The Silent Witch of Hogwarts

Chapter 81 The Silent Witch and the Unicorn

We're almost there.

After the two had walked for more than ten minutes, Loila finally heard those words from Hagrid.

It has to be said that it is indeed quite a distance from here, but thankfully I had some hot water to drink in Hagrid's hut.

Loila rubbed her hands together, then looked around curiously.

This place looks no different from the Forbidden Forest, except that the shrubs here are denser and there is a fence around it.

"It might be a little timid," Hagrid said, turning off the lantern. "But Professor Hamilton, you don't need to be afraid."

"You saved its life," Hagrid smiled. "It's very clever."

"Hmm?" Loila pursed her lips, a little confused. She still didn't know why Hagrid had brought her here.

What happened to the unicorn?

This is Loila's question.

However, this question disappeared when Hagrid reached out and pushed aside the bushes in front of him.

Silver moonlight streamed down from the clouds, falling through the gaps in the treetops onto the tranquil lake surface.

The shimmering lake surface, like a silver mirror, reflects the bright light and the unicorn's image.

Compared to the last time Loila saw it, it looked much better now. Its silver body emitted a faint glow, whether from the moonlight or magic, swirling all the way to the pointed horn on its head.

"So...so beautiful..." Loila whispered, covering her mouth. She had never seen such a beautiful magical creature before.

The last time I saw it, it was just lying on the ground without any breath, but now it stands quietly by the lake, its every move exuding a certain elegance.

Just looking at it brought Loila a sense of peace... all the wild thoughts that had been swirling in her mind vanished in that instant.

"How's it going?" Hagrid's voice came, a little boastful. "It's recovering quite well, isn't it?"

"Thank...thank you, Hagrid," Loila murmured.

"I should be thanking you," Hagrid stroked his beard. "It should also thank you..."

As he spoke, he placed his hand behind Loila and gave her a gentle push.

"Ah!" Loila cried out as Hagrid pushed her out of the bushes.

What are you doing, Hagrid... I was just... Ah!

The unicorn heard the commotion coming from the bushes. It was slightly startled and took a few steps back, but when it saw who it was, its fear visibly disappeared.

It lowered its head slightly and bowed to Loila like a human.

Is this...is this a way of thanking me?

Loila stood there somewhat awkwardly. Although the unicorn hadn't learned to speak, she still felt a little embarrassed.

She could only whisper, "No...no need to thank me...I just...I just did what I was supposed to do..."

The unicorn seemed to hear her words and also seemed to sense her slight unease.

So it swayed its body slightly, and then slowly walked towards Loila.

Its gait was elegant, and its white hooves pattered lightly on the forbidden forest.

Loila instinctively wanted to back away, but seeing its shimmering appearance made her hesitant to move.

She suddenly remembered a long time ago, when her father had shown her... that sparkling necklace.

Just like a unicorn...

"Ah..." When Loila came to her senses, the unicorn had already walked up to her.

It affectionately lowered its head and rubbed its head against Loila's hood, then gently nuzzled Loila's face and her pointed ears.

So...so cute...

Loila slowly raised her hand, somewhat timidly, and placed it next to the unicorn's head.

The unicorn felt exceptionally cool to the touch, like touching water...like the lake water under the moonlight.

"It's really...it's so beautiful..." Loila murmured, wrapping her arms around the unicorn's head and gently resting her face on its pointed horn.

The horn was hard, yet slightly hot... Loira had heard that it was key to a unicorn's magic, which made unicorn horns a target for many poachers...

"W-what's wrong?"

The unicorn suddenly took a few steps back, making Loila subconsciously think that she had been a little impolite.

But the unicorn's next move stunned her.

The unicorn turned slightly to the side and then bent its two front paws, just like a kitten tucking its paws in.

What... what does this mean?

Loila didn't know anything about magical creatures, so she looked at Hagrid with pleading eyes.

But what she saw was Hagrid's shocked expression. He stared wide-eyed at the scene before him, muttering something under his breath.

"Ha...Hagrid?"

Loila called out to him, which brought Hagrid back to his senses.

