Author's Notes: Thanks to Wren and Tiamat Warcraft for their reviews! This is a bit of a transition chapter…when writing this, I was listening to a song by Jewel that goes 'innocence can't be lost…it just needs to be maintained.' That's what I was thinking of when writing Honora's POV and thoughts about her situation.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Harry Potter universe; JK Rowling does.

Chapter 3

Safe Haven

When Julius Talbot disappeared with the gruff centaur, Honora started to worry. She knew what dispersion meant; she would never see most of the people from Polaris ever again. It meant separation from her friends, and there was no guarantee that they would even reach the other Shadow Kingdoms safely. Lord Voldemort's secret police monitored everything, from the Floo Networks to the Apparition records. Besides, if Polaris had been found, it was likely that other Kingdoms had been discovered, as well.

A morbid image flitted through her head of herself, caught by the Dark Lord's forces, tortured, Crucio-ed, starved, given to the Dementors as her soul was sucked out and gone forever…Honora shook off the gloomy thoughts with effort. She would rather turn to the Dark side than let something that bad happen to her.

Her grandmother whispered to her quickly about the centaurs' general dismissal of humans. 'They are unlikely to want to get involved in our problems,' Eleanor said, her voice sounding old and hopeless. 'Only if there are a few decent ones in their midst do we even stand a chance.'

Honora felt tightly wound, and ill at the whole situation. It was desperately unfair that she, a witch just entering her prime, should face such a dismal future. In all likelihood, they would have to leave this momentary safety, and go to some unknown and dangerous place. It was out of anyone's control, and if there was one thing she hated, it was losing control.

I won't let it affect me. I won't! She clenched her fists, and closed her eyes. She was Honora Crowley, the last of the Weasley line. Yes, now she had lost someone, a dear friend. Yes, she had been ripped away from the safety of her home. But she was still fiercely innocent, herself. She vowed there and then to stay happy, and do what she wanted, which was get out of this terrible situation somehow.

Honora was suddenly sick to death of the people around her, even her own grandmother, with their depressing attitudes and sense of noble despair. Honora did not care about them or what they thought. She wanted life, and a good life at that. Just because most the world was dark…who cares? She was light.

With a surge of power, Honora felt her ambition to light the world rise up like a snarling beast inside her. She wanted to defeat Voldemort. And she could not fool herself – she wanted it for herself, not for the sake of these scared people around her.

To be great, to be revered, to rise to the ultimate challenge and take it by the horns and wrestle it to the ground…Honora nearly growled out loud in anticipation. Is it insane to want to rule the world, but in a good way? she wondered briefly. The way she had been raised, ambition was like a bad word. Everything in the Shadow Kingdoms was done selflessly, for the safety of others. Honora would much rather take care of herself first.

She shrugged to herself in the cold. It did not matter. Sure, she wanted glory. But if that meant freedom and happiness for everyone else at the same time, how could it be bad? With a frown, she decided that no matter what new events crashed upon her, she was going to let this be an opportunity, not a disaster.

In those moments, waiting in an alien forest to hear her fate, Honora started to grow up.

A rustling whisper swept through the group. Julius Talbot was back, along with the first centaur Honora had seen, and another one that appeared to be a female. He introduced them as Bane and Morrigan, leaders of Centurion.

The centaur, Bane, appeared at the head of the group. He looked to be in an ill temper, and his nose crinkled in apparent disgust with having to work with mere humans. The fair lady centaur next to him, Morrigan, seemed more approachable. She whispered something to Julius, and he nodded.

'Citizens of Polaris,' Julius began. 'The centaurs have welcomed us to their last grove, Centurion.' A palpable wave of relief washed through the crowd; Honora felt hope lift inside her. 'Here we will stay until other Shadow Kingdoms can be notified of our plight. Their leader, the venerable Bane—' Julius nodded at him '—and Morrigan now have some things to say.'

Bane stepped forward. 'We centaurs rarely take a hand in human affairs. However, even now we can see the entire world will freeze in darkness unless steps are taken. The centaurs are dying out, our herds dispersing. The Dark Lord has sent many dark creatures after us, yes, indeed…but he has not defeated us yet. You, remaining humans, and we, remaining centaurs, are some of the last free creatures left on the planet. I will expect you to behave accordingly, with dignity and respect and quiet, if you wish to be under our temporary protection here at Centurion.' He glared at the crowd of people sternly.

