Chapter 38: The Forbidden Forest (Part 2)
"Look, over there. Bowtruckles. Do not underestimate those little things. They tend to be gentle and shy, but they love their home, the tree they live in. If anyone tries to harm their tree, they will attack. See those little claws? They go straight for the eyes. Nasty little buggers."
Warren and Hagrid concealed themselves behind a tree, watching the Whomping Willow from a distance. This magical plant was said to ward off Dark creatures and provided an excellent source of wood for wands. Tiny, twig-like creatures were frolicking among its branches. They were Bowtruckles.
Hagrid whispered, "They are easy enough to bribe. They love insects. Catch them some insects, and they will be your friends. They might even give you a branch from their tree. That is how I get materials for Ollivander every year. Not everyone knows this, but Hogwarts has a deal with Ollivander. I collect unicorn hair and suitable branches, and he gives Hogwarts students a discount on his wands."
As they talked, they ventured deeper into the forest. Hagrid's earlier formality melted away as he explained the magical creatures around them. He chattered nonstop.
His knowledge of magical creatures was certainly vast. Throughout their walk, he had already introduced Warren to fairies, pixies, hairy crabs, and even a family of Mooncalves near a small hill. With their oversized, bulging eyes, these creatures looked incredibly cute and goofy. Their personalities mirrored their appearance. A few calves even waddled over on short legs and sniffed at Warren with curiosity.
Hagrid collected their dung. He explained to Warren that it was an incredibly potent fertilizer. When spread across his pumpkin patch, it produced pumpkins that were enormous and perfectly healthy.
"I am too late this year. The pumpkins are already ripe and perfect for Halloween. But next year, next year you will get to eat pumpkins grown with Mooncalf dung."
Warren was speechless. It was just perfectly normal fertilizer. Why did Hagrid have to make it sound so disgusting?
"Speaking of which, Hagrid, has the Forbidden Forest been quiet lately?"
After watching the Bowtruckles for a time, they resumed their walk. Warren asked if everything had been quiet.
"What do you mean?" Hagrid scratched his head. "If you mean students sneaking in, your two brothers are always causing trouble in here. So no, it has not been quiet at all."
"I will keep an eye on them. I meant to ask, have any of the creatures been injured? I could help by brewing some potions."
"Warren, you are a good lad, a real good lad." Hagrid was visibly touched. "No one has ever offered to brew potions for them. Truth is, the unicorns have been having a rough time of it lately."
"Oh?" Warren looked interested. "What happened?"
Hagrid shook his head. "I do not know. The centaurs told me some unicorns had been attacked. But you know what that lot is like. They are always going on about stars and prophecies. You can never get a straight answer out of them. I have found some injured unicorns, but they are too wary. They will not let me near them. I have been looking for ages and I cannot figure out what is causing it."
Warren's eyes narrowed in thought. His guess had been right. Voldemort was probably already secretly harvesting unicorn blood. He glanced up at the sky. Judging by the light filtering through the canopy, it was still early. He asked Hagrid, "Can you take me to see it?"
Hagrid did not give it a second thought. He was far too easygoing for that. He had just warned that the forest was dangerous, yet now that he was actually in it with Warren, he had completely forgotten the danger.
"Come on, this way. Fang, you coward. Milo will not hit you again. Get to the front and lead the way."
Two hours later.
Hagrid led Warren to a clearing in the forest. It was one of the few places where sunlight reached the ground. Without trees to block the light, low bushes grew thickly here. Some of the hollies were even covered in berries.
"I cleared this spot years ago. Unicorns love berries, so I planted a few, and they have been coming here ever since."
Hagrid waved his pink umbrella to shoo away a few squabbling fairies, then led Warren to the center of the clearing. "About a week ago, I saw a unicorn hiding here. It had injured its leg. See, the blood is still there."
He pointed to a patch of indigo soil at their feet.
Warren crouched down to examine it closely. Unicorn blood was a silvery blue, rich with magic, and flowed like mercury. But after sitting on the ground for a week exposed to the elements, it had already begun to fade.
Seeing the intense expression on Warren's face, Hagrid assumed he was worried. "Unicorns get hurt all the time, Warren. This is the Forbidden Forest. All the creatures here are fighting to survive. It probably wandered into werewolf territory or got attacked by something. It is not anything serious."
Warren said nothing. He studied the bloodstain for a moment, then raised his wand rather than touching it.
"Aparecium."
The spell drew on his magic to reveal the unseen, fueled by his intent to uncover the truth. It hit the patch of indigo soil.
A faint white light flickered into existence. It was pure, reminiscent of moonlight, and simply gazing upon it evoked a sense of sanctity. This was the intrinsic magic of unicorn blood. Though faint, the dimness was simply the result of natural decay. However, tendrils of grey smoke soon materialized from within the light. They coiled around it like parasites, corroding the glow as they spread through it. Warren could almost detect the scent of decay and death in the smoke.
"Dark magic."
He narrowed his eyes. He was no longer a novice in the Dark Arts. While A Beginner's Guide to the Dark Arts had not taught him any powerful curses, it had given him a thorough understanding of dark power.
"What is that?" Hagrid's voice boomed from above. The Dark Arts were not exactly his area of expertise.
At the same moment, the System panel materialized before Warren.
[Side Quest Activated]
[Side Quest 2: Save the Unicorns of the Forbidden Forest]
[Reward: Random Magical Creature Language Pack]
Warren stared at the new quest. He paused for a moment, nearly laughing out loud. Tom, oh Tom. Even the System's quests were targeting you now. Do not blame me for the trouble.
"Nothing." Warren shook his head. He opened his small bag, enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm. He took out an empty bottle and carefully scooped some of the soil into it. "We should go back, Hagrid. I need to see Headmaster Dumbledore."