Title: Hermione Granger and the Centaur Boy
Author: EV /Rhonda Weasley
E-Mail: lady_vader21@yahoo.com
Timeline: future fic, post-Hogwarts years
Chapter Four: Reunion
Summary: Hermione is teaching at Hogwarts when she finds Cyrus again.
Time really does heal wounds and Hermione's came to be healed. Hermione spent a
year in France. She was offered a teaching position at Hogwarts and that brought
her back 'home'. She found she quite enjoyed teaching. It was odd being on the
other end of things, the one catching kids in the hall instead of being caught,
the one giving and taking away points to the houses, and sitting at the staff
table with the other Professors instead of at the Gryffindor table with
students. But after a year she felt quite at home in the position and remained.
Currently she was running a little late. She had missed the sorting, which was
always disappointing. As she entered the Great Hall she noticed she wasn't the
only person missing from the staff table. She said hello to a few of the
students as she made her way to her seat next to headmistress McGonagall.
"Miss Granger, you have to stop wandering around looking for him," McGonagall
whispered. "Centaurs stay away from Hogwarts, the forest they live in just
happens to be close."
"I know," Hermione replied. "I can't help hoping, though he's probably learned
to live on his own by now. I just wish I could see him one more time."
"Well, there's nothing wrong with wishing if your sensible about it."
"You should have seen him. He was really the most amazing child."
"I'm sure he was," McGonagall replied. "Well, I can a assure you there will be
at least one pleasant reunion for you this year."
"Is Harry--"
"No, not Mr. Potter. He's still in Rome."
"Oh," Hermione replied. The other name she wanted to ask about was on the tip of
her tongue, but wouldn't say it. She hoped he had forgiven her for being so cold
the last time they spoke.
Hermione noticed a lot of giggling and whispering amongst girls in her first
class. While she was pulling out her notes she caught part of a conversation at
the front of her classroom.
"He's sooooooo cute," a girl near the front of the room said to the girl beside
her.
"I can't wait for flying lessons," her friend added.
"Well right now I hope you can pay attention to my class," Hermione said.
"Sorry Professor," the girls said.
Hermione tried not to smile as she remembered the year they had Lockhart. She
hoped whoever the girls were talking about was a little more worthy of their
gushing.
Maybe it was curiosity, maybe it was a sense she had deep inside. But for
whatever reason she came down to peak at the first years flying lesson. She saw
the back of him first, but he had a build that was all to familiar. She noticed
she'd let his beautiful red hair grow back in. He turned and she got a good look
at him, he looked even better than when she saw him last. Hermione watched the
lesson at a distance, she didn't want to disturb it. But he caught sight of her
midway through the lesson and came over to greet her when it was done.
"So you're the new Lockhart," Hermione said.
"Don't compare me to him," Ron replied. They stood looking at each other for
awhile.
"I see you grew your hair back."
"Yeah."
Another silence.
"You look happier than when I saw you last," Ron said.
"I am. I'm sorry about the way I ran out on you."
"I understand," Ron replied.
"Why are you teaching, of all things, flying lessons?"
"The job was available."
"But what about 'Accidental Magical Reversal'? I thought you loved it."
"You know, it was a crazy job, called away at a moments notice."
"I thought that's what you liked," Hermione said. "The excitement. You used to
have such stories."
"It was fun, but I'm looking forward to different things now."
They smiled at each other and walked into the school talking.
As night fell on Hogwarts it found Hermione and Ron strolling outside. They had
been talking for hours as if nothing had gone wrong between them at all. Even
though they knew they weren't students any longer, they still felt like Filch
should be coming out at any moment to threaten them. And being together is
really what made it feel like the old days. The only thing that was missing was
Harry, but they talked so much about him and the three of them that it made
Hogwarts feel like home again.
"I can't believe girls are whispering about you in hallways," Hermione said to
him as they strolled across the grounds.
"Well, I'm no Harry Potter," Ron replied. "And I'm quite sure there's more than
a few boys around here whispering about Professor Granger."
"I don't even want to think about that," Hermione said with a laugh.
Suddenly they both saw a flash near Hagrid's Hut.
"What the -- " Ron began.
"Hagrid's not there," Hermione said. "I saw him inside."
They looked at each other and ran toward the hut. It was possible a student was
back there. They heard something making a run for it into the forbidden forest.
"You think a student would run into the forbidden forest?" Hermione asked.
"We did it," Ron replied.
Both of them pulled out thier wands, just in case, and headed cautiously after
the sound. The further they got from Hogwarts the darker it seemed to be.
Suddenly Ron saw Hermione stumble in front of him.
"Lumos," he said shedding a bit of light on the area and then helping her up.
They could now both see what Hermione had fallen over.
"School books," Ron said. "So it was a student."
"I don't think so," Hermione said taking a closer look at the books. These are a
bit out of date."
"Not everyone can afford the latest editions Hermione," Ron said sounding a
little hurt.
"I know that," Hermione replied. "But these aren't even proper used books. Pages
are missing from this one and this one doesn't even have a cover." Hermione lit
her own wand and examined the ground further. "These aren't human footprints."
"Hoof prints," Ron said looking at them closely.
"With the weight clearly on the front. These are centaur tracks."
"You don't think? But where would a centaur get a wand?"
Hermione looked away.
"You didn't? You didn't give Cyrus a wand! Hermione, you know better!"
