Merry Christmas all enjoy!
Chapter 5
The forbidden forest was vast in size, certain areas were inhabited by different creatures, and certainly off limits for others. The Hogwarts gamekeeper believed he knew and had access to all parts of the forest, but even he did not realise there were areas he was never aware of. The legend had been the forest had started off as a small woodland grown to home a heard of centaur's that over the years had grown, this is why the Centaurs were always believed to be "the true Guardians of the forest". This is what Bellatrix had read in her 1st edition Hogwarts a History she was given on her 11th birthday after her Hogwarts letter had arrived. As she followed Apollo through the dense flora, she could sense the difference in atmosphere as they kept moving forward. There was certainly a magical feeling, but not the same magic of wizard places, this magic almost seemed Natural.
After two hours of walking Bellatrix slowed her pace leaning against a trunk.
"Apollo, I'm Sorry I . . . I need to rest a moment." Exhaustion was taking its toll as she slowly slumped down the trunk into a sitting position. Apollo turned at her request, replacing his steps as he went towards her, he dipped his hand into a satchel hanging over his shoulder.
"Take this Bellatrix you need energy" he ordered holding out to her a green apple. She grasped it from his hand inspecting it before taking a bite.
"Thank you". She murmured taking another bite. He bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement before turning and bending down at a stream nearby. He returned a few moments later holding out a drinking horn to her. She gratefully took it allowing the cool liquid to run soothingly down her throat. She handed the horn back and wiped her hand on her sleeve.
"Come it's not far now. Perhaps you can already feel it?"
"Feel what?" she asked standing up.
"No human has ever set foot in this part of the forest, until you Bellatrix. This is our sacred place, the magic is old, with no human interruption to its bindings." He gestured for her to walk next to him rather than follow. She realised the trees were thinning out, it was much lighter in this area.
"But if it's sacred, why are you bringing me this way?" she stopped abruptly, her uncertainty lacing her voice.
"You have no wand, you cannot harm it as long as you are welcomed Bellatrix, we only wish to protect you"
She contemplated his words. "We?" she queried. He nodded and gestured with his hand as he swayed it in a forward motion. It was only as Bellatrix looked up in that direction she realised they had reached a clearing. The site before her was truly magical, the clearing was like a rich spring meadow of grass, and the sun just began to brighten as it shone through the trees surrounding them. In the meadow were about 30 centaurs, males, females and youngsters, the youngsters were chasing and playing with unicorn foals.
Three other male centaurs walked towards them. Bellatrix took a step back feeling wary of the large creatures in front of her.
"Your reading was true then Apollo, your mastery of the stars matches my own. Welcome Bellatrix" The Middle centaur looked down on her.
"I told you I would not fail Ronan" Apollo replied,
"Her soul is broken, the shimmers looks splintered" The smallest centaur replied.
"That's a result of the darkness Firenze, it can be fixed but only through redemption".
"Excuse me I don't wish to appear rude but I am still here, I would prefer you speak to me than about me!" Bellatrix spoke in a slightly annoyed tone, her arms crossed and a finger tapping on her elbow impatiently.
"There is much still unknown, we only know to bring you here and protect you until fate interjects" Apollo spoke to her. And then turned back to the others.
"But first I request she has some nourishment and rest"
"Of course, see to it Apollo, I believe your mate Arria will have prepared something for your return" Ronan replied before turning away.
"Come Bellatrix, I shall show you your new home" she followed Apollo, ready to face the new life before her.
It had been almost a week since she had arrived in the centaur's paddock. The herd was much larger but most patrolled the entire forest. The youngsters stayed within the protected area. Most had avoided Bellatrix on the rare times she ventured into the meadow. She spent most time with Apollo and his Mate Arria who she had met not long after her arrival. She was living a few hundred metres from the clearing, a cave within the hillside. It was dry inside, a bed made of Yeti-Sheep fur, and basics such as wooden chairs and tables as well as utensils all carved from wood, and the back a small fire pit charmed by centaur magic to produce smokeless flames. She had permission to wander the woods as long as she was cautious, at first Apollo or another male centaur would accompany her, but this morning Ronan had declared she must venture alone, for her magic core had been accept fully to the woodland protection, she wasn't deemed a threat or stranger.
Unfortunately Bellatrix's first solo outing had been a traumatic one, she had only been wandering the outer boundary into the main forest. When several centaurs heard her screaming. It was Bane who found her Shaking halfway up an oak tree grasping tightly to the branch. After ten minutes he managed to coax her down.
"Some kind of enchanted undead rectangle chased me! Its eye brighter than a lumos, and growling like a wolf!" she panted looking around her constantly, convinced it would come back.
"Ah, it must have been the Unhuman" Bane explained escorting her back towards the meadow.
"Unhuman?" she looked confused.
"Yes it appeared 6 years ago, it was made by humans but isn't Human, it lives but is not alive. Firenze said it's a muggle creation called a 'Car' some wizard charmed it, then somehow it landed into the Whomping Willow, escaped and has been living in the forest ever since"
"Oh" Bella answered more confused than ever.
Three days later Bellatrix had managed to avoid the Unhuman, she had decided to head west remembering an area rich in Pinkberries, a wild sweet berry fruit that was edible for centaurs and humans. She had borrowed a weaved basket to carry her harvest back in. she smiled in accomplishment as she successfully found the ripe bushes drooping under the weight of the berries, eagerly beginning to pick them. After an hour her basket almost full she left, heading back up the path she had weaved through the wild grass earlier.
She believed it was just her imagination as she first heard the sound of shuffling through the trees. She turned her head listening for a moment, straining to hear anything unusual. The woodland remained silent. She shrugged turning back on her way. Only to stop abruptly as she heard the crack of a branch and the groan of a voice as the sound of a body slumped onto the earth's floor. She placed her basket down taking a few steps to the left in the direction of the sound, approaching cautiously.
She looked through the trees, seeing nothing at first until her eyes spotted the large spider crawling into view, her heart raced at the site. Its large front legs tensing in anticipation to strike, only then did she see the prey, a girl,
Her! Surely not?
She saw the girl cover her face ready for the strike. Bellatrix tried to think, No wand, a weapon of some sort?
Weapon
Her hand reached down towards her boot, her blade still safely tucked inside from when she had replaced it after losing the matching one back at Malfoy manor. She grasped the handle, unsheathing it in a swift movement, she held it in front of her eyes, calculating her aim and strengths and with a strong flick motion threw the blade. The beast screamed as it landed just as she planned straight in the head. The girl had looked her way, but she swiftly left, certain she couldn't have been seen, lifting her basket and running back to the barrier.
Hope you enjoyed, please review! Next chapter Hermione will pick up on more hints of Bellatrix's return, and plucking up the courage to see her friends, as well as Andy receiving contact from a long lost sister . . .
SlytherinEnigma