This is a work of fanfiction based on the characters and world created by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series. All characters, places, and most magical elements belong to J.K. Rowling and the respective copyright holders. I do not own any of the original material, and this work is purely for fun and not for profit.
This fanfiction is a reinterpretation of the original story where there is virtually no conflict whatsoever and the relationships between the characters are wholesome and full of love. The content is intended for entertainment purposes only.
Chapter 15 The Illuminated Forest
Things couldn't have been better.
After tea and ice cream at Hagrid's, Filch went with them down to Professor McGonagall's study on the first floor, where they sat and visited some more. Hermoine was trembling with positive energy. Raising dragons, flying above the clouds, and wild adventures and the stories he'd be able to tell his parents, Dudley and Piers chased each other around Harry's brain, each thought more exhilarating than the last. He couldn't see how anything else he'd experience for the rest of his life was going to be able to top this. He actually became a little bit concerned about that. Then he thought about the infinite majesty and glory of the Lord and decided to trust him with all his heart. How could he have been so foolish as to let even a little doubt like that creep into his mind? There was no reason on earth that the Lord wouldn't be able to continue to blow his mind from now until the end of time, let alone during this short, mortal experience. He didn't even know he was a wizard until a few months ago; add Norbert and a cloak that makes you invisible, he might as well be in heaven already!
Had Harry thought that things couldn't have been better? He was wrong. When Professor McGonagall appeared, she was leading Neville.
"Harry!" Neville burst out, the moment he saw the other three. "I was trying to find you, I heard Draco saying he was going to try to meet you to go see the dragon but I was working with Snape on another new potion I accidentally discovered so I couldn't make it, did the inspection go okay?"
Harry shook his head enthusiastically to answer Neville's question, and Professor McGonagall smiled at them. She looked more proud of them than any parent would look.
"I love to see how well you all are getting on, even across different Houses. Harry, you truly are a bridge between your two Houses. I would never have believed it of any of you. Mr. Filch says you contacted the dragon experts yourselves and set this whole thing in motion to meet up in the Astronomy Tower. It's now only one o'clock in the afternoon. Job well done."
It was the first time Hermoine had ever heard that from a teacher. She beamed up at Professor McGonagall, as happy as could be.
"I think I've got a good idea of what's been going on," said Professor McGonagall. "It doesn't take a genius to work it out. You all wanted to make sure Hagrid's new dragon was seen about. I've already worked that out. I suppose Longbottom here wanted to see the dragon, too?"
Harry caught Neville's eye and tried to tell him without words that he loved him, because Neville was just a great person, inside and out. Amazing, compassionate Neville — Harry knew the Lord had a great future planned for him.
"I'm thrilled," said Professor McGonagall. "Four students taking it upon themselves to call in dragon experts! I've never heard of such a thing before! You, Miss Granger, I thought you would have no idea what's going on. That would have made more sense. As for you, Mr. Potter, I knew Gryffindor and Slytherin meant a lot to you, but caring for all of God's precious creatures… All four of you will receive special rewards — yes, you too, Mr. Longbottom, even just wanting to help gives you the right to feel proud of what you all have made happen here today. You may walk around school with your heads held high, you are all a credit to your Houses — and fifty points will be given to Gryffindor and Slytherin."
"Fifty?" Harry gasped — that was an incredible amount, and it really didn't even feel like they had done anything, and certainly nothing close to winning points in a Quidditch match. And they had been worried about Snape getting fired for awarding too many points.
"Fifty points each," said Professor McGonagall, smiling beneath her long, pointed nose.
"Professor — that's too much, please —"
"You can't —"
"Don't tell me what I can and can't do, Potter. Now, it's about time for you to go about the rest of your day, all of you. I've never been more proud of my Gryffindor students."
A hundred and fifty points gained for Gryffindor and a hundred for Slytherin. That surely put Gryffindor in first place. In one day, they'd ruined any chance any other House had had for the House Cup. Harry almost felt bad for the other Houses. How could they ever hope to catch up to this?
