The next day

At night

The next evening, the group, including Malfoy, trudged behind Filch as they made their way through the darkened grounds toward Hagrid's hut.

Filch grumbled under his breath, "A pity they let the old punishments die. Was a time detention found you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons. God, I miss the screaming."

Oliver caught Hermione's eye and saw her stifle a smile as she mouthed something silently. Meanwhile, Ron, looking paler than usual, walked with his hands clenched tightly in his pockets, clearly nervous about what was to come.

As they neared Hagrid's hut, Filch stopped and motioned toward the giant door. "You'll be serving detention with Hagrid tonight," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "He's got a little job to do inside the Forbidden Forest."

The group froze in front of the hut, a tense silence hanging in the air. Filch sneered, "A sorry lot, this, Hagrid."

Hagrid sniffed, visibly upset, as he straightened up. "Dumbledore sent him off to Romania to live in a colony," he muttered, his voice tinged with sadness.

"Norbert's gone," he added, his large frame slumping.

Hermione blinked, surprised. "Well, that's good, isn't it? He'll be with his own kind."

Hagrid sighed heavily. "Yeah, but what if he doesn't like Romania? What if the other dragons are mean to him? He's only a baby, after all." His voice cracked slightly, revealing how much he had grown attached to the little dragon.

Hermione, noticing Hagrid's distress, reached for Oliver's hand, her touch comforting both of them. Oliver gave her a sympathetic glance, understanding her empathy for the giant man.

Filch, who had grown tired of the conversation, grunted impatiently. "Ah, for God's sake, pull yourself together, man. You're heading into the Forest. Got to have your wits about you." His tone was harsh, as though the very idea of the Forest made him uneasy.

Malfoy, looking even more unnerved, hesitated. "The Forest?" he asked, his voice dripping with disbelief. "I thought that was a joke. We can't go in there. Students aren't allowed. And there are..." He faltered as a wolf's howl echoed through the trees. "Werewolves."

Filch turned around with a wicked grin, eyes glinting in the dim light. "Ah, there's more than werewolves in those trees, lad," he said darkly. "You can be sure of that." With that, he turned on his heel and left them in stunned silence, his footsteps fading into the night. "Nighty-night," he called, his voice distant.

The group stood still, exchanging nervous glances.

Hagrid, his expression grim but resolute, clapped his large hands together. "Right. Let's go," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

As they followed him into the dark, dense shadows of the Forbidden Forest, the weight of their situation began to sink in, and for the first time that night, none of them dared to speak.

Later

In the Forbidden Forest

The group followed Hagrid through the darkened Forest, his torch casting flickering shadows across the path. They moved cautiously, every step heavy with anticipation.

Suddenly, Hagrid came to a stop, and the group instinctively halted behind him, their eyes scanning the surrounding trees and undergrowth.

Hermione, still gripping Oliver's hand, tugged on it several times, her anxiety evident in her tight hold.

Oliver turned toward her, giving her a reassuring look. He noticed her nervous eyes, scanning the shadows, and gave her a small nod as if to say everything would be alright.

A movement caught his eye, and his gaze flicked to the trees. A wolf. He could feel Hermione tense beside him, and he squeezed her hand lightly, silently assuring her.

Hagrid, meanwhile, knelt down and pressed his fingers into something on the ground. The distant sound of wolves howling echoed through the forest, making the tension palpable.

As Hagrid stood back up, Harry's voice broke the silence. "Hagrid, what is that?"

Hagrid glanced at them, his face serious. "What we're here for," he said, holding his thumb and index finger together. "That's unicorn blood. Found one dead a few weeks ago, and this one's been hurt badly by something."

Oliver's eyes drifted to Harry, noticing his troubled expression as he stared into the distance, clearly unsettled by what they were witnessing.

Hagrid continued, his voice grim. "So, it's our job to find the poor beast. Ron, Hermione, you'll come with me."

Ron nodded reluctantly, but Hermione hesitated, glancing at Oliver. "Are you sure I can't go with Ollie?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Hagrid noticed their intertwined hands and shook his head. "Sorry, Hermione. I need him for something important."