'Additionally,' broke in Morrigan. 'We have told your First Wizard of Polaris, Julius Talbot, about what we feel is necessary. It is a drastic step, but we have foreseen it in the stars. It is the only way.'

Honora's brow furrowed at this. Morrigan was sounding a bit coy and vague. She wondered what the 'drastic step' would be.

Morrigan continued, 'If everyone will please follow me, I will show you to your tents. You must rest tonight, and the morning will bring what it brings.'

Honora stepped forward, holding onto her grandmother's arm. 'Can we trust the centaurs?' she whispered in a low tone. 'They haven't told us what we are really doing here. What if it is a trap?'

Eleanor Weasley looked at her granddaughter with some respect. 'Suspicion! And vigilance! Your grandfather would be proud of you.' Honora quirked her mouth in a smile of pride. 'But, no. Julius Talbot is too good a wizard to be fooled into a trap. I think the centaurs have probably told him the whole story, if not the rest of us. The real question is, how did the Death Eaters find out about Polaris?'

Honora thought about this for a moment. 'We were betrayed,' she concluded. 'Someone who knew its location told the Dark side. Or perhaps another of the Shadow Kingdoms has been taken over, and they got the location from there,' she suggested.

'Very good. I had reached the same conclusion,' Eleanor said. 'Here, we've reached the tents. We must rest now.'

'All right,' Honora agreed. She was very tired, now that she thought about it. She went into the sparsely-appointed white canvastent and sank down onto a cot, falling asleep nearly instantly. In her dreamless slumber, she kept her wand tightly in her fingers.

Awaking at dawn the next morning, Honora slipped out of thetent into the chill light. She was still wearing her white birthday dress, and was grateful she had thought to bring her furs. With a quick cleansing charm, she took care of her toilette and wandered out into the forest. She leaned up against an old pine and just stared into the trees for awhile. This was all new to her; being outside, not underground; everything suddenly topsy-turvy. She liked it, just a little bit.

A snap of a twig behind her caused Honora to whirl around, wand brandished. She relaxed when she saw Freya. Her best friend did not look well.

'Freya,' Honora said. 'Come here.'

'I just don't know what to do,' Freya said tearfully. 'Marlow—I just can't believe he's gone.'

'I know,' Honora said, pulling Freya into a hug. 'It's terrible.'

'And for you most of all,' Freya sobbed. 'I mean, you were going to marry him, weren't you?'

'Er…' Honora did not want to say anything one way or the other. She probably would have married Marlow Woden, but she would not have been very enthusiastic about it. She kept silent instead of saying something that would have sounded disrespectful to poor Marlow's memory.

'If it had been Jasper…' Freya sniffled and pulled away. 'What are we going to do now? Where do we go?'

Honora looked at Freya for a moment, and then gazed up toward the treetops. 'Anywhere,' she whispered. She shivered with excitement. Freya took it for fear, and clasped Honora's hand.

'Come on. Your grandmother is up, I saw her talking to the First.'

Back at their tented refugee camp, more people were awake. Most looked sad, frightened, shocked: pale scared faces, prematurely aging. People huddled together for a semblance of sanity and order.

Eleanor Weasley-Demetrius gestured for Honora to come over. 'Dear, I need you to gather Freya, Jasper, and Lithia. You four are the only ones who qualify.'

'Qualify for what?' Honora asked. Julius Talbot, at Eleanor's side,looked atHonora appraisingly, and shook his head slightly.

'You will see. You have a meeting with the centaurs in an hour,' he said.

Honora looked at him oddly, but Julius just turned away.

She conjured some toast and tea for her remaining friends. The morning got slightly brighter, but not much. The sky past the trees was grey and bleak. Even the forest was colourless; washed out by the waves of cold wind breezing through it. As Freya, Jasper, and Lithia finished their breakfast with Honora, Julius Talbot appeared before them, looking more serious than Honora had ever seen him. Her grandmother Eleanor was with him.

'The centaurs have requested your presence now. All of you,' he said to the group.

They all looked at each other with worried expressions. Honora got up, brushing crumbs off her lap. She had to admit, centaurs were intimidating creatures. She was not entirely sure she wanted business with them. They did not care for humans or their troubles, and Honora was positive they would not hesitate to brush humans aside for their own plans.

However, there was no choice at the moment. She and the others from Polaris were stranded, at the mercy of these creatures. What do the centaurs want with four seventeen-year-olds? Honora thought to herself. She was sure it could not be good, whatever it was.

Swallowing her fear, she stood and grasped Freya's hand as they followed the First Wizard through the trees.