Chapter 34

As I was marched by Argus Filch to meet up with Hagrid and Harry for detention, I couldn't help but take note of the difference in atmosphere. The grounds that were so alive during the daylight hours now felt foreboding and a touch spooky, a feeling that was only enhanced the closer we got to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Gargoyles that seemed comical in the daytime now cast long shadows in the moonlight and faces that seemed dopey in the light seemed sinister now. The Trees of the Forest had a similar dichotomy going on, with branches seeming to take on a more gnarled and creepy bent now that it was nighttime.

To a normal Eleven-Year-Old, the very scenery of this detention would help to scare the student back onto the straight and narrow path, I had to give the Faculty credit there. Of course, the effect was ruined on my account, as I was mentally a few years older than I seemed and hadn't really earned this detention, to boot. Filch, meanwhile, seemed unnerved by the stone face I put up in the face of all this. He handed me off to Hagrid before leaving, the whole time muttering under his breath about how kids ought to feel fear in this situation.

Hagrid, meanwhile, had come dressed to work. He was swathed in thick leathers, a combination of a Leather Jerkin and Leather Duster made of thick hide that functionally was more or less armor. He carried a crossbow with runes anchoring enchantments for range, power, rate of fire, and ammunition replenishment, that would have taken both arms to use for a normal man, but that he would be able to aim and shoot with a single, half-giant-sized, appendage. In his other hand, he held an enchanted lantern with a yellow witchlight inside that would never extinguish unless he willed it to. At his belt sat a hunting knife that would be functionally a small, short, sword for any normal person was belted on. At his side, his massive boarhound, Fang sat, alert for trouble.

"Evenin' Blaise. Yer lookin' fairly kitted out tonight. Didja think I was gonna let yer come ter harm?" Questioned Hagrid, nodding toward my own ensemble of a Tebo-hide Duster, Spell Ring, Concealment Cloak, and Mokeskin Pouch.

"Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. You get that better than most, I'd think. What kind of leather is that, Bicorn?" I queried.

"The Creatures in these woods ain't always friendly, yer know. Occupational Hazard, 'specially with what's been happening ter the Unicorns." Huffed Hagrid.

"What's this about Unicorns?" Asked Harry as he was led toward us by Filch.

"Evenin' Harry. Ter answer yer question, look 'ere." Nodded Hagrid, before moving his lantern to shine on a patch of ground. Silvery liquid shone in the light, which I probably wouldn't have seen in just the natural light of the moon and stars.

"What's that?" Questioned Harry.

"Unicorn blood." I answered.

"Now how'd yer know a thing like that?" Queried Hagrid.

"It seemed a reasonable guess given the subject matter." I shrugged, lying through my teeth.

"Right, well, Blaise's correct. This 'ere is Unicorn blood. Somethin's been attackin' the poor buggers fer the past few weeks. I was headed out ter check fer any signs o' what that might be tonight." Nodded Hagrid.

"Vampires, most likely. They get more power from feeding the more magically active their victims are." I surmised.

"I hope not. There's not been a vampire in these 'ere woods fer decades." Frowned Hagrid.

"But you don't think that's out of the question?" Asked Harry.

"Yer a sharp lad, like yer mum. No, Harry, I don't. Lots o' queer happenin's around the castle this year. I wouldn't put it past the year ter have vampires in the forest be one o' the other surprises." Answered Hagrid.

"Which means that I was right to prepare for potential combat." I smirked.

"That's a bit paranoid, Blaise. I doubt Hagrid will let anything happen to us." Retorted Harry.

"Is it truly paranoia if there really are folks out to get you, Harry?" I questioned.

"What, the Vampires? Come on, Mate. Why'd they go after you? You've got ice water in your veins." Queried Harry, snarkily.

"Why wouldn't they, Mate? My bloodline's got the Sight and a Natural Facility for the Mind Arts, that's powerful blood, that is." I asked.

"Erm. Well, it's good ter see yer prepared, at least." Cut in Hagrid, sheepishly.

"Of course. The Seven P's and all that." I grinned.

"Pardon?" Blinked Hagrid.

"Proper Prior Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance. It's just something Blaise says a lot. I wouldn't worry too much." Waved off Harry.

"We can't all go through life winging it, Mate." I shrugged.

"Right, well come on, you two. Let's get ter the reason yer both 'ere." Intoned Hagrid.

He then lumbered off into the Forbidden Forest Proper with Fang padding along at his side. Harry and I headed into the Forbidden Forest, following Hagrid. It was quiet in the forest, a lot more quiet than a forest ought to be. That alone was a hint that something way off about the Forbidden Forest lately. I was keeping myself as alert as I could be, but that was difficult when any shadow could hide a potential enemy and there were this many shadows.

