Disclaimer: I am not J. K. Rowling. I do not own Harry Potter.

Note: The following is set in an alternate universe where some characters and situations have diverged from canon, and is complementary to 'Saint Potter?' The setting of this chapter is a small island off the coast of central America where a group of centaurs are gathering to observe a solar eclipse the following day. The centaurs Bane and Firenze are attending as the representatives of the centaurs of 'The Forbidden Forest'. Firenze has gone off to try and find somewhere to set up their equipment, whilst Bane pays his respects (one-on-one) to 'Chiron' – the Greek centaur with overall charge of this particular gathering. In so much as it matters, all centaurs are assumed to speak a version of Greek, as a common language. This story is rated 'T' for now, but the rating may rise as it progresses.

Further Note (added 12th July, 2014): In this universe at the time of this gathering Bane and Firenze occupy the roles of mentor and student, with Firenze (the younger of the two) being the 'student' — hence Firenze's being sent off to set up the telescopes and so forth whilst Bane (the senior of the two British centaurs) handles the formal business talking to the Greek centaur with oversight of the gathering.

Wednesday, 10th July, 1991

"And how are our British brethren?"

Bane personally disliked the oft-times slightly-superior attitudes which the most important of Greek centaurs frequently showed to any centaur from any other part of the globe; but they carried off 'politely condescending' in a fashion that left one wondering whether it was actually intentional and intended to put others in their place, or entirely accidental and thus impolite to comment upon. Chiron, the representative of the Greek 'High Council' presiding over this particular centaur gathering, was no exception.

"My chief, Magorian, sends his greetings." Bane formally replied. "He sends a scroll of our herd's most significant astronomical observations of the last few months, to correlate with your own." In a manoeuvre which had been much rehearsed, so as not to cause any social embarrassment with fumbling (as Ronan had done last time), Bane reached back into one of the saddlebags that he wore, plucked forth the appropriate scroll, and offered it to Chiron with just the slightest inclination of his head for a moment to show 'proper' deference.

The Greek centaur took the scroll, and actually removed the restraining ribbon and unfurled it to scan it with as much speed as decorum might permit. Bane's senses prickled. Something was clearly in the wind, if the representative of the High Council of Greek centaurs was inspecting the data that Magorian had sent him immediately. British centaurs were regarded as being so much on the fringe of centaur society, that it was out of the question that it could be as a sign of respect or of favour that Magorian's observations merited such rapid attention.

"These observations are… patchy…" Chiron said at length, rolling up the scroll, and sounding both clearly disappointed by the gaps and equally intrigued by what he had read. His air of detached aloofness of minutes earlier had completely disappeared, and he had a businesslike tone of voice now.

"You are aware of our geographical situation, and the difficulty posed by the surrounding mountains and the climate."

"I am aware," Chiron agreed, "but are you not able to construct an observatory point upon an area of ground high enough to at least take some of the surrounding mountains out of the equation?"

"We do not have the luxury of islands surrounded by gulfs of water to keep out the unwanted, and the witches and wizards' International Statute of 'Wizarding Secrecy' is a constant fetter upon us. Whilst we remain down in the valleys, it is much easier to remain hidden from the wider world. If we go up on the mountains – and especially if we were to raise any permanent edifice there – we would be at much greater risk of drawing unwanted attention. And besides that there would be difficulty sparing labour from foraging and ensuring our security to shift stone."

"We could make funds available, perhaps, to hire labour and buy materials." Chiron mused. By 'we' Bane had little doubt that the High Council was meant, but that favours might well be expected in return.

"These are matters above the level that my chief has entrusted me to discuss." Bane said. "If you wish me to carry him a verbal or written offer, private or otherwise, I will do so, but no amount of bought labour or raised stone will do anything about the vagaries of the Scottish weather. Even the Supreme Mugwump has, in recent years, ordered the practice abandoned at the school he presides over of attempting to observe the skies locally as part of scheduled classes."

"Ahh, Hogwarts. The place has recently been much in our deliberations, in Greece." Chiron had switched subjects – and in the process avoided giving any indication for now of whether he wished to send a formal offer of financial assistance to Magorian, Bane noticed. "Not merely as a school, or what passes for a school by human standards, mind – and this is in confidence, Bane, for your ears and those of your chief, only – but as one of the few true fortresses of the world in which we are expected to move. Were the Supreme Mugwump not… the 'man'… that he is, I would send strong words of encouragement to your chief to get his front hooves firmly inside the Hogwarts gates as a matter of some priority. But, the Supreme Mugwump is who he is…."

Chiron trailed off thoughtfully.

Already this conversation had gone on considerably longer than Bane had expected or been prepared for. A brief exchange of formal greetings was about all that a British centaur would usually receive from the representative of the Greek High Council upon arrival at one of these events. Yet suddenly the capacity of the herd to which Bane belonged to make astronomical investigations was being enquired after, and hints dropped that the Greek centaurs were interested in improving their star-gazing facilities and that perhaps if a less objectionable wizard than Albus Dumbledore were in residence at Hogwarts that Magorian ought to be making nice to him. All the signs were that Chiron thought that 'something' might be going to come to pass in Britain, which he was trying to reason out a way to turn to maximum (centaur) advantage.

Chiron apparently reached some decision:

"I shall write a private and confidential letter to your chief, Bane, before you return home." Coming from Chiron, in this circumstance, 'private' was coded language for 'this will not represent any official view, and any knowledge of it may well be denied, if publically raised'. It also equally meant, that in theory, Magorian would be free to completely disregard it, and that no official sanction would occur if he did so. "It may be that what we observe tomorrow will influence my final thoughts, but my general intention will be to advise him as I consider appropriate, and then leave it entirely to his discretion what to say or any other actions to take. Oh, and Bane: I am reminding all centaurs, as I greet them today, that though the Supreme Mugwump funds these gatherings, and arranges transportation and security, that we have a duty to only report to him what the entire gathering has debated upon and concluded that it is appropriate for him to hear. Sometimes the messages in the space in between the stars can be unclear, and I have no wish to disturb his mind with anything at this time, unless the entire gathering has agreed that he ought to hear it – and also agreed upon the circumstances under which he may do so. Pass that on to your associate, Firenze, from me."

And with that Chiron waved, to indicate that Bane was dismissed, the impromptu audience effectively now over. Still, it had almost certainly been observed by others, at the gathering, and tongues would soon be wagging, as quiet speculations were exchanged. And what was that bit at the end about? It seemed to Bane, as he politely nodded and turned away, that Chiron expected something important to perhaps be discerned in the heavens during the morrow's eclipse, and that he didn't want any centaur independently spilling the beans to the Supreme Mugwump, until Chiron had haggled with the man for every last favour and promise that he believed he could get out of him – not that Bane would ever want to do the Supreme Mugwump any favours for free…

Bane snorted, and went to discover what clear ground Firenze had managed to find, and see how he was going with setting up the telescopes. And to inform him of Chiron's injunction regarding speaking with the Supreme Mugwump, of course…

Author Notes:

For this particular universe, I've assumed that there are herds of centaurs here and there in many places round the world, but that they tend to defer to a 'High Council' of centaurs in Greece (Greece being the land where the first centaurs originated in this universe).

Albus Dumbledore, in his capacity of Supreme Mugwump, has by 1991 been paying the Greek centaurs for several years to gather members of their race from around the globe to observe solar eclipses and to report back to him on anything interesting which comes up. Witches and wizards acting for Albus Dumbledore arrange a location where the centaurs can observe each eclipse, ward it to make sure the centaurs aren't disturbed (or cause any breaches of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy by being observed by muggles), and arrange magical transport for centaurs to and from the gatherings.