Chapter 94 - Night Ends
Soon, a few minutes later, the wounded unicorn was fully healed.
The terrible wounds from where the blood flowed that had nearly taken its life was gone. Only a faint mark remained there. The unicorn now stood on its legs. It was a little unsteady at first, but after a moment it straightened normally.
Then it walked back to the group of unicorns. The healed unicorn returned to its herd and stood in the semicircle beside the others and lowered its head once more toward my Patronus.
The strange ceremony continued. The Patronus stood quietly in the center. Its silver-white body shone softly in the darkness of the forest. The unicorns remained on one side while the thestrals remained on the other.
For a few moments, the entire clearing became completely silent, even the wind seemed to stop.
Then the Patronus slowly raised its head. It looked at the unicorns and then it looked at the thestrals. Then it opened its mouth and a long, powerful neigh-like sound echoed through the forest.
It sounded like a horse but not exactly. The sound was deeper and stronger.
The call rolled through the trees and seemed to travel far into the distance. The unicorns and the thestrals immediately answered. The entire forest echoed with their voices.
The sound sent a shiver down my spine.
Then the light around the Patronus began to fade. The silver glow became softer and it started dissolving into tiny particles of light.
I finally lowered my wand. The moment I did, my knees nearly gave out. Only then did I realize how much magic it had been draining from me. I felt exhausted and completely drained like I had run a hundred laps around Hogwarts.
"Arthur!"
Harry immediately grabbed my arm.
"You okay?"
"Fine," I said. "Just tired."
Meanwhile, as the Patronus completely vanished and the last traces of silver light disappeared into the night. The clearing became dark once more.
After a few moments, the unicorns began to leave.
One by one, they turned away from the center. Their silver-white bodies moved gracefully through the trees. Moonlight reflected from their coats. It almost looked like flowing rivers of silver moving through the forest.
At the same time, the thestrals also started leaving. Their dark bodies moved silently. Their skeletal wings folded against their sides. They disappeared into the shadows of the forest as naturally as the unicorns disappeared into the moonlight.
It was a beautiful sight.
For a brief moment, creatures associated with life and creatures associated with death had stood together. Now they were returning to their own domains. The moment of unity was over.
I watched until most of them had vanished.
Then one unicorn broke away from the herd. It walked directly toward me. It was the healed unicorn. The unicorn stopped in front of me. Its silver eyes looked into mine.
For a moment, neither of us moved. Then it gently nudged my face with its nose and a second later, it licked my cheek.
The clearing erupted into surprised sounds.
Hagrid nearly dropped his crossbow, "Blimey!"
The unicorn stepped back. It lowered its head once and then it turned around and trotted back toward its herd. A few moments later, it disappeared among the trees.
The clearing slowly became empty. The unicorns and thestrals were gone.
Only the centaurs remained.
Firenze stepped forward as the other centaurs stood behind him.
He looked toward Dumbledore.
"It appears our business here is finished, Headmaster."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Perhaps."
Firenze glanced toward the forest where the unicorns had vanished.
"There is something dangerous moving through these woods. he hunter wounded a unicorn tonight. And may try again," Firenze said.
The old wizard nodded.
"We will take precautions."
Firenze looked toward us students.
"You should be careful about sending children into the forest for some time."
Professor McGonagall immediately frowned.
"I assure you, that was never intended to happen again."
I thought she looked slightly guilty after seeing what we had encountered.
Dumbledore inclined his head.
"Hogwarts will ensure that students remain away from the deeper parts of the forest until this threat is dealt with."
Firenze seemed satisfied.
"Very well."
The centaur looked at me for a moment. His eyes lingered longer than normal. Then he simply nodded and turned away.
The other centaurs followed him. Within minutes, they too disappeared into the forest.
Dumbledore looked around as he clapped his hands softly.
"Well, I believe everyone has had quite enough excitement for one evening."
Professor Flitwick chuckled.
"Quite enough."
Professor Snape looked at me then at the spot where my Patronus had vanished. His expression was impossible to read.
Dumbledore turned toward us.
"Children, your examinations are approaching. Tonight has been extraordinary, but tomorrow remains a school day."
A few of us groaned. That earned small smiles from the professors.
"Off to bed."
"All of you."
Hagrid stepped forward.
"I'll take 'em back."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Thank you, Hagrid."
Soon we began walking back toward Hogwarts.
I noticed that the professors remained behind. They were discussing something.
I decided not to think about it.
Hagrid guided us back through the forest. Neville was exhausted while Hermione looked thoughtful. Harry looked like he had a hundred questions and Draco was trying very hard not to admit he had been terrified.
Eventually we reached the castle. After that, everyone headed toward their dormitories.
I returned to Hufflepuff. The moment I lay down on my bed, the events of the night replayed inside my head as none of it made sense.
I had practiced the Patronus Charm before. The same creature had always appeared but it had never behaved independently or acted as if it possessed its own thoughts.
Then there was the matter of my wand.
The wand had hinted me and had urged me toward the wounded unicorn like it knew something was wrong.
From what I remembered of the original timeline, the unicorn should have died tonight. Harry and Draco were supposed to find its body after it had already been killed.
But now the unicorn was alive. The wraith had failed.
Which also meant Voldemort had failed to obtain the unicorn's blood.
That would make the condition of Professor Quirrell's body worse.
But I decided to think about all of this later, because there was something far more immediate.
Exams.
My preparations were nearly complete. Only a few subjects needed final revision. I was confident and I intended to score excellent marks.
With that final thought, my exhausted body finally gave up. Sleep claimed me quickly and before long, I drifted into dreams.
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End of Chapter 94 - Night Ends