The Magic Spell shot out from the tip of Harry's Magic Wand, the distinctive glow of the Crucio Curse dyeing the surrounding forest in an eerie, gory crimson.
The foremost figure in black robes couldn't dodge in time, being hit squarely by the Crucio Curse.
It let out a wail unlike anything human, akin to scraping glass with a rock, sending a shiver down one's spine.
The figure that had been swooping down on Harry now drifted away swiftly into the dense woods like a kite with a broken string.
The pain on Harry's forehead had vanished—or rather, he had transferred that pain through Crucio onto the black figure.
He panted heavily; the feeling just now had been unpleasant. If not for the nearly torturous sting that made concentrating nearly impossible, he likely wouldn't have used Crucio, one of the Unforgivable Curses, but rather an easier Small Spell.
"Harry... Harry? Is that you?"
A hollow and feeble voice resounded in Harry's ears once more.
"Who?" Harry quickly lifted his head, not forgetting to retrieve a bottle of Stimulating Potion from his pocket, pushing the cork open with his thumb, and downing it in one gulp.
A warm sensation spread from his throat into his limbs, rejuvenating his spirit significantly.
Using one of the Unforgivable Curses has its side effects, but Harry's appeared much milder than most—no soul-rending pain nor churning negative emotions, merely some mental fatigue after each use.
"Harry, I'm here."
Following the voice, Harry focused his gaze on the Unicorn lying on the ground.
She was truly beautiful, even though her long legs were curled up in pain, not diminishing her beauty in the least; her mane spilled over the dark tree roots, white as pearls.
"You, you can talk?" Harry frowned, "Are you a Unicorn?"
He stepped forward, pulling out two bottles of Stimulating Potion from his pocket, uncorking them and pouring them into the Unicorn's mouth.
He then put away Davima's wand, taking out his own wand to point at the Unicorn's wound, still oozing silvery blood.
"Episkey!"
Yet it had no effect, the ghastly wound showing no signs of healing, blood continuing to flow along the pristine fur and onto the ground.
"Harry, it's no use."
The Unicorn's voice rang out again, accompanied by a gentle whinny. Her gaze on Harry was filled with tenderness.
"If Vivi saw you using Crucio again, she'd be really upset, Harry."
Harry sprang to his feet, incredulous: "Who are you, exactly?"
He didn't remember ever knowing a Unicorn—damn it, these Unicorns seemed to be gender-biased, never friendly to him and Omnius, but they got along great with Vivi, Cassandra, and Pabi.
Could it be... that this Unicorn was once one of their friends?
"I think you'd better feed me some Blood Replenishing Potion," the Unicorn suggested.
Harry hurriedly searched for Blood Replenishing Potions, retrieving two bottles from his Magic Potion Shop purchase, but reconsidered and put them back, finally producing two bottles he had received from Professor Snape, personally brewed by Snape.
Only potions crafted by a Master of Magic Potions ensured the best restorative effect.
Whether this Unicorn was a friend of Vivi's or a stranger, Harry couldn't just idly watch her lose her life.
After the Unicorn drank the two Blood Replenishing Potions, some light returned to her eyes. While the ghastly wound still bled, it wasn't gushing as before.
"This is a very vicious curse," the Unicorn said, "That person earlier... carried a heavy curse aura. I don't know who he is, but he's certainly a terrifyingly powerful Dark Wizard, much like Victor Lucrewood."
Cued by the Unicorn's reminder, Harry indeed spotted the Black Magic Curse on the wound.
He picked up his wand again, aimed at the wound, and recited the Purification Spell invented by Vivi.
"Purusor!"
The effect was evident, with the Black Magic Curse on the wound slowly receding.
Harry felt a surge of joy, continuing to use the Purification Spell to dispel the curse traces on the Unicorn's wound.
Unfortunately, the curse reached a threshold where it stopped receding, stubbornly clinging to the wound.
"Such spells are useless unless fifteen-year-old you or Vivi comes to lift it," the Unicorn softly remarked.
Only then did Harry remember he hadn't asked the Unicorn his questions.
"How do you know who I am? Have I ever seen you before?"
"You certainly have, Harry." A hint of mischief flashed in the Unicorn's bright eyes, "We met over a hundred years ago... oh, it seems you've successfully returned to a hundred years later, and I haven't even congratulated you."
Saying this, the Unicorn perked up and got back on her feet.
She circled Harry twice, nudged his clothes with her nose, a very human-like smile on her face.
"Ah, I hadn't noticed earlier, but you've returned to your childhood—if I recall, it was around the time you were sorted into a house?"
"Yes, it was," Harry scratched his head, "I don't know why I ended up a hundred years in the future, back as an eleven-year-old, but... as you can see, here I am, inexplicably."
"After you disappeared, the Phoenix Society became merely a name." The Unicorn spoke softly, her voice laden with regret: "Vivi stopped attending classes, claiming she was going to find you... many said you were dead, even Principal Black advised her to accept it, but after thanking everyone for their kindness, she vanished. Since then, I haven't heard of her appearing."
Harry's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be...
Could Vivi indeed be trapped somewhere?
Or caught in a time rift?
If not, why hasn't she appeared yet to find me?
"And what about Sebastian and Omnius?" Harry asked again.
"Those two...," the Unicorn paused momentarily, shaking her head, "The last I heard about them was during their seventh year, but nothing since then."
Harry felt a mess inside, wondering where Sebastian and Omnius had gone. Could they be imprisoned in Azkaban due to the affair with Solomon?
"Don't you want to hear about others?" The Unicorn lowered her neck, head tilted sideways to look at Harry, "Like... Cassandra?"