Morning started like any other. Hermione, Harry, and Ron came down for breakfast, chatting about their upcoming classes and the fast-approaching exams. The incident on the roof of the Astronomy Tower was starting to fade into the background, and they mentioned it less and less in their conversations. Hermione had already taken her potion and felt her strength returning. She was filled with happiness—life felt good again. But all good things end. And, usually, a lot faster than the bad ones…
At breakfast, Hermione received a note. Harry and Neville got the same one. A feeling of unease hit her as she opened it and saw the neat, precise handwriting:
Your detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight. Meet Mr. Filch in the Entrance Hall.
Prof. M. McGonagall.
The day of reckoning had come. The punishment that strict but fair Professor McGonagall had announced after their nighttime outing was happening today. Deep down, Hermione had hoped their Head of House might ease up after the incident with Honeydew and cancel it—or maybe just forget about it. But no such luck. Now she couldn't stop wondering what the punishment might be and why it was happening at night.
"Normally, we're not even allowed to leave the common room at this time," Hermione said, frowning as she walked to class with Harry. "It's so weird! If the letter wasn't from McGonagall, I'd think it was another one of Malfoy's pranks."
Harry nodded in agreement. Most of Hermione's comments were rhetorical and didn't need a response. Meanwhile, she pulled out the note again, reading it over, looking for any hidden meaning or clue about their punishment. Finding nothing, she flipped it over to check if there was anything written on the back. Then she even held it up to the window, hoping to see something by shining light through it.
"Do you think there's a secret message?" Harry smirked. "Maybe a hidden map?"
"No, but it's still strange," Hermione said, ignoring his joke as she put the note away. "Anyway, we'll have to work harder tonight to finish all the studying before eleven," she added.
Harry stopped in surprise. Detention was bad enough, and now harder studying too? His face said it all. But Hermione had already walked ahead, and, biting back a curse, he followed after her.
At the appointed time, Hermione, Harry, and Neville arrived at the castle entrance. Malfoy, who had also been punished by the professor, and Filch were already waiting. Filch's eyes gleamed with spiteful satisfaction when he saw the three Gryffindors approach.
"Follow me," he said, clearly pleased with himself, and they all headed outside.
To their surprise, Filch told them they'd be serving their detention in the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid. Hermione heard Malfoy complaining and Neville muttering nervously, but she wasn't paying attention. The thought of going into the Forbidden Forest made her break out in a cold sweat. Her last trip there with Harry and Ron had been to retrieve unicorn milk, and ever since, she had done everything she could to avoid getting close to the place. Her encounter with pale-faced Thomas had almost ended in disaster, and now the memory filled her with overwhelming fear. She started trembling, and her heart was pounding.
Harry, sensing Hermione's tension, immediately figured out what was bothering her and whispered:
"Don't worry. We'll be in the forest with Hagrid. He handled Thomas last time, and he'll handle him again if it comes to that…"
Hermione nodded but didn't say anything. Her face was as white as chalk, like she'd turned into a ghost. Seeing how shaken she was, Harry took her hand and added:
"Besides, Nightshade doesn't need anything from you anymore. You don't have the amulet. Why would he chase after you now?"
"Honeydew... he escaped... he'll want revenge..." Hermione stammered.
Harry frowned, thinking over her words. There was some truth to them, and they really did need to be more careful. Just then, Filch turned around and snapped at them:
"What are you whispering about? Planning to sneak off again?" He gave them a suspicious look, then focused on Hermione. His face broke into a nasty smile.
"Ahhh… scared, are you? Don't worry, this is just the beginning. Wait until you're in the forest…" His eyes gleamed as he hurried ahead toward Hagrid's hut, rubbing his hands with glee.
"What a jerk!" Harry muttered, narrowing his eyes.
Hermione walked on silently, caught up in her anxious thoughts. Finally, Filch led them to Hagrid, taking malicious pleasure in the moment, especially when he glanced at Hermione, and then left.
Suddenly, Malfoy said, "I'm not going into that Forest."
For the first time, Hermione agreed with Draco and almost joined him in protest, but right then, Hagrid answered gruffly, "Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts. Yeh've done wrong an' now yeh've got ter pay fer it."
Hermione knew Hagrid was right, but she really didn't want to go into the forest. She had a bad feeling about it. Usually, she didn't believe in superstitions or predictions, but this time, her gut kept telling her that nothing good would come of it. Malfoy tried to argue with Hagrid, but he quickly shut him down. In the end, Hermione decided it was better to stay quiet.
