Chapter 15 The Forbidden Forest

Things couldn't have been worse.
Filch took them down to Professor McGonagall's study on the first floor, where they sat and waited without saying a word to each other. Hermione was trembling. Excuses, alibis, and wild cover-up stories chased each other around Harry's brain, each more feeble than the last. He couldn't see how they were going to get out of trouble this time. They were cornered. How could they have been so stupid as to forget the cloak? There was no reason on earth that Professor McGonagall would accept for their being out of bed and creeping around the school in the dead of night, let alone being up the tallest astronomy tower, which was out-of-bounds except for classes. Add Norbert and the invisibility cloak, and they might as well be packing their bags already.
Had Harry thought that things couldn't have been worse? He was wrong. When Professor McGonagall appeared, she was leading Neville.
“Harry!” Neville burst out, the moment he saw the other two. “I was trying to find you to warn you, I heard Malfoy saying he was going to catch you, he said you had a drag—”
Harry shook his head violently to shut Neville up, but Professor McGonagall had seen. She looked more likely to breathe fire than Norbert as she towered over the three of them.
“I would never have believed it of any of you. Mr. Filch says you were up in the astronomy tower. It's one o'clock in the morning. Explain yourselves.”
It was the first time Hermione had ever failed to answer a teacher's question. She was staring at her slippers, as still as a statue.
“I think I've got a good idea of what's been going on,” said Professor McGonagall. “It doesn't take a genius to work it out. You fed Draco Malfoy some cock-and-bull story about a dragon, trying to get him out of bed and into trouble. I've already caught him. I suppose you think it's funny that Longbottom here heard the story and believed it, too?”
Harry caught Neville's eye and tried to tell him without words that this wasn't true, because Neville was looking stunned and hurt. Poor, blundering Neville — Harry knew what it must have cost him to try and find them in the dark, to warn them.
“I'm disgusted,” said Professor McGonagall. “Four students out of bed in one night! I've never heard of such a thing before! You, Miss Granger, I thought you had more sense. As for you, Mr. Potter, I thought Gryffindor meant more to you than this. All three of you will receive detentions — yes, you too, Mr. Longbottom, nothing gives you the right to walk around school at night, especially these days, it's very dangerous — and fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor.”
“Fifty ?” Harry gasped — they would lose the lead, the lead he'd won in the last Quidditch match.
“Fifty points each,” said Professor McGonagall, breathing heavily through her long, pointed nose.
“Professor — please—”
“You can't—”
“Don't tell me what I can and can't do, Potter. Now get back to bed, all of you. I've never been more ashamed of Gryffindor students.”
A hundred and fifty points lost. That put Gryffindor in last place. In one night, they'd ruined any chance Gryffindor had had for the house cup. Harry felt as though the bottom had dropped out of his stomach. How could they ever make up for this?
Harry didn't sleep all night. He could hear Neville sobbing into his pillow for what seemed like hours. Harry couldn't think of anything to say to comfort him. He knew Neville, like himself, was dreading the dawn. What would happen when the rest of Gryffindor found out what they'd done?
At first, Gryffindors passing the giant hourglasses that recorded the house points the next day thought there'd been a mistake. How could they suddenly have a hundred and fifty points fewer than yesterday? And then the story started to spread: Harry Potter, the famous Harry Potter, their hero of two Quidditch matches, had lost them all those points, him and a couple of other stupid first years.
From being one of the most popular and admired people at the school, Harry was suddenly the most hated. Even Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs turned on him, because everyone had been longing to see Slytherin lose the house cup. Everywhere Harry went, people pointed and didn't trouble to lower their voices as they insulted him. Slytherins, on the other hand, clapped as he walked past them, whistling and cheering, “Thanks Potter, we owe you one!”
Only Ron stood by him.
“They'll all forget this in a few weeks. Fred and George have lost loads of points in all the time they've been here, and people still like them.”
“They've never lost a hundred and fifty points in one go, though, have they?” said Harry miserably.
“Well — no,” Ron admitted.
It was a bit late to repair the damage, but Harry swore to himself not to meddle in things that weren't his business from now on. He'd had it with sneaking around and spying. He felt so ashamed of himself that he went to Wood and offered to resign from the Quidditch team.
“Resign ?” Wood thundered. “What good'll that do? How are we going to get any points back if we can't win at Quidditch?”
But even Quidditch had lost its fun. The rest of the team wouldn't speak to Harry during practice, and if they had to speak about him, they called him “the Seeker.”
Hermione and Neville were suffering, too. They didn't have as bad a time as Harry, because they weren't as well-known, but nobody would speak to them, either. Hermione had stopped drawing attention to herself in class, keeping her head down and working in silence.
Harry was almost glad that the exams weren't far away. All the studying he had to do kept his mind off his misery. He, Ron, and Hermione kept to themselves, working late into the night, trying to remember the ingredients in complicated potions, learn charms and spells by heart, memorize the dates of magical discoveries and goblin rebellions…
Then, about a week before the exams were due to start, Harry's new resolution not to interfere in anything that didn't concern him was put to an unexpected test. Walking back from the library on his own one afternoon, he heard somebody whimpering from a classroom up ahead. As he drew closer, he heard Quirrell's voice.
“No — no — not again, please—”
It sounded as though someone was threatening him. Harry moved closer.
“All right — all right — ” he heard Quirrell sob.
Next second, Quirrell came hurrying out of the classroom straightening his turban. He was pale and looked as though he was about to cry. He strode out of sight; Harry didn't think Quirrell had even noticed him. He waited until Quirrell's footsteps had disappeared, then peered into the classroom. It was empty, but a door stood ajar at the other end. Harry was halfway toward it before he remembered what he'd promised himself about not meddling.
All the same, he'd have gambled twelve Sorcerer's Stones that Snape had just left the room, and from what Harry had just heard, Snape would be walking with a new spring in his step — Quirrell seemed to have given in at last.
Harry went back to the library, where Hermione was testing Ron on Astronomy. Harry told them what he'd heard.
“Snape's done it, then!” said Ron. “If Quirrell's told him how to break his Anti-Dark Force spell—”
“There's still Fluffy, though,” said Hermione.
“Maybe Snape's found out how to get past him without asking Hagrid,” said Ron, looking up at the thousands of books surrounding them. “I bet there's a book somewhere in here telling you how to get past a giant three-headed dog. So what do we do, Harry?”
The light of adventure was kindling again in Ron's eyes, but Hermione answered before Harry could.
“Go to Dumbledore. That's what we should have done ages ago. If we try anything ourselves we'll be thrown out for sure.”
“But we've got no proof!” said Harry. “Quirrell's too scared to back us up. Snape's only got to say he doesn't know how the troll got in at Halloween and that he was nowhere near the third floor — who do you think they'll believe, him or us? It's not exactly a secret we hate him, Dumbledore'll think we made it up to get him sacked. Filch wouldn't help us if his life depended on it, he's too friendly with Snape, and the more students get thrown out, the better, he'll think. And don't forget, we're not supposed to know about the Stone or Fluffy. That'll take a lot of explaining.”
