"Hey, I'm talking to you. Did you hear me?"
Draco Malfoy looked displeased.
As a proud Malfoy, heir to one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight pure-blood wizarding families, he'd been riding high among Slytherin's freshmen, with nearly everyone eager to please him.
Except for that annoying Harry Potter, this was the first time someone had ignored him so blatantly.
"I hear you, no need to shout," Hermione replied without looking up. "Keep it up, and I'll leave you here alone."
A chilly breeze rustled through, and feeling the ominous atmosphere, Malfoy shivered and instinctively moved closer to Hermione.
The next moment, realizing his awkwardness, he forced bravado:
"Hmph, I'm focused on finding the unicorn. I won't bother with you now. But when we get back, we'll duel like real wizards!"
"Oh? Are you sure?"
Hermione cast him a playful glance.
Malfoy froze.
He remembered he wasn't dealing with an ordinary witch.
The memory of Hermione dispatching the troll with brutal efficiency still haunted him.
Forget him; even many senior wizards couldn't match her prowess. A simple Shield Charm had left him defenseless.
How did she master such advanced spells just from reading?
"Let's go; I've found the way," Hermione said, standing up.
By examining the surroundings, she'd deduced the direction the wounded unicorn had taken.
She glanced where Hagrid and the others had gone, momentarily speechless.
They were heading the wrong way.
Many wizards focus solely on their magic, neglecting basic observation and reasoning.
After years as a gamekeeper, Hagrid hadn't improved. No wonder he'd been framed the same way twice during the Chamber of Secrets incident.
As they continued, Malfoy's confidence returned.
"How do you know the unicorn went this way?"
"Are you sure we're going the right direction?"
"We won't get lost, will we? We should've stayed put and waited for Potter and the others."
"You..."
Fed up with his chatter, Hermione turned, glaring.
"It's none of your business, so shut it!"
"With your IQ, it's hard to explain. If you don't want to come, go back and stop whining!"
Hermione's sharp response left Malfoy stunned.
She dared to speak to him like that?
Since childhood, even his father... No one had spoken to him like that except his father!
"Stop being so smug; you're just a lowly mud—"
His insult caught in his throat.
Before him stood a ghostly figure cloaked in black, hovering over a dying unicorn, drinking its blood.
Silver liquid dripped from the figure's mouth, half-hidden by the cloak.
"Ahhh!!!"
Malfoy screamed in terror.
The cry drew the figure's attention. It lifted its head and glided toward them, ghost-like.
Malfoy turned to flee but tripped over vines, retreating until his back hit a tree, watching in horror as the cloaked figure approached.
"Bang!"
Just as the figure lunged, a thunderous sound echoed through the Forbidden Forest.
The figure halted, stumbled, and fell, unable to maintain its spectral form.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
A series of shots rang out as Hermione, holding a pistol, emptied the magazine into the figure.
The figure convulsed, letting out a low groan before twitching and lying still.
The Glock wand, solid steel core, nine-millimeter magic—boy!
Never seen that before!
Hermione had taken the gun after dealing with a thief, and it proved quite handy.
Calmly, she reloaded the magazine, inserting the bright yellow bullets.
Then she pointed the gun at the body again.
"Damn it!"
The figure couldn't hold back, cursing angrily. It rolled over, scrambled to its feet, and fled, faster than a sprinter.
I knew you were faking it... Hermione snorted but didn't fire again.
She hadn't intended to kill and likely couldn't.
Watching the shadow vanish into the forest depths, Hermione turned her gun on Malfoy, who was slumped on the ground.
"What was that about mud? I didn't catch it."
Malfoy swallowed, fear evident in his eyes.
Hermione slowly lowered her pistol, thinking he'd wet himself if she pushed further.
Harry, this is way more effective than a wand!
Just then, Hagrid, Harry, and the others came running.
"What happened?"
They'd heard the commotion and, worried for Hermione, rushed over, spotting a fleeing shadow on the way.
Harry felt a sharp pain in his scar.
"Nothing major. I encountered the unicorn's killer and scared them off," Hermione said nonchalantly.
That made sense.
Harry and Ron accepted it instantly.
After seeing Hermione's prowess, they had unshakable faith in her.
The killer didn't stand a chance against Hermione.
"More importantly..."
Hermione fell silent.
Following her gaze, Hagrid saw the unicorn's body. After examining it, he shook his head.
"Who did this?" Hagrid growled.
Voldemort, who else? ...Hermione thought.
He'd let the troll in to create a diversion for stealing the Philosopher's Stone. But Snape intervened.
Falling short, he resorted to drinking unicorn blood to survive.
Whether it was Quirrell or Voldemort himself, or the unicorn blood's effects, it was impressive he'd survived so many shots.
"What happened to him?"
Harry noticed Malfoy, still frightened.
"He got scared," Hermione shrugged.
Harry and Ron exchanged disdainful looks.
"Curse that murderer!" Hagrid fumed.
Quirrell took the blame once more.
Meanwhile, Hermione realized her magic book's soul energy had increased by five hundred points.
Apparently, when Quirrell killed the unicorn, she passively triggered Dark Harvest.
Well done, Quirrell. I get the rewards while you carry the blame.
She chuckled inwardly.
But if one unicorn gave 500 points, what if she... No, Hermione!
She forcibly dismissed the dangerous thought and silently followed the group away.
Only 2 tier 5$ and 10$ you want advance chapter visit my Patreon
patreon.com/Wilmington
patreon.com/Wilmington