Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns a lot of stuff, what with all the money she's made. Like Rowling, Warner Brother's owns a lot of stuff. However they both own many of the characters, items, and locations I plan to use in this story. In fact, it is quite possible that they own London.
-----Also, any reviews would be greatly appreciated, because that will determine whether or not I continue. Oh and Spoilers may or may not come around, so don't take the chance. However, if you have read this far, I'd love a review.-----
Chapter 3Into Familiar Places
As Harry stepped into the Forbidden Forest, he instantly recalled all the memories of adventures past. Watching Voldemort drink the blood of unicorns, detentions with Hagrid, run-ins with Centaurs, meetings with giants, and a nice walk with Umbridge. It then dawned upon him that he had been walking for three days straight. With everything on his mind, he had not felt the need to rest, that is until now. The Forbidden Forest is certainly not the most desirable place to take a rest, but when your only other option is to collapse, it seems a fair trade.
He cautiously set his possessions beside a tree and sat down. As part of his routine, he cleared his mind and used Occlumency in order to prevent the Dark Lord from discovering him. With a quick invisibility spell, he slowly nodded off. Despite the walk, the fear of reuniting with friends, and the fear of the forest, Harry had the same dream he had been having for the past five years.
It seemed that no matter what Harry did, he could not shake this dream. Night after night, it kept coming back to him. Had it been bad, he may have cared more. He was standing in an open field, bodies everywhere, though he could not see faces. Voldemort walked right up to him, and the duel began without a word. Harry was victorious, in fact, he won with relative ease. In each dream, after he killed Voldemort, his Mother, Father, and Sirius all walked up and hugged him. He was then joined by many of his friends in celebration. In the past, Harry had dreams that turned out true before, and this time he knew, it would be the same. However, a dream is a dream and almost always remains one.
Harry awoke from his dream feeling dreadfully tired, he needed more sleep. There was no time though, he had to continue, and besides sleeping in the forest is a bad idea to begin with. He gathered his belongings and began to walk deeper into the forest, when he was suddenly interrupted by the clattering of hooves.
Harry drew out his wand, "Who's there!" he demanded. Though he thought he knew the answer. It had to be the Centaur herd, ever since Dumbledore had taken Umbridge from them, they had not allowed a single human to pass.
"Harry?" Said a familiar voice.
"Is that…but it can't-" He was cut off.
"Indeed it is. You have changed much since our last visit. I have been sent to retrieve you and bring you to the Order." Stated the voice in a rather calm manner.
"Firenze…" Harry stood, gazing into the deep blue eyes of the Centaur. Firenze now stood before him, he was bigger than Harry remembered. "I never…wait, how did you know I was here?" asked Harry.
"Now is not the time for such talk. We must get out of this forest immediately, you are in danger."
"That's a real shocker."
"Quickly now, jump on my back, we must be going. We can talk on the way." Said Firenze in a rushed whisper.
With that Harry jumped on the back of the Centaur and began to ride. Harry had so much to ask, but he knew that now may not be the best time for interrogation. He decided against his better judgment and asked his questions.
"How did you know I was here?" asked Harry for the second time.
"There is very little you can hide from a wizard such as Dumbledore, Harry. You should have known this. While you did not move, we were unable to find you. Though once you left your safe house, we began receiving letters about a cloaked man hurriedly making his way into Forest. I was sent to look for you, because I would not be questioned for being in the Forest; by humans anyway." They stopped suddenly.
Directly in front of them was an enormous head mounted on a pole. A million questions ran through Harry's head as to what it could be, but he came up with the answer without even asking. "Grawp?" Harry moaned.
"Yes," answered Firenze without looking at the head. "About three years ago, my former herd finally managed to take him down. It was a fierce battle, and could be heard from far away. The head is mounted as a warning to those who may oppose the Centaurs, it also serves as a sign of power."
"Let's just keep moving." Said Harry in a saddened voice.
Harry wasn't sure why the thought of Grawp's death bothered him so much. Perhaps, he thought, it was because he knew how devastated Hagrid must have been. His half-brother, mounted on a pole. He restrained himself from asking anymore questions of Firenze, and eventually allowed himself to doze off. Where he once again, dreamed of the downfall of Voldemort. Though this time, it was interrupted. Harry was awoken, suddenly by a very loud noise.
He looked up to see what was the matter. All he could see were a few dark figures approaching, along with the clattering of hooves. He seized his wand; he then noticed that the sounds he was hearing, did not match the bodies he saw. The dark figures were moving ever closing, and in the background he saw many other figures approaching. He now saw what was making the clattering sounds, Firenze's former herd However, this was not his main concern, the shapes cloaked in darkness were almost on top of him. Him and Firenze were outnumbered fifty to one.