Tom froze for a moment. In that split second of daze, he thought he saw… two enormous nostrils?

Not letting him pass?

Fine—then he just wouldn't pass. Without hesitation, he leapt over a few people and landed right beside the injured unicorn.

The great unicorn, having rested a short while, had regained some strength, yet it still looked weak and listless. Its wounds showed no sign of healing.

These were injuries wrought by Dark magic—if not treated quickly, the creature would bleed to death.

In this kind of situation… it was time for Grindelwald to step in.

With just a single glance, Grindelwald had already pinpointed the corresponding counter-curse.

Carrying an "old grandpa" around was already basically cheating—but what if you carried a whole bunch of them?

Let's just say—if it's not turned off, it's definitely turned on!

Under Grindelwald's instructions, Tom cast the counter-curse, dispelling the Dark magic's curse effect. The black miasma clinging to the wounds dispersed. Only then did he take out the healing salve he had made from dittany and begin applying it to the unicorn, muttering all the while:

"I told you, didn't I? This world is dangerous. What would you do without me, hmm? Luckily, I left a mark on you last time—otherwise you'd have ended up like that other poor unicorn."

"Woo~ woo~"

This time, the unicorn's pride was gone. The bond they'd built earlier finally showed its worth. In Tom's mind, the palace of light flared brilliantly—success was just one step away.

While Tom worked on the unicorn's wounds, Hagrid and the others stood watching. In the end, it was Harry, with his quicker ability to accept the strange, who spoke first:

"Tom, what's going on here exactly?"

Tom shrugged. "Didn't you see? Someone attacked my unicorn. I chased them off. That's all."

"Your unicorn?" Hagrid blurted. "This is one of the Forbidden Forest's unicorns."

"Tell me—are you mine or not?", asked Tom. The unicorn, however, neither agreed nor disagreed—just gazed at Tom with wide, innocent eyes.

"See? She didn't deny it," Tom said with a smile to the three of them, his hand subtly pressing a little harder.

"Who were those thirty people?" Hagrid decided to let the unicorn claim go—if he kept pressing, he feared he might end up with a black eye. Better to change the subject.

"No idea. Their hoods were enchanted."

Tom suddenly lifted his head, eyes locking on the darkness. "Lurking around… you planning a sneak attack?"

"No, we mean no harm."

Three centaurs emerged from the shadows, wisely lowering their bows.

Hagrid called out to the lead centaur in his language, then turned to Harry and Ron. "They're centaurs—inhabitants of the Forbidden Forest."

"Tom, they don't attack young wizards."

"Wouldn't be so sure of that." Tom smirked, and the centaurs' expressions darkened—though thankfully, the night hid it well.

"I merely saw Mars shining unusually bright," the lead centaur, Firenze, explained.

"Not my problem. Just don't mess with me."

Hagrid glanced between the two sides, sensing an undercurrent he couldn't quite name.

But when he saw Tom about to leave with the unicorn, Hagrid quickly stopped him. "Tom, you can't go just yet. There's a dangerous intruder in the Forest—we need to report to Dumbledore."

"But I still have to take her to find her daughter." Tom stroked the unicorn's silky mane.

"Leave that to me," Firenze offered. "I know her family well. We centaurs will take care of her treatment."

Tom hesitated briefly… and refused.

He needed the little one to know exactly who had saved her mother.

No one dared oppose him. They could only follow obediently as he led the way to the young unicorn and another adult unicorn. Upon seeing her injured mother, the little one bolted forward in a panic, circling anxiously. The mother unicorn rubbed her daughter gently with her head. The touching scene eased even the frayed nerves of Harry and Ron, who had been rattled earlier.

Finally, after hugging the young unicorn, Tom led the others away.

Yes—led.

The three cowards only dared to walk behind him.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the entrance to the Headmaster's office.

The gargoyle sprang to life, eyeing them suspiciously. "Well, well, the little Slytherin brat. What brings you here so late?"

"It wasn't my idea," Tom said, pointing at Hagrid. "He insisted I come."

"Fine then." The gargoyle hopped aside, revealing the staircase.

Hagrid, baffled, asked, "Don't we need a password?"

"You do. This kid doesn't," the gargoyle yawned lazily, then ignored him.

Inside the office, the room was empty. Tom unceremoniously claimed a single-seat sofa, his relaxed posture a stark contrast to Hagrid and the others, who stood stiffly.

Before long, footsteps sounded from upstairs. Dumbledore emerged in pajamas, eyes heavy with sleep.

"Please, spare an old man's hard-earned rest, my friends."

"Coming to see me this late—did you decide your House has too many points?"

"Professor, you've got some eye gunk," Tom pointed out.

"Thank you, Mr. Riddle," Dumbledore replied, rubbing his eye. "But even so, I'm afraid I won't be reducing your punishment."

"Dumbledore, sorry to disturb you so late, but just now—"

Hagrid quickly summarized the events.

Dumbledore's expression turned grave. "A hooded man… a dead unicorn… Hagrid, you should have told me sooner. That is a very dark magic indeed.

"Unicorns are pure and sacred. Drinking their blood can heal—but it brings a terrible curse. A fate worse than death… though some may not feel that way."

"Sorry, Professor." Hagrid's face burned with guilt. As a school dropout, he had never learned such advanced matters.

Dumbledore's piercing blue gaze shifted to Tom. "Mr. Riddle, would you care to tell me what happened from your perspective?"