Disclaimer : I do not own the rights of the Harry Potter series.


The Gryffindor common room was warm, the fire crackling softly in the hearth. The Christmas decorations were still up, though they had lost some of their shine, and the armchairs by the fire looked especially inviting after the long train ride back to Hogwarts. Outside the castle walls, the wind howled against the windows, but inside, everything was cozy and calm.

Ron stretched, sinking deeper into his chair. He had just finished the last of his Christmas sweets and looked comfortably full. Harry sat across from him, staring into the flames, his mind far away. Hermione had only just returned, her school bag heavy with books, and the moment she set foot in the common room, she burst out:

"I knew I'd heard Flamel's name before!"

Harry barely reacted.

Ron, who had been nodding off, blinked himself awake. "Huh?"

"Nicolas Flamel!" Hermione said impatiently, pulling a thick book from her bag. "I looked him up the moment I got back—well, after I visited my parents, of course—but I knew it! He's in here." She flipped through the pages frantically before finding what she was looking for. "Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone."

Harry wasn't listening.

His mind was still trapped in the memory of the Mirror of Erised. The way his mother's eyes had shone, the way his father had stood tall beside her—it had felt so real, like he could reach out and touch them. And he had wanted to. He had wanted to stay there forever, to keep looking at them, memorizing every detail of their faces.

But Dumbledore had taken the mirror away. And no matter how many times Harry had walked the corridors at night, he couldn't find it again.

"… the Philosopher's Stone," Hermione was saying.

Harry blinked. "What?"

Hermione gave him a look. "Were you even listening?"

"Yeah," he said quickly. "Go on."

She huffed but turned back to the book. "The Philosopher's Stone can turn any metal into pure gold and produces the Elixir of Life. That's why Flamel has lived for so long—he's over six hundred years old."

Ron sat up, suddenly interested. "So, wait… Could this be hidden at Hogwarts?"

Harry forced himself to focus. "But why would it be here?"

Ron frowned. "Well… Hagrid said Snape was protecting something that belongs to him, right?"

Harry and Hermione exchanged glances.

"And if Nicolas Flamel created the Philosopher's Stone," Hermione said slowly, "and Dumbledore has it… then…"

Harry sat forward. "That's what Snape's 'protecting'."

The words felt final, heavy. They looked at each other, the fire crackling between them.

Harry leaned back, thinking. "I guess Dumbledore must have brought the Stone to Hogwarts for protection. But why keep it here at all? Why not destroy it?"

Hermione shook her head. "If you had something that powerful, would you destroy it? Flamel has lived for six hundred years because of this stone. You don't just throw that away."

Ron snorted. "Yeah, well, if it's here, someone's gonna try and take it." He folded his arms. "And if Snape's involved, we need to find out how far he's got."

There was a pause. The fire crackled softly.

Harry suddenly straightened. "Hagrid."

Ron frowned. "What about him?"

"He's the one who told us Snape was helping protect something," Harry said. "And he knows Dumbledore better than anyone. If anyone knows more about the stone, it's him."

Hermione shut the book with a snap. "You're right. If we want to know what's really going on, we have to talk to Hagrid."

Ron stretched his arms behind his head. "Right, then. Let's go."

Without another word, the three of them stood up, grabbed their cloaks, and slipped out of the common room. The castle was cold, and the wind howled against the windows, but Harry barely noticed. There were too many questions racing through his mind, and he had a feeling Hagrid held the answers.

Hagrid's cabin was warm, the fire crackling in the hearth as Harry, Ron, and Hermione stepped inside. The smell of roast meat filled the air, and Fang, as usual, nearly knocked Ron over in excitement.

Hagrid frowned as he shut the door behind them. "Now what're yeh three doin' out 'ere at this hour? Yeh know it's near curfew."

Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione before taking a deep breath. "Hagrid, we know about the Philosopher's Stone."

Hagrid froze, his massive hands stilling as he reached for the kettle. For a moment, all they could hear was the fire popping in the grate. Then, slow as anything, he turned to face them. "Do yeh now?" he muttered.

