Chapter 37 The Centaur and Mars

Filch snorted when Maca denied the existence of werewolves in the Forbidden Forest.

Who said no? For a long time in the past, the cry of werewolves has been lingering, and that was the heart disease of all the students in the school at that time. He sneered.

As he was speaking, Hagrid came striding towards them out of the darkness, Fang following. Hagrid carried his huge crossbow and his fully loaded quiver slung over his shoulder.

It's almost time, he said. I've been waiting for half an hour. How's it going, Maca, Harry, Hermione?

You shouldn't be so polite to them, Hagrid, said Filch dryly. After all, they're here to be punished.

That's why you're late, isn't it? said Hagrid, frowning at Filch. You've been teaching them, huh? This isn't the place for you to lecture people. Your job is done, and from now on it's up to you. I am in charge.

I'll be back at daybreak, said Filch, to pick up their wreckage.

He said so harshly, then turned and walked towards the castle, and the lamp faltered and disappeared into the darkness.

At this point Malfoy turned suddenly to Hagrid.

I'm not going into that Forbidden Forest! There was a hint of panic in his voice, which pleased Harry.

If you want to stay at Hogwarts, you must go, said Hagrid mercilessly. You did something wrong, and now you must pay for it.

It's a servant's job to get in here, not a student. I thought we'd write checks or something at most. If my father knew I was doing this, he'd—

He'll tell you that's the way Hogwarts is, said Hagrid gruffly. Writing checks? What's in it for you? You've got to do something useful or get fucked. If you think you Father is willing to let you be expelled, so you can go back to the castle and pack your bags, let's go!

Seeing that Malfoy stared at Hagrid bitterly for a while, and finally lowered his eyes, Hagrid continued to speak.

Well, said Hagrid, now listen carefully, what we're going to do tonight is very dangerous, and I don't want to put anyone in danger.

Come here with me first—

He led them to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, held the lamp up high, and pointed to a narrow path that gradually disappeared into the depths of the dark forest.

Look over there, said Hagrid, see that shiny thing on the ground? Silver! That's unicorn blood. A unicorn in the Forbidden Forest was wounded by something. Heavy. This is the second time this week. I found one dead last Wednesday - we're trying to find that poor unicorn and get it out of its misery as soon as possible.

What if the... thing that hurt the unicorn, it found us first? Malfoy asked, with uncontrollable fear in his voice.

Nothing in the Forbidden Forest will harm you as long as you're with me or Fang, said Hagrid. Stay on the path! Well, now we're going to split up and follow the blood. Everywhere It's all blood, and it's evident it's been stumbling around and wandering around since at least last night.

I want Fang! Malfoy said hastily, as if confused by the menacing appearance of the big hound.

Okay, but let me remind you, it's a coward, said Hagrid. Then, Malfoy, Neville and Fang go together, Maca, um... Maca, why don't you go with Fang too How about it? I think you can help me keep an eye on Fangya, so that it won't run away suddenly in fear.

No! No, that... Mr. McLean, you go with them, our side... that... no problem. Malfoy's resistance to Maca was obviously no less than that of the Forbidden Forest.

Well, then! Me, Maca, Harry, and Hermione,

go one way. ' Hagrid nodded.

If anyone finds a unicorn, fire a green spark, understand? Get your wands out and practice. By the way, if anyone's in trouble, fire a red spark, and we'll all come to you— Alright, everyone, be careful, let's go.

The dense canopy of trees in the Forbidden Forest blocked most of the moonlight outside, so the forest looked quite dark. Even though Hagrid was holding a lantern in his hand, it could only illuminate a small area around him.

Flashing fluorescent lights. Maca pulled out his wand, improving the visibility around him a lot.

Thanks, said Hagrid, this will give us a better look.

They walked in for a while, and they came to a fork in the road, and the two groups began to move separately.

They walked in silence, their eyes fixed on the ground. From time to time, one can see that there will be a silvery bloodstain on the fallen leaves on the ground, with a hint of blue in the light.

Maca, on the other hand, has stopped thinking about the Tome of Truth, and if there are no accidents, he should encounter some interesting things.

