Hogwarts: From Little Wizard to White Lord

"Look over there, that's a Bowtruckle. Don't underestimate these little creatures. They may be shy and gentle most of the time, but they're fiercely protective of their homes the trees they live in."

"Anyone who tries to disturb their tree is in for trouble. Have you seen their tiny claws? Nasty little things they'll go for the eyes first."

Peter and Hagrid crouched behind a tree, watching from a distance.

Their eyes were fixed on a Guardian Tree, a magical plant said to ward off dark creatures and serve as excellent wand wood. Several twig-like creatures small, animated figures with limbs like brittle branches climbed playfully over the trunk and branches. These were the Bowtruckles.

"But they're not hard to handle," Hagrid whispered. "They love insects. Catch a few and give 'em a snack, and they'll warm up to you. Sometimes they'll even offer a branch from the Guardian Tree in return."

"Every year when Ollivander comes to gather wand materials, that's exactly what I do. Oh you might not know, but Hogwarts has a partnership with Ollivander's. He buys unicorn hair and wand wood from us at a reduced price. Most of the time, I'm the one collecting them. In return, he gives incoming first-years a fifty percent discount on their wands."

As they chatted, the two of them had already wandered quite far into the Forbidden Forest.

With every magical creature they encountered, Hagrid grew more relaxed. The formality he'd shown earlier had faded entirely, and now he spoke with the ease of an old friend.

And truthfully, Hagrid did know a great deal about magical beasts.

Along the way, he led Peter to see fairies, wood elves, and even a colony of furry freshwater crabs. At one point, near a mossy hillock, they stumbled across a family of Mooncalves.

These odd little creatures had oversized eyes and lopsided heads, giving them a goofy, lovable appearance. True to their look, they were as gentle as could be.

A few of the young ones waddled over, swinging their short legs, and sniffed curiously at Peter's shoes.

Hagrid, delighted, collected some of their droppings.

He explained that Mooncalf dung made an incredibly potent fertilizer. Sprinkle it over a pumpkin patch and you'd get massive, hearty pumpkins.

"It's too late for this year's harvest. My pumpkins are already ripening, just in time to go golden for Halloween," Hagrid said. "But next year, Peter you'll be eating pumpkins raised on prime Mooncalf dung!"

Peter winced. Somehow, a completely ordinary act of fertilizing had been made to sound rather revolting.

"By the way, Hagrid," he asked, trying to change the subject, "has the Forbidden Forest been pretty calm lately?"

After they'd spent a while observing the Bowtruckles, the two had resumed their walk. Peter posed the question casually, almost in passing.

"What makes you ask?" Hagrid rubbed his chin. "If you're asking about students sneaking in, your brothers Fred and George are always stirring up trouble in here. So from that point of view nope, not peaceful at all."

"I'll have a word with them," Peter promised with a laugh. "But I meant more along the lines of the magical creatures. Any signs they've been injured or disturbed? If so, I might be able to help I've got some potions that could do them good."

"You're such a kind lad, Peter."

Hagrid's voice grew a little husky with emotion. "Not many folks offer to help like that... To be honest, the unicorns haven't been doing too well lately."

Peter's expression sharpened with interest. "Really? What's been going on?"

Hagrid sighed, shaking his head. "I wish I knew. The centaurs were the ones who told me they said unicorns had been attacked. But you know how they are. Always going on about the stars and signs. You can't get a straight answer out of them."

"I've come across a few unicorns with injuries myself. Tried to help, but they were too wary, wouldn't let me close. I've been searching for a clue for days and still haven't figured out what's happening."

Peter listened quietly, his eyes calm and thoughtful.

It seemed Peter's suspicions were right.

Whoever was behind it very likely the man they called "Socket Man" might have already started secretly collecting unicorn blood.

He looked up at the sky. Through the cracks in the treetop canopy, strands of evening light filtered down. Judging by the angle of the sun, it was still early in the evening.

Peter turned to Hagrid and asked, "Could you take me to where you last saw one? I'd like to see it for myself."

Hagrid didn't think twice about the request. Carefree as always, he had a habit of brushing off danger with his usual good-natured confidence. Just like earlier, he'd warned Peter about the risks of the Forbidden Forest, only to walk him straight into it without hesitation.

"Alright, come on then this way... Fang! Don't worry, Turner won't smack you again, you big coward. Now hurry up and clear the path!"

More than two hours later.

Hagrid led Peter to a clearing deep within the forest a rare open patch where beams of golden light poured down freely.

With no towering trees blocking the sun, low shrubs and berry-laden bushes thrived here.

"Cleared this spot out myself, more than ten years ago," Hagrid said proudly. "Unicorns love berries, so I planted a few bushes. They've been hanging around here ever since."

He waved his pink umbrella to scatter a few chattering fairies that had been hovering over the berry bushes, then led Peter to the center of the clearing.

"A week ago, I saw a unicorn here," Hagrid said. "Its leg was hurt. Look there still some blood left behind."

He pointed to a patch of soil beneath their feet, faintly stained a dark indigo.

Peter crouched down for a closer look.

Fresh unicorn blood had a silvery-blue hue, shimmering like mercury and brimming with magical energy. But after lying here for a week, exposed to wind and sun, its color had dulled and shifted.

Hagrid noticed Peter's focused expression and chuckled.

"Don't worry too much, Peter. Unicorns get hurt now and then it's not uncommon. This is the Forbidden Forest, after all. All the creatures in here are part of a natural food chain. It might've wandered into werewolf territory or been ambushed by something nasty. Nothing too unusual."

Peter didn't answer.

He stared at the dried patch of blood, not touching it, only watching in silence. Then, slowly, he raised his wand.

"Reveal the truth!"

It wasn't a particularly complex spell, but Peter's intent to uncover the hidden truth paired with the natural magic still lingering in the soil gave the incantation added strength.

His wand glowed, and the tip released a soft pulse that struck the indigo earth.

At first, a pale white light emerged gentle and pure like moonlight. Even just seeing it, one could sense something sacred.

It was the residual magic of unicorn blood.

Faint now, but unmistakable. The energy had naturally begun to dissipate.

Then, unexpectedly, wisps of gray mist drifted out from the fading white glow.

The gray mist twined around the faint white light like rot clinging to bone. It slowly corroded and pierced the light, polluting what had once been pure and sacred.

Peter could almost smell the foulness rising from it a stench of decay and death that made his stomach churn.

"Dark magic..."

His eyes narrowed.

Though still a student, Peter was no longer a stranger to the darker arts. While Introduction to Dark Magic hadn't taught him any powerful spells, it had given him a solid foundation in understanding this ominous force.

He recognized its traces instantly.

"What's that?"

Hagrid's voice echoed from behind him.

Clearly, he hadn't noticed the magic at all. When it came to the Dark Arts, Hagrid was a novice through and through.

Just then, a translucent panel appeared before Peter's eyes.

[Side Quest Activated]

[Side Quest ②: Save the Forbidden Forest's Unicorn]

[Reward: Random Fantastic Beasts Language Pack]

Peter stared at the task notification and paused.

Then, quite suddenly, he felt a laugh bubbling up in his chest.

Tom... oh, Tom.

Even the system's tasks were guiding him toward you. So if trouble comes your way, don't blame me.

He turned to Hagrid and said calmly, "It's nothing."

Peter shook his head, then reached into the small satchel slung over his shoulder. Enchanted with a Traceless Extension Charm, it carried far more than its size suggested.

He pulled out a small empty vial, carefully scooped up some of the tainted soil, and sealed it tightly.

"Let's head back, Hagrid. I think it's time I paid a visit to Headmaster Dumbledore."