LRAB Chapter 183 A Warning from the Forbidden Forest
Chapter 183 A Warning from the Forbidden Forest
Chapter 183 A Warning from the Forbidden Forest
The festive atmosphere was growing stronger in the corridors of Hogwarts Castle. With the holiday just two days away, Cullen had already sent his gift list for family and friends to several reliable shops in Diagon Alley through Phoebus. The rest required him to make them himself. Inside the Eagle's Nest, in the portable alchemy workshop, Cullen was intently adjusting a palm-sized metal disc, covered with intricate runes and tiny magical nodes. A faint silver light flowed from his fingertips as he precisely guided the magical streams, modifying the path of the core rune array. This disc was used to control the bouncing balls that had already been made nearby.
"The miniature ball simulator Wesley wanted is basically complete," Karen muttered to herself, channeling the last bit of magic into the core node. A red light shone from the center of the disc, immediately simulating two miniature "balls" with irregular light trails, which bounced and changed direction at high speed within the set range, emitting a faint whooshing sound. "I optimized the trajectory and impact simulation using data from the training matches I recorded for the Eye of Record, and the effect is quite good."
He set the disc aside with satisfaction and picked up a more complex crystal sphere. Inside the sphere floated miniature planetary models, orbiting a blazing point of light. This was a gift for Ernesto, a replica of the solar system astronomical projectile Professor Castor had made, which had been shown in their first astronomy class. Of course, its scale and precision were slightly different from the original, but the core magical drive and orbital simulation principles were the same.
"The core is the nesting of stable levitation and orbital dynamics runes. This requires more precise control over the flow of magic." Karen picked up a carving knife and carefully sculpted on the crystal base. His Eye of Truth clearly saw the magic circuits gradually taking shape under the tip of the knife. "Let me demonstrate the results of my alchemy; he should like it."
The notes on cultivating rare plants for Fabian were now complete, copied from valuable knowledge in Nico's library. Finally, there was the gift for his mother, Emily. Karen was somewhat troubled; he planned to make a piece of jewelry, but ordinary jewelry seemed insufficient to express his feelings.
"Protecting warmth—" Karen murmured. A thought flashed through her mind: unicorn fur symbolized pure protection, and harpy feathers were said to bring good luck; moreover, they were naturally beautiful and possessed certain transformative properties. Although the materials were rare, Hagrid should have some in stock.
"Wesley, Fabian, Ernesto," Karen looked up at her roommates who were busy with their own things, "I'm going to Hagrid's to get some materials. Anyone want to come along? We can get some fresh air."
"Let's go!" Wesley immediately put down his homework and jumped up excitedly. "It's a good opportunity to get some exercise. I'm getting restless staying indoors for too long. Let's go see Hagrid again before the holidays."
Fabian carefully tended to the newly cultivated plants on the windowsill, then nodded gently upon hearing this: "Okay, I'll go too. I'll also see if Hagrid has any new magical plants that need looking after."
Ernesto looked up and replied, "Okay, I'll go too. I'll also ask Hagrid how things are going in the Forbidden Forest lately. They've been pretty strict there since Halloween."
The four donned thick cloaks, left the warm eagle's nest, crossed the snow-covered courtyard, and headed towards Hagrid's hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Warm smoke rose from the smokehouse, and the distant barking of bastards echoed through the air.
Hagrid's massive frame appeared in the doorway, his hairy face bearing his usual enthusiastic smile: "Hey! Karen! And Wesley too!"
"Fabian, Ernesto! Come in, it's cold outside! I just baked some rock crust bread, maybe you could try some?"
"Thank you, Hagrid, but no need for the rock bread," Karen smiled and went straight to the point. "We've come to ask for your help; I need some materials for Christmas presents. Do you have unicorn hair and harpy feathers?"
"Oh! Of course!" Hagrid's eyes lit up, and he immediately turned around and began rummaging through the huge chests and cabinets. "I've collected quite a few unicorn hairs, all naturally shed or left behind by rubbing against trees, very clean! I also have bird-snake feathers; last time a little guy molted, he shed a few pretty ones for me." He quickly found two small cloth bags and handed them to Karen. "Here, is this enough? If not, I'll go look in the shed again."
"That's enough, Hagrid, thank you very much." Karen took the bag, feeling its warmth and magical power. "These are exactly what I need."
