Weren't You the One Who Said You Weren't Going?

Lupin raised an eyebrow, a thoughtful smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

James froze for a second, then his laughter echoed through the Hospital Wing.

He slapped his thigh with a sharp smack, making even the bedframe tremble.

"Mate, want me to remind you that yesterday she only agreed to call your name, not marry you and take the Black name?"

James cleared his throat, made a dainty gesture with his hand, and imitated a little girl's sweet voice.

"Dear Sirius, may I eat? Dear Sirius, may I drink water? Dear Sirius, may I blink?"

With every line, his voice grew shriller and his expression more exaggerated.

Sirius's face reddened all the way from his neck to his ears. "Enough!"

But James was not done. Still imitating a little girl, he gave a lovestruck look. "Oh, no. It should be: Dear Sirius, may I let Brother Barty walk me back to the Common Room? Dear Sirius, may I do homework with Brother Regulus?"

Sirius grabbed a stool and snapped, "Say one more word and I'll separate your head from your neck! I just don't understand it. The Forbidden Forest is dangerous, so why didn't she ask us for help?"

Lupin said calmly, "Maybe because this was something she and Crouch had planned together from the start? And if it was for my potion, she might not have wanted us to take the risk."

James suddenly stopped smiling, his expression turning serious. "Wait, Padfoot, does that mean Crouch and your brother both know about Moony's condition?"

The room fell silent at once.

Lupin's expression shifted slightly as he considered the possibility.

He thought for a long time before speaking, his gaze passing over Sirius's face. "Very likely. Crouch and Regulus are both very observant. Maybe they figured it out a long time ago. But I don't think Miss Crouch was the one who told them."

Sirius's expression remained tense. "Why?"

"Because if she had told them what happened in the corridor that day... given their personalities, especially Crouch's protectiveness toward her, he should already have charged into the Hospital Wing with his wand raised to find me..."

Lupin paused there, choosing a more tactful phrasing.

"...to settle accounts, rather than risk going into the Forbidden Forest. This is more like they already knew about my condition, and Miss Crouch offered to help, so they went to gather ingredients together."

Sirius's expression eased somewhat, though he was still dissatisfied. "The Forbidden Forest is dangerous, especially at night. Even if Crouch and Regulus are fourth-years, that doesn't mean they can handle it."

James's eyes lit up. "Then we have even more reason to go take a look, don't we?"

Sirius shook his head. "No. Moony is more important."

James raised an eyebrow. "Really? You're not even interested in Miss Lucretia going to see a unicorn? Under the moonlight, a beautiful girl meeting a unicorn... what a romantic scene!"

Lupin chuckled. "Maybe we'll even get to see the moment a unicorn sheds tears. That's exceptionally rare."

Sirius turned his face away and insisted, though his tone was no longer as firm, "I said I'm not going."

James shrugged, a mischievous smile curling his lips as he deliberately dragged out his words. "All right, then I'll go by myself. After all, it's a magical encounter between a beautiful girl and a unicorn... a once-in-a-lifetime sight like that can't be missed."

Sirius narrowed his eyes. "You're serious?"

James sat up on the bed, pressed his clasped hands against his cheek, and put on the dreamy expression of someone in a Shoujo Manga. "Of course! I'm dying of curiosity!"

He closed his eyes and began describing it in a dreamy tone.

"Think about it, Padfoot! Under the moonlight, a silver-white unicorn strolls gracefully, while a beautiful girl in blue school robes gently strokes its shimmering mane... what a poetic sight! Maybe I'll even write a poem."

Sirius abruptly stood up. "We need to go take a look and make sure they're safe."

James instantly looked pleased with himself. "Going as bodyguards? Not a bad excuse. But weren't you completely unconcerned about where they were going just now? Moony was more important. Why not just wait for me to come back and tell you all about it?"

"Cut the nonsense. Where's the Invisibility Cloak? The Forbidden Forest is dangerous. It's even less safe for you to go alone."

James took out the Invisibility Cloak but deliberately did not hand it over. "In my bag. But I'm wondering, are you sure it's because the Forbidden Forest is unsafe, or because you don't want me going alone to watch a beautiful girl and a unicorn meet under the moonlight?"

Sirius's expression changed several times.

