Author's Note: I'm still not happy with this chapter, but my fabulous beta, MimiTaylor, put things into perspective for me. Thanks to all for waiting patiently.
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Hedwig wheeled in around the other owls and dropped a square package in front of Harry. She settled next to Harry's plate and preened. "You're such a clever owl," Harry told her as he started to scratch her head. He offered a piece of Terry's bacon and allowed her to devour it as he started to open his package.
He knew he wasn't 'right in the head' as his Muggle relatives liked to say, but he also knew that Muggles were far ahead in understanding the human mind than wizards. They had to have a name for what was wrong with him and some method of treatment. Hopefully something he could do on his own.
He slid the book into his book bag and ignored the weird looks Terry was giving him. He could care less if the other boy thought he was strange. Flourish and Blotts had been very excited to help Harry with his special "project" comparing Muggle and magical health care and gladly procured the book for Harry for a nominal fee. Harry felt it was well-worth the money.
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Harry sequestered himself in the library after classes were over and pulled out his new psychology book. There had to be a name for what was wrong with him. There just had to be. Once he managed to name it, he could then find a way to combat it. He dearly hoped that he could find a way to fight this, what ever this was. People were noticing. Let's be real, Potter. People are concerned and that is what scares you more. Harry told the voice in his head to shut up. He needed to concentrate on his book.
He skipped the chapters that didn't have much relevance. Yes, it was interesting to read how the brain was put together and why certain things happened, but he was more interested in what was wrong with him than anything else.
The sun was just starting to set when Harry emerged from his book a few hours later. He pushed the book away from him, shut it, and lowered his head to the table in front of him. He had to fight to keep from banging his head off the table. It was very tempting. He had no way to fix this problem on his own. None at all. He would actually need therapy. With another person!
He took a deep breath to calm down and rummaged in his satchel for his journal. He laid it on the table and brought out his wand. A quick look around assured him that no one watching him. He removed his glasses and tapped each of his eyes with his wand, opened his journal, and then tapped the next page with his wand.
I have something wrong with me that I can't fix on my own. I think I do, anyway. The psychology book symptoms are either Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which is common among people who have experienced something, well, traumatic. Gee, I wonder what could have traumatized me. Hmm. My whole life? Of course, he would say that I shouldn't pity myself, as it serves no purpose. He's right, isn't he? I shouldn't feel sorry for myself.
How do I fix this? I can't continue on like this, jumping at every shadow and loud noise. People are starting to become suspicious. Snape, especially. And the Malfoys, which is just not right, considering what happened before. I hate not having answers. It's very frustrating. Extremely frustrating. It almost makes me angry. No, not angry. Furious. It is almost as though someone did something to me without my knowing about itand then told me not to worry about it. Or something like that. I'm too confused to think anymore. That, and I have dinner and then a detention. I still can't believe that I have detention. I can't believe that I was caught! If it hadn't been for that Malfoy...I'll stop those thoughts now.
Harry tapped the pages with his wand again and then tapped his eyes before putting his journal away. That privacy spell had come in handy, just like his teacher told him it would, although the man had meant it for keeping orders and strategies hidden from the rest of the world. Oh well. This fit into Harry's privacy issues. After all, he wrote about everything in this journal. It wouldn't do for someone like...Rita Skeeter finding it and writing that Harry Potter is a nutter...never mind.
Harry gathered his belongings and went downstairs to the Great Hall. He knew the house elves would hunt him down if he didn't appear at dinner, and then he would be forced to eat by a far too cheerful Serry. She and Professor Snape had a conspiracy going, he was sure of it. He just needed proof to blackmail them both into stopping. Then, Serry would cry and he would feel bad. Note to self: STOP THINKING!
"Harry?" A voice said from in front of him. "I don't know what that particular patch of stone did to you, but I'm sure it's really sorry." Harry looked up and saw Draco Malfoy standing next to him. He had been glaring at the stone wall outside the Great Hall.
"It should be," Harry said darkly.
