"Harry Potter- Ravenclaw"Chapter 33: Into the Forbidden Forest
The end of the Christmas holidays signaled the beginning of the final step in the Animagus transformation.
Hogwarts was coming back to life. The snow had stopped falling, and thick drifts were slowly melting away. Yet the sun remained hidden, leaving castle and grounds shrouded in a damp, bone-chilling gloom.
The Forbidden Forest was slower to awaken. Between the ancient trees, all was still and silent—only now and then did a small creature dart through the underbrush.
...
At five o'clock on a weekend morning, Wyzett slipped from his dormitory with a backpack slung over his shoulder. In the common room, he pulled out a battered notebook and spread it open on the table.
This notebook had once belonged to the creators of The Marauder's Map. Besides their notes on Animagus magic, the final pages held a hand-drawn map.
It marked the location of a mysterious altar, deep within the Forbidden Forest—an altar said to require a crystal to activate its magic, summoning a thunderstorm through ancient weather spells.
After confirming the altar's symbol on the map, Wyzett drew his wand and pressed its tip to the mark.
"Point me!"
He tossed his wand into the air. It hovered, the tip angling unmistakably toward the forest's shadowed edge.
The Point-Me Charm—simple, yet endlessly useful. At its most basic, it acted as a magical compass: balance your wand on your palm, speak the incantation, and the tip would swing to true north.
But in skilled hands, it could do more. Focus on a specific location—like a mark on a map—and the wand would float, pointing the way, provided the destination was genuine.
The fact that the charm worked meant the altar's location in the notebook was accurate.
...
Luna was already awake, sitting beside him with the faint scent of grass and wildflowers clinging to her robes.
"Are we heading out now?" she asked softly.
"Not just yet…" Wyzett rummaged in his bag and produced a leather breastplate. "We should suit up first. Better safe than sorry."
He'd bought it over the holidays—a fire-drake hide cuirass, offering not just magical protection but warmth as well. Perfect for the chill and the dangers of the Forbidden Forest.
There were plenty of magical beasts lurking among those trees. Even with professors along for the journey, an extra layer of defense was always wise—especially since, knowing Luna's curiosity, this likely wouldn't be their last trip into the forest.
"Like this…" Wyzett demonstrated, slipping the cuirass over his head.
Luna mirrored his movements, adjusting the leather to fit, then reached behind to cross and tighten the straps at her sides. She rolled her shoulders, testing the fit—making sure it wouldn't hinder her in a pinch.
She spun in a circle before Wyzett. "How do I look?"
Wyzett murmured, "Maybe it needs just a little—"
But before he could finish, Luna blinked, as if struck by inspiration. She deftly gathered her waterfall of pale gold hair, then slipped off her crystal-ball bracelet and used it to tie her hair back in a ponytail.
"Like an elf…" Wyzett said after a moment's genuine thought. "No—better than an elf."
"Mm!" Luna smiled, lips pressed together, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Let's go!"
Hagrid led the way, bundled in a moleskin overcoat, a crossbow slung across his back, and a lantern the size of a bucket swinging from one hand.
He glanced back, a bit nervous. "Mind yer step—some spots are still icy. Wouldn't want anyone takin' a spill."
His nerves were understandable. After all, it wasn't just Wyzett and Luna following him—Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were along as well.
"Haven't been in the Forbidden Forest much since I graduated," remarked Professor McGonagall, her tone surprisingly wistful. "It doesn't seem to have changed much."
"Graduated?" Hagrid scratched his head. "So you used to sneak in here too, Professor? Ha ha ha!"
"Ahem…" McGonagall coughed delicately. "I was just curious. I'd heard unicorns lived here, and I wanted to catch a glimpse."
"Oh, unicorns! That explains it!" Hagrid slapped his forehead. "They're beautiful, those creatures. Want me to show you where they graze? I know all their favorite spots!"
"Maybe another time," McGonagall replied, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.
Wyzett and Luna couldn't help but laugh. For all her sternness, Professor McGonagall was a true Gryffindor at heart.
"There have been some changes…" Dumbledore observed, glancing around. "Newt Scamander spent some time at Hogwarts a while back—released quite a few magical creatures into the forest."
"Unlike ordinary woods, the Forbidden Forest is a haven for magical beasts of every kind, each finding its own niche."
"That makes it even more important to stay alert," McGonagall said, fixing Wyzett and Luna with a stern look. "Never let your guard down!"
"Don't treat the magical creatures here like pets. And it's not just the animals—the magical plants can be just as dangerous."
"Professor's right!" Hagrid agreed. "If you ever run into a Knarl nest, back away quick! Get swarmed by Knarls, and their bites'll give you nightmares!"
"We'll remember!" Wyzett and Luna promised in unison.
Knarls had venomous teeth. If enough of them bit you at once, the accumulated poison could be deadly.
"And Red Caps are nasty too!" Hagrid went on. "Saw a bunch of 'em once, when the centaurs clashed with some poachers. Those Red Caps surrounded the lot, clubbed 'em senseless, and dragged them off… Don't fancy their chances!"
"Point me!" Wyzett intoned, tossing his wand. It floated, tip swinging to indicate a new direction. "We turn here…"
No need to check the map again—the Point-Me Charm would keep them on course.
...
They pressed deeper into the forest. As dawn broke, the woods grew livelier—birds trilled, insects buzzed, the air thick with the scents of earth and moss.
Suddenly, a thunder of hooves shattered the calm, followed by a rough, commanding shout:
"Stop right there! The Forbidden Forest is no place for you!"
Whoosh!
A sharp whistle split the air as an arrow arced through the gloom, landing less than five meters in front of Hagrid.
From the shadows leapt a powerful black centaur, bow in hand, another arrow already nocked and ready…
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