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?' As with the first chapter, the setting of this chapter is still a small island off the coast of central America where a group of centaurs had gathered to observe a solar eclipse, although the timeline has advanced and it is now the early evening of the day after that of the first chapter. Bane is a silent witness to events in this chapter, Albus Dumbledore having arrived looking for a briefing about the eclipse (which has by now come and gone) and although most of the centaurs having gathered to watch the exchange, Chiron having issued firm instructions that he is the only centaur to do any talking. In so much as it matters, all centaurs are assumed to speak a version of Greek, as a common language. As of early July, 2014, this story is rated 'T' for now, but the rating may rise.
Thursday, 11th July, 1991
"I take it, from all the remarkably tight-lipped faces around here, that something of note has perhaps been observed? I hope that it has caused no dissension as to interpretation between yourselves?" Albus Dumbledore enquired in English.
"Something of note has indeed been observed, beyond the usual signs and trends, but it is of such tremendous potential importance to our kind that it is only for the ears of our closest friends and allies." Chiron replied likewise in English. "Thus there exists doubt as to the wisdom of sharing it with you."
"I was given to understand that when one consulted the centaurs, one could expect a workmanlike report, irrespective of whether the news was either fair or foul for either listener or the one who delivered it."
"That is indeed so, Supreme Mugwump, but you have not consulted us. You have merely organised meetings, that we might have done for ourselves; you have not approached us in our palaces on the Pelopennese heights, with offers of rare tribute, nor come on bended knees to those of our kin who dwell in more rustic settings. There are formal conventions to consultations, and you never once asked if they were waived. So it comes down, since what we have seen is privileged information, to whether you can show that you are our good friend or ally. I will allow that you have put yourself out to some degree, nonetheless, to facilitate these gatherings for us, but that might not be an act of friendship, but perhaps one of appropriate contrition over the base devices and treacherous words that you – or at least your protégé, Sirius Black – employed in dealing with our kin in the lands in which you commonly live."
"I was as much deceived in the Sirius Black situation as your kin were, and in the past made apology for it to those involved."
"You made it to those who lived locally, not to the centaur race as a whole, whose majesty you had offended in so allowing some of our members to be misled and so very nearly put to ill uses. And though it might have been lacking in spirit, your apology to them did at least, I have heard, follow the appropriate forms, which thus removes from you the burden of atoning for that, too. But in following the forms, you showed yourself aware of centaur conventions, and thus you have no grounds to accuse us of bad faith in not sharing anything with you now, in what is after all, not by the book, a formal consultation. And as I said, I consider that the arranging of these gatherings – from which, incidentally, I assume that your prestige has gained greatly by association with us, even though we have had little to say before today, over which you have never once complained – a suitable act of contrition to the entire centaur race for your part in the wrong-doings against centaurs of the British Wizarding War. But I do not consider it a demonstration of friendship or of alliance."
There was a lengthy pause, while the two looked at one another, apparently waiting for one another to say something; it was broken at last by Albus Dumbledore.
"Since you have not spoken of any desire that you wish fulfilled nor given any sign of any other matter you would like to see resolved, I will not insult you, most noble Chiron, by implying that your friendship or alliance could be bought. I am pleased to hear that you consider the account on behalf of your entire race over the unfortunate Sirius Black incidents now settled, and so I shall beg your pardon for taking up your time, and depart."
And with that he turned to go.
There was a stunned silence.
"You cannot turn your back on the entire centaur race, Albus Dumbledore! You need us."
"Again, I beg your pardon, most noble Chiron, but you have already indicated that you do not want nor need me; I am not so young as I used to be, but I hope that I am not yet so lacking in hearing as to have mistaken something you spoke for something unsaid, nor in wits to push for friendship or alliance with someone who has given no indication of desire for either. And, being the Supreme Mugwump, I have many other things to be doing with my time other than so disappointing you."
"There is an age of Janus coming, Albus Dumbledore! An age of Janus!" Chiron bellowed, but the other had disapparated, and it was unclear if he could have even heard.
Author Notes:
Although Bane is, as noted earlier, only a silent observer in this chapter, I consider it worth posting, as background to future events.
Although, in theory, Chiron is usually a competent politician and shrewd negotiator, on this occasion he's misread the situation, mistakenly believing that Albus needs the centaurs' advice sufficiently badly that he will beg them for their help; hence why Chiron is anxious to start playing up adherence to the exact letter of centaur traditions, customs, and expectations, to emphasise that the centaurs don't actually owe Albus any explanations about what observations that they've made. Chiron expects that by doing so, Albus will in response start to offer up all kinds of favours and promises to get the information he wants.
Albus, on the other hand concludes, upon reflection, that although he'd have preferred the centaurs' analysis of the recent eclipse, as Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of wizards he's hardly without other options for getting reports from stargazers – albeit ones not nearly so specialised in the field – and that with something so significant, he can probably take the time to fill in most of the gaps in between such lower quality reports himself and save himself both a good deal of stress of lengthy haggling with Chiron and a huge headache in terms of favours that Chiron seems likely to insist upon for the centaurs' cooperation.
Janus, of course, is the two-faced Roman mythological figure who stands at the doorway of times of great change (often including the beginning and end of wars).
The references made to Sirius Black are concerned with actions that (so a later secret trial decided) he carried out on behalf of Lord Voldemort during the British Wizarding War to try and incite conflict between the centaurs of the Forbidden Forest and the British Ministry of Magic.
As a footnote, Chiron technically commits a diplomatic boo-boo in the light of the position that he subsequently adopts, by allowing the discussion he has with Albus to take place in English. Whilst Albus would be within his rights to 'consult' in English, if Chiron actually considers that Albus' role is not that of one seeking a private consultation, but of one seeking friendship/alliance, then Chiron should at least (at the onset) insist on the discussion taking place in the centaurs' version of Greek. Albus could have either objected to that (which, depending on his reasons, would have factored into the later discussions) or fallen into line and continued in Greek, but Chiron still ought to have raised the point, given the direction he later took.