Hermione pulled out a book from under her cloak, flipping straight to a page she'd marked. "Nicolas Flamel," she said, tapping the words with her finger. "He's the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone. It can turn any metal into pure gold and create the Elixir of Life—"

"—which makes you live forever," Ron finished, looking half-impressed, half-horrified.

Hagrid let out a long sigh and sank into his enormous chair. "Knew yeh'd figure it out sooner or later," he grumbled, shaking his head. "Too curious fer yer own good, the lot o' yeh."

"So it is true?" Ron asked, eyes wide.

Hagrid muttered something under his breath and reached for the kettle. "Listen," he said finally, pouring himself some tea, "I dunno how yeh found out about the Stone, but yeh best forget it. That's Dumbledore's business, not yers."

Harry leaned forward. "But, Hagrid, if the stone was safe before, why move it here? What changed?"

Hagrid hesitated, scratching at his wild beard. "Look, Flamel's had the Stone fer centuries, right? But summat must've happened—summat that made him think it weren't safe no more."

Harry's stomach twisted. "So he gave it to Dumbledore."

"'Course he did! Dumbledore's the only one Flamel trusts ter keep it safe." Hagrid looked at them seriously. "Ain't no safer place than Hogwarts."

Ron snorted. "Yeah, right. Someone obviously thinks they can get to it if it needs protection"

Hagrid shifted in his chair, suddenly looking uncomfortable. "That's why it's got enchantments on it. More'n I can count. Ain't no way someone's gettin' past all of 'em."

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "And you know what those enchantments are?"

Hagrid's beard twitched. "I—I dunno what yeh mean."

Harry folded his arms. "Hagrid."

He groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. "Look, all I'll say is, it ain't just Dumbledore protectin' it, alright? There's others. But that's all yer gettin' outta me."

They tried pressing him for more, but Hagrid was as stubborn as ever. The conversation dragged on, the fire burnin' lower and lower, the cabin getting darker as the sky outside turned pitch black.

Then—

"Merlin's beard! Look at the time!" Hagrid jumped up so fast he knocked over his teacup. "Yeh lot need ter get back if Filch catches yeh, yeh'll be in a right load o' trouble!"

Harry's stomach dropped. He hadn't even noticed how late it'd gotten.

He turned toward the window and his breath caught.

For just a second, just outside, he saw a pale face peering in. But the moment Harry's eyes landed on it, it vanished into the darkness.

His blood ran cold.

Ron groaned as he pulled his cloak tighter. "Great. If Filch catches us, we're done for."

Hermione grabbed Harry's sleeve. "We have to go. Now."

They barely had time to say goodbye before rushing out into the freezing night, hurrying toward the castle.

But as they ran, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching them.

The castle loomed in the distance as Harry, Ron, and Hermione hurried back across the dark, frozen grounds. The cold bit at their faces, and their breath misted in the air. Harry's mind was still racing, he knew someone had been watching them at Hagrid's, and he had a sick feeling he already knew who.

They were nearly at the entrance hall when—

"Ahem."

The three of them skidded to a halt.

Professor McGonagall stood at the top of the stone steps, arms crossed, her sharp eyes glinting in the torchlight. She did not look pleased.

"Would you care to explain," she said coolly, "why three Gryffindor students are wandering the grounds after curfew ?"

Harry opened his mouth, but no excuse came. Ron looked at Hermione desperately, but even she had nothing.

McGonagall didn't wait for an answer. "Follow me," she said briskly, turning on her heel.

The trio exchanged glances, but there was no escaping now. Silently, they followed her inside, through the quiet corridors, until she stopped at her office door and pushed it open.

Inside, waiting smugly in a chair, was Draco Malfoy.

Harry felt a surge of anger. Of course it had been him outside Hagrid's window.

Malfoy smirked as they entered. "Took you long enough," he drawled.

McGonagall shut the door behind them and turned, her lips pressed into a thin line. "It seems all four of you found it appropriate to be outside at this hour." She eyed Malfoy just as sternly as the trio. "Mr. Malfoy was kind enough to bring your rule-breaking to my attention but as he was also out past curfew, he will be receiving the same punishment."

