mouth with her grey orphanage shirt to try to block the garlic. As she started to get more of her senses back, she heard rustling to her side. When she turned to the sound, she was shocked to find herself surrounded.

Emma recognised the creatures at once. Not only had she learned about them at Hogwarts, but also from Greek myths at middle school. They were Centaurs and they all had bows pointing directly at her.

She looked around at them, dropping her shirt from her nose and mouth, hoping the garlic had faded by now. As she was looking, one of the centaurs stepped forward slightly. He had a chestnut body and a red tail.

'Your kind is not welcome here.' he said, matter of factly.

'I'm sorry, sir.' stammered Emma, trying to remain calm and not really succeeding. 'I didn't know.'

One of the others, a wilder looking, black centaur reacted angrily at that and pulled back his bow slightly.

'Bane.' said the chestnut one forcefully to the wild one, before turning back to Emma. 'Has your coven not explained this to you?'

'Coven?' asked Emma. 'I... don't have one. I'm a student up at the castle.'

Bane reacted even more angrily at that.

'Then you do know you shouldn't be here!' he spat, turning back to the chestnut centaur. 'Ronan, it should die. It killed a unicorn.'

'I didn't-' started Emma, but stopped.

Bane had pulled his bow all the way back with another angry look and Emma flinched away.

'Bane.' said Ronan again. 'We do not interfere, even with beings such as that one.'

He stressed the word 'being' with clear revulsion.

'Leave this forest, now. If you return, you will die.'

'Yes, sir.' stammered Emma. 'I promise.'

A number of centaurs moved away, leaving a gap in the direction of the castle. At first Emma backed away slowly, but once she was no longer surrounded, she turned and ran as fast as she could.

Even after Emma had returned to the common room, she couldn't settle down. She started pacing in front of the fireplace, still shaking with adrenaline and tried to piece every bit of information together.

It was clear that centaurs hated vampires. Emma remembered that she already knew this from a part of her History of Magic revision. It said that centaurs had specifically asked the ministry to be referred to as Beasts, instead of Beings, because they didn't want to be associated with vampires or hags.

'Well.' thought Emma, remembering Bane's reaction. 'The feeling is mutual.'

As for the unicorn, that was far more difficult to process. Professor Quirrell had at least been near that part of the forest and very recently. Perhaps, Emma thought, as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, it was his job to investigate that type of thing. Then again, she had trouble believing that. Firstly, it was far more likely that it was Hagrid's job, not Quirrell's, secondly, he was terrified of the forest, just like everything else and thirdly, the unicorn couldn't have been dead for very long. In fact, Emma couldn't think of a single reason why Quirrell would have been there. As for what killed the unicorn, Emma couldn't begin to guess. The centaurs certainly didn't do it and they thought Emma did, which may have been a good assumption, given the wound, if it wasn't for the fact that unicorn blood had no effect on her as a vampire.

Emma was still pacing when other Gryffindors started going to breakfast the following morning, staring at her confusedly. As soon as Hermione came down, Emma pulled her over and explained everything. She was speed talking and Hermione couldn't get a word in edgeways, not that she tried. She sat there, absorbing the information, looking more worried by the second.

Emma had barely finished and Hermione was still speechless when Professor McGonagall came into the common room. She looked livid.

'Miss Pearson.' she commanded. 'Follow me.'

Emma did as she was told. She got up quickly, giving Hermione a worried look and followed in silence. McGonagall was seething, radiating fury. Emma quickly realised they were heading to Dumbledore's office and her heart sank even more. For the first time in ages, she felt cold.

'Chocolate Limes.' said McGonagall to the gargoyle, though Emma barely noticed.

McGonagall then knocked on the doors to the headmaster's office and nearly pushed Emma inside when they heard a quiet 'Come in'.

Nothing had changed about the office since the last time, however, Emma didn't notice that either. She was too busy staring at Hagrid who looked even angrier than McGonagall, if such a thing were even possible.

The only one who didn't seem angry was Dumbledore himself, though he did look very serious. Emma's only comfort was that there wasn't a ministry official in the room, though she was sure that could be arranged.

'It has come to our attention,' said Dumbledore sternly. 'that you may have entered the forbidden forest last night. Is this true?'

Emma considered her options. Hagrid had obviously found the unicorn on his morning round. He was in his moleskin overcoat and still had his crossbow with him. Obviously he'd spoken to the centaurs, which is why Emma was here now. Lying was definitely not an option.

'Yes, professor.' said Emma, weakly. 'I did.'

'We have been told that, unfortunately, a unicorn was killed around the same time.'

'Yes, professor.' repeated Emma, nodding sadly, remembering the dead animal.

'We were also led to believe that it was you that killed it?' he said, in a questioning tone.

Emma looked at Dumbledore in shock. She wasn't surprised at the assumption, but surely he didn't really think she did it. She then looked at Hagrid and instantly regretted it. The way he looked at her made her sure that he did and Emma felt very hurt.

