Harry Potter: Shadow Eminence

Chapter 29 Detention

That evening, Brian ventured into the Forbidden Forest once again with Quirrell.

To be honest, he was uncertain about whether they'd encounter a unicorn that night; ultimately, it was up to fate to dictate the story's progression.

However, considering the events from the previous night, the chances of spotting a unicorn seemed quite promising.

They reached the spot where they had found a unicorn previously, and remnants of dried silvery-blue blood still shimmered faintly in the moonlight.

They tracked the blood until its traces faded, then pushed further into the woods.

As darkness deepened, eerie howls reverberated through the Forbidden Forest. Brian had grown accustomed to this place. While it remained perilous, with unusual creatures occasionally emerging, they handled them with ease.

He had practiced frequently, and his spellcasting was noticeably more proficient.

Now, when faced with unexpected threats, he remained calm, able to dodge effectively and recite spells with clarity.

Quirrell retrieved some grayish herbs from his cloak—known for their healing properties and favored by unicorns.

His plan was to use them to attract the unicorn.

Unicorns are known for their intelligence; attempts to lure them had failed in the past few days. However, the injured unicorn wandering the forest might be different, as it would likely be in need of healing.

Quirrell scattered the herbs in several patches of grass, allowing them to take root, and set up a warning charm to alert them if the unicorn approached.

Then, they began to meander through the woods.

Meanwhile, Malfoy had arrived in the entrance hall.

Harry and the others had not yet shown up, and Filch was watching him with a malicious glare.

Malfoy felt a sense of unease; wanting to provoke Filch in a haughty manner, he ultimately decided to turn away when he noticed it was just the two of them.

Before long, Harry and his friends arrived, running late. Malfoy rolled his eyes at them.

"Follow me," Filch said, lighting an oil lamp and guiding them across the grounds toward Hagrid's hut.

The four young wizards were on edge, uncertain about the punishment awaiting them.

"Why can't Potter and his crew just scrub toilets?" Malfoy thought to himself, trying to ease his anxiety.

Soon enough, they were handed over to Hagrid by Filch. Harry and the others let out a collective sigh of relief, their expressions easing.

But Malfoy's demeanor turned serious.

"Hagrid, that big oaf, is surely going to get back at me," he thought. "Maybe I'll end up dead by tomorrow."

"Our destination tonight is the Forbidden Forest," Hagrid announced loudly.

Malfoy, deep in thoughts of various frightful scenarios, halted in shock, his face reflecting pure terror.

"The Forbidden Forest is a perfect place to dispose of bodies," he recalled a chilling story Brian had shared about a bizarre, frightening encounter involving an Auror named Holmes, sending shivers down his spine.

"They might take me out and make it look like I was attacked by a dangerous creature," he fretted. "Then they could just dump my body to be found by a ghoul or something."

"No way, I'm not going into that Forbidden Forest," he gritted his teeth. He thought he saw Potter's sinisterly triumphant expression.

"If you want to stay at Hogwarts, you have no choice but to go," Hagrid replied sternly. "You have to deal with the consequences of your actions."

Malfoy envisioned Hagrid's enormous, bloodied grin as he prepared to eat him alive.

But he had to follow Hagrid. Although expulsion from Hogwarts wasn't on the table, he didn't want his father to bail him out. That would be far too embarrassing.

"If I get killed, Brian will definitely uncover who did it," Malfoy reassured himself.

"Alright, tonight's task is quite dangerous, so we must be cautious," Hagrid said, indicating the sparkling blood on the ground. "A unicorn in the Forbidden Forest has sustained serious injuries. I found a dead one last week."

"We'll aim to locate this injured unicorn and provide it with treatment," Hagrid explained.

"What if the entity that harmed the unicorn finds us?" Malfoy asked fearfully. It must have been hunting for him!

"As long as you're with me or my dog, Fang, nothing will harm you," Hagrid assured him. "Now, let's split up and follow the trail of blood."

"I want Fang," Malfoy quickly insisted. Regardless, the intimidating dog seemed preferable, and he didn't want to be caught alone with Hagrid, who seemed to have ulterior motives.

"Alright, but remember, Fang isn't exactly courageous," Hagrid replied nonchalantly.