Malfoy's smirk vanished. "But Professor—"

"I do not want to hear excuses," McGonagall said sharply. "You all knew the rules, and you all chose to ignore them."

Ron shot Malfoy a look of pure satisfaction.

"As for your punishment," McGonagall continued, "you will each serve detention tomorrow night with Hagrid. You will be assisting him in the Forbidden Forest."

Ron let out a strangled noise. Hermione went rigid.

Malfoy paled. "The Forbidden Forest? At night?"

"That is correct," McGonagall said briskly. "Perhaps it will remind you all why the rules exist in the first place."

Harry's stomach twisted. He had a bad feeling about this.

McGonagall straightened. "Now, back to your dormitories. Immediately."

Without another word, the trio turned and left, Malfoy stomping behind them.

As they climbed the stairs toward Gryffindor Tower, Ron groaned. "A night in the Forbidden Forest? We're dead."

Hermione still looked shaken. "I told you we should have left earlier."

Harry barely heard them. His mind was stuck on one thought.

What, exactly, were they going to be doing in the Forbidden Forest?

The next morning, Harry woke up feeling like he hadn't slept at all. His dreams had been strange and unsettling, shadows shifting between the trees, something watching from the darkness, and Malfoy's smug face outside Hagrid's window. As he sat up and rubbed his eyes, the weight of what was coming that night settled deep in his stomach.

Ron looked just as miserable when Harry met him in the common room. He was slumped in a chair, staring blankly at the fireplace. "I kept dreaming about that detention," he muttered. "The Forbidden Forest. At night. What is McGonagall thinking?"

"I don't think she is thinking at all mate." Harry said, adjusting his robes.

Hermione came down the stairs, tightening the strap of her book bag. "Honestly, if you'd just followed the rules, you wouldn't have to do this at all."

Ron shot her a glare. "You're coming too, Miss Perfect."

Hermione huffed but didn't argue.

None of them were in a hurry to get to breakfast. Even Hermione, usually the one leading the way to the Great Hall, walked a little slower than usual.

When they arrived, the Great Hall was alive with the usual morning noise, studeni talking, forks clinking against plates, the low hum of owls swooping in with mail. The enchanted ceiling was a pale gray, thick clouds hanging overhead.

The smell of bacon and toast filled the air, but Harry barely noticed. He sat down heavily at the Gryffindor table and grabbed a piece of toast, but all he did was break off the crust and roll it between his fingers.

Across the hall, Malfoy sat at the Slytherin table, looking just as annoyed as Harry felt. Crabbe and Goyle were shoving food into their mouths, not paying attention to Malfoy as he scowled in their direction.

"He still looks mad," Ron said, glancing over. "Bet he thought McGonagall would let him off the hook."

"Well, she actually followed the rules," Hermione said, though she didn't sound pleased about it either.

Ron sighed dramatically. "I still can't believe she's making us do this. We weren't even sneaking out for fun! We were gathering important information!"

Hermione gave him a sharp look. "We were breaking curfew."

Ron rolled his eyes and took a bite of toast. "Yeah, yeah. But still, the Forbidden Forest? They spend all year telling us how dangerous it is, and now they're sending us in as punishment?"

Harry wasn't really listening. His mind was stuck on something else, what Hagrid had said the night before. The stone was moved here for protection… but from what? It had been safe with Flamel for centuries, but something had changed. Something had made him think it wasn't safe anymore.

The thought followed him through breakfast, through the walk to their first class, and into their lessons.

Transfiguration felt endless. McGonagall gave them extra homework, two feet of parchment on the importance of following school rules.

"Is this for real ?" Ron groaned under his breath as he wrote it down. "She's just punishing us more for being punished."

Hermione, of course, had no complaints about extra work. "Well, maybe it'll make you think twice next time."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, because that's definitely the biggest problem right now."

Charms was a blur. Even Hermione wasn't paying full attention. She spent most of the lesson chewing the end of her quill, looking deep in thought.