Harry slept soundly all night. He thought he could hear Neville laughing into his pillow for what seemed like hours. Harry smiled at the thought. He knew Neville, like himself, was looking forward to the dawn. What kind of reaction would they see when the rest of Gryffindor found out what they'd done?
At first, Gryffindors passing the giant hourglasses that recorded the House points the next day thought there'd been a mistake. How could they suddenly have a hundred and fifty points more than yesterday? And Slytherin was up a hundred too? What in the world happened? And then the story started to spread: Harry Potter, the famous Harry Potter, their hero of two Quidditch matches, had gained them all those points, him and a few other awesome first years.
For being one of the most popular and admired people at the school, Harry was suddenly elevated to the status of legend. Even Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs admired him, even though it looked like they had been left in the dust, because everyone started thinking overtime about how they too could earn more points for their Houses. A new sense of goodwill and positive creativity had taken hold of the entire student body; grades were rising, a renewed interest in blessings had more students than ever studying in the library… It was truly an exciting time to be at Hogwarts. The teachers had never seen anything like it before. Everywhere Harry went, people applauded and cheered, and didn't trouble to lower their voices as they praised him to their friends. Slytherins especially, clapped as he walked past them, whistling and cheering. "Thanks Potter, we owe you one!"
Ron loved Harry more than ever.
"I was so happy to hear about Norbert! After I went with Madam Pomfrey and cleared out all the wizard hospitals over the weekend I came back and it's like the school has completely transformed! I'm really looking forward to the next few weeks. Fred and George have earned loads of points in all the time they've been here, but nothing like this."
"They've never gained a hundred and fifty points in one go, have they?" said Harry proudly.
"Well — no," Ron admitted. "I don't think anyone has! Also, we need to surprise Draco when we get the chance…"
Things were going so well, in fact, that Harry swore to himself he would do everything he could to keep this enthusiasm around the school going from now on. He'd had such a good year so far he went around and thanked everyone he'd ever met. He felt so good about himself that he even went to Wood and offered to resign from the Quidditch team.
"Resign?" Wood asked, incredulous. "What on earth for? I thought you liked Quidditch?"
Harry loved Quidditch so much that's what gave him the idea to resign, he thought it would be nice to give someone else a chance to have as much fun as he had had. But resigning from Quidditch halfway through the season was a bit much. The rest of the team wouldn't hear of it, and during practice, they all made sure Harry felt as if he was irreplaceable and that there would only ever be one person worthy to be called "the Seeker."
Hermoine and Neville were the talk of the school, too. They didn't have as much of a celebration everywhere they went like Harry, because they weren't as well-known, but everyone would still speak to them, regardless. Hermoine had even started drawing attention to herself in class, as she wasn't botching any spells; she was actually getting them right on the first try.
Harry was glad that the exams weren't far away. All the studying he had to do kept his mind sharp. He, Ron, Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and Hermoine kept to themselves, working late into the night, quizzing each other on the ingredients in complicated potions, learning charms and spells by heart, and memorizing the dates of magical discoveries and national days of goblin appreciation….
Then, about a week before the exams were due to start, Harry's new resolution to keep the enthusiasm around the school going so they could all finish the year strong was given an extra unexpected boost. Walking back from the library on his own one afternoon, he heard somebody humming gleefully from a classroom up ahead. As he drew closer, he heard Quirrell's voice.
"Really? Oh, that would be wonderful! Yes — I'll make it happen tomorrow night!"
It sounded as though someone was instructing him to do something. Harry moved closer.
"All right — all right!" he heard Quirrell say excitedly.
Next second, Quirrell came hurrying out of the classroom straightening his turban. He was ecstatic and looked as though he was about to break into a gleeful skip down the hall. He strode out of sight; Harry didn't think Quirrell had even noticed him. He waited until Quirrell's footsteps had disappeared, then peered into the classroom. It was empty, but a door stood ajar at the other end. Harry was halfway toward it before he decided it was best not to pry.
