By day, the grounds looked lush and green; by night, they were pitch-black.
The moonlight was bright and clear, but clouds kept drifting past, occasionally plunging them into darkness. Light shone from Hagrid's hut through the windows, casting a warm orange glow into the night.
Felix Felicis also had to be stored in darkness. Although it glowed gold like sunlight, just like Cheering Potion, it was still somewhat different. And making Felix Felicis required not only a registered Potions Master certificate, but also unicorn blood.
"What do you want!?" Pomona could not help shouting.
Severus glared viciously at her.
"Do you want everyone to know?" he said, as if uttering a curse.
"Are you planning to hunt a unicorn?" Pomona still shouted.
"Not kill it—persuade it. Losing a little blood won't kill it," he said hypocritically. "If all goes well, we might even get it to give us its horn."
"Oh, right, if all goes well!" Pomona mocked. "Assuming it lets you get close. Or are you planning to get kicked by a unicorn again, Severus?"
"How was I supposed to know it didn't like boys getting near it?" he retorted. "And stop always bringing that up..."
"Even when you were a child, you weren't pure. They like Hagrid well enough," Pomona went on regardless.
"I need a powerful antidote. I need these things," he said, stressing every word.
"So you want me to communicate with the unicorn? Hmm?" Pomona said angrily. "Didn't you tell me Lucius Malfoy needed something in return?"
"Are you helping or not?" he said irritably.
Pomona punched him hard in the shoulder.
But she still followed him deeper into the Forbidden Forest.
Unicorns were difficult to encounter. Even in the Forbidden Forest, they might not find a single one tonight.
"You idiot," Pomona muttered. "Who