Hagrid led them toward the dark forest ahead. He was holding a lamp, which lit up only a small area around them, but beyond that circle of light was complete darkness. Hermione walked toward the forest on stiff legs. She had no idea what they could possibly accomplish in such darkness, but images of the dangers waiting inside kept popping into her mind. Strangely, she found herself picturing Casper attacking her far more often than Thomas.
Entertaining herself with imagined horrors, Hermione didn't even notice when Hagrid led them to a path leading into the forest. She only realized it when he pointed to it and quietly said:
"See that stuff shinin' on the ground? Silvery stuff? That's unicorn blood. There's a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat." Hagrid sighed. "This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday," his voice shook a little. "We're gonna try an' find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery."
Hagrid looked grim and quickly turned away from them. Hermione thought she saw him wipe away a tear. Her heart started racing. 'Could this be connected to Starry and Baby?' she thought, feeling anxious. 'No way!' But it very well could be. She'd never heard Hagrid mention other unicorns living in the forest. And the path he pointed to led straight to their hideout.
Meanwhile, Hagrid split them into two groups:
"So me, Harry an' Hermione'll go one way an' Draco, Neville an' Fang'll go the other. Now, if anyone of us finds the unicorn, we'll send up green sparks, right?" Hagrid said. "An' if anyone's gets in trouble, send up red sparks, an' we'll all come an' find yeh," he told Draco and Neville.
After agreeing on the signals, they split up and went deeper into the forest. Without even realizing it, Hermione moved closer to Hagrid, almost sticking by his side, seeking protection. Fear started pressing down on her again, and her nerves were stretched to the limit.
"Yeh scared?" Hagrid asked, noticing her worry, his eyes full of understanding. "'Cause o' the pale-faced one? Or jus' in general?"
"Because of the pale-faced one," Hermione whispered. For some reason, she was afraid to speak louder in the Forbidden Forest.
"Don' yeh worry," Hagrid said, trying to calm her. "I won' leave yer side, not fer a second. An' if anythin' happens, I'll jus'…" He made a gesture like he was snapping an imaginary enemy's neck.
Hermione smiled a little, feeling slightly guilty. She was really grateful for Hagrid's support but knew she couldn't just think about herself right now. Something bad was going on in the Forbidden Forest...
"Hagrid," Harry suddenly spoke up, "those unicorns… the ones we're looking for… are they… " He trailed off, not knowing how to finish, but Hagrid already understood. Sniffling, he said:
"Yeah... it's Starry an' Baby." Hagrid hung his head, like he was remembering what he saw. Then, with a heavy voice, he went on, "Starry's... dead, an' Baby got away, but I dunno how long he'll last..." His voice cracked, and he kept walking, staring gloomily ahead, sniffling.
After a minute, he continued: "Went ter see 'em like I always do. Brought Starry a lily... jus' 'cause… yeh know..." He sighed heavily. "But she was gone... Who needs them lilies now, eh?"
Hagrid went quiet, and they kept walking in silence. Hermione watched the patches of unicorn blood they passed. She remembered the warmth and happiness that surrounded Starry, and tears quietly rolled down her cheeks. 'Starry saved my life, but now she died... Who could do something like that?' Hermione thought, silently mourning her friend.
As if reading her thoughts, Harry suggested, "Could a werewolf be killing the unicorns?"
"Not fast enough," Hagrid waved it off. "It's not easy ter catch a unicorn, they're powerful magic creatures. I never knew one ter be hurt before."
"Do you think it could be the same people," Hermione asked quietly, wiping away her tears, "who tortured her in the park near my house?"
"Maybe…" Hagrid shrugged and went silent again. It seemed he didn't want to talk about it.
The forest was getting darker and more threatening. Thoughts of Starry had distracted Hermione from Nightshade and Honeydew for a while, but the deeper darkness, mixed with the strange sounds and rustling trees, made her anxious again. She shivered, nervously scanning the night around her. Hagrid's presence was reassuring, but still… could he handle the pale-faced one again?
"You all right, Hermione?" Hagrid whispered, noticing her worry. "Don' worry, it can't've gone far if it's this badly hurt," Hagrid said, thinking she was worried about Baby, "an' then we'll be able ter... GET BEHIND THAT TREE!"
Hagrid shoved Harry and Hermione behind a tall oak, then pulled out an arrow and drew his bow. From the forest came a strange rustling sound, like someone dragging a cloth across the ground. Hermione, already on edge, leaned against the tree, trying to pull herself together. Hagrid's sudden shout, cutting through her dark thoughts, scared her more than the noise from the forest. As they stood there in silence, listening, she managed to catch her breath and calm down a bit. The sound faded, and they moved on.
