Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, but my OC's are mine.
Chapter Eight
"What happened last night that Gryffindor lost a hundred and fifty points?"
Ira was sipping nonchalantly on her pumpkin juice when she turned to a confused Lily who rubbed her tired eyes.
"Hmm, not a clue." Ira knew, though. Harry, Hermione, and Neville got caught last night. She should feel bad, but when she saw that Gryffindor was in last place, with Slytherin now in first, a feeling of triumph rushed through her veins. Ira and Draco lost points the night before as well, only forty, and it still kept them in the lead.
Rhys was standing at the end of the table where the seventh years were seated and whistled at Harry as he entered the Hall. "Thanks Potter, we owe you one!"
Turning around, Ira saw defeat on Harry's face. She frowned, her feeling of triumph now gone and replaced with concern. She'd never seen Harry so upset before. He probably felt like he let his house down. Ira knew that she'd feel the same way if she lost that many points.
Lily grabbed a scone before continuing. "Maybe we should thank Potter after breakfast, then."
"Lily," Ira warned. "Don't."
"Why not?" she asked through a mouthful of food. "We're in the lead for the house cup. There's nothing bad about that."
"Harry's my friend, Lily. He doesn't need us giving him a hard time. Malfoy already does that for him." Ira's eyes flew to Draco's form sitting a few seats away. He was laughing with his friends about something and at that moment, Ira wanted to wipe that smile off his face.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine. I won't give him a hard time. But don't expect the others not to." Then she changed the subject. "We need to figure out how to help Sally. She's still in bed cuddled up to Lady and at this rate she's going to miss her classes."
Ira sighed. Sally wasn't getting any better. She wanted to help her in some way, but had no idea what she could do to get her out of this slump. Ira's eyes darted from Draco to Theo. He was anything but amused. He was sulking over his breakfast instead of laughing with the rest of Slytherin.
"We need to help Theo, too," Ira realized.
And with that, Lily and Ira put their heads together and devised a plan.
Following the mornings drama, students were still gossiping about Harry and the 'other Gryffindor's' that managed to lose a hundred and fifty points in one go the previous night. Ira would see Harry in the halls, but he was quick to leave whenever she was around. Did she do something wrong? Maybe it was because her brother wouldn't let up with his smart comments. He was always shooting some sort of insult towards the Boy Who Lived. Rhys even made a dig at Hermione in the hallway. Thankfully, Ira didn't hear what was said. She knew it wasn't good, though, by the way Hermione ran off with tears streaking down her face.
Ira would have a talk with her brother later. For now, she had more important matters to take care of. Lily called it: Operation Theo and Sally. She thought it was the best name she'd ever come up with.
Now, where was Theo? Ira heard from a few sources that he'd be in the library at this time or somewhere out on the grounds. She quickly checked the library. However, her friend wasn't anywhere to be found. Outside, Ira almost gave up on finding Theo. Until, she spotted a black blurb near the edge of the Great Lake.
Theodore was sitting there, staring out at the still water with an equally expressionless face. His was gnawing on the inside of his cheek when he heard Ira yell out his name. He didn't respond. He kept his form ridged with tension, refusing to pay attention to her as she took a seat in the grass beside him.
It had finally reached spring time. The grass was a perfect shade of green and felt soft beneath Ira's fingertips. She shed off her cloak and basked in the sunlight.
"Its beautiful weather isn't it?" she finally asked after a moment's silence.
No response. This was going to be harder than Ira thought.
"Theo?" her annoyance grew. "Theodore Nott."
Finally, he looked at her. There was an absence of friendliness in his eyes.
Ira coughed. "Listen…I'm really sorry for what happened the other day, okay? I wasn't thinking and I was being really insensitive about you being friends with Daphne. I'm all for it, if that's what you want to hear."
It still didn't work.
"Theo, please, I'm trying really hard here. I didn't mean anything against you two being friends. I'm a hypocrite. I mean, I'm friends with Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger for crying out loud. I'm the last person that should be judging someone by their friendships. Not that there's anything wrong with them, as they too are my friends, but I know you, Lily, and Sally haven't approved," Ira reasoned. "I guess it was just a shock that you got so cozy with the other Slytherin's so easily. They've been so hurtful towards us it kind of…made us think…"
"Think what, Ira?" Theo asked quietly.
