Chapter 39

While Alex was still at a distance from the Potter and the others, he stopped. The tension in the air increased. As the clouds scattered and the moonlight lit the forest, the silhouette in front of them grew more distinct.

They could clearly see an animal with a pure white coat, silver tail and mane and a platinum horn lying on the ground. A person draped in a black cloak bent on the Unicorn and was sucking the blood out of it. All this while the Unicorn continued to wriggle in pain and suffering. They did not know if the person in front of them was a man or a woman. But judging from the height and built, it was most likely that of a man.

Fang, whom Malfoy chose with such belief, ran on first sight of that person besides the Unicorn.

Alex felt a premonition rising in his heart. Slowly he started to step back. This was no longer just a punishment. It has turned into a crisis. What are the professors of this so-called best school of wizardry under the most powerful sorcerer doing? He has read a lot about Unicorns, their noble lineage and the effects their blood had on one's life. But the extension of life comes with a curse, one has to live with when they kill or drink the blood of a Unicorn.

Alex felt fear emerge in his heart. One who was willing to go to such an extent just to extend his life a few years was no simple character. Even a bad man would not be willing to drink a Unicorn's blood. One has to be notably corrupt and evil to even think about it.

When Alex was slowly and covertly stepping back. When Potter saw the cloaked man, he dashed forward and yelled, " Who is there? Step aside from the Unicorn".

"Idiot!" Alex almost cursed under his breath.

The man stopped drinking the Unicorn's blood and slowly stood up without turning towards Potter.

"Good, now slowly step aside from the Unicorn. And don't even try to act smart. You wouldn't like me using magic on you and blast you to smithereens". Potter grabbed his wand and pointed it towards the man.

Alex, hearing Potter stumbled in shock, ' You can't even use a 'Levitation spell' what is there you are backing your intimidation with?"

Not just Alex, even Malfoy and Neville were stumped hearing him. Alex knew this. Surely Harry also knew this. Malfoy and Neville behind Potter were aware of this fact. But, but the man might not know this.

The man slowly turned and faced Potter. The cloak covered the whole body, and not even the face was visible. The man in black just stood still, not moving an inch.

Potter saw this as his own triumph. With a complacent smile on his face, Potter continued to slowly walk towards the cloaked man.

'Why is he always so hell-bent on making things difficult for me? Can't he understand the gravity of the situation? Just to shove off, I mean show off in front of everyone, he was willing to risk his life?' Alex thought.

When Potter was no more than about ten meters away from the man, he stopped. There was a standoff between the two of them.

"Ahhh..." Out of nowhere, Potter felt as if he was flying. At the same time, he felt something slip past his arm, leaving a tinge of pain.

He rolled on the ground for a while before smashing into a nearby tree. When he came to his senses, he saw another hooded guy standing where he stood moments ago.

Alex was cursing Harry non-stop in his heart. He just saved his sorry ass. Otherwise, he would have been a goner with no return. One who can't even see a spell coming towards himself was just boasting about his skills. And now, because of him, he had to face this man who, for the first time in his life, made Alex feel threatened by another human being if he was a human, to begin with.

Drops of sweat formed on his forehead while his palms turned cold in fear. Clenching the wand in his hand, he was ready for the upcoming onslaught. It was as if the time itself has come to a stop. No one was moving an inch.

And then...

Sparks began to fly all around. From the beginning, Alex was on the receiving side of the continuous onslaught from the man. He could only try his best to avoid being hit by the spells and remain alive. Alex was running all over the place, using the trees as cover to save himself. Alex occasionally would try to retaliate with a barrage of attacks, but they were often off the mark. Be it casting spells or avoiding them, Alex was always a step behind the man, and pretty soon, his robes were tattered. He looked more like a beggar than a student of a prestigious school like Hogwarts.

Although the cloaked man had the upper hand all the while, he was also getting impatient with each passing second. The more he stayed here, the chances of him getting caught increased, but if he tried to flee, this boy might give him a chase.

The fight continued to stretch, and finally, as if losing his composure, the man, instead of attacking Alex, sent a spell towards Potter. Who all this while like an idiot, continued to lay there on the ground, not even trying to hide.

Seeing the spell coming towards him, Potter instinctively closed his eyes in fear.

"UhhAhhh..." the forest resounded with an earth-shattering cry.

Potter opened his eyes and found that he was alright, and someone stood in front of him.

Alex, in pain, was trying his best not to let out another scream. He turned around and found that the cloaked man was gone. He felt dizzy, and with every ounce of strength and concentration, he tried his best to keep himself sane.

Potter wanted to reach out and remove the hood covering the face of whoever stood in front of him.

He stretched his hand out to remove the hood, but at the same time.

"Harry!" Hagrid called out from somewhere in the forest.

"Harry! Neville!" Hermione and Nicole could also be heard.

Harry turned to look in the direction their voice was coming from. And after that, when he looked back, the silhouette in front of him was gone.

"Harry, is yer alright?" Hagrid asked as he grabbed Potter's shoulders.

"I am fine," Harry told him.

"Where are Neville and Malfoy?" Nicole asked.

"I am here" Malfoy came out from behind the tree.

"I am also here" Neville too came in front of them.

"What happened here? Is that the Unicorn? Get aside" Hagrid pushed Harry aside and went towards the Unicorn lying on the ground almost at his last breath.

Harry followed Hagrid and told everyone what actually happened.

"Who was it who saved yer?" Hagrid asked.

"I don't have a single clue about it". Harry said as he shook his hand in denial.

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