Collection

Arriving at Hagrid's hut, Filch finally revealed the fact that the detention would take place in the forbidden forest. Both Neville and Malfoy had their faces pale in fright.

Hagrid came out of his hut armed with a crossbow and ready to set off, "Abou' time! I bin waitin' fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Pro?"

"Good, I look forward to our adventure," Pro calmly replied as he rubbed the head of Hagrid's dog, Fang.

Filch coldly glared at Pro as he snapped, "You are not here for detention, not an adventure Smith. It's meant to be a punishment for disobedient children like you."

"Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot your place ter do that. Yeh've done yer bit, I'll take over from here," Hagrid butted in as he gave Pro a pat on the shoulder.

Filch glared at Hagrid as he coldly stated, "I shouldn't be too friendly to them, Hagrid. I'll be back at dawn ... for what's left of them."

After Filch left, Hagrid led them over to the edge of the forest and explained their task despite Malfoy's protest. Staring at the traces of silvery unicorn blood on the forest ground, Pro couldn't help but feel a hint of excitement inside.

Of course, he wasn't excited over the fact that unicorn blood can grant false immortality. Pro was still young, and he wasn't someone to covet immortality anyways. Instead, the reason that Pro was interested in unicorn blood is the fact that he could sell them for money. If he remembered correctly, the unicorn they find will be dead anyways. Pro should be allowed to collect some of its blood if he persuaded Hagrid.

The teams were split into two, with Pro and Harry following Hagrid while the other two boys formed a team with Fang. After Hagrid downplayed the dangers of the forest and gave the command on what to do when the unicorn was found in addition to the instructions for encountering danger, the group split up to follow the two trails of unicorn blood.

Walking through the dark forest, Pro silently listened to Harry and Hagrid's discussion while his eyes scanned his surroundings for valuable plants. Still, it was relatively difficult to find any in the dark, so Pro could only fall back to collecting unicorn blood later.

As they approached a stream, Hagrid suddenly exclaimed in anxiety, "Get behind that tree!"

Pro felt Hagrid pick him up and hoist him over to hide behind a large tree with Harry. Pro's mouth twitched a bit. Honestly, Hagrid's yell would be loud enough for them to be discovered already. How the hell did the incoming figure not discover them? Is there someone hiding their traces?

Pro glanced at the mini-map and counted four yellow dots. Well, Harry, Hagrid, the incoming you know who, and the one hiding their traces. Great. Hearing the creepy slithering sound over the crunchy leaves, Pro still shivered a bit even though he already knew who it was. Sometimes, the sounds of a horror movie are scarier than the actors themselves.

After the 'unknown' person left, the group continued their journey into the dark forest, but more cautious than before. Pro was also able to meet a centaur for the first time. Honestly, it wasn't too interesting, just a man with a horse's ass.

Hagrid introduced the two boys to Ronan the centaur. Ronan then talked in cryptic words that Pro barely understood because he already knew the plot and future. Then, another centaur named Bane came out and joined Ronan in saying cryptic words. Honestly, why can't they just say war is coming instead of mars is bright?

Hagrid could only leave in frustration, leaving behind the two big assholes. The trio continued traversing through the dark forest. It didn't take long for Pro to notice a red spark in the distance. After debating inwardly for a moment, Pro still decided to send Hagrid off, "Hagrid, it seems the others are in trouble."

Hagrid thundered through the undergrowth of the forest, leaving the two behind. Honestly, what idiots would leave two children alone in a dangerous forest. Isn't the best option to take them along with you? Or perhaps this is under the orders of someone?

Pro took a glance at his mini-map and noticed an extra yellow dot that certainly was not Harry who was shivering with a hint of fear beside him. Pro's mouth twitched a bit as he heard Harry mutter, "I hope nothing has happened to Neville, it's our fault he was here in the first place."

A fuming Hagrid returned not long after with the other group. Pro then noticed the extra yellow dot back away and leave the range of his mini-map. Pro then listened as Hagrid arranged for Harry to go with Malfoy because Malfoy teased the cowardly Neville to release the call for help.

Malfoy plus Harry was truly, a recipe for disaster. At first, Pro tried to persuade Hagrid to let him switch with Malfoy, but the Malfoy vehemently wanted to stay with Fang so Pro had to wait till later. Well, if he wanted to get frightened so badly, there's nothing Pro could do but let him go.

Well, Pro won't complain about staying with Hagrid. It's truly much safer to be with a half-giant rather than a hound. That Malfoy must be under a confusion charm since he chose the latter. It didn't take long for Pro to see a screaming Malfoy and barking Fang running back towards the group. Hagrid's face darkened as he hurried off to find Harry. Pro swiftly followed behind. His money was waiting!