"Merlin's beard..." Hagrid said, "It...it's inviting you to ride it!"

"Ride...ride a unicorn?!" Royla stared at Hagrid in astonishment. Wasn't this a little...a little too terrifying...?

Unicorns must run very fast, right? What if I accidentally fall off...? Besides, I can't ride a horse... I can't even ride a broom.

Riding a unicorn these days is a bit...

"Hurry up, Professor Hamilton!" Hagrid was extremely anxious as he watched Loyla standing there, frozen in place.

He said eagerly, "I've never heard of anyone riding a unicorn!"

"This is something that will be remembered in the history of Fantastic Beasts!"

No...no! To record someone like me in history or something...Loira resisted even more. She took a few steps back, but then slipped and sat on the ground.

"..."

The unicorn saw this, and it rose slightly and slowly walked up to Loila.

I...I didn't mean it...I didn't mean to be disgusted by you...I just...I'm just a little...ah!

The unicorn bit into Loila's sleeve, pulling her up from the ground. Then it continued to nibble at the corner of Loila's robe, gesturing for her to come onto its back.

"I..." Loila was being pulled along by the unicorn, and it seemed she couldn't escape now.

Hagrid was no longer a reliable option, and he couldn't use his wand... It seemed... it seemed he really could only ride.

Loila took a deep breath and then clenched her fists, as if that would give her some courage.

Then... she lifted her leg and awkwardly straddled the unicorn. Even though the unicorn was kneeling on the ground, Loila's movements were extremely laborious and clumsy.

She's not naturally good at these kinds of things... If it's fighting with a wand, Loila considers herself quite good at it, but things like brooms, swimming, and horseback riding... seem to be related to sports.

She's not very good at any of these things... Ah!

Loila tried to calm herself down by letting her mind wander, but as the unicorn stood up, the surrounding gazes suddenly rose, and that sense of fear immediately overwhelmed her.

So Hagrid has always seen such a terrifying world?

Wow...so high...

"Ah! Σ(ﾟдﾟ;)!"

Before Loila could even hug the unicorn, it had already started to move.

It suddenly accelerated and ran through the forbidden forest.

Loila could only see the forest rushing past her, with bushes and other objects speeding past her.

But surprisingly, she didn't feel any wind at all...

It seems... it seems like they're not that scared?

Loila lay on the unicorn's back and discovered that she seemed to be surrounded by some kind of magic. This magic blocked the wind, making Loila feel as if she were sitting in an office chair. The only change was the surrounding scenery.

It seems...it seems quite interesting...

The unicorn was fast; it galloped out of the Forbidden Forest, its hooves splashing on the edge of the Black Lake before stepping onto the stone steps that Loila had just walked on, making a crisp sound.

The silver horse carried the girl, who also had silver hair, galloping through the forest, and then suddenly leaped high into the air.

"Huh?!" Loila was startled by the sudden rise in the surroundings and let out a scream.

Unicorns...can unicorns fly?!

No, no, no! This isn't fun at all!

Unicorns can't fly, of course, but they can use magic to briefly leap through the air.

It leaped high into the air with Loila, its hooves lightly touching the ground before it leaped again, finally landing slowly in the silvery moonlight, strolling on the surface of the Black Lake.

In the headmaster's office at Hogwarts, Dumbledore gazed thoughtfully at the tranquil lake. In the sliver of moonlight, he saw a gleaming steed and a figure sitting on its back, its form reflecting the silvery light of the moon.

"Miss Hamilton?" he muttered with a soft chuckle, then picked up a honey candy.

"interesting."

"Is it interesting?" Hagrid asked hastily as he watched Loila slowly descend from the unicorn. "Was it... oh!"

Loila's legs gave way and she collapsed to the ground almost the instant her feet touched it. Hagrid immediately ran over to her.

"Are you alright, Professor Hamilton?"

"N-nothing...it's nothing..." Loila said, her face pale and her body trembling slightly, "I'm just...just a little...afraid of heights..."

"But...but..." She slightly raised her head, looked at the unicorn, and forced a smile: "Th...thank you..."