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Having already decided what to do to get rid of my boredom, I rose from my seat with an excited look, which immediately drew everyone's attention in the room.
With the eyes of the entire group turned toward me, I didn't waste any time and immediately told them about my idea of taking a walk through the Forbidden Forest.
I talked about how we could explore the area, passing by the various nests and enclosures of magical creatures I already knew, before finishing the walk at the clearing where the unicorns' refuge was located.
I also mentioned that we could play with those beautiful and pure creatures — and that we could even have a picnic there, relaxing for the rest of the afternoon.
And just as I had expected, my suggestion was met with a cheerful cry from Cele, who immediately agreed, her eyes shining with excitement.
My parents, who had always been curious about the Forbidden Forest and the magical creatures that lived there, were also quick to agree with my idea, no less excited than Cele.
With that, my entire family had agreed to the walk, but in the end, only they would be accompanying me this time.
The rest of the group decided not to join us on this little adventure, much to my disappointment.
In fact, most of them seemed rather uninterested in my proposed pastime.
And honestly, the reason seemed quite obvious if one stopped to think about it.
All of them were part of the wizarding world and, because of that, were already quite familiar with — or at least had studied — the various magical creatures and plants that inhabited the Forbidden Forest.
This was even more true for those who had been, or still were, students at Hogwarts.
After years roaming the castle grounds, the Forbidden Forest no longer carried the same air of mystery or adventure for them. Because of that, this walk didn't seem particularly exciting or special, but just another ordinary day.
Taking all of that into consideration, they decided to remain in the Room of Requirement, which by comparison was something entirely new to them.
A place that, in their eyes, seemed far more magical and incredible than a forest.
Of course, this wasn't something they said out loud. It was merely a conclusion I drew based on my understanding of them, and on the level of interest — or lack thereof — they showed after my invitation.
Besides that obvious and superficial reason, each of them also had their own personal reasons for not wanting to come along.
Sirius, Remus, and the Tonkses wanted to spend some more time with Harry, preferably alone. It was evident that, even though he seemed fine, he still needed the support and company of his family.
The Delacours felt the same way about Fleur, and therefore decided to stay as well.
Additionally, Andromeda and Apolline agreed that venturing into the Forbidden Forest might be a bit too stimulating an activity for someone who had just been the victim of a kidnapping. They believed doing something calmer and more relaxing was far more appropriate for the moment.
As for Hermione and Ron, they planned to return to the Gryffindor common room to inform their housemates that Harry was alright.
That would not only reassure their friends and housemates, but also significantly reduce the number of questions and curious stares Harry would receive when people saw him in person.
Nick and Penny, on the other hand, were among the few who showed genuine interest in the walk. They truly wanted to take part in that small adventure with my family.
However, as professors and invited tournament ambassadors, they unfortunately needed to help the Headmaster and the Ministry deal with the mess left behind by the events of the previous night.
Besides the two of them, Fleur and Luna also wanted to accept my invitation, but in the end had to decline for certain reasons.
Fleur, to be honest, didn't find the Forbidden Forest particularly interesting. What she really wanted was to spend more time with me.
She also thought that the idea of having a picnic at the unicorns' territory would be nice, creating a calm and harmonious moment — perfect for a romantic or at least intimate atmosphere to form between us.
However, after Apolline and Jean insisted a bit for her to stay, she reluctantly gave in.
She couldn't refuse them, especially after realizing that her parents were still worried about her and simply wanted to spend some family time with their two daughters.
As for Luna, she was possibly the only person who genuinely wanted to go to the Forbidden Forest.
And that came as no surprise, since everyone knew that this slightly odd and carefree girl loved any kind of adventure involving nature and magical creatures.
The only reason she ended up declining as well was because, just like Ron and Hermione, she planned to return to the Ravenclaw common room to explain the situation to our housemates and friends.
Still, she made me promise that I would go on a walk through the Forbidden Forest with her another day… just the two of us.
And well, these were the reasons everyone gave for refusing my invitation.
However, there was also one last reason they didn't voice out loud, but which was quite evident.
They chose not to go because they wanted to give us space.
They wanted my family and me to have a moment just for ourselves.
That intention was something my parents and I noticed almost immediately.
And honestly, we were deeply grateful for it.
So, knowing that everyone had already made their decisions, I didn't try to insist.
Nodding to everyone, I left the Room of Requirement along with my mom, my dad, and Cele.
With ease, I guided them out of the castle through the secret passages, far from the eyes of the students who were beginning to fill the corridors.
When we finally emerged from the castle near the greenhouses, the cool, damp morning air greeted us.
Ahead of us, not too far away, rose the silhouette of the great and mysterious Forbidden Forest.
Without wasting any time, I began heading in that direction, with my parents following behind me with curious and expectant steps, while Cele skipped along excitedly the entire way.
As for me, with every step I took, I felt more relaxed and happier… as if I were returning to a home away from home.
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-Some Hours Later-
After hours of playing and relaxing in the Forbidden Forest, my entire family felt much lighter and happier. It was as if the invisible weight of our worries and problems had finally disappeared completely.
On the horizon, the sun was already beginning to set, signaling that the afternoon was coming to an end. Noticing that it was getting late, my mom decided it was time for us to return to the castle.
The walk back was peaceful, the four of us chatting cheerfully about our outing.
Cele walked energetically between my parents, wearing a huge smile full of childlike innocence.
She wouldn't stop talking about the unicorns. About how beautiful and nice they were, and about how happy she was to be able to touch and even be carried by them.
From how excited she was, I was certain that this moment would become an unforgettable memory for her.
My mom watched the scene with a gentle smile that didn't hide how happy she was, while my dad remained silent, clearly satisfied.
And in this harmonious and positive atmosphere, we finally arrived in front of the gates of Hogwarts Castle.
Once inside the castle, we followed the shortcuts and secret passages once more, emerging directly into the seventh-floor corridor.
Our intention was to return to the Room of Requirement to take a relaxing bath, washing away all the dirt and fatigue from our walk before joining the others for dinner.
However, as we approached the wall that served as the entrance to the Room of Requirement, we saw a familiar figure standing in front of it.
That person was Professor McGonagall, who, as soon as she saw us arrive, immediately walked toward us.
She gave a brief nod to my parents and to Cele before focusing her attention on me.
"Ethan," she said, her voice firm yet somewhat restrained… as if she were holding something back.
"Hello, Professor McGonagall," I greeted her with a light smile. "Were you waiting for me? Do you need something?"
Hearing my question, she hesitated for a moment, shifting her gaze between me and my family.
My parents and I immediately understood.
"Ethan, dear… we'll go inside first," my mom said with a knowing and understanding smile. "You can continue your conversation with Minerva."
And without waiting for a response, she took Cele by the hand and, together with my dad, headed toward the entrance of the Room of Requirement that appeared at some point, entering without even looking back.
As soon as the room's large doors closed, I turned my attention back to my Transfiguration professor.
I watched her with curiosity, unsure why she wanted to speak to me alone.
Now that only the two of us remained, her hesitant and tense expression visibly softened.
Professor McGonagall then looked directly into my eyes, and after taking a deep breath… she bowed to me.
"I'm sorry."
"Huh?!"
End.
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