"I also want Potter," Malfoy grinding his teeth, glaring at Harry, leaving the scrawny wizard bewildered.

Harry sensed Malfoy was concocting something once again, noting his wicked expression.

"What do you think, Harry?" Hagrid asked for his input.

Harry glanced at his friends, steeling himself, and nodded. He couldn't possibly allow Ron or Hermione to end up with Malfoy.

"Fine, if you insist," Hagrid acquiesced, nodding in Malfoy's direction.

Consequently, the group split into two: Hagrid, Hermione, and Ron formed one group, while Malfoy, Harry, and Fang made up the other.

Malfoy exhaled with relief, feeling that being paired with Potter provided a tad more safety. At least Harry's rapport with Hagrid suggested he wouldn't be put in harm's way, and if danger arose, there would be a hostage or a diversion.

This was all thanks to lessons from Brian; he never anticipated they would come in handy one day.

Harry looked reluctant but had no choice but to follow Malfoy, grimacing as he gripped his wand tightly, remaining alert for any cunning tricks.

The three of them trailed the bloodstains, and Malfoy, glancing at the dark and foreboding surroundings and hearing the eerie howls coming from deeper inside, instinctively drew closer to Fang.

Observing Harry's unchanging expression, he also managed to suppress his fear—he couldn't show weakness in front of Potter.

They ventured deeper into the Forbidden Forest, where the trees thickened, and something flickered in the distance.

...

Brian and Quirrell realized that a warning signal had been triggered.

Quirrell's face lit up with excitement as he urged Brian along, gliding towards their destination.

The injured unicorn bent to graze on the herbs, occasionally lifting its head to watch warily. When it spotted the duo approaching swiftly, it attempted to flee, limping painfully on its hurt leg.

Quirrell hurled several spells its way, but the unicorn eluded them with remarkable agility, causing its wound to reopen. In a desperate bid for survival, it summoned its full strength.

Quirrell shrugged Brian off and pursued the unicorn like a ravenous bat, casting spells that illuminated their surroundings.

The unicorn's movements grew increasingly sluggish, blood pouring from its injury and splattering like glistening waves. It emitted a soft whimper, its pure and clear eyes reflecting despair and sorrow.

Brian quietly concealed himself behind a tree, observing the scene. Then suddenly, he seemed to hear barking as something hurried towards them.

Could it be Fang's group? That indicated Hagrid wasn't nearby... they had arrived too soon. Brian frowned. If someone interrupted Quirrell's chase, the enraged wizard would undoubtedly unleash spells to tear them apart.

Brian donned his invisibility cloak. He continued to watch the unfolding struggle, battling within himself for a long while before raising his wand and aiming at the rapidly dodging unicorn.

"Impedimenta ubique!" he whispered.

As the unicorn dashed to evade, it appeared to collide with an invisible barrier, hindering its escape from the follow-up spell.

It collapsed to the ground, a green light swiftly striking it.

It was lifeless.

Brian pressed his lips together, weakly leaning against the tree, bowing his head and gripping his wand tightly.

"Woof! Woof!"

Fang peeked out from the underbrush, barking towards Quirrell's direction. Quirrell shot the dog a fierce glare, prompting it to whimper and scuttle away.

Fortunately, Brian had used a scent-eliminating potion, so he was not worried about Fang recognizing him.

Then the bush rustled again, and Harry cautiously emerged, followed closely by Malfoy.

"No…" Harry uttered, staring at the pure white figure sprawled lifelessly on the ground—a sight of tragic beauty.

He took a step forward, and Malfoy stood frozen in shock.

Quirrell disregarded Harry and Malfoy and lunged from the shadows like a predatory bat, greedily lapping up the unicorn's blood.

"Ah ah ah ah ah—" Malfoy screamed, his voice cracking as he scrambled backward, tripping over branches in haste. But he quickly got to his feet and stumbled away again.

"Poor kid, he'll likely be left with lasting psychological scars," Brian mused to himself, following in the direction Malfoy had fled.

Harry, terrified, sank to the ground, his scar flaring up in pain.

After finishing his grisly feast, Quirrell lifted his gaze and spotted Harry, a chilling smile creeping across his lips beneath his hood.

He quickly closed the distance to Harry.

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