The next moment, Erwin reappeared deep within the Forbidden Forest, beside a vast lake. Several enormous magical creatures slumbered there, their massive forms speaking to their extraordinary power. These were the true guardians of the forest—beings even the wizarding world kept under strict control. No unicorn herd would dare provoke them lightly. They dwelled far from meddlesome intruders, bound by an ancient pact with Hogwarts that kept their territory safe. With enough strength, they could roam freely for food without threatening the castle.
Erwin had been startled upon first encountering them. He hadn't anticipated such titans lurking in the shadows. Little Black, however, took to the place like an old friend. Erwin had requested a drop of their blood for his studies, and they'd given it freely—likely drawn by his innate affinity for magical creatures.
It finally clicked why even Voldemort had never tried breaching Hogwarts through the forest's depths. To humans, this hidden heart was an unbreakable barrier. Impressive as they were, the creatures stirred as Erwin's presence rippled through the air. Their eyes snapped open, gleaming with recognition and a touch of surprise.
Erwin smiled reassuringly. "Hang tight, everyone. You'll be back in your territories soon enough—I promise these students won't trash the place."
The behemoths nodded solemnly, settling into separate patches of ground without a hint of aggression. Erwin exhaled in relief. They'd clashed once before, nearly overwhelming him, but he'd talked them down with a mix of persuasion and his natural rapport. Force alone wouldn't have sufficed; a preliminary clash had shown him that much.
This was where Dumbledore's prowess shone. Setting aside the man's quirks, his raw power commanded respect. Without it, these creatures wouldn't have peacefully claimed their spots in the Forbidden Forest.
Erwin set Little Black down, and the cat scampered toward one of the most formidable beasts. Erwin didn't intervene. Little Black shared his odd knack for bonding with magical creatures—unicorns even let the black kitten curl up on their flanks. The herd leader had once confided that Little Black felt like an extension of Erwin himself, perhaps due to the unicorn blood in his veins or some deeper affinity. Either way, the giants tolerated the cat's antics, and Little Black was far too shrewd to push his luck by starting a scrap.
With a flick of his wand, Erwin summoned a wall of vines that erupted from the earth, encircling the lake and the creatures within. The beasts glanced at the barrier curiously but remained unperturbed—it was fragile enough for them to shred if needed. That was the point; it served as a deterrent for wandering students, who wouldn't dare encroach on such perilous ground anyway.
Satisfied, Erwin pocketed his wand and perched on a nearby boulder. He pulled an enchanted ring from his pocket and withdrew a worn notebook—the one he'd acquired from a Hufflepuff alumnus. More journal than tome, he'd pored over it twice already. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, but cross-referencing it with his lessons revealed layers of profundity. Insights leaped out on every reread, hinting that multiple minds had contributed to its pages.
Time slipped by as Erwin delved deeper. An hour vanished before he reached the final entry and snapped the book shut. "This can't all be Hufflepuff scribbles," he muttered. "What's the real story behind their legacy trial? Even Ravenclaw's got only scraps of intel on it."
He tucked the notebook away, resolving to revisit it once he'd gained more knowledge. Sometimes, he marveled at his fortune—a random find turning into a goldmine of wisdom. Stretching, Erwin rose, intending to patrol and gauge the students' progress.
But then, a strange sensation bloomed in his mind, as if his soul detached and soared above the forest like a spectral bird. From this vantage, he surveyed the chaos below. Clusters of students battled Acromantulas in fierce skirmishes, while others, flushed with victory, clutched flags pilfered from rival houses. To Erwin's satisfaction, none targeted his own— a solid showing of restraint.
Still, the allure of points from the first phase—individual prowess in flag capture, worth just forty percent—might not tempt everyone to play fair. That led to the exam's true core: character. Erwin wasn't some saint, but he had standards. He'd framed the trial as cutthroat competition to spark rivalry and growth, yes—but also to flush out the unscrupulous. As long as his students stayed unmolested, he'd award house points generously. Let the rest prove their mettle.
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