A Twist in the Story (A Harry Potter fanfic)

Chapter 26: Forbidden Forest

We all looked at each other worriedly, I even caught Harry's eye for a split second. Neville was shaking terribly and Malfoy looked pale. "The forest?! But we can't go in there! There's all sorts of things in there--- werewolves, I heard!" he protested. "Oh believe me boy, there are more than just werewolves in that forest" Filch said making me shiver. "Come on now, quickly!" he urged us on. We all, very slowly, followed him until we are nearing Hagrid's hut. He was waiting for us, looking grim. Probably still thinking about Norbert.

"Abou' time, I bin waitin' fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Hermione, Angelica?" Hagrid said.

"I shouldn't be too friendly to them, Hagrid they're here to be punished after all." Filch said coldly. "That's why yer late, is it? Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot your place ter do that. Yeh've done yer bit, I'll take over from here." Hagrid frowned at him. "I'll be back at dawn." Filch just said. "For what's left of them" he continued before leaving.

"Way to get rid of him" I muttered. I heard Malfoy say something but I didn't really pay attention to him. I was worried about going in there. What are we even supposed to do there?! Are they trying to get us killed or what?! Hermione said I'm so brave, well I'm going to need some bravery pills right now, because I don't feel so gallant at this moment. "Right then, now, listen carefully 'cause it's dangerous what we're gonna do tonight, an' I don' want no one takin' risks. Follow me over here a moment." Hagrid said and we followed him to the edge of the forest. With the light from Hagrid's lamp we could see the narrow track that disappeared into the darkness.

"Look there," Hagrid said, "see that stuff shinin' on the ground? Silvery stuff? That's unicorn blood. There's unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday. We're gonna try an' find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery"

"And... what if whatever that thing that hurt the unicorns finds us first...?" I asked worriedly. "There's nothin' that lives in the forest that'll hurt ye if yer with me or Fang." He reassure us, "An' keep ter the path. Right, now, we're gonna split inter two parties an' follow the trail in diff'rent directions. There's blood all over the place, it must've bin staggerin' around since last night at least." Hagrid instructed us.

"I want Fang." Malfoy said immediately.

"All right, but I warn yeh, he's a coward" Hagrid told him. I stifled a laugh when I saw Malfoy's reaction. "So me, Harry, Angelica an' Hermione'll go one way an' Draco, Neville, an' Fang'll go the other." That was the only thing Hagrid has to say to make me nervous. Well this is going to be a bit awkward. "Now, if any of us finds the unicorn, we'll send up green sparks, right? Get yer wands out an' practice now--- that's it--- an' if anyone gets in trouble, send up red sparks, an' we'll all come an' find yeh--- so, be careful--- let's go"

Our group took the left path while Malfoy, Neville and Fang took the right. It was pitch black here, we all walked in silence. But I wish one of us would start a conversation because the silence is driving me crazy especially when you walk around a dark forest, knowing there are peculiar monsters hiding somewhere in the trees!

I noticed that Hagrid looked very worried.

"Could a werewolf be killing the unicorns?" Harry spoke up.

"Not fast enough, it's not easy ter catch a unicorn, they're powerful magical creatures. I never knew one ter be hurt before" Hagrid answered.

"So whatever hurt the unicorn is definitely not something normal. Like not just a regular werewolf?" I asked, Hagrid nodded. Hermione and I exchanged worried glances and I walked closer to her. "I'm scared." she whispered. "I'm scared to death..." I told her and I linked her arm with mine. I could feel her slightly shaking. We walked past a mossy tree stump. I could hear the sound of running water; probably a stream somewhere.

"You all right, girls?" Hagrid whispered. "Don' worry, it can't've gone far if it's this badly hurt, an' then we'll be able ter------ GET BEHIND THAT TREE!" Hagrid seized us and hoisted us off the path behind a tree. He pulled out an arrow and fitted it into his crossbow, getting ready to fire. My heart was beating insanely fast, I'm sure Hermione could hear it. Hermione was gripping my hand tightly. We just hid there listening carefully. There was a sound of slithering over the dead leaves, like a cloak. We all waited until the sound faded away.

