Hogwarts: This holy light is righteously evil.

Upon hearing Puni's words, the little snake statue struggled even more violently, wanting Puni to help it remove the gagging spell. But Puni had finally managed to get rid of the little snake's chatter and rest quietly for a while. How could he easily give up such a good opportunity? He had already been talking to it for so long.

Puni ignored the snake statue's struggles, turned around happily and walked to the sofa, plopped down, and then lay down, sinking into the soft silver silk sofa again. He couldn't help but marvel at how soft the sofa was, even more comfortable than his bed in his Ravenclaw bedroom. He didn't want to get up once he lay down, and most of his fatigue disappeared.

......

Ravenclaw Tower.

The morning light shines through the tall stained-glass windows at the top of the tower, casting a soft glow on the spiral staircase and casting its long, thin shadow like a winding ribbon that extends downwards, eventually connecting to an exquisite covered bridge. This bridge is the only way to enter the Ravenclaw common room; without it, one cannot reach that space filled with intellectual charm.

Puni was sitting on a stone bench by the covered bridge, bathed in the warm morning sun, quietly turning the pages of a book. Sunlight fell on his hair, gilding it with a faint golden light. He was focused as he gently turned the pages.

Beyond the covered bridge lay Hogwarts' infamous, unpredictable staircases—or so he'd call them for now. After all, almost no student who had experienced the torment of these stairs had any fondness for them. These stairs never played by the rules, always changing direction and adjusting their angles without warning, making it easy to slip and fall if you weren't careful.

Professor Flitwick had told him about the history of these staircases. They had been modified into a spiral staircase, originally intended to make it easier for students to go up and down the stairs and reduce crowding. However, after the modification, problems arose one after another. The steps would often suddenly retract, and many students would fall because they were not prepared. Although they were not in danger of losing their lives, they were often injured. It was because of these frequent accidents that the school finally decided to change the spiral staircase back to its current form. Although it is still somewhat cumbersome, it has greatly reduced the danger.

Ultimately, Hogwarts is an ancient castle with a history of over a thousand years. It is not static, but has been continuously maintained and renovated over the long years. Many places have also added some modern facilities that are more suitable for wizarding life. Of course, most of these new facilities are basic daily necessities, such as more convenient toiletries and more comfortable chairs.

At this moment, the book that Puni was flipping through contained interpretations and speculations about various kinds of magic. As the oldest and most prestigious wizarding school in the world, Hogwarts' origin story has always been a topic of great interest to many wizards. Naturally, the book also devoted a lot of space to recording in detail the original intentions and past of the four great wizards in building the castle.

Besides the origins of Hogwarts, another key point in the book is the "Curse of the Mysterio." Since the disappearance of the Mysterio, many wizards have devoted themselves to researching how to decipher this curse. This curse is known as "the most difficult curse to lift in the history of the wizarding world." Most wizards believe that this curse was personally set by Voldemort to strike at the wizarding forces that opposed him and to consolidate his rule.

However, another group of wizards firmly denied this claim. After repeated investigations, they found no trace of the curse in Hogwarts classrooms, professors' offices, or any corner of the castle. They proposed a completely new view: this so-called "curse" was actually Voldemort's deliberate claim that it existed, and many wizards, out of fear, chose to believe it, thus making it truly effective. Furthermore, the more people who believed in the existence of this curse, the stronger its power became. The only way to completely break it was to kill Voldemort himself.

This viewpoint has become the core basis for many wizards to believe that Voldemort is only missing, not dead. The curse will not be dispelled as long as the source is not removed. What is frustrating is that the Ministry of Magic has been deliberately denying this and desperately covering up the truth that Voldemort may return. This is very much in line with the style of the British wizarding world. As a widely circulated joke goes: "The Ministry of Magic's reports are never to protect secrets, but to protect themselves."

Puni understood that the Ministry of Magic was doing this to protect itself. Even if Voldemort returned in the future, they could still pretend to be blind and deaf, pretending to know nothing. In this way, they would not be retaliated against by Voldemort, but might even be rewarded by Voldemort for "inaction," thus preserving their position and life.