Defense Against the Dark Arts was a waste of time. Professor Quirrell spent the whole lesson nervously talking about creatures that had nothing to do with the Forbidden Forest.

Harry barely listened at all. His eyes kept flicking to the back of Quirrell's turban.

Something about the way Quirrell acted made Harry uneasy.

The day dragged on, but no amount of classes or homework could take his mind off the fact that soon, very soon, they would be heading into the Forbidden Forest.

By the time dinner rolled around, the castle felt heavier.

The three of them sat at the Gryffindor table, barely touching their food. Even Ron, who usually ate like he was making up for missed meals, only pushed his mashed potatoes around his plate.

"I still don't get why Malfoy has to come," Ron muttered. "What's the point? He's just gonna complain the whole time."

"Maybe he'll get scared and run back to the castle," Hermione said, though she didn't sound hopeful.

The sun was setting outside, the sky deepening into shades of orange and purple.

It was almost time.

The night air was cold as Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way down to Hagrid's hut. The castle doors shut heavily behind them, and their footsteps crunched against the gravel path. None of them spoke. The only sound was the distant hoot of an owl somewhere in the trees.

When they reached Hagrid's hut, the lanterns inside cast a warm glow through the windows. Hagrid was waiting for them outside, his huge arms crossed. Malfoy stood a few steps away, looking annoyed, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his cloak.

"'Bout time," Hagrid grunted. "We'll be headin' in soon."

Harry's stomach twisted. He wasn't scared exactly more uneasy. The Forbidden Forest was off-limits for a reason, and now they were about to walk straight into it.

Hagrid clapped his hands together. "Right. Listen up. We got summat serious goin' on in there. Been 'appenin' fer a few weeks now. Summat's been hurtin' unicorns."

The group went silent. Even Malfoy looked taken aback.

"Hurting unicorns?" Hermione asked, her voice a little higher than usual.

Hagrid nodded grimly. "Yeah. Found one dead last week. Now there's another one injured somewhere. We gotta find it."

There was a long pause.

"You do realize that the things that hunt unicorns is dangerous especially for us, right?" Malfoy finally said, folding his arms.

Hagrid frowned at him. "Course I do. But that's why I'm goin' with yeh. An' I brought Fang."

At the sound of his name, Fang, Hagrid's huge black boarhound, padded out from behind him. He let out a low whine and flopped onto the ground like he had already given up.

"Oh yeah, he'll be loads of help," Malfoy said sarcastically.

"He's a great guard dog," Hagrid insisted, giving Fang a hearty slap on the side. Fang groaned in response.

Ron shifted uncomfortably. "Er—so what exactly are we supposed to do if we do find whatever's attacking them?"

"Yeh won't," Hagrid said firmly. "Yer job is just to find the unicorn an' see if it's still breathin'. If it is, I'll take care of it. If it ain't… well, we'll deal with that if it comes to it."

Silence. No one looked very comforted.

Hagrid cleared his throat. "Right, we're splittin' up. I'll go with Ron an' Hermione. Harry, yer with Malfoy. Fang's goin' with yeh."

"What?" Malfoy spun around. "I'm with Potter?"

"I don't wanna go with him either," Harry shot back.

"Oh, stop whinin'," Hagrid said, waving a hand. "Yer just followin' a trail. Yeh won't be with each other fer long."

Malfoy scowled but didn't argue further.

Hagrid lifted a lantern and gestured toward the trees. "Right then. Off we go."

Harry swallowed, gripping his own lantern a little tighter. The entrance to the Forbidden Forest loomed ahead of them, dark and endless.

Then, with Hagrid leading the way, they stepped inside.

The deeper they walked into the Forbidden Forest, the quieter everything became. The thick canopy above blocked out most of the moonlight, and the lanterns they carried cast long, flickering shadows against the trees. The air was cold and damp, filled with the distant rustling of unseen creatures. Fang padded beside them, his ears twitching every time a branch snapped underfoot.

Malfoy walked stiffly, holding his lantern out like it was a shield. "This is ridiculous," he muttered. "Chasing after a half-dead unicorn in the middle of the night. What's next? Cleaning up after trolls?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "If you're so scared, you can go back to the castle."