"I knew it," Hagrid murmured afterwards, we slowly got out from our hiding spot, "There's summat in here that shouldn't be."

"A werewolf?" Harry asked.

"I don't think so..." I muttered absentmindedly, "I heard a cloak, like someone is in here." I didn't realize I actually answered him, I waited for him to make a remark but he stayed silent. Thank Goodness. "Right, follow me, but careful, now" Hagrid said grimly and we started walking again. Slower this time. We were all listening very carefully for any kind of movement. Just then something definitely moved.

"Who's there?" Hagrid called. "Show yerself---I'm armed!" I held on to Hermione arm. I was a nervous wreck.

Then suddenly from the darkness, came out---- a centaur. I'm sure you've heard of centaurs? To the waist was a body of a man and below was a horse's body. I gaped at the centaur while Hermione's and Harry's jaws dropped.

"Oh it's you, Ronan" Hagrid sighed of relief. "How are yeh?" Hagrid walked forward to shake the centaur's hand. I was still gaping at the centaur with awe. "Good evening to you, Hagrid" Ronan replied. Ronan has a deep yet sorrowful voice. "We're you going to shoot me?"

"Can't be too careful, Ronan" Hagrid answered patting his crossbow. "There's summat bad loose in this forest. This is Harry Potter, Angelica Potter an' Hermione Granger by the way. Students up at the school. An' this is Ronan, you two. He's a centaur."

"We've noticed." Hermione said faintly and I just nodded.

"Good evening, student's are you? ----we nodded--- and do you learn much, up at the school?"

"Erm---"

"Uh---"

"A bit" Hermione answered.

"A bit." Ronan repeated. "Well, that's something. Mars is bright tonight." he said while looking at the sky. "Yeah," Hagrid agreed looking up too. "Listen, I'm glad we've run inter yeh, Ronan 'cause there's a unicorn bit hurt---- you seen anythin'?"

Ronan didn't answer right away he was just looking at the sky and sighed deeply. "Always the innocent are the first victims, so it has been ages past, so it is now." he replied. "Yeah, but have yeh seen anythin' Ronan? anythin' unusual?" Hagrid repeated his question. "Mars is bright tonight, unusually bright." was Ronan's answer. Hagrid was starting to get impatient. "Yeah, but I was meanin' anythin' unusual a bit nearer home, so yeh haven't noticed anythin' strange?" Hagrid pushed on. We all waited for his answer. It took him a while to reply, but we waited. Finally, "The forest hides many secrets".

I turned to look at Hagrid who sighed, not happy with the centaur's answer. Then something moved behind Ronan and Hagrid raised his bow again but another centaur came out.

"Hullo, Bane, All right?" Hagrid greeted the second centaur. HOW MANY CENTAURS ARE IN HERE?

"Good evening Hagrid, I hope you are well?" Bane replied.

"Well enough," Hagrid replied. "Look, I've jus' bin askin' Ronan, you seen anythin' odd in here lately? There's a unicorn bin injured--- would yeh know anythin' about it?"

Bane just walked over and stood beside Ronan and looked up at the sky. "Mars is bright tonight."

I was the one who sighed this time, we are losing hope. "We've heard." Hagrid said grumpily. "Well if either of you see anythin' let me know, won't yeh? We'll be off, then." Ronan and Bane didn't anything and we continued on our way. "Never try an' get a straight answer out of centaur. Ruddy stargazers. Not interested in anythin' closer'n the moon." Hagrid complained grumpily.

"Are there many of them in here?" Hermione asked the question I was about to ask.

"Oh, a fair few.... keep themselves to themselves mostly, but they're good enough about turnin' up if ever I want a word. They're deep, mind, centaurs.... they know things.... jus' don' let on much."