'No!' said Emma angrily, looking back at Dumbledore. 'No way! I did not kill that unicorn! I found it. Just because I'm a-'

She stopped suddenly, looking at McGonagall and back again.

'Minerva is aware of your situation.' said Dumbledore, simply.

'Just because I'm a vampire, doesn't mean you can just blame me for that.' said Emma crying from her anger and hurt, looking at Hagrid. 'You of all people should know that!'

Hagrid looked taken aback for a moment before Dumbledore got Emma's attention again.

'You were found next to the creature and it's wounds are consistent with that of a vampire attack.'

'Found by centaurs and I've learned enough in History of Magic to know they hate vampires. Of course they'd assume it was me.' said Emma, trying not to shout and to keep her emotions down. 'I found the unicorn by following a blood trail leading away from it out of the forest to the castle. It was already dead when I got there. I don't even like the smell of unicorn blood, it felt wrong and certainly nothing like what you give me.'

Dumbledore ever so slightly raised an eyebrow.

'Perhaps you could illuminate us by telling your side of the story then?'

Emma nodded and sat on the floor, cross-legged. A calming tactic. She explained every single little detail that she could, from the blood trail, the unicorn's wound, to Bane drawing his bow.

'You didn't notice the centaurs due to the smell of garlic?' asked Dumbledore, after she had finished.

'Yes, professor. I'm allergic, or something. It gives me terrible headaches and I find it difficult to see, hear and breathe.' said Emma holding her temples at the memories. 'It's only been a problem in Professor Quirrell's lessons. Other than that, I've never smelt it before, well, not since I've been a vampire anyway.'

At that McGonagall spoke for the first time, looking much less stern, maybe even motherly.

'You mean to say, you've been suffering in lessons all this time? Why didn't you say something?'

'I didn't know you knew about me.' said Emma, glaring a little at Dumbledore. 'And I don't want special treatment. Others might find out what I am, and I promised Professor Dumbledore that wouldn't happen.'

'Never mind that I broke that promise months ago.' thought Emma, remembering the dreadful night she attacked Hermione.

McGonagall looked at Dumbledore exasperated and shook her head.

After a few minutes of quiet, Dumbledore spoke up. Emma felt like she was going to be sick from anticipation. Today had been terrible and it had barely started.

'Well, well. This is certainly a curious situation that will require further investigation.' he said, thoughtfully. 'Your information has been very illuminating, Emma. Thank you.'

'So you believe me? I'm not in trouble?' asked Emma, hopefully. 'For the unicorn, I mean?'

'For harming the unicorn, no, you are not in trouble, however, you did go out after curfew and into the forbidden forest, of all places.' said Dumbledore, his casual expression returning. 'As your head of house, it will be up to Minerva to decide your punishment.'

Emma couldn't help but feel that Dumbledore didn't care about breaking curfew, or that she went into the forest, however, McGonagall certainly did. She looked at McGonagall, expecting the worst.

'I must say, Miss Pearson, after speaking to your matron, I thought I would have to deal with another pupil as unruly as the Weasley twins. I expected to be in this position long before now and frequently. I find it incredibly unlikely that this is the first time you've broken curfew, however, I will give you the benefit of doubt this time.'

Emma braced herself. If McGonagall even knew about a twentieth of the times she'd broken curfew, she'd have been expelled on the spot. As she was thinking that, she saw Dumbledore smile pleasantly out of the corner of her eye.

'For breaking curfew, I will be taking fifty points from Gryffindor. As for entering the forbidden forest, you will receive a detention at a later date.'

All things considered, Emma felt like she'd gotten off very lightly. Then again, having never earned a single house point, trying to be an invisible nobody, her grand total contribution to Gryffindor was now minus fifty-five.

'I understand, Professor.' said Emma, lowering her head in shame.

'That will remain to be seen.' added McGonagall, sternly.

'Well, I believe that is all.' said Dumbledore, back to his cheery self. 'You may go now, Miss Pearson. We will find you if we have any further questions.'

'Uhm, Professor.' stammered Emma. 'I have a question, if I may?'

'Yes?' said Dumbledore, curious.

'I know I'm not a normal vampire, but if my sense of smell is, that would mean it wasn't a vampire that killed the unicorn. What else would drink its blood?'

'That is the question of the hour, is it not?' said Dumbledore, playfully and pausing a moment. 'Were someone to drink unicorn blood, it would keep them alive, even if they were close to death, however, from that moment on, they would have a cursed life, for slaying something so pure.'

'Someone really desperate, then.' thought Emma to herself and nodding. Dumbledore smiled at her, as if he'd read her mind.

'Thank you, Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall.' said Emma.

She moved to the door and took hold of the handle before turning to Hagrid. He'd not said a single word the entire time and he'd been so angry at her. She couldn't tell his emotion at the moment through his beard, but she couldn't forgive him yet. She hissed at him and left the office quickly, running at full speed to the common room.