Blood Of The Unicorns

Severus Snape was not a happy man. Actually, that description almost entirely fails to describe his feelings, as happiness was not an emotion he was particularly familiar with. It would, perhaps, be more accurate to say that he was decidedly unhappy. Some people might even take it a step further and say he was exceedingly pissed off. And, if asked, he would quite willingly have concurred with that judgement.

Not only was he pissed off, but he was also in a considerable amount of pain, which increased the creeping suspicion he had that the world, in general, was against him. He was fighting a losing battle. Easier, perhaps, just to give in. Except, of course, that would rank quite definitely as a Bad Thing, and therefore was not an option he really had. Voldemort's aptitude for the Cruciatus curse was, Snape was in a position to observe, undiminished by his years as a shadowy essence. Which, although a plus point from Voldemort's point of view, was uncomfortable for Snape, as he had frankly had about as much of it as he could take. But he and Dumbledore had agreed this course of action, and Snape knew that, come what may, he had to follow it through.

Because there was a spy at Hogwarts.

*** *** ***

Professor Ianthe Loveday carefully picked her way through the entangled roots, which almost obliterated the ground near the middle of the Forbidden Forest. A creaking behind her caused her to spin round, her heart pumping nervously in her chest, her breath coming in quick pants. She was used to this particular activity, but that didn't make its inherent danger any less. She swallowed, and clutched her cloak tighter, wishing that she'd been able to bring a lantern. But it was vital that nobody saw her, so there she was, making her way through the darkness, her progress agonisingly slow. It was still the middle of the day, of course, but somehow daylight never managed to penetrate the heart of the forest. The creaking came again, and she stilled as she saw what she had come for. The unicorn stood facing her, head bent enquiringly.

She pulled out her wand.

*** *** ***

They'd spent the morning having flying lessons with Madam Hooch, which had ended with a game of Quidditch. Ron was in high spirits because he'd been the Seeker, and had managed to outfox Seamus Finnigan and catch the snitch. Hermione was happy because, though flying wasn't her favourite activity, she had managed to score two goals as a Chaser, while Harry had spent an exceedingly enjoyable fifty minutes playing as a Beater, and managing to "accidentally" wallop a passing Blaise Zabini. Madam Hooch had laid into him, but it had definitely been worth it.

The Gryffindor fifth years had come in through one of the side doors, and were making their way to the Gryffindor Tower, chatting away, with Ron nearly poking Dean Thomas' eye out, as he demonstrated with expansive gestures just how he had managed to catch the elusive snitch, when Neville, who was at the front stopped dead. Parvati, just behind him, who was gossiping away with Lavender Brown, almost tripped, and was about to have a go at Neville, when she saw what was in the corridor, and she gave a frightened gasp. Unease ran through the group of students, and Harry and Ron, with Hermione at their heels, shouldered their way to the front. There, standing in the middle of the corridor were about a dozen second years. Frozen.

"A basilisk," whispered Ron, and Harry's thoughts flew to the events of their own second year, but before he could dwell on the whole Heir of Slytherin debacle, Hermione shook her head.

"No. A basilisk would have killed them - there's nothing here that could reflect it. Anyway, Harry hasn't heard anything, have you?" Harry shook his head, and Parvati's hand went up, almost as an automatic reflex to the assurance in Hermione's voice.

"W-what is it, then?" she asked quaveringly.

"Just a normal petrificus spell, I think." Hermione whipped her wand out from her sleeve, and pointed it at the frozen figures. "Enervate!" Nothing happened. She pointed again. "Finite Incantatem!" Still nothing. Hermione shrugged. "It's too strong," she explained. "It takes a lot of power to do a whole lot of people like that."

"So who did it in the first place?" Ron voiced the question they were all thinking.

"I don't know," said Harry grimly. "But I -" Before he could finish, they heard the sound of hurrying footsteps, and Professor McGonagall turned round the corner, closely followed by Professor Dumbledore himself, with Professor Loveday only seconds behind. Harry looked at her curiously, as she was unusually disheveled. She wasn't wearing a hat, and her hair was coming loose on one side. As Dumbledore re-animated the confused second years, and McGonagall questioned them about what had happened, Harry watched the Potions professor, his eyes narrowed. Then, as Hadrian Lancaster, a second year Hufflepuff, explained in a scared voice that he hadn't seen anything, Loveday lifted an absent-minded hand to brush away a lock of hair that had fallen from her tight bun… and left a silver streak on her temple. Harry elbowed Hermione, who was paying close attention the question-and-answer session being conducted in the corridor, and she looked at him in surprise, then followed his gaze to Loveday.