Oliver raised an eyebrow, confused. "What's that?"

Hagrid looked at him with a stern expression. "Can you look after your cousin for me? More of an order than a question, mind you."

Oliver hesitated only a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I can." He flicked his wand, and with a quiet swish, it transformed into a bow, ready for whatever was ahead.

Hagrid nodded in approval. "Good. Now, Harry, you'll go with Malfoy and Oliver."

Harry gave a sharp nod, and Malfoy immediately piped up, "Fine, but I get Fang."

Hagrid smirked, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Fine. Just so you know, he's a bloody coward."

The trio turned to see Fang, Hagrid's large, scruffy dog, whining and cowering at the sound of distant howls.

Hermione leaned closer to Oliver and whispered softly, her voice almost breaking. "Please, be careful, Ollie."

He gave her a small, reassuring smile, his voice barely audible. "You too, Mia. I'll meet back up with you and Ron, okay?"

Hermione nodded, her eyes full of unspoken worry, before throwing her arms around him in a tight hug.

The group fell into a brief silence as the hug lingered. Malfoy broke it with a sarcastic sneer. "Why's she hugging him like she won't see him again?"

Harry glared at him. "Shut up, Malfoy. Just let it happen."

Oliver and Hermione finally pulled apart. Oliver looked at her one last time and said, "Go."

She nodded, her face a mixture of sadness and determination, before turning to join Hagrid and Ron. As she walked away, Oliver stayed behind, his eyes following her, his heart heavy but hopeful.

As Hermione and Ron disappeared into the shadows with Hagrid, Harry stepped closer to Oliver, his hand resting briefly on his shoulder. The touch was a quiet gesture of solidarity, a reminder that even in the face of danger, they were in this together.

"Come on, mate," Harry said softly, his voice steady despite the tension. "We've got a job to do."

Oliver gave a tight nod, his gaze lingering for a moment longer in the direction Hermione had gone. He took a deep breath, letting the brief moment of calm settle before focusing on the task ahead.

Malfoy, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally broke the silence, his voice laced with annoyance. "So, what exactly are we supposed to do out here? I'm not exactly fond of creepy forests."

Oliver turned his attention to Malfoy, narrowing his eyes slightly. "We stick together, keep our wits about us, and stay focused. No one's leaving this forest alone tonight." His voice was firm, a sharp contrast to Malfoy's usual arrogance.

Harry glanced at Oliver, noticing the unspoken tension between the two of them. He cleared his throat. "We just need to make sure we don't get lost or—"

"Yeah, yeah," Malfoy interrupted, already stepping forward, clearly eager to prove himself. "Lead the way, then, if you're so confident."

Oliver gave a small shrug, his gaze flicking between Harry and Malfoy. "Fine," he said simply, though his eyes betrayed a hint of frustration.

The trio began walking through the dense forest, the trees towering above them, the only light coming from the flickering torch in Hagrid's hand. The sound of rustling leaves and distant howls filled the air, heightening the sense of unease.

Harry glanced back over his shoulder at Oliver. "You okay?" he asked quietly.

Oliver, who had been unusually quiet since they left, gave him a small, tight-lipped smile. "Yeah. Just keeping my head in the game. You know how it is."

Harry nodded, understanding more than Oliver knew. "We'll be fine," he said with a reassurance he didn't quite feel.

Malfoy, however, wasn't in the mood for quiet introspection. He huffed impatiently. "Do you hear that?" He stopped and held up his hand, his eyes darting about. "Something's moving out there. Probably some beast waiting to pounce on us."

"Malfoy, you're paranoid," Harry said dryly, though the tension in his voice betrayed his own unease.

Oliver kept his eyes forward, his hand instinctively resting on the bow at his side, prepared for whatever might come. "Just stay alert, both of you," he muttered, though it was more to himself than anyone else.

The path grew narrower, and the eerie sounds of the forest surrounded them. As they walked deeper into the woods, the sense of isolation became heavier, as though they were the only ones left in the world.

Malfoy broke the silence again. "So, why does Hagrid need us to look after some unicorn? It's not like we're experts on magical creatures."

