It's been a while, hasn't it?
This chapter was brought to you by procrastination. I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 8: Forbidden is Only a Word
Longbottom collapses against a wall heaving, red and sweaty. "This body… isn't very… fit," he huffs. War did help him to get in shape. Ollie is not much better, shaking and wheezing. Draco thanks his lucky stars he is always in peak condition. Though he must say, running constantly for ten minutes is a bit of a challenge. Right now, they have stopped in an empty hallway. With Longbottom leading the way they have so far managed to avoid most obstacles: students, professors, stupid poltergeists, annoyingly uncooperative staircases. Draco is admittedly impressed with Longbottom's knowledge of the castle despite it being two years ago since he has been in it.
"Where are we even going?" Draco snaps. He has finally had it with being dragged around. "Do you have a game plan or are we just going to skip around Hogwarts until we get caught?"
"I'm taking us to the Forbidden Forest," Longbottom pants.
"WHAT?" Draco screeches. "Are you insane?"
"No, it's closer than the Room of Requirement, easier to get to, no one will think to follow us there and we can observe the effects of whatever is going on outside of the school," Longbottom explains.
"So you are insane. Good to know," Draco comments, running a hand through his hair in exasperation. "The Forbidden Forest is dangerous. That's why it's forbidden, Longbottom."
"I've been in the Forest lots of time. We'll be fine. It's probably safer than Hogwarts right now anyway."
"In case you didn't notice, I don't have my wand. I will not be fine," Draco retorts, waving his empty hands around to emphasise his point. Ollie taps his shoulder and he bites back a roar. "What?" he asks through gritted teeth that would probably make his mother faint. Mummy always did worry about appearances and Draco's good looks. "Make them last," Narcissa was fond of telling him.
As an answer she puts his wand in his hand. "I got our wands during the attack," she informs him. Why, the clever witch.
"We'll be fine," Longbottom asserts again now that they are all armed.
"This doesn't make it any less dangerous," Draco grumbles under his breath. "But thanks," he adds to Ollie. It feels good to not be completely helpless. She smiles in response.
"Then come on, we have to get to the Forest before anyone finds us," Longbottom says, mostly recovered though looking disgusting. Draco supposes he does not look too flash either. Blood and sweat is a bad combination. His pants are ruined.
Apparently Fate likes to mess with them because in their path is a student. Not just any student. Harry Potter. Harry fucking Potter. Does the universe hate him that much? Potter pulls out his wand, pointing it threateningly at them. Draco has a flashback to that time when he followed Potter and co. into the Room of Requirement to take him to Voldemort.
The universe does hate him that much.
"What are you doing?" Potter demands, taking their dishevelled, bloodied appearance.
"Get out of our way, Potter," Draco clips. "Since you decided to take a vacation we have to go save the Wizarding World from Professor Psycho."
"What the bloody hell?" Bloody hell indeed. "Professor Riddle's not… wha… Neville!"
"As coherent as ever, Potter, but really, we have to get going," Draco tries to stalk past him until a flash of red makes Draco jump back. "Hey!"
"You're not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on!" Potter yells. "Neville, why are you with the Slytherin nutter? Why are you covered in blood?"
Longbottom takes a cautious step forward. "Now Harry, some really weird stuff is going on. There was an attack on the Hospital Wing and-"
"We don't have time for this!" Draco interrupts. "Just let us through, Potter!"
"Stay back Malfoy," Potter brandishes his wand. "I won't hesitate to use this." Before Potter can say anything else he freezes and clatters to the ground. Behind him stands Ollie, wand in hand. They gape at her in shock. She shrugs.
"I've been practising non-verbal spells," she justifies. Draco keeps forgetting she is actually fifteen. Longbottom wakes from his stupor and sets off, ignoring Potter crumpled on the ground. He will be okay in a minute or two. Draco and Ollie charge after him, to the Forbidden Forest. A magical place where they will probably die horrible, horrible deaths. Yippee.
Luna Lovegood wanders the school, pondering ways to solve the nargle infestation, when three people run by. A younger Ravenclaw, the boy everyone says has gone mad (but they do say the same thing about her) and an awkward seventh-year Gryffindor. The Gryffindor, she thinks his name is Neville, waves and calls over his shoulder; "Hi Luna!" She did not know they knew each other but waves back anyway, bottle cap necklace jangling. It is nice to meet old friends.
Unhindered, the three approach the dark, shadowy forest edging along Hogwarts' grounds. Draco is starting to have second thoughts. "Longbottom, I don't think this is a good idea."
"I told you not to worry about it," Longbottom says, still slightly out of breath. "We'll be fine."
"I wish you'd stop saying that," Draco mutters darkly, imagining all the ways he could kill Longbottom if he says those three words again. There are a surprising amount of possibilities if you get creative.
The trio hesitate at the tree line but after a few seconds Longbottom plunges fearlessly into the Forbidden Forest. Draco can practically hear Longbottom's footsteps beating out the rhythm "we'll be fine." Ollie pauses and Draco feels himself freeze. Longbottom quickly realises this and jogs back. "Hey, what is it?"
Ollie twists her hands together. "I've never been in the Forbidden Forest before," she mumbles. Draco almost throws his arms up in ecstasy. Finally, he thinks silently, someone who isn't stupid and who hasn't been in this bloody death trap before. It is nice to know that Hogwarts is not crawling with idiots. Well, it is but at least they are not everywhere.
