Chapter 38: Forbidden Forest
“Look, over there is a Bowtruckle. Don’t underestimate these little creatures. Although they are gentle and shy, they are very protective of their homes – the trees they inhabit.”
“Anyone who tries to invade their homes will be attacked by them. See their little claws? They are particularly vicious at gouging out eyes.”
Vaughn and Hagrid hid behind a tree, watching a Bowtruckle from afar.
It is a magical plant, said to repel dark creatures, and is an excellent material for making wand wood. Some small creatures, whose bodies look like they are made of branches, play and frolic on the Bowtruckle tree; those are Bowtruckles.
Hagrid whispered, “But those little things are easy to appease. They love insects, so if you catch some insects for them, you can win their favor, and they’ll give you branches from the Bowtruckle tree in return.”
“Every year when Ollivander comes to collect materials, that’s what I do… Oh, you might not know, Hogwarts and Ollivander have a cooperation. He buys wand cores and wand wood materials from Hogwarts at a low price. It’s usually unicorn hair collected by me, and various branches suitable for making wands. Then, the wands he makes are also half-price for Hogwarts’ first-year students.”
As they spoke, the two had ventured a considerable distance into the Forbidden Forest.
Accompanying him on this “adventure” and explaining about magical creatures, Hagrid’s initial reserve and politeness quickly faded, and his mouth was rarely still throughout the journey.
However, his knowledge of magical creatures was indeed extensive.
Along the way, he had already shown Vaughn fairies, house-elves, and puffskeins. They had even found a Mooncalf family near a small mound of earth.
These creatures, with their disproportionately large eyes compared to their heads, looked exceptionally foolish and cute, and their temperament was as gentle as their appearance.
A few younglings even waddled over to Vaughn on their short legs, sniffing around him.
Hagrid collected their dung.
And told Vaughn that it was a very potent fertilizer, which, when sprinkled in the pumpkin patch, could make the pumpkins grow large and healthy.
He said to Vaughn, “It’s too late for this year; the pumpkins in the patch are already ripe and will turn yellow just in time for Halloween. Next year, next year I’ll let you eat big pumpkins made with Mooncalf dung.”
Vaughn was speechless. How could normal fertilization sound so disgusting?
“Speaking of which, Hagrid, has the Forbidden Forest been relatively peaceful lately?”
After observing the Bowtruckles for a while, the two continued on their way, and Vaughn asked as if casually.
“What aspect are you asking about?” Hagrid scratched his head. “If you mean first-year students trespassing, your two brothers are always getting into trouble in the Forbidden Forest. In that sense, it’s not peaceful at all.”
“Yes, I will keep them in check. I was wondering if any animals have been injured or anything? Perhaps I can help you by brewing some potions for them.”
“You, you are such a good child, Vaughn.”
Hagrid was emotionally moved and said, “No one has ever been willing to brew potions for them… In fact, lately, the unicorns seem to be in a bit of a bad way.”
Vaughn looked very interested. “Oh? What happened?”
Hagrid shook his head and complained, “I don’t know either. The Centaurs had notified me that the unicorns were attacked, but you know, those guys are so cryptic, always talking about constellations and prophecies, and I can’t get a clear answer.”
“I’ve also found injured unicorns, but they’re too wary and don’t like to interact with me. I’ve searched for a long time but couldn’t find the reason.”
Vaughn’s eyes were calm.
It seemed his guess was correct; Socket Man had likely already started secretly collecting unicorn blood!
He looked up at the sky. Judging by the daylight filtering through the gaps in the canopy, it was still early evening. He then asked Hagrid, “Can you take me to see them?”
Hagrid didn’t think much of it. His nature was careless; just as he had spoken of danger earlier, but after truly leading Vaughn into the Forbidden Forest, he had completely forgotten about the “danger.”
“Come, this way… Fang! You scaredy-cat, Guo Guo Cha won’t hit you again, hurry up and lead the way!”
More than two hours later.
Hagrid led Vaughn to a clearing in the forest, a rare spot in the forest where large patches of sunlight shone.
With no trees competing for light, the low shrubs here grew exceptionally well.
Some holly bushes were even laden with berries.
“I cleared this place out over ten years ago. Unicorns love berries, so I planted some, and they’ve been active in the vicinity ever since.”
Hagrid waved his pink umbrella, shooing away a few chattering fairies, and led Vaughn to the center of the clearing.
He said, “A week ago, I saw a unicorn hiding here. Its leg was injured. Look, the bloodstains are still here.”
Hagrid pointed to a patch of indigo-colored soil at his feet.
Vaughn squatted down to examine it closely.
Unicorn blood was originally silver-blue, imbued with abundant magic power, like mercury.
But now, after being on the soil for a week, exposed to wind and sun, it had long since changed color.
Seeing Vaughn observing intently, Hagrid thought he was worried and said with a smile, “It’s normal for unicorns to get injured, Vaughn. This is the Forbidden Forest. All creatures are in a natural state of competition. It might have accidentally wandered into a werewolf’s territory, or been ambushed by some fierce creature. It’s not a big deal.”
Vaughn did not reply.
After observing the bloodstain for a moment, he didn’t casually touch it. Instead, he raised his wand:
” *Apparate!* “
The mystery contained within the spell, combined with his emotion of wanting to uncover the truth, imbued the magic with the power to reveal hidden things, striking the indigo soil.
First, a faint white light appeared, as pure and white as the moon, radiating a sense of sanctity just by looking at it.
That was the inherent magic of unicorn blood.
Very weak, but the result of natural dissipation.
But then, several wisps of gray mist materialized within the white light.
They coiled around the light like a persistent pestilence, corroding and permeating the white light.
Vaughn felt as if he could smell the scent of decay and death from the mist!
“Dark Arts…”
He narrowed his eyes.
He was no longer a novice in Dark Arts; 《Exploration of Dark Arts》 although it hadn’t taught him any powerful spells, it had given him sufficient understanding of this dark power.
“What is this?”
Hagrid’s voice came from above.
He was indeed a novice in Dark Arts…
At the same time, the system panel popped up before Vaughn’s eyes:
【Side Quest Activated】
【Side Quest ②: Save the Unicorns of the Forbidden Forest】
【Reward: Random Magical Creature Language Pack】
Looking at the new quest, Vaughn paused and suddenly felt like laughing.
Tom, oh Tom!
Even the system’s quests are targeting you, so don’t blame me for causing trouble!
“It’s nothing.”
Vaughn shook his head and opened the satchel he carried, which had been enchanted with the Undetectable Extension Charm.
He took out an empty bottle, carefully dug out the soil, and put it inside.
“Let’s go back, Hagrid. I think I need to go see Headmaster Dumbledore.”