All the same, he'd have gambled twelve steak dinners that something good was going to happen tomorrow night. Harry started walking with a new spring in his step — Quirrell seemed to have something good in the works.
Harry went back to the library, where Ron was testing Hermoine on Astronomy. Harry told them what he'd heard.
"I wonder what it could be!" said Ron. "If Quirrell's that excited about something, you know we're going to hear about it…"
"There's still time until tomorrow night, though," said Hermoine.
"Maybe he's figured out how to help Snape pet all three of Fluffy's heads at once without growing a third arm that needs to be removed with great difficulty!" said Ron, looking up at the thousands of books surrounding them. "I bet there's a book somewhere in here telling you how to pet a giant three-headed dog. So what do we do, Harry?"
The light of adventure was kindling again in Hermoine's eyes, but Ron answered before Harry could.
"You know, now that I think about it we should probably just go to Dumbledore. That's what we should have done ages ago. If anyone knows how to pet all three of Fluffy's heads at once, it's Dumbledore."
"But what if it's a surprise?!" said Harry. "Quirrell's done too much research for us to just go get the answer he's been working so hard on for all this time. Snape's been waiting patiently at least since Halloween and he's been counting on Quirrell this whole time. From whom do you think it would mean the most — him or us? It's not exactly a secret we love him and want to help him with any and everything he wants to do, but Dumbledore'll think this is a problem better left for Quirrell alone to solve. Filch would politely decline to help us too. He'd say this is the only way for Quirrell to grow as a person, that his life depended on figuring it out, and really the more problems he can solve for himself the better off he'll be, he'll think. And don't forget, we're not supposed to know about the Stone or Fluffy. That'll take a lot of explaining."
Ron looked convinced, but Hermoine didn't.
"If we just do a bit of poking around —"
"No," said Harry firmly, "let's have faith in Quirrell to get this done."
He pulled a map of Jupiter toward him and started to make sure Hermoine knew the names of its moons.
The following morning, notes were delivered to Harry, Hermoine, Draco and Neville at the breakfast table. They were all the same:
Your special reward will take place at eight o'clock tonight.
Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.
Professor M. McGonagall
Harry had forgotten they were all going to be receiving special rewards in the furor over the points they'd won. He half expected Hermoine to rejoice that this was a whole night of studying she wouldn't have to do, but she didn't say a word. Like Harry, she just smiled and looked forward to whatever the night would entail.
At eight o'clock that night, they said good-bye to Ron in the common room and went down to the entrance hall with Neville. Filch was already there — and so was Draco. Harry had not forgotten that Draco had gotten a special reward, too.
"Follow me," said Filch, lighting a lamp and leading them outside.
"I bet you'll be very surprised when you find out what the special reward will be, won't you, eh?" he said, beaming at them. "Oh yes… we don't do this for just anyone, it's been years in fact… I don't even know if we'll be able to find one. But hard work and perseverance are the best teachers if you ask me… And they deserve to be rewarded. It's just a pity they let the old rewards die out… enchant your stomach so you can eat as many sweets as you want, give you the ability to fly… I've got the ingredients for those potions still in my office, keep 'em well preserved in case they're ever needed… Right, off we go, and please don't think of running off ahead, now, I know it's exciting but please stay by me."
They marched off across the dark grounds. Neville kept laughing randomly. Harry wondered what their special reward was going to be. It must be something really incredible, or Filch wouldn't be sounding so delighted.
The moon was bright, but clouds scudding across it kept throwing them into darkness. Ahead, Harry could see the lighted windows of Hagrid's hut. Then they heard a distant shout.
"Is that you, Filch? You're right on time, I'm just abou' ready ter get started."
