The Bravest Snake

CHAPTER 24

Harry saw Fang hurtling towards his group at a frightening speed, with determination in his eyes. Fang's claws picked up clots of mud and grass as he ferociously ran.

''H - Hey, boy,'' stammered Neville, reaching a hand out to Fang. Harry felt an inkling of pity for him. He had gotten scared by a rustling noise in the trees, that turned out to be a couple of centaurs galloping by, and he had shot up red sparks.

Fang sniffed each person, before nestling his head in between Hagrid's legs. ''What is Fang doing here? He's supposed to be with the other group,'' Hermione pointed out.

At the sound of the words the other group, Fang reared his head and frantically nudged Hagrid's hand. ''Wha'?'' Hagrid asked in disbelief. Fang barked once, then set off at a trot back the way he came, Hermione following close behind.

''What are you doing?'' Harry asked in disbelief. This is not the time to be following dogs, we need to find the other group. Draco's there! He can handle himself, but...

''Oh, don't be so dense, Harry,'' Hermione responded, like she knew exactly what he was thinking. ''Dogs are smarter than you think, and so are Draco and Daphne. Since Fang has such a powerful nose, they asked him to sniff us out and lead us to them.''

Harry still felt unconvinced. ''Well, I think it's a g - good idea,'' Neville agreed. ''I'm going t - to do it too.''

Hagrid also agreed, and Harry knew when he was beaten. They followed Fang for a couple minutes, relying on the sounds of his footsteps and his panting, since Hagrid's dinky lantern didn't do much to illuminate. Sure enough, Fang led them straight to a clearing where Daphne, Draco, and Pansy waited.

Draco hugged Hermione with one arm. ''I thought something happened to you. I was worried.'' Then he turned to Harry and offered him a warm smile. ''I was worried for you too, but I knew you could handle yourself in a bad situation. Out of everyone in your group, except for Hagrid, you're most likely to survive.'' Hermione rolled her eyes and hit Draco on the arm.

''Right, we're changin' groups, to make it easier on Neville. We've gotta get this done. Pansy, you and Neville switch groups. An' I think we'll have Draco in Harry's group. The girls will be nice to yeh, Neville.''

Once again, they set off on their separate ways, with Harry, Draco, and Pansy venturing into the heart of the forest with Fang. It felt like they had walked for half an hour. The moon was impossible to see because the trees were so thick, so Harry used the splatters of silvery blood to identify where trees and roots were. There seemed to be more blood around this part of the forest, like the unicorn had died here. Harry could see a clearing up ahead, framed by an ancient oak tree's tangled branches.

''Look - '' Harry murmured softly, holding out his arm to stop Pansy and Draco. Something bright white was unmoving, gleaming on the ground. They inched closer, not sure what to do. 

It was the unicorn all right, and it was dead. It was almost majestic the way its long, slender legs were stuck out at odd angles where it had fallen and its mane was spread like a river of pearls, spilling on the dark leaves.

Harry had taken one step towards the unicorn when a sudden slithering sound made him freeze like a stone statue. Looking back, the other two also looked petrified. A bush on the edge of the clearing quivered... then, out of the shadows, a hooded figure came crawling across the ground like a stalking viper.

Nobody dared to move or make a sound as the cloaked creature reached the unicorn. Rather, Harry, Draco, and Pansy stood transfixed. The figure slowly, deliberately lowered its head over the wound in the unicorn's side, and began to drink its blood. It was the most disgusting thing Harry had ever seen, and he had to live with Dudley. He'd had to see a lot of disgusting things.

''AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!'' Pansy screamed, and pushing Harry and Draco aside, she bolted through the trees. Fang jumped at her shout and skittered away after her. The hooded figure raised its head and looked right at Harry with unicorn blood dribbling down its front. Harry looked right at it, trying not to throw up in his mouth. Then the creature tore itself away from the unicorn and slithered swiftly toward Harry.

A sudden pain pierced through Harry's head. It felt like someone was setting his scar on fire. Trying to keep his eyes open through the pain, he staggered backwards. He was dimly aware of Draco pulling him away, and the sound of hoofbeats behind him.

Something jumped right over Harry and Draco, but the pain in his scar was too bad for him to register anything. He fell to his knees, waiting for the agony to pass. ''Harry? Harry!'' he heard Draco's voice say, then a new voice - ''Are you alright?''

Harry forced his eyes open. A centaur - a real centaur! - was standing over him, with white blond hair and a light palomino body. ''Yes, thank you, but what was that?'' Harry asked, still feeling disoriented.

The centaur's sapphire blue eyes lingered on Harry's scar before answering. ''You are the Potter boy. You had better get back to Hagrid. The forest is not safe at this time - especially for you. My name is Firenze. Can both of you ride? You can both fit on my back.''

Firenze lowered himself for them to climb on, but Harry was apprehensive. I've never ridden a horse before, much less a centaur. Draco slid on Firenze with ease. ''I've ridden before. Just get behind me and hold on tight.''

Suddenly a sound of more galloping came from the other side of the clearing. Two other big centaurs came bursting from the trees, their flanks sweaty and heaving. ''Firenze!'' the black haired one thundered. ''What are you doing? You have humans on your back! Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?''

''Do you realize who they are?'' Firenze shot back. ''This is the Potter boy, accompanied by the Malfoy boy. The quicker he leaves this forest, the better.''

''What have you been telling them?'' the black haired one asked. ''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?''

The other one nervously pawed the ground. ''I'm sure Firenze thought he was acting for the best,'' he said gloomily.

The black haired one angrily kicked his back legs. ''For the best! What is that to do with us? Centaurs are concerned with what has been foretold!''

Firenze suddenly reared onto his his hind legs, and Harry uttered a shrill scream while holding onto Draco with a white - knuckle grip. ''Do you not see that unicorn, or understand why it was killed? I set myself against what is lurking in this forest, Bane, with humans alongside me if I must.'' Then Firenze whisked away and plunged off into the trees. 

''What's that thing that you saved us from, anyway?'' Draco asked.

''Draco Malfoy, do you know what unicorn blood is used for?'' Firenze answered with a question. Draco shook his head. ''That is because it's 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, but at a terrible price. You have slain something so pure and so defenseless to save your own skin, and you will have a cursed life from the moment the the blood touches your lips.''