Chapter 19 - The Forbidden Forest Part 2 (1/2)
After Neal, Harry and Hermoine disappeared, Filch looked at Hagrid and said, ”Ok, I'll be back at dawn to pick up what's left of them”. While Filch is gong back, Draco snorted, ”that damn sure is arrogant”.
Ron replied, ”more than you? you are the epitome of arrogance”.
Harry and Hermoine were slowly following Neal, who was walking in some random direction for a while. From time to time, Neal is stopping and checking something on the ground with Lumos spell, then changing his direction.
As it happened three to four times, Hermoine asked, ”what are you doing, exactly?”. Neal replied while checking something on the ground, ”unicorn's blood”. He stood up and showed them silvery sticky blood on his fingers, ”I'm actually here for something else but it seems we've encountered a problem”.
As Harry and Hermoine frowned, Neal continued, ”so far there are three to four traces of unicorn blood from the starting to now. Do you know what that means?”.
While Harry is thinking, Hermoine replied, ”don't tell me, something is after the Unicorn to kill it. So, it began to flee for its life?”. Neal nodded, ”yes. Judging by the temperature, it might be around 30min to an hour. It's more likely dead”.
Harry then asked, ”Then why in the hell are you looking for a dead animal? For unicorn parts? I know they are too expensive”. Neal looked at him in annoyance, ”Unicorn is Hogwarts property. Try to take even one of its parts illegally and sell it, you will be expelled or worse, will be sent to Askaban Prison”.
Harry asked, ”Then why?”. Neal replied while he continues to walk, ”because those who drink the Unicorn blood will become Immortal”.
Both of them almost screamed, ”What?”. Neal replied, ”Ah, wrong words. Not exactly immortal but it will keep you alive no matter what even if you are at an inch away from death. But at a terrible price though. From the moment the blood touches your lips, you will start to live a cursed life, a half-life.
Only those who have nothing to lose and everything to gain will do such a thing. You can think of it as a cursed version of drinking an Elixir of life potion made from the Philosopher's stone. Do you know what is a Philosopher's stone?”.
As Hermoine nodded, Neal shouted, ”found it”. They stopped beside him as he showed it, ”see, a trail of Unicorn's blood. The animal's body must be somewhere. Be careful and stay far away, the culprit might be a werewolf”.
After that, Neal began to run fast following the trail while Harry said, ”why do I feel this incident is connected to the stone Fluffy is guarding?”. Hermoine replied, ”don't be ridiculous. Didn't you hear him say drinker will live a cursed life?.
Snape looks normal though. I don't think he's behind this incident. Moreover, just like Neal said, it might be a werewolf”. Harry then said, ”But I can't help but think what if Snape is working for someone? maybe someone needed the stone which produces Elixir of Life and makes him immortal?
Since Snape hasn't been successful yet even though almost a year passed, his master was desperate enough to drink Unicorn's blood, I guess?”.