As Hagrid thanked Adam with a broad, grateful smile, he voiced his worry about Norbert. "Yeh think he'll be alright there?" Hagrid asked with a hint of sadness in his eyes.
Adam reassured him, knowing the dragon would be far better off away from prying eyes and dangers of the castle grounds. Then Adam and Trio hurried back to the castle, all too aware that Malfoy might have reported them for being out after curfew. The group exchanged worried glances, pondering aloud how things might have turned out differently if Malfoy hadn’t interfered. Although the Trio expressed regret that Hagrid couldn’t keep Norbert, Adam had a more pragmatic view. He shared his thoughts, reminding them that Norwegian Ridgebacks were exceptionally dangerous, and keeping one in such a populated area posed risks.
The others nodded, realizing that Adam’s reasoning made sense. Their sense of relief, however, was fleeting; before they could plan their next steps, Professor McGonagall appeared, her presence stopping them in their tracks. The stern look on her face sent a shiver down their spines. Wordlessly, she gestured for Adam, Harry, Hermione, and Ron to follow her, and they obeyed, sharing nervous glances as they trailed behind her through the dimly lit corridors to her office.
Once inside, McGonagall surveyed them with a mixture of disappointment and disbelief. Her gaze lingered on Adam, clearly surprised to see him among the group. He had always been well-regarded by the professors, known for his focus and exemplary conduct. It was unusual to find him in trouble, especially in such questionable company—or so McGonagall’s expression seemed to suggest. Adam swallowed hard, understanding he would be facing the same consequences as the others, despite his usual spotless record.
Professor McGonagall took a deep breath, and her voice was sharp as she reprimanded them. “What you did was reckless and highly irresponsible. Sneaking around the castle at night is not only dangerous but strictly against school rules.” She glanced pointedly at each of them, her eyes narrowing. “I would expect this behavior from first years who know better, not from students who ought to set an example.”
Her words stung, especially for Adam, who could feel the weight of her disappointment. Then, to everyone’s surprise, she turned her gaze to the doorway. Standing there was Draco Malfoy, looking smug as he watched them, clearly pleased to have reported their misbehavior. Trio stomach sank as he realized what Malfoy was hoping for.
But McGonagall, unperturbed, looked at Draco with a raised brow. “Mr. Malfoy, I presume you thought by bringing this matter to my attention, you would be exempt from any consequence.” Draco’s smirk faded instantly. “Unfortunately, sneaking around and spying on other students does not go unpunished, either,” she continued. “Ten points from Slytherin and detention for you as well.”
Malfoy’s face went ashen. The thought of facing consequences hadn’t crossed his mind, let alone falling into the bad graces of the powerful Morgan family. His family had already warned him to tread carefully around them, but he hadn’t realized that Adam had been with the Trio in Hagrid’s hut, he likely hidden just out of sight, behind a wall. Adam bit back a smile, catching a glimpse of Ron doing the same, though Professor McGonagall’s expression remained as stern as ever.
After giving each of them their share of house point deductions and a firm lecture, McGonagall dismissed them. They filed out of the office, feeling chastened and a bit drained. Malfoy slunk away, clearly mortified by his unexpected punishment.
As Filch escorted the five students to Hagrid, he muttered and grumbled under his breath, casting them irritated glances. “Things were better in the old days,” he sneered. “Back when we could hang students by their wrists in the dungeons for this sort of trouble.” Malfoy’s face went pale, his cocky demeanor replaced with a look of growing fear as the weight of his interference hit him—especially when Hagrid later informed them they’d be spending the night in the Forbidden Forest. The tales of dark creatures lurking in those woods weren’t just stories, and Malfoy’s hands tightened around his cloak, trying to hide his unease.
They reached the edge of the forest, where Hagrid stopped and called Fang, his massive boarhound, to heel. Adam kept his face calm, though his pulse quickened. He knew that his family had secured protective wards in certain parts of the forest to guard against the Dark Lord's movements, but even that knowledge didn’t fully ease the tension in his chest. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and especially Malfoy looked visibly anxious, each glancing warily into the tangled trees as though they might hide any manner of sinister creatures.
