Chapter 8: The Legacy of Chiron



After a while, the continued silence of Voldemort and his Death Eaters began to bother Harry, so once he was sure that the Ealbhari - whose numbers had been boosted by ten Lan Murrac - armoured noble-born warriors similar to the knights of old - each accompanied by a man-at-arms; plus an extra sixty rangers, another twenty mages, and forty-eight of the Rìbhinn Ladies, the elite Royal bodyguards - could handle anything that came up, he turned his attention to the DA, running intensive practice drills with help from Jenna, Davis, Shelgeyra, Master Brishaile of the Fire-Mage Guild, and a few of the Riodbhari. He also practiced swordplay and hand-to-hand combat against Lord Barra or one of the captains in his other form, and elemental duelling with Lords Barra and Njal and Master Brishaile.

----

On the first Monday of December, Haimric received an owl from the twins to say that his order was ready. Grinning in anticipation, he dispatched Sergeant Garadar's squad to pick it up and when they returned he summoned the leaders of the task force and some of the professors to the War Room to discuss how best to use them.

"Fred and George Weasley have provided us with twenty of their Portable Swamps, six barrels of Vomit Gas, six crates of Wildfire Whizzbangs, four boxes of Nose-Bleed Mist and three boxes each of Pyrus Globes and Patronus Bombs. Obviously most of these are pocket tricks, we need to figure out where best to place the fireworks, gas barrels and swamps."

"I would suggest..." began Dumbledore.

But before they could hear what the Headmaster had to say, a young woman in the green silk gown of a member of the Rìbhinn Ladies burst in. "Excuse me, my lords?"

"What is wrong, Lucíseach?" Barra asked his youngest sister.

"The centaurs have attacked Professor Hagrid's Creatures class, brother. Chief Feeaghskian reports two students injured and three of his own incapacitated."

"I had best handle this personally," Haimric said. Then a stab of fear hit him. The Gryffindor-Ravenclaw OWL class was at this time. "Gather reinforcements and join me there!" he ordered, then teleported away in a ball of light.

----

At that moment, Ginny was probably more worried for her own safety than she had been at any point since the battle at the Department of Mysteries. The group of twenty archer centaurs had burst out of the Forest with no warning at all. Hagrid had gone down with arrows in his shoulder and thigh within seconds and four of the five winged elves there to protect them hadn't lasted much longer. The centaurs had encircled the group, which was huddled in a clump. Ginny, along with Luna, Colin (who was sporting a deep cut to his arm from a stray arrow) and two other fifth year DA members had drawn their wands and levelled them at the centaurs but they were outnumbered five-to-one and Ginny had the feeling that the stalemate wasn't going to last long.

"We have been lenient with you for too long, humans," said one of the centaurs. After a moment's thought Ginny identified him from her friends' descriptions. It was Magorian. "Trespassing will no longer be allowed."

"We're not..." began a Ravenclaw boy, but a glare from Ginny silenced him.

"They are only foals..." said one of the other centaurs.

Bane, thought Ginny.

"We let foals go before!" shouted a third centaur. "And then they returned and brought that woman and the giant down on us! I say we kill them this time! Set an example to the rest!"

"Ginny..." Colin whispered.

"Disarming or Stunning Charms on my signal," muttered Ginny, pitching her voice only loud enough for her fellow DA members to hear.

"Agreed," said Magorian, and raised his bow, pointing it right at Ginny. "Kill the ones with wands."

"Ready..."

But before either side could act an energy ball flew through in the clearing and slamming into two of the centaurs, knocking them aside in a hail of sparks before resolving into Haimric. His black cloak billowed around him and lightning snapped off his fingertips and the bare skin of his arms. "I don't think so! Stand down, now!"

"Who are you to order us around, human?" demanded the dun-coloured centaur that had suggested killing Ginny and the others.

