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Hagrid hurried to the door of Dumbledore's office, his heavy footsteps echoing through the corridor.
"Lemon Sorbet Ice Cream!"
At the entrance, Hagrid gasped out the password.
The bronze gargoyle regarded him briefly before leaping aside to reveal the spiral staircase.
Dumbledore hadn't retired for the evening.
He sat at his desk, quill in hand, composing a reply to one of the many letters scattered before him.
When Hagrid burst through the door, panic still evident on his face, Dumbledore set down his quill.
"What's the matter, Hagrid?"
Hagrid quickly recounted what had transpired in the Forbidden Forest.
After which Dumbledore's expression grew grave.
"Lead the way, Hagrid."
The two rushed toward the site where Erwin had fought.
Upon arrival, Dumbledore surveyed the blackened earth and shattered trees, his brow furrowing deeply.
"Is this where Mr. Gaunt fought just now?"
"Yes, Professor."
Dumbledore considered for a moment, then drew his wand, a distinctive piece, slightly longer than standard.
He aimed it at the scorched clearing.
"[Prior Incantato]!"
The scene before them began to reverse, magical energy rewinding until Erwin's figure appeared.
The spell slowly ceased.
However, the restored image remained frustratingly blurred.
Even Erwin himself would have struggled to recognize his own silhouette.
This charm operated similarly to a time-reversal spell, though far less powerful.
It could only reconstruct traces of magic based on residual magical fluctuations in the area.
The fact that Dumbledore managed to restore even a hazy figure exceeded the spell's typical capabilities, a testament to his profound mastery of magic.
When the scene revealed the black-robed figure launching two consecutive [Avada Kedavra] curses at Erwin, Hagrid's face drained of color.
Even Dumbledore's expression hardened.
After witnessing the battle's replay, Dumbledore remained silent, standing motionless in contemplation.
Finally, he spoke.
"I'm sorry, Hagrid. I cannot determine this person's exact identity. I can only confirm they're connected to Voldemort."
"You may go. I have much to consider."
Hagrid flinched at the Dark Lord's name, then quickly listened and departed.
Dumbledore remained, reflecting on the battle he'd just witnessed.
'Tom, I didn't expect you to resort to this...'
His thoughts turned to Erwin's performance in the fight.
He'd known Erwin was talented, but mastering combat-oriented [Transfiguration] in his first year, along with a phoenix [Patronus] capable of intercepting the Killing Curse, these were accomplishments most wizards never achieved in their entire lives.
Even the young Tom Riddle had been far less formidable in his first year.
Though Erwin's usual demeanor bore no resemblance to that of a Dark Lord, Dumbledore had learned painful lessons.
Once bitten, twice shy.
The fragile wizarding world could not endure a third Dark Lord.
With this thought, Dumbledore resolved to monitor Erwin more closely.
With a wave of his wand, fresh trees rose from the earth, and verdant grass sprouted across the ground.
Soon, the devastated clearing returned to life, as though nothing had occurred.
His work complete, Dumbledore turned and made his way back to the castle.
****
The night passed quietly.
Erwin slept soundly, his mind finally at ease as his body replenished its depleted energy.
When morning light streamed through the curtains, he rose feeling refreshed, though faint traces of exhaustion still clung to him like a shadow of the previous day.
On his way to Transfiguration class, he was intercepted by Hermione, who seemed unusually eager.
"I heard you rescued a unicorn. Can you take me to see?" she asked without preamble.
Erwin blinked, taken aback. How had word spread so quickly?
"Harry told me," Hermione continued before he could ask. "He said you formed a contract with a unicorn. May I meet her?"
Her eyes shone with a mix of curiosity and admiration.
A faint blush touched her cheeks, but she spoke with the confidence of someone who already knew he would not refuse.
Erwin rubbed the back of his neck, trying to hide a small, helpless smile. "All right then. Before dinner this afternoon?"
She nodded eagerly. "That would be perfect."
It wasn't a difficult request, so Erwin agreed without hesitation.
Then, as he continued walking toward the classroom, a realization struck him. He hadn't mentioned any of this to Cho yet.
He sighed softly.
Perhaps it would be better if they all went together.
****
The afternoon arrived, and Erwin found himself walking alongside both Cho and Hermione.
The three of them made their way toward the entrance of the Forbidden Forest in heavy silence. The faint rustle of leaves and distant calls of magical creatures only made the tension between them feel sharper.
An awkward unease lingered in the air. Every step felt too loud, every glance too brief.
Erwin mentally berated his morning self.
'Why did I agree to this? What was I thinking? Am I actively seeking misery?'
He was not oblivious.
He had long since noticed Hermione's growing desire to become closer to him, a warmth she was still unsure how to express.
But he had no idea how to respond.
He had been managing things carefully until now, arranging his time so that Cho and Hermione rarely encountered one another.
Now, because of one careless decision, the two were walking side by side.
It felt like inviting a storm to tea.
By the time they reached the forest's edge, Erwin's nerves were stretched thin. The cool air carried the earthy scent of moss and pine, a quiet reminder of how alive the Forbidden Forest truly was.
He had contacted Celestia earlier through their bond, letting her know he would be visiting.
Before he could call out, a white blur darted from between the trees and came running toward them.
"Whine~"
Celestia's joyful cry filled the air as she pressed her head affectionately against Erwin's chest.
Through their connection, he could feel her happiness, bright and warm like sunlight filtering through clouds.
He smiled and gently stroked her silvery mane.
"It's good to see you too, Celestia."
Cho and Hermione, momentarily forgetting the unspoken tension between them, both stared in awe at the creature before them.
Celestia's coat shimmered like liquid moonlight, and her presence seemed to fill the air with calm.
Almost in unison, both girls spoke, their voices overlapping.
"Can I touch her, too?"