"I knew it," Hagrid muttered, putting the bow and arrow away. "There's summat in here that shouldn' be."
They kept walking, but suddenly saw a burst of red sparks. Hagrid immediately rushed off to help Draco and Neville, telling Hermione and Harry to stay put. 'So much for not leaving me alone...' Hermione thought. Her heart tightened with fear. It was one thing to walk through the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid, but being left here alone with Harry was another. From past experience, she knew the two of them wouldn't stand a chance if the pale-faced one showed up. Still, she tried to keep her panic under control and asked Harry:
"You don't think they've been hurt, do you?"
"I don't care if Malfoy has," Harry said casually, "but if something's got Neville…" he sighed. "It's our fault he's here in the first place."
Hermione stayed quiet. She didn't entirely agree with Harry. As unpleasant as Draco was, she didn't wish him any harm. After what happened with Honeydew, she had something to compare it to. At least Malfoy didn't pretend to be her friend…
Hagrid soon came back with their classmates and Fang. It turned out Draco had scared Neville, and Neville had shot sparks into the sky. Hagrid was furious with Malfoy for that. "Arrogant fool!" Hermione overheard him mutter, and she agreed completely.
Grumbling a little more, Hagrid decided to switch up the groups. Neville stayed with him and Hermione, while Harry went off with Malfoy and Fang. Hagrid figured Draco wouldn't scare Harry as easily as he scared Neville, and if anything happened, Harry could defend himself.
"Did you find anything?" Neville asked quietly as they followed Hagrid down the path.
"No, but we heard something strange, like rustling nearby," Hermione whispered back.
That was enough to make Neville's already wide eyes, still large from Malfoy's prank, grow even wider. He started looking around nervously, holding his wand out in front of him. Hermione stepped aside a little and asked:
"Are you going to cast a spell? What spell?"
"I'm not…" Neville mumbled, blushing as he lowered his wand. "You probably think it's funny watching me, but… I get it, you know way more than I do."
"Neville, that's not what I meant!" Hermione interrupted him, realizing he took her question the wrong way. "I was just curious; I wasn't trying to make fun of you."
"Yeah… okay… whatever…" Neville mumbled, clearly not convinced, but he didn't take his wand out again.
Hermione felt even more guilty. Neville was already in detention because of them, and he was probably still mad at them. And now, here she was with her stupid questions... Just then, a scream echoed through the forest, instantly making her forget her guilt. This time, it sounded like Draco.
Hagrid, Hermione, and Neville ran toward the scream, and after a couple of minutes, they saw Malfoy running toward them. Harry was nowhere to be seen. Hagrid stopped the screaming Slytherin.
"What happened, Draco? Where's Harry at?"
But Malfoy kept yelling, pointing back into the forest. Hermione could suddenly picture some rustling creature bent over Harry, drinking his blood. Forgetting her fear, she bolted in the direction Malfoy was pointing, and Hagrid, without asking more questions, ran after her.
Soon, she saw Harry riding a centaur and shouted:
"Harry! Harry, are you all right?"
"I'm fine," her friend called back. Then, turning to Hagrid, who had just caught up, he added, "The unicorn's dead, Hagrid, it's in that clearing back there."
"Poor Baby," Hermione muttered. Her heart ached with sadness. That innocent creature, born so recently, never even got to experience life in the magical forest.
After calming down a little, Hermione realized just how unusual the situation was — Harry had arrived on a centaur's back. She knew centaurs were intelligent creatures who valued their freedom, so they never let humans ride them. 'The danger must have been so great that they had to put aside their customs and honor...' the thought flashed through her mind. As soon as they started heading back to Hogwarts, she began questioning Harry:
"Harry, what happened in the forest? Why were you riding a centaur?"
"We ran into some kind of creature," Harry began, his voice hoarse from exhaustion. "It was wearing a cloak and a hood, covering its face."
"But what could it have been? Or who?" Hermione asked, her eyes widening in surprise.
"The centaurs said it was Voldemort," Harry said quietly, without emotion.
"Voldemort?" Hermione gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
"Yeah. And now I know why Snape wants the Philosopher's Stone," Harry continued grimly. "He's trying to bring his master back to life."
"What?!" Hermione's eyes widened even more, like they were about to pop out. "But..." she trailed off, not knowing what to say.
"The only thing keeping Snape from the Philosopher's Stone — and, ultimately, from my death — is Fluffy," Harry said in a hopeless tone.