Ginny couldn't see Haimric's face, but she could hear the grim amusement in his reply. "I am Haimric Seamfor. Heir to Àdhamh Godgin Procella, Lord of the Council of Ancients, and kinsman to Lord Chiron the Wise."

There was a moment's silence, wands and bows held at the ready. Then Magorian lowered his bow and signalled for his archers to do the same. "We acknowledge your authority, your lordship, and will do as you ask."

"I do not ask you to neglect the protection of this Forest, Herdmaster. Merely that you concentrate your wrath in a particular direction."

"And this would be?"

"I wish to be certain that Aragog and the other Acromatula do not interfere. Can you see to it that they do not leave their hollow?"

"It will be done."

"Also, keep watch for any movements of the Dark Army through the Forest. Look for large groups of adult witches and wizards, Dementors, Revenants, trolls and giants."

"Would you have us engage them?"

Haimric shook his head. "Only if your losses can be minimised. It is more important that word be sent to the castle. I believe a defensive action would be adequate in first instance."

"Very well. We will watch, and inform you of any interlopers."

"The students and I are leaving now," Haimric told them. The ring of centaurs broke up to allow them to pass through. They had just reached the edge of the clearing when a platoon of Rangers and three mages shimmered in. "The situation has been resolved. Professor Hagrid has been injured, as have four of the Feeaghskians. See to their injuries then return to your positions."

"Yes milord," agreed the platoon sergeant, and lead the way back into the forest. When Ginny peered after them she was relieved to note that the centaurs had already disappeared.

"If everyone could please follow me to the Great Hall," asked Haimric. "Ginevra, could you go to Professor McGonagall's office and ask her to meet us there, please?"

Ginny nodded, and as soon as they were out of sight of the forest, she took of at a run towards the castle, with the rest of the group following at a slower pace.

----

After the confrontation with the centaurs, Ginny was even more confused about her feelings about Haimric Seamfor than ever. She knew in her heart that the immortal could be trusted but she still wasn't convinced that his connections with Harry were entirely benevolent. After all, his conduct with the centaurs was far more confident than Harry ever was, and then there was the ruthless side to him that bothered her - according to what she'd heard from eye-witnesses to the Hogsmeade attack, he had shown no hesitation in killing several people. She kept telling herself that it wasn't the actual killing that bothered her - after all he had only killed Death Eaters and Revenants - but still... that lack of hesitation bothered her.

She was leaving her Herbology class - which she shared with the fifth-year Ravenclaws - two days later, when he spotted Haimric over by the border with the Forest. Ignoring a frown from the Ranger corporal leading their escort, she wandered over to him.

He looked up just as she joined him. "Hello Ginevra. What can I do for you?"

Ginny stiffened a little at his use of her full name, like Ron, she still wasn't used to anyone using it casually. "I would like a word with you."

"Of course," agreed Haimric. "Do you mind if we walk? I would like to complete my inspection before dinnertime."

Ginny shrugged. "What are you inspecting?"

"Some of Lord Barra's people have been installing part of the shipment your brothers sent us. I must ascertain whether they have been correctly placed and the right activation spells added."

Ginny nodded, what he had said made sense.

"Now, what was it you wanted to talk with me about?"

Ginny paused, then decided to jump right in. "Can we trust you?"

"Ah, the famous Weasley bluntness. I was wondered how long it would take," Haimric said with a chuckle. Then he turned serious. "My amici has told me of your concerns, and given your history I understand them. But you need not fear for Harry, young Ginevra, for to endanger him would go against the very purpose of my existence: To protect and guide Harry towards his destiny."

"Which is?"

"The defeat of the Dark's latest incarnation, the one you know as Tom Marvolo Riddle, the self-styled Lord Voldemort."

Ginny thought about that for a moment. "Okay, I believe you. But still... do you regret killing people?"

"You are worried about my apparent lack of remorse."

Ginny nodded. "It doesn't seem like Harry."

