With a cry of alarm, Hagrid raised his crossbow, pointing it at the lead centaur. "What do you think you're doing, Magorian?"

But Magorian ignored him. His hands were steady on his longbow, and his aim hadn't budged from Asriel. "You are not human, and yet you carry a wand. I would say that you stole it, except you come here with Hagrid. And you call that human," his eyes flashed momentarily to Chara, "your sister. What are you?"

"He's..." Hagrid began.

"Silence, Hagrid," Magorian commanded, one hoof stomping the ground. Other centaurs had approached with drawn weapons, and Hagrid fell silent. "I wish to know what he is from his own lips."

"Uh, howdy?" Asriel repeated, trying to force a smile. "I'm Asriel, Asriel Dreemurr. I'm one of the monsters of the underground. I was allowed to carry a wand after my mother and father saved people at the Quidditch world cup. And, uh, could you just please put that down. Hagrid just wanted my sisters help giving medicine to the unicorn."

"A monster," Bane said. "The barrier was broken?"

Frisk blinked up at him, were they really that far behind the times? "About a year ago," Frisk said, causing Bane to turn his head, though the bow still didn't waver from its target. "When I fell into the underground. And, since we didn't have family of our own, we stayed with the Dreemurrs, Asriel's family."

"Humans have, repeatedly, proven that they cannot be trusted," Magorian said. "And that they would trust monsters with wands," his face began to darken, causing Frisk's heart rate to quicken. "before they even would think to trust the Merfolk... Goblins, or Centaurs," he snarled. "Perhaps it is time to demonstrate to Dumbledore..."

"Yeh don't want to do that, Magorian," Hagrid interrupted, finally risking the centaurs ire to stand in front of his charges. "You know how Dumbledore would react. These are innocent children. You want to pick on someone yer own size, I'm standing right here."

Another centaur, this one having red hair and a matching red beard cantered up to Magorian. A second centaur, with silvery blond hair, apparently clean shaven, and quietly spoke between the three of them. Bane's scowl faded, but the dark glare remained.

"Your opinion on humans is well known Firenze," Magorian said. "But if what you say is true, Bane," he looked from Asriel, to Frisk, to Chara. "You claim these humans as family? So be it, let us see if the honor of monsters is worth examining," he proclaimed, finally lowering his weapon. He nodded to the other centaurs, and one by one, they lowered their weapons and left the clearing. Magorian was the last to leave. "If you disappoint me, do not return. Foal or not, our patience will be at an end." On that, he turned on his hoof and left.

Frisk was expecting Hagrid to ask about Magorian's ultimatum, but he didn't seem to care. "Uppity gits. Pay them no mind," he told the Dreemurrs. He turned, considering the unicorn mare, still lying in the center of the clearing. "Did any of yeh notice if the Coerus wounded her at all?"

"I didn't see anything," Asriel said, looking over the mare again. "She's beautiful."

Frisk approached cautiously, with the stallion watching her every step. She lit her wand with the bone light spell that she'd learned from Madam Pomfrey last term. "I don't see any broken bones or anything either," she reported.

"Well, that's good," Hagrid told them. "Sorry for all the extra excitement. You ready for why you were really brought out here?" Hagrid pulled all sorts of colored medicine bottles, and a few apples, out of his bags.

It was difficult to get the unicorn to take its medicine. It must have tasted terrible, as it kept clamping its mouth shut whenever the dropper got close. They each took multiple turns, with none of them being particularly successful. It was only by offering the apples that they got any shot at all. It was a peculiar rhythm, offer the tantalizing apple. Sneak a couple of drops into the open mouth. Then actually give a bit of apple, and start the cycle over.

After about forty five minutes of pleading and conniving, Hagrid called a stop, deeming they'd had gotten enough of the various medicines into the mare that they were done. "I'm out of a few things anyway," Hagrid said. "I'll need to go down to London tomorrow. But before that, I have one last thing to give them." He reached down into the bottom of his bag, pulling out a small cloth sack. From the sack, he shook out three small white cubes into his large palm, and offered one to each of the Dreemurrs.

