Encountering a Unicorn

Charlie followed behind Filch, itching to give him a good whack.

Did he really have to come barging in right when he was enjoying himself?

The senior girls had been giving him a perfectly comfortable massage when this old geezer burst in and ruined it.

Charlie stared at Filch's gleaming bald head, his fingers curling slightly.

"Hurry up! Stop dawdling!" Filch shot Charlie a glare, malice brimming in his eyes.

"Tonight's detention will be one you'll never forget."

Charlie didn't bother to reply.

Soon, Filch led Charlie out of the castle and up to the door of Hagrid's hut.

Charlie was wondering what kind of detention required coming out here, when he saw that besides himself, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were also there.

They'd been given detention by Professor McGonagall too.

"Charlie!" Harry waved in greeting, his voice laced with obvious nervousness.

Ron and Hermione nodded at Charlie as well.

Filch shoved Charlie toward Hagrid, then turned to face the four students.

His eyes glinted with a cold, sinister light under the moonlight.

"All of you, behave yourselves!" Filch's voice was sharp and grating.

"This is detention time, not a chat session!"

"These little brats are in your hands now, Hagrid. Remember, make sure they suffer a bit. Especially this Charlie—he's been raising hell all over the school."

Hagrid furrowed his brow.

"Just hand them over to me." Hagrid's voice was low and firm.

"This isn't the place for you to lecture anyone. The rest is none of your business."

Filch's smile froze on his face.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but meeting Hagrid's eyes—those black beetle-like orbs—he ultimately said nothing.

"Hmph." Filch let out a cold snort, then turned and left.

His footsteps echoed along the stone path, gradually fading away.

Once Filch was gone, Hagrid turned to face the four students.

His expression grew serious.

"Your detention is to patrol the Forbidden Forest with me."

"We're going to drive the creatures in the Forbidden Forest away from Hogwarts."

Ron's face went pale in an instant.

"The Forbidden Forest?" His voice trembled.

"Isn't that really dangerous?"

Hagrid watched Ron's reaction with satisfaction.

He deliberately lowered his voice, building an atmosphere of dread.

"Our job tonight is very dangerous," Hagrid said slowly.

"If you don't want to die, stay close to me."

Now even Harry and Hermione grew tense.

Harry swallowed hard, a flicker of fear in his eyes.

Hermione gripped her Wand tightly, her knuckles white from the strain.

Hagrid nodded in approval.

Detention needed to be intimidating—how else would students learn their lesson?

But when he looked at Charlie, he froze.

Charlie's eyes were gleaming, his face brimming with excitement.

He was rubbing his hands together, practically raring to go.

This detention was great. This detention was worth getting. Long live Professor McGonagall!

Hagrid blinked.

Something was off. Very off.

Wasn't this kid scared at all?

Hagrid shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it.

He turned and headed toward the Forbidden Forest, an oil lamp in hand.

"Stay close to me."

The four students followed behind Hagrid.

Hagrid took a few steps, glanced back, and nearly burst out laughing.

Harry and Ron flanked Charlie on either side, pressing tightly against his arms.

Hermione followed behind, one hand clutching Charlie's robe.

In this terrifying Forbidden Forest, only Charlie could give them any sense of safety.

"Ho ho ho." Hagrid let out a low chuckle. "Looks like detention's working well."

As they ventured deeper into the forest, moonlight was blocked by the thick canopy, and the surroundings grew darker.

Dry twigs and fallen leaves crunched underfoot.

In the distance, the calls of unknown animals echoed, especially eerie in the silent night.

Charlie was a bit fed up with the three of them crowding him.

Their body heat pressed in, making him feel stifled.

"Hey," Charlie said in a low voice to the trio.

"The Forbidden Forest isn't that scary. I've been here before. Hagrid's just messing with you."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione loosened their grip, half-believing him.

Just then, a crisp crack sounded from behind.

Instantly, the three closed in around Charlie again.

"That was just a branch snapped by some small animal," Charlie said helplessly.

