The moon hung high in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over the Forbidden Forest as Toji dashed through the shadows. His Invisibility Cloak fluttered in the wind as he moved silently, darting between trees with an almost reckless glee. The wind whipped against his face, but his eyes gleamed with excitement. Tonight was the night for a good fight, and he could feel it in the air.
He hadn't been in the Forbidden Forest long, but already he had encountered giant spiders, wolves, and other strange creatures, all of which had fallen under the might of his fists and spells. With every punch, every creature felled, Toji's grin grew wider. The thrill of combat was intoxicating, each strike satisfying something primal within him.
Toji paused for a moment, listening to the faint sounds of the forest. The rustle of leaves, the distant howls of creatures on the prowl. He sensed movement nearby and immediately turned in the direction of the disturbance.
A Unicorn—a majestic, silver-white creature—was limping through a small clearing, blood trailing from a wound on its side. Standing over it was a dark figure, hooded and cloaked, his hand outstretched towards the Unicorn. It was clear what the figure was attempting: to kill the creature and drain its blood.
With a surge of anger, Toji dashed forward, his cloak fluttering off him as he kicked the dark figure with immense force, sending him flying across the clearing. The dark figure crashed into a tree with a sickening thud, crumpling to the ground. Toji stood between the Unicorn and the attacker, his fists clenched and his smile wicked.
"Not on my watch," he muttered.
The Unicorn backed away in fear, its large eyes wide with pain. Toji turned to it, his expression softening. With careful steps, he approached the injured creature. His hand glowed with a faint green light, a healing charm he had mastered in secret. The Unicorn winced as the light touched its wound, but slowly the bleeding stopped, and the skin began to knit itself back together.
The creature let out a soft, relieved whinny, nuzzling its head against Toji's shoulder. As he petted its sleek mane, a memory flashed in his mind.
Flashback.
A few nights ago, Toji had encountered a group of Acromantulas, the giant spiders that inhabited the deeper parts of the Forbidden Forest. At first, it had been a mere curiosity, but as soon as the largest spider lunged at him, he knew this would be a fight to remember.
Dodging its massive legs, he had summoned his magic, sending waves of force at the beasts. His fists pummeled through their thick exoskeletons, sending cracks along their armored bodies. The spiders hissed and screeched, but Toji had smiled—the bigger the challenge, the better.
With each punch, his heart raced with exhilaration. It was as if he could feel his own strength increasing with every blow, every creature he defeated. By the end of the fight, the clearing was littered with twitching spider legs, and Toji stood victorious, barely winded, eager for more.
Back to the present, he shook his head, grinning as the flashback faded. His hand continued to move gently over the Unicorn's neck. "You're safe now," he whispered.
Suddenly, he heard movement from behind. The figure he had kicked away had risen to his feet, clutching his side. Toji narrowed his eyes. This time, he had a clearer view of the figure's face—it was Professor Quirrell, though his features seemed twisted and darkened, as though something malevolent had taken control of him.
Voldemort's POV:
Rage pulsed through Lord Voldemort, who had been inhabiting the body of this weak, cowardly fool of a professor for far too long. He had ventured into the forest that night, seeking the blood of a Unicorn to strengthen his decaying form, but that plan had been violently interrupted by a boy—a mere child.
The force of the kick had knocked the breath from his host's body. Now, as he rose, Voldemort's anger boiled over. He could feel his power returning, but being drop-kicked away like some common fool had stoked his fury beyond measure. He had not anticipated interference—especially from a student.
"Who dares..." Voldemort hissed through Quirrell's lips, his voice trembling with rage. "Who dares interfere with the Dark Lord?"
The boy turned to face him again, his eyes filled with amusement. He didn't answer, didn't even acknowledge the question, as though Voldemort's presence was nothing but an annoyance to him. That infuriated the Dark Lord even more. Voldemort gathered his magic, intending to strike the boy down with all the power he could muster through this feeble body.
Back to Toji:
Toji watched as Quirrell, or whoever controlled him, gathered magic in his hands. The dark energy crackled through the air, but Toji barely batted an eye.
"Pathetic," he muttered.
In a flash, Toji was on him again. This time, he didn't hold back. One punch to the gut sent Quirrell sprawling to the ground, gasping for air. Toji shook his head in disgust, wondering how such a weak creature could be considered a threat.
Before he could finish the job, though, the dark figure vanished into thin air—fleeing with a swirl of black smoke. Toji frowned, his momentary disappointment replaced by a smirk. The night was still young, and there would be more battles to come.
Satisfied that the threat was gone, Toji turned his attention back to the Unicorn, who had calmed under his touch. He gently guided the creature through the forest, making sure it was stable on its feet.
As they made their way deeper into the woods, a group of Centaurs emerged from the shadows, their bows drawn but their expressions cautious. The leader, Firenze, approached, his eyes narrowing at the sight of Toji and the Unicorn.
"Who are you, boy, that you wander these woods so boldly?" Firenze asked, his voice low and measured.
Toji met his gaze without fear. "Just someone who likes a good fight." He gestured to the Unicorn. "Your friend was in trouble. I made sure it's alright."
Firenze studied him for a moment before nodding slowly. "You have done well to aid the Unicorn. We do not usually trust humans, but you have shown honor. You are welcome in our forest, for now."
Toji smirked. "Good to know."
After ensuring the Unicorn was safely returned to its herd, Toji bid farewell to the Centaurs, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment. Not only had he fought well, but he had made unexpected allies.
Later that night, back in the Slytherin dormitory, Toji lay in his bed, the adrenaline from the evening still coursing through him. He closed his eyes, a satisfied grin tugging at his lips as he replayed the events in his mind.
The feeling of his fist connecting with creatures, the look of shock on that dark figure's face, and the thrill of the chase. It had been an exhilarating night.
As sleep began to take hold, he couldn't help but think of the fights that lay ahead—the Forbidden Forest was only the beginning, and Toji knew there were greater challenges waiting for him. He would be ready, and with a bit of luck, there would be more powerful creatures to face, more worthy adversaries.
For now, though, he would rest—dreaming of the battles yet to come, and the strength he had yet to uncover.