Erwin committed Voldemort's words to memory. See? he thought. This is the wisdom of a Dark Lord—practical knowledge no textbook could teach.
"So, shall we track down the unicorn herd now?" Erwin asked.
Voldemort shook his head. "No. Adult unicorns are formidable fighters. I wasn't afraid of them in my prime, but Quirrell's body is too frail to sustain a prolonged battle. We need a lone foal. Young unicorns slip away from the herd after midnight to forage for grass in the woods."
Erwin nodded. More invaluable insight. Voldemort truly was a goldmine of secrets, one Erwin intended to mine slowly. A twinge of regret hit him—was the gift he'd prepared too extravagant? Could Voldemort even handle it without turning on him? Losing such a tutor midway through the term would be a disaster. But a legend like Voldemort wouldn't drop dead easily, right?
Reassured, Erwin pressed on. They soon reached the lake where he'd spotted a unicorn before. Sure enough, one stood there, drinking peacefully. Its horn curved gently, not sharply like an adult's.
Voldemort signaled, and they ducked behind the trees. "A mature female—lucky break," he whispered. "Weaker than a male, but stronger than a foal. Still manageable, and her blood holds more magic. I'll strike first. Assist me when I do."
"As you command, my lord," Erwin replied. "I'll make it happen."
Voldemort nodded, then dissolved into a swirl of black smoke and lunged forward.
"Avada Kedavra!"
The green curse shot straight at the unicorn's face. Erwin whistled inwardly—Voldemort wielded the Killing Curse with effortless precision, rivaling Harry's own flair for Expelliarmus.
The unicorn sensed the threat instantly and bolted, vanishing behind a thick oak. The curse splintered the bark, scorching a deep gash but failing to pierce through.
"Blast this sluggish body!" Voldemort snarled.
Erwin suppressed an eye-roll. Complaining about Quirrell's form? Rich, coming from you.
"Attack!" Voldemort barked.
Erwin sprang out and flicked his wand. "Reducto!"
The spell veered slightly, blasting a nearby tree instead. Wood cracked and splintered, toppling the trunk with a thud.
Voldemort shot him a glare. Erwin shrugged apologetically. "Sorry, my lord. First unicorn sighting—got a bit jittery. Spell went wide."
Voldemort grunted, saying nothing. The excuse held water, at least. The female unicorn fled into the underbrush, and Voldemort gave chase as black mist, weaving through the trees.
Erwin, meanwhile, plopped onto the ground. Chasing on foot? Not his style. His master would understand—or at least, wouldn't stick around to complain.
He'd barely settled when a Bowtruckle scampered over, its twig-like legs swaying. It nuzzled against his boot. Erwin extended his hand, and the little creature hopped into his palm, perching lightly.
"Did you warn the herd leader?" Erwin asked.
The Bowtruckle bobbed its head, emitting a faint chirp.
Erwin frowned. "Then why's a female still wandering here alone?"
It chirped again, gesturing with its branches.
"Too dangerous," Erwin said. "This is the Dark Lord we're dealing with. Baiting him with a unicorn might not even scratch him—and losing her would devastate the herd."
The Bowtruckle clung to his arm with two spindly limbs, swinging gently as it trilled.
Erwin chuckled. "Perhaps. But I doubt they can trap him for good. Still, message delivered. At least the constant shadow's gone—smart move. If I were them, I'd end it decisively too. That herd leader's sharper than he looks."
The Bowtruckle tightened its grip briefly, as if preening.
"Fair enough—you're no slouch either," Erwin said with a grin. "But did you really find what the unicorns are guarding? What is it?"
Another chirp.
"A statue? Of a woman?"
Nod.
Erwin paused, mind racing. Ravenclaw? The Bowtruckle dropped to the ground and tugged at his sleeve.
"Not tonight," Erwin said. "I've got my hands full. Besides, rushing in blindly won't help. Wait for the right moment—I'll swing by later, and we can investigate. Even if there's a secret, the unicorns know more. Without their lead, we're guessing blind. Head back now. I'll catch up soon."
The Bowtruckle waved a branch in farewell and vanished into the foliage.
Erwin rose and jogged after Voldemort's trail. He hadn't gone far when furious roars echoed through the trees, punctuated by crackling thunder. Bolts of lightning ripped from the sky, illuminating the gloom.
Erwin's pulse quickened. What now? Another twist?
He broke into the clearing to find chaos: the majestic male unicorn squared off against Voldemort. The stallion's horn glowed with electric fury, arcing bolts with every swipe. Voldemort looked battered—his robes torn, singed holes smoking from near-misses.
Erwin stared, slack-jawed. Unicorns commanded lightning? Who knew?
Spotting Erwin, Voldemort bellowed, "The Killing Curse—now!"
The unicorn's eyes flickered with suspicion toward Erwin but refocused on its foe, keeping his secret safe. It wouldn't rat him out; Voldemort was the real monster here.
Erwin drew his wand, feigning hesitation. "Er... what was that incantation again? I-I got so worked up, it slipped my mind!"
...
With that said, guys—today's 15 chapters have been published! I'm holding up my end of the bargain because you guys are amazing.
If you love these mass releases, make sure to SMASH THAT POWERSTONE!
We conquered #100, but we aren't done yet. Let's show them the power of this community.
NEXT TARGET: RANK #10!
— MrGrim