At the Forbidden Forest entrance, Augustus and the group waited as Hagrid emerged from the shadows, Fang padding along at his side. Hagrid carried a massive crossbow slung over his shoulder, along with a quiver full of arrows.
"'Bout time," he grumbled. "I've been waitin' here for half an hour. How are yeh, Harry, Hermione?"
"You shouldn't be so friendly with them, Hagrid," Filch interjected icily. "They're here to be punished, after all."
"Is that why yer late?" Hagrid shot back with a scowl. "Busy lecturin' them, were yeh? This isn't yer place to punish anyone, Filch. That's done. They're under my watch now."
"I'll return at dawn," Filch replied grimly, glaring at the students. "Hopefully, with Augustus here to protect you lot, I won't be collecting your remains." His lantern swayed as he stomped off, its glow fading into the distance.
"Alright," Hagrid said, scanning the group once Filch was out of earshot. "Listen up. Tonight's task is dangerous. I don't want anyone gettin' hurt. Follow me."
He led them to the edge of the forest, holding up his lantern to illuminate a narrow, winding path that disappeared into the blackness of the trees. A faint breeze rustled their hair as they peered into the shadows.
"Look there," Hagrid said, pointing to the ground. "See that shiny stuff? Silvery white? That's unicorn blood. Somethin' in this forest attacked a unicorn—hurt it bad. This is the second one this week. Found a dead one last Wednesday. We need to find it and put it out of its misery."
"Unicorns?" Augustus raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his otherwise calm face. "A fully grown unicorn's magic rivals that of three or four adult wizards. Do you expect these first-years to face something capable of killing one?"
"I know it's dangerous," Hagrid admitted, waving a hand dismissively. "But I'm not askin' them to deal with whatever's done it. They're just here to look for clues."
"Regardless of your plans," Malfoy interrupted, his voice trembling slightly, "I'll be sticking with Augustus."
Hagrid paused, then nodded. "Alright. Harry, Malfoy, and Augustus will go one way. I'll take Hermione and Neville the other. If anyone finds the unicorn, send up green sparks. If there's trouble, send red sparks, and we'll come runnin'. Be careful now. Let's go."
The forest was dense and eerily silent as they walked. Occasionally, moonlight filtered through the branches, illuminating patches of silvery-blue blood on the fallen leaves.
"Could a werewolf have done this?" Harry asked, glancing at Augustus.
"Werewolves couldn't catch a unicorn," Augustus replied calmly. "Unicorns are near the top of the food chain. Few creatures can hunt them alone." He paused. "To attack one is to defy the natural order - a direct affront to all that is pure and sacred."
"Who cares what did it?" Malfoy scoffed nervously. "Didn't you hear Hagrid? We're just here to look for clues."
They pressed on, deeper into the forest. The trees grew closer together, and the path all but disappeared. Blood trails thickened on the ground, spattered across roots and leaves. Finally, through a tangled web of branches, Harry spotted a clearing ahead.
"Stop!" Augustus's hand shot out, halting Harry and Malfoy. His usually composed face was now etched with an unfamiliar severity. Harry's stomach twisted - he had never seen Augustus look so grim.
Before them, a gleaming white form lay on the ground. A unicorn. It was dead. Its legs sprawled unnaturally, and its silvery mane was splayed across the dark forest floor like a cascade of pearls.
Augustus barely spared it a glance. His gaze was locked on a shadowy spot at the edge of the clearing. Malfoy followed his line of sight but saw nothing but impenetrable darkness.
"Come out," Augustus commanded, his voice low and steady. "Hiding serves no purpose."
His silver eyes gleamed, and a faint tension crackled in the air. From the underbrush, something moved. Slowly, a hooded figure stepped into the clearing.
The atmosphere grew oppressive as an unnatural darkness blanketed the area. Even the unicorn's luminous body offered no relief. The figure stood still, radiating an ominous presence that seemed to compress the air itself.
Under its unseen gaze, Malfoy's breath hitched. His pale face drained of what little color remained, and a cold, primal fear gripped him. For Harry, it was worse - a sharp, searing pain exploded across his scar, like a fire igniting deep within his skull.
Augustus stood unmoving amidst the suffocating blackness. Around him, faint embers of light began to flicker-tiny, fiery sparks that danced in the gloom like stars piercing a dark shroud. Red and gold flared against the encroaching void, a defiant light standing against the abyss.
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