Hermione looked convinced, but Ron didn't.
“If we just do a bit of poking around—”
“No,” said Harry flatly, “we've done enough poking around.”
He pulled a map of Jupiter toward him and started to learn the names of its moons.
The following morning, notes were delivered to Harry, Hermione, and Neville at the breakfast table. They were all the same:
Your detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight.
Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.
Professor McGonagall
Harry had forgotten they still had detentions to do in the furor over the points they'd lost. He half expected Hermione to complain that this was a whole night of studying lost, but she didn't say a word. Like Harry, she felt they deserved what they'd got.
At eleven o'clock that night, they said good-bye to Ron in the common room and went down to the entrance hall with Neville. Filch was already there — and so was Malfoy. Harry had also forgotten that Malfoy had gotten a detention, too.
“Follow me,” said Filch, lighting a lamp and leading them outside.
“I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh?” he said, leering at them. “Oh yes… hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me… It's just a pity they let the old punishments die out… hang you by your wrists from the ceiling for a few days, I've got the chains still in my office, keep ‘em well oiled in case they're ever needed… Right, off we go, and don't think of running off, now, it'll be worse for you if you do.”
They marched off across the dark grounds. Neville kept sniffing. Harry wondered what their punishment was going to be. It must be something really horrible, or Filch wouldn't be sounding so delighted.
The moon was bright, but clouds scudding across it kept throwing them into darkness. Ahead, Harry could see the lighted windows of Hagrid's hut. Then they heard a distant shout.
“Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started.”
Harry's heart rose; if they were going to be working with Hagrid it wouldn't be so bad. His relief must have showed in his face, because Filch said, “I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf? Well, think again, boy — it's into the forest you're going and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece.”
At this, Neville let out a little moan, and Malfoy stopped dead in his tracks.
“The forest?” he repeated, and he didn't sound quite as cool as usual. “We can't go in there at night — there's all sorts of things in there — werewolves, I heard.”
Neville clutched the sleeve of Harry's robe and made a choking noise.
“That's your problem, isn't it?” said Filch, his voice cracking with glee. “Should've thought of them werewolves before you got in trouble, shouldn't you?”
Hagrid came striding toward them out of the dark, Fang at his heel. He was carrying his large crossbow, and a quiver of arrows hung over his shoulder.
“Abou’ time,” he said. “I bin waitin’ fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Hermione?”
“I shouldn't be too friendly to them, Hagrid,” said Filch coldly, they're here to be punished, after all.”
“That's why yer late, is it?” said Hagrid, frowning at Filch. “Bin lecturin’ them, eh? ‘Snot your place ter do that. Yeh've done yer bit, I'll take over from here.”
“I'll be back at dawn,” said Filch, “for what's left of them,” he added nastily, and he turned and started back toward the castle, his lamp bobbing away in the darkness.
Malfoy now turned to Hagrid.
“I'm not going in that forest,” he said, and Harry was pleased to hear the note of panic in his voice.
“Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts,” said Hagrid fiercely. “Yeh've done wrong an’ now yeh've got ter pay fer it.”
“But this is servant stuff, it's not for students to do. I thought we'd be copying lines or something, if my father knew I was doing this, he'd—”
“— tell yer that's how it is at Hogwarts,” Hagrid growled. “Copyin’ lines! What good's that ter anyone? Yeh'll do summat useful or yeh'll get out. If yeh think yer father'd rather you were expelled, then get back off ter the castle an’ pack. Go on.”
Malfoy didn't move. He looked at Hagrid furiously, but then dropped his gaze.
“Right then,” said Hagrid, “now, listen carefully, ‘cause it's dangerous what we're gonna do tonight, an’ I don’ want no one takin’ risks. Follow me over here a moment.”
He led them to the very edge of the forest. Holding his lamp up high, he pointed down a narrow, winding earth track that disappeared into the thick black trees. A light breeze lifted their hair as they looked into the forest.
“Look there,” said Hagrid, “see that stuff shinin’ on the ground? Silvery stuff? That's unicorn blood. There's a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday. We're gonna try an’ find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery.”
“And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first?” said Malfoy, unable to keep the fear out of his voice.
“There's nothin’ that lives in the forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang,” said Hagrid. “An’ keep ter the path. Right, now, we're gonna split inter two parties an’ follow the trail in diff'rent directions. There's blood all over the place, it must've bin staggerin’ around since last night at least.”
“I want Fang,” said Malfoy quickly, looking at Fang's long teeth.
“All right, but I warn yeh, he's a coward,” said Hagrid. “So me, Harry, an’ Hermione'll go one way an’ Draco, Neville, an’ Fang'll go the other. Now, if any of us finds the unicorn, we'll send up green sparks, right? Get yer wands out an’ practice now — that's it — an’ if anyone gets in trouble, send up red sparks, an’ we'll all come an’ find yeh — so, be careful — let's go.”
The forest was black and silent. A little way into it they reached a fork in the earth path, and Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid took the left path while Malfoy, Neville, and Fang took the right.
They walked in silence, their eyes on the ground. Every now and then a ray of moonlight through the branches above lit a spot of silver-blue blood on the fallen leaves.
Harry saw that Hagrid looked very worried.
“Could a werewolf be killing the unicorns?” Harry asked.
“Not fast enough,” said Hagrid. “It's not easy ter catch a unicorn, they're powerful magic creatures. I never knew one ter be hurt before.”
They walked past a mossy tree stump. Harry could hear running water; there must be a stream somewhere close by. There were still spots of unicorn blood here and there along the winding path.
“You all right, Hermione?” Hagrid whispered. “Don’ worry, it can't've gone far if it's this badly hurt, an’ then we'll be able ter — GET BEHIND THAT TREE!”
Hagrid seized Harry and Hermione and hoisted them off the path behind a towering oak. He pulled out an arrow and fitted it into his crossbow, raising it, ready to fire. The three of them listened. Something was slithering over dead leaves nearby: it sounded like a cloak trailing along the ground. Hagrid was squinting up the dark path, but after a few seconds, the sound faded away.
“I knew it,” he murmured. “There's summat in here that shouldn’ be.”
“A werewolf?” Harry suggested.
“That wasn’ no werewolf an’ it wasn’ no unicorn, neither,” said Hagrid grimly. “Right, follow me, but careful, now.”
They walked more slowly, ears straining for the faintest sound. Suddenly, in a clearing ahead, something definitely moved.
“Who's there?” Hagrid called. “Show yerself — I'm armed!”
And into the clearing came — was it a man, or a horse? To the waist, a man, with red hair and beard, but below that was a horse's gleaming chestnut body with a long, reddish tail. Harry and Hermione's jaws dropped.
“Oh, it's you, Ronan,” said Hagrid in relief. “How are yeh?”
He walked forward and shook the centaur's hand.
“Good evening to you, Hagrid,” said Ronan. He had a deep, sorrowful voice. “Were you going to shoot me?”
