Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

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Hermione's heart began racing violently in her chest as her eyes darted between each Centaur that pointed their arrows at her. She wanted to shout to let them know she meant no harm at all and that she had been teleported there, but found her voice had been caught up in her throat. 

"An intruder!" One centaur shouted. 

"Kill her!" Another said. 

"Wait! I'm only--" 

"HOLD!" 

Hermione had been cut off by a louder, male voice, causing her to peer over around some of the centaurs, who were still aiming their arrows at her, to see another one walking over towards her. He had long tar-black hair, braided with feathers and beads to hold the locks away from his sharp, amber-tinted eyes. His waistline held a leather belt to hold his quivers as his bow rested on his chest. He was taller than the other centaurs, probably because the horse part of his body was Shire Horse with a black coat and a pearl-white tail. 

"What is the meaning of this, Argo? It is our way to kill intruders that wander in our home!" One centaur, who seemed to be the leader of the group, shouted at him. Argo narrowed his eyes as he walked up towards him. 

"Do you wish to murder the Granddaughter of the Ancient One?" Argo asked him. Everyone began to panic before lowering their weapons and hurried away from her. Argo walked around the smaller centaur and over towards her. Hermione gulped as she felt even more smaller than she ever felt before. 

"You must have the ability to be a tracker like the Ancient One. She was able to track any animal out there." Argo said, "Follow me, Hermione, I shall take you back to--" 

"I didn't wander into your camp, sir." Hermione blurted out. He tilted his head; his eyes gleaming with confusion. 

"Then how did you find your way here?" he asked. 

"Through a portal... I was in this underground cavern of some sort and I went through these trials... and I gave up my wand to get out... and I got... this." Hermione said while struggling to pull the key from her pocket. Once she did, she held it up to him. Argo narrowed his eyes as he took it into his own hands and gazed it over. After a minute, his eyes widened. 

"It can't be. The legend is true." He mumbled while twirling it between his fingers. 

"Legend?" Hermione asked. 

"There is an old legend among the creatures that long ago, a woman who was more powerful that even Death himself feared her held an unnatural wand. Instead of wood, it was made entirely of gemstone found only in Romania where Dragons roam and crafted by herself. The woman's name was Hydra. She was said to be a great woman. However, she grew anxious years later when she learned people were after her for the wand, so she asked the Ancient One to aid her in hiding it from those unworthy of the wand." Argo explained, "It is rumored the Ancient One had locked the wand away under enchantment that not even the most powerful could break them. Only that which is worthy of wielding the wand could possess it. That is why the Ancient One and Hydra built a trial room, believe had been located at the bottom of Hogwarts before it was built, so they could prove their worth for the wand. Only when they succeed in finishing each trial will they be granted a key that would show them the way to achieve the wand." 

"So... Barty wanted me to go through the trial in hopes I would obtain the wand for Iracebeth." Hermione mumbled. 

"If that is true, it would be pointless." Argo admitted, causing Hermione to gaze up. 

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked. 

"Like I said, only the person, who went through the trials, will be worthy of wielding it." Argo explained to her, "So if this Barty person had intended on getting this wand through making you do the trials, he would not be able to give the wand to Iracebeth."

Hermione was now confused. If Barty had known about the room and how it operated, why did he have her go through the trials? Surely he would have gone to try and get the wand himself... or even Iracebeth herself, but they had her go through the trial, probably knowing full well that the wand would be hers now. She didn't understand what Iracebeth was up to. 

"Hermione," Argo called out to her, "It is not safe for you to be roaming out here. Especially nowadays. Lets get you back to Hogwarts." 

Hermione nodded her head as she followed beside him out of the camp, still wondering herself as she tried to figure out what was Iracebeth's plan?