Charlie followed behind Filch, practically itching to give him a good smack.
Why did he always have to show up right when things were getting good?
The senior girls' massages had been heavenly, and then this bald fossil barged in and ruined everything.
Charlie glared at the gleaming surface of Filch's bald head, fingers twitching.
"Hurry up! Quit dawdling!" Filch snapped over his shoulder, eyes filled with malice.
"Tonight's detention will be one you'll never forget."
Charlie didn't bother replying.
Soon enough, Filch led him out of the castle to Hagrid's hut.
Charlie was just wondering why detention involved going outdoors when he spotted Harry, Ron, and Hermione already waiting.
They'd been sentenced to detention by Professor McGonagall too.
"Charlie!" Harry waved nervously.
Ron and Hermione nodded to him in greeting.
Filch shoved Charlie toward Hagrid, then turned to face the group.
His eyes gleamed coldly in the moonlight.
"Stay in line!" Filch shouted, voice sharp and shrill.
"This is detention, not a tea party!"
"These little brats are all yours, Hagrid. Make sure they suffer. Especially this one, Charlie. Caused an absolute uproar in the school."
Hagrid frowned.
"Just leave 'em to me," he rumbled.
"This ain't your place to hand out punishment. What happens next ain't your concern."
Filch's smirk faltered.
He opened his mouth to argue, but one look into Hagrid's beetle-black eyes shut him right up.
"Hmph." With a snort, Filch turned and stalked off, his footsteps echoing down the path until they faded away.
Once he was gone, Hagrid faced the four students.
His expression turned serious.
"Your detention tonight is with me, patrolling the Forbidden Forest."
"We've got to drive some of the creatures deeper in, away from the castle."
Ron went pale instantly.
"The Forbidden Forest?" he squeaked.
"Isn't that… dangerous?"
Hagrid grinned with satisfaction.
He deliberately lowered his voice, thickening the air with suspense.
"Tonight's job is very dangerous," he said slowly.
"If you don't want to end up dead, stick close to me."
Now even Harry and Hermione looked anxious.
Harry swallowed hard, a flicker of fear in his eyes.
Hermione clutched her wand, knuckles white with tension.
Hagrid nodded, pleased.
Detention was supposed to leave an impression, otherwise, how would they learn?
But when he looked at Charlie, he froze.
Charlie's eyes were shining with excitement, his whole face beaming.
He was rubbing his hands together eagerly, practically vibrating in place.
Now THIS is detention! McGonagall is the best!
Hagrid blinked in confusion.
Something was definitely off.
This kid wasn't scared at all?
Shaking his head, Hagrid led the way toward the forest, lantern in hand.
"Stay close."
The four students followed behind.
After a few steps, Hagrid glanced back, and nearly laughed.
Harry and Ron were clinging to Charlie's arms on either side.
Hermione trailed behind, gripping the back of Charlie's robes.
In this pitch-black forest, Charlie was their walking safety net.
"Hrrr hrr hrr," Hagrid chuckled to himself. "Looks like detention's working just fine."
As they delved deeper into the forest, the moonlight faded beneath the dense canopy. Darkness pressed in around them.
Dry leaves crunched beneath their feet.
Distant animal cries echoed through the trees, eerily loud in the stillness.
Charlie was starting to get annoyed with the others huddling so close.
Their body heat was making him feel stifled.
"Oi," he whispered. "There's nothing scary in the forest. I've been here before. Hagrid's just trying to scare you."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione hesitantly loosened up a little.
Then, crack.
A sharp snap behind them.
Immediately, the trio crushed back into Charlie from all sides.
"That was just a twig, probably stepped on by some little creature," Charlie muttered, exasperated.
But they didn't listen.
They clung to him like leeches.
Charlie gave up.
Fine. Be that way.
Hagrid led them deeper still.
The lantern's glow danced through the shadows, casting warped silhouettes along the trees.
Unseen by the group, a robed figure emerged from the darkness.
Moonlight fell on his pale face, revealing a grim expression.
His violet turban fluttered faintly in the breeze.
Quirrell's hands were clasped together, not out of nerves, but fury.
He had a mission tonight.
Because of his weakened state, Voldemort had ordered him to hunt unicorns.
Their blood could sustain life, restore his shattered soul.
But now Hagrid and his little pack had thrown everything into disarray.
Quirrell's eyes flashed with murderous intent.
He quickly tamped it down.
Killing them would draw Dumbledore's attention.
And in his current condition, Quirrell doubted he could handle Hagrid and Charlie together.
Especially Charlie.
That boy's power put Quirrell on edge.
"I must be careful," he muttered to himself.
"I mustn't be discovered."
Slipping back into the shadows, he crept away along a different path.
...
Charlie and the others never noticed a thing.
Hagrid, used to patrolling the forest alone, hadn't sensed the danger nearby either.
They continued deeper into the woods.
Dead leaves rustled underfoot.
Ron gripped Charlie's sleeve, the other hand clutching his wand.
His palm was slick with sweat.
"Hagrid," Ron whispered, "aren't we supposed to be chasing off animals?"
"Why haven't we seen anything?"
"They hear us coming and run," Hagrid replied, glancing back at them.
"That's why we just walk the path once through."
Harry whispered, "Then detention's not so bad after all."
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Hermione muttered.
"No one knows what's lurking in the Forest."
They kept walking until they reached a small stream.
Moonlight shimmered on the water, the soft bubbling sound soothing yet eerie.
Hermione suddenly stopped, pointing across the stream.
"What's that?"
They all turned to look.
A white figure moved through the shadows between the trees, ghostlike.
Hagrid raised his lantern, peering ahead, then broke into a smile.
"Oh, you lot are lucky tonight!" he said, excitement in his voice.
"That's a unicorn!"
He waved enthusiastically toward the shape.
"Nolan! It's me, Hagrid!"
Ron's jaw dropped.
"It has a name?!"
"I gave it one," Hagrid grinned.
"Sounds nice, doesn't it?"
The white figure responded to Hagrid's call, stepping slowly out of the trees.
A silver-white unicorn emerged into the open.
Its coat glowed pearlescent under the moonlight.
The spiral horn shimmered faintly, ethereal and elegant.
Its eyes were limpid pools of starlight, and it moved with a grace beyond anything earthly.
Hermione was awestruck.
She had never seen anything so beautiful.
Without realizing, she extended a hand.
Nolan did not shy away, instead, it approached.
It gently pressed its head into her open palm.
Hermione gasped at the silky softness of its fur.
Hagrid nodded, satisfied.
"Unicorns symbolize purity."
"They only approach those with a pure heart. Looks like Nolan's taken a liking to you, Hermione."
Charlie watched with surprise.
It was his first time seeing a creature like this too.
Man, imagine riding that. You'd look legendary.
Is that horn just bone sticking out?
What's it made of?
Curious, he reached out a hand to touch it.
Nolan suddenly stepped back, eyes narrowed with disdain.
That look said it all: Keep your filthy hands to yourself.
Charlie: "???"
What's that supposed to mean? Saying I'm not pure?!
Hermione tried to stifle her giggles.
Hagrid burst into roaring laughter, echoing through the trees.
"Well, unicorns do tend to prefer witches over wizards," he said, clapping Charlie on the back.
"Don't take it personally."
Charlie sulked, muttering to himself.
Purity my ass. That thing's just a smug show-off.
Bet that horn's not even regulation length.
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200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters
• TL/N •
Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
> Naruto: Mind Control
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
It's Peak.
Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed