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Chapter 29 - Chapter 28: Voldemort Appears 

Dumbledore fell silent, gazing at Quirrell's plea for help. After a long moment, he said regretfully, "Quirinus Quirrell... he was once an outstanding Ravenclaw graduate. Such a pity." 

"Professor, you're not just going to forgive Quirrell, are you?" Harry looked at Dumbledore, astonished. 

"Harry, everyone deserves a second chance. I cannot—" 

"If bad people get to start over, what happens to the good people?" Harry rudely interrupted Dumbledore. He simply couldn't believe Dumbledore was so indecisive. Even the bullies at Muggle primary schools knew you couldn't be soft on your enemies. 

"Harry, you're still young now. When you're older, you'll understand—" Dumbledore said patiently. 

"Dumbledore, do you know what the wizards on the Knight Bus say about you?" Harry cut Dumbledore off again, speaking to himself. "They all say you're a hypocrite, shouting big promises but staying cooped up in Hogwarts all day, not caring a jot about the lives of ordinary wizards." 

Here, a mocking smile appeared on Harry's face. "Some even think they'd be better off if Voldemort had won. Pure-blood nobles ruling ordinary wizards, ordinary wizards ruling Muggles." 

"Harry, I can't argue with that, but I hope you'll form your own judgments." 

Silence. A thick silence permeated the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts. 

Harry didn't want to try convincing Dumbledore anymore. He just wanted to finish telling him what happened and leave. 

"Hagrid said another unicorn died, just like last time, with its blood drained. Voldemort's back." 

Dumbledore looked up in surprise. "Tom dares to return? Yes, he is Tom..." 

Dumbledore quickly walked to the window, gazing out at the Forbidden Forest, lost in thought. Finally, he asked Harry not to go looking for Tom actively. 

"I'm not foolish enough to go looking for death, Professor." 

Harry left the Headmaster's office. He truly couldn't fathom how a legendary wizard, over a hundred years old, could be so indecisive. Still, it was a good thing Dumbledore wouldn't be soft on Voldemort, otherwise Harry would have to consider switching sides. 

After telling Hermione what happened, her reaction was rather calm. 

"Anyway, with Professor Dumbledore around, we should be more worried about our exams right now." 

 

Time slowly passed. Whatever Dumbledore did, no more unicorns died in the Forbidden Forest. Harry gradually put the incident out of his mind, dedicating his energy to revision. He didn't want to be outdone by Hermione. 

Finally, exam day arrived. 

Harry was confident he'd ace the practical exams, especially Charms. Professor Flitwick announced right there that Harry had earned an 'Outstanding.' 

However, the Potions exam took Harry by surprise. He didn't expect Snape to outright lie, giving him only an 'Exceeds Expectations.' Hermione, whose potion wasn't as perfect, also got an 'Exceeds Expectations.' Harry tried to shove his perfect potion vial under Snape's large nose, wanting him to see it clearly, but Snape's excuse was that he hadn't followed the textbook instructions exactly. 

"Perhaps Potter can go rewrite the textbooks, then he can be graded on his own methods," Snape sneered. 

Harry had nothing to say, knowing that following the textbook instructions wouldn't yield a perfect potion. 

For the History of Magic exam, Harry felt utterly doomed. What was the point of memorizing the inventors of self-stirring cauldrons and shampoo? Harry simply filled in Dumbledore's name wherever he could and then rested his head on the desk, waiting for time to run out. 

After the exams, Harry and Hermione walked towards Hagrid's hut. Humphrey had already been clamoring to climb in the forest. 

"Hermione, the more you check your answers now, the more upset you'll be when the results come out," Harry said, sounding a bit defensive. The moment the History of Magic exam was over, he knew he couldn't compare to Hermione. 

Upon reaching Hagrid's hut, Hermione stepped forward and knocked on the door. "Hagrid doesn't seem to be here. He's probably gone to see Norberta again." Harry didn't think much of it; with plenty of food, Norberta was already three metres long, so Hagrid often spent the whole day looking for her in the Forbidden Forest. 

They continued deeper into the Forbidden Forest. Harry let Humphrey out, and he excitedly scurried around; being cooped up in a trunk for months had truly stifled him. Suddenly, Humphrey raised his heads and flicked his tongues incessantly. 

"Master, I smell blood." 

"Sounds like that big oaf, Hagrid." 

"Nonsense, it's clearly that little brat Malfoy." 

The three heads immediately started squabbling, finally reaching a consensus. "Master, Malfoy and Hagrid's blood are nearby." (Voice X3) 

"Hermione, something's happened." Harry pulled out his wand. 

Following Humphrey through a few bushes, a pool of blood appeared on the ground, with a large rock nearby. Further on, Hagrid's wooden bucket lay overturned, brandy spilled everywhere, and a unicorn lay dead not far away. 

Harry squinted, looking ahead; the blood trail led deeper into the Forbidden Forest. 

"Harry, all the unicorn's blood is gone! Could it be You-Know-Who's returned? Is Hagrid alright?" Hermione asked, her voice tight with worry. 

Harry said nothing. He took his Nimbus 2000 from his trunk, gestured for Hermione to get on, and flew her straight back to Hagrid's hut. 

"Hermione, go back to the castle immediately and find Dumbledore. Tell him— no! If Voldemort dared to return, Dumbledore must not be at school. Go find the other professors!" 

Hermione knew this wasn't the time to be brave; she decisively ran towards the castle. Harry knew the safest option was to wait for the professors to act together, but he had a feeling that Voldemort had intentionally left those bloodstains, waiting for him. 

 

Let's rewind to just after the History of Magic exam. 

Harry and Hermione were heading back to the dormitory to get Humphrey, while Malfoy went directly towards Hagrid's hut. 

"Draco, I—" 

"Pansy, you go back first. I'll be back later," Malfoy said without looking back. 

Malfoy always remembered Norberta's feeding time. Sure enough, when he arrived at Hagrid's hut, Hagrid was already carrying a bucket of brandy, ready to set off. 

"Malfoy, you again?" 

Malfoy didn't say anything, just followed behind him. Hagrid was used to it. 

The two walked one after another, deeper into the Forbidden Forest. 

... 

"Ah!!" 

Malfoy was utterly terrified by the sight before him: a cloaked figure was hunched over a unicorn, drinking its blood. 

Hagrid quickly put down the brandy, stepping in front of Malfoy. Hagrid regretted not bringing his crossbow. Seeing Malfoy's stunned expression, he didn't expect him to be able to use magic. Hagrid could only pick up a large rock from the ground and hurl it, then hoist Malfoy onto his back and run. 

The cloaked figure gestured casually, and the rock turned around and flew back towards Hagrid. 

Malfoy was hit hard by the rock, which jolted him awake. He spat out some blood and yelled, "Ow! You big oaf! Don't carry me!" 

Hagrid kept running without looking back, but he did shift Malfoy to his shoulder, carrying him fireman-style. 

 

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