Harry raised his wand and shot a stream of red sparks into the sky.
"This is where we part ways," Firenze said, halting. His ears twitched alertly. "The Guardians of the Forest are approaching. It is not convenient for me to be seen with you; our herd holds... complex views regarding human allies."
The centaur gave Rove a deep look, as if trying to memorize the face of this strange wizard, before turning and leaping into the depths of the jungle, vanishing like the wind.
A few minutes later, the ground began to tremble.
"Harry! Rove!"
Hagrid burst through the underbrush brandishing his crossbow, with Hermione and Neville panting heavily behind him.
"Thank heavens, you're alright!" Hagrid threw down his bow and swept Harry and Rove into a bear hug that nearly cracked their ribs. He set them down and gasped, "When I saw the red sparks, you scared the living daylights out of me! What happened?"
"It was a shadow, Hagrid," Harry said breathlessly, his hand rubbing his forehead which was still throbbing. "It... it was drinking the unicorn's blood."
Hagrid's face instantly went pale. "Drinking blood? That's a heinous crime! A curse! What in the world was it..."
"I don't know," Rove said, sheathing his wand. "But it's extremely dangerous. Malfoy and Fang ran off in panic; I don't know where they went."
"Malfoy?" Hagrid frowned, anxiety flashing in his beetle-black eyes. "That fool! Running around the Forbidden Forest is a death sentence!"
Hagrid looked at the four exhausted students and made a decision.
"Listen, I'm taking you back to my hut first. It's safe there." Hagrid picked up his crossbow, his tone unusually grave. "Then I have to go back. I have to find Malfoy and Fang, and... and take care of that poor unicorn."
---
Half an hour later, a warm fire crackled in Hagrid's hut.
Hagrid poured them each a mug of hot tea, then slung his quiver back over his shoulder, grabbed his crossbow, and headed back into the dark forest alone.
The hut was quiet. Hermione and Neville wanted to ask questions, but seeing Harry staring silently into the fire in a daze, they kept their mouths shut. They turned to look at Rove.
"Don't worry, it's not a big deal. Hagrid will handle it," Rove comforted them. "Just get some rest."
Exhausted, the two curled up in the oversized armchairs and closed their eyes.
It wasn't until nearly 2:00 AM that the door was pushed open.
Hagrid walked in, covered in mud, followed by a dejected Fang and a pale-faced Malfoy.
"Found 'em," Hagrid said wearily, hanging his crossbow on the wall. "The kid was scared stiff, hiding inside a hollow tree shivering. As for the unicorn... I've buried it."
Malfoy didn't say a word. He didn't even make his usual snide remarks at Harry. He curled up in the corner, trembling visibly. Clearly, the black shadow had left him with some lasting psychological trauma.
Nobody slept well that night.
---
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight illuminated the spires of Hogwarts castle, Hagrid escorted the five children across the grounds to the front doors.
"Listen, you lot," Hagrid lowered his voice before parting ways, his eyes full of worry. "This is serious. I'm going to report this to Dumbledore immediately. Until the Headmaster makes a decision, don't breathe a word about tonight to anyone. Especially you, Harry."
Watching Hagrid turn and walk away, Rove sighed softly.
In the days that followed, Hogwarts returned to its usual calm. Harry became withdrawn, constantly rubbing his forehead. Malfoy took sick leave; rumor had it he was in the Hospital Wing undergoing "shock therapy."
As for Rove, he began frantically hoarding food and practicing his "Frying Pan Block Technique," muttering constantly about how "Sauron's spies have already infiltrated the perimeter."
However, life doesn't stop just because of a Dark Lord's shadow. For Hogwarts students, a threat far more imminent than the Dark Lord was approaching—Final Exams!
---
The Library.
"The twelfth use of Dragon's blood... the twelfth..."
Hermione sat across from Rove. Her hair had doubled in volume, making her look like a startled Kneazle. She was clutching Magical Drafts and Potions tightly, muttering under her breath.
> [WARNING! Ally Unit [Elven Scholar] Sanity is plummeting!]
> [Current Status: Confused / Manic]
Rove sighed and put down his copy of A History of Magic. Under his System filter, this wasn't a textbook at all, but a heavily damaged "Map of Gondor's Defenses."
"Stay calm, Hermione," Rove whispered. "It's just a battle, not the end of the world."