"Sugar cubes," Frisk determined, feeling hers flake into her hand. Chara had already made her way to the stallion, and Asriel to the foal, so she knelt down again next to the mare. "I know that wasn't pleasant, but you did a good job. It'll make you feel better in the long run." The unicorn licked the cube a few times before taking it in one mouthful, letting it melt in her mouth.

"Time for me to get you back up to the castle before anything else happens," Hagrid told them. It was well and truly dark at this point, with Hagrid's lantern providing the only light. "Some dangerous things in the forest," he warned them, as he walked them as far as the main door of the castle. "So don't think of trying to visit the unicorns yourselves. They're pretty private, mostly."

"How did you know that she needed treatment," Chara asked.

"Firenze told me," Hagrid said. "The centaurs know their stuff, but they don't have access to human shops. Mostly because they don't care to join in. Maybe they couldn't go down to London, but they'd welcome them for a pint at the Three Broomsticks, but they don't ever make the trip. You heard Magorian."

"What about the coerus?" Frisk asked, "It looked like it was starving."

"Creature like the coerus can take care of itself," Hagrid said. "I wouldn't worry..."

"But that's why it attacked the unicorn!" Frisk insisted.

"Alright, Frisk, alright. I'll take a look for it in a day or two. When I get back from London," he told them. They'd arrived at the castle's main door, and Hagrid held it open for them. "We're still just ahead of curfew, so get up to your common room. Thank you for helping me," he finished, winking at them.

"Are you sure you can't go check, Hagrid?" Frisk tried a third time.

"I can't," Hagrid said firmly. "I'll need to talk to Dumbledore and see if he can't help me calm the centaurs down before I go back in there. So. Goodnight," he told them, closing the door before Frisk could try yet again.

"What was all that about, Frisk?" Asriel asked.

So Frisk described what had happened when they went looking for the foal. "I made a promise. If he'd let the unicorn go, I'd come back for it. And I think the centaurs heard me."

"Not tonight, though," Chara said. "You can't think you're going back tonight. You heard what Hagrid said. Sneaking back into the forest in the dark might get us killed. Besides, how do you think you'll get anything for it to eat?"

"There has to be a kitchen here somewhere. They can't just transfigure food from nowhere. That's one of the basics. But," she sad, realizing the other problem, "what kind of food? I guess I'll have to try the library."

"We should ask a teacher to go in with us, McGonagall? Since Hagrid said he'd be going to London?"

Frisk nodded. "Let's go ask her tonight," she said, detouring away from the grand stairwell and towards McGonagall's office. But though they knocked several times, there was no reply at all. "I guess she's not here. We can try again in the morning."

Frisk was up before breakfast, and almost certainly before her siblings were. She headed down to the school library, which was already open, and was one of the first people there. Hermione had beaten her there, and was looking something up about House Elves. Frisk approached her, got her attention, and asked, "Hey, Hermione? Do you know a good book about magical creatures?"

Hermione thought for a second, "There was a good one I used two years ago, to look up what was attacking people when the Chamber of Secrets," she said finally."I think it was 'The Magical Menagerie'."

"Thanks," Frisk said, going to look. She found the recommended tome and pulled it out. It was sorted alphabetically, so it was easy enough to find the coerus. It was listed as a four X creature, though it was noted that there was occasionally talk of reassigning it to five X, as it was nocturnal, intelligent, strong, and occasionally cruel, though it tended to be wary around wizards. It's main magical feature was its ability to displace where it appeared to be, from an inch or so when young to several feet as an adult. So creatures attempting to flee would actually run right into its waiting jaws and tentacles.

"But what does it eat?" Frisk mumbled, "Other than unicorns and possibly unwary second year wizards?" She slid her fingers down the page. "While its diet mainly consists of small woodland game, it considers fish a delicacy. Because fish use the current in the water rather than eyesight (and the coerus lacks the patience for proper fishing), it is rare that they manage to catch one," she read aloud, earning herself an admonishment from the librarian. And with a couple of quick notes, she headed to the great hall.