"Uh-huh. Well, dinner and then detention." Draco said, steering Harry into the Great Hall. "I've heard we're going to detention with the half-breed tonight." Draco said as he pulled Harry over to the Slytherin table.
"Pardon?" Harry asked. He had heard that moniker applied to many people over the years. His brain scrambled to identify exactly which half-breed Draco could be talking about.
"That gamekeeper," Draco answered as Harry's plate appeared, and he started filling his own. "Do you always have a fully prepared meal just appear in front of you?" Draco asked.
"Yes. Every time. And you shouldn't call Hagrid a half-breed. His parents' actions aren't his fault."
"Did you notice that you seem to collect the dregs of society?" Draco asked with his father's tone of voice.
"Did you notice that you sounded a lot like your father just now?" Harry returned as he pondered the wisdom of leaving the spinach on his plate. He wasn't too fond of the vegetable. He had eaten it before because he'd had no choice, not with his teacher looming over his every meal for a straight month. But, did that mean he had to eat a vegetable he didn't like now?
He decided to ignore the spinach and turned to Draco. "Besides, Hagrid spends a lot of time out in the Forbidden Forest. I bet he knows all about it."
"What are you getting at?" Draco asked.
"He might know something useful he could teach us later on, Draco. It's not wise to limit resources by clinging to prejudice."
"You know something, Harry?" Draco said as he started on his pudding.
"I know many things, but I suppose you're going to mention something in particular." Harry smirked at Draco.
"Well, yes. That."
"That?"
"You have this adult way of talking. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, I have to wonder how old you are."
Harry raised an eyebrow and shook his head. Draco was canny, there was no doubt. It was just a little unnerving. "I read," he whispered. "Try it sometime. You learn all sorts of big words."
"Prat," Draco snorted.
"Snob," Harry told Draco. "What time is our detention?"
"In about five minutes. We're supposed to meet in the hallway next to the main doors." Draco said as he removed the napkin from his lap and stood. "Ready?" he asked.
Harry stopped and stared at the spinach left on his plate. "Definitely," He didn't see the Potions professor smirking at the Head table.
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What person in their right mind would send eleven year old children into the Forbidden Forest where an unknown entity is consuming unicorn blood? Harry thought as Draco stumbled through the undergrowth behind him with the ease of a two year old; elephants would have made less noise. Harry was a little quieter. He could have performed better, but suddenly becoming ghostly silent in the forest with Draco beside him would only end badly...with Malfoian suspicions raised and catalogued in Draco's mind, and that was something Harry did not want any time soon.
"What are we supposed to be looking for again?" Draco asked irritably, the lantern he was holding casting light in several directions.
Harry averted his eyes from the light to protect his night vision. Artificial light hinders more than helps, soldier. It can take anywhere from ten to sixty seconds for eyesight to correct itself...double if it's night and you're trying to see into the night. Light also tells your enemy exactly where you are. Weapons are two-way, soldier; if you can use it against someone, they can use it against you.
"Unicorn blood," Harry answered shortly. "You needn't look into the branches, Draco. What we're looking for is on the ground."
"You sound as if you're enjoying this," Draco accused.
Harry didn't respond. He was enjoying this, in a way. Forest maneuvers were the only times he had been free during his training, out from under those soulless eyes, the coercion magic and bonds, the few times he felt like himself since entering training. His teacher had complained that Harry was harder to control once he had returned to normal exercises, less likely to follow orders. He had threatened to stop such training more than once and would have followed through on it, if Harry's results in a forested setting hadn't been phenomenal each time. The survival instructor had borrowed him at least four times to show others "how it was done". He'd broken time records for the training, or so his teacher had said. Harry still wasn't sure if the man had been joking or not.
A gasp from his right made him turn and look at Draco as warning signals started going off in his mind. There was something else there. Draco's skin somehow managed to grow several shades paler. "Dra-," Harry hadn't time to continue beyond that; Draco had dropped his lantern and fled.
The forest seemed to ripple around him and centaurs melted out of the foliage around him.
