Goddess

The Forbidden Forest

The next evening the six of them were led to Hagrid's hut by Filch. 

"A pity they let old punishments die. Was a time when detention found you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons. God, I miss the screaming."

Hermione let her mouth fall in horror and Ron looked terrified.

Perse looked at the caretaker in distaste.

"You'll be serving detention with Hagrid tonight. He's got a little job to do in the Forbidden Forest."

The gathered around the firepit, outside the Hut as Filch continued, " A sorry lot this, Hagrid."

Hagrid inhales deeply.

"God, you're not still on that bloody dragon, are you?" Filch said in disgust.

Hagrid picked up his crossbow and said, "Norbert's gone. Dumbledore sent 'im off ter live in a colony in Romania."

Aries said, "But that's good, right? He'll be living with his kind."

"But wha' if he don' like Romania? Wha' if the other dragons are mean ter 'im? He's on'y a baby!" Hagrid  exclaimed.

" For God's sake, pull yourself together. You're going into the forest, gotta have your wits about you." Filch said.

" The Forest? I thought that was a joke! We can't go in there! Students aren't allowed. There are . . . "

A loud howl was heard. "Werewolves." Draco continued.

"Draco, did you pay that wolf to howl on que?" Perse mocked.

Harry, Ron and Aries snickered.

"Shut up!" Draco said, turning red.

"Oh there's a lot more than werewolves in those trees, lad. You can be sure of that. Nighty night." Filch said as he walked away.

"Righ', let's go." Hagrid said.

The six of them followed Hagrid through the dark woods along with Hagrid's dog, Fang. Soon, they came across a puddle of silvery liquid. Hagrid dipped two fingers in it to examine it.

"Unicorn blood." Perse whispered.

"Righ' yeh are." Hagrid said. "Yeh see the blood? That's wha' we're here fer. I found one dead a few weeks ago. Now, this one's bin hurt bad by summat. So it's our job ter find the poor beast."

"Now, Ron, Hermione, Aries yeh come with me. Harry, Malfoy will go with. . . " Hagrid looked at Perse questioningly.

"Persephone Riddle." she answered.

"Persephone." Hagrid said.

Everyone nodded but Draco looked annoyed with a tinge of fear.

"Fine. But I get Fang." Draco stated.

"Fine. Jus' so yeh know, he's a bloody coward." Hagrid said.

Fang whined.

Perse, Draco and Harry walked into the forest, carefully avoiding the thick roots. 

"Wait till my father hears about this. This is servant's stuff." Draco grumbled. Perse rolled her eyes, knowing that her best friend was throwing one of his tantrums again.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were scared, Malfoy." Harry snickered.

"I'm not scared!" Draco snapped. "Scared." He muttered angrily.

Perse hands the lantern to Draco and pets Fang as she says, "Keep moving, Fang."

They walk for a while before Fang stops and growls. In front of them was a unicorn, with a dark hooded figure who was hovering over it. Perse shuts her eyes to look away from the hurt unicorn. 

Harry's hand shot to his forehead. The hooded figure looks up, silvery substance dripping from it's mouth. 

Draco instinctively grabs Perse's hand, as all three of they slowly backed away. Perse however, leaves Draco and moved forward slowly and curiously. The figure hovered and began moving quickly towards them. Suddenly, a centaur comes from behind, driving away the ghostly figure.

"Harry Potter, Persephone Riddle you must leave. The forest is not safe at this time. Especially for you two. And you mustn't walk into trouble." The centaur said the last sentence to Perse.

"Sir, what was that thing you saved us from?" Harry asked.

"That was a monstrous creature. It is a terrible crime to slay a unicorn. Drinking its blood will keep you alive, even if you are an inch away from death. But at a terrible price. For you have slain something so pure that from the moment the blood touches your lips, you will have have a half life. A cursed life." The centaur explained.

"But who would choose such a life?" Perse questioned.

"Can you think of no one?" The centaur asked.

"You mean the thing was . . . Voldemort?" Harry asked.

The centaur shook his head but barely. So nobody noticed.

"Do you know what lies in the school at this very moment?"

Realization dawned on them, but neither spoke, unwilling to reveal information to the other.

They hear a barking and realise that Fang had gone to bring Hagrid.

"Harry!" Hermione called. And here stood Hagrid, Hermione and Ron with Fang.

"Hullo Firenze. I see yeh've met our young Harry Potter an' Persephone Riddle. Alright yeh two?" Hagrid asked.

They both nodded slightly.

"This is where I leave you Harry Potter and Persephone Riddle. You're safe now. Good luck." Firenze said, before disappearing in the wilderness.

Persephone walked forward and sat down and ran her hands through the whimpering unicorn's mane.

"Can't we help her?" Perse asked, the pain on seeing the creature hurt obvious.

""No the wound's too deep. 'S too late fer us ter help. The on'y thing we'd be doin' is hurting her more."

As Draco and Perse recounted their adventures to Rosella.

"Wow. The guy trying to kill my brother is within Hogwarts grounds. Just wow." Rose said.

"Hey. Don't worry. We can handle anything. All three of us. W don't need anyone, just ourselves." Perse smiled.

"I guess." Draco said.

"You guess? I know!" Rose laughed.

They laughed and talked through the night, forgetting all their problems and worries.