Harry Potter's : Fantastic Beasts Guide

When Hermione opened her eyes again, she felt calm. The unicorn on the hill seemed less like a mythical creature and more like a docile kitten in her eyes. She had managed to push aside all the details about unicorns she had read in books.

"David, how does it look now?" Hermione asked, her voice steady.

David glanced at the two unicorns on the hill and replied, "I think you're fine now. Just keep walking calmly."

The little unicorn on the hill snorted, lifted its nose in the air, and pawed the ground as if to signal its mild disdain. However, the vigilance it displayed earlier was noticeably absent, as it could no longer sense any malice in Hermione's heart.

"Relax and approach them slowly," David encouraged. "If you succeed this time, they won't be as guarded around you in the future." Taking his advice, Hermione began walking forward, David trailing beside her.

As they got closer, the adult white unicorn remained calm. But the little unicorn suddenly sprang into action, leaping forward. Startled, Hermione froze in her tracks. "What did I do? Did I frighten it?" she whispered nervously.

The little unicorn danced around nervously, moving closer to the larger unicorn as if consulting it. After a brief exchange of whinnies, it trotted over to Hermione. Alarmed, she instinctively stepped behind David and clutched his sleeve tightly.

The little unicorn sniffed at Hermione cautiously, circling her twice. It stopped, tilted its head, and whinnied again at the adult unicorn, who nodded in response. Seemingly satisfied, the little unicorn leapt in the air in delight.

Just as David and Hermione thought the encounter had gone smoothly, the little unicorn suddenly charged. Lowering its head, it rammed David in the backside with surprising force. Caught off guard, David toppled forward onto the ground with a yelp.

"Are you okay?!" Hermione gasped, rushing to help him up.

But the mischievous little unicorn wasn't done. It blocked Hermione's path, grabbed her sleeve gently in its teeth, and began pulling her toward the hollow of a large cedar tree. Despite her efforts to turn back and assist David, the unicorn's strength outmatched hers, and she was dragged forward.

The white unicorn on the hill observed the scene with evident displeasure. It stomped its hoof angrily, bounded down, and delivered a sharp nudge to the little unicorn, scolding it. The smaller unicorn whimpered, rubbing its head apologetically against the larger one.

The adult unicorn then turned its attention to David, who was still sprawled on the ground. It approached him, scanned his body, and closed its eyes. A soft, milky-white glow began to emanate from its body, converging at the tip of its horn, which shimmered like crystal. When the unicorn touched its glowing horn to David's side, a wave of warmth spread through him, and the pain from his earlier fall vanished.

David sat up in amazement. "Unicorns have healing powers?" he wondered aloud, astonished.

He had always thought of unicorns as rare and majestic but hadn't known about this particular ability. He made a mental note to write to Newt Scamander about this discovery—it wasn't something he'd come across in any of Newt's writings.

After ensuring David was unharmed, the adult unicorn licked his cheek affectionately and then turned back toward the cedar tree. David stood up and followed, his curiosity piqued.

At the tree, three little sables—the earthy mink companions they had encountered earlier—had dug small burrows near the roots, keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding area. The hollow tree itself was a remarkable sight. Though it was old and partially hollowed out by insects, glowing green plants lined its interior, emitting a faint, otherworldly light that illuminated the space.

Inside the hollow, the little unicorn had pulled Hermione to the innermost section, blocking David from coming closer. She waved to him, but the young unicorn stood its ground, preventing him from entering further.

David crouched near the entrance, inspecting the glowing plants and the soft weeds scattered across the ground. Among the weeds were strands of unicorn hair in silver, white, and gold. Knowing their rarity, he discreetly collected a few strands and tucked them into a small vial. "These will fetch a good price," he thought with a grin.

When David looked back up, he noticed the little unicorn shielding Hermione protectively, even as she gently stroked its silky coat. It seemed intent on keeping him at bay. Every time he tried to approach, the little unicorn would block him with a defiant whinny, although it refrained from any further antics after the adult unicorn's earlier reprimand.

Hermione, meanwhile, had managed to win the little unicorn's trust. She giggled softly as she ran her fingers through its velvety mane, marveling at its smoothness. She called out to David, "Are you okay?"

David sighed in resignation, sitting back against the tree trunk. "I'm fine, but it seems your new friend isn't ready to share you yet," he said, shaking his head in mock exasperation.

The adult unicorn lay down beside David, its calm presence reassuring. As he leaned back, gazing up at the stars visible through the gaps in the tree's canopy, David felt a profound sense of peace. The gentle chirping of crickets, the rustling leaves, and the rhythmic breathing of the unicorns created a serene atmosphere. It reminded him of his childhood, sitting in the garden outside his family's cottage, surrounded by blooming flowers and playful cats.

Gradually, his eyelids grew heavy, and despite the unusual circumstances, David found himself drifting off into a restful sleep, the warmth of the unicorns' presence lulling him into dreams.