Three nights after Professor Kieran's lecture, the castle slept under a sky the color of dark velvet.
Clouds moved slowly across the moon above Hogwarts, casting long shadows over the towers and courtyards. The great stone gates stood closed, but for four students who had spent an entire year studying forbidden arts, slipping beyond them was hardly difficult.
Julian, Noah, Lake, and Oliver moved silently across the grounds.
Noah extinguished the last lantern as they reached the forest edge.
"From here on," he whispered, "no lights."
The forest swallowed them immediately.
Branches twisted overhead like skeletal fingers. Moss covered ancient stones scattered through the undergrowth. Wind moved softly through the trees, whispering through leaves like quiet voices.
This forest had secrets.
And tonight they were hunting them.