“Can't be too careful, Ronan,” said Hagrid, patting his crossbow. “There's summat bad loose in this forest. This is Harry Potter an’ Hermione Granger, by the way. Students up at the school. An’ this is Ronan, you two. He's a centaur.
“We'd noticed,” said Hermione faintly.
“Good evening,” said Ronan. “Students, are you? And do you learn much, up at the school?”
“Erm—”
“A bit,” said Hermione timidly.
“A bit. Well, that's something.” Ronan sighed. He flung back his head and stared at the sky. “Mars is bright tonight.”
“Yeah,” said Hagrid, glancing up, too. “Listen, I'm glad we've run inter yeh, Ronan, ‘cause there's a unicorn bin hurt — you seen anythin'?”
Ronan didn't answer immediately. He stared unblinkingly upward, then sighed again.
“Always the innocent are the first victims,” he said. “So it has been for ages past, so it is now.”
“Yeah,” said Hagrid, “but have yeh seen anythin’ Ronan? Anythin’ unusual?”
“Mars is bright tonight,” Ronan repeated, while Hagrid watched him impatiently. “Unusually bright.”
“Yeah, but I was meanin’ anythin’ unusual a bit nearer home, said Hagrid. “So yeh haven't noticed anythin’ strange?”
Yet again, Ronan took a while to answer. At last, he said, “The forest hides many secrets.”
A movement in the trees behind Ronan made Hagrid raise his bow again, but it was only a second centaur, black-haired and -bodied and wilder-looking than Ronan.
“Hullo, Bane,” said Hagrid. “All right?”
“Good evening, Hagrid, I hope you are well?”
“Well enough. Look, I've jus’ bin askin’ Ronan, you seen anythin’ odd in here lately? There's a unicorn bin injured — would yeh know anythin’ about it?”
Bane walked over to stand next to Ronan. He looked skyward. “Mars is bright tonight,” he said simply.
“We've heard,” said Hagrid grumpily. “Well, if either of you do see anythin', let me know, won't yeh? We'll be off, then.”
Harry and Hermione followed him out of the clearing, staring over their shoulders at Ronan and Bane until the trees blocked their view.
“Never,” said Hagrid irritably, “try an’ get a straight answer out of a centaur. Ruddy stargazers. Not interested in anythin’ closer'n the moon.”
“Are there many of them in here?” asked Hermione.
“Oh, a fair few… Keep themselves to themselves mostly, but they're good enough about turnin’ up if ever I want a word. They're deep, mind, centaurs… they know things… jus’ don’ let on much.”
“D'you think that was a centaur we heard earlier?” said Harry.
“Did that sound like hooves to you? Nah, if yeh ask me, that was what's bin killin’ the unicorns — never heard anythin’ like it before.”
They walked on through the dense, dark trees. Harry kept looking nervously over his shoulder. He had the nasty feeling they were being watched. He was very glad they had Hagrid and his crossbow with them. They had just passed a bend in the path when Hermione grabbed Hagrid's arm.
“Hagrid! Look! Red sparks, the others are in trouble!”
“You two wait here!” Hagrid shouted. “Stay on the path, I'll come back for yeh!”
They heard him crashing away through the undergrowth and stood looking at each other, very scared, until they couldn't hear anything but the rustling of leaves around them.
“You don't think they've been hurt, do you?” whispered Hermione.
“I don't care if Malfoy has, but if something's got Neville… it's our fault he's here in the first place.”
The minutes dragged by. Their ears seemed sharper than usual. Harry's seemed to be picking up every sigh of the wind, every cracking twig. What was going on? Where were the others?
At last, a great crunching noise announced Hagrid's return. Malfoy, Neville, and Fang were with him. Hagrid was fuming. Malfoy, it seemed, had sneaked up behind Neville and grabbed him as a joke. Neville had panicked and sent up the sparks.
“We'll be lucky ter catch anythin’ now, with the racket you two were makin'. Right, we're changin’ groups — Neville, you stay with me an’ Hermione, Harry, you go with Fang an’ this idiot. I'm sorry,” Hagrid added in a whisper to Harry, “but he'll have a harder time frightenin’ you, an’ we've gotta get this done.”
So Harry set off into the heart of the forest with Malfoy and Fang. They walked for nearly half an hour, deeper and deeper into the forest, until the path became almost impossible to follow because the trees were so thick. Harry thought the blood seemed to be getting thicker. There were splashes on the roots of a tree, as though the poor creature had been thrashing around in pain close by. Harry could see a clearing ahead, through the tangled branches of an ancient oak.
“Look — ” he murmured, holding out his arm to stop Malfoy.
Something bright white was gleaming on the ground. They inched closer.
It was the unicorn all right, and it was dead. Harry had never seen anything so beautiful and sad. Its long, slender legs were stuck out at odd angles where it had fallen and its mane was spread pearly-white on the dark leaves.
Harry had taken one step toward it when a slithering sound made him freeze where he stood. A bush on the edge of the clearing quivered… Then, out of the shadows, a hooded figure came crawling across the ground like some stalking beast. Harry, Malfoy, and Fang stood transfixed. The cloaked figure reached the unicorn, lowered its head over the wound in the animal's side, and began to drink its blood.
“AAAAAAAAAARGH!”
Malfoy let out a terrible scream and bolted — so did Fang. The hooded figure raised its head and looked right at Harry — unicorn blood was dribbling down its front. It got to its feet and came swiftly toward Harry — he couldn't move for fear.
Then a pain like he'd never felt before pierced his head; it was as though his scar were on fire. Half blinded, he staggered backward. He heard hooves behind him, galloping, and something jumped clean over Harry, charging at the figure.
The pain in Harry's head was so bad he fell to his knees. It took a minute or two to pass. When he looked up, the figure had gone. A centaur was standing over him, not Ronan or Bane; this one looked younger; he had white-blond hair and a palomino body.
“Are you all right?” said the centaur, pulling Harry to his feet.
“Yes — thank you — what was that?”
The centaur didn't answer. He had astonishingly blue eyes, like pale sapphires. He looked carefully at Harry, his eyes lingering on the scar that stood out, livid, on Harry's forehead.
“You are the Potter boy,” he said. “You had better get back to Hagrid. The forest is not safe at this time — especially for you. Can you ride? It will be quicker this way.
“My name is Firenze,” he added, as he lowered himself on to his front legs so that Harry could clamber onto his back.
There was suddenly a sound of more galloping from the other side of the clearing. Ronan and Bane came bursting through the trees, their flanks heaving and sweaty.
“Firenze!” Bane thundered. “What are you doing? You have a human on your back! Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?”
“Do you realize who this is?” said Firenze. “This is the Potter boy. The quicker he leaves this forest, the better.”
“What have you been telling him?” growled Bane. “Remember, Firenze, we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. Have we not read what is to come in the movements of the planets?”
Ronan pawed the ground nervously. “I'm sure Firenze thought he was acting for the best,” he said in his gloomy voice.
Bane kicked his back legs in anger.
“For the best! What is that to do with us? Centaurs are concerned with what has been foretold! It is not our business to run around like donkeys after stray humans in our forest!”
