Ten years after I began at Hogwarts, Sebastian Sallow is back. And he's Professor Sallow now. He disappeared after the fall of Ranrok and Rookwood, after I lost Professor Fig, and after Ominis and I couldn't keep him from losing himself. But I never...
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I know I have no time to lose. Of course I overslept when I only meant to take a catnap - a futile attempt to catch-up on a week's worth of almost sleepless nights. My energy — no, my very sanity — is hanging by a thread. The siren song of my cozy bed is enticing and all I want to do is curl up and maybe never wake up. That would be easier.
I'm out the door as fast as I can, with my backpack of the evening's necessaries, already risking being late to the precariously arranged set of dominoes that will be the events of this night.
I force the thoughts of Sebastian's touch out from the forefront of my mind – both the euphoric and the torturous – reminding myself that the only reason he cast Crucio on me as a student was in an attempt to help his sister, Anne.
He didn't want to hurt me.
I hustle my way nimbly across Hogsmeade towards the forest – I suppose I should start calling it the Forbidden Forest again, now that I'll be – no, am – back at Hogwarts. I lightly jog, jump, and skip a familiar, rocky trail towards a forest clearing, where I slump my body against a stone pillar of a familiar stonehenge-like rock formation, letting out a deep sigh at my waypoint. My heart rate slows and I think about what the next few hours may look like and awake yet another layer of nerves like a rotten cherry on top of a steaming shit sundae.
I'll be damned it if this constant buzzing in my soul doesn't shut all the way the fuck up.
A hearty laugh bellows through the clearing, as if responding to my thought. The rich, smooth voice that has a tendency to melt some hidden part of me cuts through my anxiety.
"Tell me, what is it that has the summertime heart of a phoenix all wound up in winter's spider silk?"
I turn around and smile to see the stunning figure of a centaur, not much older than I, approaching. It's my dear friend, Kai. Or, more technically, he is my ful'ysgaré, which is a Centaurian word that very roughly translates to "companion." At its most basic, the title represents a position of mutual respect and support, typically only reserved for centaurs or centaurides.
His horse-like coat has patchy brown spots on white towards his back end, mottling beautifully into a rich, solid chestnut-colored upper-back, chest, and legs. His tail and wavy locks are a rich, dark umber, and his bare human skin is a creamy, medium olive tone that clings to his breathtakingly muscular form, displaying his distinctive pattern of symbolic, geometric colony tattoos on the left, upper side of his chest, wrapping around his arm and onto his back where his bow and quiver of arrows are strapped across his body.
Given my present circumstances, I don't know what to say other than, "Hi."
Kai's exquisite smile fills his face and his dimples and smile lines around his mouth and eyes crinkle into the rays of a thousand suns, bringing a swirling light of gladness into his brown-gold eyes. His infectious smile certainly dampens the incessant buzzing of my recent mind, and causes the scar that crosses diagonally from above his right eye to his cheekbone to all but disappear.
I didn't realize how comforting it would be to see my old friend amidst the recent crashing waves of change. To hear his low, velveteen voice, and merely share the same space.
"Why does a storm cloud rain above you?" He looks into my face with concern.
When I first began my work with the centaurs around three years ago, their seeming ability to read minds felt jarring. But now I find it to be refreshingly straightforward, as not much can be hidden between the lines of their divination skills and honed ability to perceive energy and predict outcomes as a result. I've found it futile to try to hide literally anything from them, and my commitment to full transparency has been at the core of my ability to ingratiate myself with their colony.
"Kai," I start and shake my head. "There has been so much change. And so rapidly." I sigh. "Walk and talk?"
His eyes squint with curiosity, as he nods and begins walking at a slow pace so I can keep up with him. "Share your burdens with me."
The sun continues to set slowly into early evening as I race to spill everything to him, from A-to-Z. I start with my conversation with Professor Weasley, and tell him about my speedy preparations for my future at Hogwarts, the presence of Imelda, the secrets Sharp has kept, the giant question mark in (presumably) human form that is Sebastian Sallow, and the dreams that have plagued me this week.
I can hear the murmur of voices in the near distance and can tell we're close to the centaur colony. "So," I summarize, turning up to face Kai, "tonight is the Sorting Ceremony at the castle and I have to be there, but I wanted to pay my respects to the New Moon ceremony to reassure the Elders of my ongoing capacity as liaison for the Ministry."
"The Elders will be relieved by your gesture." Kai says in a relatively official way. He relaxes a bit and admits, "So am I."
After all, Kai will be an Elder, himself, one day. And the unique relationship we have was a mutual choice for the long-term betterment of relations between our respective species. It would be unthinkable to have to throw away all that progress and potential, especially given the ongoing issues with poachers and thieves who, despite Rookwood's defeat long ago, continue to call themselves Ashwinders.
By this point we are well within the centaur colony's keep. It's good to see familiar faces - even those who remain skeptical of my regular visits. Kai stops at the most ornate tent near us - twenty feet in height and draped in blue silk and chains of opulent wildflowers, herbs, and natural crystals.
"Shall we?" he pulls back the draped doorway of the tent, and we enter to see a small throng of six regal-looking, older centaurs and centaurides. The Elders.