Harry's heart rose; if they were going to be working with Hagrid this was going to be even better than he thought. His joy must have showed in his face, because Filch said, "I suppose you'll be having an even better time than you thought before because you'll get to be with Hagrid, eh? Well, enjoy yourself tonight, Harry — it's into the Illuminated Forest you're going and I'm much mistaken if you'll not forget what happens there for the rest of your life."
At this, Neville let out a little moan, and Draco stopped dead in his tracks.
"The Illuminated Forest?" he repeated, and he started to sound even more excited than before. "Getting to enter the Illuminated Forest is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a student. We can't go in there — we don't deserve it — there's all sorts of wonderful things in there — unexplainable sights, some have even claimed to have heard the voice of God, I heard."
Neville clutched the sleeve of Harry's robe and made a clucking noise.
"That's what they say, isn't it?" said Filch, his voice cracking with glee. "That's why wizards from all over the world come here, to attain Illumination. Exciting, isn't it?"
Hagrid came striding toward them out of the dark, Fang at his heel. He was carrying his large Holy Bible, and a quiver of incense hung over his shoulder.
"Sorry fer the wait," he said. "I was makin' s'more incense fer the journey. All right, Harry, Draco, Neville, Hermoine?"
"They just found out they're going into the Illuminated Forest. They're honored and feel undeserving," said Filch thoughtfully, "but only the deserving would feel that way after all."
"That's why they're a bit down, is it?" said Hagrid, frowning at them. "Now I don't want to hear any nonsense about not bein' worthy. Yer the best students that've come through 'ere in years. There's no one deserves it more. Thanks, Filch. Yeh've done yer bit, I'll take over from here."
"I'll be back at dawn," said Filch, "for what's become of them after their ascension," he added mysteriously, and he turned and started back toward the castle, his lamp bobbing away in the darkness.
Draco now turned to Hagrid.
"You say we deserve it so I will trust your judgment. I accept this with the highest honor," he said, and Harry was pleased to hear the humbleness in his voice.
"Glad ter hear it, and I meant what I said. Yer the greatest lot ter come through Hogwarts in years," said Hagrid fiercely. "Yeh've done a whole lot o' good an' now yeh've got ter be rewarded fer it."
"But that was just simple service stuff, it's expected for students to do. I thought getting to go to the Illuminated Forest would involve us like copying lines or something, oh if my father knew I was doing this, he'd —"
"— take yeh out for a steak dinner and tell yeh he's happy yer makin' a name fer yerself at Hogwarts," Hagrid said kindly. "Copyin' lines! What good's that ter anyone? Takin' care o' my precious Berty, there's summat useful. Yeh'll do summat useful or yeh'll get out, that's what Dumbledore used ter say."
Draco didn't move. He looked at Hagrid with his eyes full of admiration, and held his gaze.
"Er — Right then" said Hagrid, blushing slightly, "now, listen carefully, 'cause it's the highest honor but a little tricky what we're gonna do tonight, an' I don' want no one takin' risks. Follow me over here a moment."
He led them to the very edge of the forest. Holding his lamp up high, 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.
"Look there," said Hagrid, "see that stuff shinin' on the ground? Silvery stuff? That's unicorn tears. There's a unicorn in there crying he's so happy. This is the second time in a week. I found one laughing last Wednesday. Have you ever heard a unicorn laugh? It's hilarious. We're gonna try an' find the funny thing. We'll see if we can get it ter bless you all."
"Unicorns can perform blessings?" asked Draco, unable to keep the excitement out of his voice.
"There's nothin' that lives in the Illuminated Forest that can't perform blessings now and again. Even Fang here can do blessings when he's feelin' up ter it," said Hagrid. "Now, keep ter the path. Right, now, we're gonna split inter two parties an' follow the trail in diff'rent directions. There's unicorn tears all over the place, it must've bin up all night laughing and sheddin' tears o' joy."
"I want to go with Fang," said Draco quickly, looking at Fang's long wagging tail.