"That you'd become one of them. That they'd influence you in some way and make you turn on us." Ira fiddled with her fingernails and refused to meet his stare. "But this isn't about us as a whole, Theo. It's about Sally."
Theo turned back to the water. "What about her?"
"What you said to her…as true as it may have been…it hurt her. She hasn't eaten in days, she hardly focuses in class, and I swear I see her crying more than anyone should. She's hurting without you, Theo. Lily and I try our hardest to make her happier, but nothing works."
"Then try harder?"
Ira was thrown off guard. "Theo, you don't mean that. You want to be there for her, I know you do. You guys grew up together. You guys are the ideal best friend duo if there ever was one." She laid a hand over his. "Lily and I want our friends back, too. It's not the same without you or Sally. We don't care anymore if you hang out with Greengrass or Parkinson or—gosh —even Malfoy. It doesn't matter to us because we know you won't turn on us."
More silence.
"And again, I'm sorry for being a hypocrite."
Theo eyed her again. This time his eyes softened, and he grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly.
"Okay, I forgive you."
Ira's eyes lit up. "What? Really?"
Theo laughed. Ira missed it so much, she realized.
"Yes, really," Theo said again with more laughter escaping.
Ira flung her arms around him.
"Now, you just need to talk to Sally and then everything will be good again." When she released him, she grinned harder. "We'll be in the library tonight if you want to swing by. Sally doesn't know about this so it's one big surprise."
Theo smiled. "I'll be there."
And he was. All four of them were. Sally was surprised at first before her face hardened. Ira had hoped for a different response. She was worried for a second that her blonde friend would bolt right out of the library, yet she stayed put in her seat when Theodore came closer to the table.
"Hey," Theo said with a small wave.
Sally didn't say a word. She was as stubborn as Theo was.
Lily nudged Sally to get her to speak. It didn't work.
Ira closed her hands together and awkwardly waved Theo to the seat next to her, across from Sally. "So…how was everyone's day?"
More silence. Ira hated silence.
Lily forced a smile. "I got my paper back from Professor McGonagall. She thinks I'm going to do great things in Transfiguration."
Ira nodded. "That's good. Uh, what about you Theo?"
"I've been busy trying to get away from Malfoy all day," he admitted. "He's been talking my ear off about Pansy."
Against Ira's better judgment, Sally seemed to straighten up in her seat. Good, this was progress. Sally loved some good gossip; especially if it was about two of the people she hated the most.
"Oh?" Lily wondered. "What's going on with Draco and Pansy?"
"Lots of family drama, I guess. Draco and Pansy's fathers want to marry them off after they graduate. Something about…bringing families together? I guess they want to continue a long pureblood lineage, so just in case one of them wants to get together with a half-blood or a muggleborn in the future, they won't be able to because there'll be an Unbreakable Vow between the two and will keep things pure." Theo squinted in thought. "But I don't know why they'd force it. Draco and Pansy already have strong outlooks on blood purity that it would be out of character for them to marry anything below them."
Ira, too, was intrigued by this.
Lily's eyes moved to Ira. "Ira, why wouldn't the Malfoy's marry Draco off to you, then? Why Pansy? Aren't the Malfoy's closer to the Soares' than any other families?"
"It's because of Ira's mother," Theo interrupted. Ira's eyes widened. "I guess Draco was wondering about that himself and asked Lucius why Ira wasn't a contender."
Ira held up a hand. "Wait, why would Malfoy care?"
Theo shrugged. "It was probably because he wanted to know why he only had one option compared to many others. Plus, he hates you. Sorry to burst your bubble."
"Like I care," Ira snorted. "I would be so against it if my father wanted to marry me off. I am a person with rights and I'll choose who I marry someday." She kept note that she had to thank her mother for stepping in.
Sally decided to join the conversation at that moment. "It still doesn't make sense. We're only in our first year at school and already their fathers are planning on putting them together?" She looked disgusted. "Nobody can be sure of the future."
