Of Unicorns and Men

Chapter Two

---

After the clouds and rains had cleared over Scotland, Harry Apparated outside the boundaries of Hogwarts, tapped his wand on the gates, and waited to be addressed. The gate’s wrought iron formed into a pleasant face.

“Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. May I ask who is calling, whom do you wish to speak to, and what your intentions are?”

“Hello, Gate,” Harry replied. “My name is Harry Potter, Head of the Auror Department, and I have come to speak to the groundskeeper about a problem he is having with the unicorns being killed in the Forbidden Forest. May I come in?” Harry asked. He knew it was best to be as polite with the gate as possible.

“Welcome, Harry Potter. The Groundskeeper is awaiting you in his cabin.”

Harry decided to make his way to Hagrid’s hut as he was uncertain where Scorpius’ cabin was. As he approached his friend’s house, the mystery was solved. About a hundred feet from Hagrid’s hut was a log cabin. It stood solid and upright, and seemingly without any aid of magic. Harry was impressed with its simplicity and stability. It was not often a wizard structure was built solely on Muggle knowledge.

He was on the verge of bypassing it to say a quick hello to Hagrid when he heard shouting coming from within the house. At first, he was going to ignore it, but this was Draco Malfoy’s son, and the information he had heard the other night concerning the young heir was a bit unsettling and most certainly piqued Harry’s curiosity.

As he slowly approached, Harry began pulling out his wand to perform the eavesdropping charm. He was about five feet from the door, with the spell on the tip of his tongue, when the door swung open, and the need for the charm became useless.

“Well, if you are insistent in pursuing this futile experiment, the least you can do is move back to the Manor where you won’t be milling about with such commoners. There you can focus solely on this endeavor and not subject yourself to this vile profession. You are working as nothing more than a servant to a liberal headmistress and a school full of unexceptional adolescents,” Draco said. The contempt in his voice was familiar to Harry and he wondered if Draco spoke in any other tones.

Though, he had opened the door, Draco’s back was to the outside. He was still facing and addressing someone inside the cabin.

“I’ve told you, Father, the magic surrounding the Manor is too dark. I couldn’t possibly create the proper environment for a blessing there. Maybe in time I’ll be able to stabilize the one I have here and I’ll be able to look for property of my own. For now, though, Hogwarts is the only place I can work on this project and be happy with the career it provides. Here, I don’t have any peers, and the children who are entering don’t initially know me by my surname. They judge me as a person, even if I am a lowly groundskeeper. Here, I’m not a Death Eater’s son. Can’t you understand what a relief that is for me?”

Draco sighed; his shoulders sagging at this latest admission. He had tried to shelter Scorpius from the stigma he would face after the war, but even Draco had seen some of the taunting Scorpius had to endure. He often wondered if that was the reason Scorpius gravitated to animals the way he did, spending more time in the stables than with his friends.

“At the very least, you need to return to the Manor and explain to your mother why you are refusing to the accept the work she has done to guarantee your future. She has arranged for you to be betrothed –” as Draco turned, he was faced with Harry listening to their conversation. His back stiffened in defense and an icy mask appeared.

“Potter, why are you standing there eavesdropping? Didn’t anyone ever teach you basic manners? You should have announced your presence when coming upon a private conversation. Are the Aurors so bored that they have you checking up on ex-Death Eaters like a parole officer?”

“I’m sorry, Draco,” Harry said. “I didn’t mean to intrude on your conversation, but Hermione asked me to come down here and see if I could help with the mystery of the unicorn slayings. If I had known you were in the middle of a family discussion, I might have gone over to have a chat with Hagrid first. On the other hand, you might want to brush up on your silencing charms. I could have heard you even I were sitting in Hagrid’s home right now, you were rather loud.”

Even though, they were no longer adolescent rivals, Harry and Draco’s relationship was less than pleasant. It wasn’t openly hostile either, but as adults, they had learned to tolerate each other more than they ever could as children. So, it was no surprise that even after all this time, Harry still felt a small amount of amusement in goading Draco Malfoy. He realized the easiest way to do that without threatening him was to be a cordial as possible. Draco, on the other hand, looked as if it was taking every bit of his self-control not to retort with a scathing comment.

