This scene continues Act Three Scene Twenty. Nobodyʼs crying here, thank goodness...

Albus opened his mouth, but after about five seconds closed it again, the feeling of powerlessness overwhelming him. His mind still completely blank, he made another attempt to poduce something resembling human speech, but when he tried to utter a sound he felt as if he was being gagged.

Scorpius watched him expectantly for some more seconds before he gave Hogwarts castle a frightened glance. ʻWe really should be going,ʼ he hissed. ʻWe must not be seen!ʼ

ʻDoes it matter anymore?ʼ growled Albus, rediscovering his voice upon hearing Scorpiusʼs. ʻWe ruined everything anyway. We... itʼs useless.ʼ

ʻYou just said yourself we need to stop her,ʼ said Scorpius, returning his eyes to the castle. ʻAnd weʼre certainly not able to do that if we donʼt know what sheʼs going to do.ʼ

ʻAnd how do you plan to find out what she is going to do?ʼ

Scorpius tore his eyes from Hogwarts and started to march towards the exit of the Quidditch pitch. Momentarily taken aback, Albus hurried after him.

ʻSheʼs left the grounds,ʼ said Scorpius once Albus had caught up with him. ʻWhatever sheʼs up to, itʼs not going to happen at Hogwarts. We can do nothing here. Probably itʼll be possible to find some newspaper in Hogsmeade without anybody noticing so that we at least know whatʼs going on, in what time we are.ʼ

ʻGreat,ʼ huffed Albus. ʻThat sounds like a really elaborate plan.ʼ

ʻIf you have a better idea, this might be the moment to share it.ʼ

Albus bit back a scathing reply, very well aware that his mingled feelings of anger, horror and betrayal had nothing to do with his friend. Instead, he accelerated his steps and they broke into a run down the way to Hogsmeade. Then there progress was abruptly stopped for the gates of the castle were chained shut. Albus gazed up to the two winged boars flanking the gates and let his eyes travel across the wall that stretched out before them. Fighting back the dread that threatened to overtake him, he turned to Scorpius. But his friendʼs face, staring at the gates, was as helpless as Albus felt.

ʻWhat are we to do now?ʼ Albus finally whispered. ʻIf we could only Apparate! Then we could get out of here.ʼ

Scorpius turned from the gates to stare at Albus with disbelief. ʻDonʼt be ridiculous. You canʼt Apparate in the grounds of Hogwarts. When have you last looked into Hogwarts, A History

Albus snorted. ʻWhy should I? Iʼve got you.ʼ Scorpius continued to glare at him so that Albus preferred to turn his attention to the obstacle before them again. ʻAnyway, Apparating doesnʼt help us. Yet, we must get out. Is there anything in Hogwarts, A History that helps us there?ʼ

ʻHogwarts, A History is not-ʼ started Scorpius in his most annoyingly lecturing tone.

ʻWhyʼs the gate locked?ʼ cut in Albus quickly.

Scorpius stopped in mid-sentence and looked up to the boars, frowning. ʻItʼs certainly not a good sign,ʼ he said quietly. ʻThese must be troubled times.ʼ He chewed his lower lip and let his gaze wander along the walls. His face hardened. ʻWeʼve got to go back and try to walk through the forest.ʼ

Albus turned so fast to face Scorpius that he almost lost his balance and needed several attempts until he found his voice. ʻThrough the Forbidden Forest?ʼ he croaked. ʻWe never get through it alive. And anyway, how do you know the wall doesnʼt lead around it?ʼ

Scorpius sighed. ʻIf you had read-ʼ

ʻRight,ʼ interrupted Albus. ʻThe wall doesnʼt lead around the forest. Got it. But why donʼt we just go along the wall until it ends? Then we donʼt have to enter the forest?ʼ

Scorpius gave Albus a pitying look. ʻHas it ever occurred to you that these walls might be magical?ʼ

ʻMeaning?ʼ

ʻIf you walk along them, they will never stop,ʼ said Scorpius in a maddeningly patient tone. ʻBut they donʼt lead around the forest because that might draw attention to them despite the Muggle Repellant Charms. If you travel through the forest, the walls wonʼt know weʼre there so we can get through.ʼ

ʻBut we canʼt get through!ʼ Albus almost shouted. ʻThere are all sorts of things in the forest. Werewolves and-ʼ

ʻThere are no Werewolves in the forest,ʼ said Scorpius, starting to sound vexed too. ʻIf you have any safer suggestion, Iʼd love to hear it.ʼ

Albus racked his brain, but he knew only too well that there was no alternative and they were wasting their time - if they still had any time to waste... Albus gulped and fought back his panic. ʻWe probably should hurry,ʼ he said hoarsely.

He turned on his heels and sprinted right back to where they had come from, closely followed by Scorpius. The two boys ducked and ran with all the speed they could muster when they came in view of Hagridʼs hut. After a desperate race during which they constantly checked their surroundings for potential onlookers, they reached the border of the forest and without anymore thinking they rushed along the first track that led into the darkness of the trees. When they couldnʼt be seen from the outside anymore, they slowed down.

