Although the unicorns didn't know much about the creatures nearby, Leonard was certain that if those beings appeared again, they wouldn't escape the unicorns' notice.
The unicorns agreed to help Leonard keep watch over the area. Once everything was settled, Leonard left the botanical garden and returned to Hogwarts.
The task of aiding the unicorns was still incomplete. Leonard suspected it would only be finished once Quirrell was completely defeated—or dead.
After all, Quirrell needed unicorn blood to survive. As long as he lived, he would never stop hunting them. Only death could put an end to that.
He decided to wait until Quirrell chased the unicorns all the way to the botanical garden. Leonard doubted the man could survive entering that place again.
When Leonard arrived back at Hogwarts Castle, he happened to run into students and professors returning from the Quidditch pitch.
The students' faces were flushed with excitement as they chattered animatedly about the highlights of the match. It was obvious the game had been an intense one.
Just as Leonard stepped into the castle, he ran into his roommates and a few girls from Hufflepuff.
"Hey, Leonard!" Justin called out, waving eagerly. "You really missed out on that match! It was amazing—the final score was 590 to 600!"
In Quidditch, each goal scored earned ten points. A score like that meant both sides had traded over a hundred attacks throughout the match—no wonder the students were so fired up.
"Sounds like quite a game. So, who won?" Leonard asked casually, trying to recall which two Houses had faced off.
"Of course it was Hufflepuff! Diggory and the team trained for ages for this one. Ravenclaw's Seeker didn't stand a chance against him," Ernie said excitedly. "But I heard Ravenclaw already has a backup Seeker ready to replace theirs—and rumor has it, she's a girl."
"So what if she's a girl? Girls can be just as strong," Susan shot back, clearly annoyed. "Right, Hannah?"
"I'm not really sure. Leonard, what do you think?" Hannah asked, turning to him.
"I agree girls can be strong," Leonard said seriously. "But in sports, they don't usually have the same physical advantages as boys. That's why Muggle sports are divided by gender. They even check chromosomes to tell the difference."
"Check for... 'same color'?" Susan repeated in confusion. Having grown up in the wizarding world, she completely misunderstood the unfamiliar term "chromosome."
"Uh... that's not important," Leonard said. "The point is, there's a physical difference between men and women."
"Maybe, but girls still have the edge in flying," Justin argued. "They're usually more agile in the air. So it's hard to say who really has the advantage."
"Right." Susan nodded, losing interest in the topic and turning to Leonard. "By the way, Leonard, why didn't I see you there?"
"I'm not really into Quidditch," Leonard replied.
"Not into Quidditch?" Susan gasped in disbelief. "How could anyone not like Quidditch?"
"It's just a matter of personal preference. Seems normal to me," Leonard said with a shrug.
"So, you didn't go with Padma either?"
"Of course not."
"You're such a terrible boyfriend," Susan sighed, shaking her head before hugging Hannah beside her. "Boys are just so unreliable."
"Susan, let me go," Hannah said awkwardly, flustered by Susan's sudden affection.
"Hmph! No way! I'm staying with Hannah!" Susan squealed playfully.
Justin wiped the sweat from his forehead as he watched Hannah struggle in Susan's grip, then turned to Leonard. "Even if you don't like Quidditch, couldn't you at least have gone with Patil? Or are you two not actually dating yet?"
Leonard sighed. "I really don't enjoy Quidditch. Besides, wasn't this match between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff? If I went with Padma, who would I even cheer for?"
"Good point," Justin said, suddenly realizing. "Actually, that's a clever way to avoid trouble."
"Hey, hey! We're getting off topic here," Ernie interrupted. "The important thing is Hufflepuff won! We should be celebrating our heroes..."
"Let's go to the kitchen," Hannah suggested quietly. "I heard from the house-elves that they've got frosted butter cookies today."
"Sounds perfect for a celebration," Ernie said, rubbing his hands together. "Too bad there's no Butterbeer—then it'd feel like a proper party. Come on, let's head to the kitchen and grab as much as we can!"
"You always take too much. Careful, or the house-elves will blacklist you," Justin warned.
"No chance! They'll just be happier to give me more cookies!" Ernie said, already dashing off toward the kitchen.
"So sneaky! Running ahead!" Susan shouted, pulling Hannah along as she chased after him.
"Wait for me!" Justin called, clearly wanting to keep chatting with Leonard but giving up when his friends ran off.
"We'll see you later, Leonard. Don't stay out too late!" he shouted over his shoulder as he ran after them.
Watching the energetic group sprint away, Leonard couldn't help but feel a little younger himself.
He smiled and slowly followed in their direction toward the kitchen.
He didn't understand why they were in such a rush—every time they went, their pockets came back stuffed full anyway.
Then again, for Hufflepuffs, wasn't happiness just another word for eating?
...
Meanwhile, at Malfoy Manor.
The already austere estate looked even more grim beneath its black funeral drapings.
Narcissa, dressed in a solemn gown unmistakably from Twilfitt and Tattings, quietly dabbed at her tears as she gazed at the coffin before her.
Inside lay a mangled mass of flesh and a torn Slytherin uniform—the last trace of Draco Malfoy left in this world.
Lucius Malfoy had ordered the troll's stomach to be cut open, retrieving what little remained of his son before it was fully digested.
But Draco's remains had become indistinguishably mixed with those of Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe. There was no telling one from another.
In the end, each of the three families took a portion of the remains to bury as their own.
The thought that her son had been reduced to an unrecognizable heap of flesh left Narcissa consumed by grief.