Chapter 92 - Shocking
The Patronus creature lowered its head and touched the injured unicorn's head with its own head. Then a miracle happened in front of our eyes.
The silvery-white light that formed the Patronus and the luminescence around it began to flow into the wounded unicorn. The light moved through the point where their heads touched. It gathered around the terrible wounds on the unicorn's body.
Everyone watched in complete silence and awe.
Soon, maybe in just a few seconds, the silver blood stopped flowing. Then the torn flesh slowly began to close as tender pink skin appeared where the wounds had been.
The healing happened right before our eyes and it did not even take much time. It was impossible, amazing and shocking.
"Blimey..." Hagrid whispered, awe-struck.
The centaurs were also shocked and they were staring without blinking.
Harry's mouth was hanging open. Hermione looked as though she had forgotten how to breathe while Neville had an expression like he was in a dream. Even Draco had stopped complaining and simply stared.
But the most shocked person at the scene there was me.
I had cast the Patronus charm but I had not told it or willed for it to do any of this.
I had only cast the spell as a protection charm which would maybe resist and stop the wraith. I had not ordered it to attack and let alone for it to heal the injured unicorn.
The Patronus had done both things by itself.
Only magic continued flowing from me through the wand, but every action after that seemed to belong to the creature itself. It was behaving less like a spell and more like a living being.
After a few minutes, the unicorn's breathing became steady. The poor creature, which had been moments from death, slowly lifted its head.
Then it gently touched the Patronus with its nose and a moment later, it licked the Patronus affectionately.
Then we heard more hooves coming from the forest.
Everyone immediately became alert and raised their weapons, be it wand, bows or crossbows.
A moment later, from behind the trees, emerged a large herd of unicorns. Their horns shone softly and silver coats glimmered beneath the moonlight.
The moment they emerged, they hurried towards the injured unicorn and my Patronus and soon they surrounded both of them in a circle.
Then something happened that stunned everyone even more.
One by one, the unicorns lowered their heads. It looked as if they were paying respect to my Patronus.
The centaurs looked completely shaken.
For them, this was far more shocking than it was for me. They had lived in this forest for generations. They knew unicorns better than almost anyone and this was a first for them too.
Hagrid was equally stunned.
"I've never seen nothin' like this," he muttered in disbelief.
Just as everyone was trying to understand what was happening, new voices reached us.
"Can anybody tell me what is happening here?"
The familiar drawling voice made the children jump.
Professor Snape stepped out from between the trees. Beside him came Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick and Headmaster Dumbledore.
Hagrid looked relieved after their arrival.
"Ah, Professor Snape, Headmaster, Professors," he said quickly.
For once, Hagrid seemed completely unable to explain what was happening in coherent words.
Professor McGonagall looked around the clearing and started, "The children were caught outside after curfew. I assigned them detention with Hagrid. But I certainly did not expect this."
Dumbledore's blue eyes moved over the scene and he noted everything.
The wounded unicorn, unicorn herd, the centaurs and the glowing Patronus.
Then finally he focused me.
"What happened?" he asked calmly.
Hagrid cleared his throat.
"Well, after we found some unicorn blood, we split up to investigate. Arthur, Harry and Draco found this poor creature."
Everyone looked at the unicorn.
It was already trying to stand on its feet now. It was still weak but alive and clearly out of danger.
Then Draco interjected, "There was a thing! A black thing! A shadow! It was going for the unicorn!"
His voice nearly cracked.
The professors immediately became serious. Dumbledore looked at him.
"Can you describe it more clearly, Draco?"
Draco swallowed as he became a little nervous becoming the centre of focus.
"It wore a cloak. I couldn't see its face but it was horrible. Then it saw us and started coming toward us so I ran."
Professor Snape nodded slightly.
"You did the correct thing by retreating."
Before Draco could speak further, Harry interrupted.
"Arthur told us to fire red sparks. Both Draco and I fired them."
"Very good," Dumbledore said. "Excellent presence of mind. We could all come here because we noticed the spark."
Then Professor Snape turned toward me.
"And what exactly is this?"
He pointed directly at my Patronus.
Hagrid answered before I could.
"It's Arthur's Patronus."
Professor Flitwick's eyes widened.
"A corporeal Patronus?"
Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows. Even Snape looked surprised.
Few wizards could cast a Patronus and even fewer could produce a physical form from them.
Harry quickly continued.
"It attacked the shadow thing twice."
"It did?" Professor Flitwick squeaked.
"Yes," Harry said. "It knocked it back and kicked it with hooves. After that Hagrid and these people came and that shadow thing flew away. Then it started healing the unicorn."
That made every professor stare at the Patronus again. Even Dumbledore looked thoughtful as this was a new development.
After a few moments, the leading centaur stepped forward.
"Good evening, Professors."
"Good evening, Firenze," Dumbledore replied politely. "And good evening to your companions."
Professor Flitwick looked at the gathered unicorns and asked, "Why are there so many unicorns here?"
Hagrid hesitated as he said, "They arrived after the healing started."
He scratched his beard nervously.
"And... well..., they seem to be paying respect to the Patronus."
Silence followed as nobody knew what to say.
Then suddenly another disturbance came from deeper within the forest. There was the sound of more hoof like footsteps.
Everyone turned toward the source and raised their weapons in caution.
The professors raised their wands while the centaurs lifted their bows.
But surprisingly, the unicorns were not alarmed and neither did my Patronus raise its head.
A few seconds later, a new group of creatures emerged from the darkness.
The moment Hagrid saw them, his eyes widened in shock and his jaw nearly dropped.
"What are they doing here?" he asked in complete shock.
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End of Chapter 92 - Shocking