"D'you think that was centaur we heard earlier?" Harry asked. Hermione and I rolled our eyes. How many times do you have to tell this boy that we heard a cloak?

"Did that sound like hooves to you? Nah, if yeh ask me, that was what's bin killin' the unicorns--- never head anythin' like it before."

We walked through the dark trees, we keep on looking everywhere for anything unusual. Do you know this feeling when you're aware that someone is watching you? I have that feeling right now. Just thinking about it sent chills up my spine. Then something caught my attention. "Hermione! Red sparks!" I exclaimed pointing up at the sky where red sparks are shooting. Hermione gasped and told Hagrid. "You stay here! Stay on the path, I'll come back for yeh!" Hagrid shouted before running off. I was holding on to Hermione, I was nervous, scared and worried at the same time. What if something happened to the other boys? Wait, let me get things straight, I'm worried about Neville not Malfoy, okay? Merlin, I'm more worried about Fang than that boy. Hermione was talking to Harry but I stood there petrified. Apparently, Hermione was as worried as I am and Harry couldn't care less about Malfoy too. Minutes passed on and I was getting tense each second, the three of us strained to hear anything.

Finally I could, somehow, see Hagrid's huge figure coming through the darkness. As he got closer I realize he was mad. No... he was furious. Just the expression on his face explained everything. Malfoy did something that scared Neville, Neville panicked and sent sparks. I am sure of that. Sounds like something that twat would do.

"We'll be lucky ter catch anythin' now, with the racket you two were makin'. Right, we're changin' groups--- Neville, you stay with me an' Hermione. Harry, you go with Fang an' this idiot. Oh an' Angelica you go with them too. I'm sorry" Hagrid added in a whisper when he saw my desperate face. "He'll have a harder time frightenin' you two, an' we've gotta get this done." Great, I'm with the person who broke my wonderful friendship with my brother and my brother who is freaking mad at me. I don't have Hermione with me, who will I hold on to when I'm afraid? Sighing, we set off. I stayed behind the two boys and Fang. We walked for hours, just quiet. It didn't really look at all awkward to me, I'm sure each of us are thinking something. Or probably just that afraid to speak up.

The path was starting to get impossible to follow through the trees, but the blood seemed thicker. We continued on our way when Harry stopped us. "Look----" he murmured. Something bright white was gleaming on the ground. We all walked closer.

As we got closer we saw it. It was the unicorn and it was... dead. A sudden rush of sadness flowed through me. The poor animal. Who would do-----

I stopped frozen in my track when I heard that slithering sound again. A bush on the edge moved and.... and... a hooded figure came out crawling across the ground to the unicorn. It started to drink it's blood. The three of us and Fang stood there frozen in terror. "ARRRRRGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"

Malfoy screamed and ran away with Fang leaving me with Harry. The hooded figure raised it's head and looked at us, with the blood dripping down its front. It stood up slowly and came swiftly forward approaching us. I wanted to scream and run after Malfoy but I was too terrified to do anything. As he came closer and closer my scar started to ache. The pain was too horrible to bear! I feel like my head is going to explode! I collapsed on the floor, clutching my forehead and screamed in pain. I can't take this! It's too much. Someone grabbed my arm, I screamed louder. Has the hooded figure got me?! Am I going to die?! I tried my best to look up and saw it was Harry who got me and he was dragging me backward. He was on the ground too and wears the same pained expression. His scar... of course! We both feel the same horrible pain. I managed to crawl backward, through the pain in my head. The hooded figure was getting closer! Then I heard hooves behind us, something jumped and scared the thing away. Though the thing---whatever it was--- is gone, the pain was still there, I thought this is going to kill me. It was probably a minute or two when the pain faded. I was shaking terribly and I was ice cold. "Are you all right?" I hear the centaur ask Harry while pulling him up. "Yes--- thank you---" Harry replied. Harry tried to help me up but my knees feel weak. He held me by my shoulders to keep my balance. "What was that?" he asked the centaur. The centaur didn't answer him, as expected. He was looking at us carefully, his eyes lingered on our scars. "You are the Potters." he said. "You had better get back to Hagrid. The forest is not safe at this time--- especially for you. Can you ride? It will be quicker this way."