"We have waited for your return, Chosen One." One centaur said as he stepped forward. The entire circle closed in around him. He felt his alarms increase; the situation was becoming extremely dangerous. It was time to go. "We could never hurt you." This centaur appeared to be the leader of the group, for the whole circle stopped moving at a look from him. "You have given up much to return here, and we have much to repay." The voice sounded hypnotic as it spoke in a steady cadence. Harry blinked. There was something else going on here. Harry watched as the centaur came closer to him. He backed up a few paces and drew his wand. The centaur only raised an eyebrow and Harry felt strong hands take hold of his arms. His teacher would be bellowing in his grave. He had backed up into them! He started to fight his way out of their grasp when he heard a sharp "No!" and something dull and heavy knocked him on the back of his head.
His vision went gray and he dropped to his knees. His limbs refused to obey any signals to get up and run. He wanted to curl his suddenly free arms around his head and moan. He did moan and found that it only hurt his head worse. He felt someone pick him up and hold him in their arms. He tried to move, say something, raise his wand. Nothing happened. He felt the person holding him jump over something. The movement jostled his head, and his vision went from gray to black as he lost his fight to stay conscious.
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Draco Malfoy knew running away was a cowardly thing to do, but he had thought that Harry would have some sense of self-preservation. It appeared that he was wrong. Harry Potter was courting death with open arms. Draco didn't want to waste time with Hagrid; Harry could be in deep trouble. No, Draco needed a full wizard. He dashed through the castle and down to the dungeons. Snape was the only one suited for something like this. Draco checked the office first and then moved on to the Potions lab. He found his teacher there. "Harry's been taken by the centaurs!" He gasped out as he doubled over for breath.
"WHAT?" Snape roared. He banished the contents of his cauldron, dismissed the flame and barreled towards the door. He paused in the hallway and sent a Patronus to the Headmaster and then one to Flitwick. "Come, Draco. You must show me where." Snape flew down the corridor, and Draco jogged behind him.
The forest was just as menacing as the first time he had entered it. He couldn't see how Harry enjoyed himself here. He led Professor Snape back to the clearing.
Snape used Lumos to look around. His face grew tighter with each passing moment. "There looks to have been a great deal of them," Snape said slowly. "Almost an even twenty for a mere whelp of a boy." He snarled to himself. He paused and sent another Patronus off towards the castle to let Dumbledore know where he was. "Draco, did they have any weapons with them?" He asked.
"I don't know," Draco said slowly. "I didn't get a good look at them. I couldn't be sure."
"You have eyes. What did you see?" Snape growled at the blonde.
Draco shut his eyes and tried to think back. He opened them and went over to the spot where he dropped the lantern. "I was here. Some of the centaurs appeared there." He pointed towards the trees in front of him. "None of those carried weapons, I'm sure of it, except the one in the middle. He did. A bow. It was across his back, though, not in his hands."
"Well, if they wanted Potter dead, things would have been different," Snape commented. He looked around where Draco was standing. "It looks like there was a bit of a scuffle." He mused as he stared at the torn up ground. And a body hitting that ground. He looked up as Dumbledore and the rest of the professors entered the clearing.
"Potter's been taken by centaurs. They came in force for him. I have no idea why. We must find him." Snape told his colleagues. A few seemed bewildered by the idea that Severus Snape was concerned about the Boy Who Lived, but all brushed it off as they paired off to search the forest. Dumbledore called Fawkes and scribbled off a message to the Head Boy and Girl before joining the search by pairing with McGonagall.
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Harry wasn't exactly sure when the world had gone mad without his notice. He didn't even care about why. He just wanted it to stop. Of course, things wouldn't seem so bad if he hadn't been hit over the head and dragged off against his will, wherever he was. The centaurs had apologized about the hitting over the head bit. Apparently, that had not been a part of their plan. Expedience was the buzz word, and one of the younger centaurs had taken it a bit too far...or so they said. Harry wasn't sure if he should believe them or not. It all depended on how much trouble he got into over this little disappearance in the forest. In his defense, he wouldn't have been in the Forbidden Forest, since it was FORBIDDEN, if he hadn't been sent there for detention. He was supposed to be a first year student.
