Draco leaned against Hermione's gently supporting arm, his breathing slightly calmer.
He glanced down at the silent, Soul-Sealing Jar in his arms, and a mocking smile suddenly appeared on his pale face.
He raised his hand and gently tapped the jar, the sound carrying clearly into it, " Old Voldy, I was hoping to chat with you a little longer."
"But when I think about how you're always talking about Avada Kedavra, I have no choice but to strike first."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Soul-Sealing Jar in his arms suddenly trembled slightly, and a cold, piercing sound actually came out of the jar.
Because the seal has not completely restricted his soul, Voldemort can still communicate with the outside world for the time being.
" Malfoy...!"
His voice was filled with anger and hatred, carrying the humiliation of being ambushed and overwhelming ferocity, yet trapped inside the jar with nowhere to vent, it could only turn into a hoarse roar.
"How dare you imprison me with such a despicable instrument! I will tear you to pieces! I will make your whole family..."
"Save your breath."
Draco interrupted him calmly, stroking the runes on the jar.
"You can't even move a finger now, what can you do besides spouting threats?"
The Soul-Sealing Jar trembled violently, and the overwhelming malevolent energy within suddenly receded, its ferocity vanishing instantly.
Instead, it was replaced by a fawning tone.
" Malfoy... Draco, let's talk this out. I have no grudge against your Malfoy family; we're practically on the same side..."
Voldemort began to back down, humbly trying to establish a connection, which sounded rather pathetic.
"I know you're intelligent and capable, and you're destined for greatness. Let me out, and I promise you unparalleled power and wealth; the entire Wizarding World can be yours..."
Hagrid frowned and snapped, "Stop your sweet talk! Who would believe the nonsense of a dark wizard like you!"
Hermione held Draco tightly, urgently reminding him, " Draco, don't listen to him! He's a complete liar, it's all lies!"
"Don't worry." Draco remained unmoved.
Seeing this, Voldemort's voice became even more seductive:
"Think about it, the glory of the Malfoy family, your father's expectations—you should be at the top. Why associate with those mediocre people? I can give you everything, make you the most powerful wizard..."
"Shut up!" Hermione snapped, then said to Draco, "He just wants to use you! Once you're no longer useful, he'll kill you first!"
"Exactly!" Hagrid's chest heaved with anger. "That devil is a master of sweet talk, Draco, don't fall for it!"
"What I want has never come from the charity of someone like you," Draco said.
As he spoke, he lowered his head and pressed his hand onto the runes on the Soul-Sealing Jar:
"Alright, Old Voldy, you'd better stay in the jar. I'm not letting you communicate with the outside world anymore."
"What if you really bewitched me, and I accidentally let you out again? That would be terrible."
As soon as he finished speaking, a faint light flashed at his fingertips, and the runes on the jar instantly lit up.
The next second, the incessant persuasion, enticement, and soft words from inside the jar suddenly turned into a sharp, extremely piercing roar and curses.
" Malfoy! You dare! I swear I will—!"
"Let me out! You ungrateful brat—!"
"I'll make you pay! Your whole family—!"
The roars grew increasingly frantic and desperate, a helpless rage of a cornered beast fighting for its life.
But it only lasted for a fleeting moment.
As Draco channeled his last bit of magic into the seal, all sound ceased.
It fell silent immediately.
The world was left with only the sound of the wind in the forest, the rustling of leaves, and the soft breathing of the three people.
The Soul-Sealing Jar lay quietly in Draco's arms, motionless, like an ordinary little jar.
Hermione breathed a long sigh of relief, her hand supporting Draco weakening slightly, as if a huge weight had finally been lifted from her heart.
Hagrid wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, grinned, and revealed a simple, honest smile that suggested he had survived a close call.
Just then, as the wind in the forest subsided, the shadows of the trees in the distance began to sway gently.
Firenze and two other centaurs slowly emerged from the dense forest.
They hadn't gone far; they had simply been hiding in the shadows, witnessing the entire thrilling sealing and conversation that had just taken place.
The centaurs first looked at the Soul-Sealing Jar in Draco's arms, then at Professor Quirrell, whose breath was barely visible on the ground.
Finally, his gaze fell on the pale-faced, weak-breathed boy, and a look of shock finally appeared in his usually indifferent and aloof eyes.
Firenze took the first step forward, his forelegs lightly touching the ground.
He looked at Draco with a rare respect:
"We saw it. You, a mere youth, quelled the darkness that many feared and saved the lives of other innocent people."
The other two centaurs also nodded slightly in respect.
They have always kept their distance from humans, but at this moment they made no attempt to hide the approval in their eyes.
"Just did what I was supposed to do," Draco said casually.
Upon seeing the centaurs appear and hearing such praise, Hagrid immediately puffed out his chest, his face beaming with pride.
"I told you long ago that this kid is extraordinary! The moment he made a move, that demon had no chance to fight back! Now the Forbidden Forest can finally be peaceful!"
Hermione, supporting Draco's arm, thanked the men, "Thanks to your reminder, we were able to proceed with caution."
"Go back as soon as possible. The darkness here has dissipated, and we centaurs will protect you on the rest of the way," Firenze said.
Draco thanked him, and the three prepared to leave.
Hermione held his arm firmly, while Hagrid carefully carried the still unconscious Professor Quirrell, and the four of them bid farewell to the centaur.
Behind him, Firenze and the other centaurs surrounded the unicorn's remains, their heads bowed, their expressions solemn.
With a solemn ceremony unique to the centaurs, they gently lifted the pure white body, preparing to bury it in the most tender Forbidden Forest, so that this pure spirit could rest in peace.
The group walked silently for a short distance before the light in the woods suddenly became soft and bright.
The shadows of the trees parted ahead, and a familiar figure stood quietly on the path.
It's Professor Dumbledore.
He had clearly been waiting there all along, as if he already knew all the thrilling events of the night.
Hermione's tense nerves completely relaxed upon seeing the headmaster, and her eyes welled up with tears.
Before Draco could speak, he Dumbledore to Draco:
"Professor! You don't know, Draco is amazing! He personally sealed Voldemort away and saved Professor Quirrell's life! He wasn't afraid at all; even when Voldemort tried to tempt him, he didn't waver in the slightest..."
She recounted Draco's composure, courage, and decisiveness to Dumbledore, one sentence after another.
Dumbledore listened quietly, his gaze remaining gently fixed on Draco.
He didn't interrupt, but simply nodded slightly. After Hermione finished speaking, he slowly stepped forward and carefully examined Draco's pale face.
" Old Dumbledore, now you can pretty much rest easy. All you need to do now is focus on getting rid of that stuff on Harry," Draco chuckled.