The Forbidden Forest
One problem after another, not only did they get managed to get them in detention, but somehow Neville Longbottom had also overheard Malfoy and I quote from McGonagall ‘cock-an-bull story’ about Norberta, however the boy wanted to warn them about the Slytherin catching them. And with that it was an added price to Gryffindor House Points, losing 150 points in one night, Terra also made Hufflepuff lose 50 points making them second to last in front of Gryffindor, and all five of them are to await for what they are going to do in detention.
When Rolf found out the following morning, he was not pleased with what Terra did, and neither was some of the Hufflepuff’s have shunned her, but following to her Grandfather’s philosophy to a tea, worrying make you suffer twice, so she lets things be. Same can not be said for Harry, Neville, and Hermione, the Slytherin’s would call out mocking them in thanks, their House, Ravenclaw and her House have turned on them too, I guess everyone is sick and tried of the Snakes winning the House Cup after so many years.
Just a week before the exams were due to start, Harry informed his friends that he heard Quirrell said, but after what they have already done, and with a Three-Headed-Dog guarding the trapdoor, so unless Snape wants to have another go at being a chew-toy, the stone is safe.
The next morning, notes where given to Harry, Hermione, Terra, and Neville at breakfast, all saying the same thing.
‘Your Detention will take place at eleven o’clock tonight. Meet Mr Filch in the Entrance Hall.’
Prof. M. McGonagall
Before they knew it the time to go meet the Hogwarts grumpy caretaker had arrived, Terra was hoping it was not going to be with the man, recalling from Rolf how he wishes the old punishments should have stayed, even as Harry, Terra, Hermione, Neville and Draco follow him across the dark grounds he talks about how hard work and pain is the best teacher, and still got the chain to hang students by the wrists, seriously what is wrong with this guy.
“Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I went ter get started.”
Terra was thanking the four founder of Hogwarts once she heard Hagrid, and judging by Harry faces he is too. Filch did not like this.
“I suppose you think you’ll be enjoying yourself with that Oaf? Well think again, it’s into the Forest you’re going and I'm much mistaken if you’ll all come out in one piece.”
Terra had to hide her smirk, what he doesn’t know that Terra is not far off from knowing the Forbidden Forest as well as Hagrid.
“The Forest?” Draco finally spoke after stopping in his tracks. “We can’t go in there at night, there’s all sort of things in there – werewolves, I heard.”
“That’s your lookout, isn’t it,” said Filch with glee. “Should’ve thought of them werewolves before you got in trouble, shouldn’t you?”
Fang ran towards them, Hagrid not far from him, the Boarhound headed straight to the Hufflepuff, she bent down to pet him, the two have bonded over the whole dragon situation and now she would rather deal with Fang’s drool then Filch talking.
“Abou’ time,” said Hagrid “I bin waitin’ fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Hermione, Terr.”
“I shouldn’t be too friendly to them, Hagrid,” said Filch coldly. “They’re here to be punished, after all.”
“That’s why yer late, is it?” said Hagrid, frowning at Filch. “Bin lecturin’ them, eh? Snot your place ter do that. Yeh’ve done yer bit, I’ll take over from here.”
“I’ll be back at dawn,” said Filch. “For what’s left of them,”
With that said he walks back to the castle, Terra heard Fang growl at him as he leaves, she pets behind his ear.
“I'm not going in that Forest,” Draco told Hagrid.
“Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts,” replied Hagrid fiercely. “Yeh’ve done wrong an’ now yeh’ve got ter pay fer it.”
“But this is servant stuff, its not for students to do, well Scamander would this all the time,” Malfoy adding the insult to the Hufflepuff.
Harry narrowed his eyes as he glared at Malfoy as the blonde continued.
“I thought we’d be writing lines or something. If my father knew I was doing this, he’d-”
“Tell yer that’s how it is Hogwarts,” Hagrid growled. “Writin’ lines! What good’s that ter anyone? Yeh’ll do summat useful or yeh’ll get out. If yeh think yer father’d rather you were expelled, then get back off ter the castle an’ pack. Go on!”
That shut Malfoy up.
