Note: Hello everyone, and thank you to all you wonderful reviewers. If I didn't think anyone was reading, I wouldn't be writing. I snuck home for Easter and decided to post this. I am not entirely happy with it but it isn't too bad is it? Besides, it really is only a filler to get them the rest of the way to Hogwarts. I have a few extra chapters almost ready, but I haven't got as much time to spend on this as I did when I started, so just slap me if it isn't very good and I will try harder, but forgive me – I am at least trying to get some done for you, after all this is already in my head but not written – I live with these guys and my others every day. I am tempted to post the next couple of chapters too while I am here, but I am going home tomorrow and if I post it all now I won't have anything to post when I get back. I have no time to write now, because I have 3 exams in 2 weeks and I really should do some study…….. but you get that! I am also working a little on a couple of other fics which I hope to post at some time. I just wish I could charm my computer to type for me J
"Hello Professor Snape. What brings you to the forest, and with a Muggle child none the less?" The Centaur moved forward. Snape felt Jane retreat.
"Hello Firenze, we are having a bit of trouble I am afraid."
"So I can see." The half man, half horse moved closer again, noting the Potions Master's injured state. Snape turned and saw that Jane had retreated even further away. Tears were leaking from her eyes. The child was petrified.
Noting Jane's fear, the Centaur stopped moving. "The Headmaster sent word that we were to keep an eye out for you. I see you are injured, can I help?"
Snape sighed gratefully. Centaurs were notoriously difficult to deal with. Like Jane, you couldn't make one do anything it didn't want' to do, and they generally disliked human contact. "Yes, thank you. We need to get back to the Castle. The child is Jane."
The Centaur nodded and looked beyond Snape to the little girl, crouched in a ball now, head bowed, crying. Firenze could smell the fear. "Child," his deep voice rumbled gently, "stop crying. I will not cause you any harm."
As if being directly addressed by the Centaur was harm enough, Jane's crying grew louder. The Centaur looked at Snape, bewildered.
"She's been mistreated by her own kind." He said quietly by way of an explanation.
The Centaur nodded and moved slowly forward, not wishing to startle the frightened child. "Child, I will not hurt you." He continued to move towards her slowly, stoping within arms reach. "Child," he rumbled gently, "fear not." He reached out and touched her and was instantly assaulted by every terrifying memory she had. "Jane, I need your assistance with Professor Snape. Will you help me?"
Appealing to the part of Jane that had cared for Snape for over a month seemed to work. Looking up at his gently smiling face she nodded. Her eyes were still tear filled, but they no longer threatened to leak out. Firenze reached down to help her up and smiled as she cautiously took his hand.
"I'm sorry." Jane apologised. "It was childish to cry."
"You are a child." Still holding her hand, he looked down at her, smiling in encouragement. "I can take you and Professor Snape to the edge of the forest, but you must help him onto my back."
Jane nodded in agreement.
Moving back to Severus, Jane knelt down. "Are you sure you can do this?" She looked into his eyes and realised how very tired he was. If he couldn't she knew they wouldn't make it back to his home before nightfall. She stroked the hair from his face, worried. Foolishness had undone all her hard work.
"I'll be fine when we get back to Hogwarts."
With Jane's assistance once again, Snape struggled to his feet and then onto the Centaur's back. "Now you child." The deep voice invited.
Jane clambered up and sat behind Snape, not sure what to expect. "Hold on," he whispered as he clasped his hands around Firenze's torso. He felt Jane's small hands grip his robes desperately and noted they were still shaking. "We are ready, thank you Firenze."
"Then we shall be on our way." Smoothly the Centaur's body started to move, carrying man and child across the forest. After a few minutes Snape felt Jane's grip relax slightly. The Centaur also noticed that the child relaxed. Smoothly he increased his pace to a gallop as he sensed the child's increasing ease.
The Centaur drew to a halt at the edge of the forest as he had said. He could go no further. Jane slid down from his back, landing gently on the grass.
Snape slid off next, but landed far less gently, his damaged leg still unable to support him properly. Jane saw Hogwarts in the distance and looked from it to the Potions Master. He would never make it across the ground between the forest and the castle.
"I am sorry, but that is as far as I can take you." The Centaur apologised.
Snape nodded, aware of the Centaur's restrictions. "You have been a great help, Firenze, thank you."
The Centaur bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement. It turned to Jane. "Goodbye child." His sapphire blue eyes smiled in amusement at her uncertainty.
Without warning, mind made up, Jane moved quickly to the Centaur and Snape watched incredulously as she threw her arms around Firenze. "Thank you for the ride. I am sorry I was scared of you."
Firenze let out a deep chuckle. "You are forgiven Jane. Centaurs bear humans no true ill, the same cannot be said for some of the other creatures that live in the forest. You were right to be afraid, some of the forest dwellers are far less affable, and you would be well advised to stay safely within the castle and it's grounds, particularly one such as yourself."
Jane looked at him. "Such as myself?"
"A non-magical human, a Muggle. Magic may be an ineffective defence against some of the creatures that dwell here, but it is certainly better than no defence at all. Take care little one."
Jane hugged him again then let go, turning to watch as he disappeared back into the depths of the forest.