Chapter 225: The Worst Possible Outcome

Similarly hot buttons were tightly clutched in a pair of hands.

The Forbidden Forest was pitch-black and utterly silent.

Justin, who had come for detention as well, had just joined Hagrid and the others when he heard a loud, mournful cry.

They had originally come into the Forbidden Forest to search for something, but now Hagrid seemed to have found it—and found the worst possible outcome.

“I’ve long suspected someone lurking in the Forbidden Forest… look over there,”

Hagrid said,

“do you see that shimmering thing on the ground? Silvery-white? That’s unicorn blood.

I never imagined whoever it was would target a unicorn—I’ve never heard of a unicorn being harmed before…”

The five stood in silence, watching as a beam of moonlight slipped through the branches above, illuminating patches of silver-blue blood on the fallen leaves.

“Alright,”

Hagrid said,

“your task hasn’t changed—we still need to find that creature.

But listen carefully: what we’re doing tonight will be extremely dangerous.”

Harry and the others’ unease, which had begun the day before, reached its peak; they had thought Justin’s arrival would bring some relief, but instead they’d been drawn into something far more perilous.

They were already trembling, unsure whether it was from the biting night wind.

“Don’t leave the path. Now, we’ll split into groups of three or four—two teams, following the blood trail separately. Blood is everywhere; clearly, the unicorn has been stumbling around aimlessly since at least last night.”

Hagrid said.

“I’ll take Fang,”

Malfoy said hurriedly, eyeing Fang’s long fangs.

Justin recalled what En had said before leaving:

“If you’re in danger in the Forbidden Forest and you’re with Fang, run fast. Fang looks fierce, but his courage is about the same as the Malfoys you’ll meet.”

It seemed this warning had already begun to prove true.

“I’ll take Fang.”

Justin was scared too, but rather than let his friend be in danger, he believed he could run faster than Malfoy.

Thus, Justin, Malfoy, and Fang formed one group; Harry and the other three teamed up with Hagrid.

A breeze blew, and Justin held up the route map, waving it at Harry and the others; those who understood nodded.

Then they each moved deeper into the forest.

“We’re going to hunt down the one who hurt the unicorn? What kind of joke is this…”

Ron had been panicking since yesterday; Hermione and Harry weren’t faring any better:

“Hagrid, could it be a werewolf?”

Compared to unknown dangers, Harry and the others preferred to believe a werewolf had gone mad.

“Werewolves don’t move that fast—shh—”

Hagrid suddenly fell silent; the three strained their ears.

Something was sliding swiftly over the nearby leaves—a sound like a cloak dragging along the ground. Hagrid squinted down the dark path; seconds later, the sound faded away.

“I know,”

he murmured,

“there’s something here that doesn’t belong.”

These words left everyone stunned; only Hermione’s Quick-Quotes Quill continued scratching.

En had asked her, before leaving, to record any details she encountered that hadn’t been foreseen.

After walking further, they reached a fork in the path. They chose one route and continued walking in silence, eyes fixed on the ground.

“Who’s there?!”

Suddenly, they heard more rustling; Hagrid immediately drew his bow and roared.

From the woods emerged a half-human, half-horse creature.

“Good evening, Hagrid,”

the centaur said, his voice low and sorrowful,

“are you going to shoot me with that bow?”

“Oh, it’s you, Firenze.”

Hagrid exhaled in relief,

“have you noticed anything unusual these past two days?”

Firenze lifted his head, gazing at the sky.

“Mars is very bright tonight.”

“I mean unusual,”

Hagrid pressed.

“Mars is very bright tonight.”

Firenze repeated.

Though puzzled, Hermione still recorded the exchange—En would never ask her to do anything meaningless.

“I’ve heard that line before!”

Hagrid snapped impatiently.

At that moment, Firenze changed his tone:

“I’ve seen different planets shift—Mars remains bright, but Jupiter is slowly replacing it.

I saw Uranus flare suddenly—a phenomenon unseen in many years. Yet Pluto, which should have appeared, has vanished into the clouds…”

“What are you talking about?”

Suddenly, more hoofbeats rang out from the other side of the clearing. A tall centaur burst from the trees, his flanks heaving, drenched in sweat. Hermione, still taking notes, was startled badly.

“Remember, Firenze, we swore an oath—we must never defy fate. Haven’t you seen the omens written in the movements of the planets?”

At that moment, barking echoed from deeper in the woods—Justin and the others must have followed the centaurs’ movements.

Justin and Hermione met first; as the centaurs argued, Justin glanced at Hermione’s notes:

“Mars symbolizes desire and war; Jupiter represents someone growing stronger—when both shine together, it foretells inevitable conflict…

Uranus signifies awakening and rebellion, yet Pluto, symbol of rebirth, remains unlit…”

Justin seemed to understand some astrology; for some reason, Hermione thought of the birthday gift he’d given her: a lunar chart and an astronomical instrument.

“So what do these mean…?”

Harry asked, bewildered.

“Mars is too bright.”

Firenze’s piercing gaze shifted from Justin to Harry.

Even Justin didn’t understand now—he only knew a little because he’d read widely.

After the centaurs left, the rest of the night grew profoundly uneasy.

Hagrid was angry at Justin for recklessly changing their course—he wanted to reassign partners.

Ron trembled nervously; Hermione’s face was pale. In the end, Hagrid could only pair Harry with Malfoy.

They resumed their search.

But no one expected them to actually find it—Malfoy let out a horrific scream and bolted away—Fang fled as well, in terror.

Only Harry remained, his scar burning and throbbing, unable to move.

The night grew deeper still.

The next day.

En made an unusual request:

“Professor McGonagall, may we leave early?”

His button had grown scorching hot—En knew Hogwarts had suffered the worst possible outcome.

Think: what danger could Harry and the others have encountered in the Forbidden Forest?

And what danger could have driven Justin to send him such a frantic message, regardless of consequences?

Was it a wrong choice,

or… the wrong time?

En dared not think further.