Chapter 9: Forbidden Forest

Harry was distracted by his surroundings as he followed the headmaster across the school grounds. He’d never seen so much space and silently wished to explore. Movement in the lake to his right made him stop. He squinted into the sun, trying to see what it was.

“It’s the giant squid, Harry. He lives in the lake and is harmless, although I suspect that you wouldn’t want to get too close to him,” the headmaster explained, noticing where Harry’s attention had been drawn.

There’s a monster in the lake, Harry thought to himself and hurried after the headmaster, keeping close in case something else was lurking around the property.

Just as Harry started feeling tired from the quick pace of their walk, they arrived at a small hut on the edge of the grounds. Before Albus could knock, the door flew open and something larger then Harry came bounding out and knocked him to the ground. However, Harry didn’t stay scared for long as he felt a wet tongue licking his face.

“Get off, Fang!” a loud voice boomed and the creature backed off. Harry looked up and saw a large puppy wagging his tail and looking like he was ready to pounce again.

“Hagrid, you got a new dog. Wonderful!” Albus exclaimed, bending down to pet the boarhound puppy.

“Yeah. Got ‘im from a friend of mine a few days ago. Good dog, too.” The large man said fondly.

Harry stood and brushed himself off, wiping the slobber from his face. He didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the adults’ conversation as he petted the puppy, who seemed to love to have the spot right behind his ears scratched. They didn’t have a dog at home and the only dog he ever met were the ones that Aunt Marge brought with her when she visited. They were big and mean. This one didn’t chase him or try to bite him at all!

“Harry,” the headmaster called, gaining his attention. “You’re going to stay with Hagrid and Fang today while I attend some meetings in London. Please behave and listen to Hagrid.”

Harry nodded and stared up at the huge man. Normally he would have been scared of a giant but there was something familiar about him.

The headmaster ruffled his hair and walked back toward the castle gates.

“Why don’t we have some tea and my special cakes, Harry? Then I suppose I could show you some of the creatures we have here at Hogwarts.”

Harry followed the large man into the small hut and soon found himself sipping on sweetened tea and nibbling a very hard, crusty cake. It was even harder than the crusty bread that he’d nick from the back of the breadbox when cleaning.

Hagrid seemed nice to the young boy, even with his overwhelming size. Harry couldn’t help but smile at the man’s excited explanations of the animals he was currently tending.

“Have yeh met our giant squid yet, ‘Arry?” Hagrid asked as he finished his tea.

Harry glanced through the window at the still waters of the lake and shook his head. He’d seen glimpses of the squid but wasn’t about to get close to any monster!

“Well, then I’ll introduce yuh. It’s about time I fed him anyhow.”

Not wanting to offend the large man’s enthusiasm, Harry quietly followed Hagrid out of the hut and across the grounds to the lake. 

Harry hung back as Hagrid walked to the edge of the lake, the water lapping at his boots. The surface of the lake was calm and smooth, but even the warm sun couldn’t tempt Harry any closer to the cool water. Who would ever go swimming with a monster in the lake!

Hagrid let up a shrill whistle and immediately the water started churning. Harry watched in horrified fascination as tentacles surfaced and waved in the air, almost as if greeting the giant man.

“Come ‘ere, ‘Arry. Yeh can feed ‘im if yeh like,” Hagrid called, looking behind him at the shy boy.

“No thanks, sir. I can just watch,” Harry said quietly, never taking his eyes off of the squid.

Hagrid shrugged to himself and began tossing fish heads to the tentacles. They never hit the water, instead, the tentacles lashed out, catching each one and bring it under to feed. Harry inched a bit closer to watch, trying his very best to be brave. Soon the bucket was empty and the squid disappeared back under the water.

Harry followed Hagrid around for the rest of the afternoon as the giant completed his rounds. He watched as the man left feed out for some invisible animal called a thestral and listened to story after story about the creatures within the forbidden forest.

As the trio, for Fang had joined them on their journey, neared Hagrid’s hut, they found a young centaur waiting for them.

