The professor's heavy footsteps echoing down the long corridors emphasized the gravity of the situation. Itachi, head lowered, walked as if not noticing the stares. An awkward silence hung in the air, broken only by the rustle of clothes and the thud of boots.
The Gryffindors and Malfoy, walking beside Itachi, cast strange glances at him. Harry's eyes were filled with incomprehension and slight pity.
Ron, who usually wasn't shy in his expressions, was silent this time, his jaw tightly clenched.
Hermione looked at Itachi with an unreadable expression, as if trying to figure out what he was so interested in.
Malfoy, on the other hand, casting venomous glances at Itachi.
Handing us over to Flitch McGonacle walked away.
Filch, escorted the five intruders towards the Forbidden Forest.
This decision, in Itachi's opinion, was an odd one. The punishment of being sent to the Forbidden Forest was, in fact, even more risky than simply standing at the stove or writing endless essays. Students were forbidden to go to the Forbidden Forest because of the real danger, and now they were being taken there for breaking the rules.
Itachi, unable to stand it, turned to Filch, his voice flat but slightly annoyed:
"Mr. Filch, could you please explain exactly why the Forbidden Forest? It's notoriously dangerous there. It's not the most common punishment."
Filch, muttered, not looking at Itachi and continuing to lead them to the Forbidden Forest:
"Going there WITHOUT an escort is dangerous, Mr. Uchiha. There are all sorts of creatures there that are best not to know about. You all know that. But... you are now being escorted by Hogwarts staff. It's a leniency. It used to be, for offenses like this, they'd tie their thumbs to the dungeon wall for the night. And you, you see, are walking, respectably, with the staff." He fell silent, not dignifying Itachi with a single glance. Filch, as always, assumed his words were understood without further explanation. Itachi, though he realized it was more intimidation than actual clarification, left the thought for further thought. Inside him, in addition to the growing unease, some measure of schadenfreude was beginning to brew. The punishment had been softened, and now instead of a dungeon, it was the Forbidden Forest. How interesting...
Itachi didn't insist. He realized that arguing with Filch was pointless.
Filch finally led the five intruders to Hagrid's hut.
When they reached the threshold, he grinned at Hagrid, who stood sadly by the door.
"There, Hagrid," Filch wheezed, "your assistants have arrived. You may not be discouraged by the dragon. I'll leave them here." With those words, he turned and hurried away, leaving the five students alone with Hagrid.
Hagrid, upon seeing the boys, put on a sad smile.
"Hey, guys. So, what brings you to me?" He looked dejected, and Itachi realized his look had to do with something other than their appearance.
"Professor McGonagall sent us to Filch, who in turn brought us here as punishment," Hermione replied, glancing around Hagrid's hut. - But we don't understand what we're supposed to do here, and what about the dragon?"
Hagrid sighed, scratching his beard.
"Yes, I see. Did you see me with the dragon today? He's going to have to be given away, it seems. Dumbledore has decided to send him to Romania. I'm so worried, I don't know how I'll be without him!"
Itachi, hearing this, frowned. So that dragon on Hagrid's shoulders that he had seen was his own. And that he, it became clear, would be sent to Romania.
It was the same dragon that he and Malfoy had seen, and that it could very well be the reason why the Gryffindors had broken curfew. He began mentally going through all the possible options.
Hagrid, after a brief silence, invited everyone to follow him.
"Well, let's go, lads," he said, and his voice, despite his sad mood, was still kind. - Let's not stand here. Work is work."
He turned around and headed towards the Forbidden Forest, gesturing for them to follow him.
The five students, with some apprehension, followed him. Itachi, never taking his eyes off his surroundings, trying not to miss a single detail.
As they went deeper into the forest, the trees grew taller and denser, and there was an eerie silence, broken only by the crackling of branches beneath their feet.
Suddenly, Malfoy, noticing that they were getting farther and farther into the forest, muttered with a note of panic in his voice
"I thought this was a joke! There are werewolves here! Is this safe?" He looked around, as if expecting some monster to jump out from behind the nearest tree.
Hagrid, hearing Malfoy's words, grinned, turning around.
"Don't worry, Malfoy," he replied, "I know this forest like the back of my hand. There are no werewolves here, and there's nothing to be afraid of if you know where to go. We'll work here and that's it, we'll head back."
Hagrid added that they would just help him with one thing, and afterward he would see them off.
Itachi, watching this scene, noted that Malfoy, though haughty and arrogant, was actually quite cowardly.
Hagrid, picking his way through the dense thickets, stopped beside a small, moss-covered stream. On its surface, under a canopy of trees, was a puddle of an unusual, silvery color. Harry, looking around warily, asked
"Hagrid, what is it?"
Hagrid leaned over the puddle and sighed, the sad tone of his voice could be heard even through the rustling of the leaves.
"Unicorn blood, Harry. The blood of a wounded unicorn. I found one killed, and this one... Wounded."
Hagrid, scratching the back of his head thoughtfully, made a decision
"Okay, guys, we need to split up. I'll go with Hermione to check out that part of the forest over there."
