Rock was still explaining everything to Hagrid when a silver phoenix soared through the open window.
"Blimey, that's Dumbledore's Patronus!" Hagrid spun around, eyes wide. "Seen it loads of times and it still gives me the shivers. Right, Rock?"
Rock stood up. The Patronus had clearly been sent for him.
It was rare, though. He could only remember seeing one once as a little kid back at the manor.
The silver phoenix hovered in the air. Dumbledore's calm voice filled the hut:
Little Rock, these are the unicorns' gifts. I believe you'll find a use for them.
The moment the message ended, the phoenix dissolved. A small bundle dropped toward the floor.
Rock flicked his wand at once. "Wingardium Leviosa!"
The objects floated gently into his hands.
"A unicorn's horn tip… and tears," Hagrid breathed, stunned. He had never heard of a unicorn giving anyone something like this. A lock of mane? Sure. But the actual horn and tears?
"Not bad," Rock said with a grin. "The little guy isn't completely heartless after all."
He pulled a crystal vial from his bag and carefully stored the tears inside.
Hagrid looked a bit offended at Rock casually calling the unicorn "the little guy," but then again… Rock was the only person the unicorn had ever marked. He'd earned the right.
"Right then," Hagrid said, grabbing his coat. "Dumbledore's message means you're cleared to head back to the castle. I'll walk you."
"Any way we can skip the main doors, Hagrid?"
Hagrid blinked. "Skip the main doors? Only if you've got a broom and fancy flying straight up to the Ravenclaw tower."
Broom. Yeah… no.
"Never mind. Just take me as far as the entrance. I'll handle the rest."
"Fine by me." Hagrid shrugged. His orders were only to get Rock to the castle anyway.
As they neared the entrance, Rock thanked Hagrid and slipped away. A moment later he raised his wand.
"Disillusionment Charm."
His body faded into the shadows. He stepped through the great oak doors—
—and froze.
Snape was standing right there, face like someone owed him several thousand Galleons. Worse, those black eyes were locked exactly on the spot where Rock stood.
Rock tested it. He slid two steps left. Snape's gaze followed perfectly.
He tried a quick jog to slip past. A cold voice cut through the air.
"Take one more step and I swear every detention from now on will be the real kind. Solitary confinement. Think about that."
Rock sighed and dropped the charm. Real detention meant sitting alone in a tiny room. He'd rather take Snape's insults any day.
Snape's lip curled. "How surprising. You actually thought you could sneak past me?"
Rock stayed quiet, but his eyes flicked toward a dark corner.
Snape caught it instantly. He strode over, scanned the shadows, then flicked his wand.
"Ah—!"
Hermione and Ron yelped as the Disillusionment Charm ripped away. Harry stood there, completely still, staring at Snape.
"Well, well. Look what I caught. The Boy Who Lived and his little friends. Where exactly were you three sneaking off to at this hour?"
Hermione and Ron clamped their mouths shut. They'd only been startled by the sudden reveal—especially with Snape's face looming inches away the whole time. It had been a nightmare.
"I was going to the Forest—something's happening, Hagrid—"
"How touching," Snape hissed, voice dripping venom. "The great Harry Potter still thinks he knows castle security better than the professors."
"Rubeus Hagrid is the gamekeeper. Dealing with the Forest is his job. Yours is to follow the rules. I believe I made it very clear in the Great Hall: all students return to their common rooms immediately."
The silence was suffocating.
"You don't care if anyone dies!" Harry burst out, green eyes blazing. "For all we know you're in on whatever's happening in the Forest tonight!"
Snape's already pale face went ghostly white.
Rock rubbed his forehead. Great. Now nobody's getting out of this.
"Gryffindor loses ten points. Each."
Hermione: ???
Ron: ???
Harry blinked, then glanced at Rock. Wait… isn't he Ravenclaw?
Snape ignored their stunned faces. He leaned down until he was eye-level with Harry.
"Turn around. Go back to your tower. If I see any of you out here again, I will make sure the rest of your year is spent in the dungeons."
Harry's face burned with anger, but Hermione and Ron grabbed his arms and dragged him away.
Snape watched them disappear, then slowly turned back to Rock.
"Professor, Headmaster Dumbledore sent for me. Hagrid escorted me back. You can check with either of them."
"Come here."
Snape's tone had thawed—just a fraction.
"Yes, Professor." Rock stepped closer at once.
Snape's eyes swept the empty entrance hall. "Who were you just looking for?"
He sounded irritated. He had just bragged that nobody could hide under his nose, yet three first-years had almost slipped right past him.
Rock frowned. How was he supposed to answer?
Professor Snape, did the Voldemort-possessed Quirrell sneak back in?
He knew the truth, but he couldn't exactly say it out loud.
Snape's patience snapped. "Gryffindor loses another five points!"
Rock: ????