[Note: Read up to Chapter - 184 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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"Centaurs?" Malfoy's eyes flickered nervously. "I've heard they're not exactly chummy with humans. You sure they won't come after us?"
His words drew everyone's attention.
Harry and the others exchanged odd looks, while Hagrid only gave a simple, carefree smile.
Aris said nothing—he merely shook his head faintly.
Malfoy frowned, baffled, not knowing what he'd said wrong.
From what he knew, the creatures in the Forbidden Forest were nothing to be trifled with. Yet today, everyone's reactions since stepping foot inside had been off somehow. The more he thought about it, the more it unsettled him—enough to make him question himself.
"What did I say wrong?" he asked cautiously, almost like he was testing the waters.
"No…" Harry shook his head, though a faintly amused grin tugged at his lips.
At that moment, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of sympathy for his long-time rival. Malfoy honestly looked like some clueless prat making a fool of himself.
"You'll find out soon enough," Ronald said knowingly, giving Malfoy a meaningful look before clapping him on the shoulder in mock sympathy, like some older brother who'd seen it all.
Malfoy's teeth clenched in irritation. With a sharp flick, he slapped Ron's hand away and muttered darkly, "Bloody weird lot…"
"Right then, let's keep moving!" Hagrid called, not wanting to faff about any longer as he led the group onwards.
Just then, the steady thud-thud of hooves echoed from up ahead.
"Hm, sounds like the centaurs are on their way!" Hermione looked up, then instinctively glanced at Aris.
"Oi, why're you staring at me?" Aris teased with a grin. "Feel safer with me about, do you?"
"Arrogant git!" Hermione rolled her eyes, quickening her pace to walk beside Hagrid instead, leaving Aris behind.
The sound of hooves grew louder and clearer until several tall figures emerged from the darkness.
"It's Firenze and Ronan…" Harry said, his eyes lighting up slightly.
"You know them?" Malfoy blurted, his face twisting in disbelief. "How the hell d'you lot know centaurs?"
"You'll have to ask Aris that one!" Harry shot back, deliberately winding Malfoy up, his smug little grin practically screaming I know something you don't.
"…" Malfoy's jaw tightened, his temper flaring yet again.
Of course, he didn't dare ask Aris directly. Truth be told, he'd been keeping as much distance from him as possible, half-worried the lad would make his life a misery all over again.
But soon, all thoughts of Aris vanished as his attention locked onto the approaching centaurs.
This time, the centaur party was indeed led by Firenze and Ronan.
Ever since Aris had brought them to heel, the centaurs had been more united than ever. Just like the last time—when Firenze learnt Aris was in trouble and rallied the entire tribe—there hadn't been a single word of protest. They'd charged out of the Forbidden Forest in full force, ready to stand by their king.
If Dumbledore hadn't caught wind of it and put a stop to things, they might well have marched all the way to London to defend him.
"My King!"
Firenze and the others strode straight up to Aris and gave him a respectful bow.
"My… King?" Malfoy yelped before he could stop himself, his face twisting with confusion.
He was sure he must have misheard. The sheer weight of information was too much for his brain to handle.
Those centaurs had just called Aris king?
What in Merlin's name was going on here?
Harry and Ron exchanged a glance, both barely holding back snickers. They couldn't help remembering their own first time seeing the centaurs' attitude toward Aris—shock, disbelief, the whole lot.
Now, Malfoy's gobsmacked expression was a perfect mirror of their own back then.
"How about that, eh? Bit of a shocker?" Ron smirked, giving Malfoy a hearty slap on the shoulder, wearing the sort of expression that said I know, mate, I've been there. "Hard to swallow, I know—but your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. They're calling Aris."
For once, Malfoy completely forgot his usual loathing for Ron. He didn't even flinch at the hand on his shoulder. He just gawped at the centaurs and Aris, struck dumb, unable to string a single word together.
Aris, paying him no mind, gave Firenze a small nod and asked calmly, "I heard from Hagrid that you were the first to notice something odd in the Forbidden Forest. What exactly have you found out about the unicorns?"
"That's right," Firenze said, stepping forward with a respectful bow. "The creature that slew the unicorn is linked to the disaster I read in the stars last time. He now seems to be hiding within Hogwarts itself.
"To kill such pure beings for the sake of sustaining life—to drink the blood of unicorns—is an act of wickedness fit only for one who must not be named…"
His voice grew heavier as he turned his eyes toward Harry. "I fear he comes for the boy who cheated death."
"Me?" Harry blurted, his face a picture of shock.
"Are you saying he's after Harry?" Ron's eyes went wide as saucers.
"You mean… that mysterious bloke is—" Hagrid's jaw dropped too.
"We only followed the stars' predictions to reach this conclusion," Firenze replied, his tone growing more solemn. "Since the Christmas hols, unicorns have begun dying in the Forbidden Forest. Tonight is not the first time it's happened.
"If we don't step in, that fiend will only grow bolder."
Firenze's words dropped like a stone, casting the whole group into silence.
Harry, most of all, felt it—his gaze fixed on the darkness stretching deep into the forest. A sudden throb pulsed through his lightning-shaped scar, sharp and searing, the pain building with every second.
He wasn't sure if it was real or just his imagination, but instinctively his hand flew to his forehead.
"Harry, what's wrong with you?" Ron blurted, spotting his mate's distress straight away.
"There… there's something out there!" Harry gasped, pointing into the shadows while his breath came quick and ragged. He doubled over, a cry of pain escaping before he could stop himself.
"Who's there?" Ronan barked, reacting swiftly as he and his fellow centaurs charged towards the direction Harry had pointed.
Aris's eyes narrowed. He quickened his stride and called out, "Come on, let's have a look!"
The group hurried after Ronan and the centaurs, pushing deeper into the Forbidden Forest.
Hagrid clutched his crossbow tight, his knuckles white, while Fang (Yaya) barked louder and louder, the sound echoing through the trees.
Malfoy's face drained of all colour.
"A mysterious figure… someone who drinks unicorn blood… Could it be…?" He couldn't even finish the thought. If it truly was him, then all of Hogwarts might be in mortal danger. Who'd have thought a simple detention could turn into something like this?
If he'd known such horrors lurked in the Forbidden Forest, he'd never have set foot near it.
But then he recalled the centaur's words—that the creature was hiding inside Hogwarts. The thought made him shiver violently.
Whispers, dreadful rumours from the wizarding world, surged to the front of his mind. The Dark Lord—He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named—the very name that made even grown witches and wizards quake.
And now… were they truly about to come face-to-face with him?
"No… no, don't think about it…" Malfoy muttered, his teeth chattering as he stumbled forward. But with the group already far ahead, he had no choice—gritting his teeth, he forced himself to follow, unwilling though he was.
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Drop Power Stonessssssssss!
[Note: Read up to Chapter - 184 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]