"Let me assure you then," Draco says, "it is not nearly as life-threatening as it sounds." He figures it is best to omit the 'but it's still fucking terrifying' part. "We don't have much of a choice."
"Aren't there creatures in there?" she comments, nearly nonchalant in her observation. As though it is a report to assess the dangers from every possible angle. The girl really is smart. "Centaurs are intelligent. I don't think they'll like us trespassing."
"Yeah, didn't they drag off the Umbridge woman in fifth year?" Draco muses. Honestly, even being part of the Inquisitorial Squad, it was plain to see she was an absolute cow. No doubt about it. Sure, at the time Draco had been pleased old nutty Dumbledore was finally kicked out. But DADA was getting boring and Umbridge was disgustingly fake brand of sweet, masking a sick, twisted crone, despite the perks of having power. His disdain for her has only grown with time. She deserved what she got.
From the look Draco is receiving from Longbottom it is the wrong thing to say. Too late now. Ollie does not seem any worse from it. "Okay," she replies. "Are we going?" What a weirdo. Draco was wrong about her being smart. Longbottom nods, marching off again. Draco can see his relief to be moving. Auror through and through apparently. Who would have thought?
In spite of the sun being out, weak nonetheless cutting through thin, lingering clouds, the forest is almost as dark as night. Trees overcast grey shadows like a gathering of oversized umbrellas. Roots crawl and leap from the ground in the most inconvenient places, tripping hazards if Draco ever saw one. Various other vicious plants leer at his shoes, scattered amongst scraggly, hunched brethren. And is Draco imagining the light, curling fog creeping along the forest floor? So much nature. Draco shudders when a wet fern strokes his face. Awful.
The ominous, echoing noises do nothing to soothe his frazzled nerves. Every twig snapping, leaf crackling, bush rustling puts him on edge. This is reminding him far too vividly of the stomach-churning, heart-palpitating sight of a unicorn in a puddle of silver blood and the hooded figure that swooped down on it. How apt it was actually Voldemort, the most terrifying Dark Wizard in history. This has spawned his never-ending distrust of anything with the word 'forbidden' in it. The teachers knew what they were talking about after all.
After a solid ten minutes trudging through the forest – forests, especially ones such as the Forbidden Forest, are perfect for trudging and there seems no other way to walk in them – Draco is tired. Any adrenaline remaining from the attack on the Hospital Wing and the encounter with Potter has drained away. What is left is cold, aching muscles and bone deep exhaustion, with a few flashes of fear just for some extra fun. Somehow the biting March wind has weaved its way into the thick trees. It being Scotland means the spring months can be just as dour as winter, with considerably less snow. Other than that, things are dandy. Until – for what would Draco's life be without the "until"s? – something comes crashing towards them. Draco wants to run away screaming but instead he bares his wand because Draco Malfoy is not some ickle firstie anymore. He is an adult. More or less.
The something, or someone, Draco does not know the proper term when addressing another life form like this, is a centaur. Long, muscular chestnut horse legs and body, human head and chest. Definitely a centaur. Maybe even part Weasley with his red hair and beard. Centaur Weasley stamps his front hoof. "Humans and a foal," he says slowly and dolefully, shock in his widened eyes. "You must leave. We do not take kindly to those who come into our forest. These are troubled times. Go now." Draco is all too happy to do as he says, he does not want a run in with centaurs on top of all the other shit, but Ollie steps forward.
"Please, what do you know about this new reality?" she asks seriously. Respectfully. If Draco had done the same thing it would make him look like a dick. Longbottom would probably sound obnoxious. But who could resist a young teen with a face as innocent as a puppy? Apparently Centaur Weasley can't.
"I do not know everything, foal, but I know we are trapped. Now leave before you are hurt," she replies not harshly but kindly. Ollie shakes her head.
"I'm sorry but we won't. Not yet. We want to find out more because from what we have observed the other humans have no memories of before. We are trying to fix it," she tells him. There is no heavy, unyielding implications like need, cannot, have to. It is so tactful. Draco does not know enough about centaurs to determine if this will help their chances or not. He cannot believe he regrets not learning more during Care of Magical Creatures.
Centaur Weasley stares at her, expression unreadable. At last he says; "I will take you to my herd. Be wary, humans. I will take no responsibility for your deaths." How comforting.
"We will come with you," Ollie agrees. What? Draco did not consent to this. Longbottom seems equally surprised and miffed. But he follows her anyway. Draco must be thick because he does so as well. A warning that a wild herd of centaurs will rip them apart or take his chances alone in the Forbidden Forest? His feet decide for him and he does not have the heart to stop. It would likely offend Centaur Weasley. He was promised adventure by the universe? He certainly has it.
A/N: Personally I love this chapter. I think it's got just the right mix of dark and light humour. Did anyone notice the Ronan cameo from Order of the Phoenix? Probably not.
On a side note: people often forget Neville's parents were really skilled Aurors. Is it really that much of surprise he is good at it too? In truth, I am guilty of it as well. Technically he is actually a third generation Auror (his scary grandmother, Augusta Longbottom, was one). That is one kickass family.
Review and tell me what you think.