The group soon bumped in Harry who was sitting on the back of a centaur named Firenze. After dropping Harry off, the centaur left another warning before it galloped away. After checking to make sure Harry was alright, Hagrid led the group over to the dead unicorn.

With a hint of anticipation, Pro then shamelessly asked Hagrid if he could collect some unicorn blood.

"What do yeh need them unicorn blood for? You aren't having any bad ideas are you?" Hagrid grumbled with a gruff voice as he solemnly stared back at Pro.

"No, Hagrid. Since it is dead, I just wanted to collect some blood to sell so it won't go to waste. I'm hoping to save some money. There will be a new sibling in the family soon, and I know I can't rely on my father to pay for everything," Pro persuaded and honestly told Hagrid what he would do with the blood, but not what he would do with his savings.

"O' alright then. Yeh've done a good thing I suppose. Off you go, an' we'll bury it after," Hagrid agreed.

The group then watched as Pro pulled out glass vials to fill with unicorn blood. At first, they didn't feel anything weird, but when they saw Pro pull out his tenth glass vial, the group's expression turned strange while Malfoy cursed, "As expected of the other sort, doesn't even have enough in the coffers to pay for school supplies. Poorer than a Weasley."

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry growled.

When Pro filled up his fifteenth vial, Hagrid couldn't help but stop him, "Right then! An' I think yeh've enough. We don't want to spend all night here, off you go."

The group then helped Hagrid bury the unicorn and were led back to the castle. Returning to the dark commons room, the boys found Ron and Hermione waiting in there for them. Hermione rushed up to Pro and began to check him all over while whispering, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Hermione. You already know, if there's anyone that would be in danger, it would be Harry," Pro whispered back.

"What? What happened to Harry?" Hermione exclaimed as she glanced over at Harry who was waking Ron up.

Harry then began to explain about what he saw in the forest and his speculations about Voldemort. The scared Neville had already run off to bed while the terrified Ron continued to try to stop Harry from saying Voldemort's name but to no avail. Pro and Hermione calmly sat by the side as they listened to the story, but Pro could feel Hermione's tight squeeze on his hands.

Glancing over to see her biting her lips with a frightened face, Pro reached out and stroked her head gently as he whispered, "Don't worry. I'm here. Plus, there's still Dumbledore isn't there?"

Hermione calmed down a bit as she nodded while glancing at Harry with eyes of pity, "That's right."

Hermione then glanced over at Pro with worried eyes while gripping his hand, "You said it won't be dangerous ... But that could've been you ... when I think that you would replace Harry ... I-"

Pro shushed her with his finger as he comforted her, "I'll be alright. Trust me, Hermione."

Hermione quietly stared at Pro for a while as she bit her lips. Her grip on Pro's hands tightened before she whispered, "Did you already know ... like always? Is that why you forcefully took my place to send off Norbert even though you usually don't care much?"

Pro chuckled a bit as he glanced at Hermione. Placing his forehead against her forehead, Pro whispered softly with a smile, "My Hermione is brilliant as always."

The two stared at each other in the eyes up close, as if trying to stare into each other's soul. An ambiguous atmosphere appeared between them, but before it could develop further, it was interrupted by a certain insensitive idiot.

"Blimey, what are you two doing?" Ron exclaimed in confusion as he looked back and forth between the couple sitting not far away.

Hermione pulled back in shock as a faint blush appeared on her face. Doing her best to sit properly, her eyes shifted away as she played with her bushy hair using her finger before she stuttered a lie, "N-Nothing, we were just discussing Vol- you know who."

"Bloody hell! Were you just about to say the name as well?! You've been getting the Harry disease!" Ron exclaimed with a frightened face.

"What?" Harry tilted his head in confusion.

"Nothing, Harry. Hermione and I were just saying that you shouldn't worry too much about you know who. You know who has always been afraid of Dumbledore and Dumbledore will be watching over you," Pro said as he chuckled with mirth.

Of course, the dull Harry couldn't understand the hint that Pro dropped. Harry just nodded with a worried face. After bidding each other good night, the group finally headed off to bed.

Unsurprisingly, Pro heard Harry's soft exclamation of shock and knew that Harry had found his invisibility cloak on his bed. The greatest wizard of all time, even his own death must be perfectly planned, let alone a mere trip to the forbidden forest.

Closing his eyes, Pro settled his mind and fell asleep without any worries. After all, no one can plan his future ... unless his life was a novel. Of course, it can't be ... right?