Thinking of this, Puni shook his head helplessly, gently closed the book in his hand, and put it in his pocket. Sure enough, no matter where you are, the Ministry of Magic's operations are an art of manipulating possibilities. In the end, the ultimate goal is to serve people's selfishness and desires, and the magical world is no exception.

At this moment, the sunlight outside became even brighter, and the warm light shone on his body, making him feel comfortable all over. Puni stood up, stretched, and a thought came to his mind: instead of getting entangled in these complicated conspiracies and curses here, he might as well take a walk near Hagrid's cabin, breathe in some fresh air, and then stroll around the edge of the Forbidden Forest to relax.

He had just taken a step when two identical, energetic voices called out from behind him, tinged with urgency: "Puni! Hey! Wait for us!"

Penny didn't even need to turn around to know who it was. Apart from the Weasley twins, Fred and George, no one had such a vibrant and slightly cunning voice. As soon as he finished speaking, two figures rushed to his sides like a gust of wind, grabbing his arms on either side with enthusiastic smiles on their faces.

Fred spoke first, a sly smile on his face. He reached out and gently poked the book in Puni's arms, asking cheerfully, "Puni, would you be interested in learning about our latest formula? It's guaranteed to be novel and interesting."

Puni raised an eyebrow slightly: "Your new formula? It's not the kind of candy that can send people to the infirmary, is it? If so, please don't try to get your hands on me."

He knew all along that the twins had been researching how to incorporate potions into candies, resulting in a constant stream of Gryffindor students being hospitalized in Hogwarts' infirmary after eating their candies. After receiving a stern warning from Professor McGonagall, the two of them had obviously set their sights on students from other houses.

"Oh, what a pity. We thought everyone would enjoy trying this novel experience," Fred and George said in unison, deliberately feigning disappointment and letting out soft sighs, but their excitement was undisguised.

Puni, having seen through their tricks, calmly said, "Perhaps you could try it with Filch; he might 'like' your new formula. As for me, I plan to spend the whole day leisurely strolling and reading in the sunshine, and I don't want to be disturbed by your new invention."

During this time, he went to the Chamber of Secrets every day and stayed in that dark and damp place almost every night. Over time, he felt that his body was about to mold and he felt uncomfortable all over. He couldn't imagine how Professor Snape could stay in such a dark and damp place as the cellar for so many years and still maintain a cold and aloof appearance.

Upon hearing the name "Filch," the twins' smiles vanished instantly. They complained, "You know that old geezer. Now, when he sees the two of us, it's like he's seeing our enemies. He wants to pounce on us and chew us up and swallow us whole. How could we possibly go to him?"

During this time, their conflict with Filch deepened, and they would almost always start fighting whenever they met, with Filch chasing them all over half of the castle each time.

Puni couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth: "Wouldn't that be perfect? ​​If he can be sent to the medical room by your new formula, won't you be much more relaxed afterward? At least, he won't be chasing after you anymore, nor will he bother me while I'm strolling around the woods."

Upon hearing Puni mention the Forbidden Forest, Fred's eyes lit up instantly. He quickly grabbed Puni's arm and deliberately lowered his voice: "The Forbidden Forest! That's a really great place! Listen, if you see any mushrooms in the Forbidden Forest that glow with an eerie purple light, can you pick some for us and bring them back? We've been researching this for a long time and suspect that this mushroom is the most crucial missing ingredient in our 'Magic Mushroom Bubble Gum.' If we can find it, the bubble gum can be successfully made!"

George immediately leaned over, winked at Penny, and quickly added, "Our reward for you will be absolutely generous! Don't worry, after it's done, we guarantee that during the next Potions class test, we'll make Professor Snape's nose look like a glowing strawberry, making him look like a fool in front of the whole class. How about that?"

