Creature of Light

Barty was still huffing and puffing long after he had escaped into the safety of the forest. Those Slytherins wouldn't let him get out of it if they caught him, he knew. Come to think of it, sneaking into the Slytherin dungeons perhaps hadn't been such a good idea. Now they were after him, and after they had blocked his way back into Gryffindor tower, he had no choice but to run out of the castle.

And to the Forbidden Forest.

They would never dare to follow him there.

It was already getting dark, but the gloomy forest didn't make him feel afraid. It reminded him of the ancient oak grove near his home, where he often spent time when he wanted to be alone with his thoughts. This was just another ancient forest, its darkness filled with mysteries and secrets. How could he be afraid of something so magnificent?

Barty wondered if the Slytherin boys were waiting him on the edge of the forest. He sat down on a mossy rock, listening. He could hear only the wind in the treetops, an occasional whistle of a bird, and the sound of a snapping branch somewhere inside the majestic forest.

Then there was another snap. Then a third, as if some kind of animal was walking behind the bushes and trees.

It was coming nearer.

He stood up, unsure what to do. There was no need to panic, he had to remind himself. He had read in Hogwarts: A History that the most dangerous beasts of the forest never came near the castle and its protections. And if they did come, he knew some nasty hexes that would hopefully scare the beasts away. This logic wasn't quite enough to reassure him, but he stayed nevertheless. He didn't want to turn back and face the furious Slytherins yet, nor did he want them to see him running out of the forest in panic.

The beast was so close now; it had to be behind the nearest trees. Barty caught a glimpse of something white - silvery white. What was it? Something big. Big and silvery white. Barty felt relieved. None of the dark creatures he knew could look so... light. The creature seemed almost to be glowing in the near-darkness. Then it stepped ahead, and Barty found himself staring directly into the eyes of a stag.

For a moment they just stared at each other. The stag looked proud and almost intelligent. Barty didn't dare to move. After a moment that felt like an eternity the animal turned its head ever so slightly, ready to turn back to where it had come from.

"Don't go," whispered Barty. He didn't want to lose sight of such a magnificent creature yet. "Come here. Don't be afraid. I'm your friend." He extended his hand, but the stag had already turned to run. As quickly as the creature had appeared it was gone again.

Barty stood still, the sight of the stag still fresh in his mind. Where had that mysterious creature come from? He had never seen anything quite like it. So proud, so wise, so serene. He didn't know creatures like that even existed. How little he knew about the mysteries of the world!

Suddenly, there was a rush of feet, and several voices were whispering somewhere behind Barty. He startled, for a moment sure that the Slytherin boys had nevertheless dared to enter the forest. However, when the boys came nearer he recognised them as his House mates, and a sense of relief went through him.

"Black! Pettigrew! Potter! ... and Lupin!" he shouted, genuinely surprised, for he surely hadn't expected to meet the Gryffindor prefect himself with his fellow fifth-years outside the school boundaries. "What are you doing here?"

"That's just what we want to ask you, Crouch," said James Potter who had now stepped ahead. "This forest is not safe for the second-years, especially as dusk is falling. You'll never know what kind of creatures wander here."

"Did you see the stag?" Barty couldn't help asking. "A big, silvery white stag was here just a moment ago. I've never seen anything like it before! It stood just where you are standing now. I felt it was trying to talk to me!"

The boys looked at each other, then shook their heads.

"No, I didn't see anything," said Pettigrew. "Did you, James?"

"Nothing at all," said Potter. "And I think we'd better leave soon. It'll be dark shortly. But tell me first, Crouch, why are you here? This forest is not for kids."

Barty didn't like that James Potter called him a 'kid', but he didn't feel like lying. "I made a couple of Slytherins angry. Don't ask. They were after me, and I had no choice but to hide here."

"That's our boy," said Potter, and even in the dim light Barty could sense he was grinning. "Who were they, then?"

"Uh, just Rosier and Snape. And your brother," he continued, now turning to speak to Sirius Black.

"Regulus? Snivellus? Bullying an innocent second-year? Why am I not surprised?"

"Just leave them to us. We'll take care of those idiots," said Potter.

"All right, Crouch, let's do this. You don't tell anyone that we were... um, wandering outside, and I won't take any points from you for being where you are not allowed to be." Prefect Lupin smiled at him, knowing all too well that it was just an empty threat.

"And we'll help you settle the matter with those Slytherin nuisances," continued Potter.

"Okay," Barty agreed. "I won't tell your secrets if you won't tell mine."

"But promise me one thing."

"What, Potter?"

"Never go and look for that stag again. This forest is dangerous. You don't realise it yet, but it is."

How did Potter guess that the thought had occurred to him? "I won't." At least for now, he added in his thoughts. For if what he had heard while sneaking into the Slytherin dungeons was true, there would be interesting things happening in the future. And he wanted to learn more, even if it meant more spying on the Slytherins.

"You're right," he continued, realising that he had been lost in his thoughts, and that the others were now staring at him. "I suppose it's best not to disturb the stag of the forest. You know, I have more important things to do."