“Right then, now, listen carefully, ‘cause it’s dangerous what we’re gonna do tonight an’ I don’t want no one takin’ risks. Follow me.”
He led them into the Forest, holding his lamp up high, Terra had her hand gripped on her wand, despite of entering the forest in daylight was alright, but entering at night is different, she knows that there are Beasts that rom the night, and they do need to be very careful. Hermione stood close to Harry, Terra could not blame her, Hemione was scared, Neville could not stop shaking, Draco was walking whether close to Fang, but Terra knew that it was pointless, Fang may be a big scary looking dog, be really he scared and would prefer to be back in his bed next to the fire.
“Look here,” he said, pointing down a narrow earth track.
Terra gasped, knowing full well what this, shining silver thick liquid is on the ground.
“What is that?” Harry asked.
“That’s Unicorn blood,” Terra answered.
“Spot on their Terr’, Hagrid commented. “I found one dead last Wednesday, this is the second time this week, this appears to injured by somethin, it’s our job to try an’ find the poor Beast.”
“And what if whatever hurt the Unicorn finds us first?” Said Malfoy.
“There’s nothin’ that lives in the Forest that’ll hurt yeh if yeh with me or Fang,” said Hagrid. “So, me, Harry, Terr’ an Hermione’ll go one way an’ Draco, Neville an’ Fang’ll go the other.”
“Hagrid we’ll find the Unicorn better if I go with Neville and Draco, the Unicorn will run away if an all-boys group approaches it even when injured, the unicorn will feel at ease, when there is a girl.”
“Oh ey, yea alright, then.”
“Ok then I get Fang,” Draco said.
“Fine, jus’ so you know, he’s a bloody coward.”
After Hagrid got them to practice shotting sparks from their wands for when they find the unicorn or when there is danger they begin to move, Hermione hugs Terra before they part way, Harry looked back over his shoulder when Terra called Fang over.
Draco hold the lamp, but the Dark Forest is called the Dark Forest, they could not see anything within five feet in front of them, Terra came up with an idea and drew out her wand, so not to give Neville a fright as the poor boy was getting worse by the minute.
“Lumos,” Terra casted.
With a soft hum, the tip of her wand grew bright, and raised it above her head, seeing the way much better.
“No need to show off Scamander,” Malfoy smirked.
“The sooner we find the Unicorn the sooner you we get out,” she replied ignoring what he said, the only reason of that remark is because she performed the spell in class while he couldn’t.
“Wh-what could have hurt i-it Terra?” Neville whispered, sticking close to the Hufflepuff.
“I don’t know, it’s almost unheard off,”
Suddenly Terra saw something faintly dash up ahead, stopping in her track, it looked like dark black cloak, at first she thought it was a Dementor, but that was impossible, but what was it. Before she could think of what it could have be, Neville let out a frightful yell shooting red sparks in the air, making Terra turn around, Draco thought that scaring the Gryffindor was funny. Then they hear something big stomping towards them, Terra knew it would be Hagrid, and she did not know that Hagrid could get that anger, but then again he did have a job to do, and he cared for Magical Creatures just as much as her. He led them back to where Harry and Hermione was placed on the path.
“We’ll be lucky ter catch anythin’ now, with the racket you two were makin’,” Hagrid said, knowing that Terra would not dare do anything to mess up in finding the Unicorn. “We’re changin’ groups, Neville you stay with me an’ Hermione, harry you go with Terra, Fang, and this idiot, but he’ll have a harder time frightenin’ you, an’ we’ve gotta get this done.”
They part ways again and carried on, it was taking too long, it wouldn’t be too long before dawn and Terra was now starting to think that the Unicorn is far beyond saving as the reach to the heart of the Forest. Fang growls at something in front of them as they enter a clearing.
“What’s wrong Fang,” Terra said looking at the Boarhound.
