E L E V E N
Care of Magical Creatures: Unicorns

I am proud to announce that since Saturday I had successfully avoided Tom Riddle. Of course, it was only Monday morning, but still considering it was; Tom Riddle, I would say I've been doing pretty good.

It didn't take Albert Einstein to figure out he was looking for me. After the Malfoy problem he was most likely quite eager to scold me.

I; in turn stayed put in the common room, entertaining myself by reading so that I actually somewhat had a grasp on Potions ingredients—and for once in my life doing homework. The homework thing was only because it was my first week of school here, but I can guarantee it wouldn't last.

For meals, Lavender would simply bring me something back understanding that it would be best I avoided Tom as long as possible. So far, it had worked. Even today for breakfast, I had skipped it—staying in the common room.

It wasn't until I had to leave for Care of Magical Creatures with a Professor Kettleburn that I made my retreat. Luckily, I made it outside without so much as anyone from Slytherin seeing me.

Walter, Lavender, and I stood with the rest of the class just outside the forbidden forest awaiting our professor. I scarfed down the toast the two brought me, not paying much mind as Lavender stroked my hair which was in it's usual braid.

"Why don't you ever wear your hair down outside our room?" She questioned curiously, thumbing at the soft strands. "It's quite beautiful in it's natural curly mane." She said, earning a small laugh from me as I finished the toast.

"Yeah, because my unruly curls are oh-so-attractive." I sarcastically snorted.

"They are!" Lavender defended, crossing her arms.

"Wait, I've never seen your hair down." Walter looked at my braid. "Now you have me curious."

"Okay fine," I held my hands up. "I'll wear it in two braids tomorrow, how about that?" I asked, earning groans from both parties. "Hey, I'm not trying to be known as the new girl with huge hair." I held my hands up.

Walter suddenly perked up as if remembering something. "Tom came up to us this morning." He stated causing Lavender to stand straighter—her eyes lighting up watching my reaction. "He wanted to know where you were, and why he hasn't seen you. If I didn't know any better I would say he's taken quite the liking to you." He waggled his brows, making me laugh.

"Or, he just wants to scold me for Malfoy's balls." I cringed after I said that. "That didn't sound right. Ignore that." Both prefect's laughed loudly at my word choice.

Lavender stopped laughing abruptly, taking a step closer to me. She looked over my body, making me uncomfortably shift my footing.

"Where are your robes!" She screeched, looking to me with a scowl. "And your tie!" She accused, shaking her head.

"Well..." I trailed off, awkwardly scratching my neck. "The robes are just too long, so I decided not to wear it. And you weren't there to help me with the tie, so I decided not to wear it."

She hit me over the head with a scowl on her lips. I winced rubbing the spot she hit, giving her a small glare.

"You can't just not wear things! It's school dress code!" She exasperatedly exclaimed.

"Whatever." I shrugged, waving it off. "Worse comes to worse they send me back to the dorm room to put on the rest of the stuff."

Lavender laughed. "Yeah, but instead of coming back to class, you'll probably just take a nap."

"That is also true." I nodded, causing Walter to snicker.

"My apologies for being late to class!" A man in his mid-thirties strode forward. "Settle down please, we have some exciting things to do today!" He exclaimed.

The class stayed quiet as he stood in front of us. "Can anyone tell me at what age it is that a unicorn is fully mature?" No one raised their hand, not even Lavender which surprised me.

When I realized no one would be raising their hand, I stuck mine in the air. Professor Kettleburn looked surprised, but called on me all the same.

"Seven years." I answered.

I had run into a few unicorns during medieval ages. In the medieval times; unicorns were at their largest population in history. It was no surprise that I found a couple.

"Correct!" He smiled approvingly, before looking to the full class of students.

"Today, we are going to be unicorn tracking! Now, I expect none of you to actually come across one as they are so fleet on foot they can rarely be caught by humans. However, keep in mind that unicorns do prefer a woman's touch, though the young one's are more trusting so they do not mind men. I would like for all of you to use the skills I have taught you in the past week when it comes to tracking creatures, now off you go!" Professor Kettleburn waved us off into the forbidden forest like it was nothing.