Hagrid divided them into groups, pairing Harry, Malfoy, Adam, and Fang in one direction while he took Hermione and Ron in the other. "Keep close, stay quiet, and don’t wander off," Hagrid warned them all. With that, they ventured deeper into the forest, its eerie silence punctuated only by the crunching of leaves underfoot and the distant hoots of owls.
Adam remained alert, his senses heightened as they moved through the dense underbrush. He could feel the forest around them, dark and ancient, like it held secrets long forgotten. As they wound further in, a flicker of light caught his eye through the trees—a glimmer that didn’t belong to any natural source. They cautiously approached, and the sight before them was anything but ordinary: a group of cloaked wizards battled a dark, shifting figure, their wands casting flashes of light as they struggled to subdue it. Nearby, centaurs stood protectively over an injured unicorn, their expressions grim.
Adam’s heart pounded, and anger sparked within him. He recognized the shadowy figure’s movements and aura—signs of the Dark Lord’s presence, faint but unmistakable. He had studied enough to know the telltale signs, and seeing them firsthand brought a sense of dread.
Suddenly, the cloaked figure turned, catching sight of their group. It began moving toward them, an unnatural darkness pooling around it. Harry clutched his forehead, grimacing as pain flashed through his scar. Adam steeled himself, knowing this was the moment he had prepared for—a spell he’d been quietly practicing on a small scale, one that combined ancient magic with a potent curse. He had learned several forms of ancient magic and studied curses extensively in his family library, so he understood the mechanics, though he had never tried it on a living being. If he did it right, the spell would have the strength to push back the Dark Lord, if only for a moment.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Taking a deep breath, Adam raised his wand, his voice low but unwavering. “Ancientis Maledictionem.” A beam of blazing light shot from his wand, striking the dark figure squarely. The creature let out an unnatural scream, its form wavering before retreating into the shadows, wounded but not defeated.
The moment of silence that followed felt heavy. As they regained their bearings, Hagrid, Hermione, and Ron rushed over, their faces full of shock as they took in the chaotic scene. Hagrid turned to the cloaked wizards, his voice loud with authority. “And who might you be, then?”
One of the wizards stepped forward, removing his hood. “Ministry officials,” he stated tersely. “We’re here tracking a particularly malevolent entity believed to be seeking refuge within the forest.”
Adam kept his expression neutral, but he knew that such an encounter would not go unnoticed at Hogwarts—and that the Ministry’s interest in the forest was likely to create complications. Fortunately, his family’s role in protecting parts of the forest was still unknown, and he intended to keep it that way.
Spotting the unicorn, Adam approached cautiously, but the centaurs moved to block his path. He quickly introduced himself as a Morgan, and recognition flickered across their faces. Nodding to one another, the centaurs allowed him to step forward. Kneeling beside the unicorn, Adam gently placed a hand on its shimmering coat, feeling the creature’s energy gradually calm beneath his touch. The unicorn’s breathing steadied, its eyes closing as it began to recover.
Meanwhile, Hagrid insisted the Ministry report this incident to Dumbledore, pointing out that no one had informed the headmaster of any such operation in the forest. After a tense exchange, the Ministry officials begrudgingly agreed, promising to inform Dumbledore at once.
As they prepared to leave, Harry couldn’t contain his curiosity. “What… what sort of creature were you tracking?” he asked one of the Ministry wizards.
The wizard hesitated, glancing at his colleagues before answering. “We believe it’s a dark presence that’s been consuming unicorn blood—a cursed means of extending life at a terrible price.”
Harry’s eyes widened, and he exchanged a worried look with Ron and Hermione, whispering his suspicions. Adam remained silent, though he understood the truth all too well. This was the Dark Lord’s twisted way of clinging to life, sustained by ancient and forbidden magic.
As they left, Hagrid spoke to the centaurs about moving the injured unicorn to some place safe. Adam felt a deep sense of relief, knowing the unicorn would be away from harm and in safe hands. He cast one last look over his shoulder at the forest’s shadowed depths, determined to do whatever he could to protect those who couldn’t defend themselves against the dark forces lurking within.