ʻAnd now?ʼ said Albus, panting and leaning against the next tree trunk. ʻWeʼve got no wands!ʼ

ʻWe just must go on,ʼ said Scorpius through the hand he had pressed before his mouth, swaying slightly on the spot. ʻAfter all, weʼve still got hope.ʼ

Albus half opened his mouth to contradict his friend, but then he thought about his parents and the danger they were in. They needed to do something against the threat even though they didnʼt know how. Albus straightened up.

ʻLetʼs go,ʼ he said, forcing himself to sound far more determined than he felt.

With Albus in the lead, they hurried along the path, deeper and deeper into the forest. The trees grew continually thicker and taller and although the sun was rising higher and higher in the sky, their surroundings became darker and darker. Soon they needed to use their hands to move from tree to tree, always staring nervously into the darkness where all sorts of small noises were magnified to their wary ears. They were wandering through the forest what seemed to them like days and certainly were some hours as the sun seemed relatively high when there was a noise different from all that they had heard before. And soon it became clear, that the sound was approaching them. With feelings bordering on panic, they stood close together as something huge drew nearer - a man on a horse was Albusʼs first thought, but the horse didnʼt have a head...

ʻGood morning,ʼ said the man with a deep voice. ʻYou must be from the school. Are you with Hagrid? I thought students were not allowed alone into the forest? Especially in such dark times as these.ʼ

Despite the civil tone, Albus shuddered and made a step back. After a very uncomfortable moment of silence, Scorpius cleared his throat with what sounded more like a squeak.

ʻGood morning Mr Centaur─ʼ

ʻMagorian,ʼ corrected the centaur, moving nearer so that they could faintly see his proud face with long black hair.

ʻMr Magorian,ʼ repeated Scorpius. ʻWell, weʼre not exactly students – meaning we are – but not really now – and we should not be, er, seen. Itʼs a bit difficult, but we could mess up time and...ʼ

The centaur didnʼt look troubled at all though a slight trace of interest appeared on his haughty features.

ʻThe stars,ʼ he suddenly said, ʻhave changed a lot lately. After great forebodings of darkness, we centaurs thought we could detect signs of hope. But just tonight a cloud─ʼ

ʻA cloud?ʼ interrupted Albus, taken aback by this formulation. ʻDad said Bane said there was a cloud around me.ʼ

Magorian looked at Albus, the interest slightly more visible on his face. ʻBane said so?ʼ he asked softly.

Albus turned red. ʻWell, no – not now, exactly – but he will say so... if nothing worse... the cloud...ʼ

ʻYou need help?ʼ asked the centaur briskly.

Albus and Scorpius looked at each other, amazed at the appearance of helpfulness from a centaur. ʻWell,ʼ said Scorpius, making a step forward. ʻWe would like to – kind of – get away from Hogwarts. Through the forest. Safely. And could you tell us what year it is? Please.ʼ

Magorian looked at him calmly. ʻYears!ʼ he said finally, shaking his head. ʻLabelling them with numbers. Centaurs do not care about such human inventions. But I believe in your honesty and the graveness of your mission whatever it may be. I will lead you through the forest. After all, the protection of foals is sacred to centaurs. You may follow me.ʼ

The centaur galloped away quickly. Albus and Scorpius exchanged one glance, then they ran after him. Soon their sides burnt, their throats were ice-cold and their breathing was ragged, but they stumbled on, their only goal to keep up with the centaur. After a long while, the trees started to look younger again and slowly they shrank in size and height till at last the sunlight reached through the trees once more.

The centaur stopped and turned to them. Both collapsed on the ground, panting and retching. After having contemplated them for a moment with a rather bored expression, the centaur stepped slowly into the darkness of the forest again, pointing in the other direction.

ʻYou can go along that path and will soon reach the border of the forest. Then you will see a small stream. Follow the course of the water. It is said in the forest that it will lead at last to human civilisation. More I know not.ʼ

He turned and was swallowed by darkness.

ʻThank you,ʼ tried Scorpius to scream after him, but his voice was so hoarse that even Albus next to him hardly understood the words. Both scrambled to their feet.

ʻDo you think there will be any consequences in the future from talking with the centaur?ʼ croaked Albus.

ʻI hope no. Centaurs after all do not meddle with humans usually. And we had no choice after all.ʼ

Albus nodded dejectedly and they both walked in the indicated direction, slowly at first but despair soon forcing them to break into a run again.


A/N Iʼve only got one other chapter planned thatʼs a kind of Letʼs Talk About Whatʼs Happened scene. So if youʼve got the feeling that important stuff is missing here and youʼve been waiting for it, tell me so (I didnʼt include here a scene where Ginny and Draco meet at platform nine and three quarters, dunno if anybodyʼd find it interesting...). And of course, many thanks to you who have read until here, youʼre absolutely wonderful!