"What are you talking about?" Puni stared at the twins in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief, as if he had heard something utterly unbelievable. "Do you know you're breaking the law? Psychedelic magical products are strictly controlled by the Ministry of Magic. Take that infamous love potion, for example. Just one drop can make someone fall head over heels in love with a complete stranger. The Ministry of Magic has long prohibited the sale and distribution of such things to Hogwarts students. Are you planning to bring this psychedelic mushroom bubble gum to school and sell it to other students? I advise you to abandon that idea immediately. Have you even read the Ministry of Magic's regulations on penalties for such illegal products? If you're caught, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Upon hearing Penny's words, Fred and George exchanged a glance, their excitement instantly freezing, replaced by confusion and hesitation. They had been so focused on developing new magical candies, single-mindedly trying to create something novel, that they hadn't paid any attention to the Ministry of Magic's regulations. They were even unaware that such hallucinogenic products were strictly controlled. In their minds, the Ministry of Magic hadn't explicitly prohibited the development of such potions, so they hadn't taken it seriously.

Chapter 113 Someone has trespassed into the Forbidden Forest!

Seeing the twins' bewildered expressions, Puni coughed helplessly: "Besides, Hagrid specifically reminded me that I absolutely cannot touch anything in the Forbidden Forest, especially those glowing creatures and plants, most of which have poisonous or dangerous magical properties. Moreover, I want to keep my house points and don't want to get caught by the professor and have my Ravenclaw points deducted because I helped you pick these illegal mushrooms."

After saying that, Puni gently freed himself from the twins' grip on his arms, cleverly circled around to their side, and continued walking toward the oak gate of the castle without stopping, showing no sign of being moved by their suggestion or stopping for the slightest.

Watching Puni's resolute departure, the twins immediately let out exaggerated sighs of disappointment and frustration. Their voices were so loud that they attracted the attention of several students passing by. However, their disappointment did not last long. Soon, they were drawn to the attention of a passing lower-grade student. They immediately stopped sighing, put on enthusiastic and sly smiles, surrounded the student, and began to enthusiastically promote their other new products, as if the rejection had never happened.

Puni didn't look back. He walked out of the oak gates of Hogwarts Castle. As soon as he stepped out, the warm sunlight shone down on him without reservation, dispelling the coolness inside the castle. The fresh air, mixed with the fragrance of grass and the smell of earth, rushed towards him, making him feel refreshed instantly. The fatigue from staying up all night in the Maze Chamber for days also dissipated.

He slowed his pace and walked slowly down the gentle slope outside the castle toward Hagrid's lonely little house. The house was located on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, surrounded by weeds and unknown wildflowers. From a distance, it looked particularly simple, yet it exuded a sense of warmth. Before he even reached the door of the house, Hagrid's big dog, Tooth, had already smelled Puni's scent and immediately ran out from the doorway, barking excitedly around his feet, wagging its tail from side to side, and gently rubbing its head against his trouser leg, showing great affection.

"Puni, you've finally arrived?" A loud voice came from inside the house, and then Hagrid's tall and burly figure appeared at the door of the hut. He was wearing a coarse cloth apron with many pockets, which were bulging and filled with unknown contents. In his hand, he was holding a huge copper pot with some green liquid on it, obviously preparing to feed some kind of magical creature and hadn't had time to clean it up yet.

Hagrid waved to Puni with a smile and said eagerly, "What a coincidence! You've come at the perfect time. Come quickly and help me take a look. It's not Buckbeak, it's another hippogriff I've been taking care of. It's been shedding a lot lately, and I've given it some new feather oil, but I don't know how effective it is. Can you take a look and see if its feathers have improved?"

Puni nodded and followed Hagrid toward the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid carried his signature pink umbrella, with a cloth bag full of feed hanging from the handle. As they walked, he described the habits of the hippogriff to Puni in a loud voice. His rapid speech and loud voice startled several birds in the forest, who flapped their wings and flew up from the branches toward the depths of the Forbidden Forest.

The deeper you go into the forbidden forest, the more dappled and sparse the surrounding light becomes. The tall ancient trees block out the sun, and sunlight can only filter through the gaps in the leaves, casting scattered spots of light on the ground and forming irregular shadows. The air also gradually becomes cooler, carrying the unique earthy smell of the forbidden forest, the smell of decaying plants, and a faint fragrance of grass and trees, all mixed together to create a unique atmosphere.

Puni really liked this feeling. Although the Forbidden Forest was full of dangers and unknowns, it was also full of life. The tranquility where danger and life were intertwined made his nerves gradually relax.