Haimric nodded. "Perhaps not, but Harry for all that he has experienced is still a young boy. And sometimes it is hard for the young to accept what needs to be done. Thanks to my memories of our past lives, I can more easily come to this acceptance. But mark this, Ginevra. I regret that every one of my victims had to die, but I take comfort in the fact that their deaths allowed other innocents to survive."

"I can accept that."

"Good, dark times are coming and we must all work as one if we are to survive them."

There wasn't a great deal that Ginny could say to that, so they continued their walk in silence for a few minutes. Eventually they turned and followed the lakeshore, Haimric paused occasionally to check something or other, he made no comment and Ginny didn't ask for any. But when they came around the shore of the lake and into sight of the gates, she noticed something out of the corner of her eye and gasped.

"Ginevra, what's wrong?" Haimric whirled around to see what had startled her, then swore and set off at a run for the gates. Ginny paused for a moment, trying to take in the horrific sight in front of her: Professor Snape had somehow been hung up from the gates, a small sign suspended from his neck and his robes were in tatters, blood dripping from numerous cuts all over his body. Ginny was glad to see that his lack of movement was merely due to unconsciousness, she didn't like him any more than the average student, but she had gleaned enough about his work for Dumbledore to know that the Order needed him alive.

"It has begun," declared Haimric.

Ginny didn't disagree.

----

A platoon of Rangers arrived almost immediately, accompanied by a middle-aged woman in the solid blue robes of an Ealbhari medi-mage. It didn't take them long to get the professor down, and the elves disappeared up to the Infirmary with him as soon as possible. Ginny picked up the sign, which had been dropped on the ground, it was short but to the point, it read:

This is what will happen to all blood-traitors who stand

against the noble cause of the Dark Lord. You have been warned.

"Very witty," observed Haimric. He had come up behind her and read the message over her shoulder. He held out his hand for it. "May I?"

Ginny passed it over. Haimric whispered a short incantation and the paper was set on fire. Haimric held it for a second then tossed it away before the flames reached his gloved fingers. "I don't think any one really needs to see that. And I think we should return to the castle. It is possible that whoever 'delivered' Professor Snape is still around and I would prefer to delay any confrontation. Besides, the wind is picking up and it's getting a little cold."

Ginny agreed, and gladly followed Haimric back to the castle. By the time they got there, dinner had already started, so Haimric turned back to Harry and they joined Ron, Hermione, Neville and Katie at the Gryffindor table. The others asked them what they'd been up to, but - following Haimric's last instruction - neither of them said anything about the incident at the gate.

----

After the 'gate incident', the Rangers expanded their patrols to include the road leading beyond the gates and down to Hogsmeade. But to Harry's surprise there was no immediate 'follow-up' on the attack on Snape. However, with the Order's human spy out of circulation there was more work than ever for the spies managed by Jack Jameson and Shelgeyra the Beast- Mage.

For almost a week, there was no news, no further attacks, but then Haimric received a report through Lady Shelgeyra that one of her badgers had spotted a large force of Death Eaters and Dementors, accompanied by over a hundred Revenants gathering at the Caves of Doinathair - an ancient cave complex barely fifty miles south of Hogwarts.

In response, Ranger patrols around the castle were supplemented by members of the Ladies and their frequency increased, also the curfew was put back to eight pm for everyone except the prefects and the DA, and some of the fifth, sixth and seventh year lessons were cancelled, and extra DADA and Charms classes replaced them. Potions, Herbology and Transfiguration were unaffected, but Arithmancy, Astronomy, Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, History of Magic, and Muggle Studies were all cancelled. Those students who still had extra time on their hands were put to work strengthening the castle's defences and helping the younger students.

Unfortunately, as Harry had been taking only one of the cancelled classes, the extra time allocated for Defence and Charms cut into his schedule rather more than it did others' and he found himself working late into the night to complete assignments and practice sessions. An ordinary person might have buckled under the load, but Harry's sheer determination and his other's magical healing and endurance meant that although the pace was taxing and didn't leave him with any time for his friends, he could manage it.

