Bear with me. Much more editing may be needed for this chapter!
From the ground, Ron could only see four powerful legs shifting around in front of him. Hooves pawed angrily at the ground and a tail swished furiously. Considering the vulnerable position he was in, this made him quite nervous. He was more than a little relieved when Aster slid off of him, and they were both on their feet.
Ron's uneasiness returned with full power, however, when he saw Bane's angry form straining the string of his bow. He backed away, directing Aster to follow him. But, she stood her ground, her head high and her jaw set.
The tip of a sliver arrow slowly swung back and forth between them both, resting on Aster. Ron became puzzled when the two figures in front of him studied each other with a look of familiarity.
"I know who you are," Bane said, eerily calm. "I can smell you. You have your mother's scent." He cast a glare at Ron. "What are you doing here with a creature such as this?" His voice dripped with disgust.
"That's none of your concern, Centaur." There was an aura of power seeping out of Aster's words as she spat them out. He could feel its effect standing a few feet away, and he wondered how Bane might have felt as he tried to face her down.
"You're clan would not have been pleased to witness you mating with a human." The aim of Bane's arrow didn't twitch.
"It's none of their concern, either. I'm impure, remember? My ties to them are too weak to cause them any worry." Aster cooly crossed her arms and cocked one of her eyebrows, seemingly indifferent to the fact that this highlighted the pale cleavage glancing from beneath her lacy bra. Ron couldn't help stealing an eyeful.
"Well, then kindly remove him from our forest, and spare us any more of your vulgar acts." The centaur slowly lowered the bow and arrow. "As your mate, he will be excused for now. We hold no ill confidence against you, or your kind."
Ron couldn't resist saying it. It was so obvious that he was surprised Aster hadn't mentioned it herself. "You're scared of her, aren't you?" He truly regretted that question when two sets of eyes settled upon him. Aster's were full of panic while Bane's blazed with absolute fury.
"There is a difference between fear and respect." The words were hurled at Ron, and their impact caused him to stop mid-breath with fear. "Since you seem to lack both, I will feel no regret over my actions."
Ron's feet froze to the ground, leaving him helpless at the sight of Bane's bow being raised in his direction. He knew everything was happening within milliseconds, but it seemed like the centaur's arm was drawing back forever. Time stood still long enough for him to repeat 'I'm going to die' a few times in his head. However, his thoughts were interrupted by the most ungodly screech as a white blur tackled Bane's massive body to the ground.
Ron's head was spinning. It was all a bit much. The girl he was hoping to make his girlfriend was growling like an animal as she pinned a man, with the body of a freaking horse, to the ground. Standing there in the forest, the reality of the situation slapped him around a little. Presented before him was the secret Aster was keeping but by a hair's breadth. She was showing her true form. He just didn't know what to call it.
Her face was contorted by so much fury that her features almost looked feral. Her lips were curled back into a snarl, showing a set of long, delicate fangs protruding from her top and bottom jaw. Her fingernails, now dancing along Bane's throat, were about an inch longer than usual and looking very dangerous. Nevertheless, the most startling change was her flesh. Her usually luminous skin was dull, dead, and transparent. Blue veins traveled along her entire body, making her appear fragile. Although, it was obvious that she was anything but.
Bane rested on his side and she was perched on his rib cage, looking like a cat ready to pounce. "Try it again, Centaur, and I'll bleed you dry. That's a promise, and you know I can keep it."
It was odd to hear Aster's melodious voice coming from the sick-looking creature in front of him. She grabbed Bane's bow and leapt to the ground. Bane's chest was heaving as he rose unsteadily on his four legs and took off through the thick trees.
"A-Aster?" Ron stammered as he eased toward her. Fear coursed through his veins. He was afraid of her. He didn't know if he could trust this side of her. After all, there was a reason she didn't reveal what she was to other people. Just like there had to be a reason she hadn't been allowed to attend a school like Hogwarts until now.
He watched as she tossed the bow aside. Her black hair hid her expression from his view as she held out her hands, examining them. Her breathing grew panicked and her actions became erratic as she began to brush at her skin. Whimpering, she looked across the ten feet that separated them with desperation.
It's still her in there, he thought as he crossed the distance between him and Aster. He grabbed onto her arms to prevent her from tearing herself apart with her finger nails. Tears were streaming down her ghostly face.
"Look at me." Ron cupped her cold cheek with his hand. Her watery eyes flickered toward his before she looked away, ashamed. Her lips parted as she sniffled, revealing those knifelike teeth. Ron fought the urge to reach out and touch one, just to see how sharp they actually were.
