Hey everyone, I know this took me a long while to get out. Got too caught up in all my other stories lol. I have a main story I am working on at the moment, but I will be updating this one sporadically. Enjoy

I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 2

They walked for what felt like hours, though may have been much shorter, through the thick forest. Large trees and darkness looming over them. Harry felt the adrenaline that had been coursing through his body slowly start to fade, being replaced by a bone deep weariness. With nothing to do but think as he was carried through the forest, Harry had the time to reflect on his actions and decide that he had perhaps been too hasty in his decision to try to run off to the ministry after Sirius. He was still worried about his Godfather of course, but with time to think he now realised he shouldn't have acted so rashly. He felt terribly guilty for getting Hermione in this mess to begin with. Sure, she had been the one to suggest they go into the forest with Umbridge but that wouldn't have been necessary if he hadn't been so hell bent on going after Sirius. He couldn't see her from his current position, but he hoped she was coping ok.

Harry had at first found it quite uncomfortable being pressed so firmly up against a large muscular chest, but as the journey continued, he gradually found himself relaxing into the warmth. The centaur carrying him hadn't uttered a single word, hadn't done anything except hold him tightly but Harry found the action oddly comforting and soon found himself nodding off. Lulled to sleep by the rhythmic swaying as he was carried through the forest.

Harry wasn't sure how long he had been asleep for when he awoke to the sound of voices talking softly around him. They had come to a stop, so he assumed they had reached their destination. He feigned sleep, keeping his breathing even and his eyes closed, and listened to the quiet words around him.

"Can someone please explain why you have returned with two sleeping younglings?" A soft voice asked, curiosity evident in the tone.

Harry thought it was Firenze who replied.

"The pair insulted the herd" Firenze began, hisses of anger followed his words. "So, we have claimed retribution in the old ways." This time murmurs of surprise followed his words.

"It has been many years since such a claim was made" another voice whispered gravely, and Harry struggled to tell if it was the first speaker or someone new.

"This could be good for the herd" someone else spoke up.

"As long as they don't try corrupting the foals with their human way of thinking" someone else argued. "There is a reason why we do things the way we do." Noises of agreement followed this statement. Harry heard a few hooves stamp restlessly on the ground.

Harry decided that he had heard enough and decided it was time to 'wake up.'

He yawned loudly and stretched his arms, legs and neck, all of which were feeling stiff after being in the same position for so long. It took him a moment to realise that the movement had caused his face to burrow into the well-muscled chest that he was currently leaning against. He flinched away and flushed red as he looked up at the amused centaur who was holding him.

"Umm… Hello," Harry said awkwardly.

A loud throat clearing nearby forestalled any response from the centaur holding him, and Harry twisted his head to look around to see seven centaurs', who were all staring at him.

He spotted Hermione still sleeping soundly in the arms of the centaur who held her. She had drool running down her chin but was otherwise fine.

A centaur with chocolate brown hair and a matching coat stepped forward.

"Welcome youngling, I am Magorian leader of this herd."

Harry squirmed slightly in the arms holding him until the centaur took the hint and gently lowered him to the ground. Harry stumbled for a moment before righting himself and turning to face Magorian.

"Ah… Hello. I'm Harry. Any chance you could just let us go back home? None of this year and a day business?" he asked hopefully.

Magorian merely gave him a knowing smile.

"Sorry, but that is not how this works. You have insulted the herd and must compensate for your actions."

"I didn't mean to insult the herd" Harry said pleadingly, green eyes starting to swim with tears at the thought of not seeing Hogwarts or his other friends for a whole year.

"Living here for a year will help you to understand centaurs and how we live. I assure you after your stay here, you will not accidentally insult a centaur herd again."

Harry sighed and wiped his face. He knew it had been a long shot, but he had had to try.

"You will find that life amongst us is not so bad Harry" Firenze said with a compassionate smile, but Harry just turned his head away.

Harry heard a grunt and then a shrill voice demanding, "put me down this instant!" Hermione was awake.

He turned in time to catch her as she threw herself at him, getting a face full of bushy brown hair at the same time.

"Oh Harry, I am so sorry!"

Harry gripped her back just as tightly. "No Hermione, this is my fault. If I had thought more rationally before running in wands blazing, we wouldn't be in this mess."

"You were just trying to save Sirius, Harry, I understand. Let's just say we're both to blame."

Harry chuckled wetly, as more tears threatened to spill. "OK."

"Come, I will show you to your hut." Magorian said as he started to walk away, the other centaurs parting to let them through. As the centaurs moved Harry and Hermione got their first look at the centaur village.

Harry gasped in surprise. It. Was. Beautiful. And nothing like he had been expecting, though honestly if he had been asked, he wouldn't have been able to say what he had been expecting.

The sky above the small village was covered in thousands of twinkling lights, at first glance Harry thought they were like the human fairy lights but upon closer inspection he realised they were a type of insect. They floated in the sky illuminating the village in a soft warm glow. The village itself consisted of a large grassy meadow. In the centre was a big fire pit which has almost burnt down to nothing, given the late hour. Scattered around the meadow were huts of varying sizes. What they all had in common however was that they only had three walls. One wall was open to the elements; Harry guessed it was to allow easy access for the large centaurs. Despite only having three walls the huts that Harry could make out looked warm and cosy. With soft green grass beneath them, Harry could also see a variety of woven blankets in the hut closest to him. He noticed that all the homes also had a small fireplace, he assumed for warmth in the colder months and perhaps some cooking. As they walked quietly across the field Harry saw that some of the huts were occupied, while others stood empty. It was to one of these empty huts that Magorian led them.

"This will be your hut for the foreseeable future" Magorian explained.

Beside him Hermione grimaced at the basic hut, but Harry quite liked the look of it.

"There are plenty of blankets hanging to the right for you to make yourselves comfortable" Magorian explained pointing to a rack covered in a variety of blankets on the side of their hut.

"I will return in the morning to give you a tour of the village and explain how things work around here. I suggest you get some rest now, no doubt it has been a long day."

As the centaur leader started to walk away, he gave them one last piece of advice; "also, do not try to escape. There is special magic that surrounds this place, only a centaur can find their way."

Harry nodded in understanding and heard Hermione groan quietly beside him.

Magorian walked away, back to the waiting group of centaurs, who immediately started talking quietly amongst themselves.

Harry and Hermione walked into their hut and looked around. There was only one large room. To one side was the small fireplace and what looked like a kitchen area that he had seen earlier. There was a small bench next to the fireplace with two cut outs that had wooden tubs sitting in them. He assumed this was to do with food preparation. The rest of the room was bare.

Wordlessly they moved to the blanket rack and pulled off several blankets each. The blankets were soft but sturdy and all in earthy colours of browns and greys and reds.

They moved to the far corner and began piling up their blankets into a type of nest like structure, before climbing in together and pulling some more blankets over the top of them. Luckily the night was quite warm, so they were comfortable enough.

"We will find a way out of here Harry." Hermione said confidently beside him, whispering it into the night.

Harry made a non-committal sound in the back of his throat; he wasn't quite so sure.