Firenze suddenly reared on to his hind legs in anger, so that Harry had to grab his shoulders to stay on.
“Do you not see that unicorn?” Firenze bellowed at Bane. “Do you not understand why it was killed? Or have the planets not let you in on that secret? I set myself against what is lurking in this forest, Bane, yes, with humans alongside me if I must.”
And Firenze whisked around; with Harry clutching on as best he could, they plunged off into the trees, leaving Ronan and Bane behind them.
Harry didn't have a clue what was going on.
“Why's Bane so angry?” he asked. “What was that thing you saved me from, anyway?”
Firenze slowed to a walk, warned Harry to keep his head bowed in case of low-hanging branches, but did not answer Harry's question. They made their way through the trees in silence for so long that Harry thought Firenze didn't want to talk to him anymore. They were passing through a particularly dense patch of trees, however, when Firenze suddenly stopped.
“Harry Potter, do you know what unicorn blood is used for?”
“No,” said Harry, startled by the odd question. “We've only used the horn and tail hair in Potions.”
“That is because it is a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn,” said Firenze. “Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime. The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenseless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips.”
Harry stared at the back of Firenze's head, which was dappled silver in the moonlight.
“But who'd be that desperate?” he wondered aloud. “If you're going to be cursed forever, death's better, isn't it?”
“It is,” Firenze agreed, “unless all you need is to stay alive long enough to drink something else — something that will bring you back to full strength and power — something that will mean you can never die. Mr. Potter, do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment?”
“The Sorcerer's Stone! Of course — the Elixir of Life! But I don't understand who—”
“Can you think of nobody who has waited many years to return to power, who has clung to life, awaiting their chance?”
It was as though an iron fist had clenched suddenly around Harry's heart. Over the rustling of the trees, he seemed to hear once more what Hagrid had told him on the night they had met: “Some say he died. Codswallop, in my opinion. Dunno if he had enough human left in him to die.”
“Do you mean,” Harry croaked, “that was Vol-”
“Harry! Harry, are you all right?”
Hermione was running toward them down the path, Hagrid puffing along behind her.
“I'm fine,” said Harry, hardly knowing what he was saying. “The unicorn's dead, Hagrid, it's in that clearing back there.”
“This is where I leave you,” Firenze murmured as Hagrid hurried off to examine the unicorn. “You are safe now.”
Harry slid off his back.
“Good luck, Harry Potter,” said Firenze. “The planets have been read wrongly before now, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times.”
He turned and cantered back into the depths of the forest, leaving Harry shivering behind him.
