Another Failure

Hagrid and Fang were frequent visitors to the Forbidden Forest and were very familiar with the area. After walking for about ten minutes, the two of them and their dog found the spot where the Unicorn Blood had been discovered.

"It has already solidified."

Albert picked up a twig, poked at the congealed bloodstain on the ground, and said to Hagrid, "It shouldn't be here. We need to look for fresh blood."

Hagrid was a little confused and didn't understand what he meant, but he nodded anyway, realizing that bringing Albert over was definitely the right thing to do.

"Hagrid, how far is this from the nest of those Acromantula?" Albert asked cautiously.

After all, he did have a grudge against those Acromantula, and he wasn't as lucky as Potter, so he should be careful to avoid being attacked for no reason.

"Don't worry, you're safe with me here," Hagrid assured him, patting his chest. "Besides, Acromantula rarely hunt during the day."

"Hagrid, you seem to really believe those giant spiders won't hurt you?" Albert said to Hagrid, looking at Fang, who was sniffing around everywhere.

"I believe in Aragog," Hagrid said.

"Aragog, is that the Acromantula you keep?" Albert suddenly asked, "How old is it?"

"How old?" Hagrid stopped and looked at Albert, who was examining the bloodstains. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "Probably almost fifty!"

"How long can an Acromantula live?" Albert asked again.

"Well... I'm not really sure." Hagrid shook his head. Although he had kept Acromantula, his knowledge of them was very limited.

"Fifty years have passed. That Acromantula should be nearing the end of its lifespan." Albert stopped and looked around. He realized that the two of them had lost track of the bloodstains.

It was indeed too difficult to find during the day.

"Maybe you should have come over tonight; it would have been easier that way," Albert muttered.

"You think Aragog is dying?" Hagrid's mind immediately abandoned his search for the unicorn upon hearing Albert's words.

"Fifty years is a very long lifespan for a spider." Albert looked at the dejected Hagrid and kicked the man's boot as a reminder. "But don't worry, Aragog should be able to live for a few more years."

"You wouldn't understand that feeling, starting from an egg, hatching it, and slowly raising it to adulthood," Hagrid said sadly. Albert's words made him realize that Aragog was indeed very old.

"Hagrid, I know you like dangerous creatures, but I have to remind you again that this is the Forbidden Forest, and you should be careful," Albert warned.

"I know this is the Forbidden Forest. I've been here countless times when I was the Hunting Grounds keeper. To be honest, there are hardly any dangerous creatures on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest," Hagrid said to himself, as if venting his frustration. "There aren't even Werewolf, let alone Forest Troll. The headmaster forbids students from entering the Forbidden Forest Forbidden Forest because he's worried they'll get lost there."

"Are you sure?" Albert's lips twitched slightly as he raised his wand and pointed it in a certain direction; he could sense something there.

"Those are Thestral." Hagrid quickly stopped Albert from using magic. "There are a bunch of Thestral in the Forbidden Forest. They're the ones that pull the carriages the students ride to school. You should know what Thestral is, right?"

"Yes, it's the Thestral that only those who have witnessed death can see." Albert lowered his wand, but he didn't completely let his guard down.

"Yes, that's it. Thestral just don't have a good reputation." Hagrid asked with a smile, "Would you like to try riding one?"

"May I?"

"Sure!"

Hagrid let Albert experience what it's like to ride Thestral.

The backs of the night riders are soft and smooth, so sitting on them is not uncomfortable at all, and they are gentler than I had imagined.

What do they eat?

"Blood and raw flesh." Hagrid scratched his head, not understanding why Albert was asking this.

"Perhaps we can really get them to help us find that unicorn. I don't think there are many injured animals in the forest!" Albert said to Hagrid after getting off the Thestral.

"Well... Thestral are very clever, but I'm not sure if this method will work." Hagrid considered it for a moment, but still felt it was worth a try.

