The unicorn's frequent appearances near the Botanical Garden didn't feel like coincidence to Leonard.
It looked more interested in some plant inside the Garden than in entering it. Otherwise Leonard couldn't believe the unicorn would have survived this long unscathed.
But what was its purpose?
Leonard left the Botanical Garden and watched the unicorn from a distance.
The creature didn't run when Leonard appeared. It stayed crouched behind a tree, peering at him furtively as if Leonard were invisible.
It didn't seem to realize that, at its size, a tree as thick as two people hugging couldn't hide it.
Still, it hadn't fled. Was it up to something?
Leonard thought a moment and then waved toward the unicorn.
Magical creatures often have unusual intelligence. Some can't speak but they can understand human wizards' gestures and words.
Leonard was just testing whether this unicorn, whatever its intentions, would come.
He didn't expect much. Unicorns were said to tell good from evil, and Leonard didn't fit the noble-hero mold. He doubted he had the kind of purity that attracts a unicorn.
To his surprise, the unicorn trotted a few steps toward him, then hesitated and stopped.
At that moment the Ancient Sprout poked out from Leonard's sleeve, stretched, and—seeming to have a mind of its own—"looked" at the unicorn. It swayed its little branches as if beckoning.
Leonard was startled by the Ancient Sprout's behavior. What surprised him more was that, on seeing the sprout, the unicorn dropped all caution and scampered over.
As the unicorn drew near, Leonard stroked the Ancient Sprout and, guided by it, stepped up to the animal.
Only when he was close did Leonard realize how breathtaking these magical creatures—like forest sprites—could be.
In the sunlight every hair shimmered like clear crystal. Beneath that fine coat was a solid, well-proportioned frame of bone and muscle.
The spiraled horn on its head shimmered faintly silver. Through Magic Vision it showed up as a natural vortex of magic, radiating some strange power.
Leonard had a habit of switching on Magic Vision at first glance, no matter what he encountered.
But the most arresting thing was the unicorn's eyes. Pale blue and clear, they looked innocent yet carried a gentle, embracing warmth.
Staring into them, Leonard felt as if his soul were being cleansed...
Bullshit. Leonard's mind was still full of ways to kill people. He hadn't been reformed from his last life to this one by a pair of eyes. What a joke.
He curled his lip and, with grubby hands, started feeling the unicorn's flank.
It was a living unicorn. Not touching it would be a waste.
No matter how he pawed, he couldn't find a single loose hair. Leonard had hoped to pull out a few strands for keepsakes.
How did this unicorn keep from shedding?
The unicorn grew uneasy under Leonard's hands, shifting its hooves as if weighing how to deliver a proper kick to this rude intruder.
Luckily the Ancient Sprout moved forward and gently stroked the silver mane on the unicorn's forehead, as if soothing it.
Leonard figured he'd touched enough. He hadn't managed to pluck even a single tuft of hair, but he'd had his fun. He asked directly, "Did you come looking for me? What is it you want?"
The unicorn seemed to understand. It let out an uneasy whinny and hopped around, trying to communicate something. Unfortunately, Leonard couldn't make sense of its movements. To him, it just looked like the creature was spasming for no reason.
After prancing about, the unicorn circled Leonard once, clearly frustrated by his confusion. Then it stepped closer and suddenly lowered its head, pointing its sharp horn straight at him.
Leonard startled, half-thinking the unicorn had decided to attack. He knew just how dangerous a unicorn's horn could be—not only could it pierce clean through a body, but the magical vortex surrounding it demanded caution. Luckily, the unicorn didn't follow through. It simply pressed its horn against Leonard's hand.
What was this supposed to mean? Was it trying to offer its horn?
Leonard was baffled.
He wasn't some chosen hero fated for great fortune, yet after only a few encounters, this unicorn was acting like it wanted to present him with a rare treasure.
Could this be some kind of ritual among unicorns?
As Leonard puzzled over it, the Ancient Sprout climbed up onto the unicorn's horn. At once, a familiar sensation washed through him.
It was the same as when the Ancient Sprout had first made contact with the mysterious ancient magic symbols—that strange feeling of data flowing straight into his mind.
Images began to flash before Leonard's eyes.
A dark, shadowy figure moved on all fours like a spider through the depths of the Forbidden Forest, its robes brushing the forest floor.
The scenery blurred from its rapid movement.
A streak of sickly green light flashed across the midnight forest.
Then, under the moonlight, a unicorn glowed silver-white before collapsing into a pool of mercury-like blood. The faceless figure crouched over it, drinking its blood.
The vision ended abruptly. Leonard blinked back to awareness and saw fear and urgency reflected in the unicorn's eyes.
"So that's it," Leonard muttered, scratching his head. "You foresaw danger and came here for help?"
The scene the unicorn had shown him was all too familiar—it was Quirrell hunting unicorns.
There was no doubt. Hagrid hadn't raised his dragon yet, and Harry and the others hadn't been sent into the Forbidden Forest for detention. Meaning, it hadn't happened yet.
That was the unicorn's gift—the power to sense its own impending danger.
The unicorn nodded seriously, its clear blue eyes filled with pleading.
The look made Leonard uncomfortable. After a moment of thought, he said, "But I can't protect you in the Forbidden Forest.
I'm a student. I can't just wander around there all night. I've got classes tomorrow."
Besides, this would mean confronting Voldemort directly. Leonard was confident he could take down both Quirrell and Voldemort, but that would mean exposing himself.