Ron had fallen asleep in the dark common room, waiting for them to return. He shouted something about Quidditch fouls when Harry roughly shook him awake. In a matter of seconds, though, he was wide-eyed as Harry began to tell him and Hermione what had happened in the forest.
Harry couldn't sit down. He paced up and down in front of the fire. He was still shaking.
“Snape wants the stone for Voldemort… and Voldemort's waiting in the forest… and all this time we thought Snape just wanted to get rich…”
“Stop saying the name!” said Ron in a terrified whisper, as if he thought Voldemort could hear them.
Harry wasn't listening.
“Firenze saved me, but he shouldn't have done so… Bane was furious… he was talking about interfering with what the planets say is going to happen… They must show that Voldemort's coming back… Bane thinks Firenze should have let Voldemort kill me… I suppose that's written in the stars as well.”
“Will you stop saying the name!” Ron hissed.
“So all I've got to wait for now is Snape to steal the Stone,” Harry went on feverishly, “then Voldemort will be able to come and finish me off… Well, I suppose Bane'll be happy.”
Hermione looked very frightened, but she had a word of comfort.
“Harry, everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid of with Dumbledore around, You-Know-Who won't touch you. Anyway, who says the centaurs are right? It sounds like fortune-telling to me, and Professor McGonagall says that's a very imprecise branch of magic.”
The sky had turned light before they stopped talking. They went to bed exhausted, their throats sore. But the night's surprises weren't over.
When Harry pulled back his sheets, he found his invisibility cloak folded neatly underneath them. There was a note pinned to it:
Just in case.
事情绝不会变得比现在更糟糕了！
　　费驰把他们一直领到一楼的麦康娜的书房，然后他们几个坐在那儿，一言不发。
　　荷米恩在发抖。借口，托辞，和漂亮的小谎言在哈利的脑中盘旋，但没有一样是有用的。他实在不知道这回他们又要如何摆脱困境了。现在已是走投无路了。他们怎么会愚蠢到忘记披上隐形披风呀！现在可好了，麦康娜教授是无论如何也不会原谅他们在夜深人静的时候爬起床在学校里游荡的，更不用说他们还爬上了那座除了上课之外任何人都不准上去的最高的观星台。
　　情况难道真的像哈利想的一样，不可能变得更糟糕了吗？他想错了。当麦康娜教授出现的时候，身后还跟着尼维尔。
　　"哈利！"尼维尔大叫，同时他瞅见了另外的两个家伙。"我想尽办法要找到你并要告诉你，听说马尔夫，要把你抓起来，他说你有一只龙……"哈利猛地摇了摇头以制止尼维尔说下去，但麦康娜教授已听到了，现在她生气得好像诺贝特在喷火。
　　"我绝不会相信你们会那样做的，费驰先生说你们爬上了天文台塔，而且是在凌晨一点钟的时候。你们自己来解释吧！"这可是第一次荷米恩回答不上老师的问题。她静静地凝望着老师的拖鞋，像一尊雕塑般动也不动。
　　"我想我倒知道发生了什么事，"麦康娜教授说，"其实那也不难想出来，你把那个有关龙的荒谬可笑的故事告诉了杰高。马尔夫，想把他从床上拉起来搞恶作剧。我已经捉到他了。我想你们一定认为很有趣，因为尼维尔也听到了那个故事并相信了它。"哈利努力地想捕住尼维尔的眼睛，偷偷对他说那并不是真相，因为尼维尔看起来是那样的震惊和伤心。可怜的、粗心的尼维尔——哈利知道他要在黑暗中找到他们并告诉他们，肯定已费了不少劲。
　　"我失望透顶了！"麦康娜教授说。"四个学生在一夜里全爬起床！我还真的不曾听过这种事呢！你，格林佐小姐，我还以为你会守纪律一点的！对于你，波特先生，我想你应该会认为格林芬顿比这重要得多吧！你们三个都将受到非常严厉的惩罚——是的，还有你，兰博顿先生，你没有任何权利半夜三更的在校园里游荡，尤其是在这段日子里，是非常危险的——现在，格林芬顿队会被扣掉50分。""50？"哈利倒抽一口凉气——那意味着他们将失去领先优势，那是他在上一次快迪斯比赛中赢回来的。
　　"每人扣50。"麦康娜补充说，重重地喘息着。
　　"教授——请你——"
　　"你不可以——"
　　"别告诉我我应该做什么，不应该做什么，波特。现在，所有人都给我回到床上去。我还没有为格林芬顿队的学生那样羞耻过！"150分就这样丢掉了。那样会使格林芬顿队落到最后一位的。
　　一夜间，他们失去了格林芬顿队曾有过的获得豪斯杯的一切优势。
　　哈利好像感到自己的胃忽然没了底似的向下沉。他们怎样才可拿回这么多分？
　　哈利一整夜都不曾睡着，他可以听见尼维尔埋头在枕头里呜咽了好像有好几个小时。哈利实在想不出要说些什么来安慰他了。他了解尼维尔，象他自己一样恐惧黎明的来临。如果格林芬顿队里的其他人也知道他们干了些什么的话，又会有什么发生呢？
　　一开始，格林芬顿队的学生们经过那块记载着上一天的竞赛分数的大积分榜的时候，还以为它出错了：他们怎么可能忽然间比昨天少了整整150分呢？接着这样的谣传就开始散布了：哈利·波特，出色的哈利·波特，他们两次的快迪斯比赛的英雄，把他们的分数全给丢掉了，这是他和另外几个愚蠢的一年级学生干的好事。