"Don't yell at me, I'm not your child," Hermione spat back.
"I'm sorry, but you know..."
"The law, yes. I know I shouldn't have given Cyrus a wand. I didn't think any
harm would come of it, I didn't think he could use it. It was just a keepsake
that's all."
"Should we keep looking?" Ron asked.
"No," Hermione said. "He's obviously self teaching himself magic. He'll be back
and we'll get another chance at it."
"Think we should take the books?"
"No, leave them."
~~~~~"~~~~~
The next day, Hermione was distracted. She found it hard to focus. Mary Bunton
(who reminded her a little of herself) corrected her no less than three times.
Of course, several girls assumed her sudden and unusual feeble mindedness was
linked to the not-so-hidden relationship between herself and Ronald Weasley.
None of them could have guessed the truth, that her mind was on a little,
perhaps not so little now, centaur out there somewhere in the Forbidden Forest.
That night she returned, alone, to Hagrid's Hut. He was there, so she went in,
sat with him, and told him what she and Ron has seen and found in the forest.
She also told him about the wand she gifted to Cyrus.
"Should've never gave him them books," Hagrid muttered.
"You gave them to him?"
"Saw him once while I was out there lookin' for... sumthin' for class. 'e looked
real sad, said 'e missed readin'. So I gave him some old school books and a
couple books my dad gave me."
"You gave him the books, I gave him the wand, and he learned magic."
Hermione smiled even though she knew she shouldn't be happy about it.
"There are things you don't know 'ermione. Get your wand back and then leave
Cyrus to his dad."
"Listen I know it's quite unusual, but he has magical talent. Perhaps he was
meant to use it. Rules were bent for you, weren't they? You were half giant. Why
should Cyrus' case be any different if he has the ability?"
"It's just... different."
Hermione left Hagrid's and started back toward the school. Then suddenly she
stopped and turned toward Hagrid's again, but this time she followed the path
she and Ron had taken the night before. She just wondered if the books were
where she left them. She soon reached the place in the forest where they had
left the books. The books were gone.
"You know it's dangerous," a voice began causing her to jump. "You shouldn't go
into the Forbidden Forest alone."
"Ron," Hermione said turning toward him. "Of course I know that. I was just
curious."
"What happened to the Hermione that always followed the rules?"
"I think she disappeared around the time she practiced potion making in a
haunted girl's lavatory."
Ron smiled. "So he came back for the books? He's definitely your son. I suppose
we should look for fresh tracks if we're going to find him tonight."
They found his path easy to follow. He'd obviously gathered the books and rushed
off. After walking for about 30 minutes they heard a muttering that sounded a
lot like a kid practicing magic words. They then saw what appeared to be a
spark. It led them right to a clearing where they found a young centaur
practicing with a wand. He looked a bit older, he was a little taller, and his
coat was silvery/white depending on how the moonlight hit it, but there was no
doubt he was Cyrus. He was so different, yet the same beautiful little baby
she'd always loved.
"Cyrus," Hermione called, not thinking he might be scared off.
She stepped into his view, but he never turned around. He immediately started to
run. Then suddenly, as if he knew better, he stopped, but he didn't turn to look
at her.
"Mum?" he questioned simply.
"Cyrus, I missed you."
Cyrus turned and revealed he was crying. Hermione was crying too. He galloped
toward her, she ran toward him. Ron stepped into the clearing, but stayed out of
the way and let the reuion.
"Let me look at you," Hermione said as they stepped apart. His always odd star
shapped birthmark was more defined than ever. His arms were strong. In his face
he looked more like a young teenager than a boy, but he was only eight years
old.
"I missed you Cyrus," Hermione said.
"Me to, but what are you doing here?"
"I teach at the school?"
"Really?" Cyrus said sounding more boyish that he looked. "Cool, I can see you
then?"
"You still want to?"
"Of course," he said excitedly, but then a suddenly sadness swept over his face.
"But... I can't."
"Why?"
"If I had never come back here, I wouldn't have known the things I know... about
myself, about who I am. I know I shouldn't be practicing your wizard magic at
all, but I enjoyed it and there are so few things to enjoy anymore. But if
anyone knew, if my dad found out I was anywhere near Hogwarts... I just can't
see you."
"Why not, your father wouldn't have to know."
"I'm not like other centaurs mum."
"I've always thought that," Hermione said. "I mean I couldn't figure out what it
was, but I knew you were special. And now we know, you were meant to practice
magic as much as anyone."
"I can't go to Hogwarts, it's never going to happen."
"Why not?"
"I'm not human," Cyrus said. "I better go home. Dad'll be looking for me soon."
"Can I at least send you letters? Using one of the school's owls."
"I'd like that, I suppose we could manage it," Cyrus replied. "I am happy to see
you mum. I never forgot you."
He suddenly looked over at Ron.
"Hi Mr. Ron," he said with a smile.
"Hello Cyrus."
Cyrus turned and ran off into the woods. His speed was incredible.
"He grew up so much," Hermione said.
"Kids do that Hermione," Ron said. "How old do you think he is, in human years?"
"I don't know, 13 maybe," Hermione said. "I still remember giving him a bottle
for the first time. He grew up well didn't he."
"Yeah, thanks to you."
"I get the feeling there's something he's not saying. He knows something about
himself that he won't share with me."
-End Chapter 4-
5-30-2003