Wasn't this place forbidden for a reason? What is this fool doing?

"Ha! Bet I can find a hoof-print before either of you." Walter cockily smirked, as the three of us headed into the forest.

"Oh, you are so on!" Lavender competitively stated.

Walter gave us a goofy wink. "Let the best find the print." He said, before darting past us into the forest.

"What if he get's lost?" I wondered out loud.

"He won't we all know not to leave the outskirts, and we have been doing this since first year—we know our way around the outskirts relatively well." She ran her fingers through her dark locks.

"We should catch up to him." She was preparing to run.

I put a hand on her shoulder, stopping her from going anywhere. "If we run, our loud footsteps will scare unicorns away. We already have an advantage on Walter since we are female, but if he is running he will never even catch a glimpse of one." I informed her, causing her to nod in agreement.

"But we are just finding a hoof-print. I highly doubt we'll actually get to see one either way." She said, preparing to run once more.

"Here you find the hoof-print." I said, "I want to actually see one though, so we'll split up. You go right, I will go left." I suggested.

"Okay, but I am telling you. You'll never find one." She sang, darting right.

"We shall see." I smirked at her retreating figure before calmly walking left.

Obviously, if I was a unicorn I would be far deeper in the forest than the outskirts. I wasn't concerned about getting lost considering I could literally hear the class, and if worse comes to worse I would just teleport.

I trotted my foot falls unnaturally silent as I moved through the forest with the grace of a dancer. Unicorns were pure creatures, my Enochian magic was pure. The reason I had many run-ins with unicorns was because in my presence they were attracted instead of frightened.

Instead of fleeing, they would flounce toward me. Being careful as to not completely awake my grace from being dormant, I allowed some of it to flow within me. It felt natural for this to happen, a sensational feeling which had me grinning softly.

My angelic grace was a part of me, and I hated for it to be dormant—but it must remain as such. While it was true angels were peaceful, soft creatures—it was also not true. Angels were peaceful yet fierce, soft but a warrior all the same.

Angels were perfect; yes, but it was that perfection which made them so problematic. Angels were suppose to be protectors to humans, yet they refused to walk the Earth for in their eyes it was tainted, with no hope to be saved.

God himself skipped out on Heaven thousands of years ago. My uncles Michael and Raphael ruled over Heaven after his leave. However, quite recently Michael had disappeared and Raphael had a fate like my father's. Death. To my knowledge Heaven was currently in chaos.

Once thoughts of my father passed my mind, I immediately blocked them off. It was better to not dwell on memories which brought me pain. In my distracted stated, I nearly allowed my grace to topple out.

I was efficient to stop it though, keeping the steady amount inside me—the rest under lock and key. Shaking my thoughts off, I admired the beauty of the forest in broad daylight. The life it brought out, in vibrant greens.

It was a shame that soon forest such as this would be so rare to find. The sound of running water got my attention; a creek. Steering deeper into the forest, I wasn't surprised as I came across a small creek.

With a small mischievous smile, I slipped off my shoes and socks leaving them by the edge of the water. Slowly, foot after foot I stood in the creek with a large smile.

Nature.

It truly was a magnificent sight. A gift to behold, something in which you cherish. Growing up in loud Manhattan, I learned to cherish nature in itself.

I closed my eyes, feeling the sun beat down on my face warming my body. The water of the creek running through my toes. Everything in perfect harmony with each other.

Then, I smelt it. The smell of a pure, equine creature. One of God's finest creations. A unicorn.

My eyes flew open, looking straight across from me. Standing there in pure, untainted glory was a female unicorn. Her hooves were an untouched gold sticking out from it's body which was a color whiter than snow itself. A single long and sharp horn protruded from it's head.

I swallowed at the unicorn's presence, feeling my dormant grace shuffle in it's slumber—trying to awake. I didn't allow it. My eyes wished to shift into the natural golden color, and my feathery wings scraped at their confines trying to break free. I wouldn't risk it.