“Good day, Harry. I’ll leave you with my son, but if I find out anything has happened to him because of your actions or ineptitude, then I will be forced to have Minister Miles hand me your head on a platter.” Turning to Scorpius, Draco’s face softened as he said, “Good-bye, Son. Consider what we discussed. I hope to hear favorably from you within the month.”

Scorpius came out of the cabin, following his father, and tried to hug him in farewell. Draco, who slightly motioned with his head to Harry that these kinds of things were not done in public, rebuffed him. Scorpius hastily pulled away from his father and gave Harry a pained look once Draco started to walk to the front gates. Harry returned the gesture with a small shrug.

“Hello, Mr. Potter, let me walk my father to the gate, then we can discuss the reason you are here,” Scorpius said as he turned to catch-up with his father.

After a few minutes, Harry saw Scorpius walking back towards him.

Scorpius had grown a couple of inches since the last time Harry had seen him. He was well toned, but not overly muscular. He had the physique of a man who spent most of his time doing manual labor. His hands were large and looked calloused. Scorpius was dressed all in Muggle attire, which Harry speculated annoyed Draco. A thick cotton, khaki shirt tucked neatly into faded blue jeans, which were tucked into his laced hiking boots. His hair was longer with the neat braid going to his waist. If that had been it, Harry would have thought Scorpius to be rather attractive. There was something else, though. The young groundskeeper seemed to emit a radiance about him. It was more than just good genes coupled with good looks. There was a palpable light, which seemed to surround him.

Harry felt the first prick of lust, and did his best to squash the new feelings and take on an air of professionalism while the man approached. When he got within earshot, Harry decided to break the ice.

“So, the Malfoy formalities and rigidness are not as inherent as I thought they were. I’m surprised he didn’t verbally scold you for being so common and emotional,” Harry said, hoping he wasn’t offending Scorpius.

“He use to, but once I became the groundskeeper here, Father felt he had bigger lessons to teach me. He’s learning to pick his battles more carefully,” Scorpius said as he gestured Harry to join him inside the cabin.

As he pointed Harry toward a small kitchen table, Scorpius began going about the room, gathering teacups, a kettle, water, and finally, the tea. After he put everything together, he looked up, seeming a bit uncertain of something, and hesitantly asked, “Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. Potter, would you care for some tea? I know it’s a bit early for it, but I assumed, you being older and all, that you might like some.”

Harry flushed a bit at the ‘older’ comment and said, “Sure, tea sounds fine and just call me Harry. I don’t need to feel any older than I already do.” Scorpius nodded and continued around the room in silence getting everything ready. Harry noticed that the man seemed to move about the room with an air of grace and fluidity that showed he was more than comfortable in his surroundings. It was rare to see a person in the wizarding world do so much menial work, and so gracefully, without instinctively picking up a wand. Rather than watch Scorpius prepare tea, Harry decided to have a look about the place to see what sort of environment a black sheep Malfoy called home.

From where Harry sat, the cabin consisted of a main room that had a kitchenette, a den, and a place for a small breakfast table. The decorations in the main room were sparse but pleasant. A few family photos were situated around the room along with some lovely plants throughout all three areas. It felt warm and friendly.

In addition to the main room, there were three doors, other than the entrance that lead to the rest of the house. The two closed doors, Harry guessed, led to the bedroom and to the bath. Through the third, open door he could see a bare room with just an empty desk, a chair, and a stack of books. It had all the initial makings of either a future office or a storage area. Harry couldn’t see enough to figure it out one way or another. After he had glanced at the surroundings, he turned back to Scorpius carrying cream, sugar, and lemons to the table.

“I noticed you’re doing everything the Muggle way, may I ask why? Do you do it because it will infuriate your father? I can’t imagine he would want you to get your hands dirty,” Harry asked.

“Well, yes and no,” Scorpius replied. “When I first built this house – and yes, I built it by hand – I did it in part to rebel against him, but I also knew I really liked working with my hands. There’s something far more satisfying in doing physical labor and creating something. It made me feel better than just pulling out my wand all the time. To be honest, I used to forget my wand here at home most of the days. I use it on days when I know I am going to be doing a lot of heavy work or something where magic is required.

