"Right these ducklings. Children who she saved and now they see her as this big heroine, and among them this boy she rescued, who's come from a bad background, who's been rejected by his parents, who for all wants and purposes is abandoned, who seeks Hermione out as a maternal figure and then to top it off, you Severus, the potential mate, you go and become his legal guardian. I think that was the final nail on the coffin. Because when you put it all together, as far as Mama Chimaera's concerned... Her mate just brought an abandoned cub back to the nest."
There was pensieve silence for a moment before a deep voice spoke.
"This one speaks truth."
The assembled witches and wizards turned to see the large form of Margorian in the doorway. The centaurs had been frequent visitors since Hermione's injury, even though in her waking hours she'd at first been almost unable to speak to them because she was so wracked with guilt over the deaths of Bane and Ronan. Firenze who was once more residing mostly in the castle, was quick to assure her that they held her no ill will. But it wasn't until Margorian himself, the lead stallion of the herd, left the forest to visit the convalescing girl and assured her that she held no blame in their deaths, or in the eyes of the herd. "Bane and Ronan were warriors and they died warriors deaths, protecting young is a noble cause and they will be honoured for the heroes they were." Hermione had cried then , and in an uncharacteristically gentle move for the usually severe and stoic stallion, he'd wrapped an arm around the girl in comfort. "Peace Ola mitera, peace my sister".
The new nickname had upset Hermione, though she'd not dare to correct Margorian. She'd had to explain to Severus, who didn't understand the Greek derived language the centaurs oft used, and instead his knowledge spanned more 'angry' languages as Hermione had dubbed them, such as German and Russian. "It means all-mother" She'd told him, when he gently pushed her, not knowing why the name had upset her so. She'd told Margorian once that she would never have any children, but the centaur had simply answered in the vague way that centaurs often do. "We shall see, Mitera, we shall see" The nickname was painful for her, though she didn't protest. Being called Mother was often a sign of respect in the centaur community, one she felt she hadn't earned but the private Moniker of 'All Mother' seemed to upset her the most. But now with this revelation from Charlie , Severus finally understood. The Centaur must have seen the look of understanding on his face, because he smiled, if one could call it that, and inclined his head towards Severus. "Just so"
Charlie on the other hand was looking as though all his Birthdays , Christmases and Wishes had come true at once , at the sight of Margorian walking into the hospital wing. When Charlie had been in school , Firenze had not been teaching due to the rising threat of the Dark Lord, so it was likely the first time he'd truly met a centaur up close.
"We saw the way your stars intertwined, but stars are fickle things and often show only half truths and vague notions." He tenderly brushed a lock of hair from Hermoine's face in a gesture that was so gentle it seemed out of place on the giant stallion. Raising to his full height he came to stand directly in front of Severus. Now Severus was not a small man by any means, and at 6ft 3 he was used to looking down on most people, but Margorian was tall even for a centaur and stood easily a foot above him. "But now we see you, Severus Snape of Hogwarts. And you are destined to be of our Herd and I would greet you as family."
And then in a movement that made Charlie make an almost obscene noise of excitement, Margorian held out his arm to Severus. Fortunate that he had seen Hermione greet the Centaurs in such a way , he took the arm he was offered without hesitation. "Well met, Margorian of the Forest Herd" He spoke, knowing as the lower ranking individual he was the one who was expected to speak first. "Well met Severus Snape of Hogwarts, Blood of my Blood"
They inclined their heads to one another and then Margorian turned his attention back to Hermione, casting an assessing eye over the items she was hooked up to, asking Poppy of the new additions. Poppy who had quickly become used to the visiting centaurus, understood their questions about Hermione's treatment, always came not as a criticism of them but of pure unbridled curiosity and a sincere thirst for knowledge, so she always answered them with as much information as she could and treated them with respect in kind. The centaurs thanked her, showing her respect for her craft. Ever the matron, she'd even attempted to minister care to them, when the odd one had turned up to visit Hermione, sporting an injury from fighting dark creatures in the forest, she would tut over them the same way she did the students, cleaning their wounds and even scolding them for not coming to see her sooner. He'd watch Hermione dying inside at the way the Matron fussed over the giant centaurs like first years who'd fallen off their brooms, and she'd gone to explain to the Matron that Centaurs had their own ways of healing, along with the fact that most Stallions allowed their wounds to heal and scar, to avoid vanity which was largely frowned upon in their culture and the way she was fussing over them could easily be taken as a great insult.. An amused look and a slight head tilt from Margorian once, had stopped her though from interrupting the matron's haranguing, and the Centaurs tolerated her attentions fondly, allowing her to fuss over them and had even given her the nickname Thera, which meant 'Healer' in their language. A few had even taken to long visits with the mediwitch, and the Potion's master where they would drink tea and compare their knowledge on healing, plants and potions. More than one of the Potions Hermione had been taking , were created from such discussions between the three of them.
Severus turned to Charlie with amusement. "Charles?"
"Mmm-hmm" The man answered with wide eyes.
"Breathe" Severus intoned dryly and the man did just that, inhaling a great lung full of air, as in his excitement to see Margorain he'd forgotten entirely about the necessary reflex.
"But he's… And she… and they...and you?!"
"Hermione is considered Herd by the Centaurs, she is family to them and they are to her. Now by extension it seems, so am I"
The way the boy was looking at him made Severus uncomfortable, there was too much awe and something akin to Hero Worship for Severus's liking.
"I don't know a thing… the books are so vague, there's sure to be traditions and rituals …I don't want to insult… and can you introduce me properly?!"
Rubbing his eyes wearily and already seeing the vague tendrils of amusement radiating from Margorians body language, and feeling the mirth through the vestiges of legilimency by which the herd communicated he decided to amuse himself.
"I require dragon scales, egg shells, blood , and teeth. And any other interesting ingredients that you may come upon on your travels." a mental nudge and he added "And the centaurs like boar, but a suckling pig from the butchers in Hogsmede would do the trick"
"Done!" Charlie said excitedly, shaking his hand. "Can you show me the proper way to..?"
Standing up he steered Charlie by the shoulder and approached Margorian who was standing by Hermione's bed side and slapped him on the back in a familiar manner one might do so with an old friend.
"Charlie this is Margorian, Margorian may I introduce you to Charlie , he's a friend of mine and Hermione's. I'll expect those ingredients the next time you visit, Mr Weasley"
The Stallion smirked in amusement at the boy who managed to look utterly awestruck and totally miffed that he'd been had and there was no great ceremony involved in greeting the centaur before him.
"Do not believe everything you read in books, Charlie of the Weasley clan. Good manners are all you require to greet a centaur, though the gift of meat will be received well enough"
Sharing in the amusement of the Witches and Wizards in attendance , Margorian even reached out his hand for a very normal handshake which the herd had adopted as a way of greeting the magical folk at Hogwarts. They would usually slap each other's back in greeting, as Severus had done to Margorain but the Centaurs were much stronger and after one or two unfortunate incidents where a well meaning centaur had sent someone arse over teakettle, they adopted the handshake when greeting the 'tiny fragile humans' as they had been dubbed.
Charlie, not knowing this, shook the centaurs hand still looking equally awed at his presence and appalled at the normality of the greeting.
Suddenly everyone froze as a warm and familiar voice was felt, rather than heard.
"Next time, just start at Hello"
Whipping his eye to the bed before him , warm amber met his gaze.
"Hermione, you're awake?"