Disclaimer: I don't feel like repeating what I already own. But I don't own any Harry Potter characters and basically nothing that has to do with Harry Potter except for the things I usually write in the other disclaimers. This time, I also took ideas from Vanessa and my friend Meeny.

         A/N: I came to the conclusion that nobody is reading this, because I get hardly any reviews. So therefore, I am wasting my time typing this right now, which proves that I have no life. I have up to chapter 10 done, but I'm too lazy to upload it to fanfiction.net. I need encouragement (hint hint).

                  Chapter 7: Fighting in the Forbidden Forest

Harry's mouth gaped at what he saw standing before him. It was the most horrible thing he had ever encountered. The beast was hideously ugly and half-human, just like Harry suspected. It was a centaur with a huge bouncy afro and manly chest hair, yet it was the most interesting specimen he had ever seen. It's upper half was human, and the rest was the body of a horse. Harry had never viewed this particular one before, even though he had spotted different ones roaming around the forest. Surrounding the creature were dark purple bats with overgrown fangs hanging over their thin mouths. Their bright green eyes glared back at Harry.

         Harry's attention was diverted from them as the centaur spoke. "We warned you to never set foot in this forest again, young foal. We gave you a chance to escape previously, but it looks like you foolishly chose to come back here. Very well. I will make sure that you don't make this mistake again."

The last sentence spoken made Harry quiver with fear because of the tone in his voice. He knew that a battle was inevitable. Just as he thought this, the centaur charged after him. Two more hopped out from behind the trees and followed after the first did. Harry jumped out of the way swiftly as he was thankful for reflexes. With a strong charge like that, he could have died instantly and been stampeded to death. When the centaur's charges kept missing, it tried a different approach. It ceased charging and stopped in the middle of a run. It cupped its hands to form something. From where Harry was standing, he couldn't see it that well until it became prodigious. The centaur held up one hand, which contained a bright yellow sphere. It reminded Harry of the sun because it was blinding to look at and of mass proportions. As the creature was holding the sphere, it drew its arm back slowly, aiming at Harry. Meanwhile, the bats were hovering all around Harry, now making it difficult for him to see. With a flick of the wrist, the great yellow ball was lunged towards Harry, who had the sense to quickly duck out of the way, even though the bats were surrounding him. He breathed a sigh of relief because of his temporary success.

Then they advanced on him. The purple bats circled around him extremely fast, while trying to make him dizzy and pass out. When this attempt failed, they automatically froze in their positions and spat green embers at him. They kept missing because of Harry's superb hand-eye coordination. One of the bats accidentally hit a nearby tree, which was engulfed in lime green flames instantly. Harry decided to take action instead of continuing to hop around stupidly while avoiding the bats.

"Flipendo!" He shouted at the nearest bat. Blue jets emerged from his wand as the bat was blown into a nearby tree and fell down onto the cold mossy ground. He used the same attack a few more times. Harry saw the centaur start to charge into him again.He thought of a brilliant plan.

"Serpensortia!" he yelled. An emerald green snake came out of his wand. It coiled into a small ball, while awaiting orders from his new master. "Eliminate him," Harry said in Parseltongue. The snake immediately obeyed and slithered after the centaur.

As Harry was battling more bats, it became easier for him to get rid of them. He could now watch the scene with no difficulty. He saw Draco and Ginny each battling their own centaurs and clusters of bats. They seemed to need no help. Harry's snake was chasing the centaur, which tried to throw the yellow spheres at it, but always missed because of its thin body and excellent slithering skills. Finally, the snake struck the centaur by viciously biting it in the hind leg. The centaur yelped in pain and fell to the ground. Harry suspected that it was dead because of the fast working poison. Harry trembled at the thought of ordering death upon something. You had no choice, he told himself calmly. It was either the centaur or you.

By this time, Harry had killed or knocked out all of the bats. They were no match for me, he thought conceitedly. Since he had nothing better to do, Harry decided to assist Draco, since he was closer and Harry was too lazy to walk to Ginny. Draco used a hex on some of the bats that melted their flesh so only bones were left. The foul clumps of flesh made splattering noises as they his the ground.

"Uh, Draco? Don't you think that's kind of a cruel way to kill something?" Harry asked.

"Yes, and that's why I love this hex," Draco said while grinning. "I think its rather amusing."

"You would, Malfoy," Harry snapped.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" Draco asked while using a curse that made a bat throw up its organs. "Go help the weasel!"

"Ginny has everything under control," Harry stated after he said, "Flipendo!"

"So do I, Potter," Malfoy said while irritated.

"You are out of control!"

"No I'm not!" 

Their argument was broken up by a blood-curdling scream that contradicted Harry's thoughts about Ginny. Both boys glanced over in her direction and saw that a bat was hooked to her arm, with its fangs piercing her skin. She was flailing her arms around while trying to get it off of her. Harry saw that Ginny still had her centaur to battle as well, while Draco and Harry's were defeated. Harry rushed over to help Ginny.