He pointed in the direction where thick tree crowns formed an almost impenetrable wall.
"Malfoy, you and Harry go over there," he waved his hand in the opposite direction
"Ron and Uchiha will go that way. We need to find the injured unicorn, and the sooner the better."
Itachi, hearing this, was immediately wary. Splitting up in the Forbidden Forest, where they'd found out that not everything was peaceful, was irresponsible, to say the least.
"Mr. Hagrid," he said, not hiding his displeasure in his voice. - 'In my opinion, this is an extremely irresponsible act. We were supposed to, according to you, set an example to the other students of how dangerous the Forbidden Forest is, and now we're going to split up and wander around it like it's a normal walk? It's fine when we go together, with an escort, but now we're going to wander alone in a forest full of danger? And, if the one who injured the unicorn is out there, we might run into him!"
He didn't understand how Hagrid, knowing the dangers of the forest, could suggest such a thing. It was a decision that defied all logic. Itachi suspected that Hagrid was dividing them for a reason.
Hagrid, after listening to Itachi's words, frowned and scratched his beard as if pondering his words. His usually good-natured face now expressed mild concern.
"Listen, Uchiha," Hagrid said, his voice a little harsher than usual.
" I understand that you're worried, and that it's a bit risky. But the unicorns need our help, and we don't have much time. I know this forest, I told you so. Splitting up is the fastest way to find the wounded. I won't let you guys get hurt, trust me." He added, lowering his voice slightly.
"Besides, I'll divide you up so that everyone will be safe. Everyone will help each other. You'll be able to do anything."
He shifted his gaze to the rest of the students, trying to give his voice more confidence.
"I'm not going to leave you. I'm going to keep an eye on you, and if anything happens, I'll be right here for you. All of you are safe."
Itachi, listening to Hagrid's explanation, mentally noted how strained and unconvincing it was. He realized that Hagrid probably wasn't telling him everything, and that he was clearly underestimating the danger posed by the Forbidden Forest. They were students, and their lives should not be put at risk because of one unicorn, no matter how important it was. But he decided not to voice his suspicions out loud until he saw more cause for concern. He needed to remain calm and vigilant, to be able to protect himself and Ron if need be.
Malfoy, meanwhile, was clearly relieved to be able to take Fang, Hagrid's huge and not very friendly dog, into the forest with him.
"So we're taking Fang, since he can help?" - He asked Hagrid, with noticeable amusement.
Ron, watching Itachi scowl, couldn't resist making a sarcastic remark
"So, Uchiha, are you scared or something?" - He asked, trying to hide a smirk. He was clearly trying to tease Itachi, seeing his serious expression. Ron was always prone to making jokes in the most inappropriate situations, and this one was no exception.
Itachi only threw Ron a cold glare, not dignifying him with a response. His tension was not due to fear, but to caution and suspicion, but Ron didn't seem intent on realizing that.
Itachi realized that he would have to act, relying only on himself, and that he shouldn't count on Ron's help, who was too easygoing.
Itachi's irritation was growing. Not only because of Hagrid's strained explanations and Ron's jokes, but also because he felt a weakness stretching from his fingertips all the way to his heart. His magic, depleted after the night's transformation had not yet fully recovered. He could feel the magic splashing somewhere deep inside him, but not obeying his commands with the same ease as usual. He knew that in battle, in any dangerous situation, this incomplete readiness could cost him his life.
The thought of not being in full control of his power made him uneasy. He was always used to being on guard, to relying on his strength and skill, but now he felt that his options were limited.
Itachi realized it was useless to argue with Hagrid. His decision had been made, and he wasn't going to change it.
Ron and Itachi, deep into the thicket of the forest, walked side by side, but each as if in his own world. Ron began to grumble, as he always did, expressing his displeasure at being sent with Itachi.
"Why am I the one with you?" - he complained, walking down the narrow pathway
"You could have gone with Harry, or Hermione. Well, or at least someone who isn't silent like a fish."
He continued to mutter, complaining about his fate and the horrible company he had to endure.
Itachi, however, mostly ignored Ron's grumbling. He was completely immersed in his thoughts, mulling over the situation and trying to catch any signs of danger. He wasn't about to get into a pointless argument with Ron and waste his energy on it. His attention was on the world around him, not on Ron's incoherent complaints.
Ron, noticing that Itachi was ignoring him, began to get even angrier.
"Well, of course," he blurted out, stopping and looking at Itachi point-blank
"Weasley, shut up," Itachi said sharply, not taking his eyes off the forest. His voice was flat and cold, not tolerating objections.
Ron continued his tirade as if unraveling a tangle of resentment and grievances, but he didn't let up
"And how easy it is for you," he muttered, resentment in his voice.
"You're smart and strong, and I bet all the girls are crazy about you. Everyone circles around you like moths to a flame, and you sit there and keep quiet, as if you don't care about anything. How could you not? You're a Slytherin genius, not like us mere mortals."
He added a note of sarcasm, as if he was jealous of his popularity and the attention he was getting.
Ron stomped his foot like an angry child.
