Chapter 11: Forbidden Forest

"Wes, are the students easy to get along with?"

Dumbledore asked with a smile as he handed over a piece of candy. Wes simply waved it away, signaling that he wasn't interested.

"If you've got something to say, Headmaster, please just say it. I'm a busy man." Wes ran a hand through his slightly messy hair.

"With only three classes a week, you're one of the most relaxed professors at Hogwarts," Dumbledore replied casually.

Wes sighed and spread his hands.

"Alright, alright. Whatever it is, I'm listening."

Only then did Dumbledore reach under the table and pull out a transparent bottle filled with a shimmering silver liquid.

The moment Wes laid eyes on it, he immediately recognized what it was—an alluring, softly glowing substance.

"Is that—!" Wes's eyes widened, and he instinctively gripped the bottle tighter. A flash of greed crossed his face but was quickly masked.

"Unicorn blood," Dumbledore said gravely.

Wes reacted instantly. He stared at Dumbledore in disbelief.

"Someone's been hunting unicorns in the Forbidden Forest?"

Unicorns were powerful, pure, noble magical creatures—creatures with no natural enemies.

For someone to obtain even this much of their blood meant they had deliberately hunted them down in the forest. And done so cruelly.

"It's worse than that," Dumbledore said, frowning as he tucked the bottle away again. Wes's reluctant gaze lingered on it.

"Someone didn't just kill a unicorn—they drank its blood."

"What a waste," Wes blurted before immediately feeling the sharp weight of Dumbledore's glare.

He quickly corrected himself,

"I mean—that's awful. Horrific."

Dumbledore rolled his eyes and continued seriously:

"Unicorn blood may have incredible healing properties, but it's also cursed. Unicorns are sacred creatures, blessed by the gods. To kill and drink their blood is to invite a terrible curse."

Wes nodded.

"Even Dark Wizards wouldn't do something like that unless they were truly desperate—on the edge of death, with no other choice."

"Exactly," Dumbledore said, removing his glasses to polish them.

"That's why I need your help, Wes."

"Me?" Wes raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, you," Dumbledore confirmed with a firm tone.

"No problem, Headmaster. I'm part of Hogwarts now—it's only right that I do my part."

Wes answered without hesitation.

"I'm glad you feel that way," Dumbledore said warmly.

"The Forbidden Forest is too vast for Hagrid to patrol alone. I want you to assist him."

"Hagrid's a dear friend. I'll be happy to help him out," Wes replied with a nod.

"Then I'll leave it to you. But if you run into danger, don't hesitate to send a signal—I'll come immediately."

"Don't underestimate me, Headmaster. After four years in the field, I consider myself a seasoned adventurer."

With confidence radiating from his posture, Wes stood up and strode out of the headmaster's office.

For the following week, Wes joined Hagrid on nightly patrols through the Forbidden Forest. During that time, there were no unusual incidents.

Still, Hagrid remained on edge, his guard never dropping. He swore through clenched teeth that he'd catch the monster who did this—to honor the slain unicorn.

Wes, however, suspected Hagrid's zeal might also be a way of coping with the sadness of losing Norbert, the Norwegian Ridgeback dragon he'd recently had to send away.

Norbert had hatched from a dragon egg Hagrid had won from a mysterious gambler. Unfortunately, after being reported by Draco Malfoy, the dragon had to be sent away. Hagrid had been brooding over it ever since.

That evening, Wes made his usual visit to Hagrid's hut, and the two had planned to patrol the Forbidden Forest together.

Just as they stepped outside and were preparing to depart, they saw the caretaker, Argus Filch, leading Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy toward the hut from the castle, grumbling and scolding the two boys along the way.

"Alright, Mr. Filch, that's enough. No need to keep scaring these two any more than they already are," Wes cut in, stopping Filch's tirade.

"As you wish, Professor Elwin," Filch said in a singsong, sarcastic tone, then muttered with a smirk, "Hope you all come back from the Forbidden Forest in one piece."

Given his gloating expression, it was hard to believe that was meant as a sincere blessing.

At the mention of the Forbidden Forest, Draco's face turned deathly pale. He began to tremble uncontrollably.

"No need to worry. We'll be going in with you," Wes said gently to reassure them.

"I know you. You're the new runes professor," Draco said cautiously, moving closer to Wes.

"You have to protect me. My father is on the Board of Governors—I'll make sure he promotes you."

Wes couldn't help but chuckle.

He didn't dislike Draco.

To him, Draco was simply a spoiled child.

"I'll count on you for that then, Mr. Malfoy," Wes said with a smile.

Draco lifted his chin proudly and cast a smug glance at Harry.

Harry rolled his eyes and didn't bother to respond.

Soon, the four of them split into two groups and entered the Forbidden Forest from different directions.

The towering, dense trees blocked out the moonlight entirely, making the forest seem even more eerie and terrifying.

Their faint kerosene lanterns barely illuminated the path ahead.

Draco clung tightly to Wes's robes, nearly in tears from fear.

"That's my fault," Wes said, realizing the boy's distress. He quickly pulled out a lantern, snapped his fingers, and light burst forth, pushing back the darkness around them.

Draco finally let out a long breath of relief.

Wes handed the lantern to Draco.

Draco frowned.

"My father says only servants carry lanterns for others."

"This lantern is enchanted with protective charms, it—"

Before Wes could finish, Draco snatched the lantern and blurted, face flushed,

"You're a professor, I'm a student. It's perfectly normal for students to carry things for professors!"

"Well said. If this were in class, I'd definitely give you points for that, Mr. Malfoy," Wes replied with a grin.

Then Wes led Draco through a careful patrol of the forest, casually collecting some rare herbs along the way.

Little by little, Draco's nerves began to ease.

He started treating the punishment more like a special adventure, slowly discovering the wondrous, magical side of the Forbidden Forest. Strange and fantastical creatures that he had never seen before appeared everywhere.

Just then, a sorrowful cry echoed in the distance.

Draco's heart skipped a beat. He asked in a trembling voice,

"W-What was that sound?"

Wes swiftly drew his wand, his expression turning serious.

"Follow me, Mr. Malfoy."

He broke into a jog in the direction of the sound.

Draco tried his best to keep up with his short legs.

Along the way, the roots, weeds, and small animals seemed to sense their urgency and moved aside to clear the path.

Suddenly, Wes stopped in front of a large tree.

"Hide here," he instructed.

He had Draco take cover behind the trunk, then walked out into the open.

Curiosity got the better of Draco, and he peeked out from behind the tree.

He saw a snow-white unicorn collapsed weakly on the forest floor, glowing faintly with a sacred light. Blood was gushing from a wound on its neck.

A mysterious figure cloaked in black was greedily drinking the unicorn's blood.

Draco quickly covered his mouth with his hands, afraid he might scream.

Wes sprang forward, waved his wand, and blasted the figure away with a powerful spell. The cloaked person flew backward and slammed hard into a nearby tree, then collapsed to the ground, unmoving.

Still cautious, Wes kept a safe distance, wand raised and ready.

"Playing dead won't help you, poacher!" he shouted at the figure on the ground.

"Confringo!" Wes followed up with an explosive spell.

The mysterious figure suddenly rolled to the side, just in time to avoid the blast. The ground where he had lain moments before was now a giant crater.

The figure leapt to his feet and drew a wand.

The two stood facing each other, still a fair distance apart. The stranger's face was completely hidden beneath his dark cloak.

Wand in hand, both stood under the moonlight, ready for battle.

A fierce confrontation was about to begin.