“When my father found out I was going Muggle here, he sent such a nasty Howler at breakfast. Thankfully, it was over the summer, and only a few staff members were in residence. That is one of the battle’s he’s decided to chose with me. He sees magic as a means to make him feel superior over others. However, I see magic as another tool, like a shovel or –” Just then the tea kettle began to whistle. “— a tea kettle,” he said as he got up to get the kettle off the fire.

“Well, that’s an amazing concept,” Harry remarked. “I’ve known a number of wizards and witches who try to do everything possible with magic. I even know quite a few who are fascinated by understanding all things ‘Muggle’, but I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who sees magic and it’s use as some – well, something so ordinary.” He wasn’t sure what to think of this new concept of magic. It seemed almost the opposite idea of what most wizarding people thought.

For most, magic was a god, and everyone, to some degree, worshipped it. He didn’t agree with that concept either, but to put it so bluntly as a mere tool seemed a bit unnerving. The only person Harry could remember coming close to this ideology was Albus Dumbledore, and that was after the man had commanded a large respect from the wizarding world. To see this carefree attitude from someone so young, rich, and pureblood was scandalous to say the least.

“Now I see why you and your father were arguing when I arrived,” Harry said.

“Well, my view of magic, my work, and the fact that I’m gay seem to be topics that set him off,” Scorpius said as he poured the tea.

Harry was glad he didn’t have a drink in his hand when he heard that. He tried his best to keep calm, even though Scorpius had once again shocked him with his complete candor. The young man wasn’t at all like his father, Harry noted. After all these years working in the Ministry, it was refreshing to deal with such frankness.

“Yes, even my newfound sexual preferences was a bit upsetting when I finally admitted it to my family a few years ago,” Harry said, thinking about this past.

“I never hid my sexual preferences from Ginny. I was honest with her about my desires for men and women. She, though, thought that it was something that should have remained as a fantasy while I wanted to pursue it on a more physical level. Whenever I brought up, the topic of inviting another man to our bed, she firmly rebuked it. Sadly, my desires never waned, but I was never unfaithful to her.

“When she – when she died, my world fell apart. If it weren’t for my family, my best friends, and a Muggle counselor, I would have never made it.

“Then, about three years ago, I announced to my family that I probably could never love another woman like I loved Ginny. The thought of another woman sharing my bed would always be too painful. There was another option, though, and that I might be lucky enough to find the right man.

“My closest friend, one of Ginny’s brothers, Ron, didn’t talk to me for six months after that. Then when he did, we almost pulled out the wands; the arguing was so intense. He’s learned to tolerate my new life so long as he doesn’t see it. Somehow, he thinks I am shaming Ginny’s memory, our marriage, and the children by becoming gay. It’s tough sometimes, especially during the family gatherings.

“Still, after all of that, he’s still not as bad as the press. I wish they would just leave me alone.

“Once word got out that Harry Potter was a poufter, the scandal sheets went wild with speculation. At first, they speculated that I always was gay and that Ginny was just a beard. They managed to find men who all claimed I slept with them while I was married. It all started to slow when I threatened to bring up charges of libel. It still goes on, though, but a little more covertly than before.

“The latest theory, based solely on the speculation of Rita Skeeter’s book, was that Headmaster Dumbledore might have been the one to introduce me to homosexuality over thirty years ago. The papers even went further to justify that this was the main reason I date younger men today. I enjoyed the age difference in my first homosexual relationship, and now I moved on to being the more experienced partner.

“It’s all a load of dung, really,” Harry said. He realized a bit too late that he had been carrying on and had said more about himself and his sexuality to a virtual stranger than he had to anyone in years.

“Harry, not that I don’t appreciate it, but why are you telling me all this? Wouldn’t it be better to let this all out with someone you know or at least with someone you trust?” Scorpius asked with complete sincerity.

“I don’t know why I said all that,” Harry said, leaning back into the sofa a bit, his eyes wide, realizing the possible implications of his rambling. It startled him the openness he was willing to share with Scorpius.

“I guess it’s because you were so honest yourself. It’s been some time since I’ve dealt with anyone who didn’t either stare at my scar or bumble about when I first met them. You are one of the few people who looked at me like just any other bloke. And I guess I appreciate your own candor. It’s not often people tell you their family troubles in the first fifteen minutes of conversation.