The two had walked for a short while when they stopped in a clearing overgrown with weeds. Before them stood several ancient trees that looked sickly, their branches withered and their leaves devoid of their former green, appearing lifeless. Hagrid immediately wiped the smile off his face and gestured for Puni to be quiet, gruffly telling him to keep his voice down so as not to disturb the little creature in the tree hollow.

Then, Hagrid slowly walked to one of the ancient trees, and said in an extremely gentle voice to the entrance of the tree hole, "Alright, little ones, don't be afraid, it's Puni and me, we've come to see you."

After saying that, he turned around, lowered his voice and explained softly to Puni, "Your eyesight is better than mine, so help me check if the nest in that tree hole on the left is still intact? The weather has been fluctuating between hot and cold lately, and I'm worried that the nest might be damaged by the wind and the little ones might catch a cold."

Puni slowed his pace, held his breath, and carefully approached the sickly ancient tree, afraid that any large movements would disturb the little creature inside the tree hole. Several withered vines hung from the entrance of the tree hole, tangled together in a mess, obscuring the view inside. He stretched out his fingers and gently parted the drooping vines, avoiding the thorns on them with his fingertips. Then he bent down slightly, squinted his eyes, and carefully examined the situation inside the tree hole.

The tree hole wasn't very deep, and the nest inside was very ingeniously built. It was clear that it had been carefully maintained, with layers of slender twigs, soft grass leaves, and tiny feathers lining it. Although it had been raining frequently recently and the nest was a bit damp from the rain, with some mud stains on the edges, the overall structure remained stable and showed no signs of collapse, providing enough shelter for the little creature inside.

Deep within the nest, two slender, withered tree trunks huddled together, seeking warmth. Their small bodies trembled slightly, clearly chilled by the recent days of cold weather. Their wary little eyes gleamed faintly in the dim tree hole, fixed on Puni at the entrance. Their thin branches were taut and straight, ready to defend themselves at any moment, displaying a mixture of timidity and stubbornness.

After confirming that the Bowtruckles were unharmed, Puni slowly straightened up, turned around and reported to Hagrid, "Hagrid, they're fine, all good. The nest is very sturdy, just a little damp from the rain, but it won't affect their habitat."

Hearing Puni's words, Hagrid's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, instantly settled down. His huge chest heaved noticeably as he let out a long sigh of relief, and a憨厚 (honest and simple) smile instantly spread across his face: "That's great! I knew these little guys were tough and would definitely get through these cold and gloomy days!"

In his excitement, he couldn't help but raise his huge hand and pat Puni's back hard. The force was so great that Puni felt a weight on his back, lost his balance, staggered forward a few steps, and almost fell headfirst into the thick pile of fallen leaves next to him.

"Be careful, Hagrid!" Puni quickly steadied himself and said helplessly.

Hagrid realized he had used too much force and quickly reached out to steady Puni's arm, his face full of apology as he repeatedly said, "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Puni, I was so happy that I didn't control my strength. Did I hurt you?"

While apologizing, he gently rubbed Puni's back. After apologizing, Hagrid didn't linger. He reached into his heavy mole-skin coat, pulled it open, and rummaged through the large inner pocket. Soon, he pulled out a jumble of odds and ends and spread them out on the grass in front of him. There were several feathers of different colors and thicknesses, clearly belonging to different kinds of magical creatures; a piece of rock crust with remnants of fragments, its edges hardened; some small, unidentifiable metal parts; a small clump of soft, fluffy hemp fibers that felt very dry; several pieces of fabric of different colors, still relatively soft; and even a crumpled old newspaper with yellowed edges and illegible writing.

Hagrid carefully picked up the dry materials, afraid of damaging anything, and then slowly walked to the tree hollow. He gently stuffed the materials into the hollow, his movements as tender as if he were handling fragile treasures: "Sigh, the weather has been so cold lately, and it's been raining so much. These little guys must be freezing."

As he stuffed materials into the tree hollow, he muttered to himself, "There aren't any dry leaves or hay nearby, so I'll have to make do with these things for now. It's better than letting them lie in a damp nest; at least it'll keep them from getting damp and keep them a bit warmer."

