Charlie followed Filch, wishing he could give him a good smack.
Did he have to show up just when things were getting good?
The older girls had been giving him a wonderful massage, and then this old man had barged in and ruined everything.
Charlie stared at Filch's shiny bald head, his fingers curling slightly.
"Hurry up! Stop dawdling!" Filch snapped, glaring back at Charlie with malice in his eyes.
"Tonight's detention will be one you never forget."
Charlie ignored him.
Soon, Filch led Charlie out of the castle and to Hagrid's Hut.
Charlie was wondering what kind of detention required them to go outside when he saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione waiting there too.
They had been given detention by Professor McGonagall as well.
"Charlie!" Harry waved to him, his voice noticeably nervous.
Ron and Hermione nodded in greeting too.
Filch shoved Charlie toward Hagrid, then turned to face the four students.
His eyes gleamed coldly in the moonlight.
"You'd all better behave!" Filch's voice was sharp and grating.
"It's detention time, not time for chatting!"
"These little brats are your responsibility, Hagrid. Make sure they suffer a little. Especially this Charlie—he's caused an awful lot of trouble at school."
Hagrid frowned.
"Just hand them over to me," Hagrid said in a deep, firm voice.
"This isn't the place for you to lecture them. The rest is none of your concern."
Filch's smile stiffened.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but when he saw Hagrid's eyes, black as beetles, he ultimately said nothing.
"Hmph." Filch snorted and turned to leave.
His footsteps echoed along the stone path, growing fainter as he walked away.
After Filch had 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 forest away from Hogwarts."
Ron's face instantly turned deathly pale.
"The Forbidden Forest?" His voice trembled.
"Isn't it really dangerous?"
Hagrid watched Ron's reaction with satisfaction.
He deliberately lowered his voice to create a frightening atmosphere.
"Our job tonight is very dangerous," Hagrid said slowly.
"If you don't want to get killed, stay close to me."
Now even Harry and Hermione were getting nervous.
Harry swallowed, a flicker of fear in his eyes.
Hermione gripped her Wand tightly, her knuckles whitening with the strain.
Hagrid nodded in satisfaction.
Detention was supposed to be intimidating. Otherwise, how would the students learn their lesson?
But when he looked at Charlie, he froze.
Charlie's eyes were shining, his face full of excitement.
He rubbed his hands together, practically unable to wait.
What a great detention! This is the kind of detention I want! Long live Professor McGonagall!
Hagrid blinked.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Wasn't this kid afraid?
Hagrid shook his head and put the thought aside.
He turned and headed for the Forbidden Forest, carrying an oil lamp.
"Stay close."
The four students followed behind Hagrid.
After walking a few steps, Hagrid glanced back and nearly burst out laughing.
Harry and Ron had Charlie sandwiched between them, pressed close against his arms.
Hermione trailed behind them, one hand holding on to the hem of Charlie's robe.
In this terrifying forest, Charlie was the only one who made them feel even a little safe.
"Ho ho ho," Hagrid chuckled deeply. "Looks like detention's having the right effect."
As they ventured deeper into the Forbidden Forest, the thick canopy blocked out the moonlight, and the surroundings grew darker and darker.
Dead leaves and twigs rustled beneath their feet.
The cries of unknown animals rang out in the distance, especially eerie in the stillness of the night.
Charlie was starting to get uncomfortable with the three of them crowding him.
Their body heat was making him feel stifled.
"Hey," Charlie whispered to the three of them.
"There's nothing scary in the Forbidden Forest. I've been here before. Hagrid's just trying to scare you."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione tentatively eased away from him a little.
Just then, a crisp crack sounded behind them.
The three of them immediately crowded around Charlie again.
"It was just a branch snapping under some little animal's foot."
Charlie said helplessly.
But the three of them didn't listen, keeping him firmly surrounded.
Charlie gave up resisting.
Fine. Whatever.
Hagrid led them farther into the Forbidden Forest.
The oil lamp flickered in the darkness, casting eerie shadows.
