Chapter 26 – The Centaur Discovery
Harry glided above the forest for the first time Harry realised how really tall the trees were, reaching up as though trying to escape from the ground below. While the forest seemed dark if just the foliage from the ground here he could pick out the different species that grew throughout the forest, it was amazing. Harry glided down now not able to see Hogwarts and landed on a branch before leaping down transforming midway and beating his wings as he pressed them through his shirt and landed on the ground.
Only to have a moment later an arrow sweep out through the forest towards him, not even bothering to turn he grabbed the arrow.
"Must you always do that Braeson?" Harry called out into the forest.
"Wizard…no…" The shooter wasn't Braeson, for the simple fact she had a lighter feminie voice.
She walked up to him from behind several bushes. Harry handed her arrow to her.
"No indeed, I don't believe I have had the pleasure…"
"Selena of the Silver Spaces…you are…not one of those filth who…"
"No I am not…I am known as Last Raven…"
"Last Raven, why do you walk throughout the forest, not with those in the castle with the other filth?"
"I came to make a request…"
"A request?"
"To spend time…with you and the others…" Harry turned and started walking towards where there was more activity, Selena tucked the arrow into her quiver.
"Where are you going?"
"There are others this way."
"How?"
"I can feel them, the way they move through the forest, the way the wind ripple around them…I"
"Why would you come here of your own volition, most like would fear us, or like the filth try to control use us like a hunter would wield an axe…"
"Like Dumbledore? I know much of what he did, retribution will be sought."
"You speak as though you have felt his rathe."
"I have, many times, he still holds many pieces…otherwise he may be dead…but for now he holds many pieces of the past, I need to bide my time, and torment him slowly…I hold a river over him, letting it all out in one go would serve me little…" Harry pondered.
Kinda cryptic
"It does feel good to be outside, away from the castle…away from the others…" Harry said as he beat his wings softly watching the leaves around him whip around in mini-tornadoes.
"What are you?"
"Some would say a sorcerer, some might say a man, some may see me as a Everlasting Raven, sometimes I'm not sure…"
"You are unsure?"
"Selena, may I call you Selena?" She nodded an affirmative.
"I think I'm all of those…but that's all, but there are other who want to heap me with more…so I'm not sure, to those" Harry jabbed his hand out of the forest "I'm a wizard, an animagus, 'the-boy-who-lived-', I'm a weapon, I'm a tool, I'm an annoyance…whatever they're not what I think of myself as…."
"You are a wizard?"
"I…I dislike the term…the connotations associated with it…the labels among other things that come with being identified as one…I'm sure you of all people understand the labels that come from wizards…" Harry inquired inclining his head. "Plus…" Harry picked up a branch and took a breath in and slid his finger down it, watching the wood strip away leaving an arrow in his hand.
"See." Harry handed her the arrow.
"You…are an interesting person."
"Perhaps…"
"How do those filth not persecute you?"
"I'm sorry?"
"You do not look like them…"
"I can retract my wings within myself…but it feels more free to leave them out especially whilst out here."
"They draw closer…" Another arrow whipped out from some distance Harry caught it with the same ease as the previous.
"Breason?" Harry called out.
There was laughter. "Last Raven, you returned."
"If this keeps happening I might start to think people here don't like me."
Harry wandered up to Breason, lifting himself off the ground by beating his wings gently so he came face level with Braeson.
"Last Raven, if I didn't shoot at you, you might think I was someone else."
"You're not the only one shoots stuff at me Braeson." Harry grinned at him in an odd way.
"Selena is one of our very best skilled archers." Braeson said motioning towards towards Selena. "So Last Raven why have you returned so deep within the forest?"
"Jesson said we had things to share, I think so too, and I have some things I would like…guidance with." Harry said vaguely.
"Then we shall go to Jesson. Selena are you continuing to hunt?"
"Nothing is outside, the forest still feels the after affects of the one in the castle's filth…I shall return with you."
Harry nodded the pair following them further into the forest.
Later in the day they arrived at their 'village', a series of huts around what could be termed a village square.