As he spoke, he gently smoothed out the material in the tree hole with his fingers, making sure that every spot was evenly padded so that the tree protector could lie comfortably on it.

“These little guys have been hiding here ever since they were driven out of their original habitat, all alone.” Hagrid felt a pang of pity. “After a while, when the weather gets warmer and there’s less rain, I’ll find them a safer, drier new home so they can live in peace.”

After saying that, he picked up the vines he had just parted and carefully covered the tree hole again, leaving only a small gap to ensure ventilation and to protect the shrubs from wind and rain, preventing them from being disturbed again.

After Hagrid finished taking care of things, Puni took out a book from his pocket, gently opened it, and took out his quill pen and ink bottle. While his memory was still clear, he carefully described the appearance of the two Bowtruckles. Their slender, withered bodies, their wary little eyes, and the fine twig-like textures on their bodies were all described in great detail. At the same time, he also recorded the Bowtruckles' habitat, physical characteristics, and the behavioral habits he had just observed on the pages of the book.

While Puni was taking notes, Hagrid sat on a rock nearby, rambling on about the various things he had encountered in the Forbidden Forest during this time. He talked about the newly discovered magical creature's nest, the unusual noises that appeared deep in the Forbidden Forest, and the troubles he encountered while taking care of other magical creatures. He was sometimes excited and sometimes regretful, talking non-stop without any intention of stopping.

For Puni, having Hagrid, his half-giant friend, by his side made even venturing into the Forbidden Forest, full of unknowns and dangers, feel like exploring his own backyard. After all, Hagrid had worked in the Forbidden Forest for many years and was familiar with everything there.

As for the ban issued by Headmaster Dumbledore prohibiting students from venturing into the Forbidden Forest without permission, Puni didn't care much. Rules are rules, but people are flexible. Besides, Hagrid was with him. With this enthusiastic and powerful half-giant friend by his side, he felt safe and didn't have to worry about encountering insurmountable dangers.

Of course, Puni was not careless at all. He was always cautious and had made full preparations. If he really encountered a danger that was far stronger than himself and that he could not resist, he would naturally follow the principle of "running away is the best of the thirty-six stratagems" and would not blindly show off. After saying goodbye to the few dead trees that were inhabited by the hunchbacks, the two continued to move towards the depths of the forbidden forest, the fallen leaves under their feet rustling.

After walking a few steps, Hagrid brought up the matter of the hippogriffs again, with a mixture of worry and anticipation: "During this time, Buckbeak and his pack have started migrating deeper into the Forbidden Forest, no longer staying in their previous habitats."

His deep, booming voice pierced the tranquility of the forest, instantly breaking the surrounding peace. Hagrid slowed his pace, turned to Puni, and solemnly added, "Buckbeak and the others have been active further into the forest lately. We'll have to walk a bit further to reach their new territory. There was a little trouble in their group recently, and I've been worried about it. This trip is a good opportunity to take you there and let them get to know you. After that, you'll be able to freely enter and leave their territory when you go into the Forbidden Forest without worrying about being attacked."

The deeper they ventured into the Forbidden Forest, the taller and more towering the trees became. Their thick trunks stretched straight towards the sky, their branches and leaves intertwining to form a dense green canopy that almost completely obscured the sky. The already dappled light became even darker, with only a few scattered rays of sunlight struggling to penetrate the gaps in the foliage, casting shimmering, fragmented spots of light on the ground. The path that had been relatively clear underfoot gradually became blurred and indistinguishable, with tangled vines and piles of dead branches and leaves everywhere. If Hagrid hadn't worked in the Forbidden Forest for years and knew every path like the back of his hand, the two of them would have been unable to continue.

The surroundings were eerily quiet. The birdsong from the forest was gone, as were the sounds of magical creatures. Only the rustling of their footsteps on the thick fallen leaves echoed clearly through the woods, along with the occasional, indistinct bird calls from afar, which were fleeting and made the forest seem even more desolate. Tooth was also quieter than before, keeping its head down and sniffing the ground from time to time, its steps closely following Hagrid's.

