Re:HP-A New Life

I am 15 chapters ahead on my patreón, check it out if you are interested.

https://www.patréon.com/emperordragon

_________________________________________

Chapter 49: Shadows in the Forbidden Forest

The Forbidden Forest stood still in the eerie calm of the night, the only sounds the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. Moonlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting silvery streaks on the forest floor. In a secluded clearing, the ethereal glow of a fallen unicorn illuminated the darkness.

The creature lay motionless, its silvery blood pooling beneath it, shimmering faintly under the moonlight. A hooded figure crouched beside it, hands trembling as they dipped into the pool and brought the silvery liquid to their lips. The figure drank greedily, each drop of the unicorn's blood causing their body to shudder, as if a battle raged within their very soul.

But before the figure could drain the creature dry, the clearing was suddenly bathed in a blinding silver light. A serpentine figure emerged, glowing and writhing in the air like a mythical dragon. The patronus roared, its glow intensifying as it charged at the hooded intruder.

The figure staggered back, clutching their head, a guttural scream escaping their lips as the patronus advanced. The presence of such powerful, pure magic overwhelmed them, forcing them to stumble into the shadows of the trees before vanishing entirely.

From the edge of the clearing, Harry stepped into the moonlight, his emerald eyes glowing faintly as he approached the fallen unicorn. Its labored breathing tugged at his heart, and he knelt beside it, his movements slow and deliberate.

"You're going to be alright," Harry whispered, his voice soothing as he gently placed his hands on the unicorn's neck. The silvery blood continued to flow, but Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath, summoning his magic.

A soft, golden glow began to emanate from his palms, spreading across the unicorn's wounds. The gashes that marred its pristine white coat began to knit together, the magic working like a balm that healed not just the physical injuries, but also the corruption left by the hooded figure's dark intent.

The unicorn stirred, its eyes fluttering open as it struggled to its feet. It towered over Harry, its head tilted as if studying him.

"You're safe now," Harry said softly, his voice carrying an unusual warmth. "But you need to leave. Tell the herd to move deeper into the forest, far from the school. There's danger here."

The unicorn nodded—not a human gesture, yet somehow perfectly clear in its intent—and turned gracefully, vanishing into the shadows with a burst of speed that defied its earlier injuries.

Before Harry could fully retreat, the sound of hooves echoed through the forest. He tensed, stepping into the shadows just as a group of centaurs entered the clearing.

Firenze, the youngest among them, was the first to notice the remnants of silvery blood on the forest floor. His pale blue eyes darkened with concern. "Unicorn blood," he murmured, kneeling to inspect the ground.

"Something unnatural has happened here," Bane growled, his dark eyes scanning the clearing with suspicion. "The stars have warned us of disturbances, but this..." He trailed off, his gaze falling on faint, glowing tracks that led deeper into the forest.

"It was not the predator," Firenze said, rising to his full height. His gaze turned skyward, as if reading a message written in the stars. "There was an intervention. A powerful one."

Bane snorted. "Intervention or not, the forest is no longer safe. We must warn the herd and increase our patrols."

The centaurs lingered for a moment longer, their gazes heavy with unease, before disappearing back into the forest.

From the shadows Harry watched from his hidden position, his heart still racing. The centaurs had sharp senses, and their presence was a reminder that the Forbidden Forest was filled with creatures far more intelligent than most wizards gave credit for.

As the centaurs disappeared, Harry finally exhaled and turned toward the castle. He moved swiftly but silently, his steps guided by years of navigating unnoticed.

Harry slipped back into the castle without issue, his invisibility cloak shielding him from prying eyes. Once safely inside his dormitory, he sat on the edge of his bed, deep in thought.

The Patronus had worked as he intended, driving Quirrell away and protecting the unicorn. For now, he decided to keep the incident to himself. Telling anyone—especially his mother—would only raise questions he wasn't ready to answer.