Chapter 73

Chapter 73

A unicorn appeared to have been attacked. Silvery blood stained the trees and leaves beside the path.

Hagrid told them their task that night was to find it if they possibly could.

Harry, Hermione and Suer followed Hagrid. Fang led Neville and Malfoy down another path. They had to divide into two groups because the blood covered such a broad area.

The black Forbidden Forest was utterly silent. Not even an insect called.

In a clearing, they encountered a centaur. It was Suer’s first time seeing one, and it looked exactly as the books described.

Hagrid asked whether it knew anything about the injured unicorn.

The centaur merely lifted its face to the sky, then lowered it again.

“Mars is bright tonight.”

No matter what else Hagrid asked, it seemed capable of saying only that Mars was bright.

Every centaur was a master of riddles.

At last Hagrid grew irritated. Centaur riddles were torture to him, so they continued the search alone.

An incident then made him furious.

Malfoy, for reasons known only to himself, silently hid behind Neville and suddenly seized him. Terrified, Neville fired red sparks from his wand.

Hagrid angrily rearranged the groups.

Suer, Hermione and Malfoy went together with Fang to lead the way. Neville and Harry remained with Hagrid. Both parties continued towards the centre of the forest.

The deeper they travelled, the denser the trees became. The blood grew more abundant as well.

“Look…” Hermione suddenly caught Suer’s arm.

Not far away, something white gleamed in the moonlight, lying in a clearing.

It was the unicorn.

It appeared to be dead.

Before they could approach, a rustling glide from another direction stopped them.

Three young wizards and one dog stared as the shape responsible crept towards the motionless unicorn like a beast.

Then came the sound of greedy swallowing.

Bloody weed, Suer cursed inwardly. With one hand behind his back, he urgently waved Hermione and Malfoy away while retreating himself.

Fate refused to cooperate.

“AAAAAAAH!” Malfoy gave a shriek fit to split the forest and fled.

“Damn it, run!” Suer immediately turned, seized Hermione and sprinted.

Why not turn and cast a spell?

That was Voldemort! Others might not know, but Suer certainly did.

He had assumed they would never meet. Fate, however, had played a joke upon him. The creature Harry ought to have encountered had found Suer instead.

He had no idea how long he dragged Hermione through the forest. Dense branches lashed his skin painfully.

Then a pull from behind forced him to stop.

Hermione had fallen.

Biting her lip, she struggled to rise and keep running, but the black shape had already caught them.

“Too late. We’re finished.” Gritting his teeth, Suer stepped in front of Hermione and drew his wand. “If I return to the castle alive, I swear I’ll make that damned Malfoy taste a lavatory that hasn’t been cleaned in fifty years!”

“Merlin, protect me!”

“Diffindo!”

“Confringo!”

“Rictusempra!”

Whether they helped or not, Suer hurled every spell he knew.

Beams of different colours flew towards the black-robed figure, all in vain.

He–or it–drifted lightly from side to side, avoiding every spell. Without a word, it raised one arm towards Suer. A deathly pale hand with sharply defined knuckles appeared in the moonlight.

“I’m dead.”

Suer watched in despair, struggling to marshal the turbulent magic within him.

Was he truly going to die here?

I’m sorry, Angel. Your brother won’t be coming home.

I’m sorry, Hermione. I won’t be able to marry you.

People truly did see their lives before death. Memory after memory flashed through Suer’s mind.

“Hogwarts really is the most dangerous place in the world.”

Thunderous hoofbeats sounded in the depths of the forest, accompanied by something tearing through the air.

Ominous green light flashed between the trees.

It was too fast. Suer barely managed to raise his wand before his chest.

Hummm…

…

“You’re awake?”

An ethereal voice roused Suer. He opened his eyes in confusion and looked towards it.

Then he understood where he had arrived.

He knew this place.

“Yes. It’s been a long time, Ariana.” Suer smiled bitterly.

“Are you dead?” Ariana Dumbledore sat on a stone bench beside the path, her head tilted.

Suer pushed himself upright with one hand, brushed away dust that did not exist and sat beside her.

“I think I’m truly going to meet Merlin this time.” Sadness filled his voice.

Ariana said nothing. She turned, stroked the white branches hanging nearby and hummed softly, as though soothing his spirit.

“Never mind. It isn’t unexpected. Everyone dies.”

“I’m only a first-year. Failing to escape Voldemort is perfectly normal. I hope my family and friends won’t grieve too long.”

After all, he had already died once before.

“Who is Voldemort?” Ariana asked. “Is he the person who killed you?”

“Yes. A thoroughly evil villain.” Suer smiled. “Very evil indeed.”

“I see.” Ariana nodded. “I’ve never heard of him. I must have been dead for a very long time.”

“What is it like to attend Hogwarts now? My two brothers rarely told me about it. Will you?”

“Of course.” Suer lowered his head and considered how to begin. “Hogwarts is wonderful. First we take a train to school, then little boats carry us across a vast lake…”

“Professor McGonagall takes us to the Sorting. She is a very good witch and extremely powerful–the Deputy Headmistress. She sends our acceptance letters by owl.”

“She always looks stern, but in truth she is a warm person.”

“The Sorting Hat placed me in Hufflepuff. The beds are enormous, soft and warm, and the food in the Great Hall is delicious.”

“Everyone there is kind, and every word they say sounds delightful.”

…

“How lovely,” Ariana murmured after quietly hearing the story of Suer’s first year.

“And you?” Suer looked at her curiously. “I’ve never asked how you came here. You don’t have to answer if it makes you sad.”

“There is nothing I cannot say. I have been dead a long time.” Ariana shook her head. “My two brothers came home during the holiday. They argued with another handsome young man who lived nearby. I think he was Albus’s friend…”

“Wait.” Suer straightened. “Did you say Albus?”

“Yes.” Ariana tilted her head. “I have two brothers, Albus and Aberforth. They both love me.”

Suer stared in shock.

“The current Headmaster of Hogwarts is named Albus.”

“Albus Dumbledore!”

“Oh… of course.” Ariana smiled. “I remember now. I believe I had a surname as well. Dumbledore.”

Suer swallowed.

“Is the Headmaster your brother?”

“Perhaps. I have not seen him for a very long time.” Ariana tilted her head and smiled gently. “But it does not matter now, does it?”

No. It did not.

Suer sagged.

“I’m already ‘dead’, after all.”