"You hunt far from your village?" Harry said looking around.
"But of course it is only safe to." Selena muttered matter of factly. Many of the other inhabitants were glancing at Harry strangely, but there were a few that Harry recognised that seemed to give him a glance of respect, or at least no hostility.
"This way Last Raven."
Harry was taken to a larger hut and led in by Breason and Selena.
"Breason, Selena. You have brought someone, ah Last Raven." Jesson gazed at Harry from the rear of the hut.
"He comes asking for…" Selena started.
"I come seeking…understanding, to explore, to gain an understanding of you, to assist, to gain a…balance."
"Tonight we shall read the stars, the night sky…" Jesson gazed at Harry.
"I have flown across the dark sky…it is deep, vast…" Harry looked up seeing that even in the hut there was some visible sky.
"You have…"
"Gazed across the deep dark ocean, journeyed further and farther than any may dream of…"
"Tonight Last Raven, we shall gaze into the ocean, and temp the lights to shine wisdom upon us."
Harry was taken by Jessson, Braeson and Selena to a large fire pit where there were others and introduced as a friend, not a wizard, someone who had come to learn to share…
He was welcomed, cautiously at first until he demonstrated, well showed that he had no wand, that he had but the clothes on him and nothing more. In the closing hours of daylight Harry departed to the river catching a large amount of fish before bringing it back to the surprise of the others.
Late the feast they sat around, consulting the stars.
"And Last Raven what do you see?"
Harry gazed up to the sky, astronomy was something he did study whilst at Night Wolf, plus all the space navigation stuff, and calculating special coordinates…however astrology was something else.
Tell them what you see, that'll work…
Harry stared at the sky again.
"From here? Mars moves into dominance, but it has been that way for some time…" Harry trailed off, trying to remember, he'd idly flipped through some mission reports concerning various astrological phenomena that Firefox had recorded.
Staring into the sky again he was quickly trying to overlay the picture in his mind onto the sky above him.
"A distant star, further than we might see…from here, shall be pulled off it's axis and plunge into nothing. A great enemy will be fought and the fight has already begun, nothing will stop it…but everything is in the details…"
Great enemy…Voldemort, but also they did discover some wreckage by a black hole…
"How can you know this Last Raven?" Jesson stared at the night sky.
"I have know some things which are unknown…but that does not mean that they are unknowable…"
"Knowledge is a great thing…" Jesson murmed above the mutterings.
"I can say, that I have touched foreign soil, that I have seen things, I can say that the universe is a strange and wonderful place which will continue to amaze me…"
Harry paused as they considered what he had said.
"Those up in the castle think they are powerful, they are…like the butterfly…who beats it's wings…they think they cause the storm…"
"They think they are the wind, changing and influencing…" One of the inhabitants of the village said.
"I will not say they are insignificant, but many, many think they can control all…instead of simply living…having life…what more can we have?"
There was a general consensus around the fire pit from all.
"The night wears on, we shall retire. Last Raven." Jesson nodded to him as the rest of the group departed.
Until it was just Harry and Braeson sitting and watching the fire.
"Last Raven, how can we see such things?"
"By watching, listening, learning, preparing for the future…"
They watched the fire for a while longer.
"Good evening Braeson…I think I might retire as well."
"Last Raven…" Braeson regarded Harry as he shifted into a Raven form and flew out into the night.
Harry found himself in the odd position of sleeping standing up…sort of, he was actually sleeping on the top of a hut roof, he found it a most odd and yet peaceful practice.
Harry shook himself awake with a loud squawk and for a moment like most first mornings wondered where he was and panicked for a moment before looking around.
Breathing a sigh of relief Harry took off into the crisp morning air, the sun only just rising, there was still dew on everything and the village seemed quiet.
Flying through the forest Harry took a moment to lick the dew off several plants before locating a blueberry bush nestled in between a few trees.
Harry pondered as to whether he should transform back and pick them, but instead he spent his morning pecking away at the bush gorging himself on berries.