"I am Firenze" he introduced himself. he lowered himself and Harry clambered onto his back, I got on with Harry's help.

Then we heard more galloping and Ronan and Bane came. "Firenze! What are you doing? You have a human on your back! Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?" Bane said angrily.

"Do you realize who they are? They are the Potters. The quicker they leave the forest, the better." Firenze replied.

"What have you been telling him? Remember, Firenze, we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. Have we not read what is to come in the movements of the planets?" Bane growled. "I'm sure Firenze thought he was acting for the best..." Ronan said nervously.

"For the best! What is that to do with us? Centaurs are concerned with what has been foretold! It is not our business to run around like donkeys after stray humans in our forest!" Bane exclaimed.

Firenze reared on to his hind legs in anger, that I had to hold on to Harry, who was holding on to Firenze's shoulders, to keep me from falling. "Do you not see that unicorn?! Do you not understand why it was killer?! Or have the planets not let you in on that secret? I set myself what is lurking in this forest, Bane, yes, with humans along side me if I must!" Firenze yelled at him, then he whisked around and plunged off into the trees. What on earth is happening? "What's wrong?" I said faintly just as Harry asked: "Why's Bane so angry?"

"And what is that thing you saved us from?"

He didn't answer our question, we just keep walking and constantly reminded us to keep our heads bowed. We just stayed silent, when Firenze stopped. "Do you know what unicorn blood is used for?" he asked us.

"No" we both answered.

"We've only used the horn and tail hair in potions." I added.

"That is because it is a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn. Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime. The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenseless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips."

"Who'd be that desperate? If you're going to be cursed forever, death's better isn't it?" Harry said. "It is." Firenze agreed. "unless all you need is to stay alive long enough to drink something else--- something that will bring you back to full strength and power--- something that will mean you can never die. Do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment?"

We both lit up at the sudden realization. "The Sorcerer's Stone!" we both exclaimed, difference is my voice was a bit weaker. "Of course--- the Elixir of Life! But I don't understand who---"

I already know who.

It took Harry a split second to realize, I could feel him shake in worry. "Do you mean, that was Vol--"

"Harry! Angelica! are you all right?!" Hermione was running toward us with Hagrid behind her. When they both saw my face they started to get worried. "Angelica! What happened?! Why are you so pale? Oh dear, you're so cold!" Hermione helped me slide off from Firenze's back and held me by my shoulders. "Harry?" Hermione was looking at Harry worriedly. "I'm fine..." Harry said absentmindedly. "The unicorn's dead, Hagrid, it's in that clearing back there," he added turning to Hagrid; he slid off Firenze's back. "This is where I leave you, you are safe now." Firenze said as Hagrid went off to the unicorn. "Goodluck," Firenze added looking at us. "The planets have read wrongly before now, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times." Then he galloped away leaving the three of us. I turned to look at Harry, I still remember how he helped me back away from that thing... or.. Voldemort. How he helped me stand up and climb on to Firenze. He still cares... he's angry but he still cares. "Harry..." I said weakly and he looked at me. "T-thanks..." I murmured. He just looked at me and nodded.

"Let's get away from this place.."



(A/N: And after a billion freaking years I finally updated! YAY! I'm sorry if it took so long. SCHOOL IS HELL. THIS IS KINDA LATE BUT ANYWAY, WHO IS EXCITED FOR FANTASTIC BEASTS MOVIE!?!!?!?!? I AM SO HYPED ABOUT IT!!! Hey guys I hope you like this chapter kinda long.. xD LOVEYOUALL<3)