The unicorn knew what I was, I could see it in her eyes. Steadily I crouched in the water going on my knees not looking away from it's silver eyes.

With a small smile I addressed her. "Hello." I softly spoke out.

It was silent for a moment, before the creature began moving forward into the creek. "Hello." A soft feminine voice rang inside my head.

She stepped closer, nuzzling her muzzle to the palm of my hand. Unicorns were one of the few creatures able to break through the surface of my mind. That was how they communicated, they had their own magic in speaking with whom they choose through their mind.

For the most part no unicorn has ever chosen to communicate with a human, angels and Nephilim being the only other creature apart from themselves they communicate with. That was why wizards were unaware they were capable of this.

"How is your day going?" I questioned gently, speaking out loud.

"It is going quite well sweet, sweet Nephilim. I have never come across an angel, let alone a Nephilim." She excitedly said, pressing her head further into the palm of my hand.

With a small laugh, I stood from my crouched position ignoring the newfound wetness at the edge of my skirt. Petting the unicorn lovingly, smiling as she embraced herself into me. As I pet her in the creek the two of us chatted about random things, mainly about how obnoxious Professor Kettleburn was.

She did; however, talk about a kind Gryffindor boy from third year. She told me he was half-giant and always was kind to all the creatures out here. I told her about my task, and how bossy Tom Riddle was. She laughed at that.

The both of us froze when we heard fast, loud footfalls coming near. I soothingly, stroked the unicorns hair while I determined if it was a student coming near us.

"Look's like I beat Walter." I heard Lavender snicker to herself from a few feet away.

I shook my head upon hearing her, looking to the unicorn with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, that is Lavender Rowle the one I told you about. You can trust her, I swear." I promised gently, seeing if the unicorn would allow for Lavender to come over.

"I trust your opinion. She may come stroke me if she likes, though I refuse to communicate with her." The unicorn said, earning a nod in return.

Honestly, it was more than I was expecting. I really didn't think she would even allow Lavender over here.

"Hey Lavender!" I yelled, knowing she'd hear me.

"Rhiannon? I found the print! Where are you?" She yelled back.

"Over here, keep going straight." A few seconds later, Lavender appeared through the trees.

"Whatever are you doin-" She cut herself off, jaw dropping at what she saw.

"I told you I would find a unicorn." I softly pet the pure creature, tossing Lavender a grin.

Lavender didn't reply, only looked to the unicorn in shock. She swallowed shifting, as if trying to process what she saw.

I rose my brows putting a bold smile on my face. "What was it you said about never seeing a unicorn?" I rhetorically questioned snapping Lavender out of her daze.

She ignored me, only looking to the unicorn. "How?" She managed to get out.

I only stroked the unicorn giving Lavender a small smile. "She'll let you stroke her." I nodded her over.

Lavender was quick to slip her shoes off, slowly making her way into the creek. She paused when the ends of her robe got soaked from the water. I smirked, tilting my head.

"Now who wishes they left their robes in the room?" I sarcastically asked, earning a small playful glare from Lavender.

She pulled her robe off, tossing it to the forest floor with our shoes. The lovely unicorn watched her with a slightly wary gaze, tensing as Lavender stroked her. Lavender; however, gained the trust of the unicorn briskly.

I didn't communicate with the unicorn—mind the few sentences she would push into my head, Lavender finding out about that would not lead to good things. I trusted her enough not to tell anyone, but just in case anyone were to ever get into her head—it's just best she had nothing to give out.

Lavender and I gave the unicorn loving attention for as long as we possibly could, before we were forced to go. The unicorn being ever the nice soul she is, allowed for us to take a single strand of her hair—proof that we beat Walter.

The unicorn asked me to come back and visit, something which I subtly nodded to in conformation. Lavender and I scrambled to get our shoes on, and ran through the forest back to the rest of the class.

Walter was waiting by the edge, a cocky smile on playing on his lips. "Looks like you two lost." He smiled, looking to his wrist-watch. "I found a print at approximately ten forty-two." He said as we made our way back to the castle.

