Chapter 10:
Conversation with Centaurs
After classes were over the next day, Harry decided to walk down to visit Hagrid. When he arrived at Hagrid's cabin, he found that Hagrid already had a visitor. Firenze was standing in Hagrid's hut. Harry stood in the open doorway, and coughed to gain their attention.
They both looked over at him. Hagrid grinned, "Ah, Arry, we were jus talkin bout you. We wer goin to com an get ye from the castle."
Harry asked, "Why?"
Firenze was the one to answer the question, "Magorian wishes to speak with you, Mr. Potter. It is concerning the signs that the centaurs have read in the sky."
Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Are the centaurs actually going to impart the knowledge they gain from the heavens unto humans?"
Firenze nodded, "They feel that it is in their best interests to do so this time. They have agreed with me, and I have been reaccepted into the herd."
Harry nodded, "Let's go, then."
Firenze turned and cantered from the hut, "I will lead the way."
Hagrid picked up his crossbow, and motioned for Harry to follow Firenze. Hagrid came just behind him. The party of three made their way into the Forbidden Forest, and after about thirty minutes of traveling, they came to a large clearing that was filled with centaurs. Magorian stepped forward out of the throng, "Mr. Potter, we are pleased that you have decided to join us. We have much to discuss." Magorian turned to the gathered centaurs, "Welcome, the Promised One, my people. The time of Prophecy and Reckoning is at hand." The centaurs cheered.
Harry asked, "What have you read in the stars, Magorian? In case you have forgotten, I have other things that I need to do."
Firenze cautioned, "Patience, Mr. Potter. All will be revealed in time."
Harry heard the ominous note that was present in Firenze's voice when he spoke the word time. He was about to ask what he meant by it, when Magorian began speaking again, "Mr. Potter, as I'm sure that you have been told by Firenze, the stars have shown that the period of peace that was recently ended was merely a pause between two great wars. The end of the second war is nigh, since Mars continues to grow brighter and brighter. The only thing that remains is for the battle through time, and the final battle."
Harry asked, "Battle through time?"
Magorian nodded, "Yes, Mr. Potter, we have foretold for ages that the final great villain and the Promised One would conduct their battles through the vortex of time."
Harry sighed, "So, that means Voldemort is going to attempt to go back and alter time. I suspected it."
Magorian continued, "The victor of that battle will control the fate of the world. When the time comes for the final battle, we centaur have decided that you are worthy. We will fight alongside you, Mr. Potter."
Harry bowed, "I am grateful that you have decided to aid me. I'm sure that the side of light will need all the help it can get. Now, if you have no other information for me, I must return to the castle. The Order of the Phoenix has much to plan."
Most of the centaurs bowed to Harry as he transformed into a phoenix and took wing towards the castle.
Harry flew in one of the windows of the castle, and landed on the floor. He transformed back into his human form and ran as fast as his legs could carry him to Dumbledore's office. He gasped out the password to the gargoyle, and raced up the stairs. Albus looked up as Harry burst into the room, "Harry, what is it?"
Harry said, "We have a problem. I have just had a conversation with the centaurs, and they have informed me that Voldemort is going to attempt to alter time."
Dumbledore sighed, "He really is getting desperate if he is going to risk time travel."
Harry nodded, "I know. I am going to have to be ready to go at a moment's notice. I just hope that I am going to be able to track him through time."
Dumbledore said, "I'm sure you will be. I take it that you want to have an Order meeting."
Harry replied, "I think that would be best. Everyone needs to know what is going on, and what to watch for. If we get wind of where he is attempting the time travel spell at, maybe we can stop him before he completes it."
Dumbledore said, "I will summon the Order to meet after dinner."
"Okay. I'll bring Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Luna, and Neville. I'll see you in a short while." said Harry as he turned to leave the office. He walked down to the Great Hall to wait for his friends. A few minutes later they walked down to join him. Harry smiled at them, "I hope all of you finished your homework this afternoon."
Ginny asked, "Why?"
"We have an Order meeting after dinner. I have obtained some critical information." replied Harry.
Ron said, "Well, then we are going to need plenty of energy. It's time to eat."
Hermione snorted as the rest of the group laughed, "Trust Ron to use any excuse to eat."
Ron protested, "I don't use any excuse. There are several that I have never used."
Hermione asked, "Like what?"