Could a werewolf kill the unicorn? Harry asked.

I've never seen a werewolf here, said Hagrid, but if there were, they wouldn't come so fast, and it's hard to catch a unicorn. They're animals with strong magic, I've never heard of a unicorn being harmed before.

They passed a thick, mossy stump where the murmur of running water could be heard faintly. Apparently there was a stream somewhere nearby.

On the winding path, there are still scattered bloodstains of unicorns.

Are you all right, Hermione? asked Hagrid in a low voice, don't worry, since it's so badly wounded, it won't be able to go very far, and we'll soon be—no, get to that tree Go back!

Before Hagrid opened his mouth to remind, Maca had dragged Hermione into the nearby bushes. Hagrid glanced at him and, keeping his hands still, he grabbed Harry and carried him off the path, hiding behind a tall oak tree.

He drew a feathered arrow, put it on the crossbow, and raised it up to shoot at any time.

Immediately, Harry heard it too, as if something was scraping and dragging on the fallen leaves nearby, making a rustling sound. Hagrid squinted down the dark path, and after a few seconds the sound faded away.

I see, he murmured, there's one thing that doesn't belong here.

Hagrid was probably no one who was more familiar with the Forbidden Forest, and Maca was not at all surprised by his accurate judgment.

A werewolf? Harry asked.

The werewolf's stamina is mediocre, but its speed and explosive power are very strong, so it won't be so procrastinating. Makara walked Hermione out of the bushes, looking meaningfully into the dark depths of the Forbidden Forest.

Maka's right, said Hagrid firmly. Okay, come with me, you have to be careful now.

Just as they were proceeding cautiously at a slower speed, they suddenly saw something moving in the open space ahead.

Who's there? Hagrid yelled. Come out—I've got a weapon!

Hagrid, that's a centaur, Maca said.

The thing went into the clearing at the sound--a man from the waist up, with red hair and a beard; but below the waist was a shiny red-brown horse with a long red tail trailing behind it.

Harry and Hermione's mouths fell open in surprise.

Oh, so it's you, Ronan. Hagrid said with a sigh of relief, How are you?

He stepped forward and shook hands with the centaur.

Good evening, Hagrid, said Ronan, his voice low and sad. You want to shoot me with a bow?

I'll have to watch out, Ronan, said Hagrid, patting his quiver, there's a bad guy running around in this forest. Oh yes, it's Maca McLean, Harry Potter, and Hermione Granger, are students at the school above. Let me introduce you, this is Ronan, a centaur.

Hello, Ronan. Maca also stepped forward to shake hands with him, Nice to meet you.

He has always been very interested in the centaur's talent for prophecy, but it didn't help him much. Because in any case, prophecies are always vague and distorted by actual choices. So most of the predictions can only be used as a reference, at least Maca thinks so.

Hi, said Ronan, are you students? Did you learn much at school?

Knowledge is always endless. Maca said, Systematic teaching can enable students to be enlightened.

This is very helpful for exploring the unknown. Ronan nodded.

Having said that, he moved his gaze upwards, staring at the sky above the clearing, Mars is bright tonight.

Yeah, said Hagrid, also looking up at the sky, Listen, Ronan, I'm glad we ran into you, because one of the unicorns was hurt - did you see anything?

Ronan stared upwards without blinking, and after a while he sighed.

It's always the innocent who suffer first, he said. It's been that way for hundreds of years, and it's still going on.

Yeah, said Hagrid, but did you see anything, Ronan? See anything unusual?

Mars is bright tonight...extraordinarily bright.

The words of the horse people are always so elusive, chatting with them can easily make people anxious.

That's right, but what I mean is, is there anything unusual near our house? Hagrid was obviously a little impatient, Didn't you notice some strange movements?

I think Ronan wants to say that Mars is in the opposite position and its brightness is very high, so there should be worse things happening. Maca couldn't help explaining, For example, riots, betrayal, oppression, fraud, or simply war.

Ronan couldn't help looking at Maca, and so did Hermione and Harry, but Maca shrugged.

Don't look at me like that, I read it from the book. He said, To be honest, I'm not very good at astronomy and divination. I just memorized them.