"I suppose I should have guessed that," Frisk said at breakfast, explaining what she had found.

"And there's a bit of a problem," Chara said, nodding up to the staff table.

Frisk looked over to it. It wasn't unusual for there to be a staff member or two missing on a weekend day, but not only was Hagrid gone, neither Dumbledore nor McGonagall was present either.

She looked first at Professor Snape, but he looked as grumpy as ever, eating alone to one side of the staff table. So she stood, and made her way instead to Professor Sprout.

The herbology teacher smiled down on her, and when Frisk asked if she could talk to her for a few minutes after breakfast, nodded. "Of course, Frisk. You can come down to the greenhouse with me."

"Thank you professor," Frisk said, going back to finally eat. When she got back, she was intercepted by Opal. "Flying practice?" Opal asked, grinning at her.

"In a little bit," Frisk told her. She let Chara and Asriel fill her in about what happened in the Forbidden Forest, so she could finally eat. "After we talk to her, we'll come find you," Frisk promised, between mouthfuls of orange juice. After some pancakes and eggs, Madam Sprout nodded to her as she was heading out the main door. Frisk hurriedly said goodbye to her friends, and rushed to catch up, with Asirel and Chara close behind her.

In Greenhouse #4, it was Frisk's turn to explain everything that had happened. Madam Sprout listened patiently as she watered the various magical plants. "A coerus? Frisk, those are dangerous creatures. Why would would you take it upon yourself to help them? Is it because you think the centaurs are going to judge you and your family? That's not a good reason to risk yourself."

"It was starving, professor," Frisk said. "And I made a promise."

"It's that important," Asriel agreed. "Before Frisk fell, humans were considered dangerous creatures in the underground, but our mother protected her anyway. And she was protected by someone who had also made a promise."

"If I say no, you'd just go without me, wouldn't you?" Professor Sprout said sagely, looking between the three Dreemurrs. "Very well. After dinner, we will go down to the kitchens, and then we'll see if we can't find your hungry coerus."

Asriel looked like he was about to protest before he realized she had said yes. "Is there anything we can do for you?" he asked instead. When Madam Sprout gave him a questioning look, he explained, "Trading favors is something that's normally expected in the underground."

The professor laughed. "Not right now, go out an enjoy the day."

They caught up with Opal as she was jogging a lap around the castle, she grinned at them and kept going. "Hey!" Steven complained at the end, "I thought you said two laps. That was three," he was panting for breath, Luna and Ginny didn't look that much better.

"Well, I needed to make sure the late comers got their full laps, didn't I?" Opal said, grinning at them, not winded at all.

Frisk was somewhat distressed, though not particularly surprised, that Asriel and Chara were both picking up on the finer points of handling a broom faster than she had. She wasn't sure if Asriel was up for playing on the house team, but it certainly seemed to be a goal for Chara.

But none of that mattered when they stepped in the forbidden forest. The four lit wands between them, creating a healthy white glow. It was sundown again, the same time they'd entered the previous evening. Madam Sprout had taken them down to the kitchen, and they filled multiple packs with fresh fish provided by the house elves. It all felt like overkill to Frisk, but since it seemed like a better idea to carry to much than not enough, she didn't say anything.

"Now, do you remember where you were?" Madam Sprout asked.

"I think so," Asriel said. "There was a path we seemed to be following. There, this way." And he led them deeper in the forest.

He didn't quite make it all the way there, though the attempt was admirable. "Wait," Chara said, pointing through the trees to their left. "That's the clearing where the unicorns were." It seemed to be, but they were gone now.

"Now that we're here," Madam Sprout asked, with a slight smile on her face, "How do you intend to find it?"

"I..." Frisk started, and then she stopped. She had no idea how she intended to find the coerus. "We search around the place we last saw it?" she offered, forcing a smile. "There was a blood trail?"

"It's still a wild animal, Frisk," Madam Sprout said. "Do you think it'll show up if we simply make a lot of noise?" Her smiled widened, "I suppose it might, if it thought you were prey. I'm sorry, that wasn't very funny, was it?"

