The Bravest Snake

CHAPTER 23

The trees felt like a cage, circling threateningly around Draco, Daphne, and Pansy. 

They didn't talk as they walked, each set of eyes skimming the underbrush around them, looking for a dead unicorn. Every so often, a patch of moonlight illuminated a spot of shimmery silver - blue blood. It was beautiful, and Draco would have stopped to look, to touch even, if they weren't on a mission.

''Umm...'' Pansy said unsurely. ''What do you two think is killing the unicorns?'' So the silence is stifling for you too, Pansy? Draco thought bitterly. Well, she was the one who ratted them out in the first place.

''I dunno,'' Daphne replied in an undertone, shrugging. ''Probably like a werewolf or something.''

''You think? Unicorns are supposed to be hard to kill, and are rarely hurt. I doubt a werewolf is faster than them,'' Draco argued. Daphne rolled her eyes, and they lapsed back into a silence only filled by Fang's pants.

Draco heard a rustling sound; they must be near running water. If there was a stream nearby, then the unicorn could be there. Daphne heard it too, and she raised her head. ''Let's go that way.'' She gestured in the stream's direction. ''I hear water - GET BEHIND THAT TREE!''

She grabbed the back of Draco's robes and pulled him behind a large oak tree, Pansy and Fang not far behind. The four poked their heads out ever so slightly, trying to see. Something was slithering over dead leaves nearby; it sounded like a cloak dragging along the ground. They waited with bated breath for a few moments, and the sound faded away.

''What was that?'' Pansy said, much too loudly to be considered a whisper. ''That was no werewolf.''

''No unicorn either,'' Draco replied. ''But be quiet! That thing could still be hanging around. Just... let's be careful.''

They walked more slowly, their ears staining for the faintest sound. Suddenly, in a clearing ahead, Draco heard something. Something moving. Everyone froze, not sure what to do. ''Should we run?'' Daphne breathed in Draco's ear.

''I'm not running,'' Draco mumbled back, to which Daphne whispered, ''Stupid Gryffindor.''

Into the clearing came a curious creature. Draco couldn't process everything at once. He saw horse hooves. A long, reddish tail. But also, a human torso. To the waist, it was a man with red hair and a beard, but below that there was a horse's gleaming chestnut body. Draco could feel his - and see everyone else's - jaw drop. A centaur?!

''Good evening, students,'' said the centaur, in a deep, sorrowful voice. 

''Hello.'' Draco felt his mouth moving before he could think about it. ''I'm Draco Malfoy, and this is Daphne Greengrass and Pansy Parkinson. Uhh... and this is Fang.''

''I know Fang,'' the centaur answered. ''He's Hagrid's dog. My name is Ronan. So, do you learn much, up at the school?''

Everyone hesitated, until Daphne rushed to fill the void. ''A bit,'' she said timidly.

''A bit. Well, that's something.'' Ronan sighed. He tipped back his head and stared at the sky. ''Mars is bright tonight.''

''Oh,'' said Draco, a little miffed. ''Interesting. Well, have you... seen anything? There's a hurt unicorn in these woods and we're trying to find it.''

''Always the innocent are the first victims,'' Ronan answered while still staring at the sky. ''So it has been for ages past, so it is now.''

''Yeah,'' Pansy said. ''But have you seen anything? Anything unusual?'' Draco could sense her impatience.

''Mars is bright tonight,'' Ronan repeated. ''Unusually bright.'' Draco's own patience was also wearing thin.

Thank goodness for Daphne, the most level - headed of the group. ''Yes, but we were meaning anything unusual a bit nearer home. So you haven't noticed anything strange?'' 

Ronan took a while to answer yet again. At last, he said, ''The forest hides many secrets.''

A movement in the trees behind Ronan sent Draco's group skittering back, but it was only another centaur. This one had black hair that matched his black horse body, and he looked wilder and less friendly than Ronan.

''Good evening,'' blurted out Draco, stepping out in front of Pansy, Daphne, and Fang. ''Sorry to bother you, but have you seen anything odd in here lately? A unicorn's been hurt - would you know anything about it?''

The other centaur moved to stand next to Ronan.He also looked to the sky. ''Mars is bright tonight,'' he said simply.

''We've heard,'' Daphne responded with fake sweetness. ''Well, if either one of you do see anything, please find and alert us. We'll be off, then.'' She turned away, motioning for Pansy, Draco and Fang to follow her.

''Who knew it would be so hard to get an answer out of a centaur?'' Draco said lightly.

Daphne shrugged. ''I didn't know, I've heard that they keep to themselves mostly. A fair few in the forest, but they can be hidden when they want to. My father personally knows one.''

''Nobody asked,'' Pansy grumbled. ''Do you think a centaur was what we heard earlier?''

''Did that sound like hooves to you?'' Daphne growled. Draco sighed inwardly. Great, they're mad at each other again. Girls! Why are they so temperamental? 

A burst of red caught Draco's eye, lighting up the indigo sky. ''Red sparks!'' he said aloud, pointing to them. ''Someone's in trouble!'' I hope it's not Hermione.

''What do we do?'' Pansy asked in a panic, whipping her head around at any sign of danger. ''Should we just stay here?''

''I think so,'' Daphne muttered, deep in thought. She looked over at Fang, her eyes set. ''I have an idea. Fang!'' she called to the dog. Fang obediently trotted to her side. She knelt down and looked at Fang in the eye. ''Fang, I'm going to need you to - ''

''Are you seriously talking to a dog? And you're supposed to be smart,'' Pansy scoffed, interrupting.

''Shut up,'' Daphne hissed at her. She took Fang's face gently in her hands, making eye contact again. ''Fang, I'm going to need you to go find Hagrid and once you find him, lead him here to us with the other students. We won't move until then. Can you do it?'' Fang let out a sharp bark. ''Good boy! Find Hagrid!''

As Fang dashed through the trees in pursuit of Hagrid, Pansy rolled her eyes. ''Are we seriously relying on a dog to save us?''

''Shut up!'' Draco said scathingly. ''It's a great plan, Daphne. I trust Fang.''