Deep within the Forbidden Forest, snow blanketed the ground, transforming the landscape into a serene, fairy-tale-like winter wonderland.
Hagrid, clutching Fang's leash, scanned the surroundings with sharp vigilance. As he led the way, he spoke to Sharl, who followed closely behind.
"Don't be fooled by how peaceful it looks," Hagrid warned. "The Forbidden Forest is far more dangerous in the snow. The creatures here go hungry and start expanding their hunting grounds. But no matter how fierce magical beasts are, they're not as treacherous as people."
"Every Christmas, poachers sneak into the forest thinking Hogwarts will relax its patrols. Sometimes, they're right," he added grimly. "If you hadn't insisted, I'd never have brought you here. Stick close to me, Sharl."
Sharl's expression was equally serious. In his previous life, he'd often ventured into deep mountains and ancient forests, so he knew not to underestimate danger—especially in the Forbidden Forest, where Acromantulas alone posed a deadly threat. Who knew what other 5X-rated magical creatures lurked?
Still, the Troll settlement was critical to Sharl's progress. Taming the trolls would greatly enhance his Magic Perception, and that alone made the risk worthwhile.
Before entering, Sharl had touched a Guardian Tree sapling in the Greenhouse. The tree's sacred magic now protected him, offering resistance to most Dark Arts. He also wore a transparent water tank over his head and carried a large water pouch—crude, but it kept his Water Enhancement state active. Until he mastered the Bubble-Head Charm, this was his best option.
His sharp platinum-level night vision swept across the dim forest, focusing on places untouched by the snow's reflective light.
Thanks to Hagrid's familiarity with the forest, they hadn't encountered any danger so far, which eased Sharl's nerves slightly.
"We're here," Hagrid said, his deep voice cutting through the silence. "The tracks are just ahead."
Sharl looked where Hagrid pointed. Large footprints stamped into the snow matched Troll tracks he'd seen before. They led deeper into the forest.
"This Troll group must be starving," Hagrid murmured. "Normally, they wouldn't come this close to Hogwarts. The protective magic makes them uneasy. But they didn't stay long—they moved on quickly. Come on, Sharl, stay close."
With Fang in the lead, Hagrid pushed through the thickening woods. As they moved beyond the range of Hogwarts' protective enchantments, the environment grew even more oppressive. Dense branches blocked out the sky. Apart from Hagrid's lantern and Sharl's Lumos, everything around them was pitch black. Even the air seemed charged with wild, dangerous magic.
Luckily, Sharl's Magic Perception and night vision let him monitor everything clearly.
Suddenly, Hagrid raised the lantern and pointed. "There! More tracks! We're on the right path!"
As Sharl moved to follow, he suddenly stopped.
"Sharl?" Hagrid turned, confused. "What's wrong?"
At that moment, hidden deeper in the forest, several cloaked figures tensed. They had been watching the pair, wands at the ready.
"Why did he stop?" one of them whispered, uneasy.
"Did he notice us?"
"No way," scoffed their leader—a scarred, fierce-looking man. "We're surrounded by protective enchantments. No sound, no scent. Not even light can reach us. If Hagrid didn't notice, how could some first-year half-Giant?"
Still wary, they waited.
Back on the trail, Sharl turned to Hagrid. "Hagrid, it's really dark ahead. The trees are thick... What if there are snakes?"
"Snakes?" Hagrid blinked, caught off guard. "They hibernate in winter."
"But this is the Magical World," Sharl replied. "What if there are magical snakes that don't hibernate?"
Hagrid scratched his head. "Well... that is possible."
Meanwhile, the poachers overheard everything via sound-enhancing magic. Relaxing, they chuckled.
"What a dumb kid," one said. "Scared of snakes in the snow?"
"Who paid so much for his bounty, anyway?" sneered another.
Still pretending to be scared, Sharl suggested, "How about we test the area ahead? If there are snakes, a disturbance might scare them away."
