It never rains but it pours, and misfortunes never come singly. That saying perfectly described Ron's situation.
He had just been harshly reprimanded by someone he couldn't afford to offend, and even if he could, retaliation was impossible.
Only now did he fully grasp the meaning of the last words he'd heard that day.
He had been bitten by a dragon.
Overnight, his hand had swollen to twice its normal size, the wound turning a sickly green. The dragon's teeth were clearly poisonous.
"Looks like I won't be holding a quill for a week," Ron groaned. "I finally understand what that guy meant. This really is the most terrifying creature I've ever met."
"What are we going to do? Madam Pomfrey will definitely notice," Hermione said anxiously.
"I'll just say it was a dog bite," Ron replied, pretending not to care.
"Malfoy sent a letter," Harry said quietly, pulling an envelope from his robe.
"What's in it?" Ron asked.
"He wants us to take Norbert to the highest tower at midnight on Saturday. Someone will meet us there," Harry said slowly.
"Midnight?" Ron exclaimed. "That's a trap! He wants us to get detention. Maybe no one will even show up, and we'll get caught by Mrs. Norris. Gryffindor will lose all its points!"
"Ron," Harry said seriously, "we have no choice but to trust him. If he wanted to report us, he already would have. Besides, we have a backup plan."
"The Invisibility Cloak!" Hermione said, eyes brightening.
"Exactly," Harry nodded. "It's big enough to cover both of us and Norbert."
The following days were full of anxiety. Norbert was like a hot potato they couldn't get rid of. They had never longed for Saturday night so much.
When the time came, the night was dark and cloudy. They hurried to Hagrid's hut, delayed because Peeves had been bouncing a tennis ball against the entrance hall walls.
Hagrid had prepared everything—mice, brandy, even a teddy bear for the dragon. He packed them into a large crate.
"Goodbye, Norbert!" Hagrid said tearfully. "Mommy won't forget you!"
Harry and Hermione covered the crate with the Invisibility Cloak and slipped beneath it themselves.
The journey was nerve-racking. The steep staircase to the tower felt like the easiest path in the world. They didn't remove the cloak until they reached the top, breathing the cold night air with relief. Hermione even danced a small jig.
"Calm down," Harry reminded her. "We're not done yet."
After about ten minutes, broomsticks descended from the clouds.
"He didn't trick us," Harry thought in relief.
"Are you friends of Master Draco?" asked the tallest man, clearly the leader.
"Yes," Harry admitted reluctantly.
"Good. Hand him over."
They tied ropes around Norbert, securing the crate like a net, then mounted their broomsticks.
"Pleasure doing business," said the leader before they disappeared into the silent sky.
Light-hearted for the first time in weeks, Harry and Hermione started down the staircase, finally free of their burden.
But the closer one gets to success, the more likely one is to fall.
Filch's loathsome face appeared the moment they reached the corridor.
"We're doomed," Harry thought. Only then did he realize the Invisibility Cloak was still upstairs.
The next morning, Gryffindors noticed something strange: the giant hourglass showing their House points was down by a hundred. Whispers spread quickly—Harry Potter, hero of two Quidditch matches, had cost them dearly.
Once admired, Harry became the target of every student's anger. Even Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws glared at him; everyone had been hoping to see Slytherin lose the Cup. Wherever he went, people pointed and muttered insults. The Slytherins, of course, cheered and applauded.
"Thank you, Potter! You've done us a favor!"
Only Ron stood by him.
"They'll forget soon," Ron said. "Fred and George have been losing points since they got here, and people still like them."
"But they never lost a hundred at once," Harry muttered.
Ron had no answer.
Exams suddenly seemed like a blessing—a distraction from shame. Harry even tried to resign as Seeker, but Wood refused.
He resolved to stop meddling in others' business and buried himself in study—memorizing potion recipes, spells, and goblin rebellions—anything to drown out the whispers.
Yet that vow was short-lived.
He heard Snape threatening Quirrell again—and this time, Snape seemed to have succeeded.