　　哈利突然从全校最受欢迎和爱戴的人物一下子成为最讨厌的人。就连卫文卡罗队和海夫巴夫队也来攻击他了，因为本来每个人都希望看到格林芬顿队在这场比赛中打败的。无论哈利会到哪里，人们都会指指点点并且毫无顾忌地羞辱他，而史林德林队的人则每逢在他走过他们面前都会吹口哨并欢呼："感谢波特，我们的大恩人！"只有罗恩还是站在他那边。
　　"过得几个礼拜他们就会把这事忘得干干净净的。弗来德和乔治不也是从他们一来到这儿就不停地丢了许多分吗？可人们还是这样喜欢他们。""他们可从来没有试过一次丢掉150分，对吗？"哈利可怜巴巴的说。
　　"嗯——没有。"罗恩承认。
　　现在要弥补损失已是太迟了，但哈利还是暗自发誓从今以后绝不多管闲事了。
　　他不应该这样四处游荡。第一次，他为自己而羞愧难当，于是他找到伍德并自动提出要退出快迪斯比赛。
　　"退出？"伍德大叫，"那样会有帮助吗？如果我们连快迪斯比赛也赢不了，又怎么可能把分全拿回来呢？"但就连快迪斯也失去了它以往的乐趣了。队里的其他人在训练时谁也不跟哈利说话，即使不得不跟他谈话，他们也会喊他"伟大的搜索员"。
　　荷米恩和尼维尔同样也在受苦。他们当然没有哈利那样艰辛，因为没有他那样有名。但是同样，没有人愿意跟他们说话。荷米恩不再积极地在班上引起别人的注意了，总是低着头，默默地苦干。
　　哈利很高兴因为考试就快要来了。所以他不得不去温习功课，这样可以使他的心思暂时从困苦中解脱出来。他和罗恩、荷米恩三个把自己隔离开来，每天都学习到很晚，努力去记住那些复杂的药品的成份，不停地背下那些巫术和魔法的咒语，背下那些伟大的发明和魔鬼造反事件的日期。
　　然而，就在考试即将来临的前一个礼拜，哈利那项新宣誓，不再多管闲事的决心却受到了考验。就在他从图书馆往回走的当儿，他听到有人在上面的课室低声谈话。走近一点，他听得出那是屈拉的声音。
　　"不——不——请别再这样——"
　　听起来好像有人在威胁他。哈利于是移近一点。
　　"那——好吧——"他听到屈拉的嘴泣。
　　过了一会，屈拉匆匆地从教室里走出来，一边整理着他的头巾。他看起来苍白极了，一副就要哭出来的样子。他大踏步走远了，哈利认为他根本就没有察觉到自己，于是一等到屈拉的脚步声消失了，他马上溜进了教室，但里面是空的，只有另外一扇门是半开着的。哈利快要冲到它前面却忽然想起自己许下的不再管闲事的誓言。
　　同时，他敢以十二块点金石为赌注，打赌刚刚从课室里出去的一定是史纳皮。
　　哈利回到图书馆，荷米恩正在那里思考罗恩的天文学。哈利告诉了他们自己所听到的东西。
　　"那就一定是史纳皮干的！"罗恩说，"如果屈拉告诉了他破解黑巫术防御法的法的话——""幸好我们还有弗拉菲。"荷米思说。
　　"也许史纳皮不用问哈格力，自己也能想办法通过他这关了，"望着周围成千上万的书，罗恩说："我敢打赌这儿的某一角落定有一本书告诉你如何通过一只巨型的三头犬的办法。那么，现在我们应该怎么办呢，哈利？"跃跃欲试的光芒又在罗恩的眼中点燃了，但在哈利有机会回答之前，荷米恩先开腔了。
　　"我们还是去找丹伯多吧，我们很久以前就该如此了。如果我们几个再自己行动的话，肯定会被掷出学校的。""但是我们没有证据！"哈利说，"屈拉已经被吓得不敢再为我们作证了。而史纳皮只会说他不知道那只洞窟巨人是怎么会在万圣节出现的，还会说他根本就没上过三楼呢。你认为他们会相信谁，他还是我们？我们恨他已不是一个秘密了，丹伯多可能会认为我们故意这么做来把他赶出去的。费驰如果帮我们，就会证明自己是失职了，他对史纳皮又这么好，而且他一定会认为越多学生被扫出学校越好的。
　　还有，不要忘记，我们是不应该知道那块石头和弗拉菲的，那又会花费我们不少时间去弄清楚了。"荷米恩看起来是被说服了，但罗恩却没有。
　　"或许我们可以四处活动一下。"
　　"不，"哈利平静地说，"我们已经四处活动得够多了。"他拉近一幅木星的地图，开始认真地研究它的卫星了。
　　第二天早上，哈利，荷米恩和尼维尔在早餐桌上收到了同样的小纸条：你们的惩罚将在今晚11点开始。到大堂里去找费驰先生吧。
　　麦康娜教授。
　　哈利实在已经忘记了除了扣荷米恩、他和尼维尔的分这个大惩罚之外，他们仍需被惩罚这回事了。他还有少许期望荷米恩会因此埋怨他们又少了一晚来温习了，但她却没有说话。像哈利一样，她觉得这是他们所做过一切而应付出的。
　　那晚的十一点，他们在公共休息室里跟罗恩道别之后就和尼维尔一道向大堂走去。费驰已等在那儿了，身边还有马尔夫——哈利已经忘记连马尔夫也要受惩罚这回事了。
"跟我来，"费驰说，他提着一盏灯引着他们向外面走。"我敢打赌你们一定会变本加厉地想着如何再次破坏学校的纪律，对吧？
　　哼！"他瞟了他们一眼，继续说下去，"那是对的……勤奋和困苦是最好的老师，我敢说……他们废除了那些旧的惩罚还真是可惜……
　　应该把你们的手臂捆起吊你们几天——我现在还有那样的链子在办公室里，被我好好地上了油保管起来，等着要用到它的时候呢……
　　好，走那边，别打逃跑的主意，那样做只会令你的情况更糟糕。"他们一行穿过了庭院。尼维尔一直在抽泣。而哈利一路上在猜测他们将会受到什么样的惩罚。那肯定是非常恐怖的，不然费驰就不会显得如此兴高采烈了。
　　月亮非常清朗，但几片云掠过，使得他们一下子陷入了漆黑中。哈利可以望见前方哈格力小屋的窗户的灯光。接着，他们听到远处一声呼叫。
　　"是你吗，费驰？快一点，我要开始干活了。"哈利的心一下子放了下来，如果要他们和哈格力一起干活的话，那还不算太坏。
　　他的轻松可能从脸上表现出来了，因为费驰说："我想你肯定认为你会和这个笨蛋相处得不错吧？哈，认真想一下吧，小家伙——你们现在正在向禁林进发呢，还有，如果你们可以完完整整的再走出来的话，那我真的是大错特错了。"听到这，尼维尔发出了一声低低的怪叫声，而马尔夫则死死地站住了。
　　"到禁林里去？"他重复，但已失去了平时说话的镇定。"我们不能在夜间到那儿去的——那儿有很多奇怪的东西——有狼人，我听说。"尼维尔紧紧地抓住哈利衣服的袖子，发出一阵喉咙哽住的声音。
　　"这正是你担心的事，对吗？"费驰说，他的声音却因极大的欢乐而有点颤抖。
　　"在惹麻烦之前，就应该先想想那些狼人，你说是不是？"哈格力大踏步地从黑暗中向他们走去，身后跟着弗兰，在蹦蹦跳跳。他带着他的大石弓，肩上背了一囊箭。
　　"时间差不多了，"他说。"我已在这儿等了半个小时了。怎么了，哈利，还有荷米恩？""哈格力，我实在不应待他们太好，"费驰冷漠地说，"他们是来接受惩罚的。""这就是你迟到的原因，对吗？"哈格力问，对费驰皱了下眉。
　　"给他们一个教训，嗯？由你来做实在有失身份呢？你已经完成你的那份职责了吧，现在开始他们几个就由我接手好了。""我会在天亮时回来的，"费驰说，"看看他们会变得怎样。"他很猥亵地加上一句同时转身就走回城堡去，他的灯光在黑暗中上下跳动。
　　马尔夫随即转向哈格力。
　　"我不会进那座森林的。"他说，这时哈利很高兴地听出他嗓音里的惊慌失措。
　　"如果你想留在霍格瓦彻的话，你就必须进去，"哈格力严厉地说。"你做了错事，所以你必须为它负责。""但这可是一件大险事，这不应该由学生做。我想我们应该写写检讨或其他。
　　假如我爸爸知道我这样子的话，他会——"
　　"——我告诉你，这就是霍格瓦彻！"哈格力咆哮，"写检讨又有什么用？要么你们做一些有用的东西，要么给我走。如果你认为你爸爸宁愿你被开除的话，滚回城堡去收拾家伙吧，快点！"马尔夫没有移动。他狂怒地盯着哈格力看，但很快就垂下了目光。