"I'm not scared," Malfoy shot back, his voice tight. "I just don't see why we have to do this. We're students, not bloody hunters."

Harry ignored him and kept walking, focusing on the trail ahead. Twigs snapped under his shoes, and he could hear the soft crunch of Malfoy's footsteps beside him. Fang whined lowly.

"I mean, think about it," Malfoy continued, waving his lantern around. "Whatever's killing unicorns is obviously dangerous, right? So why are we out here looking for it?"

"We're not looking for it," Harry said through gritted teeth. "We're looking for the unicorn."

"Oh, right," Malfoy scoffed. "Because that makes so much more sense. 'Let's walk deeper into the creepy, cursed forest to check if the magical horse is still alive!'"

Harry clenched his jaw. He already knew Malfoy was going to be unbearable, but they hadn't even been out here for ten minutes and he was already getting on his nerves.

They continued on in tense silence, their lanterns swinging with every step. The trees were growing thicker now, and the path they had been following became less clear. The forest smelled of damp earth and moss, and every so often, Harry swore he saw something move just out of the corner of his eye.

"Wait," Malfoy said suddenly, grabbing Harry's arm.

Harry yanked it away. "What?"

"Look." Malfoy pointed at the ground. There, faintly visible in the mud, was a thin, shimmering silver trail leading off the main path. It was like liquid starlight, barely glowing in the darkness.

"The unicorn's blood…" Harry murmured.

Malfoy took a step back. "Brilliant. Now we know for sure something horrible happened here."

Harry crouched down, holding his lantern closer to the trail. The silvery liquid stretched in two directions, one leading left, deeper into the tangled undergrowth, and the other veering slightly right, where the trees weren't as dense.

"Well?" Malfoy asked, shifting from foot to foot. "Which way?"

Harry stood up. "Left."

Malfoy immediately scowled. "No. We should go right."

"Left has more of the trail," Harry pointed out.

"And right isn't crawling with roots and spider webs," Malfoy argued. "Besides, the blood is still there what does it matter which way we go?"

Harry huffed. "Because if we want to find the unicorn—"

"You mean find whatever killed it," Malfoy interrupted.

"We're not looking for—"

"I'm not stupid, Potter," Malfoy snapped. "I know how this goes. We follow the creepy blood trail into the dark, scary trees, and surprise, we end up eaten by some monster. No thanks. I'm going right."

"Fine," Harry said hotly. "Then go."

Malfoy didn't need to be told twice. Without another word, he turned on his heel and stalked off to the right, holding his lantern high. Fang hesitated for a moment, looking between the two of them, then let out a nervous whimper before trotting after Malfoy.

Harry exhaled sharply, shaking his head, then turned left and started walking into the deeper part of the forest, alone.

Harry moved carefully through the tangled undergrowth, his lantern swinging in his grip. The silver trail of unicorn blood shimmered faintly on the ground, leading him deeper into the trees. The forest was eerily quiet now, the usual rustling of leaves and distant hoots of owls absent. It was as if the entire place was holding its breath.

Then, just ahead, something pale caught the light of his lantern.

Harry's stomach clenched as he stepped forward. Lying in a small clearing was the unicorn.

It was beautiful, even in death. Its silver-white coat glowed faintly in the darkness, its long legs folded underneath its still body. But its neck, its neck was streaked with glistening silver blood, pooling into the dirt beneath it. Harry swallowed hard, the sight sending a chill down his spine.

Kneeling beside it, he reached out hesitantly. The unicorn's body was cold. He ran his fingers lightly over its mane, feeling how soft and smooth it was. This creature, so pure, so magical, had been killed by something.

But what?

As he straightened up, Harry's mind raced. Unicorn blood was powerful at least from he could remember.

Before he could dwell more on that thought, Harry heard something.

A scream.

High, sharp, and terrified.

Malfoy.

Harry's breath caught, and in an instant, he was running.

The lantern swung wildly in his hand as he dodged low branches and jumped over roots, his heart hammering against his ribs. Malfoy's scream had come from the direction he had gone, the right path.