Now, here he sat in the middle of a circle of centaurs, almost a full twenty-four hours after he had been taken. He could almost see the letter Dumbledore would write to the Dursleys.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Dursley,
It is my sad duty to inform you that your nephew, Harry James Potter, has disappeared. We will inform you if he is found.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
The sad thing would be the amount of joy they would feel over a letter like that. Harry shook his head to himself and was glad when he felt no pain. The centaurs' healer was ten times more territorial than Madame Pomfrey, and Harry had been the only patient in months. The head centaur had practically smuggled Harry away from her.
Something big was supposed to happen tonight. The centaurs hadn't told him anything, but he could feel it. There was an expectant air about them. That, and the dress robes and presence of the house elves kind of gave it away.
His entire contingent was there, bustling about the clearing in excited giddiness. They were trying to clean the grass at the moment. Harry had tried to tell them it wouldn't work, but Serry had only asked if "Harry, sir" wanted more to eat or drink. He had kept quiet after that. He didn't want a house elf watching him eat when he wasn't hungry. It almost physically hurt to see the disappointment in their eyes. They acted as though Harry being carted off by centaurs was completely normal, and they weren't worried in the least for his safety. Their lack of concern had put him at ease a little, but he was still worried that something might happen.
They were blatantly a part of this kidnapping plot. Button had greeted the head centaur as an old friend and proudly presented Harry with his dress robes and entire basket of things the house elves thought Harry might need, everything from his comb and toothbrush to some of his schoolbooks. He held his Potions book as a token of thanks to the elves, but he couldn't concentrate to read. Something about this entire situation, aside from the kidnapping bit, just seemed off. His instincts were telling him that he should be fighting to get away and back to safety, but the other half of him was saying that he was safe where he was, thank you very much, and wasn't the presence of the centaurs relaxing? It just didn't make sense.
He was pretty much ignored for the most part, though the minute he finished off his food or drink, one of the centaurs would signal the house elves and the whole cycle of "let's feed Harry" would begin again. The old story of Hansel and Gretel popped in his head, and he smirked in amusement. Centaurs didn't eat the young, of course, but it was a funny thought.
They still hadn't told him why he was there, or why dress robes and a house elf hair stylist was needed. A house elf Harry had never seen before had popped up, done something to his hair to make it lie flat, and then disappeared before Harry could thank him. He fought against the instinct to run his hands through his hair and sighed. He was frustrated. Every time he asked a centaur why he was there, the centaur would only smile and tell him that everything would start in time. Every time Harry stood up, twenty centaur heads would turn and stare at him until he sat down again. Harry was sure that this had to be the oddest kidnapping/hostage situation he had ever heard of, much less experienced.
He put down his Potions book and picked up a history book. He startled when he saw a person standing close to him he had not noticed before. The book dropped back into the basket and Harry shot a quick glance around to see if anyone else had noticed him.
"Aiden, good of you to make it," the head centaur, called Jeachen, said as he stood from his position on the ground and made his way over to the man.
"Such an invitation could never be dismissed or ignored," 'Aiden' said as he bowed to the centaurs. "You were right about him." Aiden gestured at Harry. "The others are on their way as we speak. All are most anxious to help him in any way we can."
"We'll need your skills with the mind, I'm sure," Jeachen led Aiden away from the group, and Harry stared after them.
He looked around and noticed a centaur watching him. "Who was that?" He asked the watching centaur.
"Aiden, Lord of the Vampiric Council," the centaur said with a slight smile. "The entire council is on their way here."
"Why?" Harry was pleased at his first straight answer from the centaurs and hoped the trend would continue.
"You shall see," the centaur said as he stood and walked away from Harry.
Harry fought the urge to toss his book at the retreating centaur and settled back against the odd seat the centaurs had given him. It felt like a pillow, but was shaped as a chair. He wondered idly if he could get one for the Ravenclaw common room, as it had to be the most comfortable seat Harry had ever sat in. He leaned his head back and sighed as he closed his eyes. He opened them again when he felt someone staring at him.