Thestral are not human and cannot communicate well, even though Hagrid tried his best, he ultimately failed.

Albert wasn't surprised; it was within his expectations. He had only let Hagrid try it out with the thought that he wouldn't lose anything.

The two had no choice but to continue their search for the unicorn.

"I've heard that after a unicorn dies, its blood turns into a deadly poison after a period of time. Is that true?" Albert asked.

"I'm not sure." Hagrid shook his head; he genuinely didn't know. "Very few wizards would cruelly kill such pure life."

"That's because the profit isn't big enough. If a unicorn were worth a thousand Galleon or even more, do you believe that unicorns would quickly become endangered animals?" Albert couldn't help but laugh at himself. "Don't forget, there are plenty of dragon livers, Dragon Blood, Dragon Hide, Dragon meat, dragon claws on the market... and these trades are all legal."

"Perhaps you are right."

Hagrid thought Albert's words made a lot of sense. There were indeed no unicorn internal organs for sale on the market; what was available were Unicorn Tail Hair and horns, which were extremely expensive.

A unicorn's horn can grow back if it's cut off.

Otherwise, every unicorn horn would kill a unicorn, and these creatures would have gone extinct long ago.

After wandering in the Forbidden Forest for more than an hour, the two people and the dog still hadn't found anything. Fang had lost its initial energy and was panting with its tongue hanging down.

During this time, Albert tried many methods, but to no avail. Perhaps the unicorn was not dead, or perhaps its fur directly resisted the Summoning Charm.

Many Magical Creature with powerful Magical Power can do this.

"I really don't know how carefree Dumbledore must be to let Potter into the Forbidden Forest to look for unicorns," Albert thought to himself, continuing to follow Hagrid along the trail of blood they had found.

They have already begun to venture deep into the Forbidden Forest.

"It's getting closer, the blood hasn't completely congealed yet!" Hagrid rubbed the bloodstains on the tip of his sword, seemingly wanting to put it in his mouth to taste it, but then seemed to think of something and gave up.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the trees became extremely dense, making the path impassable, but the bloodstains around them became increasingly visible.

In the end, they actually found it: a unicorn lying in a pool of silver blood.

"It's dead, and it must have been for some time now." Albert looked at the tragically beautiful unicorn before him and sighed softly.

Hagrid strode forward and examined the unicorn's wounds. They weren't scratches or bites, but rather something had pierced its abdomen.

"It must be magic, you're right. Maybe you're right, there are Dark wizard hunting unicorns." Hagrid's face was grim.

"Were there other people around?" Albert explained. "I mean, did the Dark wizard succeed?"

"Probably not, I didn't find any traces left by anyone else around here," Hagrid said, shaking his head.

"What do you plan to do now?" Albert asked again. "Should we just bury it? Or should we have Dumbledore come and examine it to find out what kind of Dark Magic killed the unicorn?"

"Bury it!" Hagrid said, clenching his fist.

"Um, Hagrid?"

"What's up?"

Hagrid, seeing the crater Albert had created with magic, asked in confusion.

"Can I take the horn?" Albert pointed to the horn on the unicorn's head.

Most Unicorn Horn on the market have been processed, just like dragon claws; they are basically ground into powder and sold in bottles.

What do you need this for?

"Unicorn Horn have a strong detoxifying effect, and you can hardly buy a complete unicorn horn on the market." Albert casually made up an excuse; he couldn't very well say it was a reward for his mission!

"Alright, take it if you want!" Hagrid didn't refuse.

After all, the unicorn is dead.

"Thanks."

Albert used the Cutting Curse to carefully cut off the unicorn's horn and put it into his Transfiguration Lizard Skin Bag.

"I should be the one thanking you."

After burying the unicorn, the two began their journey home.

The return journey was much faster than the journey there. Hagrid first went back to the hut to pack up the crossbow and arrows, and then went alone to the Headmaster's Office to report the matter to Dumbledore.