Harry shot him an exasperated glance. "We're here because he trusts us. Not that I expect you to understand that, Malfoy."

Oliver's eyes remained sharp, his thoughts lingering on the task at hand. "Let's focus on finding that creature," he said, cutting off any further chatter. "We'll deal with the rest later."

As the group continued walking through the darkened forest, Oliver's thoughts kept drifting back to Hermione. He couldn't shake the worry gnawing at him, but he pushed it aside, forcing himself to concentrate on the task ahead. He had to stay strong—not just for himself, but for her too.

Later

The trio and Fang trekked through the dark, thick forest, the sounds of their footsteps muffled by the soft earth beneath them. Malfoy's voice broke the silence, laced with his usual arrogance.

"Wait until my father hears about this. This is servant's work," he sneered, his disdain clear in his tone.

Oliver shot him a pointed look, his eyes narrowing slightly. "If I didn't know any better, Draco, I'd say you're scared," he said, his voice low but steady.

Malfoy immediately bristled, puffing out his chest. "I'm not scared, Queen," he snapped, but there was a flicker of unease in his eyes.

The group walked in tense silence for a moment before a distant, haunting howl echoed through the trees, sending a shiver down the spine of anyone who could hear it.

Malfoy froze, his expression flickering between defiance and unease. "Did you two hear that?" he asked, his voice a little less confident now.

Neither Harry nor Oliver responded immediately. They exchanged a brief glance, neither willing to show any hint of fear. They continued walking, the path ahead dark and uncertain.

Malfoy's hand tightened around Fang's leash. "Come on, Fang. Show us what you've got. Scaredy-cat," he muttered, though the tremor in his voice didn't go unnoticed.

Harry and Oliver trailed behind, their eyes scanning the surrounding trees, ears straining for any sign of danger. They could both sense the unease in Malfoy's posture, though neither of them had any intention of letting him know they'd noticed.

Oliver's fingers tightened on the bow slung across his back, his senses alert. "Stay sharp," he muttered to Harry, who nodded in silent agreement.

The eerie howls echoed again, closer this time, and Oliver's grip tightened. They had a job to do, and they wouldn't let themselves be distracted by Malfoy's bluster or the forest's ominous sounds. They had to focus.

After a while

Harry, Malfoy, and Oliver trudged through the dense forest, Fang leading the way with a sniffing, cautious step. The air was thick with the rustle of leaves and the distant sounds of creatures moving in the shadows. As the group moved forward, Fang suddenly halted, his ears pricked and his body tense.

The trio stopped, moving in behind the dog. They exchanged wary glances, then heard a low, menacing growl escape Fang's throat. Harry, eyes wide with curiosity and concern, asked softly, "What is it, Fang?"

Before anyone could respond, their eyes shifted upwards, following the dog's line of sight. There, in the moonlit shadows, they saw a figure bent over something—something pale and ethereal. The unmistakable shape of a unicorn lay crumpled on the ground, its white coat darkened by blood.

Oliver's heart clenched, but his attention snapped to Harry, who had his hand pressed against his forehead, eyes glazed with a sudden pain.

The figure slowly rose, the hood of its cloak falling back to reveal a pale, twisted face. Blood—unicorn blood—dripped from its mouth.

Before Oliver or Harry could react, Malfoy screamed, a sound that tore through the tension like a knife. Fang yelped and bolted into the trees, Malfoy stumbling behind him in a wild, panicked run.

Oliver instinctively raised his arm to shield Harry, his posture defensive, but the situation was quickly spiraling beyond their control.

"Back up," Oliver muttered, pulling Harry with him, moving cautiously as they stumbled. They lost their footing and fell to the ground with a hard thud, their hearts racing in their chests. They continued to scramble backward, but the figure was drawing closer.

Then came the sound—something like the pounding of hooves, fast and powerful—followed by a shadow leaping over them. The figure, startled, was knocked back, flying out of sight, leaving the boys momentarily breathless.