Though Hagrid found it unnecessary, he agreed. "Alright. Let's use these stones."
He picked up a few pebbles nearby. But Sharl shook his head.
"No, those are too small." He bent down and lifted a human-sized stone from beneath the snow. "Let's use this! It'll definitely scare off any snakes. Come on, Hagrid, let's see who can throw it farther!"
Hagrid laughed. "Alright, let's have a contest!"
He picked up another massive stone.
Watching from the shadows, the poachers started to panic.
"Wait! Are they serious?! What if they hit us?!"
"No way," the leader said. "This forest is huge. There's no chance they'll hit our tiny spot. Don't move!"
Then came the first throw.
Whoosh! Hagrid's stone slammed into distant bushes. Snow exploded into the air, but nothing stirred.
"See? Nothing," Hagrid said.
But Sharl's eyes narrowed. "Now it's my turn."
He launched his stone with terrifying force.
This time, the projectile did hit something—their hiding spot.
The poachers barely registered what was happening before the boulder crushed several of them into a gory mess.
The survivors, including the leader, stared in horror.
"You saw us all along?!"
Sharl said nothing—he simply threw another stone.
Now prepared, the remaining poachers cast Bombarda, shattering the second rock midair.
Hagrid's face darkened as he pulled out his umbrella-wand and shielded Sharl. "Poachers? How dare you!"
He fired a spell, which the leader blocked—but the impact forced him back several steps.
Other poachers began to lose ground under Hagrid's assault.
Behind him, Sharl silently cast Incarcerous—a non-verbal spell that bound one of the poachers and hung him upside down.
"Over there, Hagrid!" Sharl called.
Hagrid gawked. "Non-verbal spellcasting?! Sharl, you're brilliant!"
He fired again, launching the bound poacher into a tree.
Sharl repeated the spell, catching another poacher off-guard. Hagrid quickly knocked that one down too.
The poachers panicked. Several were dead, and more were captured.
The leader clenched his jaw. "This wasn't supposed to happen! Who said he couldn't cast spells?!"
But still unwilling to retreat, he barked, "Attack the boy! Don't kill him—just knock him out!"
The remaining poachers aimed at Sharl with Stupefy.
Sharl paled—he didn't know Protego or counter-spells. He could only dodge or rely on Hagrid.
Hagrid shouted, "You won't harm him while I'm standing!"
With a roar, he charged recklessly, forcing the poachers to shift focus.
He then placed Sharl on Fang's back. "Run!"
Fang whimpered but obeyed, sprinting into the forest.
Sharl, stunned, turned back just in time to see Hagrid take multiple hits and collapse.
He jumped off Fang and sprinted toward the battlefield.
The poachers had stopped attacking. Hagrid lay still. Only the leader remained, muttering curses.
"You damn beast... You ruined everything!"
He kicked Hagrid repeatedly in rage.
But just then—a sharp whoosh.
Another stone flew toward him, only to be blocked by a shimmering shield.
The leader turned to see Sharl standing tall, wand ready.
"A child who came back for his friend," he sneered. "Touching."
He wasn't afraid—Sharl's earlier spells had failed against his shield.
"Try again," the leader mocked. "Sectumsempra? Levitation? Incarcerous? Useless."
But Sharl's expression was calm.
He whispered: "Sectumsempra!"
A blade-like invisible spell sliced through the air.
To the poacher's horror, his shield shattered like glass. Blood erupted from his throat.
"Sectumsempra..." he gasped. "Snape's curse..."
Sharl said coldly, "Correct. But no prize."
He followed up with another Sectumsempra, ensuring the poacher was dead.
Only then did he allow himself to breathe.
Just as he relaxed, a stench drifted in.
Two young trolls poked their heads out from the trees. Behind them, two adult trolls lumbered into view, eyes focused on Sharl and the unconscious Hagrid.
They muttered, "Hungry..."
Sharl's eyes lit up.
A Troll settlement?!
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