CHAPTER DISCUSSION: PS/SS 15, The Forbidden Forest

[Geoff]

No: HPFGUIDX 188608

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "potioncat" <willsonkmom at ...> wrote:
 
Geoff:
> > 
> > This leaves no room for any other conclusion that the figure was 
> > Voldemort-possessed Quirrell.
 
Potioncat:
> Which is what I thought it must be, except--why doesn't Harry recognise him? If it's too dark, how does he see the blood dripping off the figure's face.

Geoff:
Two more bits of canon might help...

'Then, out of the shadows, a hooded figure came crawling across the 
ground like some stalking beast. Harry, Malfoy and Fang stood 
transfixed. The cloaked figure reached the unicorn, it lowered its head 
over the wound in the animal's side and began to drink its blood.'
(PS "The Forbidden Forest" p.187 UK edition)

So, we can't see the person clearly because of what they're wearing.
Our mystery person is a "hoody".
:-)

...and...

'"Look there," said Hagrid, "see that stuff shinin' on the ground?
Silvery stuff? That's unicorn blood..."

...They walked in silence, their eyes on the ground. Every now and 
then a ray of moonlight through the branches above lit a spot of 
silver blue blood on the fallen leaves.'
(ibid. p.183)

The blood seems to catch the light more than human blood. When 
"the hooded figure raised its head and looked right at Harry - 
unicorn blood was dribbling down its front" (p.187), I presume that
its face was still in the shadow of the hood but the blood was catching 
the moonlight again.