Ira gulped. Maybe one person could —that person being herself.
"They want to use an Unbreakable Vow between them, as sickening as it sounds, so it takes time for things like that to solidify a marriage. Especially with something as intense as an Unbreakable Vow. That's why some people get engaged and wait so long in the wizarding world. It ensures that nothing will falter in the marriage. Nothing is certain until they're at least seventeen or eighteen years old, though. At least, that's what I heard."
"And what does Draco think about this?" Lily asked.
"He doesn't want to do it. Trust me, Draco likes Pansy, but as a friend. And that's how they're probably going to be for a long time. It'll take a miracle before Draco feels anything closer to Pansy than just friendship." Theo shifted in his seat. "Pansy wants to do it. She has this huge crush on Draco and it kind of hurts to see her so obsessed with him knowing he feels nothing."
"Maybe they're destined for each other," Ira suggested with a shrug.
All of her friends agreed.
Suddenly, Sally laughed, and a smile was on her face.
Ira followed, "What are you laughing about?"
"Just…this. This is nice," she smiled.
Agreeing again, Ira and her friends lapsed into a fit of laughter and smiles. It died down quickly when Madam Pince shushed them for being so noisy. But nothing could come between the happiness they all felt in that moment.
Ira was one of the first few people at breakfast the next morning. She was awake earlier than she usually was because she had a nightmare involving her mother. Unable to fall back asleep, Ira got ready for the day instead.
Pouring some ice water, she felt someone take a seat beside her. She knew Lily and Sally weren't awake yet; they didn't get up for another hour or so. That left Theo.
"Morning, Theo," Ira greeted, opening up the Daily Prophet.
"Wrong person." Draco of all people sat next to Ira. Then again, he probably didn't want to be alone considering not many people were awake yet.
Ira looked over into Draco's tired eyes. He seemed annoyed, no surprise there, as he grabbed for the pumpkin juice. He chugged it quickly.
"Why are you here?" Ira questioned furiously.
Draco looked at her dumbly. "I'm having breakfast."
Ira folded the newspaper up. "No, not that. Why are you sitting beside me?"
"Who else am I going to sit with?"
He had a point. But he could've sat alone until his friends got there.
"Whatever," Ira said. "Just don't talk to me."
As Ira reached for her spoon, something pulled her from her spot there in Hogwarts. The area around her diminished into nothing, then came right back. The Great Hall was still bright with morning sunshine, but everything looked worn and tired. Everyone was older as well, except for the unfamiliar faces piled around the other end of the table.
Ira frowned and looked back, sitting across from an older Draco Malfoy. He was reading a book when he was tapped on the shoulder. Looking over, Ira was shocked. It was herself, seated next to Draco.
They were both dressed in Quidditch attire. Ira had on strong leather gloves that complimented the green-and-silver uniform. Her unruly curls were pulled up on top of her head, and she looked exhausted, as if not getting an ounce of sleep the night before.
"Hmm?" Draco hummed, keeping his eyes peeled to his book.
"Pumpkin juice, please."
He handed it to her without an ounce of hostility.
Ira found this odd, watching as her older counterpart gave him a weak smile. One he didn't pay attention to.
"Draco," a shrill voice called out. Both pairs of Ira's eyes darkened, but no words were said as Pansy plopped down beside Draco, running a hand through his perfectly placed hair. "I've been looking for you. I wanted to wish you good luck before the game." Then the pug's brown eyes looked at Ira. "Soares."
"Parkinson," Ira said lamely, finishing off her breakfast. She looked at the rest of her team while getting to her feet, "I'll see you guys out there. It suddenly smells like wet dog in here." Her eyes narrowed at Pansy, who was anything but amused. Ira even spotted Draco's mouth quirk at the insult.
For some reason, Ira felt the need to follow her out to the hallway. The corridor was completely empty, so she watched her older self closely as she tightened her gloves and flexed her fingers. Ira never did get a good look at herself throughout her visions. It was definitely a few years into the future. Ira was still skinny and petite. She looked older and pretty, though. Definitely pretty.