"Yeah, and probably ratted us out to McGonagall along with Malfoy! Now we're wandering around this stupid forest like idiots! ."
He folded his arms across his chest as if to show his steadfastness.
Itachi finally cast Ron a look full of icy calm.
"I got caught moving around the castle too. I had nothing to do with Malfoy's plan. I also pursued what I have now... unlike you. "
"I don't give a damn about the opinions of those who just want results without putting in the effort. So stop your speculation, and just go." Itachi turned around and continued on his way, ignoring a shocked Ron.
Itachi, moving further into the forest, noticed that Ron had fallen silent. And to be frank, that wasn't a bad thing. The silence, after the torrent of accusations and complaints, gave him a chance to concentrate on the task at hand.
But the silence didn't last long. It was shattered mercilessly by a shrill scream that echoed throughout the Forbidden Forest.
It was Malfoy's chilling scream.
Itachi, instantly recognizing the direction of the source of the scream, noticed Ron, startled, bounce to the side.
Turning again to the place where the heartbreaking scream was coming from, a thought flashed through his mind
"Potter's in trouble again."
Without thinking, he rushed towards where he felt Harry was.
Itachi, leaving Ron and Lantern behind, quickly activated his Sharingan. In the blink of an eye, his eyes turned into two bright scarlet, almost blinding spots in the pitch blackness of the forest. He hoped no one would notice him. Those scarlet eyes would stand out too much in the deep gloom. He prayed that no one could identify him.
He gazed into the darkness, expecting to see some glimpse or hint of Potter and Malfoy's whereabouts.
Itachi, as he approached the area where the scream had come from, the first thing he saw was a dead unicorn.
Its white body, once graceful and noble, now lay on the ground, unnaturally bent like a broken doll.
Blood spread across the grass, soaking the ground around him.
Itachi felt a rush, disgusted at the cruelty he had seen.
Two thoughts flashed through his mind: either Draco, impressionable and weak, had been so frightened that he had screamed at the sight of the dead beast, or they had confronted whoever had committed this brutal murder. Either way, the situation was critical.
Itachi, wasting no time in unnecessary thought, shifted his gaze further, and his worst fears were confirmed. In front of him, in the very center of the clearing, stood a tall silhouette in a black robe. His figure, grim and sinister, seemed something unnatural, not part of this forest. His face was hidden in the darkness of the hood, but the silhouette itself seemed brimming with cruelty and power.
And at the foot of this sinister figure, on the ground, lay Harry Potter, with a confused and frightened expression on his face. He looked like he had been struck by lightning, and he was still trying to figure out what had happened.
Itachi realized that his suspicions were correct. They had stumbled upon someone who had killed the unicorn. And that that someone was now threatening Harry. He had to act, and he had to act fast.
Itachi, without wasting a fraction of a second, released a powerful blob of magical energy towards the dark figure. The spell, like lightning, cut through the darkness, rushing towards the target. But the dark figure, as if sensing danger, turned around sharply, as if his premonition was on the verge of instinct.
Itachi saw a face that made him freeze for a second.
Pale as a canvas, with deep dark hollows instead of eyes full of hatred.
It was a face distorted, almost demonic, with an unnaturally absent nose, as if it had been stolen from the creature. And the expression that froze on its face was full of contempt and malice.
It was staring straight at Itachi, as if it was penetrating his very essence, turning him inside out, and reading his thoughts. At the same moment, like a thunderclap, a centaur landed from above, right in front of him.
The ground beneath the centaur's hooves shook, and Itachi realized they were trapped. He was now facing two opponents: a dark figure whose face made him feel uncomfortable for a moment, and a centaur whose powerful muscles were tensed, preparing for battle. Both of them were dangerous and unpredictable.
Itachi realized that this was not going to be an easy walk. His magic had not yet fully recovered from the night's transfiguration.
He strained all his senses, preparing for battle, with these two creepy creatures. Adrenaline rushed into his bloodstream, sharpening all his senses, making time around him seem thicker. His eyes, scarlet from the Sharingan, filled with determination.
He was ready to fight, and show that he wasn't so easy for these monsters.
Suddenly, to Itachi's surprise, the centaur paid no attention to him, but lunged at the dark figure with a furious roar. The centaur's powerful hooves blasted the ground, and it lunged at the dark figure with incredible speed, trying to hit the dark figure with its powerful limbs.
The dark figure, like a shadow, deftly dodged the blow, and taking advantage of the moment, rushed away, disappearing into the dense forest.
Itachi, stunned for a moment, watched what was happening. He hadn't expected such a turn of events. But before he had time to regain his senses, the centaur turned to Harry, his voice deep and rumbling like a roll of thunder
"Boy, you need to leave. Immediately! You are in great danger here. Most of the forest dwellers know you, and that makes you a target. You can't stay here."
The centaur turned his gaze to Itachi
He barely had time to turn off his Sharingan. The bright scarlet eyes faded instantly, returning to their normal, slightly dark brown color. He didn't want the centaur to notice his abilities.
However, Itachi managed to notice the subtle uncertainty in the centaur's eyes. An uncertainty mixed with some underlying anxiety.