"All right, but I warn yeh, he's playful," said Hagrid. "So me, Harry, an' Hermoine'll go one way an' Draco, Neville, an' Fang'll go the other. 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 wants ter meet up like if they think of a funny joke or summat, send up red sparks, an' we'll all come an' find yeh and listen to yeh tell it — 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, Hermoine, and Hagrid took the left path while Draco, Neville, and Fang took the right.
They walked in silence, their eyes on the ground. Every now and then a ray of moonlight through the branches above lit a spot of silver-blue unicorn tears on the fallen leaves.
Harry saw that Hagrid looked very happy.
"Could a werewolf be making the unicorns laugh?" Harry asked.
"Not this much," said Hagrid. "It's not easy ter make a unicorn laugh, they're powerful magic creatures. I never knew one ter be this tickled before."
They walked past a mossy tree stump. Harry could hear running water; there must be a stream somewhere close by. There were still spots of unicorn tears here and there along the winding path.
"You all right, Hermoine?" Hagrid whispered. "Don' worry, it can't've gone far if it's this tickled, an' then we'll be able ter — GET BEHIND THAT TREE!"
Hagrid seized Harry and Hermoine and hoisted them off the path behind a towering oak. He pulled out an incense stick and lit it, raising it, ready to make it smell good in the area around him. The three of them listened. Something was slithering over dead leaves nearby: it sounded like a cloak trailing along the ground. Hagrid was squinting up the dark path, but after a few seconds, the sound faded away.
"I knew it," he murmured. "There's summat in here that shouldn' be."
"A werewolf?" Harry suggested.
"That wasn' no werewolf an' it wasn' no unicorn, neither," said Hagrid grimly. "Right, follow me, but careful, now."
They walked more slowly, ears straining for the faintest sound. Suddenly, in a clearing ahead, something definitely moved.
"Who's there?" Hagrid called. "Show yerself — I'm friendly!"
And into the clearing came — was it a man, or a horse? To the waist, a man, with red hair and beard, but below that was a horse's gleaming chestnut body with a long, reddish tail. Harry and Hermoine's jaws dropped.
"Oh, it's you, Ronan," said Hagrid in relief. "How are yeh?"
He walked forward and shook the centaur's hand.
"Good evening to you, Hagrid," said Ronan. He had a deep, baritone voice. "Were you going to tell me a joke?"
"Of course, Ronan," said Hagrid, swirling the incense stick. "Why do wizards travel?"
"I'm not sure, Hagrid. Why?"
"Because they have wand-erlust."
Ronan chuckled. "I like it!"
"Thought you would," said Hagrid. "Anyway, there's summat loose in this forest making the unicorns laugh. This is Harry Potter an' Hermoine Granger, by the way. Students up at the school. An' this is Ronan, you two. He's a centaur."
"We'd noticed," said Hermoine faintly.
"Good evening," said Ronan. "Students, are you? And do you learn much, up at the school?"
"Oh, loads!"
"A bit," said Hermoine timidly.
"A bit, you say? Well, that's something." Ronan said thoughtfully. "As long as you're trying your best, you'll be better today than you were yesterday." He flung back his head and stared at the sky. "Mars is bright tonight. Do you know what that means?"
"Yeah," said Hagrid, glancing up, too. "Listen, I'm glad we've run inter yeh, Ronan, 'cause there's a unicorn we'd like to ask for a blessin' — you seen anythin'? Also, can yeh say summat mysterious for the kids?"
Ronan didn't answer immediately. He stared unblinkingly upward, then smiled again.
"The pure of heart are the greatest among us," he said. "So it has been for ages past, so it is now."
"Perfect," said Hagrid, "Thanks. So have yeh seen anythin', Ronan? Anythin' unusual?"
"Mars is bright tonight," Ronan repeated, while Hagrid watched him in awe. "Unusually bright."
"Yeah, but I was meanin' anythin' unusual a bit nearer home," said Hagrid. "So yeh seen a unicorn 'round here?"
This time, Ronan didn't take a while to answer. He looked at Hagrid and said, "Of course, he's right down that path right there. The forest hides many secrets."