"Look at her hand," Harry whispered, and Hermione obeyed. Harry heard her sharp intake of breath, and as she looked back at him, raised an eyebrow meaningfully. "I think you were right, Herm." He caught hold of her arm, and her pulled her towards the library, which was at the end of that particular corridor. As soon as they were out of earshot of the others, he turned to her. "I need you to find out everything you can about Loveday. There's definitely something going on there. I mean, that was unicorn's blood on her hand, wasn't it?" Hermione nodded slowly.

"I think so, yes. I can't think what else it would be." Harry nodded decisively.

"Well, then." He grinned at her suddenly, and as Hermione started for the library door, he reached out and caught her arm. "Just make sure no one knows what you're looking for." Hermione was about to ask him how stupid he thought she was, when Ron came jogging up.

"Where are you two off to?" he asked cheerfully. Then his glance flicked to where Harry was holding Hermione's arm, and he looked at them suspiciously. "What's going on?" Harry nodded to Hermione, and let go her arm, and she smiled tentatively at Ron before swinging open the library door and disappearing into the dim confines within.

"What did they say happened?" Harry asked. Ron answered automatically.

"They didn't remember anything. They were coming from a Herbology lesson and had to go and change before Transfiguration. They didn't even hear anyone cast the spell. Harry, what are you and Hermione up to?" Harry dragged Ron to a slightly quieter spot, as more students were swarming around as morning lessons finished.

"Look, Ron, we saw unicorn's blood on Loveday." Ron rolled his eyes in exasperation, but the expected outburst never came, much to Harry's surprise.

"Not that again, Harry! Look, I've told you, Loveday isn't into the dark arts."

"Ron! We saw her!"

"So what? Hermione said it, she is an expert in that sort of thing. She was probably just doing an experiment. Anyway, you're both jumping to conclusions. I mean, remember what happened in the first year, when we were all so sure it was Snape who was trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone, and we got it completely wrong."

"Ron-"

"No, I mean it, Harry. You saw that Snape had hurt his leg, and we knew it was Fluffy, but we were still wrong. If Dumbledore trusts her, and he must or he wouldn't have let her come, then she must be all right." Harry bit his lip, frustrated. Admittedly Ron had a point - they had been wrong about Snape, in several ways - but he still wouldn't admit that Loveday was suspicious.

"Okay, Ron. We won't do anything. Maybe you're right." Ron grinned.

"That's more like it! Anyway, come on! We'll miss lunch if we're not careful."

*** *** ***

Ron loitered outside the girls' bathroom, waiting for Hermione to come out so that he could borrow her notes for Transfiguration. He was anticipating a battle royale over it, but Hermione had never let him down yet. He was leaning against the stone wall, kicking back with his heel, when the adjacent door swung open, and Professor Loveday walked out. She was dressed in her usual severe black, and had tidied herself from the morning. Her hat was once again squarely on the tightly confined red hair, and she was carrying a small bag as she looked around cautiously. She missed Ron, who was hidden by a slightly protruding arch, and, satisfied that she was alone, walked quickly out of the corridor, through a side door, and into the path that led from the school. Ron, curious about her behaviour, gave a quick glance back at the door to the girls' bathroom, then shrugged mentally, and set off after his Potions professor.

She walked quickly, not stopping or hesitating, until she reached the edges of the Forbidden Forest. Ron paused for a moment, then followed her, unsure why he was doing this after all his vehement protests to Harry and Hermione. They wandered deeper and deeper into the forest, until it was black as night around them, and they were surrounded by the whisperings and rustlings of the trees… and the creatures that lived in them. Professor Loveday seemed to know where she was going though, and Ron kept a close eye on her dark figure as it slipped through the undergrowth. Then they came to a clearing, and Ron's heart stopped as he saw what was lying there.

A unicorn, blood seeping from its flank…

Loveday, raising her wand…

Himself, backing up hurriedly, and tripping over a log…

Loveday, whirling round, a strange gleam in her eyes, hissing a spell…

*** *** ***

Ron loitered outside the girls' bathroom, waiting for Hermione to come out so that he could borrow her notes for Transfiguration. He was leaning against the stone wall, kicking back with his heel, when the door opened, and Parvati and Lavender came out, giggling together. Hermione followed a moment later, and sighed as she saw Ron.

"Ron, what is it?" She received no response. Ron stood there, kicking the wall, ignoring her. "Ron!" Her voice was sharper, but she still got no response. With growing concern she waved her hand in front of his face, and he reacted with a start.

"Hermione!"

"Are you all right? You look a bit strange."

"I'm fine. Hermione, about that Transfiguration lesson…"