After they had gone, a figure in a black robe emerged from the shadows of the trees.
It was Quirrell.
Moonlight fell across his face, revealing a grim expression.
His purple turban fluttered slightly in the night breeze.
He rubbed his hands together in front of him, but not from nervousness—from anger.
He had an important task to carry out tonight.
Voldemort was so weak that he had forced Quirrell to hunt a Unicorn.
Unicorn Blood could prolong life and restore Voldemort's spirit.
But now Hagrid and the others had appeared, throwing all his plans into disarray.
A murderous glint flashed in Quirrell's eyes.
But he quickly regained his composure.
Killing everyone would draw Dumbledore's attention.
Besides, being possessed by Voldemort had left his body very weak, and he wasn't confident he could take on Hagrid and Charlie at the same time.
Especially Charlie.
The strength that boy had shown made Quirrell wary.
"I have to be careful," Quirrell muttered to himself.
"I can't let them find me."
He slipped back into the shadows and chose a route opposite to the one Hagrid and the others had taken.
Charlie and the others had not noticed Quirrell.
As gamekeeper, patrolling the Forbidden Forest was part of Hagrid's daily routine, and almost nothing ever went wrong.
That had left him about as alert as a dozing cat, and he had no idea danger had just been right beside them.
The five of them continued deeper into the Forbidden Forest.
Dead leaves crunched softly beneath their feet.
Ron clutched Charlie's sleeve, his other hand gripping his Wand.
His palms were already sweating.
"Hagrid, aren't we here to drive away the animals?" Ron asked in a low voice.
"Why haven't we seen any?"
"They've already run off by the time we get near," Hagrid replied.
He glanced back at the four students.
"So we just need to walk along the route once."
"Then detention isn't all that scary," Harry said quietly.
"Don't get too excited," Hermione cautioned in a low voice.
"None of us knows what might be in the Forbidden Forest."
They continued onward and soon reached a stream.
The water shimmered silver in the moonlight, burbling softly as it flowed.
"Wait."
Hermione stopped abruptly and pointed across the stream.
"What's that?"
Everyone looked in the direction she was pointing.
A white figure appeared and disappeared among the trees.
Hagrid raised his oil lamp and peered carefully. A delighted expression spread across his face.
"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 widened.
"It has a name?"
"I gave it one," Hagrid said with a broad grin.
"Pretty good, isn't it?"
At Hagrid's call, the white figure slowly emerged from the trees.
The Unicorn's silvery-white form came fully into view.
Moonlight fell on its snowy coat, making it shimmer like a pearl.
Its spiraling horn gave off a faint silvery glow in the night.
Its eyes were clear as water, and it moved with a grace that seemed beyond anything earthly.
Hermione stared in awe.
She had never seen a creature so beautiful.
Almost without thinking, she reached out her right hand, wanting to touch this Magical Creature of legend.
When Nolan saw Hermione reach out, it didn't retreat. Instead, it walked toward her.
It gently lowered its head toward Hermione's palm.
Hermione's fingers touched the Unicorn's coat, and the softness made her let out a little gasp.
"So soft..."
Hagrid nodded in satisfaction.
"Unicorns are symbols of purity."
"They only approach those who are pure of heart. It seems to like Hermione."
Charlie watched the Unicorn with some surprise.
This legendary creature was a first for him too.
Riding it would be so cool.
Is that horn just a bone sticking out?
I wonder what it's made of.
Charlie reached out too, wanting to touch it.
Nolan abruptly stepped back, looking at Charlie with disdain.
Its gaze made its meaning perfectly clear: Stay away from me.
Charlie: "???"
What's that supposed to mean? You're saying I'm not pure?
Hermione couldn't help snickering at the side.
Hagrid burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the night.
"Unicorns might be more comfortable around witches than wizards."
He patted Charlie on the shoulder.
"Don't take it to heart, Charlie."
Charlie pursed his lips, feeling a little sour as he thought,
What pure-hearted unicorn? It's just a total creep. I don't even know what that horn is for.
Before you continue