Flying off he gently cleansed himself in the lake, skipping his claws against the mirror like surface before flying back to the village.
Transforming back to his winged self between Braeson and Selena who were building a fire.
"Morning." He grinned.
"Last Raven, I thought I heard an unfamiliar squark, that was you?" Selena regarded him
"It was…Sorry, I fell asleep on someone's roof."
"That was mine." Braeson muttered.
"Don't shoot!" Harry held up his hands comically.
"It was unusual to be woken in such manner."
"No cocks waking you?"
"No…"
"I'm sure a big tough guy like you can handle a small bird making noises on top of his house."
"Tonight if you wish to stay I have extra bedding."
"Perhaps…" Harry said to Braeson's offer.
"Last Raven…last night was an illuminating display…" Braeson said changing the subject.
"Why?
"Most think of us…"
"They think we are a step above riding animals." Selena muttered.
"So what of the day?" Harry snapped his fingers at the fire it burst into flames.
"Last Raven?"
"Yes…umm, I'm usually brilliant with names…Peter…no Petrrove…" Harry said gauging the person's face, his eyes lit up.
"Yes…I was wondering…many of us were wondering of your magic."
"Yes Selena asked me of that as well, anyone within reason may perform magic, you simply need a measure of ability and control…I believe all of you have in ample supply…I am willing to teach as I am to learn…"
"What may we teach of you?" A younger female asked from across the fire.
"The ways of hunting, of making and shooting a bow and arrow and quiver…I would like to learn your ways."
There were nods of acceptance all around.
"Well I think as you are all together we should go now, while the morning is still bright, the sun is still low, now is the best time, as it reaches its zenith…"
"Is a time for the hunt!"
"Yes quite Breason, very dramatic." Harry had to laugh at Selena's quip.
The morning was spent with Harry and a bunch of people from the camp, feeling out their surroundings, understanding the plants, what their functions could be, progressing onwards to the elements.
In the middle of the day Harry went on a hunt with some of them, learning to shoot a moving target, in this case a rabbit or wild boar with a bow an arrow. The evening watching the stars Petrrove, Selena and the others showed him of what materials to construct a quiver and bow from, the boar's guts when dried could be used to make an efficient bow.
Later that night Harry found him talking with Braeson again.
"So Breason, how many other communities are there?"
"We do not know, there are some, in other forests, woods, there are even some small islands which are populated by us only…But…"
"But?"
"The ministry supported by others, believes it has full control over us, tried to capture the island…"
"Fudge?"
"He was indeed the minister then, as he is now."
"Yes…not for much longer."
"How so?"
"He tried the same thing, in America tried to break his way into a community, They were captured by the American Magic Armed Forces." Harry chuckled.
"What is so funny Last Raven?"
"Let's just say he won't be doing anything, Umbridge either…"
"Why?"
"They executed him." Harry said neutrally.
"The hater of us, and her accomplice. Their punishment is deserving."
Harry swam back to shore, shaking himself down. And stared at the sun.
"So…Braeson? Selena is she…" Harry smiled at Braeson.
"Is she…?"
"Your mate?"
Braeson laughed heartily.
"No…she is like a foul to me, a sibling…I like you enjoy my freedom, freedom to enjoy…to experience…many of us are as such…so rearing foul is only one only one portion of our lives."
Harry nodded.
"We are kindred spirits you and I Last Raven."
Harry nodded.
"I wanted to ask you assistance in something Braeson…" Harry trailed off.
"We have hunted together Last Raven, Selena tells that you have great skill…"
"What do you know of ley lines?"
"'The lines of power across the land', that is what we were told long ago…"
Harry cocked an eyebrow.
"Really…I need…a guide…"
"One such as yourself…"
"Yes even one such as myself…"
"You need an…anchor…"
"Yes…as I delve into the ley lines…the last time I…well another…"
"And this other…?"
"I would seek different methods…"
"I see. It is not unknown to us…but the learning like much has been forgotten over the many years…."