Ron shrugged, "I have never said that I needed to eat because wild elephants were about to trample me."
Harry started to chuckle, "I have to give you that one, Ron. Hermione, I believe that you have lost this round."
Hermione harrumphed, and then flounced off into the Great Hall. Ron raised his arms over his head in triumph, "I won."
Harry shook his head, "No, you didn't. You will have to let her win, or you will remain in the dog house for awhile."
Ron dropped his arms, "I suppose you're right. Let's just go eat. I'll fix this with her later."
After dinner, the group of friends walked up to Dumbledore's office to find most of the Order assembled. They were merely waiting for the professors. Harry and the rest found seats and exchanged greetings with the other members. A few minutes later, Dumbledore entered the room followed quickly by Snape, Tonks, and McGonagall. Once everyone was seated, Harry rose, "I guess all of you are wondering why you were summoned."
Dawlish nodded, "I would say so. This one was a little sudden."
Moody broke in gruffly, "Which means that something has happened. So, what is it?"
Harry sighed, "The centaurs have informed me that Voldemort will attempt to alter time."
The entire room save Dumbledore gasped in surprise. Arthur said quietly, "You have got to be kidding."
Harry shook his head, "I assure you that I am not. We have suspected that he might attempt it for awhile. Now, we know."
Snape asked, "What are our options?"
Harry motioned to Dawlish, "We are going to need the Aurors to be watching Death Eater activity as closely as possible. I would like to be able to prevent him from going. I don't expect us to actually be able to stop him, but perhaps we can delay him."
Dawlish said, "I will alert all the Aurors to be monitoring activity that would suggest that You-Know-Who is preparing to cast a complicated spell of that nature."
Harry clasped his hands together, "Now, we need to be able to discuss this in front of other people without them knowing what we are discussing."
Ron asked, "How are we going to do that?"
Hermione stated the obvious, "We are going to have to develop a code."
Harry nodded, "If I sense that Voldemort has cast the spell, then I will say that I have to go gallivanting. That way, whoever is around me can take a message back to you, Albus. Then, at least everyone will know what is going on. I just hope that I can stop him from altering anything."
Ginny stood up and walked over beside Harry. She hugged him and said, "Don't worry, Harry. You'll be able to handle Voldemort. I have faith in you."
Molly nodded, "So do the rest of us, Harry. We all believe in you."
Harry smiled, "Thanks. I needed that. Well, does anyone else have anything they want to add?"
The rest of the Order shook their heads to indicate a negative. Dawlish said, "If there is nothing else, then I will get back to the Ministry."
Harry called after him as he walked from the room, "Don't work too hard, Dawlish."
Dawlish grinned back over his shoulder, "Don't worry, Harry. I intend to work harder until this is over, and then I am going to take a long vacation."
Harry nodded, "Me too."
Ron stood up, "If that's all we've got to talk about, I have homework to finish. I need to get back to the common room." He turned to Hermione, "Are you coming?"
Hemrione nodded wordlessly, while the rest of the room looked on in shock. Harry caught Ron's eye and raised his eyebrows expectantly. Ron winked. Harry chuckled lightly as the two teenagers left the room. Neville got up, "Come on, Luna, we should follow them."
Harry turned to Albus, "We'll go with them. I will speak to you more at some other time."
Dumbledore nodded. The other two teenage couples left the office. While they were walking down the corridor, Harry spotted movement from the corner of his eye. He looked quickly, and saw Malfoy beating a hasty retreat down a corridor. Harry said to the others, "I'm going after Malfoy. Wait for me in the common room. Don't tell anyone where I am until I get back." Harry gave Ginny a quick kiss, and then took off.
Neville chuckled, "I guess that you get tired of him running off to do something all the time."
Ginny shrugged, "You get used to it after awhile. I console myself with the knowledge that one day this will all be over, and then I will have Harry all to myself."
A/N: I'm sorry that it's a short chapter, but there wasn't really anything else that I needed to happen at this point. We'll get some longer ones out later. Thanks for reading. Also, I would like to put in an advertisement for James Potter's Lily Flowe. Her fic, A New Beginning has eight chapters up, and she needs some encouragement, people. Go check it out. I would appreciate it and I know she would. I tried to put the link on right here, but apparently it didn't upload properly. The address is /read.php?storyid=1793880
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