Chapter 453: The Forbidden Forest Expedition
“They’re here too?” Malfoy glared furiously at the group across the lawn. Harry shot him an unimpressed eye roll, while Ron, Neville, Hermione, and the others stood shoulder-to-shoulder beside him, all wearing dark expressions.
Malfoy regretted not bringing his own friends—though they wouldn’t have helped much—but at least they’d have made him look less isolated.
He redirected his anger toward the only adult present: Hagrid. “Professor Hagrid,” he snapped, “this is your fault! Why’d you have to bring these Homefolk along?”
He said “Professor” with obvious sarcasm. The moment the words left his mouth, a low, rumbling bark echoed from the shadows behind the hut.
The giant black guard dog, Fang, emerged from around the corner, teeth bared in a snarl. Slowly, it advanced toward Malfoy. As it passed Hagrid, the half-giant bent down and gripped the dog’s collar firmly.
Fang immediately struggled, whining in protest.
“No, Fang, back off,” Hagrid said calmly, patting the dog’s head. “Malfoy, you really can’t expect… well, you know… that convincing Professor Snape to suspend detention for a day is easy, can you?”
“I told him this was a special Care of Magical Creatures field trip—an important opportunity, rare and hard to get. That’s why he finally agreed. Otherwise, you’d still be scrubbing cauldrons right now.”
Ron snorted, then quickly bit his lip to suppress a laugh, glancing sideways at Malfoy as if daring him to retaliate.
Malfoy: “…#”
Furious, but powerless.
After all, they were outnumbered, and he couldn’t fight them—or even argue with the professor, who was clearly on Potter’s side, not to mention the dog.
He had no choice but to play the smart man. He gritted his teeth and stood silently by, mentally cursing Ron Weasley with every vile curse he knew.
“Malfoy’s here, Hagrid. Can we depart now?” Harry asked. “What preparations do we need?”
“No, wait,” Hagrid glanced at his watch. “A few more people are still coming.”
A few minutes later, more figures appeared on the lawn—older students like Percy Weasley and Penelope Clearwater, and a few younger ones, including Rolf Scamander.
“Hey, Wade! Long time no see!” Rolf waved enthusiastically, jogging over. “I knew I’d see you today.”
“Long time,” Wade replied with a smile, nodding.
Malfoy watched as the girl—Astoria Greengrass, Daphne’s younger sister—walked up to the group. With her golden curls and wide-eyed curiosity, she looked around with glee, her pale cheeks flushed with excitement.
Malfoy scowled. He had hoped for more Slytherins, but not this—some helpless little girl who’d need babysitting, not help.
“You’d better turn back now,” Malfoy whispered sharply to her. “We’re going deep into the Forbidden Forest to find a Fire Dragon. If you don’t want to get hurt—or die on the spot—go back to your House.”
Astoria blinked at him, then said, “I know that.”
“What?” Malfoy frowned.
“I did know,” she said. “Professor Hagrid explained the plan. I thought it through before accepting. Why do you sound just like my sister? Do you think I’m some gullible fool?”
She wrinkled her nose in disgust, then moved away to join a group of Ravenclaw students.
Soon, she was laughing and chatting with them, while Malfoy watched in silent fury.
If anything dangerous happens, don’t expect me to save you.
He seethed inwardly.
In truth, Draco Malfoy had been brought along only because Hagrid had promised to keep him out of trouble. Astoria, on the other hand, was the only Slytherin Hagrid had actually invited.
Though Hagrid’s class performance had improved dramatically and his reputation among students had soared, he still acted on impulse—just like always.
This field trip had started as a mere excuse to avoid Snape. But once the idea was out, Hagrid suddenly thought: Why not make it real?
He didn’t care about grades or behavior. He only invited students he liked.
Rolf and Astoria, both younger students who hadn’t yet taken Care of Magical Creatures, had never even been in Hagrid’s class. But they’d bonded during the Maze event—friendship that crossed age and House lines—so they were invited.
By four o’clock, the group had grown to nearly thirty students.
“Great, everyone’s here,” Hagrid announced, shaking a copper bell. “Most of you know—we’re going deep into the Forbidden Forest to visit Nobeta…”
“Oh, Nobeta was a Fire Dragon who stayed at the school for a while. Older students might remember her.”
“Right, this trip carries some danger—but if you stay close to me and Fang, and don’t run off, I promise you, no creature in the forest can harm you.”
He paused, then glanced at Malfoy’s icy stare—and suddenly remembered that disastrous first class that nearly ended his career.
“—But only if everyone listens to instructions,” he added. “No provoking the forest’s creatures. Anyone who’s unwilling or afraid of danger? You can leave now.”
No one moved.
Apart from a few nervous expressions from Hermione and others, most students were buzzing with excitement.
Even the Weasley Twins treated the Forbidden Forest like a backyard. But for the rest—especially Harry—this was the first time they’d ever been allowed inside the supposedly dangerous woods, rumored to be home to werewolves.
Now, with Professor Hagrid leading, they were about to have an adventure that was thrilling, but still safe. For a group of ten-year-olds, saying “no” wasn’t even an option.
“Perfect! I knew you’d all love Nobeta! Come on!” Hagrid grabbed his crossbow from the tree and slung a quiver of arrows over his shoulder. He stepped into the dense, shadowy forest first, the students following closely behind, and Fang brought up the rear.