This state lasted for about fifteen minutes. Just when Puni thought they would have to walk for a long time, Hagrid suddenly let out a low "Eh," abruptly stopping in his tracks. His massive body almost completely blocked Puni's view, and even the air currents seemed to stand still.

Hagrid slowly turned around, his once-honest face now devoid of any smile. His voice was extremely low, filled with obvious vigilance and unease. He tilted his head slightly, listening carefully to the sounds around him, his brows furrowed tightly: "Something's wrong, something's very wrong. Normally, if I walked to this spot, I should have heard Buckbeak and the others flapping their wings and calling to each other, but now, there's not a sound at all. It's eerily quiet."

Puni followed Hagrid's gaze, peeking out from his broad side and looking ahead. In the distance, he saw a clearing surrounded by tall, ancient trees. A few rays of weak sunlight barely penetrated the dense foliage, illuminating a small area of ​​the clearing. Scattered feathers and traces of various magical creatures could be clearly seen on the clearing. The messy hoofprints and the downy feathers left from grooming clearly indicated that this was the new habitat of the hippogriffs. However, the clearing was empty, without a single hippogriff in sight. Only the wind rustling through the treetops made a low, mournful sound, adding to the eeriness of the place.

"Buckbeak! Come out, boy! It's me, Hagrid!" Hagrid took a deep breath and shouted loudly toward the clearing, his voice filled with urgency and reassurance. But only his own voice echoed through the forest, forming an empty echo that gradually dissipated into the silent woods, without any response from the hippogriffs.

An inexplicable unease instantly spread between the two. Tooth, who had been following Hagrid, stopped sniffing and clung tightly to Hagrid's trouser leg, his body trembling slightly, a low whimper escaping his throat, his eyes filled with fear, clearly sensing the abnormality around him.

Hagrid's brow furrowed even more, and his expression grew serious. He turned his head and gestured for Puni to be quiet, then lowered his voice and said, "We have to go check this out. We can't just stand here like this. Buckbeak and the others might be in trouble."

After saying that, he took the lead and carefully walked towards the open space, signaling Puni to follow closely behind him.

The two slowed their pace and cautiously stepped into the open woodland. After only two steps, Puni immediately sensed something was wrong. Large patches of bushes at the edge of the clearing showed signs of being violently trampled and broken, with branches lying haphazardly on the ground, some even uprooted. These were not traces left by the hippogriff leisurely foraging; instead, they exuded an aura of intense struggle and pursuit, clearly indicating that a fight had taken place here.

“Hagrid, look here.” Puni stopped and bent down to point to a mark on the ground. On the damp soil, there were several very clear and deep footprints, with regular shapes. They were obviously not the hoofprints of a hippogriff, but rather looked more like human shoe prints. However, these shoe prints were larger than those of an ordinary person, and they were also more deeply embedded in the soil. It could be seen that the person who left the footprints was very strong and heavy.

What alarmed the two even more was that, scattered beside these footprints were several shimmering silver feathers, each one exceptionally large and hard, with a faint sheen at the edges. Puni recognized them at a glance as the feathers unique to the hippogriff. At the base of one of the feathers, there was a dark red mark, hardened and solidified. Upon closer inspection, it was dried blood, a shocking sight.

Hagrid's face turned deathly pale instantly, his once rosy cheeks losing all color. He abruptly squatted down and, with his thick, broad fingers, gently picked up the bloodstained feather. His fingertips trembled slightly uncontrollably, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.

“Merlin’s beard…” Hagrid muttered to himself, his voice hoarse, filled with barely suppressed anger and deep worry. “These feathers definitely didn’t fall off naturally. Look at the marks here, they were forcibly torn off! And these footprints, the size and style are wrong, they were definitely not left by Hogwarts people. No one in the school has such a muscular build, nor would they wear shoes like this!”

Puni's heart sank as well, a sense of foreboding washing over him. He looked around, his gaze carefully sweeping across every corner of the clearing. Soon, he spotted a new trail on the ground not far away: a deep drag mark that stretched from the center of the clearing into the depths of the dense forest. The weeds on either side of the drag mark were flattened, clearly indicating that something heavy had been forcibly dragged away. Beside the drag mark were several other clear marks, like those left by heavy objects repeatedly rubbing against the ground, further confirming his suspicions.