He looked up to see a woman studying him from across the clearing. She merely smiled at him and went to join Jeachen and Aiden. I never thought I would say this about a hostage situation, but I am so bored. He had nothing to do and the appearance of others did nothing to help alleviate his boredom. Harry had a feeling that the entire council of vampires should mean he was in danger, but the centaurs had assured him that he was safe and he believed them.
Other creatures started appearing. He recognized many. Gnomes, grindylows (though he had to wonder how they survived out of the water), jobberknolls, mermaids (a magical bubble that reminded Harry of a fishbowl surrounded them), imps, abraxans, banshees (thankfully silent), nifflers, clabberts, thestrals, goblins, Red Caps, Crups (they appeared to be overjoyed by Harry's presence, as they acted like the dogs they resembled and leapt all over him until Jeachen stepped in), and so many others that the clearing eventually resembled a magical creatures pet shop.
Harry was surprised that Jeachen had greeted the vampires with such congeniality. He had thought that centaurs didn't like vampires, but he supposed his textbooks could have been wrong about that. He looked up at the men and women coming through the trees now and his heart leapt. Remus was here! Remus Lupin had studied Harry for a moment before turning his attention to the centaurs greeting the group he was with. What could that possibly mean? Harry stood up and started to go over to them when an arm reached out and held him back.
"It would be bad to lose you in this crowd, Harry Potter," the centaur said with a regretful look. "You have to admit, some of the creatures here would not remember that you are protected if you appeared in their midst alone."
"Am I in danger?" he asked, just a little put out at having his movement restricted like this.
"Not so long as you stay here and do not go out into that mess," the centaur said as he removed his arm from Harry.
"Fine," Harry moved back to his pillow chair and pretended he wasn't sulking as he studied the creatures in front of him. The Crups were beside themselves with doggy glee as they jumped up and down in place. Harry knew that Crups loved wizards, but he hadn't thought they would be this crazy. Harry nearly leapt to his feet as a Grim strode into the clearing and gave an imperial look about him. Harry knew it wasn't his godfather and pondered the presence of a Grim, which technically wasn't even alive.
The group Remus was with studied the Grim with a little fear in their expressions. Remus just looked amused. Harry then made the connection that he was looking at a group of werewolves. He wanted to hit himself for missing the obvious.
Harry jumped as the entire tribe of Acromantulas poured into the clearing before being directed to an open space by a centaur. What was this, the United Nations of Magical Creatures? A few more additions came into the clearing (griffin, wood-nymph, and some hags) and it appeared that the meeting was starting to come to order, whatever this meeting was supposed to be. Harry nearly leapt out of his skin when he heard a dragon's roar go up somewhere very close to his left. A few minutes later, the trees in the Forbidden Forest actually moved to accommodate ten dragons. Then again, if Harry was a tree, he would gladly move out of the way of a dragon. In fact, his body was telling him that running was his only option, except that a centaur was giving him a "don't be silly" look. What were they doing, reading his mind?
Harry shivered and wondered why it was suddenly becoming colder. He took another breath and he identified the cause. Dementors were coming. He pulled out his wand and looked around, ready to fight them off. He didn't want to relieve his worst memory, thanks so much. In fact, he wasn't even sure what his worst memory was anymore. He didn't want to find out.
He felt something wrap around him and the cold feeling disappeared. He looked down at himself but couldn't see anything. He looked up at his guard/jailer and the centaur actually smirked at him. "Just a bit of our magic, Harry Potter," he said in a smug tone.
Harry watched the Dementors come in, greet Jeachen, and then move to the corner they were assigned. It appeared that the magic extended to their corner as well, as the werewolves were not having any adverse effects from the dementors.
Harry saw the last of the magical creatures settled into a spot and almost smirked. This meeting should have been held at the Quidditch Pitch. He turned his attention to Jeachen as the centaur moved to the front of the gathered creatures and held up one of his hands for attention.
"Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I am honored to see so many of you with less than two days' notice," Harry's eyes narrowed. I bet they kept me asleep as long as they could, just to keep me here! "Our guest of honor is here and has returned to fulfill his destiny." Harry wondered exactly who the centaur was talking about. "Harry Potter, please stand and come here."
Harry's eyes grew wide as he fought his shock and forced his body to obey the command. He had figured that he had something to do with this meeting, that he was the focus, but he hadn't been prepared to be the object of such intense focus. He felt extremely uncomfortable and wanted to melt into the background.
"My friends and fellow creatures, you see the problem?" Jeachen asked as he looked around. Heads nodded everywhere, from the werewolves to the dragons.
"What problem?" Harry hissed to Jeachen.
"You have two minds, Harry Potter, warring with each other. We can help you stop that." Jeachen told him.
"I don't understand," Harry said as Jeachen motioned to someone off to the side.
The centaur moved until Harry could see only him and smiled at Harry. "No more waking dreams, Harry Potter. No more screaming nightmares or jumping at slight noises. No more problems. Just Harry Potter."
Jeachen moved aside and Harry say the vampire called Aiden directly in front of them. "Please relax, Master Potter, our Chosen One. This should not cause you any pain."
Harry only had time to process that this was not a situation he wanted to be in and his eyes had widened in response right before he felt a deep lethargy settle over his body, and he fell limp, only to drop into someone's arms. They settled his body into his pillow chair and some kind of spell held him in place as something started happening to him. He was awake, and aware, but unable to move a finger or say a word. A member of each group had come up to him at one point or another and done something to him. He couldn't tell what they were doing exactly, as his mind wasn't keeping up to the speed with which they did everything. His face was washed several times as the night wore on and a cup of something light and fruity was offered which tasted like nothing else Harry had ever had before. He just sat in his chair and fought his way to full consciousness. Every time he started getting close, Aiden would make another appearance, and Harry's body would sink back into happy lethargy.
This was almost like the time some Death Eaters had fed him a hallucinogen before starting in on their "fun". They had laughed at Harry, toyed with him, and made Harry completely miserable while he tried to fight against the effects of the substance in his body. This, while similar, was different. He felt safe, protected, and at ease. He almost hated it, but also loved it at the same time. He could not identify the last time he had felt this way.
He tried to smile when Remus himself dropped to one knee before Harry and placed a hand on Harry's head. Actually, he tried to throw himself at Remus and cling tightly, but his body didn't do more than twitch as Remus mumbled some words, smiled at Harry, and patted his cheek before moving away. Harry's heart ached for a second; Remus had done that right before he had died.
The feeling melted away and Harry saw a Dementor in front of him. The Dementor only laid a hand on the top of Harry's head before moving away. It was odd, but Harry was grateful that nothing else had happened.
The centaurs were gathered over in one corner of the clearing and had circled around something. Harry couldn't see what was going on and found that his body really didn't care. A Crup had curled up in his lap and was enjoying a nap. Harry's tired eyes rose to meet the sight a dragon standing over him. He found he had no feelings about this event and only blinked when the dragon rested a light claw on the top of his head for a second before leaving. He hadn't even felt it.
Harry started dozing. Every once in a while, he would open his eyes to a new creature in front of him, and he would only close his eyes again. He knew, instinctively, that nothing there would harm him. He managed a vague smile for the current visitor, a goblin that looked somewhat familiar, before he drifted off to sleep again.
He woke up again when he felt someone holding his head. His eyes met the eyes of Aiden, and he felt each one of his Occlumency walls fall. He could sense Aiden sorting through his head and rearranging something. It had to be the oddest feeling Harry had ever had. It is a night of firsts, isn't it, young one? Harry heard inside his head, followed by a long string of laughing. Magical Creature Cooperation. It sounds like a fairy tale. The vampire started laughing again as he continued going through Harry's head. It felt different, lighter in a way, the longer the vampire stayed in Harry's thoughts. There we are. The vampire left Harry's head and smiled down at him. "No more flashbacks, hmm?" He told Harry as he laid Harry's head back against the pillow chair.
