Saturday night arrived wrapped in mist and moonlight. The castle had quieted, and shadows stretched long across the courtyards. In the Hufflepuff common room, most students had retired to bed or were finishing off weekend essays. But in one darkened corner, Hadrian, Dora, and Iris prepared in hushed excitement.
They wore enchanted cloaks — warm, weather-resistant, and layered with quieting charms. Dora's pockets were filled with enchanted rope and safety spells etched on parchment. Iris had a palm-sized pouch filled with rune stones and a sketch of the forest layout copied from an old Herbology text. Hadrian, calm and thoughtful, carried a small, glowing sphere attuned to their return point, ensuring they could always find their way back.
They waited near the statue of Gregory the Smarmy until the hallway was empty, then slipped out under the cover of a Disillusionment charm, carefully avoiding patrolling prefects and Filch's lumbering shuffle. They reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest just as the moon reached its apex.
The forest loomed — dark, ancient, and whispering.
"Last chance to back out," Hadrian whispered.
"No way," Dora said.
"Let's go," Iris agreed, already stepping lightly into the undergrowth.
They moved with care, following a narrow trail they had identified on an old map. The trees rose like cathedral pillars above them, their leaves whispering stories overhead. Magical creatures rustled in the distance — not dangerous ones, Hadrian knew now, but enough to keep their wands ready.
A cluster of bowtruckles scattered when they passed an old elm. Tiny glowing moths danced through the air as if drawn to Iris's hair, which had taken on a gentle silver hue in the moonlight. Dora's eyes glittered with anticipation, even as she took the lead through a tricky thicket of brambles.
After nearly an hour of wandering deeper, they found it.
A grove — wide and circular, protected by ancient trees and flooded with moonlight. The center held a crystal-clear spring, its waters shimmering faintly with magic. An old stone marker stood nearby, its runes long worn, but Iris knelt and traced them carefully.
"It's a binding charm," she said softly. "Old magic. Maybe a sanctuary for smaller creatures. It's... peaceful."
They sat by the water, resting.
"This is incredible," Dora whispered, dipping her fingers into the spring.
Hadrian, lying on the moss, looked up at the stars above the canopy. "I think we needed this."
They stayed for some time, talking quietly, sharing dreams, wondering about the magical creatures watching from just beyond the clearing — cautious, curious, harmless. A unicorn might have passed through this very place, Hadrian thought.
On their way back, they took a different route — and passed by the mouth of a deep cave.
Dora peered into the darkness, wand lit. "Do you think…?"
"There are spider marks," Hadrian murmured, "but it's alone. Best to let it sleep."
They didn't linger.
Eventually, the glowing sphere in Hadrian's pocket pulsed softly, pointing the way home. They returned to the castle just before dawn, cold, exhausted, exhilarated — and utterly content.
As they slipped back into the Hufflepuff common room, Dora turned with a smirk.
"Iris?"
"Yeah?"
"Best idea Hadrian's had yet?"
"Definitely," Iris said with a sleepy smile.
Hadrian chuckled. "Next time, maybe we aim for something less forbidden."
But all three of them knew that they'd be back — someday. There was magic in the woods that called to something wild in their hearts.