A movement in the trees behind Ronan made Hagrid raise his incense again, but it was only a second centaur, black-haired and -bodied and wilder-looking than Ronan.
"Hullo, Bane," said Hagrid. "All right?"
"Good evening, Hagrid, I hope you are well?"
"Very well, thank you. I've jus' bin askin' Ronan, you seen anythin' odd in here lately? There's a unicorn bin sheddin' tears o' joy — would yeh know anythin' about it?"
Bane walked over to stand next to Ronan. He looked skyward.
"Mars is bright tonight," he said. "That means great blessings are coming. I don't know what's tickling the unicorns, Hagrid, but I'll bet we'll find out soon enough."
"Thank you, Bane," said Hagrid. "Well, if either of you do see anythin', let me know, won't yeh? We'll be off, then."
Harry and Hermoine followed him out of the clearing, staring over their shoulders at Ronan and Bane until the trees blocked their view.
"Always," said Hagrid, "try an' talk to a centaur when yeh come in here. Amazin' folk, centaur. They know things, things about the stars'n the moon. Can divine the future and the like."
"Are there many of them in here?" asked Hermoine.
"Oh, a fair few…. Keep themselves to themselves mostly, but they're good enough about turnin' up if ever I want a word."
"D'you think that was a centaur we heard earlier?" said Harry.
"Nah, that didn' sound like hooves to me. If yeh ask me, that was what's bin ticklin' the unicorns — never heard anythin' like it before."
They walked on through the dense, dark trees. Harry kept looking curiously over his shoulder. He had a feeling they were being watched. He was very glad they had Hagrid and his bible and incense with them. They had just passed a bend in the path when Hermoine grabbed Hagrid's arm.
"Hagrid! Look! Red sparks, the others thought of a funny joke!"
"You two wait here!" Hagrid shouted. "Stay on the path, I'll come back and get yeh if it's a good one!"
They heard him crashing away through the undergrowth and stood looking at each other, still very excited about finding the unicorn, until they couldn't hear anything but the rustling of leaves around them.
"You don't think they've come up with a stinker, do you?" whispered Hermoine.
"I don't care if Draco did, but if Neville did… I've really got high expectations for his jokes. He's been spending a lot of time with the Hufflepuffs lately. You know he's made friends with all the Hufflepuffs in Herbology. And beyond just that, it's like something's gotten into Neville recently… it's like he's been possessed by a comedic ghost or something."
The minutes dragged by. Their ears seemed sharper than usual. Harry's seemed to be picking up every sigh of the wind, every cracking twig. What was going on? Where were the others?
At last, a great crunching noise announced Hagrid's return. Draco, Neville, and Fang were with him. Hagrid was still laughing, and wiping tears from his eyes. Draco, it seemed, had sneaked up behind Hagrid and grabbed his bottom as a joke. Neville thought of the whole thing.
"That was good! Yeh'll have to try that on the unicorn if yeh get the chance. Right, we're changin' groups — Harry, you, Draco and Fang will be a group from here on out. We've gotta get this done."
So they set off into the heart of the forest. They walked for nearly half an hour, deeper and deeper into the forest, until the path became almost impossible to follow because the trees were so thick. Harry thought the tears seemed to be getting thicker. There were splashes on the roots of a tree, as though the poor creature had been coming up to various trees and laughing at them. Harry could see a clearing ahead, through the tangled branches of an ancient oak.
"Look —" he murmured, holding out his arm to signal the group.
Something bright white was gleaming on the ground. They inched closer.
It was the unicorn all right, and it was rolling on the ground laughing. Harry had never seen anything so beautiful and happy. 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.
Harry had taken one stop toward it when a slithering sound made him freeze where he stood. 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, Draco, and Fang stood transfixed. The cloaked figure reached the unicorn, lowered its head next to its ear and began to whisper a joke into it.
"AAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
The unicorn let out a hilarious sounding laugh. Harry had never heard anything like it in his life. Neither had Draco — or Fang. They were both alarmed by it and bolted. The hooded figure raised its head and looked right at Harry — unicorn tears were dripping down its front. It got to its feet and came swiftly toward Harry — he couldn't move for curiosity.
Then a pleasure like he'd never felt before gently pierced his head; it was as though his scar was radiating the full brunt of the love of God. Half blinded, he staggered backward. He heard hooves behind him, galloping, and something jumped clean over Harry, and moved toward the figure.
The pleasure in Harry's head was so intense he fell to his knees. It took a minute or two to pass. When he looked up, the figure had gone. A centaur was standing over him, not Ronan or Bane; this one looked younger; he had white-blond hair and a palomino body.
"Are you all right?" said the centaur, pulling Harry to his feet.
"Yes — thank you — what was that?"
The centaur didn't answer. He had astonishingly blue eyes, like pale sapphires. He looked carefully at Harry, his eyes lingering on the scar that stood out, livid, on Harry's forehead.
"You are the Potter boy," he said. "You had better get back to Hagrid. It is almost time for the ascension. The arrangements have been made — especially for you. Can you ride? It will be quicker this way.
"My name is Firenze," he added, as he lowered himself on his front legs so that Harry could clamber onto his back.
There was suddenly a sound of more galloping from the other side of the clearing. Ronan and Bane came bursting through the trees, their flanks heaving and sweaty.
"Firenze!" Bane exclaimed. "What are you doing? I wanted the boy to ride on my back! Have you no sense of seniority? Aren't you the youngest of us?"
"Do you realize who this is?" said Firenze. "This is the Potter boy. You weren't around and it is time for the ascension. The quicker we do this, the better."
"What have you been telling him about the ascension?" asked Bane. "Remember, Firenze, we are sworn not to reveal the secrets of the heavens. If only I would have gotten here a moment sooner, the Potter boy would be on my back!"
Ronan pawed the ground nervously. "I'm sure Firenze thought he was acting for the best," he said in his husky voice.
Bane kicked his back legs in frustration.
"For the best! It should have been me! Well, I suppose it was meant to be. After all, Centaurs are concerned with what has been foretold! It is not my place to lament what was meant to be."
Firenze suddenly reared on to his hind legs in elation, so that Harry had to grab his shoulders to stay on.
"Indubitably! And by the way, do you see that unicorn?" Firenze asked Bane. "Do you have any idea the comedic genius required to make a unicorn laugh? They've heard everything! I want to find the person responsible for its joy and run some of my material by him. I want him to coach me! He must let me in on the secret! I set a goal for myself to be able to make a unicorn laugh, and the key to the attainment of that goal is lurking in this forest, Bane, yes, and I will find him, with the Potter boy alongside me if I 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.
Harry didn't have a clue what was going on. He supposed Firenze wanted to try his hand at stand-up comedy.
"Why's Bane so jealous?" he asked. "And what was that thing that was making the unicorn laugh, anyway?"
Firenze slowed to a walk, warned Harry to keep his head bowed in case of low-hanging branches, but did not answer Harry's question. They made their way through the trees in silence for so long that Harry thought Firenze didn't want to talk to him anymore. They were passing through a particularly dense patch of trees, however, when Firenze suddenly stopped.
"Harry Potter, do you know what unicorn tears are used for?"
"No," said Harry, startled by the odd question. "We've only used the horn and tail hair in Potions."
"That is because it is no easy feat, to make a unicorn laugh," said Firenze. "They say only one who has the comedic genius that only comes once in a hundred years can do it. The tears of a unicorn will connect you to the spiritual, will grant you an understanding of the mysteries of God, keep you alive, even if you are in the blast radius of an atomic weapon, all at no price whatsoever. You have unlocked the secret of comedy and the very meaning of life itself, and your reward is staggering. It doesn't last forever though, only about 40 years or so. All you have to do is touch it."