The forest fell silent for a heartbeat, then a voice, deep and commanding, emerged from the trees. A centaur emerged from behind a thick cluster of leaves, his piercing gaze fixed on the boys.

"Harry Potter, Oliver Queen," the centaur's voice rumbled. "You must leave. The forest is no place for you, not tonight. You are known to many creatures here. It is not safe."

Oliver stood slowly, dusting himself off, then looked directly at the centaur. "What was that creature you saved us from?" he asked, his voice low and steady, despite the tension in the air.

The centaur's expression darkened. "A monstrous creature. It is a crime to kill a unicorn," he explained, his voice laced with sorrow. "Drinking its blood grants life, even in the face of death. But it comes at a terrible price—one can never regain their full humanity. They will live, yes, but as something less, something cursed. A half-life."

Harry's brow furrowed. "Who would choose such a life?"

The centaur's gaze flicked between the two boys, as if weighing their worth. "Can you think of no one?" he asked cryptically.

Oliver's eyes widened as realization hit him. "Do you mean to say that the creature that killed the unicorn... the one drinking its blood... that was Voldemort?"

The centaur's gaze hardened. "Do you know what is hidden within your school, Mr. Potter? Mr. Queen?" he asked, his voice still firm, though tinged with warning.

Harry and Oliver, almost instinctively, spoke in unison. "The Sorcerer's Stone."

The centaur nodded solemnly, as if confirming their fears. Then, a voice called out from behind them.

"Harry! Ollie!"

Both boys turned to see Hermione running toward them, her face a mixture of concern and relief. "Are you both all right?" she asked urgently, her eyes wide.

Oliver let out a quiet breath, relief flooding him as he looked at her. "Mia, I swear, I didn't mean to worry you. We're—"

Before he could finish, Hermione threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug.

Oliver exhaled slowly, the weight of the night lifting from his shoulders, and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

From behind them, a familiar voice called out. "Hello there, Firenze," Hagrid said, stepping into the clearing. "See you've met our young Mr. Potter and Mr. Queen. You all right there, Harry, Oliver?"

Harry nodded quickly, his eyes still wide with adrenaline.

Oliver, still holding Hermione, nodded, though his voice was quieter. "Yeah," he said, his tone softer than usual.

The centaur, Firenze, took one last glance at the group, his gaze lingering on the unicorn lying lifeless in the moonlight. "Harry Potter, Oliver Queen," he said, his tone softer now. "This is where I leave you two. You are safe now. Good luck."

With that, Firenze turned and disappeared into the forest, his form melding with the shadows.

The group stood in uneasy silence, staring at the lifeless unicorn on the ground, the weight of the encounter pressing down on them. Hermione, still buried in the crook of Oliver's neck, clung to him, her heart racing as the reality of their danger began to settle in.

Later

In the dorm

Once they had gathered in the common room, Harry and Oliver took turns explaining what had happened in the forest. The mood was heavy, and the weight of their discovery was sinking in.

Hermione's voice trembled with disbelief as she asked, "You mean... You-Know-Who is out there right now, in the forest?"

Oliver nodded grimly. "But he's weak. He's been feeding off unicorns. Don't you see? We had it all wrong."

Harry added, his voice strained, "Yeah. Snape doesn't want the Stone for himself. He wants it for Voldemort. With the Elixir of Life, Voldemort can come back... stronger than ever."

The two boys sat down, their faces drawn with worry.

Ron swallowed hard, still processing the gravity of the situation. "But if he comes back... you don't think he'll try to kill you, do you?"

Harry stared at the floor. "If he had the chance, I think he would've tried tonight."

Ron gulped audibly, his expression shifting from concern about the Dark Lord to an unexpected realization. "And to think I've been worrying about my Potions final."

Before anyone could respond, a voice interrupted them from across the room.

"That's not good, right? About the Dark Lord?"

The group turned to see Bella standing in the doorway.

"Hi, guys. Sorry, I don't mean to eavesdrop," she said, a sheepish grin crossing her face. "But I heard what you're talking about... Could I help?"

Ron blinked in surprise. "You... wanna help us? Why?"