Just then, the door to the hut was pushed open again, and Harry and Ron walked in, shivering from the cold. They were taken aback when they saw so many people in the room.
"Harry! Ron!" Hagrid called out cheerfully, "Come in and warm up! Cullen and the others are here too."
"Hey, Hagrid. Hey, Cullen, Wesley, Fabian, Ernesto." Harry greeted Ron, whose gaze involuntarily drifted to the plate of rock-hard biscuits on Hagrid's table, and he shuddered.
"You're here to see Hagrid too?" Wesley asked.
"Hmm," Harry nodded, rubbing his hands as he approached the fireplace. "I came to see Hagrid, and by the way—I wanted to ask how the Forbidden Forest is doing now? Hagrid said that once the Forbidden Forest is closed off, he could take us inside for a look around, just like you guys did last semester, Cullen."
Hagrid's previously cheerful expression instantly crumbled. He sighed heavily and plopped down in his enormous armchair, which groaned under its weight. "Ugh, don't even mention it. The Forbidden Forest—it's now guarded like a fortress by Aurors and centaurs! Ever since that Halloween night incident, the Ministry of Magic has sent people, and Dumbledore has increased the patrols. Those damned dark wizards, hunting unicorns and setting fire to the Forbidden Forest!" His voice choked, and he wiped his face with his massive hand. "Poor unicorns—they're well protected now, and those bastards certainly won't have another chance!" His tone was a mixture of anger and a hint of relief.
Cullen understood. Voldemort's original plan to prolong his life by drinking unicorn blood was no longer as easy as before, thanks to Dumbledore's strict surveillance. This was probably why he could always sense Quirrell and Voldemort's anxiety.
"It was Aragog and its people who suffered; they had been attacked before." Hagrid's expression became even more dejected. "After Halloween, during that operation by the Aurors and centaurs to investigate the Forbidden Forest, they ventured deep into the forest and clashed with them."
Aragok felt his territory was seriously threatened and led most of his people deeper into the interior—now they're hard to find.” He seemed very sad. “I understand the Aurors and centaurs are doing this for safety, but Aragok and the others… they're not actually that bad, as long as you don't provoke them.”
Wesley felt a little sorry to hear this, but he didn't say anything. He just sighed along with Hagrid, but it was clear that the two meant completely different things.
"Hagrid," Ernesto began, "anything unusual happening with the centaurs? I mean, anything about astrological prophecies or something? You mentioned before that they always like to talk about mystical things."
Hagrid waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, those centaurs! Always so secretive. Frenzer and the others have been spouting those old clichés again lately, like 'the stars are dimming,' and 'the ancient evil of the castle is about to awaken.'"
Ancient and evil? The castle is a thousand years old, what year hasn't something strange happened? I think they're just looking for something to talk about because winter is too cold! He poured himself a cup of strong tea and gulped it down.
But the words "ancient evil" immediately jolted Karen awake. He knew the centaurs' prophecy was accurate, and the ancient evil in the castle couldn't possibly refer to Voldemort. Voldemort's existence was far from ancient, and the ancient things in the castle were mostly left behind by the four leaders. Could it be the Basilisk?
Thinking of this, a chill ran down her spine. Although the basilisk didn't appear until Harry's second year in the original books, the plot had changed, and it was hard to guarantee that Voldemort wouldn't use it earlier. However, given the basilisk's enormous size and magical characteristics, it should be very distinctive, yet Cullen hadn't found any similar traces in the castle recently.
"No trace—" Karen quickly analyzed in his mind, "Is the basilisk not yet awakened? Or is its senses blocked by some powerful magic? Or—the centaur's prophecy points to something else?" But in any case, the connection between "ancient evil" and "basilisk" was too strong, and for him, Voldemort possessing Quirrell was far less threatening than the basilisk lurking in the shadows, which he could not ignore.
He turned to Harry casually and asked, "Harry, have you encountered anything particularly strange lately in the castle? Like, hearing sounds that others can't hear? Hissing sounds or something? Or feeling particularly cold or oppressive in any place?"
Harry was taken aback by the question, thought for a moment, and shook his head. "No, Cullen. Hissing? Except for Peeves sometimes making snake noises to scare people—I've never heard anything like it. Cold places? Hallways are pretty much the same, aren't they? Depressing—well, does Professor Snape's class count?" He made a small joke, and Ron chuckled twice in response.
