บท 33: Secrets, Dragons, and Shadows

The Mystery of Nicolas Flamel

The quiet lull following Christmas soon vanished as Harry, Ron, and Hermione became fixated on solving the mystery of the Philosopher's Stone. Raja observed from a distance, amused by their relentless determination to piece together the puzzle. He knew, of course, about the Stone and Nicolas Flamel, but kept himself out of their way, allowing them the thrill of discovery. After all, he thought, this mystery is part of what draws them closer together.

One chilly evening in the library, Raja caught sight of Hermione buried in a massive book, with Harry and Ron sitting beside her. They looked frustrated, flipping through pages without finding what they were searching for.

"Raja, any ideas?" Ron asked, looking up as Raja approached.

Raja considered his response, careful not to give away too much. "Maybe start with magical history? Sometimes the answer isn't in the present but the past."

Hermione's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly grabbed A History of Magic, scanning through the pages with renewed excitement. Finally, after what seemed like hours, she let out a triumphant gasp.

"Here! Nicolas Flamel!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide as she read the passage aloud. "Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary object that grants immortality and turns any metal into pure gold!"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged looks of astonishment, the reality of their discovery sinking in.

"So… that's what the dog's guarding," Harry murmured, realization dawning on his face. "The Philosopher's Stone."

Raja allowed himself a satisfied smile, pleased to see them arriving at the answer. With this piece of the puzzle in place, he knew they were ready to face the next challenges—no matter how daunting they might be.

Hagrid's New "Pet"

It wasn't long before Raja noticed Hagrid acting more secretive than usual. His massive figure was often spotted slipping around corners or muttering excitedly about something he referred to as "Norbert." Curiosity piqued, Raja followed Harry, Ron, and Hermione down to Hagrid's hut one evening, where they discovered that Hagrid had somehow acquired a dragon egg.

Raja stayed hidden in the shadows, watching as the trio marveled at the dragon, newly hatched and wriggling around in Hagrid's enormous hands. Despite the risks, the trio couldn't resist helping Hagrid care for his new pet, sneaking down to his hut regularly to bring food and supplies.

Things quickly escalated when Malfoy spotted the dragon through the window. With his penchant for stirring trouble, Malfoy eagerly tattled to the staff, ensuring that the trio's involvement with Norbert wouldn't remain secret for long.

One night, Raja joined Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they devised a plan to get Norbert out of Hogwarts. Raja's quiet help made a huge difference—using his psychokinesis, he lifted Norbert's crate without a sound, helping them reach the Astronomy Tower without incident. At dawn, Norbert was safely handed over to Charlie Weasley's friends, who flew off into the early morning with the dragon in tow.

But their relief was short-lived. Thanks to Malfoy's meddling, Raja, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Malfoy himself were assigned detention with Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest. Though he was aware of the potential danger, Raja felt a thrill of anticipation, knowing what lay ahead.

Detention in the Forbidden Forest

As dusk settled, Raja, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Malfoy stood by the edge of the Forbidden Forest, with Hagrid towering over them, crossbow in hand. Hagrid's normally jovial expression was now serious as he explained their task.

"There's a wounded unicorn in there," Hagrid said, his voice gruff. "We're goin' in to find it and put it out of its misery. Stick close, and don't wander off."

The forest was dark and thick with shadows, its trees looming like silent sentries. Raja could sense a powerful, ominous energy in the air—a malevolent presence lurking within the depths. As they moved deeper into the forest, he remained vigilant, his wand close at hand, his senses heightened.

After a short while, they split into two groups: Hagrid took Harry and Hermione, while Raja, Ron, and Malfoy were left with Fang, Hagrid's loyal boarhound. Malfoy scowled, muttering complaints under his breath, while Ron cast wary glances at every creak and rustle of leaves.

Then, Raja noticed a faint glimmer of silvery blood on the ground, leading deeper into the forest. A chill ran down his spine as they followed the trail to a clearing, where they saw a dark, hooded figure hunched over the body of a unicorn, its silvery blood pooling on the forest floor.

"Stay back," Raja whispered to Ron and Malfoy, stepping in front of them as he raised his wand.

The dark figure sensed their presence and began to rise, its movements fluid and unnatural. Raja's grip tightened on his wand as he murmured an incantation, casting a modified Lumos spell. A burst of bright light shot from his wand, blazing like a flare gun while pulsing with the intensity of a flashbang.

The dark figure flinched, hissing as the light seared into its shadowed form. At that moment, the surrounding trees rustled, and Raja felt the presence of other beings joining them. From the shadows, centaurs emerged, their stately forms casting long silhouettes in the moonlight.

The lead centaur, Firenze, strode forward, his bow drawn as he aimed it at the dark figure. "Leave this place," he commanded, his voice resonant and firm.

The dark figure hissed again, retreating as it vanished into the shadows, seemingly repelled by the combined light of Raja's spell and the centaurs' presence.

"Thank you," Raja whispered to Firenze, nodding in gratitude.

Firenze gave him a solemn look. "The forest remembers those who respect its magic. Tonight, you have earned our respect."

The Healing of the Unicorn

With the dark figure gone, Raja turned his attention to the unicorn. The majestic creature lay still, its silvery blood staining the forest floor. Raja knelt beside it, sensing the faint pulse of life that still remained.

"We can't leave it like this," Raja said, glancing at the centaurs, who watched him with silent approval. "Let me try to help."

Raja placed his hands gently on the unicorn, channeling his knowledge of ancient magic, medicinal spells, and runic healing. He traced a series of runes in the air, each symbol glowing briefly before settling over the unicorn's wounds. With whispered incantations, he summoned a warm, golden light that flowed into the creature, its silvery coat slowly regaining its natural sheen.

Ron and Malfoy watched, wide-eyed, as Raja worked, his face calm and focused. After a few moments, the unicorn stirred, its eyes opening as it looked at him with gratitude. With a soft nicker, it rose on shaky legs, then turned and disappeared into the forest, leaving a faint shimmer in its wake.

Firenze stepped forward, his gaze solemn as he regarded Raja. "You have done a great service to the forest and its creatures tonight. We, the centaurs, acknowledge your respect for the natural order."

Raja inclined his head in gratitude, feeling honored by the centaur's approval.

Shadows in the Common Room

Back in Gryffindor Tower that night, Harry, Ron, and Hermione gathered around the common room fire, recounting their experience in hushed voices. The encounter in the forest had left them shaken, but there was an underlying determination in each of their expressions.

"It was Voldemort, wasn't it?" Harry murmured, staring into the flames.

Raja nodded, his gaze steady. "It's likely. He's weak, but he's finding ways to survive. Drinking unicorn blood is… a terrible act, but it's keeping him alive."

Ron swallowed, looking between Raja and Harry. "So that's why he's after the Philosopher's Stone? To come back to full power?"

"Exactly," Raja replied. "But it won't be easy for him to get it. We'll be ready when the time comes."

Hermione looked at him with a mixture of admiration and curiosity. "How did you know what to do with the unicorn? That magic… I've never seen anything like it."

Raja offered a small, mysterious smile. "Sometimes ancient magic is more powerful than anything we learn in books. But it requires respect—and a steady hand."

They fell into contemplative silence, the crackling fire filling the room as each of them processed the events of the night. Raja felt a surge of pride and protectiveness for his friends, knowing they would face greater challenges in the days to come.

As the firelight danced on their faces, Raja sensed the bond between them deepening. They were ready to face the darkness together, and he was prepared to guide them from the shadows, their silent guardian and friend.