Oliver didn't hesitate. "Because I'm involved," he said, eyes meeting Bella's with a knowing look.

Bella nodded, unfazed. "Yeah. You really think I'm gonna leave my cousin alone in all this?" she said with a touch of defiance.

Oliver smirked. "No, but then again, I'm the protective one, Bell."

Bella chuckled. "You're right. You always have been. And that's what I love about you, cousin."

She turned to Harry. "I don't think we've ever had a real conversation, Harry. You remember my name, right?"

Harry nodded cautiously. "Yeah, I remember you. We bumped into each other a few months ago."

Bella raised an eyebrow. "So you're my cousin's cousin on his father's side, right?"

Harry paused, looking slightly unsure. "Yeah. At least, I think so. To be honest, I didn't even know my dad had a brother."

Oliver cleared his throat. "I didn't tell him about Uncle James. I didn't know him that well, and Dad always avoided the topic. Losing Uncle James was... hard on him."

Harry lowered his gaze, the mention of his father's brother hitting him harder than expected.

Hermione, however, shook her head, bringing them back to the matter at hand. "Hang on a minute. We're forgetting one thing. Who's the one wizard Voldemort always feared?"

The room went quiet, as everyone exchanged confused glances.

"Dumbledore," Hermione said with certainty. "As long as Dumbledore is around, Harry, you're safe. As long as Dumbledore is around, you can't be touched."

Harry nodded, his expression softening with some relief.

Oliver clenched his fists, determination in his eyes. "I'm not letting You-Know-Who touch Harry ever again. I'll die before I let that happen."

Bella raised an eyebrow, but her tone was more concerned than mocking. "Which I hope never happens, cousin. You need to think this through. You can't just rush into battle, pull out your bow, and shout 'Bombarda' every time you encounter trouble."

Oliver raised his chin, slightly defensive. "Hey, it's worked so far. What's wrong with that?"

Bella's expression softened, but her eyes were serious. "That's not a plan, Ollie. That's a spell that a first-year shouldn't even know until maybe their third year. I know you've been practicing, but you can't just go around using magic on a whim. You've got to think about it."

Oliver sighed, looking frustrated but also thoughtful.

Hermione furrowed her brow. "What is she talking about?"

Ron, equally confused, turned to Oliver. "Yeah, what is she talking about?"

Oliver looked at the group, his gaze distant for a moment. "My father asked me to look after Harry," he began, his voice steady. "When I found out Harry was coming to Hogwarts, my plan was to keep my distance. Watch over him from afar. But... I couldn't do that. His Aunt and Uncle don't treat him right. He needed someone who actually cared. So, I revealed myself to him."

Harry's eyes widened in realization. "You were going to keep it a secret that you were my cousin?"

Oliver ran a hand through his hair, sighing deeply. "Harry... I know it sounds bad, but—"

"But nothing!" Harry interjected, his voice tinged with hurt. "You promised you'd always be there for me. But you weren't going to make that promise originally?"

Oliver stood silent, unsure of what to say. He hadn't expected this reaction from Harry, but it stung.

"I'm sorry, Harry," Oliver said, his voice quiet. "At the time, I thought it was the right thing. But when I saw you... when I saw how you were treated... I knew I couldn't stay away. I had to tell you the truth, and let you decide for yourself."

Harry stared at him for a moment, shocked by the confession. The entire school knew the story of Harry Potter and his cousin, Oliver Queen—the two of them who would rise to face the Dark Wizard. But for Oliver to have kept his distance initially was a revelation Harry hadn't been prepared for.

Oliver sighed, standing up straighter. "To be honest, hiding my name wouldn't have worked anyway. Everyone knows who I am. Once you told me about them, Harry, I made that promise. I won't leave you alone in this world. Understand?"

Harry's expression softened, a hesitant nod signaling that he understood, even if he still had some unresolved feelings.

Oliver smiled faintly, relieved, as Hermione squeezed his hand. The group fell into a quiet moment, each of them processing the events and decisions to come. The weight of their predicament hadn't lessened, but for the first time, there was a sense of unity among them. They would face whatever came next, together.

To be continued...