The castle loomed behind us, its warm, torch-lit corridors a distant comfort as we stood on the darkened grounds. The full moon cast eerie shadows across the grass, stretching long and jagged like claws reaching for us. A cool wind rustled through the trees, and I pulled my cloak tighter around myself.
Professor McGonagall had left us in Filch's clutches, and now, the old caretaker was leading us across the lawn toward Hagrid's hut with his usual sneering satisfaction.
"Outside," Draco muttered under his breath. "We're being punished outside."
Ron, walking beside me, snorted. "Careful, Malfoy, wouldn't want you getting your expensive shoes dirty."
Draco shot him a glare, but for once, he didn't have a retort ready.
Filch's lantern swayed as he hobbled forward, his voice dripping with nostalgic bitterness. "Ah, if only detentions were like the good old days… Shackles in the dungeons, real discipline. You lot have it too easy. What's a little time in the Forbidden Forest? Might even do you some good—if you survive."
Draco paled. "Survive?"
Ron grinned. "Yeah, Malfoy, didn't they tell you? We're being fed to the acromantulas."
Draco's face drained of color. "You're joking."
I kept quiet, trying to push down the unease curling in my stomach. Unlike Malfoy, my fear wasn't of giant spiders or the dark unknowns of the forest—it was the very real possibility that Voldemort was in there. Hunting. Growing stronger.
I couldn't say anything, though. Not yet.
Up ahead, Hagrid stood waiting, his massive form barely visible against the darkness of the trees. As we got closer, the light from Filch's lantern illuminated his worried expression. He wasn't his usual, cheerful self—no warm greetings, no jokes about Fang slobbering on us.
Something was definitely wrong.
"Here they are," Filch said with a twisted grin. "All yours, Hagrid. Hope none of 'em get eaten."
Draco let out a strangled noise, but before he could protest, Filch turned and hobbled back toward the castle, chuckling to himself.
Hagrid sighed. "Ignore 'im. He loves scarin' students."
"Scaring students is one thing," Draco snapped. "Sending us into the Forbidden Forest is another!"
Ron rolled his eyes. "What's the matter, Malfoy? Afraid of a little walk in the dark?"
Draco straightened, his expression haughty. "I just don't see why I have to be here at all."
"Because yeh got caught same as the rest of 'em," Hagrid said, hoisting a large crossbow onto his shoulder. "Now listen up. Somethin's been attackin' unicorns in the forest. Found one dead last week. Found another one injured tonight."
I stiffened.
Ron and Hermione frowned, exchanging a concerned glance. Rose shifted beside me, arms crossed.
Draco scoffed. "So? What's that got to do with us?"
Hagrid gave him a look. "We're gonna go in an' see if we can find the wounded one. Try an' help it."
Draco looked ready to explode. "That's mental! There's something killing unicorns, and you want us to walk right into it?"
Hagrid shrugged. "Forest is safe enough—long as yeh don't go wanderin' off alone."
I highly doubted that.
My fingers twitched at my side, heat buzzing beneath my skin as if my magic was reacting to the danger I already knew was inside. Voldemort. He was here. And we were heading straight toward him.
Rose must have sensed something because she nudged me. "Ethan? You alright?"
I forced a nod. "Yeah. Just… surprised, that's all."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't press the issue.
Hagrid pointed toward the treeline. "Alright, we're splittin' up. Ron, Hermione, yeh come with me. We'll go one way. Ethan, Rose, Malfoy—you lot take the other path."
Draco let out an audible gasp. "I have to go with them?"
"Unless yeh fancy walkin' through the forest alone," Hagrid said dryly.
Draco shut his mouth.
Ron smirked. "Enjoy, Malfoy. Try not to cry too loudly, you'll scare the unicorns."
"Shut up, Weasley," Draco hissed, looking absolutely miserable.
"We should take Fang," Draco suddenly said, glancing at the large boarhound beside Hagrid. "He'll make sure nothing sneaks up on us."
Hagrid chuckled. "Fang's a coward, but sure. He'll go with you."
Draco immediately latched onto Fang's collar like a lifeline. "Good. He's coming with me."
"You mean with us," Rose corrected.
Draco ignored her, looking slightly more at ease now that he had a massive (albeit cowardly) dog with him.
Hagrid turned to me. "Ethan, Rose—you keep an eye on 'im. If yeh find anythin', send up green sparks with yer wand."
I nodded, but inside, I was tense.
I didn't want to be separated from Hagrid. Not tonight.
Not when I knew what was out there.
Into the Forbidden Forest
The moment we stepped past the tree line, the sounds of the castle and the open grounds faded away, swallowed by the thick, looming darkness of the Forbidden Forest.
It was like stepping into another world. The air was damp, thick with the scent of moss and earth. Leaves crunched softly under our boots, and unseen creatures rustled in the undergrowth.
Draco was already on edge. "This is insane," he muttered. "This is absolute—"
Rose silenced him with a sharp look. "Keep your voice down. If something's out here, we don't want to attract it."
Draco crossed his arms. "Like whispering is going to save us if something tries to eat us."
I barely heard them. My mind was racing.
If Voldemort was out here, in whatever form he had taken, then I needed to be ready. He had already killed a unicorn—probably drained its blood to stay alive. And now he was after another one.
The thought made my stomach turn.
What if we found him? What if I saw him?
I clenched my fists, trying to push the thought away.
Stay calm. Stay focused.
Fang whined, his ears twitching as he pressed against Draco's leg. The Slytherin stiffened. "Why is he doing that? Why is he whining?"
Rose sighed. "Because you're strangling his collar."
Draco immediately loosened his grip, but his shoulders remained tense. "I don't like this. I don't like this at all."
Rose smirked. "And here I thought you loved breaking the rules, Malfoy."
"Not when it involves potential death!" Draco shot back.
Before Rose could respond, a sharp crack echoed through the trees.
We all froze.
Draco inhaled sharply. "What was that?"
I strained my ears. The sound had come from ahead, deeper into the trees. Something had moved.
Something big.
My heart pounded.
Was it Voldemort? Or something else?
Rose met my eyes, her expression guarded. "Ethan?"
I exhaled slowly. "Let's keep moving."
Draco let out a strangled noise. "What? No! That's the opposite of what we should do!"
Rose ignored him and took the lead. I followed, every step tense.
Something was out there.
And we were walking right toward it.
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