　　"那么，好。"哈格力说，"现在，给我认真地听着，因为我们将要做的事是非常危险的，但我也不想有任何危险。跟我过来一下。"他把他们带到禁林的边缘。高举手中的灯，哈格力指着一条狭窄的弯弯曲曲地消失在浓密漆黑树林的小路给他们看。就在他们望进森林里去的时候，一阵幽幽的冷风扬起了他们的头发。
　　"看那儿，"哈格力说，"看见那在地面一闪一闪的东西了吗？
　　有银色光泽的东西，那是独角兽的血呢。那儿有一只独角兽不知道被什么东西弄伤了。这已是一周里的第二次了。上周三我还发现一只死了的。我们现在要找到那只可怜的受伤的家伙。需要的话我们还要帮它解除痛苦。""但如果那只弄伤独角兽的东西先遇到我们怎么办？"马尔夫问，掩饰不住声音里的恐惧。
　　"只要你和我或者弗兰不走散的话，这树林里没有什么东西可以伤得到你的，"哈格力说。"还要记住沿着路走。好了，现在我们要分成两队人，分别沿着不同的路向两个方向进发。瞧！那个地方都是血迹，至少从昨晚开始它一定在那呆过。""我要弗兰。"马尔夫看着它那些长长的牙很快地说。
　　"好吧，但我要警告你，它只是个懦夫。"哈格力说，"现在，我，哈利和荷米恩是一路，而马尔夫，尼维尔和弗兰走另一路。如果任何人发现那只独角兽的话，都要放绿烟花作信号，清楚了吗？
　　伸出你们的手来试一下——这样就对了——还有，如果遇到什么麻烦，就放红色的烟火，那么我们其他人就会赶来救你——记住，小心一点——出发！"森林还是漆黑寂静。走上那条小路，他们前面就是一个分叉，于是哈利，荷米恩和哈格力沿左边的路走；而马尔夫、尼维尔和弗兰则沿右边的路走进去。
　　他们静静地走着，眼睛盯着地面看。不时地月光透过头上的树枝照亮留在落叶上的一道银蓝色的痕。
　　哈利看见哈格力显得忧心忡忡。
　　"会不会是有个狼人在屠杀那些独角兽呢？"哈利问。
　　"它们还不够快，"哈格力回答，"要抓住一只独角兽是非常难的事，它们是强大无比的、不可思议的东西。我之前还未见过有什么可以伤害它们。"他们走过一段两旁有长满青苔的树桩的路。哈利可以听见水流动的声音：不远处一定有一条小溪。这儿依然有一块块的独角兽血迹沿着弯曲的小径四处分布着。
　　"你还好吧，荷米恩？"哈格力低声问。"别担心，它既然已经伤得这样厉害，应该走不远了，我们定会在那棵树后面找到它！"突然，哈格力拉住哈利和荷米恩，把他们从小径上扯起来，藏在一棵高大的橡树后面。然后他取出一支箭并在石弓里装好，抬起弓，准备射击。三个人都在紧张地听着动静。不远处有东西在树叶上滑行：听起来好像是一件斗篷在地面上被拖着走。哈格力两眼一直窥视着那条黑暗的小径，但，仅过了一会，那声响就渐渐消失了。
　　"我知道了，这儿出现了一些不该出现的东西。"他喃喃地说。
　　"是狼人吗？"哈利提醒他。
　　"它既不是狼人，也不是独角兽，"哈格力怏怏不乐地说，"好，现在跟我来。
　　但，小心一点。"
　　他们行进得更慢了，耳朵都警惕地捕捉幽暗小径上那怕是最微弱的声音。突然，在前面的一片空地上，有东西在很明显地移动着。
　　"谁在那边？"哈格力大喊。"快出来——我有武器的！"这时从空地上出现了一个——它是人，还是一匹马？它的手臂倒是人的手臂，还有一头红色的头发和一把红胡子，但下面却是一段闪着粟色光泽的马的身体，以及一条浅红色的马尾巴。哈利和荷米恩惊讶得嘴巴也合不上了！
　　"啊，原来是你，罗曼，"哈格力松了一口气说。"你怎么样了？""晚安啊，哈格力，"罗曼说。他有一把低沉，忧郁的嗓音。
　　"你是要射击我吧？"
　　"不能不小心一点啊，罗曼，"哈格力说，拍拍他的石弓。"这个森林里已经散布了某些邪恶的东西。啊，对了，哈利·波特和荷米恩。格兰佐，都还是学生。
　这位就是罗曼，他是一匹人头马。"
　"我们自己也看到了。"荷米恩轻轻地说。
　　"晚上好，"罗曼说。"都还是学生，对吗？你们在学校里学的东西多不多？""嗯……"哈利支吾着。
　　"学了一点点。"荷米恩怯怯地答。
　　"一点点。那已经很好了。"罗曼轻叹了一下，忽然猛地抬起头注视着天空。
　　"今天晚上的火星真亮。"
　　"是呀，"哈格力的眼睛盯着夜空，"罗曼，我很庆幸我们遇到了你，还有，你知道吗，有一头独角兽受伤了——你有没有发现什么情况？"罗曼没有立即回答。他一动不动地向上凝望，又叹了口气。
　　"圣洁的东西总是最先成为贡品的——"他慨叹，"过去是这样，现在仍是这样。""的确是这样，"哈格力赞同，"只是你究竟看到了什么不寻常的东西没有，罗曼？""今天晚上的火星很亮，"罗曼见哈格力不耐烦地盯着他看，连忙补充一句："亮得很不寻常。""我知道，但我是指一些发生在我们自己星球上的事情啊。"哈格力说。"那么，你是一点奇怪的东西也没碰着了？"然而，这回罗曼又隔了好一阵子才开腔："森林里实在藏着太多秘密。"罗曼身后的树丛忽然簌簌作响，警觉的哈格力马上举起了弓，却发现只是另一匹人头马。这回是一个黑头发、黑肌肤，样子比罗曼粗野一点的家伙。
　　"嘿！班尼，"哈格力说。"你没事吧？"
　　"晚安，哈格力，你一切都好吧？"
　　"好极了。来，我刚才还在问罗曼这个问题呢。你近来有没有在这儿看到什么奇怪的东西？至少已有一只独角兽受伤了——你可知道有关这事的情况？"班尼走过去和罗曼站在一块，望了望天空。
　　"今天晚上的火星真亮。"他简短地说。
　　"我们早就听说了，"哈格力气冲冲地说，"好吧，既然你们两个都没看到什么苗头，就让我们自己去找出个究竟来吧。我们出发！"哈利和荷米恩跟着他离开那块空地，一边走一边还回头望罗曼和班尼，直到他们完全被树林遮住为止。
　　"千万，"哈格力气愤地说，"别指望能从一只人头兽身怪物处得到什么直接答案。红色的，只会望星的家伙！永远都不关心自己星球上的事！"荷米恩问他："这儿有很多这种'人'吗？"
　　"嗯，的确不少……他们通常都不爱多管闲事，但每逢我想打听消息的时候，他们总是很清楚地知道发生了什么事。他们是些懂得深思的人头马，知道得非常多……这事还是别说太多了。""你觉得我们刚才听到的是不是人头马的声音？"荷米恩问。
　　"嗯，如果你是想问我，是不是他们在屠杀独角兽的话——我却从未听过有这种可能。"他们继续在那片浓密、阴暗的森林里穿行。哈利还不时好奇地向后看。隐隐约约地，他总觉得他们正被别人监视着。还好，他身边还有哈格力和他的巨型石引他们刚刚走过一拐弯口，荷米恩忽然用力抓住了哈格力的胳膊。
　　"哈格力！看，红烟火！其他人遇到麻烦了！""你们两个在这等着！"哈格力吆喝。"别走出小路，我会回来找你们的！"他们两个看着他穿过丛林，越走越远，已经害怕得一动也不敢动，只是你望着我，我望着你。渐渐地四周只剩下树叶被风吹得沙沙作响的声音了。
　　"你想他们会不会已经受伤了呢？"荷米恩轻声地问。
　　"我才不在乎马尔夫伤了没有，但如果尼维尔有什么事的话……那连累他到这儿来就是我们的错。"时间过得出奇的慢。他们的耳朵在这时候偏偏变得好像比平时灵敏多了，哈利甚至听得到每阵风吹过及每根小树枝颤动的声音。
　　现在不知道怎么样了？其他人又在哪儿呢？
　　终于，哈格力、马尔夫和尼维尔还有弗兰，嘎扎嘎扎地踏着枯枝回来了。哈格力看来非常恼火。而马尔夫就似乎一直跟在尼维尔后面取笑他，因为尼维尔非常惊慌，那个红色烟火信号就是他发出来的。
　　"有你们两个笨家伙这样瞎闹，能捉得到什么东西才奇怪呢！