“Orion!” Hagrid bellowed as a greeting. Harry couldn’t help but notice that the half horse, half man creature seemed skittish and kept looking back at the forest.

“Hagrid. My father sends me with a message. A pack of auguery’s were found within the forest injured. Not sure what from but they’re in need of your care.”

“Auguerys, yeh say? Aye, I’ll get right off then.”

Harry didn’t pay much attention as they continued talking, Orion giving Hagrid directions to where the injured creatures were. He was too preoccupied by the centaur. He’d never seen a creature like him before!

“Hagrid, be warned. An erkling was found within the forest. It’s not safe for young Mr. Potter,” the centaur warned.

“He’ll be safe with me, Orion. No worries there.”

Hagrid dashed, well, dashed as much as a giant could, into the hut and quickly emerged with a large bag. “Got all the supplies we’ll need here,” Hagrid said, patting the bag. “Stay close, ‘Arry. And keep quiet.”

Harry’s faced paled as they headed into the forest. The headmaster had specifically told him he wasn’t allowed here. However, Harry wasn’t about to argue with a giant. Hopefully his punishment wouldn’t be too bad. Maybe he’d just go without food for a few days.

Harry stuck close to Hagrid as they ventured farther into the forest. He couldn’t help but pat Fang on his head as the puppy whimpered, voicing his own fear of the dark, strange place.

They walked silently for about twenty minutes before entering a small clearing. There they found a group of five augerys, lying still underneath a small shrub.

“There they are!” Hagrid exclaimed. “Stay back here, ‘Arry. I don’t want yeh to get too close now. Not sure how they’ll react being so scared from the attack.”

Harry sat himself on a rock and watched the man slowly approach the creatures. It seemed like all was going well because Hagrid knelt down and started pulling cloths and containers out of the bag. Harry assumed the containers held some sort of medicine.

“Harry,” a soft voice whispered.

The young boy’s head snapped around as he looked for the source of the voice. Fang, having had lain down beside Harry’s rock, whimpered.

“Harry. Come, Harry,” the voice beckoned softly. Harry pushed off the rock and took a few steps toward the sound of the voice. Who’s calling me?

“Come play, Harry,” the voice beckoned again. Harry, gripped by an unforeseen desire, walked back into the trees, unnoticed by the distracted giant. The force kept pulling at Harry, drawing him nearer to the source. The forest was particularly dark here and no other creature made a noise. The ground was muddy in this area, as if it had just rained. Ahead was a shimmering blue light. That must be it! As Harry drew closer, he felt a change in the air. There was a sudden pressure in the air that settled within his chest. It felt a bit similar to the feeling he got right before Uncle Vernon flew across the room. Something was wrong here!

“Harry, come play with me,” the soft voice beckoned. However, Harry stopped moving.

“Who are you?” he called out, his voice quivering. He wanted to run back to Hagrid but his feet seemed glued to the ground.

“Your friend, Harry. Come play.”

Harry took another step closer, even though he did not wish to, and saw a strange creature at the base of a giant tree. It was small and resembled some sort of elf, although nothing that Harry had ever seen before, even in Dudley’s storybooks. Its nose was long and pointy, and its yellow, protruding eyes seemed to glow in the dim light. Harry stood frozen as the creature approached.

“Let’s be friends, Harry.”

Harry remained silent, feeling the pressure in his chest grow as the creature grew near. He willed his legs to run but it was like his entire body turned to jelly. He couldn’t move!

The creature was now only a few feet away. Harry watched in horror as it bared sharp, tiny teeth and launched itself at him. “NO!” Harry yelled, throwing his arms up in front of his face. The pressure in his chest exploded and white light shot out, blasting towards the strange creature.

Before Harry could move, black robes swirled around him as strong arms gathered him up, before bolting back toward the castle. As he was being taken away, Harry got a glimpse of a small pile of dust and a smoldering tree. Did I do that? was his only thought before darkness overtook him.