[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hogwarts-learning-panel":3,"chapter-hogwarts-learning-panel-hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-225":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Hogwarts Learning Panel",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2250463,4210,"Chapter 225: The Worst Possible Outcome","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-225",225,"\u003Cp>Similarly hot buttons were tightly clutched in a pair of hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Forbidden Forest was pitch-black and utterly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justin, who had come for detention as well, had just joined Hagrid and the others when he heard a loud, mournful cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve long suspected someone lurking in the Forbidden Forest… look over there,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“do you see that shimmering thing on the ground? Silvery-white? That’s unicorn blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I never imagined whoever it was would target a unicorn—I’ve never heard of a unicorn being harmed before…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“your task hasn’t changed—we still need to find that creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But listen carefully: what we’re doing tonight will be extremely dangerous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were already trembling, unsure whether it was from the biting night wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll take Fang,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malfoy said hurriedly, eyeing Fang’s long fangs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justin recalled what En had said before leaving:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed this warning had already begun to prove true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll take Fang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justin was scared too, but rather than let his friend be in danger, he believed he could run faster than Malfoy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Justin, Malfoy, and Fang formed one group; Harry and the other three teamed up with Hagrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A breeze blew, and Justin held up the route map, waving it at Harry and the others; those who understood nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then they each moved deeper into the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re going to hunt down the one who hurt the unicorn? What kind of joke is this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron had been panicking since yesterday; Hermione and Harry weren’t faring any better:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hagrid, could it be a werewolf?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to unknown dangers, Harry and the others preferred to believe a werewolf had gone mad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Werewolves don’t move that fast—shh—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid suddenly fell silent; the three strained their ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he murmured,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“there’s something here that doesn’t belong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words left everyone stunned; only Hermione’s Quick-Quotes Quill continued scratching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>En had asked her, before leaving, to record any details she encountered that hadn’t been foreseen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking further, they reached a fork in the path. They chose one route and continued walking in silence, eyes fixed on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s there?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, they heard more rustling; Hagrid immediately drew his bow and roared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the woods emerged a half-human, half-horse creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good evening, Hagrid,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the centaur said, his voice low and sorrowful,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“are you going to shoot me with that bow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, it’s you, Firenze.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid exhaled in relief,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“have you noticed anything unusual these past two days?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Firenze lifted his head, gazing at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mars is very bright tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean unusual,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid pressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mars is very bright tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Firenze repeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though puzzled, Hermione still recorded the exchange—En would never ask her to do anything meaningless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard that line before!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid snapped impatiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Firenze changed his tone:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve seen different planets shift—Mars remains bright, but Jupiter is slowly replacing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I saw Uranus flare suddenly—a phenomenon unseen in many years. Yet Pluto, which should have appeared, has vanished into the clouds…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you talking about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember, Firenze, we swore an oath—we must never defy fate. Haven’t you seen the omens written in the movements of the planets?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, barking echoed from deeper in the woods—Justin and the others must have followed the centaurs’ movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justin and Hermione met first; as the centaurs argued, Justin glanced at Hermione’s notes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mars symbolizes desire and war; Jupiter represents someone growing stronger—when both shine together, it foretells inevitable conflict…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uranus signifies awakening and rebellion, yet Pluto, symbol of rebirth, remains unlit…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what do these mean…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry asked, bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mars is too bright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Firenze’s piercing gaze shifted from Justin to Harry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Justin didn’t understand now—he only knew a little because he’d read widely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the centaurs left, the rest of the night grew profoundly uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid was angry at Justin for recklessly changing their course—he wanted to reassign partners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron trembled nervously; Hermione’s face was pale. In the end, Hagrid could only pair Harry with Malfoy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They resumed their search.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no one expected them to actually find it—Malfoy let out a horrific scream and bolted away—Fang fled as well, in terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Harry remained, his scar burning and throbbing, unable to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night grew deeper still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>En made an unusual request:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Professor McGonagall, may we leave early?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His button had grown scorching hot—En knew Hogwarts had suffered the worst possible outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Think: what danger could Harry and the others have encountered in the Forbidden Forest?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what danger could have driven Justin to send him such a frantic message, regardless of consequences?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it a wrong choice,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>or… the wrong time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>En dared not think further.\u003C\u002Fp>",1010,"2026-06-19T10:00:41.888Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6fb58ce6a8dbda0c4a8c6f7f878cda79e8843dabae2c258fa37a60f9d71b5505","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-226","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-224",526,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhogwarts-learning-panel-cover.jpg"]