Chapter - 41

Hagrid turned around to leave. The others too followed, "Never," said Hagrid irritably, "try an' get a straight answer out of a centaur. Ruddy stargazers. Not interested in anythin' closer'n the moon."

"But what did they mean by, "Mars is bright tonight?" Hermione asked, "Looking at their faces, it didn't look like they were fooling around".

"Who knows? can't get a straight answer out of them, n' I am not the brainy type to think 'bout it".

"Are there many of them in here?" asked Nicole, with stars in her eyes. These new creatures fascinated her.

Hagrid was taken back by the look on her face, but he still replied, "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".

"Do you think that was a centaur we heard earlier?" Harry asked, coming beside Hagrid.

"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."

Hearing Hagrid, all of them felt chills run down their spine. The gloominess in the forest and whatever they witnessed there was more than enough to instil a seed of fear deep in their hearts... They walked faster and tried to keep up with Hagrid.

"Harry Potter, do you know what unicorn blood is used for?" Ronan, the centaur who was following them, asked Potter.

"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 Ronan. "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 defenceless 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 Ronan'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," Ronan agreed.

Saying this, Ronan turned around and left. Potter stared in the direction in which the centaur disappeared for a while before joining with the group again.

It was only after they reached the school gates that the group heaved a sigh of relief. Outside the school gates, Filch was waiting for the group's return.

"You are back early..."

"We found wha' we were lookin' for". Hagrid replied.

"You can go back. I will take them from here," Filch said, and without waiting for anyone to reply, walked away.

Hagrid nodded to himself.

"Looking at your faces, I suppose you didn't enjoy yourself with that oaf," Filch said, " I am surprised myself that you all come out in one piece".

"Can we not talk about it?" Ron whispered but was still heard by Filch.

"Why not? Scared somethin' might come haunting you in the night?"

"Will you shut up, you squib" Malfoy was not at all polite with his words.

Hearing this, Filch almost stopped in his tracks. He wanted to rebuke, but when he saw that the one who commented on him was the blonde hair guy, he could only swallow the words back in his mouth before even saying them.

Filch escorted them back to the school without uttering a single word and then walked away in silence.

After Filch left, Malfoy too wanted to stride off, but Hermione called for him, "You should not have said that to him".

"What are you talking about? Look, I am really not in the mood to bicker with you. I am in a hurry, and I might end up saying something which I might regret later".

"Stop! I am not done with you". Hermione yelled behind the disappearing figure of Malfoy.

"Weird! Malfoy would never leave a chance to insult you. Why would he leave just like that? Was he too scared to even stay in the school corridors?" Ron contemplated loudly.

Hermione gave them a look and walked away with Nicole. Ron just shrugged and, along with Potter and Neville, followed the two girls.

* * * * *

Malfoy, on the other hand, dashed into the Slytherin common room, and without giving anyone a second glance, ran towards Alex's room. Only after he was in front of Alex's door did he stopped to catch his breath. Other Slytherin students followed behind him and stood at a distance from Malfoy. Many of them were waiting for a good show.

"Ashbridge, open the goddam door. I know you are inside" Malfoy banged the door.

After banging the door, Malfoy waited for a while before he yelled again, "I will count to three. If you don't open the door before that, I will break this damn door and walk in".

"One...two..."

"two and a half... two and three quarters... it's the last chance... I am really going to say now... open up before I do that," Malfoy wanted Alex to open up the door. He was afraid of the outcome if he forcefully barged in.

"Three". Finally, Malfoy called out.

"What is going on here?" A voice came out from the back of the crowd.

It was Daphine.

"Malfoy is going to break into Ashbridge's room". Someone told her.

Hearing this, Daphne pushed her way towards Malfoy.

"Why are you doing this? Aren't you afraid of the consequences?" Daphine pulled Malfoy back and rebuked him.

"I don't have time to care about other things. There is something I need to ask of him." Malfoy said.

Daphne could see that Malfoy was not here to cause trouble and was seriously looking for Alex. She could feel the heaviness of the matter from his face.

"I think he is already asleep. I heard from Nicole that he is a heavy sleeper," Daphne said.

Before Malfoy could say anything, Daphne continued.

"I asked someone to call for him earlier in the evening, but he did not answer. If you have anything to ask, do that in the morning".

"But---" Malfoy was not willing to leave the matter till morning.

"I hope you avoid creating any unnecessary commotion". Daphne whispered as she swept her gaze around the crowd.

Malfoy looked around and could feel that all those present there were waiting for a ‘Good show’ to take place. Malfoy nodded towards Daphne, understanding what she meant.

Daphne left. And sensing that Malfoy won't be doing anything further, the crowd too dispersed, leaving Malfoy alone in front of Alex's room. Malfoy gave the closed door one last look before he went back to his room.

* * * * *

In Professor Snape's office,

Professor Snape was going through one of the books as he sat in that frosty classroom of his. Beside him, Alex laid on the table listless without uttering a sound. If not for his open eyes, one would assume that he was fast asleep.

Closing his book Professor Snape turned towards Alex, " Should I commend you that you did not pass out despite all the pain, or should I pity you that you did not pass out despite all the pain?" Professor Snape asked. He was joking with him a lot lately.

Hearing his master joking around with him, Alex could only let out a soft chuckle. He still could not move his body. The curse had seeped deep into his bones and corroded them. If not for the immediate action taken by Professor Snape, Alex would have died a horrible death with his body nowhere to be found.

"I suppose it would be best for you to be moved to the infirmary. It will take you a day or two to be back to your usual self".

"Mmmm". Alex let out a soft, muffled sound in agreement.

"I want to know what happened, but I will wait for a couple of days. In the meantime, what do you want me to say to your sister?"

"Uhmmm" Alex looked helplessly towards Professor Snape.

"Oh! I forgot, you can't talk right now", Snape let out a soft chuckle, " I will tell her you fell from the stairs while helping me. Is that good enough?"

Alex just stayed silent.

"I will take this as you agreeing to it. I will make the necessary preparations before I take you to the infirmary".

It was not long before Alex was admitted to the infirmary. Professor Snape stood at a distance away from his bed, talking to Madam Pomfrey. Occasionally the two of them would look in his direction. After talking to her for a while, Professor Snape walked up to him, "I have talked to her, everyone visiting you will be told that you fell off the stairs and hurt yourself".

Alex slowly nodded in agreement.

Professor Snape gestured towards Madam Pomfrey and then walked out of the infirmary.

Just when Alex was about to close his eyes and rest, Madam Pomfrey brought him a mug filled with some healing tonic, "Here drink this before you sleep" saying this, she helped Alex drink the potion.

"Pfffttt..."

* * * * *