Happy Easter!

I might not be able to provide you with chocolate eggs so I've come bearing a different gift instead: more fanfiction! With all the craziness going on in the world I really do hope that you are all safe wherever that may be. I, personally have been stuck at my Grandma's with little to no Easter chocolate to enjoy (my Grandma claims that she doesn't believe in sweets, whatever that means ...) so I've been holed up in my room working on this latest Charlie/Jacob's sibling story. It might not be chocolate, but I hope that it cheers you up a bit. I was also partially inspired by posts from .com - she and her friends perform some of the best Harry Potter roleplay and she agreed to allow me to use some of her scripts in my writing! I'll mention her whenever I use any of her work but please go look her up on Tumblr, I promise that it will be worth your while :)

Anyway, I hope that you enjoy! - S.G.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Those credits go to J.K Rowling for creating such an amazing series of work.

Oddities in Albania

I stood on the very cusp of the Albanian Alps, inhaling the crisp country air as I looked across the large cavernous mountain range that stretched out before me. I was about to continue when I heard a loud roar echo through the trees.

I frowned, resecuring my jacket as I took off in the direction of the said roar, soil crackling beneath my boots as I carefully scaled down the cliff.

It wasn't long until I eventually reached a small clearing, surrounded by trees on either side and, at its centre was a creature that I had never thought that I would ever see, not in real life … A Graphorn.

I paused, unsure whether I should go any further only to realise that it was caught in something. I inched a little closer. It must have been one of the muggle bear traps that I had heard so much about. The trap was clamped over the Graphorn's foot, piercing through its ankle as it tried to yank itself free.

How did a trap end all the way up here? I would have thought the place much too treacherous and remote for hunting.

Merlin, if there was one thing that I hated about muggles it would have to be hunting. I had heard of some even doing it for sport, shooting down innocent creatures with their 'rifles'. I shook my head, anger pooling in my gut when I thought about it.

The Graphorn grunted, pawing the ground aggressively with the four-thumbed foot when it noticed me and tried to rear itself up on its hind legs only to buckle in pain.

"Whoa! Easy now," I murmured as the Graphorn shook out its giant greyish-purple head with another snarl. "It's okay, I'm here to help you … see?"

I took out my wand; gently easing the trap open with a metallic screech to free its front foot from its rusted teeth before kicking the monstrosity as far away as possible. I backed away, being sure not to make any sudden movements as I kept my respective distance.
Of course, there was a part of me that immediately wanted to check the creature for any broken bones but how could I possibly do that without getting closer?

Graphorns were known to be notoriously aggressive and I didn't fancy pushing my luck any further.

The creature paused, staring warily at the broken remains of the bear trap, revealing the hideous knife-like wounds left behind that made my stomach almost curl-in on itself.

I bent down, examining the injury from afar with a grimace.

"Merlin, that looks painful …"
I cast another healing charm, watching tentatively as the purplish-pink skin around its ankle slowly yet surely began to knit itself back together again.

"How's that?"

The beast grunted, the two long horns on it forehead glinting gold in the afternoon light as it bent down as if to examine my handiwork then raised its head to stare at me.

I froze, heart hammering as the two of us locked gaze, its steely eyes unblinking before it began to stalk its way towards me.

Oh no.
I gulped, hands trembling as it drew closer, my pulse now drumming in my ears as I flinched only to feel its wet tentacles brush across my cheek.
I smiled, letting out an inward side of relief.

"Feeling better then? No broken bones?"

The sensation was ticklish; causing me to giggle as it nudged my shoulder affectionately.

"Aw, you're welcome," I grinned, inclining my head as I watched it disappear over the nearby mountain.

"You are a very strange human," A voice came from behind me.

I jumped, spinning around to find myself face-to-face with a large Centaur.

How long had he been standing there? I wondered to myself, hesitating as he trotted forward, a bow slung over his shoulder along with a quiver of finely pointed arrows.

Silence hung thick in the air as we examined one another.

"Uh … I prefer the term 'unique'," I stammered.

The Centaur's brow furrowed; his expression unreadable.