Laughing, James handed him the Invisibility Cloak, then turned and winked at Lupin. "See that, Moony? Who says I don't know when to stop? This is called knowing when enough is enough."

Lupin shook his head helplessly. "Be careful. If there really is danger, don't play hero. Go find a professor immediately."

Sirius turned to James. "We'll be back soon. Are you coming or not?"

James sprang up. "Of course I'm coming! A beautiful girl and a unicorn are waiting for us!"

The two of them put on the Invisibility Cloak and quietly left the Hospital Wing.

Sirius checked the Marauder's Map. The three names had already reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

Under the Invisibility Cloak, James whispered, "Admit it. You just want to see what she looks like meeting a unicorn."

Sirius did not answer. He unfolded the map to check their route and quickened his pace.

The night at the edge of the Forbidden Forest was much colder than inside the castle.

The damp night breeze carried the mingled scents of soil, rotting leaves, and all kinds of wild grass, along with the distinctive fragrance of wild magical plants drifting from afar.

The moon hung high overhead, while the towering Forbidden Forest in the distance stood like a black wall, silently guarding its secrets in the night.

The autumn breeze brushed against their cheeks. Lucretia took a deep breath and felt a strange sense of familiarity.

"The plants here smell completely different from the Herbology class greenhouse. Freer, more... real."

Regulus smiled. "I guessed you'd prefer this wild feeling. Once Barty and I get familiar with the route, we'll take you deeper in next time."

Little Barty checked the map beside them and did not deny it.

His finger tapped the area ahead. "It's here. The book says Tender Mint should be nearby. They usually grow along the edges of trees near water sources, especially after a Full Moon."

Regulus drew his wand and nodded only after making sure there were no other suspicious creatures nearby.

"Then shall we split up? But don't leave one another's line of sight."

Lucretia closed her eyes and sensed the plants around her. "Let me try."

Regulus and Little Barty stopped talking, even softening their breathing.

Lucretia's brows furrowed, then relaxed.

Her fingers trembled slightly in the air, as though feeling for some invisible ripple.

After about a minute, she opened her eyes and pointed to the left ahead.

"It should be over there. I can sense a... pulsing presence. Like a heartbeat, but slower and calmer."

The two exchanged a glance and nodded in unspoken agreement.

Little Barty stepped in the direction she indicated. "You lead. We'll follow behind."

She led the two through low bushes and into a small clearing surrounded by tall oak trees.

Moonlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating a small patch of Tender Mint that glowed faintly on the ground.

Lucretia crouched down and held her hand above the plants. "They're beautiful. They're breathing."

Little Barty crouched beside her and took the flat wooden box from his bag.

He opened it, revealing a full set of neatly arranged, custom-made silver tools, then took out a pair of scissors and handed them to Lucretia.

"Remember to cut at an angle to preserve the medicinal properties, then put them straight into this special container."

Lucretia took the scissors, knelt beside the Tender Mint, and began harvesting with practiced skill.

Regulus stood watch nearby and teased Little Barty with a smile. "Looks like all those harvesting methods you copied onto parchment were a waste."

Lucretia turned her head toward Little Barty and smiled with pursed lips. "Plants all speak the same language. They'll tell you how to treat them, just like the Bouncing Bulbs at our home."

Behind a tree more than ten meters away, Sirius and James watched the scene while holding their breath beneath the Invisibility Cloak.

James lowered his voice and teased, "Looks like your rival has done plenty of homework, huh?"

Sirius glanced at the carefully prepared toolbox and had to admit it was indeed thorough. "Shut up, Fork."

James held back a laugh and continued courting death. "What, got proven wrong? You were muttering in the Hospital Wing about how you understood unicorns and Tender Mint best, but he even prepared a toolbox. Look at the Protective Runes on it—they're more comprehensive than Slughorn's. Seriously, if she'd actually asked us for help, the two of us might be staring blankly at each other right now."

Sirius gave an unwilling snort. "At least he knows what he's doing."

James raised an eyebrow. "Oh, are you admitting he's better than you? The eldest son of the Black family is conceding defeat?"

"Only in this matter."

Sirius corrected him impatiently, his eyes never leaving Lucretia's focused profile.

James followed his gaze and leaned closer to whisper in his ear, "I have to say, her technique really is impressive. With that level of skill... I bet Professor Slughorn will be fighting to drag her into that club of his in a few days."