She wondered how people reacted to her in the future. Was she sought after by guys? Did she make people swoon over her or completely hate her? Was she still good at Potions? Was she still friends with Theo, Sally, or Lily? Even Harry, Ron, or Hermione? So many questions ran through her head, until she finally said something.
"Ira?" she called to herself. The girl didn't respond at first. "Ira?"
Then, she stopped, circling around on her heels to see who was yelling for her. Her brow furrowed in confusion.
"Ira?" she said again.
Expecting a reply, the scene morphed and Ira was back in the Great Hall in her first year. Her body had went forward, however, and landed in a bowl of porridge
Draco was wide eyed and had been shaking her awake. Around her, students and staff were watching her as if she'd fallen over dead. More students were there now, including Sally, Lily, and Theo, gaping at her.
"Ms. Soares?"
She wiped away the stickiness from her face and looked over at Professor McGonagall, who looked at her with both concern and suspicion.
"Shall I send you to the hospital wing?"
Ira shook her head. "I'm fine." But she wasn't. Not with the whole school looking at her like she'd grown a second head.
The talking didn't die down after McGonagall forced everyone back to their breakfast. Now the school had something new to talk about. It wasn't about Harry or his other Gryffindor friends, it was about Ira. She definitely wasn't used to the chatter and she shifted uncomfortably as Draco moved down the table to sit with his friends.
"What was that?" Lily asked after taking Draco's old seat.
"Nothing. I just spaced out," Ira lied.
"Spaced out? More like passed out."
Ira should've been the one asking that question. What was that? She was making nice with Draco? Maybe Ira walked into an alternate reality instead. Because never in a million years would she make nice with Draco. And she'd make sure she never did.
Before Ira knew it, she was serving her detention that night. Her school day dragged due to all the gossip surrounding what happened that morning at breakfast. She found some relief in occupying her time with something else. It saved her the embarrassment of going back to the dungeons and being laughed at. All she had to deal with was Draco for a remainder of the night. He hadn't said a word about what happened, oddly enough. Ira expecting a joke or something. Yet, he was quiet about it.
Harry, Hermione, and Neville finally made their appearance. Neither of them looked happy to be there.
Filch was the one that would be accompanying the students for the time being.
"Follow me," he ordered while lighting his lantern.
They walked outside into the night.
"I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh?" Filch smiled crookedly. "Oh yes... hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me... It's just a pity they let the old punishments die out... hang you by your wrists from the ceiling for a few days, I've got the chains still in my office, keep 'em well oiled in case they're ever needed... right, off we go, and don't think of running off, now, it'll be worse for you if you do."
He was trying hard to be scary, and it seemed to be working. For Neville. He was shaking and sniffling in fear.
Up ahead, Hagrid's hut was brightly lit against the darkness of the Forbidden Forest.
The giant stood outside. "Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started."
Filch had turned to Harry, who looked relieved to see Hagrid. "I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf? Well, think again, boy — it's into the forest you're going and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece."
Draco stopped dead beside Ira. "The forest? We can't go in there at night — there's all sorts of things in there— werewolves, I heard."
Ira chuckled. Draco's cool composure was gone and she found it to be the funniest thing.
"That's your problem, isn't it?" Filch asked happily. "Should've thought of them werewolves before you got in trouble, shouldn't you?"
Ira turned to Draco. "He's got a point."
She wouldn't admit it, but something about going into the forest that night didn't sound pleasant. The air was unusually dense with uncertainty, as if they were walking to their deaths. A shiver ran down her spine.
"Shut up, Soares."
"I'm just saying."
They were quieted as Hagrid came nearer. Fang was on his heel. He had a crossbow in one hand and arrows strapped across his back.
"Abou' time," he said. "I bin waitin' fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Hermione?"
What about me? Ira thought with a pout.
"I shouldn't be too friendly to them, Hagrid," Filch instructed with a cold stare. "They're here to be punished, after all."
"That's why yer late, is it? Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot your place ter do that. Yeh've done yer bit, I'll take over from here."
"I'll be back at dawn," Flich said over his shoulder. "For what's left of them."
Draco turned to Hagrid, completely baffled by the idea of going into the forest. "I'm not going in that forest."
"Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts. Yeh've done wrong an' now yeh've got ter pay fer it."
"But this is servant stuff; it's not for students to do. I thought we'd be copying lines or something, if my father knew I was doing this, he'd—"
"—tell yer that's how it is at Hogwarts," Hagrid finished for him. "Copyin' lines! What good's that ter anyone? Yeh'll do summat useful or yeh'll get out. If yeh think yer father'd rather you were expelled, then get back off ter the castle an' pack. Go on."
Draco responded with a glare.
"Right then…now, listen carefully, 'cause it's dangerous what we're gonna do tonight, an' I don' want no one takin' risks. Follow me over here a moment."
They followed Hagrid to the edge of the forest. There was a path leading between the trees. It was so dark you couldn't see where the path was even going. Something in Ira hinted at nervousness.
Hagrid pointed to the ground. "Look there. See that stuff shinin' on the ground? Silvery stuff? That's unicorn blood. There's a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday. We're gonna try an' find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery."
Ira cringed. She didn't want to know how they were going to do that.
Malfoy was fearful. "And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first?"
"There's nothin' that lives in the forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang," Hagrid said. "An' keep ter the path. Right, now, we're gonna split inter two parties an' follow the trail in diff'rent directions. There's blood all over the place, it must've bin staggerin' around since last night at least."
"I want Fang," Draco said instantly.
"All right, but I warn yeh, he's a coward." Hagrid stepped back. "So me, Harry, Ira, an' Hermione'll go one way an' Draco, Neville, an' Fang'll go the other. Now, if any of us finds the unicorn, we'll send up green sparks, right? Get yer wands out an' practice now — that's it — an' if anyone gets in trouble, send up red sparks, an' we'll all come an' find yeh — so, be careful — let's go."
Ira clutched her nine inch wand tightly, holding it at her side. The hazel wood felt sturdy in her hand. It had a unicorn hair core and by Ollivander's words when she first purchased it, it was destined to be hers. Whatever made him say that, she'd never know. It was a very good wand, though. It fit her nicely.
Ira's group took a left at a fork in the path. Everyone remained quiet. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of leaves under their feet.
"Could a werewolf be killing the unicorns?" Harry asked.
"Not fast enough," Hagrid said. "It's not easy ter catch a unicorn, they're powerful magic creatures. I never knew one ter be hurt before."
Ira's heard sunk at the thought of a unicorn being injured.
"You all right, Ira?" Hagrid whispered. "Don' worry, it can't've gone far if it's this badly hurt, an' then we'll be able ter — GET BEHIND THAT TREE!"
Ira was yanked behind a tree along with Harry and Hermione. They stayed eerily quiet as Hagrid loaded his bow. Something was being dragged against the ground that sounded like a cloak. Perhaps one of the students got out of bed and decided to go for a nightly walk?
"I knew it," Hagrid said. "There's summat in here that shouldn' be."
Harry looked at him. "A werewolf?"
"That wasn' no werewolf an' it wasn' no unicorn, neither. Right, follow me, but careful, now."
They moved around the tree and into the clearing ahead. Something moved, and Ira latched onto Harry's arm.
Hagrid called out to it. "Who's there? Show yerself —I'm armed!"
Out stepped a creature that was a human man from the waist up, the rest of its body a horse. Ira's mouth opened and then she turned away. It was rude to stare.
"Oh, it's you, Ronan." Hagrid reached out to shake the creature's hand. "How are yeh?"
"Good evening to you, Hagrid." He looked at the crossbow, frowning. "Were you going to shoot me?"
"Can't be too careful, Ronan. There's summat bad loose in this forest. This is Harry Potter an' Hermione Granger an' Ira Soares, by the way. Students up at the school. An' this is Ronan, you two. He's a centaur."
Hermione gulped. "We noticed."
"Good evening," Ronan nodded. "Students, are you? And do you learn much, up at the school?"
"Uhh—" Ira began, a bit caught off guard.
"A bit," Hermione offered, sharing a small smile with Ira.
"A bit. Well, that's something." Ronan glanced up at the sky in admiration. "Mars is bright tonight."