When Adam and the trio finally reached the Gryffindor common room, they were exhausted but too troubled to sleep. Harry sat down, his face drawn with worry. “It has to be Voldemort. He’s planning on surviving by drinking unicorn blood, and he must need the Philosopher's Stone to restore his full strength. Snape’s probably helping him get it for that very reason.”
Adam listened, his expression neutral. He knew far more than he could reveal. The Dark Lord had indeed been hit by the Killing Curse the night he attacked Harry, but due to the Horcrux tether—Harry himself—the curse had rebounded, destroying Voldemort’s body but keeping his soul bound to the living world. Adam kept this to himself; now was not the time to share such dangerous knowledge.
Ron seemed distracted, muttering about their upcoming Potions finals, but Hermione shook her head and said that Dumbledore will protect the Stone and face Voldemort if it comes to that.”
Adam held back a sigh. Though he respected Dumbledore’s power, he doubted it would be enough to prevent Voldemort’s eventual return. In truth, he knew Voldemort would soon face Harry directly, likely in front of the Mirror of Erised in the depths of the third-floor passage.
Later that night, Adam found himself still troubled, his thoughts drifting back to the injured unicorn. Concerned for its wellbeing, he wrote a quick letter to his brother, providing an update and requesting news of the unicorn’s recovery. After sealing the letter, he stroked Seraphina, who was nibbling on her midnight snack, graciously provided by the house-elves. With a gentle hoot of reassurance from his screech owl, Adam finally settled down to sleep, feeling a little lighter but still filled with unease about the dark days ahead.
The next day passed as any other, filled with classes, laughter in the corridors, and the usual hustle of Hogwarts life. After lunch, Adam decided to head down to the lake, hoping to enjoy a quiet moment by the water. With a small bundle of fish he had managed to collect from the kitchens with help of House Elves, he walked to the edge of the lake, the cool breeze carrying the crisp scent of water and greenery.
He crouched down by the shore and tossed a fish into the still surface. Moments later, a faint ripple began to form, slowly spreading outward. A large, curious eye peeked just above the water, followed by the tip of a tentacle that reached forward. Adam couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
“There you are,” he murmured, tossing another fish toward the water. The giant squid caught it with surprising grace, its long tentacle curling delicately around the fish before pulling it underwater. Adam watched in fascination, feeling a strange connection to the creature. He’d seen it many times from a distance but had never felt this close before.
Another tentacle surfaced, waving gently, almost as if in greeting. Adam laughed, giving it a little wave in return. “I suppose I can’t keep calling you ‘Giant Squid’ forever,” he mused, watching as the creature’s large eye blinked up at him. “How about… Argos?”
The squid’s eye seemed to widen, and a tentacle lifted slightly before dipping again, as if it approved of the name. Adam grinned. “Alright, Argos it is.”
For a few more minutes, he continued to feed Argos with more fish, watching the creature move with surprising gentleness and intelligence, almost playful at times even with such massive size. The serenity of the lake and the rhythmic, graceful movements of the squid had a calming effect, and Adam felt the tension of the last few days begin to melt away.
When he finally stood to leave, Argos gave one last wave of a tentacle, sending a small splash his way. Adam chuckled and waved back, promising to return soon with more fish. As he walked back to the castle, he felt a quiet sense of happiness knowing he had a unique friend waiting for him by the lake.
On his way to the castle, Seraphina swooped down, carrying a response. Adam read with satisfaction that all the unicorns had been successfully moved to one of his family’s protected sanctuaries with the help of the centaurs, where they would be well cared for. The letter also confirmed that the injured unicorn is still recovering, its wounds now almost healed.
The letter also mentioned that Dumbledore had been briefed on the situation and, after careful negotiation, agreed to the unicorns' temporary relocation—though the exact location was kept from him to maintain the secrecy of the Morgans' involvement. Another condition was set: whatever operations took place in the Forbidden Forest, student safety would remain paramount, ensuring they wouldn’t be put at risk by any ongoing activities.
Relieved, Adam considered the implications. Voldemort might have retreated for now, but the Dark Lord’s power and ambition would not be so easily diminished.