“Although, I do fear that you may be like your father. Do I need to worry about any of this coming out in The Evening Prophet tonight? Can I trust you, Scorpius?” Harry asked, looking over at the youth, gauging how this information was being accepted. Harry stared into the pale grey eyes hoping his discretion and confidentiality would be kept during this weak moment of rambling.

“You’re a friend of Hagrid and any friend of Hagrid’s is a friend of mine.

“Besides, you aren’t ‘just any other bloke’. I would think you were special even if I didn’t know who you were or what you’ve done. I don’t know, I guess there’s something about you that makes me think I’m safe, that everything is going to be all right. So, don’t worry about a thing. You can trust me with your secrets.” Scorpius said, his eyes never looking away from Harry’s.

Staring into that heartfelt face, Harry realized that Hugo had been correct. What he saw in Scorpius Malfoy made him feel reassured that his secrets would be kept. It did seem as if Scorpius held the weight of the world on him. Whatever it was, Harry could tell that the young man had matured much more than his years let on. Harry could see a depth of emotions in such a young face, but he also saw innocence and youthful optimism. Harry nodded in appreciation of this new friendship.

After a few minutes of silence, both men decided to change topics, when they asked one another an innocuous question at the same time.

“Do you take sugar or honey with your tea?”
“So, have you always liked working with your hands?”

They shared a small laugh at their mutual anxieties. The tension, which had suddenly appeared, seemed lessen, but refused to completely leave. Over tea, they continued discussing magic and physical labor, leaving behind any sexual discussions.

Harry agreed with the part of Scorpius’ ideas about physical labor. He mentioned that he still liked to garden even though he had hated it as a child. Now, he found something comforting in tilling the earth, nurturing a new life, protecting it from nefarious plants and hungry animals, and watching it grow into something beautiful. He found the times he spent in his garden working the flowers, herbs, and other plants to be some of the most relaxing hours of his week.

Once the tea and biscuits were finished, Harry helped Scorpius clear the table and sat down to try and discover what had been happening at the school and why he was there.

“So, I hear you’ve been having a problem with someone killing unicorns,” Harry began. “Can you tell me what’s been happening that you needed someone from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to come out and help? No offense, but when I was a first year student here, we were sent out into the Forbidden Forest to track down a wounded unicorn and the thing that was killing them. I just don’t understand why you can’t go out and track who or whatever it was that’s killing them now.”

Scorpius laughed a little. He could see Harry get upset when he did. So he shook his head and held his hands up in mock surrender. Then he said, “I’m sorry, Harry. It’s just that I’ve heard my father’s version of that story so many times that I could recite it word for word. When I mentioned it to Hagrid, though, he gave me a more realistic picture. When I confronted my father with it – well, let’s just say it was one of the many fights we had concerning my relationship with Hagrid.”

“Relationship?!” Harry asked, his eyes wide as he stared at the youth.

“No! Nothing like that! Umm – I mean – Well, Hagrid and I are just friends, nothing more. I don’t think that is something either of us would want. He’s only my mentor.” Scorpius was turning a deep shade of red trying to explain and was failing miserably. The blush continued all the way down his neck and into his robes. Harry found it charming.

Harry decided to help him out of this predicament. “So, what of the dead unicorns found in the Forbidden Forest? Can you tell me what happened and what you found?”

Scorpius gave him a grateful smile and said, “Actually, they were and were not in the Forbidden Forest. They’re some of the ones from my blessing and were found just outside the corral I built for them. It was really disheartening –”

“Excuse me,” Harry interrupted, trying to comprehend what Scorpius said. “Did you say ‘your blessing’?”

“Yes, the main reason I became the Groundskeeper of Hogwarts was because it allowed me the opportunity to see if I could breed and possibly even domesticate the few remaining unicorns in the Forbidden Forest and possibly Great Britain. A group of unicorns is called a blessing,” Scorpius explained.

“‘The few remaining’?! What do you mean? Aren’t there hundreds, maybe thousands, in the Forbidden Forest?” Harry asked.

“That may have been true thirty or forty years ago, but in the last ten years, the environmental damages in the Muggle world have sadly spilled over into our world. Unicorns are becoming an endangered species, and no one really knows it’s happening. So many magical beasts stay hidden from Muggle and Wizard alike that any true magical creature census has never been done. Additionally, more and more potions call for magical creature’s eyes, blood, and so on as ingredients, which are numbering fewer, and it’s not surprising that an epidemic is happening which everyone is oblivious to.