"Rest, young one. Your part is finished now and we must hurry if we are to miss the dawn."
The vampires all rushed over to the centaurs still gathered in the corner. Harry studied the group before drifting off to sleep again.
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He woke when he heard birdsong in the trees. He looked around and discovered that he was back in his school uniform and that his dress robes had disappeared along with the rest of his personal belongings. Jeachen was standing next to him. "How do you feel, Harry Potter?"
"A little upset," Harry answered honestly. "What did you do to me?" Harry was still tired and only wanted to go back to sleep, but his rational side was demanding answers.
"Your mind and body were not dealing well with all of the excess knowledge and memories you have," Jeachen said quietly. "We creatures knew the instant you returned and have watched for warning signs of permanent damage. The house elves told us about your actions and condition at the school. We only wished to help you, Harry Potter. Did we not?"
Harry stopped and closed his eyes to his Occlumency. His mind felt less full now, less stretched at the seams. He felt his body lifted up and he squirmed to get out of the grip as his eyes opened. Jeachen smiled at him. "No more reactions of a soldier when you are not in a dangerous situation." Jeachen said. "The knowledge is there, as are the skills and the memories, but they will only appear when you need them, and not during a test or meal. Much more convenient, yes?"
"You still could have warned me," Harry said as he shivered in the early morning cold.
"Then you would not have let us help you," Jeachen said as he placed Harry on his feet and wrapped a thick blanket around him. "We all know of your pride and strength, Chosen One. We only wished to help." Harry watched as the centaur opened a small package and pulled out a very innocent looking amulet. "This was made for you by all of the magical creatures you saw. This gives you protection. No matter where in the world you are, the creatures will know and protect you from anyone who wishes to harm you."
"You didn't have to do that," Harry said in protest.
"Just try and stop them," Jeachen said as he slipped the cord around Harry's neck and tightened it. He mumbled a word and the cord became seamless. "Or try to take that off. It is indestructible. It is yours."
"Thank you," Harry tried to look down at the tiny charm that hung in the hollow of his throat and discovered he couldn't see it.
"It is time to return you to the school," Jeachen said. "Would you prefer to ride or that I carry you?"
"You want me to ride you?" Harry asked. He knew what centaurs thought of humans riding them.
"Hmm, yes." Jeachen reached down and picked Harry up. It was odd, Harry decided, riding a horse-like creature without anything to hold onto. Especially when he was so tired. He blinked his eyes to keep himself awake and it almost worked, until Jeachen stopped and took Harry from his back and into his arms. "Just rest. I sense one of your teachers is not far from here,"
"Not Quirrell," Harry said as he relaxed into the centaur's hold.
"No, not the possessed one," Jeachen said. "Not him."
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Snape was ready to start blasting the foliage that surrounded him. That, or set fire to the entire lot. He was almost convinced that the Forbidden Forest was actively hampering the search for the Potter boy. If he ever found out if that was true, there wouldn't be a splinter left when he was finished with it. Not even a splinter. He was ready to start cursing in English, and not the French he was currently using, when he noticed the presence of a centaur. His eyes narrowed in on the person the centaur was carrying, and he felt that the forest was safe from annihilation...for now.
"Harry Potter is safe," the centaur said.
"Why did you take him?" Snape asked as he accepted the sleeping boy from the centaur's arms.
"Expedience," the centaur said simply. "He will be extremely tired for the next seven days or so. Allow him to sleep as much as he likes, and feed him while he is awake. He will suffer no lasting effects past seven days."
"What did you do to him?" Snape asked as he studied the sleeping boy in his arms. Potter certainly looked peaceful.
"Gave him back his life," the centaur said as he walked away. "We only helped him." Snape looked around but found no trace of where the centaur had disappeared to. Perhaps the Forbidden Forest wasn't safe for long...
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Author's Note 2: Sorry to everyone that thought the writing in the journal was Parseltongue. I wanted a spell...it becomes important later on! - EL.