Karen nodded and didn't ask any further questions. It seemed Harry hadn't yet triggered Parseltongue to hear the Basilisk's movements. But that didn't completely rule out danger.
"Hagrid," Karen looked at the gamekeeper again and offered a seemingly casual suggestion, "Since the Forbidden Forest is not peaceful right now, for safety's sake, perhaps you could keep more roosters around the cabin? Their crowing is loud and can scare away some unfriendly small creatures, and roosters are very alert; they crow at the slightest disturbance, so they can serve as an alarm." He didn't mention that the basilisk was most afraid of roosters crowing, which would be too abrupt, and he wasn't even sure if this ancient evil was actually a basilisk.
Hagrid scratched his bushy beard, thinking, "Raise more roosters? Hmm—that's an idea. I have enough space here, raising more wouldn't be a problem. I'll go to Hogsmeade later and see if there are any good breeding chickens! The ones with loud clucking!" He seemed to think the idea was good, and his mood improved slightly.
After spending some more time at Hagrid's hut, listening to Hagrid recount the situation of other creatures in the Forbidden Forest, Cullen and her companions took their leave. Harry and Ron seemed to want to stay a little longer.
The wind howled coldly on the way back to the castle. Wesley pulled his cloak tighter around himself and said with a hint of regret, "Alas, the Forbidden Forest is now so heavily guarded, with Aurors and centaurs patrolling everywhere, and even the Octopods have moved away—we're afraid we'll never get to the Moonmoss area we discovered before, or that valuable venom. Five hundred Galleons!" He clicked his tongue, looking pained.
"Safety first, Wesley." Karen's voice was calm, yet carried undeniable weight. "The situation in the Forbidden Forest is complex now."
The threat of dark wizards may not be completely eliminated, and given the Ministry of Magic's intervention and the instability of the magical creatures after being startled, going in rashly is too risky; safety is paramount. Don't forget our encounter with the trolls last time. Although we are strong enough to handle them, we can't always put ourselves in danger.
“Karen is right,” Fabian agreed. “Besides, Hagrid said the centaurs prophesied ‘ancient evil,’ although Hagrid doesn’t believe it.”
But we should still be careful.
Ernesto nodded, his grey eyes gazing at the majestic castle: "I always feel that the castle is more unsettling than the Forbidden Forest. An ancient evil," if he meant something about the castle itself—"
Karen didn't reply, but his eyes sharpened. Once inside the Eagle's Nest, he immediately began to act.
"Everyone," Karen's tone turned serious, "whatever the centaur's prophecy points to—whether it's 'ancient evil,' Quirrell, or Voldemort—we must be on high alert. First, the Eagle's Nest's defenses need upgrading. I'll add some more protective spells, and then I'll ask the teacher if we can use some alchemical items to enhance the defenses."
He walked to the center of the room, drew his wand, and began to chant complex incantations in a low voice. Invisible threads of magic flowed from the tip of his wand, merging into the walls, floor, and ceiling. He primarily strengthened the "interference resistance," "magical shielding," "physical reinforcement," and "mental protection," especially setting up specific protective nodes against potential "snake-like perception" and "gaze-based curses." The entire Eagle's Nest's magical barrier became more solid and substantial, resembling a formidable fortress.
"Karen, when you asked Harry if he heard any strange noises, did you already guess what that 'ancient evil' is?" Fabian keenly caught the earlier details.
“It’s just a possibility, Fabian.” Karen didn’t completely deny it. “The castle has a long history; who knows what it’s left behind? Anyway, from now on, everyone should try to travel in groups, especially at night. Avoid abandoned, secluded washrooms and corridors. If you sense anything is wrong, or hear any unusual noises, immediately activate your protective badge and notify the nearest professor, or go straight back to the Eagle’s Nest.” He looked at his three roommates, his gaze solemn.
Wesley, Fabian, and Ernesto all nodded seriously. They trusted Cullen's judgment, especially on security matters.
"Understood!" Wesley patted the badge on his chest.
"We'll be careful," Fabian assured him.
"Hmm," Ernesto replied briefly, his eyes equally grave.
Inside the Eagle's Nest, the fire remained warm, but a tense atmosphere, like the calm before a storm, had already begun to permeate the air. Karen's gaze swept across the reinforced walls, as if trying to pierce through the stone to see the unknown threat lurking beneath the ancient bricks of the castle. He needed to make more preparations.