"You don't get it, Rove!" Hermione jerked her head up, dark circles under her eyes making her look like a panda. "If I can't remember this, I'll fail Snape's Potions exam, then I'll be expelled, and then I'll..."
"Then you'll have to go mine coal in the Lonely Mountain," Rove finished for her.
Hermione glared at him, but she clearly didn't have the energy to argue.
Rove pulled a small square wrapped in leaves (which he'd swiped from Herbology class) from his robe pocket. Inside was a specially made, high-calorie chocolate biscuit from the kitchens.
"Here." Rove slid the small square toward Hermione.
"What is this?"
"Lembas bread," Rove said with a straight face. "Elven marching rations. One small bite is enough to keep a grown man running for a whole day."
Hermione looked skeptically at the chocolate. "This looks like a Chocolate Frog from the kitchen that got sat on."
"That's camouflage," Rove lowered his voice. "To prevent Orcs from finding it. Eat up; you need to maintain your blood sugar to keep your casting focus."
Hermione rolled her eyes, but she grabbed the "Lembas" and took a vicious bite.
"...It actually works," she mumbled through a mouthful of chocolate. "I feel like my brain is clearing up a bit."
"Of course." Rove nodded with satisfaction as he watched Hermione's [Sanity] slowly recover on his interface. "But don't eat too much, Elven Princess. Gluttony is a sin."
Five minutes later, Hermione had devoured the entire box of "Lembas" and began reciting the thirteenth use of Dragon's blood (even though the book only listed twelve).
Watching this, Rove silently added a note in his mind: It seems Hogwarts Elves have the appetite of Hobbits.
---
Late Night, Hufflepuff Common Room.
Even though it was 1:00 AM, the common room was still brightly lit.
However, nobody was studying hard—they were having a midnight feast!
"Rove, wake up!"
A soft, squishy hand pinched Rove's cheek, dragging him out of a nightmare about the "Defense of Helm's Deep."
Susan Bones was sitting cross-legged on the carpet across from him, holding a copy of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi in one hand and a pumpkin pasty in the other.
"You fell asleep again," Susan said helplessly. "If you don't review the habits of Mandrakes, Professor Sprout will kill you. Even if she is our Head of House, she won't go easy on us for this."
Rove rubbed his eyes and looked at the ugly plant drawn on the page.
Under the System's label, it was marked as: [Screaming Entling].
> [Item: Mandrake]
> [Attributes: Sonic Attack / Instant Death Check]
> [Usage: Resurrection Potion / Stew (Needs detoxification)]
"This thing..." Rove yawned. "If you don't wear earmuffs, its cry will send your soul straight to meet Mandos."
"Exactly, so you have to be careful when repotting them," Susan mumbled, stuffing the pasty into her mouth. "Also, its leaves can be used to make antidotes... did you memorize that?"
Rove looked at the pumpkin crumbs on the corner of Susan's mouth, and at the other little Badgers around them who were playing cards, eating, or quizzing each other (which was mostly just chatting).
There was no Gryffindor recklessness, no Slytherin coldness, and no Ravenclaw high-pressure intensity here.
There was only a warm fire, endless food, and companions who knew how to enjoy life even on the eve of exams.
Rove felt a long-lost sense of peace.
In this moment, he felt that even if Sauron's army was at the gates tomorrow, this group of Badgers would probably ask, "Are Orcs edible?" first.
"What are you smiling at?" Susan looked at him strangely.
"Nothing." Rove stretched and grabbed a pasty from the plate. "I just think... this is a Shire worth protecting."
"The Shire?" Susan tilted her head. "Is that your hometown?"
"Sort of," Rove took a bite, the sweet pumpkin flavor melting in his mouth. "A place with only good food, pipe-weed, and peace."
"Sounds really nice," Susan smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. "Take me to see it someday?"
"I will," Rove said softly, his gaze turning firm.
> [System Alert: Host Willpower Fluctuation Detected.]
> [Mental State: Guardian]
> [Acquired Temporary Buff: Exam Cram]
> [Effect: Intelligence +1 (Lasts until the end of exams)]
Rove felt a sudden clarity wash over his brain. It was subtle, but it felt like Gandalf had just cast a "Wisdom" buff on him.
"Alright, Susan." Rove sat up straight and picked up the thick Herbology textbook. "Let's handle these Entlings. Should we slice them or deep fry them?"
"It's repotting! Rove! Not cooking!" Susan huffed and bonked him on the head with her book.
The common room was filled with an air of joy.