Christmas was looming ever closer, and Harry decided that with the current situation he would have to stay at Hogwarts over the break so he signed up, when he did he noticed that although many of the younger students had not signed up, all of the prefects and the entire DA had, as had the Head Boy, Roger Davies. Clearly, everyone who mattered was in it for the duration.

Smiling grimly to himself, but with more than a little satisfaction, he headed down to the Transfiguration corridor to join the rest of the Gryffindors for his lesson. He nodded a greeting to Ginny on the way down - she was negotiating the sixth floor on her way to Transfiguration. She smiled and nodded back.

----

The Transfiguration lesson went as expected. They had finally started on partial body transfigurations and Harry managed to change his own head into that of both a horse and a stag by the end of the lesson. He assumed that his affinity for the equine transmutation came for his centaur predecessor and that his father's Animagus form and his own Patronus were responsible for his success at the other. Hermione wasn't quite as pleased because although she had managed to accomplish an otter transmutation, all attempts at further shapeshifts failed. Ron - who hadn't managed any changes - thought this was rather funny, but silenced her protests by capturing her in a warm embrace and kissing her hard. When they finally separated, Hermione had a little smile on her face and all thoughts of Transfiguration had been temporarily put out of her mind. Harry smiled to himself, his busy schedule might not give him much time with his friends, but he was glad to see that two of them at least had been making good use of their free time. Ron's tactic had a confidence to it that only came from practice.

"Break it up, you two," he said jokingly, heading down the stairs. "I want to get some dinner."

Ron looked undecided for a moment, then grinned and followed his friend, dragging Hermione along by the hand still clasped in his own.

----

A week before the start of the Christmas Holidays, Haimric met with Lords Barra and Njal, Captains Artair and Aoife, Lady Shelgeyra and Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Davis in the War Room. After several hours discussion they came to a consensus. Haimric summed it up for everyone's benefit. "If, when, there is an attack, all students remaining in the castle under fifteen years of age, along with those above that age unsuited to battle, will be evacuated to the Chamber of Secrets via the most route. Their escorts will be Ronald Weasley and seven members of the DA, Lady Shelgeyra, Master Nathacheng, and five groups from the Rìbhinn Ladies."

"Agreed," confirmed Barra. Dumbledore and McGonagall nodded.

Haimric consulted the map affixed to the table between them. "The majority of the DA, the Head Boy, the staff, the other Ladies, and half the remaining rangers and combat mages will proceed to the Entrance Hall to protect the south and west. The rest of the Ealbhari, apart from the medi- mages and a single platoon of Rangers will protect the northern and eastern approaches from the courtyard."

"And may Segair and Voir grant us victory," said Barra with feeling.

----

Two days later, Harry was gazing at the stars from atop one of the taller towers, when he realised that the alignment of the stars was eerily familiar. Haimric?

Yes, amici?

Have I ever seen these stars before?

Yes, you have. You saw them in the Realm of Dreams. During Riddle's final and greatest attack on the school. Had we not bonded, it is likely you would die tonight.

Now that's a cheerful thought.

Indeed.

Any further thoughts of the immortal's were interrupted by a fierce buzzing in Harry's ear. He whispered a mage spell, and another voice came into his head. "My lord, we have received a report from the Herdmaster of the Centaurs. A large army of giants, trolls and Revenants are moving through the Forest towards us. Chief Magorian reports no sign of Death Eaters or Dementors at this time."

Harry didn't need to ask Haimric what to do, his own instincts had kicked in. "This is it. Wake the students. All teams to battle stations! I'm on my way!"

True to his word, Harry turned on his heel, and ran for the stairs.

----

A/N: Again, I apologize for the wait between chapters, but hopefully the next one, which will be a pretty action-packed one, should be done a lot quicker. In the meantime, please review.