Hagrid followed suit, looking up through the trees at the littered sky. "Yeah. Listen, I'm glad we've run inter yeh, Ronan, 'cause there's a unicorn bin hurt — you seen anythin'?"
"Always the innocent are the first victims," Ronan said after a while. "So it has been for ages past, so it is now."
"Yeah," Hagrid said again, "but have yeh seen anythin' Ronan? Anythin' unusual?"
"Mars is bright tonight," Ronan repeated. "Unusually bright."
Hagrid was growing impatient. "Yeah, but I was meanin' anythin' unusual a bit nearer home. So yeh haven't noticed anythin' strange?"
Ronan took more time to answer again. "The forest hides many secrets."
Ira shared a look with her friends.
From behind Ronan, another centaur appeared. Unlike the other, this one had black fur compared to red. He looked at Hagrid knowingly.
"Hullo, Bane," Hagrid greeted. "All right?"
"Good evening, Hagrid, I hope you are well?"
"Well enough. Look, I've jus' bin askin' Ronan, you seen anythin' odd in here lately? There's a unicorn bin injured— would yeh know anythin' about it?"
Bane joined Ronan, looking skyward. "Mars is bright tonight.
"Well, if either of you do see anythin', let me know, won't yeh? We'll be off, then."
Hagrid walked the students out of the clearing. Ira, Harry, and Hermione were both confused and amazed by their confrontation.
Hagrid was obviously irritated by now. "Never try an' get a straight answer out of a centaur. Ruddy stargazers. Not interested in anythin' closer'n the moon."
"Are there many of them in here?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, a fair few... keep themselves to themselves mostly, but they're good enough about turnin' up if ever I want a word. They're deep, mind, centaurs... they know things... jus' don' let on much."
"Do you think that was a centaur we heard earlier?"
"Did that sound like hooves to you? Nah, if yeh ask me, that was what's bin killin' the unicorns — never heard anythin' like it before."
Ira saw Harry look over his shoulder nervously. She tugged on his arm to get him to look at her.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
Harry forced a smile. "Yeah. Just…it's creepy in here, is all."
His answer sufficed. Ira gave him a smile too.
Hermione pulled on Hagrid's arm then. "Hagrid! Look! Red sparks, the others are in trouble!"
Ira's stomach dropped at the red spark coming through the trees. She didn't know why she felt so worried. It was just Malfoy and Longbottom. Malfoy meant little to her.
Hagrid got his bow ready. "You three wait here! Stay on the path, I'll come back for yeh!"
He charged from their spot in the forest, leaving the three of them to listen to each other's rapid breathing.
"You don't think they've been hurt, do you?" Hermione asked through her jitters.
"I don't care if Malfoy has, but if something's got Neville... it's our fault he's here in the first place."
Ira pierced Harry with a cold stare. "Don't say that."
"What? I'm just saying what we're all feeling."
Ira didn't defend her word. She stayed silent for a long time; they all did. It was minutes till they finally heard someone coming through the forest. Ira had her wand ready, just in case it was a stranger.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw not only Hagrid but Draco, Neville, and Fang as well come through the trees.
It turns out that Draco had snuck up on Neville without his knowledge and caused him to shoot red sparks into the air.
"We'll be lucky ter catch anythin' now, with the racket you two were makin'. Right, we're changin' groups — Neville, you stay with me an' Hermione, Harry and Ira, you go with Fang an' this idiot. I'm sorry," Hagrid said when he saw dismay cross their faces.
Once again, they were all separated. Ira and Harry didn't speak much, and neither did Malfoy. They were trying to stay as quiet as possible just in case they heard something. As the trees got thicker, so did the blood that was piling the ground. Ira could picture the torture the animal must have gone through. She sniffled at the thought.
Harry held out his arm to stop Ira and Draco. "Look."
It was the unicorn. Its limbs stuck out at odd angles, gleaming in a silver-white hue that Ira found to be incredibly beautiful. However, it was dead.
Ira couldn't keep her eyes off of it.
Then, Draco screamed. Ira hadn't been paying attention to the hooded figure that emerged from the right side of the clearing. It walked right up to the unicorn, knelt over, and drank the blood that came from its wounds.