"We didn't find a print." Lavender said, in a mock sad tone—making Walter give an accomplished smile. "We found an actual unicorn." She held up the unicorn hair.

I was about to give Lavender a high-five, but realized it hadn't yet been invented. That would be odd if I just held my hand up like some lunatic. I shook my head laughing off my ridiculous train of thought.

Walter grabbed the unicorn hair out of her hands awestruck. "You actually found one!" He exclaimed, shell-shocked.

"Yep." I smiled, nodding my head toward the path leading up to the castle. "Come on, I'm freezing. Let's get back to the castle." We began our journey to the castle.

"You wouldn't be that cold if you had stuck to the dress code." Lavender pointed out.

"Say's the girl who robe's are drenched from the creek." I snickered, motioning to the dampness of her robes.

She playfully glared as we walked up to castle, answering all of Walter's frantic questions about the unicorn.

~

"It was such a beautiful unicorn, Walter." Lavender told him for the fifth time, her eyes glazing over.

Walter watched her with envy, jealous he wasn't with us when we saw the unicorn. He shook his head, glaring at the ground.

"I am never parting from you two in Care Of Magical Creatures again." Walter said, before freezing.

Both of his hands darted out grasping onto the arm of Lavender's robe, and my sweater. He motioned for us to be quiet his eyes stuck on a sight in front of us. Curiously, I followed his gaze cursing silently at the what I saw.

Standing off to the side was Riddle's entire gang, Tom standing right in the middle of them. Unsurprisingly, he was reading a book not listening to the conversation going on around him. As quiet as possible the three of us moved backwards, ready to make a dart to the common room if need be.

We were getting closer to the corner, and I almost let out a breath of relief. That was until Malfoy turned his head and saw the three of us. I would have thought Tom to be the one to see us, so I was slightly surprised that out of the entire group it was Abraxas Malfoy.

His eyes lit up alike to Christmas as he prepared to tattle to Tom. That was until his gaze locked with Lavender's. She gave him the most heartbroken pleading look I had ever seen—making him freeze.

He let out an invisible breath, and I knew that mean't he was letting us go. Lavender tugged on us moving us quicker to the safety away from Riddle's group. However, I just had to do something snarky to Malfoy.

He was letting us go, and I just had to fuck it all up. Malfoy looked me dead in the eyes with a glare, but said nothing. As Lavender tugged us away, I reached into the pocket of my sweater. Abraxas looked at me in confusion when I made a face of glee pretending as if I had grabbed something.

Pulling out my hand, I stuck up my middle finger giving it straight to him. 'Fuck you'. I mouthed with a Cheshire grin.

"Why Rhiannon, we were getting away." Walter whispered, letting out a small sigh.

Lavender simply face palmed, hitting my arm.

"You bitch!" Abraxas suddenly boomed, causing everyone in Riddle's group, including Tom himself to look at him incredulously.

"I get that a lot. By the way how are your balls?" I sarcastically wondered, with a smile.

Everyone in that little gang turned to me, but my only focus was on Tom himself. He wore a blank expression giving nothing away, and for some reason that made me fear his reaction all the more.

"Run!" Walter screamed, as if we were children.

To be fair we technically were. Quickly, I turned on my heal running away. Unfortunately, I ran straight while my other two friends turned a corner dividing myself from them.

'Aw, shit.' I thought to myself, as I heard fast approaching footsteps.

I wasn't about to start running at super human speeds and get myself found out by Tom, just so I could avoid him. Nope, I was just going to hope that maybe at this natural speed he somehow wouldn't catch up. I highly doubt it though.

I turned my head, trying to see exactly how far Tom was behind me.

Bad choice.

It was only Tom chasing me, but he was less than five feet away. My eyes widened, and I yelp when he grabbed me in a tight hold pulling me to his chest. I tried to yell, but he forced a hand over my mouth.

What the fuck?

I feel as of late I was having that same thoughts over and over again. He pushed me up against the wall, me looking over the abandoned corridor we were in. Why did I choose an abandoned part in the castle of all places?

