"Look over there—that's a Bowtruckle. Don't underestimate them. They're shy, gentle creatures, but fiercely protective of their homes—the trees they live in."
Hagrid crouched beside Vaughn behind a moss-covered trunk, pointing ahead at the delicate magical tree thriving in a patch of filtered sunlight. Its slender branches shimmered faintly; its bark carried a warm, repelling magic designed to ward off dark creatures.
It was a wand tree—a rare species prized for wand handles.
Tiny green stick-figures darted between the leaves.
"If anyone tries to harm their tree," Hagrid whispered, "those tiny claws go straight for yer eyes. Nasty little fighters."
Then he chuckled softly.
"But they're easy to befriend. They love insects. Give 'em a handful of bugs, and they'll trust yeh. Sometimes they'll even offer yeh a twig from their tree in return."
As they watched from afar, Hagrid added brightly:
"Every year when Ollivander comes collectin' wand materials, that's exactly what I do. Hogwarts sells him unicorn hairs or wand wood I gather at a low price—and in return, he sells wands to first-years at half price."
They'd already wandered far into the Forbidden Forest, deeper than Hagrid had originally planned. But once excitement took hold, his usual skittishness evaporated, replaced by pure enthusiasm.
And Hagrid, for all his rough edges, possessed incredible knowledge of magical creatures.
He showed Vaughn fairies dancing under mushrooms, a house-elf patrolling a hedgerow, shy Diricawls vanishing with soft pops, and a whole family of Mooncalves grazing near a slope.
The Mooncalves, round-eyed and awkward, waddled right up to Vaughn, sniffing him curiously with their damp snouts.
Hagrid happily collected Mooncalf droppings into a sack.
"Best fertiliser yeh'll ever find," he declared. "Makes pumpkins grow big and strong. Too late for this year—already harvested. But next year, oh next year! Yeh lot'll be eatin' Mooncalf-poop pumpkins!"
Vaughn blinked.
He was fine with fertiliser in principle…
but did Hagrid have to say it like that?
They walked on.
"Hagrid," Vaughn said lightly, "hasn't the Forest been a bit too quiet lately?"
"That depends on what yeh mean," Hagrid replied, scratching his beard. "If yeh mean students sneakin' in—it's never quiet. Your brothers are always up to no good in here!"
"I'll talk to them," Vaughn said, dead serious. "But that's not what I meant."
He lowered his voice.
"Any creatures been hurt recently? If needed, I can brew potions to help."
Hagrid froze.
His eyes softened.
"You're a good lad, Vaughn. No one's ever offered that before…"
He hesitated, then said:
"Now that yeh mention it, the unicorns have been actin' strange."
Vaughn's gaze sharpened at once.
"What happened?"
"Centaurs told me one was attacked," Hagrid said, frowning. "But they're always mutterin' about prophecies and stars. Never give a straight answer."
"I did see one unicorn—hurt, hidin' in a clearin'. But they're skittish, they wouldn't let me near. I've been tryin' to track it since."
Pieces clicked together in Vaughn's mind.
The unicorns were already being hunted.
So Voldemort had begun drinking unicorn blood…
"Can you take me to the spot?" Vaughn asked quietly.
Hagrid nodded without hesitation.
"Right then. This way—Fang! Get movin', yeh big coward! Guo Guo Tea's not gonna bite yeh again!"
Fang whimpered.
Guo Guo Tea strutted triumphantly.
Two Hours Later — The Clearing
They emerged into a bright clearing where sunlight poured down unobstructed.
Holly bushes ringed the space, heavy with red berries.
"I cleared this place out over ten years ago," Hagrid said proudly. "Unicorns love berries, so I planted these bushes. They've been comin' here ever since."
After waving away a cluster of chattering fairies with his pink umbrella, Hagrid led Vaughn to the centre.
"About a week ago, I found a unicorn here—leg was injured. Look there—blood's still on the ground."
The soil beneath them shimmered faintly with darkened blue stains.
Vaughn knelt.
Unicorn blood was normally silver-blue, glowing softly even in darkness.
But a week under sun and wind had dulled it to a murky shade.
Hagrid sighed.
"Don't worry, Vaughn. Injuries happen. This is the Forbidden Forest—everythin' lives by survival o' the fittest. The poor thing might've strayed into a werewolf's territory. Nothin' unusual."
Vaughn didn't answer.
He stared, wand already rising.
"Aparecium."
The spell pulsed outward.
A pale white glow seeped from the soil first—pure, sacred, touched with a soft lunar radiance.
Residual unicorn magic.
Then a second aura surfaced.
A sickly, twisting gray fog, eating into the white glow like rot.
The stench of death rolled through Vaughn's mind.
Dark magic. Unnatural. Violating. Wrong.
He narrowed his eyes.
A Beginner's Guide to Dark Magic hadn't taught him lethal spells, but it had taught him how to recognise the signs.
"Vaughn? What's that?" Hagrid asked, baffled. "Why's there smoke?"
Hagrid knew everything about magical beasts.
But dark magic?
He was a complete novice.
At that moment, Vaughn's System pulsed before his eyes:
[Side Quest Activated]
Side Quest (2): Save the Forbidden Forest's Unicorns
Reward: Random Magical Creature Language Pack
Vaughn exhaled through his nose, half amused.
So even the System is forcing my hand, Tom.
Don't blame me for what comes next.
He dispelled the magic and stood.
"Nothing serious," Vaughn said mildly.
He opened his enchanted pouch—its interior expanded with an Undetectable Extension Charm—and removed an empty crystal vial.
Carefully, he scooped some of the stained soil inside.
"We should head back, Hagrid."
He held the vial to the light.
"I think… it's time I spoke with Professor Dumbledore."
(To be continued…)
PS :
Diricawl – Magical, dodo-like birds capable of vanishing.
Mooncalf – Shy, nocturnal creatures; their droppings make powerful fertiliser.
Unicorn Blood (Dark Magic) – Drinking it grants life at a cursed cost;
Aparecium – Revealing spell used to uncover hidden magic or text.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/FinalArcHero789