"I have to stop him," Harry said firmly.
"Harry, maybe we should just worry about ourselves," Ron said cautiously.
"Even if I get expelled, I can't let him succeed," Harry said, clenching his fists.
Ron sighed. "To hell with it. The worst is expulsion. I'll help you—we're friends."
Hermione bit her lip but said nothing.
The next morning, Harry and Hermione each received a note at breakfast:
Your detention will begin at eleven o'clock tonight.
See Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.
— Professor McGonagall
Endless stares had nearly made Harry forget the punishment itself. He expected Hermione to complain about losing study time, but she didn't. She seemed to think it fitting—they had made a mistake and deserved the consequence.
That night, at eleven, they met in the entrance hall. Filch stood waiting, lamp in hand—and beside him, shockingly, was Malfoy.
"Come along," Filch grumbled. "Maybe you'll think twice next time."
"Why is he here?" Harry demanded. Hermione lowered her head, twisting her fingers nervously.
"Professor McGonagall wanted to ensure your safety, so she found you a bodyguard," Filch said in his harsh, gloomy voice. "A strange sort of punishment, if you ask me."
Malfoy twirled his wand. "I'm not thrilled either," he said dryly. "But I need to get my wand back, don't I?"
They followed Filch out across the cold, dark grounds.
"Where are we going?" Hermione whispered.
"I don't know," Harry muttered.
"Stop guessing," Malfoy said, smirking. "The Forbidden Forest."
The moon shone through shifting clouds, casting eerie shadows. The damp night wind chilled them to the bone. To most students, the Forbidden Forest was synonymous with danger.
"It's said there are werewolves in there," Harry whispered.
"Heh," Malfoy scoffed. "And Acromantulas, Thestrals, unicorns, centaurs… maybe all of them, if we're lucky." Then, inwardly, he added, And perhaps even Voldemort.
As Malfoy listed the creatures, Hermione's face grew paler. She searched his expression for fear but found none. Is he not afraid at all? she wondered.
"I do have some good news," Malfoy began, but Filch cut him off.
"Enough chatter."
Soon they saw Hagrid striding out of the darkness, crossbow in hand and Fang padding beside him. Relief washed over Harry and Hermione.
"Oh, are you actually happy?" Filch sneered. "The Forbidden Forest will be good for you." With that, he left them to Hagrid and trudged back toward the castle.
"Listen carefully," Hagrid said gruffly. "Tonight's work is dangerous. Stick close to me and Fang, and you'll be fine." He raised his lamp and pointed to a narrow path vanishing into the black trees. "See that silvery stuff on the ground? Unicorn blood. One's been hurt again—badly. I found one dead just last week. We need to find this poor creature and put it out of its misery."
"We'll split into two groups. Stay close to me and Fang."
Malfoy's calm voice came from behind. "I'm afraid there's more than just the forest's usual creatures tonight."
Hagrid shivered slightly at his tone. "All the more reason to be careful," he said, reluctantly assigning Fang to Malfoy.
"Oh, he's a coward, so mind yourself," Hagrid added despite himself.
"That's none of your concern," Malfoy replied coolly, then turned down the right-hand path.
"Harry, Hermione, this way," Hagrid said, leading them left. His enormous frame blocked the faint moonlight, plunging them into near darkness.
They walked in silence, eyes fixed on the silvery stains that shimmered faintly whenever moonlight slipped through the branches. Hagrid's anxiety was palpable.
"Could a werewolf have done this?" Harry asked.
"Not likely," Hagrid said. "Unicorns are powerful magic creatures. It's rare for one to be hurt at all."
They passed a moss-covered stump and heard a trickling stream nearby. Then Hagrid suddenly whispered, "Hide—behind that tree!"
A centaur stepped into view, his upper body human, lower body a gleaming chestnut horse. Red hair, beard, and tail marked him clearly.
Hermione and Harry gaped in astonishment.
Meanwhile, deeper in the forest, Malfoy crept through thick undergrowth, Fang trembling behind him.