Tom's gaze penetrated mine, his bright blue irises searching my own. I tried speaking through his hand but it only came out a series of muffles. He rolled his eyes taking his hand off my mouth.

"Hello, long time no see." I enthusiastically spoke, acting as if I hadn't been avoiding him.

He tilted his head, pushing his body closer to mine trapping me. "So, you wouldn't happen to be avoiding me?" He sarcastically spoke with a smirk.

"Absolutely not!" I said in false distraught. "How could I ever want to avoid perfect Tom Riddle?"

"Perfect I am." I scoffed at his prideful arrogance. "Though it wouldn't have anything to do with the Malfoy incident?" He calmly asked, his eyes searching mine for any lies I may spill.

When I didn't answer right away he brought his hand down to my thigh. I nearly choked at his inappropriate actions. However, I yelped when he pinched me gently silently commanding me to answer.

"He deserved it!" I said in a rush, not liking how his hand on my thigh affected me.

'Remember,' I kept thinking to myself. 'He's a killer and his good-looks won't last. Pretty soon he will be a paper skinned snake face.'

'Not if you change it.' A small voice in my head sang back.

"I don't care whether or not he deserved it, Lightly. You can't just go around kicking my fellow housemates in the balls!" He raged, almost begrudgingly taking his hand off my thigh.

Childishly, I looked to the ground refusing to meet his eyes. Immediately, his hand was under my chin forcing my gaze to meet his. He smiled condescendingly, his eyes alighting with a new idea.

"I won't turn you in, Lightly." He began, causing me to let out a breath of relief. "But your at my beck and call for the rest of today." He ended making me deflate.

It was that or detention. "Fine." I grumbled, watching as he stepped away with a smirk.

"Come on puppy." He crooned, with a belittling pet name.

I glared angrily at him, making him erupt in loud laughter. He threw his head back, a smile adorning his features. Even if he had a nice laugh, I would continue to glare.

"This is why my new name for you; Lightly, is puppy. You trying to look angry looks no more threatening than a puppy." He shook his head, motioning me to follow him.

We walked in silence all the way up to a corridor on the seventh floor. I watched as if he were crazy when he walked back-and-forth in front of some blank wall, jumping when a door appeared out of no where.

He looked to me with a smirk, opening it walking inside. I followed in suit, my breath catching in my throat at what I saw.

Towering bookshelves lined every wall. On the straight-most wall there was a fireplace burning green, with a small couch and chair in front it. In the center of the room was a large desk with two chairs across from each other.

A multitude of rugs lined the stone floor, making it so a person could comfortable walk barefoot upon the room. It was darker with only one chandelier and the fire as light. I noticed there was a staircase toward the back leading up balcony which overlooked this room. Beyond the balcony from what I could see was a small room and bathroom.

I was pulled from my admiring once Tom shut the door tightly behind us. I gulped not knowing what to expect from him. Turning to face his well-postured form, I looked at him with my head held high.

"What is this room?" I questioned confused at it's appearing nature.

"I personally call it the Come and Go room." Tom folded his hands neatly behind his back his sharp eyes carefully watching me. "You shall tell me all you know of fairies." Tom finally spoke after a moment of silence, motioning us over to the fireplace.

Confidently, I strode over to the couch taking a seat while Tom chuckled taking a seat on the large chair. He leaned back watching me through interest filled eyes.

"Well," He asked, holding a hand out as if inviting me to speak. "Go on puppy, speak." He mocked, making me burn with annoyance.

"Screw you." I sneered, crossing my arms stubbornly.

"You wish you could." He smirked in triumphant glee at the reddening of my cheeks.

It was both from flush and anger. "Oh don't get so arrogant, Tom. This is from anger." I wished to flick him on the head so bad.

"Say what you must to keep your dignity." His face still held that annoying smirk.

With a huff, I decided my best option was to change subjects. "Fairies are complex creatures. A majority are very mischievous and come in thousands of different forms." I began my lecture to him about fairies.