Into The Light (Golden Trio Era) {2}

Run in With the Centaurs

"Hold it," Hagrid said, stopped abruptly as the three of them were trying to make their way through thick brambles. He took an arrow from the quiver hung across this back and loaded it into the crossbow. They took out their wands and stood still, trying to listen for any movement. "Oh blimey," Hagrid said quietly to himself. "I thought that we told you, Hagrid," said a man's voice, unknown to the kids. "that you are no longer welcome here?" Through the brush came a man's torso and the body of a chestnut horse, a centaur whose presence Mikayla had never been in. This centaur was also armed, a quiver and bow on his back like Hagrid. "How are yeh, Magorian?" Hagrid asked hesitantly. Branches behind Magorian parted and five more centaurs stepped out. "So," One centaur with a black body and beard said, directing his question at Magorian. "We agreed, I think, what we would do if this human showed his face in the forest again?" "This human' now, am I?" said Hagrid, irritated. "Jus' fer stoppin' all of yeh committin' murder?"

"You ought not to have meddled, Hagrid," Magorian tapped his hoof on the ground. "Our ways are not yours, nor are our laws. Firenze has betrayed and dishonored us." "I dunno how yeh work that out," Hagrid crossed his arms. "He's done nothin' except help Albus Dumbledore-" "Firenze has entered into servitude to humans," a grey centaur was now speaking. "Servitude!" said Hagrid sardonically. "He's doin' Dumbledore a favor is all-" "He is peddling our knowledge and secrets among humans. There can be no return from such disgrace." Magorian shook his head solemnly. "If yeh say so, but personally I think yeh're makin' a big mistake-"

"As are you, human," spoke the black-haired centaur again, "coming back into our forest when we warned you-" "Now, you listen ter me," Hagrid's voice grew hot. "I'll have less of the 'our' forest, if it's all the same ter you. It's not up ter you who comes an' goes in here-" "No more is it up to you, Hagrid," said Magorian so harshly yet monotonous that it reminded it of Snape's voice. "I shall let you pass today because you are accompanied by your young-" "They're not his!" the black-haired centaur informed furiously. "Students, Magorian, from up at the school! They have probably already profited from the traitor Firenze's teachings..." "Nevertheless," said Magorian simply, looking back at him, "the slaughter of foals is a terrible crime.... We do not touch the innocent. Today, Hagrid, you pass. Henceforth, stay away from this place. You forfeited the friendship of the centaurs when you helped the traitor Firenze escape us." "I won' be kept outta the fores' by a bunch of mules like you!" Hagrid said daringly. "Hagrid," Hermione warned, immediatly terrified by the centaurs now pawing at the ground as if to charge, "let's go, please lets go!" Hagrid moved forward, heeding Hermione's words, his crossbow still in hand and his eyes still on the centaurs. Mikayla protectively stood in front of the others her wands raised, this made some centaurs move uncomfortably and Mikayla heard them whisper her name.

"We know what you are keeping in the forest, Hagrid!" Magorian called loudly as they crept out of sight. "And our tolerance is waning!" Hagrid turned back around, looking as if he was about to storm back over to them. "You'll tolerate him as long as he's here, it's as much his forest as yours!" he bellowed. Hermione and Harry began to push against him, trying to get him to continue back to the school whilst Mikayla walked backwards on high alert. He turned his attention to them, using all of their might to try and move him. "Calm down, you two," he walked off, making them lose their balance for a second. "Ruddy old nags though, eh?" "Hagrid," Hermione caid anxiously, "if the centaurs don't want humans in the forest, it doesn't really look as though we'll be able-" "Ah, you heard what they said," Hagrid waved his hand at the matter, "They wouldn't hurt foals- I mean, kids. Anyway, we can' let ourselves be pushed around by that lot..." "Nice try," Harry whispered to Hermione, she looked almost nauseous as the situation just continued to grow worse.

With maybe another ten minutes of walking they rejoined with path, trees became thinner and farther apart, and the blue sky was visible through the canopy. "Was that another goal?" asked Hagrid after they heard another eruption of cheering. "Or d'you reckon the match is over?" "I don't know," Hermione said, sounding miserable. In the light, Mikayla could finally see how beaten they looked, Hermione's robes had torn in places were the brambled caught her, twigs and leaves had found their way into her hair. Harry had also been stabbed at by the thorns and thickets of the forest, his hair messier than normal, there was also dirt on his face. She was positive she looked no better, Harry plucked a pine needle from her hair. "I reckon it's over, yeh know!" said Hagrid, a hand shading his eyes as he squinted toward the stadium. "Look- there's people comin' out already- if yeh three hurry yeh'll be able ter blend in with the crowd an' no one'll know you weren't there!" Hagrid ushered them forward, cloaking himself back in the shade of the forest. "Good idea," Harry said, glancing over to the stadiums as well. "Well... see you later, then, Hagrid..."

"I don't believe him," Hermione said firmly as soon as they were far enough away that Hagrid couldn't possibly hear them. "I don't believe him. I really don't believe him..." "Calm down," said Harry, looking forward as to not seem suspicious and draw attention. "Calm down!" she fumed, her hair bounced in such away with the step she took that it looked like the hair of a cat standing on end. "A giant! A giant in the forest! And we're supposed to give him English lessons! Always assuming, of course, we can get past the herd of murderous centaurs on the way in and out! I- don't- believe- him!" "We haven't got to do anything yet!" Harry tried to reassure her. They shuffled into a group of Hufflepuffs entering the castle. "Yea, we only have to take care of him if Hagrid gets fired, and I'm sure he can stay out of Umbridge's way for a few more months," this, Mikayla wasn't even completely convinced of herself. "Oh come off it, Mikayla!" Hermione glared at her, then stopped abruptly, impeading traffic for a moment till people found there way around her. Harry and Mikayla stopped as well and tried to squeeze to the wall to keep from being shouted at. "Of course he's going to be chucked out and to be perfectly honest, after what we've just seen, who can blame Umbridge?" Harry and Mikayla look at Hermione with both disgust and shock at her words. "You don't get it do you?" Mikayla asked Hermione, before she could get a response she continued, "Hagrid has been treated like a monster his entire life, as if he was too dangerous to be around. Why do you think he likes helping creatures? It's the help he wished he got growing up." And with that Mikayla stormed off, ignoring the whispers of students that she had pushed out of her way through the crowds and stormed up to Gryffindor Tower.

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Don't forget to let your voice be heard! I answer all comments and appreciate all votes. Correct my mistakes or share your opinions on reading each part. Regards me x

As you know I'm considering to keep Fred alive, but I want to know you're opinions on who should die in his place, (no member of the Weasley family) but someone close to Mikayla. I had an idea on who would die in Fred's place but I don't think my loyal readers would be very happy with my decision, so I've decided to leave it up to y'all. So comment below or pm me if you don't want others to see-- Regards ME xxx