CHAPTER 9

The mid January morning was the day that the Hogwarts students came back from break. Lily said goodbye to her relatives before leaving the Burrow. Her grandmother gave everyone a flask of Fire stew.

"It takes three weeks to cool," she warned.

Lily put the flask in a pocket of her robes. She felt sad about leaving but also felt excited to test the Invisibility Cloak by following Firenze. She had already tried it on multiple times. It was the most powerful cloak she had ever seen. Others she could make out the outline of the wearer. This one was undetectable. She would be able to follow Firenze easily with this.

After saying bye to her parents Lily and Seth got on the train. After going into the next car they found Jane and sat down.

"Hey mates," she said. "How was Christmas?" she asked.

"Great," said Lily and Seth at the same time.

"Yeah mine was wicked too," Jane said. "My grandparents may not speak great English but they give great gifts," said Jane. "What did you guys get?" she asked.

"I got a new textbook," Seth bragged.

Jane snorted. "Of course you think that's a great gift, what about you Lily?" she asked.

"My parents gave me an Invisibility Cloak," she bragged.

"Not the Invisibility Cloak?" asked Jane.

Lily nodded. "It's really good, you don't see the outline at all," she explained.

"What do you mean?" asked Seth.

"You know, you don't see the outline of the person like most Cloaks," said Lily.

"Lily, as Cloaks get old their spells ware away, but you see parts of the wearer, not an outline," he stated.

"Yes they do, come on Jane back me up," Lily protested.

But Jane just shook her head.

"I've never seen an outline like your talking about," Jane said.

"I don't get it," Lily whispered half to herself. The conversation changed, but it was something that would bother Lily for a while longer.

When Lily got to the Hufflepuff common room all anyone was talking about was their Christmas. Lysander Scamander was unsurprisingly talking about magical creatures.

"Mum, dad, Lorcan and I went to Wales to follow up a lead about a Crumple- Horned Snorcack sighting," he explained.

"Well I didn't go anywhere but my grandparents came," said Grace. "We played magical bridge all day," she said dreamily.

Lily remained silent, lost in thought. She couldn't wait to find out what had happened to Firenze, but she knew that she had to wait till the proper moment. The moment presented itself a week later, when she saw Firenze just about to leave before stopping to talk to Professor Sinistra. Lily rushed down to get her Invisibility Cloak and put it on. When she came back Firenze had just set out and she quietly followed him.

Lily had thought about bringing her friends, but it would be too hard three people under the cloak. As Firenze ventured deeper into the forest Lily realized it was already dark. Stupid short winter days she thought. As she came past the spot where she had lost Firenze last time, they took a sharp right. Now they came to a clearing.

Here, Lily saw the truth and the truth was worse than Lily could have ever imagined. Dozens, maybe hundreds of centaurs were digging with shovels. One figure was standing in the middle, ordering them. Lily didn't recognize the woman, who was short with blond hair and a sinister face. What she did recognize were the robes and the tattoo on her wrist. It was the Dark Mark and the robes of a Death Eater.

"Work faster! Faster! The mistress can't wait forever," the woman ordered. "Pluto, come here," she said to a tall centaur, who obeyed.

"The work is coming well Lady Carrow," said Pluto.

"Good, soon the book will be ours," said Carrow. "You are a good servant, Pluto. Without your help I wouldn't have been able to Imperius this colony," she explained.

So that's what had happened to Firenze! This was way beyond anything Lily had ever dealt with. A real Death Eater! It was like one of her father's adventures.

"I am but your humble servant. You alone can see that I will guide the centaur colony to greatness," Pluto said.

"Yes, I will arrange your leadership in good time," Carrow promised.

I've got to tell the teachers Lily thought. She started to run back to the castle. Unfortunately, in her haste she tripped on her cloak. The cloak slipped off and she was visible in full view of Carrow and the centaurs.

"Hello," she said weakly. "I think I got a little lost."

"Intruder, get her!" demanded Carrow.

Lily got up, grabbed her cloak and ran away as fast as she could. Pluto lumbered after her. She had gotten a head start and was well ahead at first. Unfortunately Pluto was faster than her and more adept in the woods than she was. Very soon Lily was out of breath with Pluto right on her tail. Seeing that it was her only option she began to climb a tall tree. Unfortunately, Pluto grabbed her ankle.

"Got you now little pest," he said.

She kicked him in the face with the other foot. He let her foot go and groaned in pain. Lily kept climbing until she got to a large branch. And she stayed there. Pluto as a centaur was unable to climb, so he stayed on the ground.

"You can't stay there forever, I'll wait you out," he said.

He walked around the tree, and looked her over.

"You're definitely a Hogwarts student, and… you're a Potter aren't you," he theorized.

Lily remained silent.

"I'm right, you look just like him. He who relegated the centaurs to the wizard's slaves. Well this will be a big blow to your snobby family," he said.

"You won't kill me I have a plan," Lily responded.

The centaur seemed a bit surprised for a moment, but it didn't last.

"You're bluffing," he said.

Lily had no response. He was correct. She had no plan. If only she had some sort of weapon. She hadn't even brought her wand. Then she remembered. Her stew! It was still extremely hot. She pulled out the flask.

"What is that?" Pluto queried.

"Stew, try it," Lily said.

She dumped out the contents of the flask and it hit Pluto square in the eyes. He fell to the ground, crying in pain. Lily did not waste her momentous opportunity. She jumped down and ran back to the castle as fast as she could. She came into the castle breathless. Just then Filch's ghost found her.

"So, out of bed eh," he said. "I'm sure your teachers might like to know about this," he said cruelly.

Lily just laughed. Filch looked at her like she was mad. But she knew that after everything that had happened that night being caught out of bed was the least of her worries.