Harry and Jenny kept yelling at her that Voldemort had returned, and both of them got detentions which made James very angry, until Harry said something harsh. "Oh, so Cedric Diggory just dropped dead of his own accord, then, did he?" He snarled. I...
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Umbridge stared at us suspiciously as she marched by, her wand pointed at Hermione and Harry who walked briskly in front of her, towards the Forbidden Forest. I gave her a dark look, and said, "I think I will have to come, Professor." My voice was sweet and excruciatingly restrained. She looked ready to protest, but I shot her another dangerous scowl and she silenced immediately.
"Very well." She replied, her tone clipped and her answer short. Jenny and James made forward, but I held up my hand, staying them. "I need you here." I uttered before slinking after the three.
Nova joined us not before long, and even though Hawthorne protested at our purpose of the adventure,
*
"It's around here somewhere..." Hermione said loudly as she walked, her hair disheveled from walking so far. I stalked beside her, having shifted a long time before. My stumped wings ached, but I ignored it - I wouldn't give Umbridge the satisfaction. It felt... uncomfortable, not being able to fly. I was cast back to the days where I had not learned to fly yet, back in the attic and my first time at The Burrow. It made me vulnerable, and that was something I was uneasy about.
Finally, after Hermione had shouted enough, centaurs began circling us all. A few of the females gave low snorts at me, and I smirked - I may have tried to eat their foals once or twice. Nova went the opposite way to me, and we crossed our furs now and again - she was much like a sister to me - a sister of battle.
I padded around very slowly, my fur settled and my claws tucked away, and watched the creatures curiously while Umbridge yelled insults at them; something about half-breeds and the Ministry of Magic. I grew bored not before long, and settled beside Hermione and Harry, my tail flicking every now and again with agitation.
Then, without warning, an arrow flew past, just missing my ears and Umbridge's bobbed, curly hair. I smirked with amusement then, instead of just being cheeky.
"Who's Forest is it now, human?" Roared a grey centaur, and before I could anticipate her answer, she pointed her wand at him and screeched, "Incarcerous!"
A jet of rope shot out of thin air and snaked its way around the centaur tightly, strangling him and constricting him until he was just rearing around in rage. The mass of centaurs charged after Umbridge, and Hermione and Harry dropped to the ground instinctively. Nova and I leapt for the same branch, and while I made it, she dangled off it, her back legs flailing not to get hit by a centaur. I snatched her scruff and hauled her up with a cry of exertion. She panted heavily, while I licked her ears soothingly.
"Thanks." She murmured. I nodded, "Don't mention it." She smiled, and I chuckled, "Seriously though, don't mention it, not even to Hawthorne. Him and Shade will kill us both. Plus my dad." I grinned and she laughed lightly, even over the roar of centaurs below. She shuffled her wings, cleaning a spot beneath the apex of her membrane. I felt briefly melancholy and sighed, but Nova saw and nudged me with a warm, friendly look in her eyes. "You'll grow them back, but until then, don't piss off Shade. He can catch you now." We laughed again, and I purred my thanks to her.
A silence echoed around and we glanced down to see Umbridge being carried away, screaming profusely into the distance, while Harry and Hermione had been seized by the centaurs. Nova snarled and I roared furiously, bounding down and spreading the creatures out. Sure, we were outnumbered, I couldn't fly, and Nova was inexperienced with centaurs, but we would take them on no matter what.
"Let them go." I hissed, stalking further inwards to the group, each of us grappling Hermione and Harry with our teeth and swinging them to the floor. They landed heavily, and I stood over them both. The centaurs bows were pointed at us, while the leader I suspected was called Bane, laughed raucously. "You and what army?" He growled with authority.
"This army." Came a deep voice. Nova and I glanced upwards, our ears tilted in confusion. There, on a tree branch, sat daddy dearest and dear mother, with the Darkened League gathered below them. Shadow Claw's with their wings raised, Chaos Claw's with their eyes stormy, and many other varieties of Claw's. Shade and Hawthorne were at its helm, and they talked forwards with scolding eyes. "We'll talk about this later." They quipped in sync to us, and we gave them a low whine.
The centaurs backed off, "The Ministry of Magic must understand things first, before they grant your your land back. There is an enemy afoot, and until then, nobody will believe any of us. No creature here shall be hurt today, and we all leave without a fuss." I spoke up, Shade's fur pressing to my side. I resisted the wince when her accidentally brushed up against my stubs. "Things will change, and I expect, from centaurs such as yourselves, understand that time is important. To everybody." I saw a round of hesitant nods.
"How can we be sure you shan't attack us, like prey?" Magorian questions. Pierce growled out loudly, "You can't. Nature will take its course, but for now, you'll have to take our word." He commanded.
Bane and Magorian, both with conflicted faces, looked to one another, and then, without another word, drew their hooves back and returned to the eerie confines of the Forbidden Forest.
I huffed and felt a sharp nip from Shade on my ear. I nipped him right back in defiance, and smacked him with my tail. "Serves you right." I grumbled, and he growled at me, licking my cheeks and cleaning my fur. I turned my head to see Pierce and Svana in human form - they gave a small nod to me and a smile from my mother, then they commanded the Darkened League away, with themselves following after.
I faced Nova, who I then grimaced at, because she was making out with Hawthorne in human form. I shifted too, and faced Shade, who's lips immediately connected with mine. "Mea umbra." He purred through our kiss, and I melded my body to his, my hands working through his hair, yanking at it harshly. A primitive growl escaped his chest and I smiled, feeling his hands slip under my butt.
"Shadow. That's really disgusting. Like, seriously, that's nasty." Jenny's voice cut through my moment of peace, and I clung to Shade with a glare in her direction. "Spoil sport." I mumbled, but then perked up when my mate kissed me briefly again, letting me down from his hold. Hawthorne and Nova had stopped too, and Nova's face was half-buried in his chest, her face bright red.
I laughed, "You'll get used to it." I grinned at her, and then started after Harry and Hermione, who were standing with Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna, deciding how to get into the Department of Mysteries.