“Hagrid,” Harry asked from the front, “why are you bringing weapons?”
“For emergencies,” Hagrid replied, scanning the trees with sharp eyes. After months of caution, his adventurous spirit had returned. He was eager to show off his beloved Fire Dragon to the students—but this time, he remembered to prioritize their safety.
From the castle, the Forbidden Forest looked like an endless sea of black, with towering trees packed tightly together, swaying like waves in the wind.
But now, deep inside, the forest revealed a different world.
The trunks were massive—wide enough for several people to wrap arms around. Each tree seemed to claim its own territory, with gaps between their crowns letting sunlight filter through in golden shafts.
Beneath the trees grew strange plants: giant flowers, glowing fungi, and thick-leaved shrubs that suddenly lifted their roots and scurried away like creatures with feet when someone approached.
The air was cooler than outside, filled with a strange, earthy scent. The students walked carefully, crunching over dry twigs and leaves, their ears filled with the soft crackling of the undergrowth. A faint unease crept in.
Michael stepped over a raised root and nearly slipped. “Careful!” Padma called out behind him.
Padma smiled politely and passed by.
“Lumos!” Wade raised his wand, and a bright beam of light instantly flooded the ground around them.
“Lumos!” echoed several others. Soon, the forest was lit by a scattered constellation of glowing wands.
Rolf hurried to Wade’s side. “Wade, have you seen Nobeta? What kind of Fire Dragon is she?”
“Norwegian Ridgeback,” Wade replied. “She could breathe fire from the moment she was born.”
“Wow,” Rolf said, eyes wide. “I’ve only seen the smallest Fire Dragon—this one was only three months old, a Romanian Mountain Horn. His horn was broken—almost died.”
Wade nodded. “Romanian Mountain Horn horns are rare magical materials. Losing one makes survival tough.”
“Yeah. My grandfather spent ages trying to regrow it, but couldn’t. Luckily, the little one lived.” Rolf smiled. “He asked Mr. Mor to make a metal horn. Once it grew up, we sent it to a sanctuary.”
As they talked, Michael slowed down slightly and reached out to help Astoria, who was lagging behind.
“Need help? I can carry you if you’re tired.”
Astoria was clearly exhausted, breathing hard. She wiped her forehead and laughed. “No need. I came prepared.”
She pulled a colorful little blanket from her pocket, shook it out—and it floated into the air, forming a soft, glowing carpet.
Astoria sat on it. The carpet hovered two feet above the ground, gliding smoothly behind Fang.
The guard dog tilted his head, curious, and made a half-hearted lunge at the floating fabric. Several students turned to look.
“Clever!” Michael said, raising his thumb in approval.
Astoria grinned.
Percy frowned and stepped forward, clearing his throat. “I’m the male Student Council President. Greengrass, you know flying carpets are banned in Britain, right?”
Astoria blinked innocently. “Oh… well, I bought it abroad.”
Percy narrowed his eyes. “Even so, using one is forbidden.”
“But this isn’t a flying carpet,” Astoria said, pointing to the tip. “It’s just a toy broomstick.”
Percy squinted. The edge of the carpet did have a tiny broomstick handle, about the size of a feather quill. The fabric was painted in bright colors to look like a broom.
Percy froze. Then, a sudden flash of déjà vu—like seeing Fred and George as kids, only… less chaotic.
No, the Weasley Twins had been far worse back then.
Still, this girl was trying to pretend. That was something.
He opened his mouth to assert his authority, but suddenly, a hand yanked him back.
“Come on, it’s not illegal to use a toy broomstick. Even Filch doesn’t care,” Penelope said, gently pushing him forward.
Percy forgot what he’d been about to say. He tried to look indifferent, but couldn’t help a small, private smile.
“I’m just doing my duty as President,” he muttered to Penelope. “The law does apply…”
“Being Student Council President is impressive,” Rolf whispered to Wade. “But I don’t want to end up like him.”
“I can’t be President,” Wade said simply. “Not possible.”
Rolf shook his head. “But the position is always given to the top student from seventh year, right?”
“Academic performance isn’t everything,” Wade replied. “Leadership, responsibility, communication—those matter more. I can’t handle all that paperwork. But you might.”
“Hah, I’m still far from it!” Rolf laughed, rubbing his nose. Then he leaned in. “Hey… Luna didn’t come this time?”
“I don’t know. But if I see her next time, I’ll ask.”
“No, no, don’t bother!” Rolf waved his hands. “Just asking. Just curious.”
Twenty people or so, with a dozen using Lumos, lit up the dark forest like a glowing trail.
Hagrid walked ahead with ease—years of coming here had worn a clear path through the undergrowth. Branches parted for him, bushes gave way. The group moved with surprising ease.
Whether it was their numbers or Hagrid’s presence, the forest remained calm. No red hats, no Acromantula offspring—only harmless little animals darting across the light’s edge.
The lack of danger made the students relax. Some even felt a bit disappointed.
They stopped briefly to rest, then walked another thirty minutes before Hagrid finally halted.
“We’re here!” Hagrid turned, his face breaking into a warm, almost motherly smile. “Listen… the child is greeting us.”
Silence. Then, deep in the heart of the Forbidden Forest, a low, rumbling roar echoed through the trees.
The air shivered. The forest seemed to coil with heat.
(End of Chapter)
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