"You freed the Graphorn despite the fact that it was probably a human who set that trap in the first place," he drawled, the faintest bite of distaste in his deep almost melodious tone as he spoke.

I nodded.

He paused, his eyes seamlessly running over my appearance as he pursed his lips.

"What is a human doing so far out in this part of the wilderness?"

"You've been watching me?" I presumed.
"We do not see many of your kind often in these parts of the woods," replied the Centaur.

"So you have been watching me?"

"Humans bring death and destruction," he said this in a matter-of-factly manner, "This is a place of nature. Your kind does not belong here."

"I'm not like most people," I said.

"Perhaps," he replied, "Yet that does little to change the fact that you have no business here."

I paused, considering all of my options. Should I tell him the truth? On one hand, I had spent the past two weeks having to lie my way through the town's people, both muggles and wizards alike while conducting my investigation but on the other hand …

"If you must know, I've been doing research into … a particular branch of oddities that have been occurring over the past three years or so," I explained. "Unnatural things …" I elaborated, regarding the Centaur just as carefully. "Dark magic …"

"You are a witch?"

"I am," I nodded.

Another pause.

"Would you … know of any oddities happening in this area? Something that just feels … wrong inside?"

The Centaur's expression darkened, eyes glinting as he mused over my words.

"There is a place that comes to mind," he said, "Deep in the heart of this forest. It used to serve my herd as a hunting ground for our fouls but, as of two years ago has since been left abandoned …"

"How come?"

"Nobody knows for certain. There were tales of small animals being possessed and swallowed by the shadows, disappearing without a trace."

"Possessed?" I raised an eyebrow. "By what?"

The Centaur shrugged, "Some say by the forest itself, but whatever it may be, it is not of this world."

I frowned, musing over this new information, recalling what the muggle tavern man had told me: "People disappear in those woods. Haunted they are – you mark my words."

Could it be what I was looking for?

"You wouldn't happen to know exactly whereabouts this place is … would you?"

The climb grew astronomically downhill, with some steps being dipping almost vertically as we ventured deeper down into the forest.

"Thank you for doing this. I never managed to catch your name by the way."

The Centaur didn't respond; his eyes only set on the twisted path ahead.

"… Alright then," I said, "How about I start by introducing myself? My name's Bethany."

"Platentes," he grunted eventually, not looking back as he gracefully leapt over a particularly deep wide fissure in the ground. It was so deep that I had to use my magic to safely get across without falling into its dark chasm.

"Well, it's wonderful to meet you, Platentes."

Silence hung stiffly in the air as we continued to walk.

It was only after what seemed to be an entirety of heavy noiselessness did Platentes finally asked the question that had been on his mind.

"You … are not from around here."

I paused. "What gave it away?"

The Centaur shrugged slightly, dirt flying off his hooves as he trotted onward.
"People who live in Albania know better than to venture alone into the Black Forest."

Point taken.

"I sense there is something more to what you to you travelling here than you say, …"
I sighed, "Many years back there was a murder in this forest. The man who did that soon became Lord Voldemort, one of the darkest wizards known to this day. He killed a lot of good people, and not just people …" I shook my head, "After his fall from power, he was said to have resided here in Albania up until last year when he returned to his full strength." I trailed off, shuddering slightly as I spoke. "Now, with him back, it's my job to find a way to defeat him before he takes another innocent life."

"What precisely about the situation makes it your 'job'?"

I hesitated, musing over his question for a few minutes before I replied.

"As a Centaur, it's your responsibility to protect all who dwell in your forest, is it not?"

"It is our sworn duty," he nodded.

"Well, just like it's your duty to protect this forest, as a witch, it's my duty to protect those who can't protect themselves."

The Centaur turned to look back at me; an unreadable look in his eyes as he pursed his lips.

"You truly are strange for a human."

"You know what? I think I'll take that as a compliment."

So, what did you think? I know that it was a bit short and mysterious but I promise that there will be more to come. Don't forget to follow, favourite and review! (Reviews are better than easter chocolate)

Yours truly,

Sword Gold.