　　来，我们重新编组吧——尼维尔跟我和荷米恩一组，哈利，你跟弗兰和这个白痴一组吧。"哈格力说完，又偷偷地告诉哈利："真不好意思，不过你放心，这次他敢再吓唬你的话，就会够他好受的。"于是，哈利就带着弗兰和马尔夫一道向森林深处进发了。他们走了差不多半个小时，越来越深入森林了，而那条小路也因为树木越来越浓密而越来越难走。哈利看得出那些血迹变得更稠了。有很多血溅上了一棵树的树根上，看来那只可怜的东西曾经在这附近痛苦地挣扎过。透过一堆乱七八糟的橡树枝，哈利看到前面有一块空地。
　　"瞧！"他低呼，伸出手来挡住马尔夫。
　　有一团亮白色的东西躺在地上闪闪发光。他们向它移近了一点。
　　没错，一只独角兽，但是已经死了。哈利还没有见过这么美丽和使人悲伤的东西。它细长的腿还保持着倒下时奇怪的姿势，银白的鬃毛闪动着珍珠般的光泽，在地面铺开。
　　哈利刚刚向它跨出一步，突然一阵滑行的声音吓得他待在那儿不敢动弹。一团蓬松的东西在空地的边上飒飒地抖动……接着，一个带着面罩的影子从黑暗中慢慢地爬出来，活脱脱一只伪装的野兽。哈利、马尔夫和弗兰惊呆了。那个影子来到独角兽身边，低下头，俯在独角兽的伤口上，开始吸它的血了。
　　"阿——呀呀——"
　　马尔夫发出一声恐惧的尖叫，飞快地逃跑了——接着弗兰也跑掉了。那团影子抬起头望着哈利，任由独角兽的血一滴一滴地从额头流下来。然后它移动双脚，飞快地向哈利扑来——可怜的哈利已经吓得动也不能动了。
　　一阵剧痛在这个时候猛地刺入他的头，就好像把伤疤放在火里一样。他已经痛得眼睛都有点模糊了，只是摇摇晃晃地后退了几步。这时，身后传来了脚步声，跑得飞快，然后有样东西从他身上跳了过去，直扑那团影子。
　　哈利头部的剧痛痛得他跪在地上，一直过了好几分钟才好了点。当他抬起头，那团影子已经不见了。一匹人头马正站在他面前，这个既不是罗曼也不是班尼的人有一头浅亚麻色的头发和淡褐色的身躯，看来年轻一点。
　　"你没事吧？"那人把哈利扶起来，问他。
　　"没事了，谢谢你。刚才那东西究竟是什么？"人首马身人没有回答。他有一双像苍白色的宝石般奇怪的眼睛。这双眼睛很认真地盯着哈利看，然后停留在哈利额上那块突出的，红色的伤疤上。
　　"你一定是波特家的孩子，"他说。"现在最好快回到哈格力的身边。现在森林里非常不太平——尤其是你，特别危险。你会骑马吗？那样的话会走得快些。""是了，我叫佛罗伦斯。"他在弯下身去让哈利骑在他背上的时候介绍了自己。
　　忽然，空地的另一边传来了一阵更快的脚步声，接着罗曼和班尼从树林里冲了出来，他们的腹部布满了汗。
　　"佛罗伦斯！"班尼怒吼。"你疯了！竟然让一个人骑在背上！
　　你不羞耻吗？你以为自己是一只普通骡子吗？""你知道他是谁吗？"佛罗伦斯解释说："这就是那个姓波特的小孩。他越快离开这儿越好。""那么你究竟告诉了他什么？"班尼咆哮："记住，佛罗伦斯，我们发过誓不再和上天对抗的。而且我们不是已经预知将会发生什么事了吗？"罗曼不安地用蹄踢地："我想佛罗伦斯应该知道怎么做才是最好的。""怎么做最好！那跟我们有什么关系呢？我们只应关心那些已经注定的事情！
　　我们怎么可以像驴子一样跟着迷路的人在森林里乱钻呢？"佛罗伦斯忽然生气地用后腿直立起来，使得哈利要紧紧抓住他的双肩才没有掉下来。
　　"难道你没看见那只独角兽吗？"佛罗伦斯冲班尼大叫，"难道你不知道它为什么会被杀死吗？还是那些行星没有让你知道这个秘密吗？班尼，我是决心跟埋藏在这森林里的任何坏东西斗争的了，必要的话，我的确会站在人类的一边。"佛罗伦斯说完就不停地四处乱冲，哈利勉强地在他背上坐稳之后，佛罗伦斯载着他一下子投入树林中，把罗曼和班尼抛在后面。
　　但哈利丈二金刚摸不着头脑。"为什么班尼这么生气呢？你究竟把我从什么东西手中救出来的？"他忍不住问。
　　佛罗伦斯慢了下来变成走路，但除了提醒哈利低下头别让树枝勾住之外他什么也不说。之后的一段路佛罗伦斯还是什么也没说，于是哈利觉得佛罗伦斯应该不会再和他说话了，直到他们穿过一片特别浓密的树林时，佛罗伦斯却忽然停了下来。
　　"哈利·波特，你知不知道独角兽血是用来干什么的吗？""不知道。"哈利被他这个奇怪的问题愣住了，"我们只会用它的角或者尾巴的长毛来配药。""这就是杀害独角兽这件事的可怕之处了，"佛罗伦斯继续说，"只有那些什么也不怕失去，却什么都想得到的人才会干这种事。
　　你知道吗？独角兽的血能够让你起死回生，但却要付出代价：你必须杀害一个纯洁、善良的生命来使你自己活下去，而且你只有一半生命，一半从独角兽血碰到你的嘴唇才开始的、永远要被诅咒的生命。"哈利定定地盯着佛罗伦斯那个在月光下闪着银光的后脑，不由得大声地问："但有谁会成为那些牺牲品呢？况且，如果你这一辈子都会在被诅咒中度过的话，生存又有什么意思呢？""的确是这样！"佛罗伦斯赞同。"但如果你可以在活着的时候找到一种能够带给你全部精神和气力，并且令你永远都不会死去的东西喝下去的话，那就不同了。
　　波特先生，你知道学校现在藏着一样什么东西吗？""点金石！当然是它了——生命的长生不老药！但我还不知道究竟是谁——""你有没有想起有什么人是等了许多年来恢复能量的，有哪个人是牢牢地抓紧生命，等候着时机的呢？"这些话就像一记重锤猛然敲击了一下哈利的心。透过树叶的沙沙声，他好像又再次听到了他和哈格力第一次见面那一晚，哈格力告诉他的话：有人说他已经死了，那是蠢话来的，我实在想不出有人会使他死去！""你是指，那个人是——""哈利，哈利，你没事吧？"还未等他说出来，荷米恩已经一边从小路上向他们跑来，一边大叫。哈格力则跟在后面。
　　"我很好。"哈利几乎不知道自己在说什么了。"哈格力，那只独角兽死了，在那后边的一块空地上。""我要在这里放下你了，"佛罗伦斯在哈格力跑去检查独角兽的当儿对哈利说，"你现在安全了。"哈利从他背上滑了下来。
　　"祝你好运，哈利·波特。星相已经不止一次被证明错了，就连我们人头马亦会算错，我希望这次也是预测错了吧。"说完，佛罗伦斯转身又跑进森林深处了，留下哈利在发抖。
　　在等他们回来的时候，罗恩已经困得在那间黑暗的公共休息室里睡着了。他正在梦中大声痛骂的时候被哈利用力地摇醒了。可是在哈利开始对荷米恩和他讲自己在森林里的经历好一阵子后，他的眼睛还是没有完全睁开。
　　哈利简直坐不下来了。他在火炉前走来走去，还是在抖个不停。
　　"史纳皮想为福尔得摩特拿那块石头……而福尔得摩特一定正在森林里等着他——一直以来我们还以为史纳皮拿那块石头是为了钱呢！""别再说那个名字了！"罗恩恐惧地低声请求哈利，好像福尔得摩特在听着他们说话似的。
　哈利却不听。
　　"佛罗伦斯救了我，但其实他是不该这样做的，所以班尼生气极了……他说这样就违背了火星显示出来的，那个安排好了的未来……那些人头马一定预测到福尔得摩特将会复活，因为班尼要佛罗伦斯任由福尔得摩特杀死我……这一行动或者也是记载在那些星座上的了。""你可不可以不再说那个名字呢！"罗恩十分不满。
　　"现在我所能做的就是等史纳皮来把那块石头偷走，然后福尔得摩特就可以轻而易举地结束了我……"哈利越说越气愤，"那样，班尼就会满意了。"荷米恩看来也是十分害怕，但她却去安慰哈利。
　　"哈利，每个人都知演，丹伯多是'那个人'唯一害怕的克星。
　　在这附近，'那个人'是不敢碰你的。另外，谁说那些人头马就一定会预测对的？他们听起来就像是在预告命运，但麦康娜告诉过我，那是一种非常不精确的巫术。"在他们结束谈话之前，天已经亮了起来，这时他们喉咙也沙了，人也筋疲力尽了，但爬上床之后，夜间的惊吓还是没有马上消失。
　　当哈利拉起被单，发现下面整整齐齐地放着他那件隐形披风，同时有一张小纸条附在上面："以备万一。"