But the trio wouldn't listen, firmly shielding Charlie in the middle.

Charlie gave up resisting entirely.

Fine, whatever.

Hagrid led them deeper into the forest.

The oil lamp's light flickered in the darkness, casting eerie shadows.

After they had gone far, a figure in a black robe stepped out from the shadows of the trees.

It was Quirrell.

Moonlight fell on his face, revealing a grim expression.

His purple turban swayed slightly in the night breeze.

His hands rubbed together in front of him, not from nervousness, but from anger.

Tonight, he had an important task.

Voldemort, too weak, had forced him to hunt Unicorns.

Unicorn blood could sustain life and revive Voldemort's soul.

But now Hagrid's group had appeared, ruining all his plans.

Murderous intent flashed in Quirrell's eyes.

But he quickly calmed down.

Killing everyone would draw Dumbledore's attention.

And because Voldemort possessed him, his body was frail, and he lacked confidence in taking on both Hagrid and Charlie at once.

Especially Charlie.

The strength that brat had shown put Quirrell on guard.

"Must be careful," Quirrell muttered to himself.

"Can't be discovered."

He slipped back into the shadows, choosing a route opposite to Hagrid's group.

Charlie and the others hadn't noticed Quirrell.

As the Gamekeeper, patrolling the Forbidden Forest was Hagrid's daily task, and accidents almost never happened.

That had dulled his vigilance to the lowest point, completely unaware that danger had just been right beside them.

The five continued deeper into the forest.

The fallen leaves rustled softly underfoot.

Ron gripped Charlie's sleeve tightly, his other hand holding his Wand.

His palms were sweating.

"Hagrid, aren't we here to drive off animals?" Ron asked in a low voice.

"Why haven't we seen any animals?"

"They already ran off by the time we got close."

Hagrid glanced back at the four students.

"So we just follow the route and that's it," Harry muttered.

"Then detention isn't so bad after all."

"Don't get too cocky," Hermione whispered. "No one knows what's in the Forbidden Forest."

They pressed on and soon reached a small stream. The water shimmered silver under the moonlight, gurgling softly.

"Wait." Hermione stopped abruptly, pointing across the stream. "What's that?"

Everyone followed her gaze. A white figure flickered in and out of sight among the trees. Hagrid raised his lantern, squinted, then broke into a delighted grin.

"Oh, you're in luck!" His voice brimmed with excitement. "That's a Unicorn!"

Hagrid waved at the white figure. "Nolan! It's me, Hagrid!"

Ron's eyes went wide. "It has a name?"

"I gave it to him." Hagrid grinned. "Nice, isn't it?"

At Hagrid's call, the white figure stepped slowly from the woods. The silver-white Unicorn revealed itself in full. Moonlight caught its pristine coat, gleaming like pearls. Its spiraled horn glowed faintly silver in the dark. Its eyes were clear as water, its gait too graceful for this world.

Hermione was transfixed. She'd never seen anything so beautiful. Without thinking, she reached out her right hand, wanting to touch this legendary Magical Creature.

Nolan didn't back away. Instead, it moved toward her, gently pressing its head into her palm. Her fingers met its fur—so soft she gasped.

"So soft..."

Hagrid nodded approvingly. "Unicorns are symbols of purity. They only approach those with a pure heart. Looks like it really likes Hermione."

Charlie stared in surprise. He'd never seen one of these legendary creatures either. How cool would it be to ride one? Was that horn just bone sticking out? He wondered what it was made of.

Charlie reached out to touch it too.

Nolan jerked back a step, eyeing him with disdain. The look was clear: Stay away from me.

Charlie: "???"

What, so I'm not pure?

Hermione couldn't help snickering beside him.

Hagrid burst out laughing, his voice echoing through the night sky.

"Compared to wizards, unicorns might be more drawn to witches."

He clapped Charlie on the shoulder.

"Don't take it to heart, Charlie."

Charlie pursed his lips, thinking sourly to himself.

Some pure unicorn—pure hooligan. Who even knows what that horn's for.