"Mate? Do you mind telling me what's got you so on edge?." Questioned Harry.

"I had a dream, Harry." I admitted.

"Meaning?" Queried Harry.

"Meaning I saw us being attacked by Vampires tonight, Harry. If I'm on edge, it's cause I'm expecting us to get attacked. Just keep your head on a swivel, yeah?" I explained.

"Right. I should've figured. My life can't ever be straightforward." Muttered Harry.

"You still have those potions I gifted you for Christmas?" I asked.

"I left them back in my Dorm. I don't have one of those fancy Mokeskin Pouches, after all." Refuted Harry.

"I'd look into getting one. They're useful, for now, here." I advised before shoving a vial of Gytrash Speed Potion into Harry's Hands.

"So what, I drink this when things go pear-shaped?" Questioned Harry.

"If the duration wasn't so limited, I'd tell you to drink it now." I shrugged.

"Right." Huffed Harry.

It was right about then that I looked around and noticed that we'd lost track of Hagrid. That was difficult, losing track of a Half-Giant like that, but somehow, Harry and I had managed it. I was choosing to blame the Law of Narrative Causality for this one. Regardless, I pointed that out to Harry, who looked around a bit before frowning. Turning back to me, he cocked an eyebrow and held up the vial of Gytrash Speed Potion in a non-verbal question. In response, I reached into my own Mokeskin Pouch and pulled out a vial of my own, popping the cork and guzzling the Gytrash Potion down, before doing the same with a Girding Potion. Harry followed suit and not a moment too soon because I received a sudden flash in my Mind's Eye warning me of incoming danger behind us.

I spun around, my wand leaping into my hand with a flick of my wrist as the special wand-holster ensured a fast draw no matter what. I immediately cast the Scutum Charm, which saved me from a flashing knife that had been thrown at my back with enough force to knock me off my feet. I batted the blade to the forest floor with my Scutum and frowned as I didn't see anyone. A quick, general-purpose, Revelio Charm did nothing, which told me either our attackers were using the foliage to hide or they had access to extremely powerful stealth spells.

"Harry!" I called out.

"Already on it!" Responded Harry, moving to place himself back-to-back with me and casting a Scutum Charm of his own.

I cast my senses out using the Mind Arts, trying to sense other thinking minds nearby that way. I found one thanks to a brief flash of anger from off to our right, just before a crackling black bolt surged out of the foliage toward Harry and I. I was already moving, however, putting my Scutum in the path of the bolt. The Bolt slammed into the shield and shattered it into shards, but I was alive and able to recast it, which wouldn't have been the case if that had hit me.

"Come on out! I know you're there, there's no point hiding like this!" I called out, bluffing.

It was all a ruse to buy time for me to pinpoint an exact location with the Mind Arts. There were, after all, a bunch of reasons why hiding would be a good plan right now. Cover, for one. Speaking of which, a second knife came whistling out of the foliage toward Harry, only for Harry to spot it and put his Scutum in the way just in time to avoid being stabbed in the side by a thrown knife. However, the thrower had broadcast a spike of emotion, of intentional cruelty, just before the knife came whistling in at Harry.

With two Mental Patterns to filter for, I was getting closer and closer to pinpointing our assailants with the Mind Arts. I just needed a bit more time. Harry, though, seemed to be ready to start casting randomly into the undergrowth in the hopes of hitting something. I had to nudge him with my elbow to get him to not try doing that since it would tip our hand, and possibly wind up setting the whole Forbidden Forest on Fire.

"I don't know. It seems like using the foliage is working for us so far. How long do you think you can keep your defense up without a way to fight back?" Queried a Dry Voice.

"Your friend looks like he's about ready to begin casting at random and praying he hits something. If you know where we are, why wouldn't you tell him?" Asked a Second Voice, Amused.

"I think you're bluffing. I think you have no clue where we are. All we need to do is keep the pressure up." Sneered the First Voice.

"And I think you talk too much." I grinned as I began to cast.

Indeed, the whole time the pair were gloating, I was able to use the Mind Arts to try and filter for sentient minds matching the emotions I'd sensed broadcast earlier while we were being attacked. I'd finally pinpointed them, they were using Shadow Magic to cloak themselves in the already dense Shadows of the trees. Fortunately, I had a spell just for that.

Pointing my wand at their hiding place, I shouted out the incantation to the Lumos Solem spell, a dazzling flash of conjured sunlight bursting forth from the tip of my wand and stripping the Vampires of their shadowy cover. The pair were revealed as two, pale, gaunt, Adults in black leather. One carried a bandolier with various knives tucked into it, while the other was clearly the Caster.

"Told you I knew where you were." I smirked.

"Mate?" Questioned Harry.