"Now you know," she mumbled, sounding congested. "Happy? I'm a monster."
"No, you're not." That was lame, he thought. But, it was all he could think to say. What can I say? 'You're not a monster, you're and a fallen angel sent from the Gods to make my life worth living?' Not bloody likely! "You're an angel," he blurted out before he could stop himself.
She snorted a laugh. "Right. Like you'd have done what we did in here, while knowing that I could look like this!" She threw her arms outward. Ron observed her appearance once more. She was covered in a map of dark lines, but her body was still soft and warm. Her teeth and fingernails were scary as Hell, but her hands and face were still delicate. Her skin was dull, but her eyes were still bright and alive.
He wrapped one hand around her waist while he let the other play with her hair. "Yes, I would," he said, hoping he sounded as honest as he felt. She smiled, her lips pulling tight over her new teeth. He brushed a tear off of her cheek, noticing that the salty water was almost the same shade of pink as the sweat he'd wiped off her face earlier. He said nothing about it.
She burrowed her head into his shoulder, clasped her arms around his middle, and sighed. He held her tight and felt her body relax into his. When she pulled away, she looked like herself again. She smiled at him and kissed him on the nose. He watched as she gathered her shirt and her robes and put them back on.
They didn't say much to one another as they left the forest together. They just held hands and walked. But that was fine with Ron. He needed time to think, to get the facts strait in his head. If only he knew what the facts were. He prepared himself to ask. They were nearing the edge of the trees and he needed to know before they went back to the castle.
"Aster, uh, what exactly-"
"Jus' wha' are you two doin' down aroun' 'ere?" They were met by Hagrid as they broke through the last of the forest brush. His face was unusually stern as he clutched a pile of wood in his massive arms. "With 'you-know-who' aroun' again, yeh can' be out messin' aroun' in the forest!" Hagrid spoke to them in a hushed tone, eyeing the darkness of the trees behind them. "Who knows who he's got lurkin' aroun' in there."
"Hagrid," he started. Ron's face was blazing hot as his mind stuck on the words messing around. "We were just-"
"I don' care wha' yeh were doin'!" Hagrid bellowed, holding his hands up in finality, and letting the wood drop to his feet. "I wan' both o' yeh, an' Harry an' Hermione, ter stay out o' there from now on. Am I clear?" They nodded. "I heard o' a dark crowd 'anging aroun' in there lately. Doesn' soun' like Death Eaters, neither." Aster gasped and Hagrid nodded. "I say yeh best be tellin' yer friends soon, lass."
Ron was suddenly dragged away and toward the castle by Aster. He waved goodbye to Hagrid, who returned to gesture before bending down to pick up his logs. The girl's pace was so quick, he was quite tired by the time he reached the school's large wooden doors.
It was almost dark out as well, and he wondered how long they'd been gone. But, he was too fed up to think too long about it. Enough was enough. He'd been tiptoing in circles around this girl. For months he'd played dumb. For months he'd been patient.
"You owe me," he said plainly, planting both feet firmly on the ground.
"What?" Her hand fell short of the castle's door handle. She looked back at him, her brows furrowed.
His insides were quivering with nerves. This wasn't like confronting Hermione or Harry about something. He fought with them all the time. This . . . this was new. "I said, 'you owe me.'" He repeated, his voice firm.
"Owe you what, exactly?" The furrow deepened as she turned to face him and crossed her arms.
"Something!" He threw his hands in the air. "An explanation, maybe?"
"What's there to explain, Ron? You saw me back there!" He watched as she began to wrathfully tug at her hair.
"Yeah, I saw you. But, I still don't know what to bloody well call you." His voice rose a notch as the nerves in his stomach began to quiet. "And what the Hell is Hagrid always going on about? He's almost more cryptic than you are! And from Hagrid, that's just bloody creepy!"
Aster let out a long, frustrated, graveling sigh. "I told you, Ron. I told you. I'm a monster. I'm a fucking monster. Why do you want to make it worse by giving it a name?" She shook her head. "Just let it be, Ron. Please!" With that she slipped through the castle doors and disappeared.
Standing there, looking at the empty space where she'd been standing a moment before, he roared with frustration. "Why does EVERYTHING have to be so bloody complicated?!"
He angrily clumped through the castle entrance and headed hurriedly toward the Gryffindor Tower. He had enough information to peak Harry and Hermione's interests. He wished it wouldn't come to this, but he'd hit his limit. Besides, this was something worth spending a couple hours in the library.
So, finally, a new update. There will be many more when I get my new computer. Sorry it took almost a year... Review please!