Forest Sprite

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As they made their way out of the castle, the two girls began whispering to each other, their voices low but filled with excitement. Harry couldn't help but listen in, half-amused, half-curious about what they were plotting.

"I want to see a unicorn," Ginny said, her voice brimming with excitement. "Or maybe a Griffin though we already got a taste of that today. Maybe something even more unusual... like a Nundu!"

Harry gave her a sideways glance. "A Nundu? Really? I was hoping we wouldn't run into anything quite that deadly," he replied, shaking his head with a grin.

Luna, on the other hand, was rattling off a list of creatures that Harry was fairly certain didn't even exist. "I'm hoping to find a Crumple-Horned Snorkack," she mused, her voice full of dreamy wonder. "Or perhaps a Blibbering Humdinger. They're known to be quite shy, but with the right approach, I'm sure we could coax one out."

Harry couldn't help but smirk at Luna's enthusiasm, even if half the creatures she mentioned sounded more like figments of her imagination. Still, there was something refreshing about her optimism.

Soon, they reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where the dense trees loomed ominously. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. Harry led the way, Ginny and Luna close behind him, their earlier excitement now mixed with a hint of nervous anticipation. The forest's outer ridge was still relatively safe, but the shadows between the trees hinted at the unknown dangers lurking deeper within.

Suddenly, the sound of hooves pounding against the ground echoed through the trees. The girls instinctively pressed closer to Harry, their breaths catching in their throats. The tension broke as they saw the source of the sound—several unicorns, their sleek, silver coats gleaming in the dappled sunlight, burst through the underbrush and galloped toward them.

Ginny gasped, her eyes wide with wonder. "Oh my God!" she exclaimed, her hand wrapping tightly around Harry's arm, squeezing it in her excitement. "They're unicorns. Real unicorns."

Luna's expression brightened with awe as she watched the majestic creatures approach. "Aren't they just beautiful?" she whispered, her voice filled with reverence.

The unicorns slowed as they neared Harry, their large, expressive eyes locking onto him with a gentle curiosity. One of the unicorns, slightly larger than the others, nuzzled Harry's shoulder affectionately. Harry smiled, reaching out to stroke its mane, the creature's soft hair slipping through his fingers like silk.

Ginny and Luna stood frozen, watching the scene unfold with wide eyes. Ginny was still gripping Harry's arm as if it was her lifeline, while Luna clasped her hands together, her excitement barely contained. The sight of the unicorns up close, their delicate beauty, and serene presence left them both speechless but what was even rarer was, Harry petting them.

Luna, her innocence evident in her wide-eyed wonder, tilted her head as she watched Harry interact with the unicorns. "I thought unicorns only allowed virgin maidens to pet them. Are you secretly a maiden, Harry?" she asked.

Harry rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a grin. "No, Luna. I saved them once, so we're friends now," he replied, keeping his tone light as he continued to pet the unicorn.

Ginny finally loosened her grip on Harry's arm, though her excitement still radiated off her in waves. "This is incredible," she murmured, her eyes never leaving the unicorns. "I never thought I'd see one up close, let alone touch one."

Luna, always one to embrace the magical and mysterious, reached out cautiously. One of the smaller unicorns approached her, nudging her hand with its nose. Luna giggled softly, her eyes sparkling with joy as she stroked the unicorn's neck. "They're so gentle," she said, her voice filled with awe.

The group stood there for a few more moments, soaking in the rare experience. The unicorns, sensing the girls' respect and admiration, lingered around them, occasionally brushing against Harry as if seeking his attention.

After a while, the unicorns slowly began to back away, their interest waning as they returned to the deeper parts of the forest. Ginny and Luna watched them go with a mix of sadness and gratitude, clearly wishing they could have spent more time with the magical creatures.

Once the unicorns had disappeared into the shadows of the forest, Ginny let out a long breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "That was… amazing," she said, her voice soft with lingering wonder.

Luna nodded, a smile still on her face. "I think they liked us," she said, her tone filled with contentment.

Harry chuckled, giving them both a quick glance. "You two handled that pretty well. Most people would have been too nervous to even move, let alone pet them."

Ginny beamed at the compliment, her earlier apprehension completely forgotten. "I just couldn't believe they were real," she admitted. "I mean, I've read about unicorns, but seeing them… it's just something else."

Luna's gaze was still fixed on the spot where the unicorns had vanished. "I hope we get to see them again," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

Harry shrugged, a casual smile on his face. "Sure, they're my friends. We can see them anytime."

The girls practically squealed with happiness, their excitement bubbling over. "Really, Harry? Anytime?" Ginny asked, her voice filled with amazement.

"Absolutely," Harry replied, his tone light. "They trust me, so it's not a problem."

Luna's eyes sparkled "Maybe next time, we can bring something special for them, like moon dew or enchanted flowers. They might like that."

Harry chuckled softly at the suggestion, picturing Luna trying to make friends with the already-friendly unicorns through mystical gifts. "I'm sure they'd appreciate that, Luna."

As they continued their journey along the outer ridge of the Forbidden Forest, the excitement from their encounter with the unicorns still lingered in the air. The forest felt less ominous now, the earlier tension replaced by a sense of adventure. The trees towered above them, their branches swaying gently in the breeze, creating a natural canopy that filtered the sunlight into soft, dappled patches on the ground.

Ginny, still buzzing with energy, looked around with wide eyes. "I can't wait to tell others about this! This has to be one of the best days ever."

Harry smiled, watching the girls enjoy themselves. "Glad you think so," he said, keeping his tone casual. "But it is better if you don't I am too lazy to be Unicorn-man."

Luna, walking a little ahead, suddenly stopped and tilted her head as if listening to something in the distance. "Do you hear that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ginny and Harry paused, straining to hear what had caught Luna's attention. At first, there was only the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves. Then, faintly, they heard it too—a soft, melodic humming, almost like a lullaby, carried on the breeze.

"What is that?" Ginny asked, her curiosity piqued.

Harry frowned slightly, considering their options. "Could be a lot of things," he said thoughtfully. "But we're not here to get too deep into the forest, remember?"

Luna turned to face them, her expression full of wonder. "It's a forest sprite," she said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "They sing to calm the trees and keep the forest at peace."

Harry gave Luna a sidelong glance. Forest sprites? He had never heard of them, but then again, there were water sprites, so why couldn't there be something similar in the forest? Still, the song didn't just feel calming—it felt like it was tugging at something deeper, something he didn't like. A subtle pull at his Occlumency shields alerted him, and he quickly turned his attention to Ginny. Her eyes were glazed over, staring blankly in the direction of the sound.

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