"Someone has trespassed into the Forbidden Forest." Hagrid stood up abruptly, his chest heaving, his breathing rapid, his eyes burning with rage, his voice urgent. "They attacked Buckbeak and the others! Judging from these marks, they've likely captured one or two of the hippogriffs! Buckbeak... could it be in danger too?"

Hagrid was filled with worry and couldn't calm down. He turned sharply to Puni, his voice urgent and resolute: "I must find them! They're definitely in danger. We can follow these drag marks and footprints. Yes, follow these tracks, and we'll find them!"

The tranquility and peace of the forest were completely shattered by this sudden disturbance. The sunlight still filtered through the branches and leaves, falling on the ground, but it no longer had the warmth it once had. Instead, it appeared cold and glaring, carrying an invisible threat. This forbidden forest, which Puni had considered full of vitality and security, now seemed strange and dangerous. Every shadow seemed to hide an unknown crisis.

Puni looked at Hagrid's anxious and worried face, then at the shocking marks on the ground, and frowned.

Chapter 114 Is there something wrong with the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?

Hagrid and Puni followed the deep drag marks on the ground, searching deeper into the Forbidden Forest. Their steps were heavy and hurried, each one carrying an undisguised anxiety. Even the air in the forest seemed to be infected by their urgency. The fallen leaves under their feet were crushed, and the dry branches crunched on the soles of their shoes. The originally subtle sounds were amplified infinitely in this deadly forest, echoing in every corner.

Tooth still had its tail between its legs, its body taut and straight, pressed close to Hagrid's feet, following him step by step. Its fur stood on end, and its body trembled uncontrollably. Every now and then, it would raise its head and let out a low whimper into the dim forest, its eyes filled with fear and unease.

The deep, silent forest, along with the eerie atmosphere in the air, instilled extreme fear in Hagrid's large dog, who had been with him for years.

The two remained silent the entire way, their minds preoccupied, with only one thought in their minds: to find Buckbeak and the other hippogriffs as soon as possible and confirm their safety.

The further they walked, the more blurred the tracks became on the ground, and the stronger Hagrid's anxiety became. He quickened his pace involuntarily, and in the end, he was almost jogging. The heavy fallen leaves were kicked up and splashed, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Just as they hurried around a broken tree blocking their path, its thick trunk clearly snapped in half by a strong wind, with dry bark and broken branches still clinging to it, a slight sound suddenly came from the nearby bushes. It sounded like something was moving inside, the branches rubbing against each other, making a soft rustling sound. The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed particularly abrupt in the otherwise silent forest, like a thin needle piercing the stillness and immediately alerting Hagrid and Puni.

Hagrid stopped abruptly, turned around sharply, shielded Puni behind him with one hand, his body taut, his eyes warily fixed on the swaying bushes, and his breathing instantly softened.

Puni immediately composed himself and fixed his gaze on the direction of the bushes.

Immediately afterwards, a tall and imposing figure slowly stepped out from the shadows of the bushes, moving so lightly that it made no sound, appearing before the two of them like a ghost.

It was a centaur, carrying an ancient-looking bow and arrow on its back, with several sharpened arrows in its quiver. Its upper body was that of a human, while its lower body was that of a horse covered in bronze-colored fur. Its limbs were strong and powerful, and it stood steadily on the fallen leaves.

"Oh! Ronan? What are you doing here?" Hagrid's tense body instantly relaxed after recognizing the centaur's face, and a relieved smile appeared on his face. He quickly lowered his hands that were raised to his sides.

The man before me, Ronan, had an exceptionally serious expression, his brows bearing the composure and profundity characteristic of centaurs. He raised his deep eyes to gaze at the sky above the forest, as if staring at invisible stars, seemingly indifferent to everything around him. Even though it was daytime and sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves onto him, it could not dispel the aloofness emanating from him. Instead, it gave the impression of being in the night, enveloped in tranquility and mystery.