𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐄

Chapter 12

A delegation met them as soon as they crossed Centaur territory and greeted them peaceably, leading the Veela deep into the dwelling, to the grotto where they laid their dead.

The Centaur settlement was unlike anything that Harry had expected. Great stone monoliths were erected in a massive clearing – an observatory reminiscent of the Stonehenge – from which the Centaurs could monitor the movements of the planets and commune with the stars. Surrounding this, in the sparseness of the tree line, gray stone houses – large enough to suit horses, obviously – were built. Like the Veelan houses that Harry saw in the Black Forest, these communities were built around nature, clearing no more away than was absolutely necessary, and sometimes incorporating the woods into their houses.

Their masonry work was sharp and square, a rugged, earthy look – unrefined, but beautiful; it made the perfect juxtaposition to Veelan architecture: long sweeping arcs and curves, mercurial stone work and romanticized design. Similarly, though, the Centaurs made temples of the world around them. Harry could plainly see why they were so fierce and territorial. Theirs was a land to be revered.

Yet Harry and his company had little time to admire the surroundings and culture. Their destination, the Centaur graveyard, lay farther away. Down a winding forest path – so well trodden that it was nearly level – another small portion of the forest had been cleared away. More stone monoliths had been erected here, but the observatory was so reverently built and detailed that it seemed like a hallowed ground – someplace worthy of interring the beloved dead.

But this sanctity was sacrilegiously destroyed. Armed Centaurs guarded the entrance to another path, down which a golden light flickered and from which Harry could hear an enraged shriek. Reflexively, Harry tensed, muscles flexing in anxiety, and he clutched his wand so tightly that his fingers ached.

Bane clopped over and gave a slight bow. "Your highness, the crown prince is still sleeping, but we fear that something is amiss."

"Then why didn't you—"

Snape interrupted Harry's angry reply, speaking for Harry as the Veelan prince, saying, "Thank you, Kindred. The Veela will not forget your care for our kind. We will take control of the situation from here."

Bane bowed again and signaled his fellows back. Simultaneously and silently, the Veela slipped forward and seemingly disappeared – blending in perfectly with their surroundings. Harry suspected that it was magic – a disillusionment charm of some sort, but he couldn't be sure. Veela had their own sort of magic. He'd only ever heard of part-Veela, like Draco and Fleur Delacour, actually going to wizarding schools.

Harry and Snape also crept forward, following the Veela's direction. A cabin came into view, and, hidden among the trees, Harry skittered around to peer through the window. The room looked well-kept, and Draco laid peacefully on a cot by the fireplace, alone in the cabin, as far as Harry could tell from his vantage point. Whispering an unlocking charm, Harry pushed the window in and looked around. All was clear. Snape came over and gave Harry a boost to get up over the window. He landed lightly and crept closer to Draco's bedside.

Draco looked flushed, lying there, and Harry first suspected that it was due to being so close to the flame, but then he noticed how unsettled Draco's sleep actually was. It was after he placed a hand against Draco's forehead, checking for fever, that he noticed that the red casts from Soporous had fallen from Draco's eyes onto the pillow, and that some black berry was clenched in Draco's teeth. The silver stag clasping Draco's cloak shut tilted its head up so that the antlers pressed against his Adam's Apple, and pulses of protective magic gleamed out of the stag's amber eyes.

"Potter!" Snape hissed as Harry pressed his finger into Draco's mouth and scooped the heavy black berry into his palm. It glittered unnaturally – more than the mere glisten of saliva in the firelight. He would have panicked if he couldn't see and hear Draco breathing deeply and evenly. Pocketing the dark berry, Harry shifted Draco into a reclining position and lifted him up. Another clash sounded outside and Snape's head ducked out of view. Thus, Harry expected the interruption when the door flung open and Nott came barreling into the cabin.