The Blessings of Hecate [Abandoned]

One of Chiron's So Called Friends

Chapter Twenty-One: One of Chiron's So Called Friends
Leo's P.O.V.

LET'S JUST SAY Divination was different. Instead of trudging up to the North Tower, the three of us arrived at Classroom Eleven early.

"So do you really think he knows Chiron?" Piper asks.

She had already sent a letter to Chiron three days previously, but no answer had returned yet. We would've asked Firenze himself, if it weren't for the fact that he seemed to be unlocatable ever since he had arrived at the school.

"I would assume so. I mean at the beginning of the quest don't you remember Chiron saying, 'I have a few friends in England that sense a war coming.' It's got to be him."

"Well aren't there other centaurs in the forest?" I asked.

Piper rolled her eyes, "He used to live with the other centaurs."

"I know but-"

"Be quiet," said Nico suddenly. "Someone's coming."

He was right. Three Slytherins had just walked around the corner. Then it occurred to me, it was that Malfoy boy and his two cronies; Crabbe and Goyle. But the weirdest thing was... I didn't even remember him taking Divination.

"What're you doing here, Malfoy?" Nico asked him.

"Speak for yourself, Di Angelo. What are you doing here so early?"

"What are you doing here at all?" Piper asks, "You don't even take this class."

"You're right, this is our free period. I just thought I'd like to check out the class. More specifically the stupid centaur."

"What do you even care about Firenze?" I asked him.

"He's the third filthy halfbreed Dumbledore's hired in the last three years. First the werewolf and the giant, now a centaur! The Prophet's right, he really is losing his marbles."

I don't know what set me off. But if I had to guess, it's probably what he said about 'filthy halfbreeds'. I surge forward past the two huge buffoons he had, my hand on fire. I had barely singed his robes when Piper cried out, "Stop!"

I extinguished my my hand, while Draco was still standing there, cloak on fire. Crabbe and Goyle looked around the empty corridor as if they weren't really sure what just happened.

"Aguamenti," Piper said with a wave of her wand and Draco was doused with water head to toe.

The three Slytherins unfroze at once. Crabbe and Goyle ran off in opposite directions while Draco said through clenched teeth, "You are so going to pay for that, Valdez."

He then strode off after Goyle towards the Great Hall. He left us standing there in a few seconds worth of awkward silence.

"Did I really just-"

"Yeah." Piper out her head down.

"Do you think he noticed that I didn't use my wand-"

"Doubt it."

"Do you think he's going to tell-"

"He's a coward, but not a complete fool."

"When is this stupid class going to-"

"I would like to think that my class is not stupid," said a voice behind me. Along with Piper, I had nearly jumped.

The door to the classroom had opened, with Firenze standing in the doorway. Behind him, I couldn't tell whether the classroom was actually part of the school or a whole other dimension. The floor was mossy and trees were growing out of it, the branches covered the windows and the ceilings. As leaves covered the windows, it made the room have a green light. It was almost like a forest.