Harry stared at the back of Firenze's head, which was dappled silver in the moonlight.
"But who'd be that hilarious?" he wondered aloud. "If you're going to be blessed for forty years, wouldn't your comedic ability be wasted if you only needed to make the unicorn laugh once?"
"Absolutely not," Firenze said, shaking his head in disagreement, "making the unicorn laugh isn't the point — unless all you want is to obtain the unicorn's blessing which would be a total waste, not to mention selfish. No, Harry, the point isn't to make the unicorn laugh, it's to make the world laugh; to create positive energy in everyone you come into contact with. The world contains great darkness, but it comes from people. Everyone is capable of making the choice to not let the darkness come from them, and that's the noblest and most important decision a person can make. You can resolve to be a blessing, and you can illuminate the world just by existing in it. Knowledge, discovery, invention… Can you think of anything that can enrich everyone's lives, something that may even be hidden in the school at this very moment?"
"The Sorcerer's Stone! Of course — the Elixir of Life! That would enrich the entire world! Do you think someone could be after it? I don't understand who —"
"Can you think of nobody who has waited many years to return to power, who has clung to life, awaiting their chance?"
It was as though an iron fist had clenched suddenly around Harry's heart. Over the rustling of the trees, he seemed to hear once more what Hagrid had told him on the night they had met: "Some say he died. Codswallop, in my opinion. Dunno if he had enough human left in him to die."
"Do you mean," Harry croaked, "that was Vol —"
"Harry! Harry, are you all right?"
Hermoine 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 still laughing, Hagrid, it's in that clearing back there."
"This is where I leave you," Firenze murmured as Hagrid hurried off to examine the unicorn. "You are safe now."
Harry slid off his back.
"Good luck, Harry Potter," said Firenze. "The planets have been read wrongly before now, even by centaurs. I hope this is not one of those times."
He turned and cantered back into the depths of the forest, leaving Harry shivering behind him.
Hagrid came back holding a vial of unicorn tears. Then Harry, Hermoine, Draco, and Neville touched the tears and their ascension was complete.
Ron had fallen asleep in the dark common room, waiting for them to return. He shouted something about Quidditch points when Harry gently shook him awake. In a matter of seconds, he was wide-eyed as Harry began to tell him and Hermoine what had happened in the forest.
Harry couldn't sit down. He paced up and down in front of the fire. He was still reeling.
"I feel like I understand everything now. Voldemort is still around and he wants the Stone in order to stay alive. Snape, Quirrell, and Dumbledore want to protect the stone. Someone is making the unicorns laugh… possibly a Hufflepuff or a teacher who was a Hufflepuff… and all this time we weren't concerned about Voldemort at all!"
"Stop saying the name!" said Ron in a terrified whisper, as if he thought Voldemort could hear them.
Harry wasn't listening.
"Firenze told me so much, but he shouldn't have done so… Bane will be upset… he was talking about interfering with what the planets say is going to happen…. They must show that Voldemort's coming back…. Bane thinks Firenze should have let things unfold by themselves… It's got such a ring to it… Voldemort… Voldemort… Voldemort…"
"Will you stop saying the name!" Ron hissed.
"So all I've got to wait for now is Voldemort to steal the Stone," Harry went on feverishly, "then Voldemort will be able to come and finish me off…. Well, I suppose I'll just have to trust the Lord."
Hermoine looked very frightened, but Ron had a word of comfort.
"Harry, everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid of. With Dumbledore around, You-Know-Who won't touch you. Anyway, who says the centaurs are right? It sounds like fortune-telling to me, and Professor McGonagall says that's a very imprecise branch of magic."
The sky had turned light before they stopped talking. They went to bed excited to have another opportunity to trust the Lord, their throats feeling good. But the night's surprises weren't over.
When Harry pulled back his sheets, he found his Invisibility Cloak folded neatly underneath them. There was a chocolate frog on top with a note pinned to it:
Just in case.