Harry grabbed her arm as well as Malfoy’s to stop them in there tracks, they found the Unicorn and thought was true, it is dead, but she did not expect a clocked figure sucking the beast’s blood. Malfoy screamed and bolted, Fang following not far behind, the hooded figure raised its head and looked at the remaining First Years, Terra was frozen, her heart racing, Unicorn blood dripped from its mouth as it stands up, and swift towards them, Harry gripped his forehead where his scar is, Terra grabbed Harry’s arm that was still holding her, and the both step backwards to get away, but a tree-root made them fell backwards on to their back, they crawled back to the reach, their back press to the dirt, the figure was getting close and close.
The sound of hoofbeats thundered from above them, a centaur jumped over Harry and Terra, charging towards the hooded figure, raised on it’s back legs while using it front hooves to scare of the figure. Terra watched as the figure flew up into the air and disappear in the darkest, she looked back at Harry, he was still holding on to his scar.
“Harry you okay?” Terra asked with worry.
Soft hoofbeats came in front of her, she and Harry look up and the Hufflepuff was pleased and relieved of who saved them.
“Firenze,” Terra sighed with a smile.
“Terra are you both alright?” he greeted pulling her and Harry to their feet.
“Yes, thank you,” Terra replied.
“You know him Terra,” Harry asked her.
“This is Firenze, I meet him sometime at the start of term.” Terra replied sheepishly.
“You are the Potter boy,” Firenze said. “You both must leave, the forest is not save at this time, especially for you.”
Terra turned her attention back to the dead Unicorn, she walks towards it, guilt filled her heart, she kneeled down near it’s head, stroking the mane out of it lifeless eyes while tears filled her own, how can something slay such a beautiful creature, she is aware of the properties of Unicorn blood, for a sinful act one would have to pure evil, so, so, evil.
“I'm so sorry,” Terra mumbled, stroking the coat on the unicorn’s face. “I'm sorry we didn’t get here in time.”
She closes the Unicorn’s eyes, now it look like it was sleeping, a tear fall on the Beast’s forehead. A twig snap made her jump, she grabbed her wand, and she heard a different sound, it was whine in distress, standing up she carefully walks towards the noise, and then she saw it.
“Harry! Terra!” Hermione called out, as the group appeared behind Harry and Firenze.
“‘Ello there Firenze,” Hagrid greeted. “Harry where’s Terr’?”
Harry looked around, he saw her walk to the unicorn just before Firenze started to explain the cursed fate if one drink Unicorn blood, she had disappeared.
“Terra!” Harry called out.
“Terra!” Hermione called out again, in a worried tone.
“Over here!”
Terra appeared from behind a tree, her cloak was off, and she was carrying something in her arms.
“Blimey!” Hagrid howled.
“Oh my,” Hermione gasped, holding her hands to her mouth.
In Terra’s arms is a Unicorn foal.
“The Unicorn was a mother,” Terra says, walking towards them. “She was protecting her foal.”
The walk out of the Forest felt long then the search all night, Terra kept carrying the foal all the way, the group remained silent the entire time even Fang stayed quiet, when they reach the Hut, Hagrid rushed into his home and came back out with a bag and a bottle of milk, handing them to Harry, he then told them to wait near the firepit, so he ran to tell dumbledore what had happened tonight.
Terra placed the foal on the grass away from the fire, the poor thing was shaking. The Gryffindor’s approach but where not sure how close they should get, leaving Malfoy by the firepit.
“Its okay, you can come closer, but go slow, he’s spooked.” Terra introduced.
“But didn’t you say that unicorns don’t like men?” Harry asked.
“Only when their grown up,” Terra replied, stroking the foals neck to calm it. “When there foals its fine.”
Harry was the first to get close, he was still holding the bag and the bottle, when Hermione and Neville kneeled next to Terra, the Hufflepuff started to look over the foal now that it has calm down somewhat, Harry handed her the bottle, the foal seemed to regain its appetite from its shock as it started to drink from the bottle greedily.
“Steady boy,” Terra cooed.
“What’s going to happen to him now,” Hermione asked stroking the foal’s golden neck.
“Maybe I get my Dad to look after him, he’s far too young to be on his own, he’s about two months old at least, and if that thing is attacking Unicorns, no way I'm letting him go back in the Forest until its safe.”
The Gryffindors are seeing Terra doing what a Scamander does best, caring for the Magical Creature.