“Back when you were going to school, the price of unicorn horns in the apothecary was twenty-one Galleons per horn, and a single hair was worth ten Galleons. Now, the costs are one hundred eight Galleons for a horn and twenty-two Galleons for a hair. It wouldn’t take much for a wizard with little to no conscience to go out and become a poacher, don’t you think?” Scorpius stated.

It was obvious to Harry that this was more than a job or an interest to Scorpius; it was a life mission, pure and simple.

“So, you’ve decided to create a blessing of unicorns? I didn’t think it was possible to stable them. From what little I remember of my O.W.L.s, I thought it went against their very nature to be bridled or tamed. How are you going about that?” Harry asked. He knew he needed to find out more about the unicorn killer, but if Scorpius was the expert of unicorns, he needed to know if this was a random killing from another creature, a poacher, or an act of revenge against Scorpius himself, or the fact that he was a Death Eater’s son. The more he found out how Scorpius dealt with the unicorns, the more he could track his killer.

“Well, I don’t exactly stable them so much as I provide them with a safe corral or pasture area. Once I figured out what environment would make them comfortable, I began working on the corral. In many ways, unicorns are akin to horses. They need room to run and hay or grasses to eat. Their habits were something I studied so I could create a safe place for them to feel ready to reproduce.

“Would you like to go out and see it?” Scorpius asked. He seemed to be beaming with pride, and that aura which Harry had first noticed appeared to intensify. It was alluring, and it magically drew Harry closer.

“I would love to,” Harry replied as he arose and indicated that Scorpius should lead the way out.

The warm June sun was beginning to descend that afternoon when they walked into the Forbidden Forest. After awhile, Scorpius began, “I hope you don’t mind, but it’s going to take over an hour to get there. It’s pretty deep in the forest.”

“I don’t mind; it’s a beautiful day to go for a walk. Do you mind if I ask some questions while we walk?” Harry questioned. Scorpius shook his head.

“You seem to think it’s a poacher who killed them. Why is that?” Harry asked.

“Mainly it’s because of the way I found them, one this month, and one last, both of them after the new moon. Their horns were sawed off, and their tales and manes had been scalped. Large patches of their hides were skinned off, and they were bled out as well. The worse part, though, was this last time. A new mother had her udders cut open and her milk was taken. If it had been a predator, they would have just eaten the meat and entrails, but those were left in tact.

“I still have nightmares of the picture I saw: the mare dead, mutilated, and her foal trying to nudge her back to life. There was blood all over his golden muzzle and the sounds he made, such suffering. I almost want to weep all over again,” Scorpius said, as he waited a moment to continue.

“It was early in the morning, almost dawn, when I came upon the scene. I don’t know why I had to go out there and check. I think I came upon the poacher, but he hit me with a Petrificus Totalus followed by a poorly done Obliviate. I can still remember bits of it, but it’s very hazy,” Scorpius said. Then he gave a general description of what he remembered of the poacher and anything else he could think of.

Harry told him, he’d go back to the office and have his assistant pull all the people who had a criminal record with that basic description. He did have one more question before they got to the corral.

“How do you think they got in? Have the school’s wards been restricted further since then? Has there been any unusual activity or tampering?”

“No, that’s the odd thing. The wards would have alerted me as well as the headmistress if someone had entered the school grounds without permission. The only way to bypass them is to have the keys or have someone let you in. I have the keys with me at all times, so we questioned the entire staff, but haven’t come up with anything so far,” Scorpius said.

Harry thanked him for the information. He knew he’d have to do some serious investigative work to resolve this.

They continued their walk in silence, and as they walked, Harry could begin to see a bright light ahead of them. When they got closer, Harry could see a massive clearing ahead that opened to the heavens, and a wonderful light radiating all around the field.

The unicorn corral, as Scorpius called it, was a large field filled with tall grasses and wild flowers. It was oval, the same shape as a Quidditch field, only double the size. Harry estimated it was approximately nine hundred feet long and three hundred feet wide. It was surrounded by full size pomegranate trees, which stood like sentries twenty feet apart from each other in some places where the canopies touched. Inside the area were over two hundred unicorns. They were spread throughout, some running, some eating, while others huddled together. Harry noticed the unicorns were able to come and go from the area freely.