Frisk shivered, suddenly aware of how dark it was getting. "Uh, Chara? Asriel? Do you have any ideas? I don't suppose you ever had to track creatures underground, did you?"

"Uh, not really," Asriel said.

Madam Sprout let them stare uncomfortably for a second. "So, consider this a lesson on why to think your plans all the way through before you start out. There is a charm that will let us track a creature with their blood. That's an OWL exam level charm, though, and I wouldn't expect you to know it just yet. Can we find the blood trail again?"

They put their heads down, searching the ground. Chara found the blood drops after a few minutes. She stepped aside, letting the professor take the lead. Madam Sprout wave her wand in a complex pattern. Her wandlight extinguished itself for a moment, but, as she turned on the spot, they could see it brightening again. "That way," she pointed, leading them through the underbrush.

After about ten minutes, at the side of a small brook, they stopped again. Downstream, they could see the coerus staring at them. Frisk had to remind herself that wasn't where it actually was. "I made you a promise," she said, unshouldering her pack. She reached in, pulling out a fish (tuna, perhaps?), it was wet and vaguely slimy in her hand. She tossed it, underhand, and it slid to about a foot or two short of the creature.

It appeared to step back from the meal, and Frisk did the same, watching the fish more closely.

"It's okay," Asriel said, doing his best to sound soothing "Nobody deserves to starve."

After a few more moments, the fish vanished. Frisk looked up, and could see the creature now carrying the fish in its mouth, walking away from the river. "That's odd, I thought it would eat it right on the spot."

"I think I know why," Chara said, giving Madam Sprout a sudden look. "Follow it."

"Follow it?" asked Frisk, "But how would we..." yet, as she watched, the coerus vanished as well, and reappeared not far away, still walking away from them. "I guess?" She said, baffled. They followed it away from the river, to a fallen log, kept from the forest floor by another tree it had fallen against, creating a small protected crevice.

Inside the crevice were three mewling kittens. They looked like large black kittens, with only the vestige nubs of what would become adult tentacles. The kittens attacked the mother's prize while the four of them watched. When the first fish was dispatched, they emptied their packs in front of the crevice, not coming too closely. And it was only when the kittens had stopped eating that the mother, still watching the wizards closely, began to eat themselves.

"Hmph," came a voice to one side. "I did not expect this."

"Howdy," Asriel said as a black coated centaur stepped into view, also watching the feeding family. "What did you expect?"

"To never see you again. You first came to treat the unicorn, and I understand why. Humans adore them. But the coerus is a predator. Humans frequently see them as 'dangerous' and 'ugly', and only look for them to destroy them."

"Everyone deserves a chance," Asriel said. "Dad always said that."

The centaur cocked his head, staring at Asriel. "You have proven it. You came back to fulfill the promise of your herd, perhaps you are worth knowing. What is your name, monster foal?"

"My name is Asriel," he said with a slight bow. "Uh, what's yours?"

"Bane." He let his gaze wandering between Professor Sprout and Asriel. "Magorian will want to know this. Perhaps monsters are worth knowing, even if they affiliate themselves with humans."

"I'm human too!" Frisk protested.

"But you have joined the monster herd, and thus belong with them," Bane told her. Frisk didn't know what to think about that. "I must return to my herd now. But perhaps we shall meet again." He turned, and disappeared into the trees.

"That went surprisingly well," said Madam Sprout. "But I need to get you back up to the castle. Unless there's anything else for you to do out here?"

"I've seen enough of the forest for a while," Asriel admitted, and Chara and Frisk nodded their agreement. "Let's go back. But thank you, Professor. Thank you very much for letting us do this."

A/N: This has been a hard chapter to write. Partially because, while I know where I want the story to 'land', I'm having a harder time roadmapping it. If you'd like to discuss further, and I could use the help, perhaps wandering over my Forum: forum/TheZorker-s-Story-Discussion/14541/ As a warning, there will most likely to be unmarked spoilers! And, as always... thanks for reading. - TZ