In Charms class on Monday morning, seeing Draco's pale face, Solim knew he hadn't recovered from the shock of the previous night.
After class, Draco pulled Solim aside, and their next lesson—Herbology—passed in a blur. Draco felt certain he wouldn't sleep that night unless he figured out what the shadow was.
Even with Solim's warning, Draco had been mentally prepared for the confinement. Yet, he hadn't expected the school to make such an extreme arrangement: at eleven o'clock that night, freshmen like them were required to enter the Forbidden Forest to search for an injured unicorn.
Draco wasn't Harry or Ron; he understood the sheer power required to harm a unicorn. He even protested violently, invoking his father's name, but ultimately failed to prevent their excursion into the forest.
The Forbidden Forest was dark enough during the day, let alone at night. Without the faint moonlight or the dim glow from their wands, they wouldn't have seen a thing. Draco couldn't remember how many times he'd collided with trees, how often his robe had been shredded by branches and undergrowth.
The terrain was uneven—highs and lows, roots and rocks hidden in shadow. A misstep could easily result in a twisted ankle. Draco had been paired with Harry and Fang, while Hagrid accompanied Ron. The four of them, along with the dog, scoured the forest trails. Searching required constant focus on the ground; there was no time to look around.
But even their caution could not prevent disaster. They discovered a dead unicorn in a clearing. Its unique silver-white blood was scattered across the ground.
As Draco and Harry prepared to defend the creature with spells, a black shadow emerged from the bushes. It pressed itself against the ground, covering the unicorn, and began drinking its blood.
Draco, horrified by the sight, screamed and ran, leaving Harry alone.
Although the group eventually reunited safely and the confinement ended, the terrifying image lingered in Draco's mind.
"Solim, what the hell was that black shadow? I've never heard of anything like it," Draco asked after recounting the ordeal.
"You saw that dark figure drinking unicorn blood, right?" Solim asked. "Do you know what happens if you take unicorn blood untreated?"
"You mean… that shadow was a wizard?" Draco said, realization dawning.
"Of course," Solim replied. "Only wizards would drink unicorn blood. Magical creatures might kill a unicorn, but they wouldn't consume it. Only wizards can use unicorn blood this way. That shadow—definitely a wizard."
"But… would anyone actually drink unicorn blood directly?" Draco hesitated. He knew the consequences; in the wizarding world, this was common knowledge. Who would risk a cursed death just to drink blood?
"It grants a short extension of life," Solim finished Draco's thought, "but in the end, you'll die a cruel death. Only wizards with nothing to lose resort to such extreme measures to prolong their lives."
"But why here, in the Forbidden Forest?" Draco asked. "Unicorns aren't unique to this forest. You could find them on the black market or in safer habitats. Why risk coming here, near Hogwarts?"
"Because the unicorn here is closest to the wizard," Solim replied.
Draco's face paled. "You mean… that wizard is near Hogwarts? Even in the school?"
"It's obvious," Solim said. "Voldemort's situation must be desperate. He's risking his life hunting unicorns in the Forbidden Forest. With Quirrell as his host, any vitality gained from the blood replenishes Voldemort's soul through Quirrell. That curse won't harm Voldemort directly."
"What a poor man," Solim sighed.
"What?" Draco asked, confused.
"Remember the end-of-semester event I mentioned a few days ago? It'll open your eyes." Solim intended to involve Neville and Draco in observing the scene, and to monitor Evans' involvement as well.
If Draco was frightened, Harry's fear was even greater. Firenze, the unusual centaur, had revealed facts that made Harry's scalp tingle: Voldemort—the murderer of his parents—was still alive and seeking a comeback. The Philosopher's Stone was the key to his return.
Harry could no longer think about exams, school rules, Quidditch, or house points. His only concern was preventing Snape from stealing the Stone. If Snape succeeded, Voldemort would surely return.
Harry devoted all his free time to tracking Snape. He told Ron and Hermione of his plan: once Dumbledore left Hogwarts, Snape might attempt something. They needed to monitor him; if the Philosopher's Stone fell into his hands, everything would be lost.
Ron, though understandably terrified, immediately promised to help.
Hermione hesitated. Exams were approaching, and it was difficult to give up study time to follow Snape. Yet, she understood the stakes. If Harry's warnings were true, the exams no longer mattered. If Voldemort returned, the wizarding world would descend into chaos, bloodshed, and terror. As a Muggle-born witch, Hermione herself would be a prime target.
For both justice and self-preservation, she could not refuse. Hermione decided to help Harry protect the Philosopher's Stone, though the method remained uncertain.
From past experiences, she knew that Harry and Ron often complicated things. Their attempt to guard the Stone alone might be disastrous. Even against an ordinary adult wizard, success seemed unlikely, let alone against someone as skilled as Professor Snape.
Hermione had witnessed Snape's Transfiguration firsthand in the small classroom they frequented; she could not conceive of resisting such magic. They would need help—careful, competent guidance—to protect the Stone effectively.
Draco, meanwhile, struggled to reconcile the events of the night in the Forbidden Forest. The black shadow, the unicorn's blood, and the potential presence of Voldemort near Hogwarts weighed heavily on his mind. Solim's explanations offered understanding, but little comfort. The wizarding world, it seemed, had already begun dragging him into its darkness.
As the days passed, fear and tension mounted. Harry's vigilance grew, Hermione's concern deepened, and Draco wrestled with the image of that terrible black shadow. For all three, the coming challenges promised danger, uncertainty, and the grim realization that innocence had no place in the struggle against Voldemort's lingering menace.
Yet, amid the fear, there remained a spark: a determination to protect, to act, and to face the unknown. The Philosopher's Stone was more than an object; it was a battleground, a test of courage, and a symbol of the forces that had drawn the children of Hogwarts into a war they had never asked for but could no longer ignore.
The night in the Forbidden Forest, the blood of the unicorn, and the shadow that consumed it would haunt Draco forever. But it also served as a grim reminder: evil was not distant. It was near, patient, and waiting for the smallest opportunity to strike.
And now, the students were no longer simply learners—they were participants in a conflict that demanded courage, intelligence, and an unbreakable resolve.
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Draco had each chosen their paths. Fear would not deter them; knowledge would not be enough. Only action—and perhaps a measure of luck—could see them through the coming trials.
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