Draco bolted.
Coward, Ira thought. If she wasn't so shocked, she would've run too, but she couldn't. She was cemented in place, watching as the hooded figure looked in their direction.
Blood dripped from its face. 'It' could've been a person. But what person would do something like that?
The figure came closer then, moving soundlessly towards them both. Ira staggered backwards the same time Harry shrieked in pain.
"Harry?" Ira yelled, coming forward to help him in any way she could. He was clutching his head.
Something galloped behind them and came into view. Whatever it was, it scared the cloaked figure away.
The centaur looked down at the kids on the ground. "Are you all right?" He helped them to their feet.
"Yes, thank you. What was that?" Harry questioned.
He didn't answer, only staring at Harry in astonishment. "You are the Potter boy," he said. "You had better get back to Hagrid. The forest is not safe at this time — especially for you. Can you ride? It will be quicker this way."
Ira and Harry got onto the centaurs back.
"My name is Firenze."
Firenze. What a unique name for such a unique creature. Ira held onto Harry, who held tightly to Firenze.
From somewhere behind, Bane and Ronan came galloping through the clearing, a look of shame upon their sweaty faces.
Bane was the first to speak. "Firenze! What are you doing? You have humans on your back! Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?"
"Do you realize who this is?" Firenze asked. "This is the Potter boy. The quicker he leaves this forest, the better."
Ira was kind of thankful in that moment to be with Harry, the Boy Who Lived.
"What have you been telling him? Remember, Firenze, we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. Have we not read what is to come in the movements of the planets?"
Ronan watched the ground as if it was the most interesting thing there. He was the much quieter of the two. "I'm sure Firenze thought he was acting for the best."
Bane only got angrier. "For the best! What is that to do with us? Centaurs are concerned with what has been foretold! It is not our business to run around like donkeys after stray humans in our forest!"
"Do you not see that unicorn?" Firenze yelled to Bane. "Do you not understand why it was killed? Or have the planets not let you in on that secret? I set myself against what is lurking in this forest, Bane, yes, with humans alongside me if I must."
Ira tightened her grip on Harry's cloak as Firenze took off. She wasn't paying much attention to what Harry was asking Firenze because she was still shell-shocked with all the events of the night. She didn't know what to make of any of it. She didn't understand.
Then, Firenze mentioned something about the unicorn blood. That's when Ira tuned into the conversation.
"—only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime. The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenseless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips."
Ira pursed her lips. "Wait, if you're going to be cursed forever, death's better, isn't it?"
"It is…unless all you need is to stay alive long enough to drink something else — something that will bring you back to full strength and power — something that will mean you can never die." He slowed his walk. "Mr. Potter, do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment?"
"The Sorcerer's Stone! Of course — the Elixir of Life! But I don't understand who— "
Ira knew exactly where Firenze was going with this. But that monster was dead. He was gone. There was no way he'd be back.
"Can you think of nobody who has waited many years to return to power, who has clung to life, awaiting their chance?"
Harry had his name on the tip of his tongue when Hermione came out of nowhere.
"Harry! Harry, are you all right?"
"Jeez, thanks, Hermione," Ira joked, dismounting Firenze and coming around to the group.
"You know I care about you, too," Hermione muttered.
Ira managed to laugh a little. "I know. I'm just joking." Not really.
"Ira Soares," Firenze said, finally acknowledging her for the first time.
Confused, Ira turned back. "Yes?"
"Someday, someone will come with a dream about the future, a dream that they cannot make sure of until the one who reads the stars can tell them otherwise." Firenze stopped, making sure Ira was the only one that could hear him. "It'll take great strength to overcome what's coming."
Ira hated riddles.
"Be careful, Ira."
Those three words shook Ira to her core. The only thing she could make of it was that he knew.
He knew more than she'd ever know.
Writer's Note: Thanks to those of your that reviewed or followed/favorited this story. This is the longest chapter I've ever written, haha, and I think it actually took up fourteen pages? Yeah, it's definitely one of the lengthier chapters. Anyway, don't forget to leave some feedback for me to look forward to!