“I didn’t realize they glowed. Is that light from the unicorns themselves or from something else?” Harry asked in a whisper. On Scorpius’ signal, they slowed their pace almost to a stop. They were still about fifty feet from the perimeter, but the sheer beauty and awe of the animals made Harry feel unworthy and a little inadequate. The place felt like a shrine, holy and not to be desecrated. He felt as if he should take off his shoes out of respect before he entered.

“Partially,” Scorpius replied, also in a whisper. He had only brought Hagrid out here once, and even then they hadn’t made it this close. He had never spoken aloud in the presence of the unicorns, so he wasn’t sure how they would react to another human or even human language.

“When a mare goes into heat, she emits a certain glow that comes mainly from her horn, but also from her tail and coat. She begins the process of either selecting an adequate mate if it’s her first time in heat or lets her mate know it’s time,” Scorpius explained. He had been observing them over the years and was learning their lifecycles.

“What do you mean ‘the first time’?” Harry asked.

“I mean they mate for life,” Scorpius replied, staring straight into Harry’s bright green eyes with an intensity that felt as if he were looking into Harry’s soul. The look unsettled the older man, but he didn’t look away. It wasn’t until a few of the animals whinnied that brought the men out of their mutual trance.

“Umm – so, did you say that the unicorns were killed in the corral or outside of it?” Harry asked trying to focus on his reason for being here.

“They were killed on the far side. Normally, I’d think it best that we should walk around, but seeing that it’s beginning to get dark, it may be prudent to walk through instead. You’ll see that most of the glow doesn’t come from just the mares.

“It’s a series of spells, wards, and charms that I wove together and around the outside of the corral to protect the unicorns, to make them feel safe and at ease. Since unicorns love pomegranates, I used the trees as spell emitters. The spell web also keeps out predators, unacceptable humans, and any outside spells, curses, or hexes that are cast. It affords them the ability to come and go, but I’m hoping that the enclosure will become a haven where they can feel more comfortable here than in the forest itself. It’s has taken me a few years to develop the web, and I think I am almost complete with it,” Scorpius said, looking a bit proud of what he had accomplished. Harry was impressed and let him lead the way.

As Scorpius entered through the enchantments, the glow that was surrounding him grew in brilliance and intensity for the briefest of moments before fading just as quickly. It took Harry’s breath away to watch as he was impressed by the complexity of work to create such a vision. It wasn’t until Scorpius turned and looked back at him with concern and expectation on his face that Harry realized he had stopped walking and was just standing there in amazement.

Harry began, although hesitantly, to walk through the charm work when a force seemed to stop him. He tried to push through it but to no avail.

“Well, I guess that proves I’m not a virgin,” Harry mused, trying to relieve his embarrassment at not being able to get through the wards.

Scorpius lowered his head, his face crimson at Harry’s word choice. He, too, then tried to diffuse his own embarrassment when he said, “Yes, well, I would think that three children, one of them the very image of you, would be proof for that. No, I’m sorry. You couldn’t get in because after the last unicorn was killed, I reset the wards to refuse any human entrance, myself excluded.” He pulled out his wand to wordlessly change the wards, and then Harry saw something he’d never seen before.

“You have a holly wand as well! I’ve never seen anyone with the same wood as mine. What core do you have?” Harry asked. He was so excited to see the wand that he didn’t even notice that he was able to walk through the web of spells with no resistance. He reached out to touch the wand when suddenly he realized the impertinence of his actions and pulled his hand back.

“I’m sorry, it’s just that I didn’t think I’d ever see another holly wand,” Harry said.

“It’s no problem,” Scorpius said, laughing at the oblivious Auror’s comments. He handed the wand to Harry, and turning it so the handle was to him. “It has both a male and a female unicorn hair core. It was the wand itself, along with my love for animals, that made me realize that helping the unicorns was something I needed to do. I can’t tell you how at peace I feel in this place; maybe it’s just the wards, but to me it feels like home.” Harry returned the wand and looked at him.

Scorpius looked content and relaxed. To Harry, he looked beautiful.

