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 4

The Meeting Of The Herd

Arrows whizzed by Harry's head.  He could feel them fly past his skull.  To surrender would be to give up on everything Harry has lived for the past five years.  Though resistance was pointless; there were simply too many.  He jumped off the back off Firenze.

            "This will be my last stand then." thought Harry. With this thought, he held his wand high and commanded "STUPEFY!". He hit a cloaked wizard square in the chest and the wizard fell to the ground.  That was the only spell he had time to yell out.

            "Crucio!" yelled several of the cloaked figures.  With the use of this spell, it was now apparent they were Death Eaters.

            "Protego!" screamed Harry.  This caught all the Death Eaters by surprise.  Firstly, because they had not thought Harry knew this spell, and more importantly, because they were on the ground withering in pain.

            "Stupefy!" cried Harry, and he caught another Death Easter right in the face.  Those hit with the Cruciatus Curse were getting up now, readying their wands.

            Arrows continued to be shot toward both Harry and Firenze.  An arrow hit a Death Eater right in the back.  A wizarding duel was one thing, but there was no way to combat an arrow in the back.  He fell over limply and hit the ground.  Harry and Firenze were both surprised, but continued on with their fighting.

            Firenze was fighting fiercely and kicking the Death Eaters when he could get to them.  The Death Eaters proved inept at physical combat, and Firenze was beating them badly.  Harry was using much of his knowledge to defeat the Death Eaters, lucky for him, the Centaur herd had remained in the background firing arrows.  In the midst of casting a spell, Harry heard the words a wizard should never hear. "Avada Kedavra!" a blast of green light shot straight towards Firenze.  The spell had connected, and Firenze fell lifeless to the ground.

            "NO!" cried Harry.  Though he knew there was nothing he could do.  Suddenly he noticed that the amount of arrows being shot greatly increased; each one now incredibly accurate.  Within seconds of the increase of arrows, all the Death Eaters fell, each one riddled with arrows.

            The Centaurs began walking up to Harry.  He paid them no attention, everything was focused on the motionless body of Firenze.  Harry never knew Firenze well, but it was the centaur who had come to get him. The first familiar face Harry had seen in five years, now lie dead before him.  Another life, taken because of Harry. 

            "You there, explain yourself." commanded a deep voice.  Harry recognized it, but could not remember who it belonged to.  He knew he was in a bad situation, the herd hated humans, more than that, they hated Firenze.

            Harry stood up as tall as he could. "I am Harry Potter." he said blankly.  He knew the danger his name presented, but if the Centaurs were to kill him, there was nothing he could do.

            "Harry Potter? We have met before in this Forest. Hagrid has spoke of you before too. Now, please tell me what has happened here." said the Centaur.

            "Who…who are you?" asked Harry, intrigued at the mention of Hagrid's name.

            "I am Magorian." stated the Centaur with great pride.

            "Yes, yes, I remember you…" stuttered Harry

            "Now, Tell me what you and Firenze were doing in our forest."

            Harry told how Firenze had come to pick him up and take him to Hogwarts.  The Centaurs did not like Firenze helping him, however Harry explained he needed him as a guide. 

            "We are not guides!" cried another Centaur.

            "Enough Bane!" commanded Magorian.  "Now, listen Harry, we followed this group of wizards through the woods. They were moving fast, and we knew they were pursuing something. From my talks with Dumbledore, I knew they were evil-"

            "Your talks with Dumbledore? But I thought-" interrupted Harry.

            "We are a proud race, Harry, not a stupid one. I agreed to speak with Dumbledore, for we could sense great evil rising. I explained to him that we would not work for him, though we could protect the forest from evil. Now then, I must apologize for not helping you and Firenze sooner. We were unsure of the situation. It seems we made a mistake; we have lost a fellow Centaur.  Now, Harry, we will leave you to your journey. We must take the body of our former friend and give him a proper burial. Do you know the way from here?"

            "I do" replied Harry, fully relieved knowing that the Centaurs were not going to kill him.

            "Goodbye then Harry, may we meet again, when the times are not so dark." said the Magorian as he began to walk back into the forest.  The herd followed him, and once again Harry was left alone.  Off in the distance he could see the lights of the castle.  In a few short minutes, Harry would reunite with his friends. He collected his belongings, and began to walk toward the lights.