"You stay here!" he ordered Draco. In response to this, Draco sneered at him. Harry said this to him for two reasons: the bats needed to be defeated and he didn't want Draco to turn the centaur into a mass of flesh as he did with the bats. That would make me sick, he thought. How could Draco be so cruel? As he left Draco, he noticed how he burned the rest of the bats to death instantly. Now I know why he was never good at defense against the dark arts. He's so much better at the dark arts themselves.

When Harry reached Ginny, the bat's fangs were still in her arm, appearing to be draining her life fluids from her. Ginny started to turn a ghostly white, when Harry yelled "Petrificus Totalus!" to stop the bat from killing her. Harry realized that this wasn't the best approach when the bat froze and fell to the ground, with its fangs ripping violently out of her wound. The cut was much larger than it had been originally. Ginny went to thank him anyway, but fainted on the floor as more of her blood seeped through the dirt. In the distance, Harry saw Draco gruesomely murder the last bat and laugh. Then he ran over to them.

"Ginny, love. Are you okay?" He asked her sympathetically while she was silently lying on the ground. Harry was about to say, "Of course she's not!" However, Draco using her first name and the word 'love' after it startled him.  When there was no answer from Ginny, Draco volunteered to get her away from danger. Draco glanced down at her worriedly and picked her up to carry her away.

Meanwhile, the centaur was furious at the fact that his friends died. This one looked almost as freakish as Harry's previous opponent did. It was an older centaur with white hair and a dumpy looking body. Its eyes were the most fearful factor. They appeared to be possessed looking because they were wide as if staring at you from every angle. The uncaring eyes looked like they could see inside your soul. It formed a yellow ball with its manly hands and threw it at Ginny and Draco. It hit a few feet in front of them, causing them to stumble backwards a bit. Draco regained his footing and ran towards the trail to safety. While Draco ran, Harry jinxed the bats and knocked all of them out. All there was left to fight was that centaur.

"Stupefy!" Harry shouted. The spell stunned the creature for a few brief seconds, and then there were no other effects. Despite its slow, yet creepy appearance, Harry could tell that this might be a tough match because it was so strong. The centaur took out its bow and started shooting arrows at Harry, since Draco and Ginny were long gone. Harry ducked every one while jumping around to avoid them. One finally hit him in the arm. He didn't have time to pull it out, but he could tell that it was enchanted because it hurt way too much. It dug deeper and deeper into his skin until it finally was impaled. Harry gasped in pain and grabbed his arm, which felt like it was on fire. Harry forced himself to ignore the agony and tend to the battle for the time being.

"Locomotor Mortis!" Harry said while the centaur's legs locked as it fell over. It stood back up again, as if nothing ever happened. Yes, this one is definitely strong. I wonder if I should just kill it right now instead of using these childish spells. But I don't want to be mean and I refuse to use illegal curses.

While Harry was distracted, the centaur threw another sphere at him. This time, it hit his already damaged arm, causing it to turn black and peel. His arm ached like nothing ever before did. He cried out in pain and then thought, get a grip on yourself, Harry! This thing deserves to die now. Anything that can cause this much pain is just begging to die. No, not just die. It needs to BURN!!!

"Go burn!" he said to the beast. "Burn in hell."

"Make me," it teased.

"As you wish," Harry replied while snickering like Malfoy. "Incendio!"

The centaur burst into flames. It was screaming and crying, while Harry was thoroughly enjoying himself. He laughed and did a victory dance as he watched the centaur's pleading eyes.

"Sorry, but I don't believe in mercy at the moment," Harry said coldly.

As he watched the last ashes disappear from the burnt carcass, Harry felt rather pleased with himself as he left abandoned that area of the forest to find the others waiting for him on the trail. He saw Ginny lying on the ground and Draco covering her gashes with his sleeve. Ginny's body was still pallid.

"So you don't believe in mercy, do you?" Draco asked Harry. "I heard everything you said back there. I knew you would change from a pansy into an evil mastermind sooner or later."

"No, Malfoy. I believe in mercy. I just forgot about it back there. I was really pissed off," Harry admitted.

"Well, that was obvious," Draco replied.

"Will Ginny be okay?" Harry asked while changing the subject purposely.

"I think so. It's a pretty deep wound though and she's out cold," Draco said in an unusually caring voice. He tore off a piece of his robes and tied it around her arm.

"Poor Ginny," Hary said sadly. "I hope she can awaken soon."

"Me too," Draco said.

"Wait a minute," Harry paused while thinking. "How did you get your wand back?"

"Well that is none of your business, Potter," Draco retorted.

"Please? I really want to know," Harry begged.

"Fine! If you really must know, then I'll tell you," Draco replied while enjoying Harry pleading to him. "Remember when you left me in the Slytherin common room by myself while you went to talk to Snape? Well I looked for my wand when I was in there and sure enough I found it in the last place I left it."

"You're such a git, Malfoy. I thought you were having a moment of silence with your dead friends!" Harry said while outraged.

