"Whew—finally dealt with it—"
Ron let out a long sigh of relief as he watched the three monsters collapse after attacking each other. His whole body went limp, as though all his bones had been pulled out.
"Too bad that guy got away—" Hagrid said furiously.
It was over, yet not truly resolved.
The spot where the black wizard had been standing was now empty. They had survived the ambush by sheer luck but hadn't managed to capture the poacher.
They had saved the unicorn, yes—but failing to bring the culprit to justice still left Hagrid deeply unhappy. Harry too was frustrated that Snape's true nature remained shrouded in mystery.
"Forget it, as long as you're all safe," Hagrid said after a few minutes of brooding. He exhaled, his tone softening. "Thanks to all of you. Those Pokémon sure are incredible, aren't they?"
"They are," Ron admitted. "But don't forget—we're their Trainers."
"But S—why would that person want to hurt a unicorn?" Harry asked, catching himself before saying "Snape."Thinking about it carefully, if it really were Snape, there was no reason for him to do such a thing.
Was it for unicorn magic materials?But the school already provided those.
"The black wizard was drinking the unicorn's blood," said Firenze as he approached slowly with Ronan.
Both were centaurs, but they looked quite different.
Ronan was older, with a red beard and reddish fur all over. Firenze appeared much younger, with shining platinum hair.
"Harry Potter," Firenze said solemnly, "do you know what drinking a unicorn's blood does?"
"No," Harry said, startled by the strange question. "In Potions class, we only used its horn and tail hair."
"That's because killing a unicorn is an act of monstrous cruelty," Firenze explained. "Only someone who has lost everything, yet still desires all, would commit such a heinous sin. Drinking the blood of a unicorn can keep you alive even if you're an inch from death—but at a terrible cost. The moment the unicorn's blood touches your lips, you gain only a half-life, a cursed life, for you have slain something pure and defenseless to save yourself."
Someone who had nothing and wanted everything—that didn't sound like Snape at all.
"If you're cursed to live like that, you might as well be dead," Harry muttered.
"Indeed," Firenze nodded gravely. "Unless… you only use it to delay your death—until you can drink something else. Something that restores your full power and vitality. Something that grants true immortality. Tell me, Mr. Potter—do you know what lies hidden within your school at this very moment?"
"Firenze, you shouldn't tell them!" Ronan barked. "We swore an oath not to defy fate! Have you not seen the signs written in the movement of the planets?"
But it was too late. With what he already knew, Harry pieced the truth together instantly.
"The Philosopher's Stone! Of course—the Elixir of Life!" he exclaimed, clenching his fist.
Who else could it be—the one who had waited silently for years, longing to rise again?The one clinging desperately to life, biding his time?
"It's Voldemort!"
"Don't say that name, Harry!" Ron gasped in fear, but Harry ignored him.
His eyes blazed with fury, and his scar throbbed painfully, as though it were being torn open.He knew now—the one behind everything was Voldemort.
And Snape… Snape was working for him!
The realization hit Harry so hard his scar flared like fire, as if something inside him was about to burst out. In his mind, he saw again the nightmare of ten years ago—the blinding green light engulfing him!
No, it wasn't a vision—At that very moment, everyone had relaxed after the battle, not realizing that Quirrell had never actually left. He had merely hidden himself, waiting—Waiting for the chance to kill Harry Potter.
And that moment was now.
"Avada Kedavra!"
The green light of death erupted, tearing through the darkness of the forest toward Harry!
Time seemed to slow. Harry saw "Snape" holding a wand in the shadows, Firenze and Ronan staring in bewilderment, utterly caught off guard. He saw Hagrid, Ron, and Hermione's faces twisted in horror—Hermione was on the verge of tears.
Pikachu leapt toward him, trying to shield him, but even Quick Attack wasn't fast enough.
He was going to die.It was the same curse that had killed his parents ten years ago.
Harry closed his eyes, quietly accepting his fate.He only hoped Ron and the others could escape—That they would realize the black wizard was Snape—That Dumbledore would know a dangerous enemy was inside Hogwarts.
But surprisingly, death didn't hurt.He didn't feel anything—not even a sensation.Had he really been killed?
As he hesitated to open his eyes, he suddenly heard Hermione's voice cry out in joy.
"Professor—!"
"I knew you'd come!"
Professor?
Harry's eyes flew open.
The blinding green light seared his vision, but then he saw a tall, dark figure standing before him—shielding him behind a gleaming green barrier.
The killing curse had been stopped.
"That's impossible!"
"No one can block the Killing Curse with a Shield Charm!"
Quirrell's worldview shattered. He knew Charles was powerful—but to block that curse? That was absurd!
"Shield Charm?" Charles sneered. "This is Magic Spell Shield, kid!"
"Step back, all of you," he said casually.Then he took a single step forward, wand raised, magic surging to life.
Magic Spell Shield was a fusion of Protect and the Shield Charm—combining the defensive power of the Pokémon move with the spell's unique property: spell reflection.
Now, powered by the immense magic of the Rainbow Wand, Charles unleashed it fully.The Killing Curse Quirrell had fired was instantly reflected back.
The deadly green beam rebounded through the air—Quirrell's face drained of color.
Thankfully, he reacted fast. The instant he saw Charles, he knew staying to fight was suicide. Without hesitation, he cast Apparition and vanished.
Crack!
A sharp sound echoed—the curse struck only empty space.
(End of Chapter)