Chapter 4: Aurora.
For once Malfoy couldn't think of some obscene comment to say, he just sat there wide eyed and a dropped jaw. "That... can't be what I think that is..." He thought. Crabbe and Goyle were watching the amazing light shine brighter than the moonlight, with out saying a word. Hermione and Ron took a step back in astonishment at what they were seeing, you'd think they would be use to seeing one, but they weren't. Harry approached the creature with a large grin on his face.
"Hey," He breathed, grabbing its hand. "How are you?" his smiled warmed the timid creature standing before Hermione and Ron, clutching each other's hand. The timid creature took a step forward and stood under the light, and smiled politely but awkwardly to the on lookers.
There stood before all of them, was the most perfect creature ever imaginable. She was tall and slender and her skin was coloured a shimmering violet.. Her hair draped over her bright mahogany red eyes. Her hair was a silver colour with a hint of gold in it, and it was as long as her, almost hitting the ground. But this wasn't the strange part, this creature wasn't human. Oh no, it wasn't.
"Aurora," Harry said to the opened jawed, wide eyed Hermione and Ron standing closely together. "Ron, Hermione... this is Aurora." Hermione and Ron stared at the Centaur, then pulled Harry off side so Aurora couldn't hear them.
"Harry, what are you doing?" Hermione asked unimpressed. Harry said nothing but kept the smile on his face. "Bloody hell Harry..." Ron looked somewhat impressed. "She's gorgeous!" Hermione jabbed Ron in the ribs and gave him a filthy look. "Well... what do you think you're doing with a Centaur?"
"Oh, Hermione! Relax will you?" Harry answered, patting her on the shoulder. "You're not jealous are you?" there was a small him of irony in his voice. "NO! I have... other, things to occupy my mind..." Hermione answered vacantly.
Harry shook his head and walked back to Aurora stand alone, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She smiled in return.
"So, Potty has a... a mutant for a girl friend?" Malfoy's voice was confused but intrigued at the story unfolding in front of his eyes. Crabbe turned around and suggested that they should go spread the word on Potter and his secret, to which Malfoy slapped him on the back and smiled in a devilish rat like smile. All the Slytherins started to get up slowly so they weren't heard or spotted. Goyle stepped on a dry twig by accident, to which he paid for with an uppercut from Malfoy. Hermione, Ron, Harry and Aurora snapped around to see where the noise had come from. Aurora looked closely and saw the figures of three men running from the forest. She pointed over in the direction they were heading. Harry pulled out his wand and followed them out of the forest. Hermione and Ron took his lead hesitantly but followed him. Aurora followed a few steps behind Ron, cautious not to be seen by another human.
The Slytherin's ran as fast as they could; trying to hold in their laughter, back to the tower. Harry caught up with them and tackled Malfoy to the ground hold him at wand point. "Tell me what you saw..." Harry said in a deathly tone. Malfoy laughed and spat on his face. Harry wiped his face with the free hand which was holding Malfoy down under him. Malfoy looked over at his goons and smiled at Harry mockingly. Crabbe and Goyle started to grab Harry but stopped suddenly. Harry smiled and continued to hold Malfoy at his wand point. "I'll ask you again, tell me what you saw or I'll hex you..." Harry's voice was murderous. "Go to hell Potty!" Malfoy spat. Harry punched him in the mouth, which drew blood. "If you don't tell me, I will continue." Malfoy looked away, not breaking his selected silence. Harry punched him again on the other side of Malfoy's mouth, giving him another bleeding lip.
Hermione and Ron appeared with their wands raised, running in towards the goons. "I stopped them! I stopped them Hermione!" Ron yelled excitedly. She shook her head, knowing that it was her who placed the stunning charm on Crabbe and Goyle, but she let Ron have all the glory. "Are you Ok Harry?" She said walking up besides him sitting on Malfoy. Ron dragged the other Slytherin's away from Harry and Malfoy fighting on the ground.
"I'm fine Hermione, but I think that he won't be..." Harry indicated to the similar sized boy underneath him. "Tell ME!" he proceeded, poking his wand harder into Malfoy's neck. "I'll never tell you Potter!" Malfoy snarled. Harry smacked him again.
"It looks like your cheek can't take much more!" Ron observed smiling. He liked that Malfoy was finally getting what he deserved. Hermione's look however was not as impressed as Ron's; she grew worried, but not letting on to Ron standing besides him. "Harry, it's not worth it." She said quietly trying to pull him off the one that occupied her thoughts all day. "Please Harry!" her voice choked up a little.
"Listen to your girl friend Potter! Oh wait, I forgot... you girl friend is a hideous beast in the forest!" Malfoy laughed.
"You did see her, you rat!" Harry's wand dug deeper and deeper into Malfoy's neck, making him splutter and choke. "And she's not hideous... take that back!" Harry snarled.
"As if I would!"
"You better!" Harry's eyes started to flame, as they always did when he was pissed off.
Ron then said in an absent minded way, "Did you know, that the Centaur is one of the most powerful and smart creatures around? When they get aggressive, they can kill?" Hermione shot around and looked at Ron in awe. Never in her life had she thought that Ron would remember something that wasn't taught in class. She smiled at him, definitely impressed with what she heard. He looked up at the moon over his head, trying not to look like he got a fat head for saying something intelligent.
Malfoy raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "Who really cares?" he said to Ron who took offence. "I care." A voice appeared from behind them, Ron turned around to see Aurora standing there. The light still appeared around her. Her voice was silky and with a little slight accent that wasn't heard before. Malfoy gulped and started to struggle, Harry just held him tighter and pressed his wand in further, smiling evilly. Aurora clopped up towards Harry and asked him in her tongue to let him go. "But he'll tell everyone about you! I don't want that to scare you off!" Harry said defiantly. But she shook her head and waited for Harry to get off Malfoy, which he did under the Centaur's gaze. Ron and Hermione were still in shock, the nights events were certainly taking its toll on them. Ron led Hermione to the petrified goons lying on the ground, and sat her down on Goyle. "Are you Ok Hermione?" he asked sweetly. She nodded and kept an eye on Malfoy.
Malfoy got up and wiped his mouth. It was red raw by the time Harry was finished striking him. Aurora looked at Malfoy, and talked to him in his head. Tears started to build up and he ran all the way back to the castle without looking back. Ron helped Hermione get up off Goyle, and said a counter spell for the two to become un-petrified and ran off after Malfoy, after a minute of bewilderment.
Aurora turned to Harry and smiled. "Please don't hate me for that, but I don't believe that anyone should be punished." Her words were soft, and Harry relaxed.
"I don't hate you," he touched her hair and her face. "I could never hate you." He kissed her softly. Ron looked away, gagging. Hermione didn't say anything, which was unusual for her. But all three were thinking about different things, and didn't really notice anything that the others were doing.
"What did you say to him?" Asked Harry after he withdrew from Aurora. "I can't tell you that... but maybe another night?" And with that, she walked away leaving hoof prints of gold on the ground. He smiled, and waved to her like a love sick puppy. Ron grabbed Harry and Hermione and headed back towards the castle before they were caught.