"Why would I want to do a thing like that? I'm not a sap."

"Just forget it!" Harry said while annoyed. I really did think he was starting to change. I guess I was wrong. Malfoy will always be a conceited prat.

"Did you know that there's an arrow sticking out of your arm?" Draco asked while noticing Harry's damaged arm for the first time.

"You just noticed that? Wow, and I thought I was slow!"

"That's because you are," Draco replied with his usual sarcasm. "Now seriously what happened?"

"The centaur shot it at me," Harry replied honestly. "I don't want to take it out myself because I'm squeamish."

"Well, it looks like I'm going to have to pull it out. This should be fun," Draco said with a smirk.

As Draco reached for the injured arm, Harry said, "Don't even think about it!"

"Well it's going to have to come out sooner or later," Draco said reasonably.

"I want Ginny to take it out. I don't trust you."

"Ginny's not awake, remember? She probably won't be awake for a while. Do you want to wait that long and get it infected?" Draco inquired.

"I suppose not…" Harry said weakly. "Fine just do it, but make it quick."

In response to this, Draco took off Harry's robes and shirt.

"You know, I'm still annoyed that you got to see me naked," Draco said with irritation.

"Well if you want, we can make it even and you can see me naked,"Harry replied smoothly.

"Gods, no!" Draco yelled as a reply. "Why in the world would I want to see that?"

"I was just kidding Malfoy. Now stop complaining and get the arrow out before I change my mind."

In response to this, Draco blushed and then grabbed Harry's arm, which made him blush even more. Harry quietly laughed to himself, while wondering what Draco was thinking at the moment. He pushed the arrow out gradually, while making Harry scream a few times. Harry had a distinct feeling that Draco did that on purpose, just to watch him bleed and suffer for making him blush so much.

"Thanks, luscious," Harry said sarcastically just to piss him off. Draco replied with a grunt.

When Draco's face was a familiar shade of white again, he said, "We should get out of here. I definitely don't want to run into those ungodly creatures again."

"For once, you have a good idea," Harry replied.

"Shut up," Malfoy teased.

"You can carry Ginny since my arm is…well…disfigured and all." Harry looked at his arm, which had black and pink marks all over them from dead, peeling skin. His arm ached extremely badly now. I must have torn a few muscles, he thought. Again, he didn't want to take the risk of attempting to heal himself, because he was not a professional.

"Fine. Why must I be volunteered for everything?" Draco complained. But when Draco bent over to pick Ginny up, Harry noticed that he gave her a lame smile that was somewhat sympathetic. Well, it's a start.

"You know you like carrying her, Malfoy," Harry stated the obvious. Draco's smile vanished as he turned to sneer at Harry.

They walked together down the path while not saying much of anything. Harry was in too much pain at the moment to deal with Draco's constant arguing. Then Draco mysteriously laid Ginny down gently on the ground and walked over to the side of the trail. He started to pick the herbs there.

"Malfoy, this is not the time to be gardening. We have to get out of this forest soon before the centaurs attack us."

"I know that. I was picking these herbs for both Ginny and you. I think they might help. I read about them in herbology class, although I can't remember the name of them," Draco said sincerely.

Harry's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He couldn't help but question Draco's nice gesture. He usually was not like this, and if he was this nice, then it was often at the expense of others or for his own benefit or amusement. He didn't quite trust the other boy, either.

"Uh…thanks I guess," Harry said to Draco unsurely. When Draco was staring at Ginny and ignoring him while obviously deep in thought, Harry continued while the pain seared through him again. "Well don't just stand there. Give it to me, Malfoy!"

"I didn't know you wanted me that much. Usually when people say 'give it to me' they use my first name," Draco joked.

"Stop fooling around. I'm in agony, here!" Harry said while annoyed.

"Fine," Draco said calmly as he handed the herbs to him.

Harry devoured the magical herbs and a few moments later, the pain started to ease, but it didn't completely go away. At least I'm not in total agony, Harry thought thankfully. He saw Draco gather different herbs and put them in his pocket.

When Draco caught Harry watching him, he said, "This is for Ginny when she awakens."

Harry couldn't believe that Draco was actually being nice for once. He noticed that this was the second time today that he called Ginny by her real name. Something must be up, he thought. He seems happier today, despite the battles we've been through.

As the sky was getting dimmer, they left the Forbidden Forest. Since they didn't know where the safe house was and Ginny was still unconscious, they decided to lie down and fall asleep after having diner. This time, no thoughts plagued his mind as he was relieved to temporarily escape the pain from his arm and thankful to be out of the forest.

         The next morning, Harry awoke first. He glanced to the side first and saw Draco's arm wrapped protectively around Ginny. Then he felt hot air on his head. The slow and steady air motions from above him made him realize that something was breathing on him. Afraid to know what it could be, he reluctantly looked upwards to find a hideous dark creature staring at him. It hovered over him like an ominous black cloud. He screamed.