"Malfoy?" he called, his voice echoing through the trees.

No answer.

He ran faster, pushing through the undergrowth, twigs snapping under his feet. His lungs burned, but he didn't stop.

Then, up ahead, he saw it.

Malfoy.

Sprawled on the ground, his lantern lying a few feet away, flickering weakly. His face was pale as the moon, his mouth slightly open, eyes closed. Fang stood beside him, growling lowly at the trees beyond. His massive body trembled, his ears pinned back.

Harry rushed to Malfoy's side, dropping to his knees. "Malfoy!" He grabbed his shoulder and shook him lightly.

Nothing.

Draco Malfoy was unconscious.

Harry swallowed, glancing around. The forest around them felt wrong, like something had just been here but was now gone. He could feel it, the lingering sense of something watching.

Fang whined.

Harry's grip on Malfoy tightened.

Whatever had done this… it was still out there.

Harry barely had time to react.

Something moved between the trees. A slithering shadow, darker than the night itself. Fang was growling beside him, his ears flattened against his massive head, but he didn't move. He was too scared.

Harry's breath caught in his throat as the shape stepped forward.

A figure, draped in a hooded cloak, glided toward them. Its movements were unnatural—silent, smooth, as if it weren't walking but floating just above the forest floor. The air around it felt wrong, heavy and cold, pressing against Harry's skin like invisible hands.

Then he saw its face or what should have been a face. Beneath the hood, there was only shadow… except for a mouth.

A pale, thin mouth, stained silver.

The unicorn's blood.

Harry's stomach twisted in horror. The creature, whatever it was, had been drinking from the dead unicorn.

He wanted to run, but his body refused to move. His heart was hammering so hard he could hear it in his ears. He couldn't breathe.

The thing took another step closer.

Then another.

Harry's body screamed at him to do something, move, run, fight, anything—

But he couldn't.

It was like the forest itself was trapping him there, forcing him to watch as the creature neared, closer and closer, its hollow mouth twitching like it was smiling.

He knew, deep down, he was about to die.

Suddenly there was a flash of movement.

Something massive crashed through the trees. Hooves thundered against the forest floor. A blur of silver and white.

Harry was shoved backward as a figure leapt between him and the cloaked horror. A creature, half man, half horse, stood tall in the moonlight, his long silver hair glinting in the darkness. A centaur.

The hooded thing hissed, recoiling. It backed away, gliding soundlessly into the shadows of the trees.

Harry gasped for air, his chest heaving. He was alive. He was alive.

The centaur turned, his piercing blue eyes meeting Harry's. "You must leave this forest," he said, his voice deep and steady. "It is not safe for you here."

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but before he could,

A sharp, splitting crack.

Something struck the side of his head.

Pain exploded through his skull, blinding, overwhelming. The world spun violently. He felt himself falling, but there was no ground beneath him only blackness, cold and endless, swallowing him whole.

Then—

Nothing.


Hello there. This chapter is quite shorter but if I'm being honest it is mostly my fault. I cut like 2-3k words.

Also yes, I went for the UK name for the stone, it's also the one I grew up with. Sorry for all the Sorcerer's stone fan I guess ?

Now I want to talk about something important. This Website. Last time when I updated it, for some reason, My story didn't updated itself ( which is normal during the first 30 minutes ). I had to delete the chapter prior and re-published 2 chapter at once. Then another problem came. Somehow, NOBODY could've access the last chapter. SOMEHOW, my story became a Time machine itself. You could watch the first chapter as they were during their first days. When you switched back from CH1 and CH2 repeatedly at some point CH3 would've appeared. Then same thing with CH3 and CH2 at some point CH4 would've appeared.

Pretty sure that a lot of people couldn't read the 3-4 CH because of random problems. I'm sorry. It's not my fault.

Probably during the week or next week, I'll bring this story on another Website, I'll tell you what next time. ( The story shall remain here as well, I'm just going to cross post it somewhere else, just in case something else happens.)

Anyway, Love y'all.

See you, next time.