I'm supposed to guard them, yet I'm babysitting a dog, he thought grimly. Still, he advanced cautiously. The deeper he went, the more oppressive the darkness became—until a faint white glow appeared ahead.
Through the branches, he saw an open glade bathed in pale light. Then a bush rustled. A hooded figure crawled from the shadows, moving like a beast. Fang collapsed, quivering in terror.
The figure raised its head; the face was hidden beneath the hood.
"Who's there?" the creature hissed, its voice serpentine. It turned toward Malfoy, gliding silently forward.
Such terrifying perception, Malfoy thought, steeling himself.
When the figure was only a few feet away, Malfoy whispered, "Father was right. I've found you—Lord Voldemort."
"Oh? A young wizard," came the rasping reply. "Whose child are you? Platinum-blond hair… you must be Lucius's boy."
"My name is Draco Malfoy, my lord," Malfoy said, forcing a tone of devotion.
"Truly? How ironic," Voldemort sneered under the hood. "Lucius, the most loyal of all… how amusing."
"You are very good," he added after a pause.
"My father has never stopped searching for you," Malfoy said quickly. "He believes in your return."
"Your loyalty shames most Death Eaters," Voldemort said, sounding pleased. "But I have more urgent matters. Let the so-called savior live a little longer."
The ground suddenly trembled—hoofbeats.
"Those wretched centaurs," Voldemort hissed. "When I reclaim my true body, I'll make them suffer." He turned back to Malfoy. "You've done well. I look forward to our next meeting."
Then, with a faint laugh, the shadow vanished.
If I'm lucky, that next meeting will never come, Malfoy thought grimly.
Moments later, a group of centaurs burst into the glade, weapons raised.
"Invader! Name yourself and your purpose!" barked the leader, silver-maned and sharp-eyed.
"Firenze, wait—it's a misunderstanding!" Hagrid panted as he arrived, followed by Harry, Hermione, and others.
"What happened here?" Hagrid gasped. On the ground lay a unicorn, long dead, its body twisted unnaturally, its mane pale as pearls against the dark leaves.
"Is this one of your students?" Firenze demanded. "It seems he killed the unicorn."
"No, no," Hagrid said quickly, shaking his head. "He just got separated from us. Look, Fang was with him. He only stumbled on the body."
The centaur studied Malfoy, then nodded slowly. "A first-year couldn't slay a unicorn. Still, he trespassed, and tonight's stars are ill-omened." He gazed skyward. "An ominous sign."
"It's all a misunderstanding," Hagrid insisted.
Firenze sighed, shifting his gaze to Harry—and froze upon seeing the lightning-shaped scar.
"Hello, Potter," he said kindly.
"Hello," Harry replied cautiously. "Do you… know me?"
"Do you know what unicorn blood is used for?" Firenze asked.
Harry frowned. "No. We only use the horn and tail hair in Potions class."
"Killing a unicorn is a monstrous act," Firenze said gravely. "Only one who has lost everything, yet covets life, would do it. Its blood grants life to the dying—but at a terrible cost. From the moment it touches your lips, you are cursed with a half-life, a life in death."
Harry blurted, "If that's the price, wouldn't it be better to die?"
"Indeed," Firenze said. "Unless you drink it only to survive long enough to obtain something else—something that restores you fully, that grants immortality. Mr. Potter, do you know what lies hidden in your school right now?"
"The Sorcerer's Stone!" Hermione gasped.
Harry clenched his fists. "Of course. Who else would try to come back from death? He wouldn't fear a curse—he is one."
"Guided by the stars, that is all I can tell you," Firenze said solemnly. "You must leave now. The forest does not welcome humans tonight."
"Come on, children," Hagrid said, still bewildered but ready to go.
As they walked back through the trees, Harry suddenly turned to Malfoy. "Will you report us?"
Malfoy smiled faintly. "Who knows?"
No one noticed Hermione biting her lip so hard it almost bled.
End of Chapter 25
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