"Be ready to back me up. The one with the Knives isn't the caster, but don't underestimate him." I warned.

"Right. What are you planning?" Queried Harry.

"Indeed. You may have found us, but all this means is that we cannot allow you to escape. What chance do you think you have to survive here?" Asked the Caster Vampire.

"I think we've got a better shot than you might think." I intoned.

"Is that so? Then let us see how long you can keep that positive outlook." Nodded the Caster Vampire before he began to summon his own, innate, power over the Dark Arts to create a crackling black sphere of power that burst into being in the palm of his hands.

I grunted, already moving to the side as the World Slowed down thanks to the Dead Moment. The crackling Black Sphere flew from the Caster Vampire's hands into the space I'd previously been occupying and blackened the ground, burning up any detritus or plant matter in the area with lashing tongues of black flame and boring a hole into the forest floor a full six-feet deep. I didn't have time to reflect on almost having been a Dark Arts Flambe, instead, I moved my wand through the motions and incanted the words for the Oil Slick Spell, an oily liquid spraying forth onto the forest floor as the Vampires tried to move up to separate Harry and I. Both started as they hit the patch of oil, but neither fell.

"Harry! Give me fire!" I called out.

"Right! Incendio!" Snapped Harry.

Hary went through incantations and wand motions. A jet of flame burst forth from the tip of Harry's wand to ignite the slick patch of oil. Already, I was going through the motions to cast the Wind-Making Spell. The breeze, combined with the fire, and the oil slick to cause an utter conflagration. A veritable pillar of flame erupted from the Forbidden Forest, scorching a hole through the canopy and flaring up into the night's sky before receding down to embers. When that happened, all that remained of the two vampires was ash, burnt leather clothing, and a few bits of metal slag from the Knives.

"Bloody Hell! Did you see that?" Exclaimed Harry.

"I did, but so did anyone within a couple of miles of here. We might want to move before someone else comes to check out what just happened." I cautioned.

"Right. Lead on, Mate." Agreed Harry.

Together we headed away from the site of the massive pillar of fire we'd just sent up and toward where we thought Hagrid might have gone. Unfortunately, that turned out to be wrong. Instead, we'd managed to stumble into a clearing in the Forbidden Forest through which, we could clearly see the night sky. I looked up and so did Harry, which was probably how we missed the gigantic, Six-Foot-Tall, Centaur that snuck up on us.

"Why are you here?" Demanded the Centaur, pointing a bow with a nocked arrow at us.

"What?" Blinked Harry, startled at the sudden appearance of the Centaur.

"That is not a valid answer to my question. The Stars have not foretold of Human interaction with our Herd this year outside of matters of Grave Import. I ask again, why are you here? Are there matters of Grave Import to discuss?" Reiterated the Centaur.

"Someone has been tracking, bleeding, and killing Unicorns. We also just had a run-in with two Vampires, and where there is more than one vampire. . ." I trailed off.

"There will likely be others. I think it best I take you two back to our Camp with me. The Herd will hear your story as one and then decide what to do with you." Intoned the Centaur in a tone that implied it wasn't a request.

"Sure." I nodded.

"Mate?" Frowned Harry.

"Just go along, Harry. These guys are mostly peaceful if they're living so close to the Castle. Besides, we don't exactly have anything to hide." I pointed out.

"Or much of an option." Retorted Harry.

"Indeed. Now, come along." Intoned the Centaur.

And together, Harry and I followed him back to the Centaur Camp in the Forbidden Forest. As we did so, I hoped that we could maybe get a few allies that would help to clear the Forest of Dark Creatures and Beings. The Vampires being here was a problem, after all, and I knew that Quirrelmort was going around killing Unicorns for their Blood. If we could get the Centaurs on our side to help with either of those two problems, it would go a long way toward helping solve this year's plot. I just hoped I could make my case in a way the Centaur Herd would understand.

If not, then we'd be stuck, probably waiting for Dumbledore to take notice and help free us from captivity, and I didn't want to be in Albus Dumbledore's debt at all if I could help it. It was also possible the Centaurs might just decide to kill us for violating their territory. They could be an awfully temperamental folk at times. I guess that simply meant that I'd better make this pitch count.

No pressure, though. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here's the next chapter with the start of the Forbidden Forest Detention. Harry and Blaise have managed to immolate their would-be Vampiric Assailants only to now find themselves prisoners of the Forbidden Forest Centaur Herd. Expect a few things to come up in the next chapter as the Herd fills in Harry and Blaise on some of the stuff that has been going on this year. Harry still thinks that Snape is involved in all this, after all. The Centaurs telling him otherwise is going to be news to him.

At any rate, the next chapter will be the conversation with the Centaur Herd, featuring an appearance by Firenze.

Stay tuned. . .