Requirements: Write about a creature. Must be from that creature's POV. Chosen creature: Centaur

Word Count: 900-3000.

Additional Prompts: (Song) Magic Dance from Labyrinth Original Soundtrack, (dialogue)"Why am I crying? I'm so sick of crying.", and (word) stygian

AN: This is Round 4 for QLFC. My prompts are above. I had a great idea for this challenge, so I hope you all enjoy this! By the way, this happens during Voldemort's first time in power. I used the song as the inspiration for the ritual later on.

Summary: Ronan had never thought much of humans until he saved a little girl in the forest one day. Will she completely change his mind about people… at least, some people?

Moonlight Sonata

Ronan stared up at the sky, his face blank, but his eyes gave away the grim feelings that were swirling around in his mind. The images he saw in the shimmering stars saddened him, but what the stars said almost always happened.

"You can't do anything, Ronan," he said to himself.

A sound jerked him out of his reverie. A shout issued through the forest . A tiny little voice was calling, "Help!" It was a human voice.

Curiosity overcame Ronan, and he trotted through the forest in search of the person the sound belonged to. It grew louder and louder as he neared the small pleader. He came upon a small girl of about eight or nine years of age, curled up in a ball at the base of a tree. She was speaking to herself. "Why am I crying? I'm so sick of crying."

"What is the matter, child?" Ronan asked, his voice calm and collected. Centaurs disliked humans, but children—or "foals", as the centaurs called them—seemed relatively harmless to him.

She looked at him with wide eyes. "Who are you? Why do you have a horse's body? Where's my mommy?"

Despite his conflicting thoughts, Ronan couldn't suppress the small smile on his lips. "My name is Ronan. I am a centaur, not a horse. You are in the Forbidden Forest, child."

"My name isn't 'child'," she told him. "I'm Aubree."

"What are you doing here, Aubree?" Ronan asked her. "This forest is extremely dangerous, especially for a young girl." Since she hadn't known what he was, Ronan assumed now that she was either a Muggle or a Muggle-born witch who did not know of her heritage yet.

"I got lost," she said, her voice quivering. "My mum, dad, brother, and I were having a picnic and my brother and I wanted to catch some butterflies,and I got lost."

"I see," Ronan said. "Come, and I will lead you out. But we must be quiet, there are creatures in here that even I can't save you from."

"Okay," Aubree whispered. "Quiet. Got it. Let's go, please. This place is scary."

"Climb on my back," Ronan told her. "We will be faster that way."

Aubree clumsily climbed up onto his russet back, settling in and clutching his shoulders tightly.

"Ronan," a gruff voice called through the trees. Ronan had been so distracted that he hadn't noticed Bane galloping after him. "What are you doing with this human? Are you a common horse, allowing a human to ride you?"

"I am not common," Ronan replied. "She is a foal. You know we do not harm foals."

"All humans are a danger to us," Bane said, anger evident in his tone. "At this time, it is of utmost importance that we maintain our seclusion. The Dark Wizard is at large still. Until he is stopped, we must be vigilant against humans."

"What is he talking about?" Aubree asked quietly.

"I will explain when we are away," Ronan murmured. "Hush now, let me speak with Bane." To Bane, he said, "She is innocent of the sins of humans at her age. Allow me to escort her to the edge of the forest, and she shall not return here."

"This has become all too common with you, Ronan." Bane replied. "The stars have shown your demise."

"I know this," Ronan answered. "Do you not think I read the stars as well? I have seen as much as you have, maybe more. I have seen the end of this war, and the brewing and ending of a future war. Have you seen that, Bane? Do you know what's in store for you?"

After a tense moment of silence, Bane replied, "Give me the child, or you will be banished from our forest. If you return, you will be killed. Decide now."

Ronan could feel Aubree moving around on his back, looking for a way to escape. Before anyone could speak, Aubree's scream filled the forest. A Stygian flash of light struck Bane, surprising him.

"Run, Ronan," Aubree said. "Please."

"You can't escape your future, Ronan!" Bane called as Ronan began to run, and Bane began to chase after them. The forest floor was rocky, but Ronan managed to keep his balance…until a big rock escaped his notice. He tumbled down, and Aubree rolled across the forest floor. She groaned in pain and stayed on the ground.

Bane caught up to them, and Ronan could only watch as he picked the girl up and carried her away through the forest.

Ronan laid on the forest floor, recovering from the fall, his mind worried beyond words for Aubree. What would Bane and the other centaurs do to her?

When he was able to stand once again, he breathed heavily for a few moments, then galloped towards the path that Bane had taken. After a few minutes of riding, Ronan came upon a bonfire, the centaurs dancing around it and chanting. Ronan spotted Bane holding Aubree, who was now fully conscious and staring around at her surroundings fearfully. She caught a glimpse of him at the edge of the forest and perked up, but he shook his head minutely. Thankfully, she understood, and gave no indication to the others that he was there.

By the stars, Ronan knew what they were planning to do with the girl. Centaurs only built bonfires this large for one reason: sacrifices. They usually didn't do these sacrifices with children, but rather with the adults, who were guilty of ruining the world. Ronan had no objection to those such rituals. This was too much, though. Centaurs didn't harm children. It was, for the most part, against their laws. Bane however, didn't seem to care about that.

"Bane!" Ronan yelled over the raucous noise of the crackling fires. All of the centaurs instantly fell silent, and the only sounds were the forest noises and the roaring flames.

"Ronan!" Aubree exclaimed, her face flooding with relief. Ronan gave her a brief smile.

"Bane, stop this madness," Ronan told him. "She is a foal, innocent of the crimes of men. You must let her go!"

"I'm afraid that is impossible, Ronan," Bane replied. "She has trespassed during a dangerous time, and she will know the punishment."

"That is precisely why you cannot do this," Ronan defended. "Evil is rising, and in such times, any good deed that can be done must be done. Bane, don't do this. I beg you."

It seemed that Bane was seeing reason, but then he replied, "I am sorry, Ronan. I truly am, but you know that we cannot stop now. We do not have another sacrifice for this ritual."

With a regretful look, he pushed Aubree forward, continuing to edge her closer to the fire with a long pole. Seizing his chance, Ronan rushed forward, knocking the pole out of Bane's hand.

"Run, Aubree!" Ronan yelled. "Hide, quickly!"

The girl spun around, bewildered, but quickly swept into action and raced away, darting through the trees as fast as her small legs could carry her.

"Get her!" Bane yelled at a group of centaurs. "Bring her back!"

With regret, Ronan glanced at the herd he would never see again, before galloping through the forest after Aubree.

He managed to keep her in sight until she reached the edge of the forest. She crossed the boundary of the forest and entered the field. He watched as the girl approached a man and woman, both of whom looked extremely relieved to see her. He imagined she was babbling "fairy tales" to her parents, which they would not believe until she began studying at Hogwarts.

Ronan looked back up to the stars. It was a blessing to see her safely reunited with her family. If only the stars could say the same about his future.