Watching him, Harry began to feel something coming from all around him. There was a definite feeling of love that seemed to be washing over him in waves. At first, they felt small, but gradually they would grow and then fade again. It felt like a cycle of tenderness, adoration, and serenity ebbing and flowing all around him. Harry hadn’t felt this content since Ginny was alive. Relaxed, he raised his head towards the heavens, closed his eyes, and basked in the waves of the emotions washing over him. He felt as if a soothing balm were being applied to his soul.

“What happened when we crossed over the threshold into the corral? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this was some sort of Imperious curse forcing me to feel this way, but it isn’t. Did you do this yourself, or are the unicorns making these feelings happen? Is it even legal?” Harry calmly asked.

Under normal circumstances, he would have been annoyed, if not hostile, but here he realized he could ignore the imposition as the tranquil feelings coming over him felt too good to want to resist them.

“They’re sympathetic magic attuned to the emotions that unicorns are most comfortable feeling when they are receptive to humans. As you know, unicorns are more likely to allow a witch to touch them than a wizard because women typically are able to immediately express feelings of love and warmth faster than men do,” Scorpius began to explain. At that comment, though, Harry gave him a look that showed that he was slightly offended by the sexist remark.

Scorpius quickly continued, saying, “That’s not to say that men don’t feel or express those emotions, but rather they tend to approach a new situation and try to analyze it rather than feel it first. You see, Harry, unicorns are empathic creatures. They are highly sensitive to the emotions of those around them. That’s how they communicate with each other, by emotions. Over the past few years, I have been learning how they interact with each other. Very slowly, they’ve learned to trust me and have taught me so much about them and even about myself. I am hoping that over time they will come to accept me, not as a human with the power to destroy, but as an equal who wants to provide and protect them.

“They have taught me not only how to feel, love, and admire, but also how to feel those emotions in others. It’s as if I, too, am learning their empathic magic,” Scorpius said, his eyes gazing off into a hopeful, unchartered future. He was glowing again, Harry noticed. He meant to ask if the glowing was related to the empathic magic as they continued across the field, but something caught his attention that broke his train of thought.

Standing off alone were two unicorns, an adult and a golden foal. The foal stayed near what Harry assumed was his mother, but he kept neighing almost in a sad lament. The ‘mother’ unicorn kept rubbing her muzzle against the foal, trying to calm and sooth it. The thing that Harry noticed was that the mare had half of a horn. Where a full-length horn should have been there was the jagged piece, less than two feet long, sticking out of the forehead. Its disfigurement was only part of the declining state of the animal. The white sheen of its coat was dull and almost grey. Its mane and tail were almost bare, and the remaining hair was matted and tangled. If it weren’t for the bit of horn remaining, Harry would have wondered if it wasn’t just a horse that had wandered into the area.

The image of the two animals alone, seemingly abandoned and defenseless, broke his heart to witness. Harry touched Scorpius’ shoulder and motioned to them. His facial expressions held all the questions he could not dare to ask.

Scorpius looked at the two animals and stopped. He squatted down low to the ground to watch them for a few minutes in silence. Harry, uncertain of the situation, followed suit. Harry alternated between watching the two animals and Scorpius. The young man was so focused on the creatures that he was oblivious to Harry watching him. Eventually, though, Harry decided to focus his attention on the animals to see if he could learn something of their behavior.

He startled when Scorpius tapped him on the shoulder and indicated with a nod towards a different view for Harry to watch.

Approaching the two animals was a group of five unicorns. The three biggest unicorns surrounded the mother and slowly guided her to another area of the corral where more unicorns surrounded her. The two remaining unicorns guided the foal to a third unicorn, which was obviously a nursing mare. From her, the foal drank milk.

“That is the mate of the latest killed unicorn. Sometimes he gets in an agitated state and isolates himself from the blessing. The foal follows him regardless. If the rest of the blessing doesn’t come for them, then he might isolate himself and eventually starve himself to death. Since the foal is still nursing, it’s likely that he would then die as well,” Scorpius explained.

“Why is his horn severed like that? Did he lose it fighting the poacher?” Harry asked.

“No, I actually found it on top of the site where I buried her. The only thing I can speculate is that he cut it off himself because he mourns for her.

“As long as the blessing watches out for them for the next few months, I think they’ll survive. In time, his horn will grow back, and he may take another mate,” Scorpius said as he stood up and continued walking toward the place where he had found the dead mare while Harry followed in silence.

---