Sunday found Harry sitting in the woods Braeson standing watch over him as he once again drew himself away from himself and then was staring at a vast empty expanse…filled with rivers but fast powerful torrents, he was starting to shake with the pressure of it.
Then a powerful hand clasped his shoulder a voice some where distant spoke to him.
"Breathe Last Raven, Breathe, remember, you are a hunter, a powerful person…"
Harry took a breath as the voice told him, he wasn't sure where he was taking a breath but he did recognise that it was Braeson and his even pseudo presence helped in calming himself.
Breathing in the air and looking around he could see the lines of energy, and non energy, the lines which he could almost reach out and touch, that through which energy could flow, if only he knew how to wield such energy.
Harry looked around, images, started to peel away from the expanse and suddenly as though everything had rushed towards him he was standing sitting in the forest, except he could still see the flows and rivers of energy and non-energy.
This isn't an aura is it? Harry asked himself
No… Another portion answered as Harry paused looking around trying to recall the book that he had received from Ben and the coven
The book hadn't been so much as an instruction book as a detail of many people's discovery and working with the ley lines.
Used in the right way you could manipulate crops, change the flow energy and thus effect the water in a river, turn wells dry…and more…
Harry slowly breathed out closing his eyes once more, and taking a deep breath of the forest air.
Braeson was sitting watching him carefully as he opened his eyes once more.
"Last Raven?" He asked unsruedly.
"Braeson, yes…thank you…"
"Did you discover…"
"It was…less of an ordeal than my previous time yes…"
The rest of the day and into the night Harry spent talking to the others within the community. It seemed that they had some knowledge of basic magic arts, however it all seemed to be as close to myth rather than in truth, like they had once know it but now…
Jesson walked up to Harry later that night.
"Last Raven. You look worried."
"Yes…there is much to consider…Jesson, if I may ask how old are you?"
"I am one of the elders."
"Yes but…"
"How old? In the years of those in the castle and those who walk on two legs I am 75 of their 'years' old…"
That's not old…it's oldish for a normal human, not old in the magical community…
"And there are no older…elders."
"There are others…but all who reach an age to which they outlast others take the great walk…"
"The Great Walk?"
"Alone into the forest, since before the war it has been the way…"
"That's odd…"
"What is odd Last Raven?"
"Do you know of the other communities…"
"You have been told that we do not venture outside of our community…those in the castle…the ministry would prosecute us…"
Harry nodded.
A closed community, a great walk…no contact with others…only oral corrupted history….
Harry left just after sunrise the next day being a Monday after chatting to Jesson and Breason on random subjects throughout the night.
Harry asked Jesson and Braeson if he might return to them, they gave their leave that he could return at any time.
"I just don't want to be shot as I walk in."
"That's half the fun of it Last Raven."
Harry had shook his head and jumped into the air, flying up the to highest of Hogwart's spires, he found Hedwig and Vespero standing there the glanced at him as he circled around them and then drifted down to the lookout on the astronomy tower.
His feet just touching the ground as the two birds landed in front of him.
"How did the journey to Night Wolf go?" Harry asked the two in front of him.
Hedwig seemed to nod towards Vespero, Harry saw the letter on his leg and retrieved it.
"Where have you been Harry?" Hedwig asked concerned.
"The forest…"
The two birds nodded.
"Thanks guys, why don't you take of, get some food…In fact…go straight over the forest and to the river and then…" Harry continued to explain to them where he had found the blueberry bush.
As they took off Harry took to the air himself and flew up to tower where no one could reach him and transformed carefully so he was sitting digging his wings onto the stone of the castle to maintain balance.
"Try to reach me up here Professor Dumbledore…" Harry muttered to himself but most of it was lost to the wind.
Last Raven
Meeting shall occur at the following coordinates, you are to bring the target. Birmingham is conducting the meet.
Meet shall occur this Sunday at 9 am
Scout location before Sunday
Greyhound One
Harry memorised the note before disintegrating the letter and destroyed it before misting back down to the ground making sure to retract his wings before wandering back up to the Gryffindor tower in time to go down for breakfast.