Author's Note: I do not own any characters or the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, that belongs to the lovely J.K. Rowling.

Wow. It's been awhile since I've updated and for that I'm sorry. I kind of lost my groove and just got down in the dumps. Without going into too much detail, I received some news yesterday that kind of made me rethink the way I've been going about all of this. This is my first story and I have been exceptionally hard on myself about it. I am a person who seeks immediate perfection and when I don't get it, I tend to get really upset. I felt like I had been failing my readers and myself, for that matter, when it came to this story.

Anyway, I realized that I have got to cut myself some slack and allow myself to be creative and grow as a writer. One day I'll hopefully be a writer that makes people not want to stop reading, but for now I'm just happy sharing my thoughts with y'all.

I hope you enjoy this chapter. I have been slowly working on it since my last update.

Enjoy, review, like, or follow!

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Chapter 10: What is to come

Hermione and Draco walked from the castle down the path to Hagrid's hut on the edge of the forest. Hermione began to chew on her bottom lip as she began to fear the interaction that was sure to occur between Malfoy and Hagrid. It wasn't a mystery as to why the two disliked one another; Malfoy had, on more than one occasion, attempted to get the half-giant fired and spoke poorly of and to him.

Hermione rapped her knuckles against the door and heard a loud bark, some pots banging, and Hagrid shout, "Oh shut it you big dope." The door opened and those bright black eyes stared back at Hermione. Hagrid's face was beaming when he took in the pair before him, "Well hullo you two! Here to do some work in the forest?"

Hermione's mouth dropped open. Hagrid and Malfoy hadn't even started in on one another. What the bloody hell? Draco chuckled at Hermione's face and leaned in to hug Hagrid, "How are ya, you big oaf? May we come in for a spot of tea before we head in there?"

Hagrid hugged the blonde Slytherin in return and moved to the side to the let the pair in, "I'm doing a'right ferret! Been keepin' my eye on them centaurs though. Sure are coming close to the edge of the forest. Hermione shut yer mouth, you'll catch flies."

Hermione's mouth snapped shut, but she could not stop herself from continuing to stare at the two men as they talked like lifelong friends. Hagrid put down some tea and cookies and Hermione began nursing her tea not saying a single word for fear of waking up from this dream.

Finally when the two Aurors left almost 20 minutes later and Draco began to lead them into the forest, did she find her voice, "What the bloody hell was the Malfoy? Since when does Hagrid like you?"

"Since I returned to Hogwarts after the war to finish up my seventh year and came down to visit with him every day apologizing and talking with him," snapped Draco, "I know you think I'm still the same ferret who bullied you, but I've atoned for my mistakes."

Hermione was fuming, her hair began to crackle with magic as her temper began to rise, "Like bloody hell you have Malfoy. You haven't said a damn thing to me about all of the shit you pulled with me in school and at your gaudy manor."

Draco turned around to face her, his silver eyes now a dark gray, "Don't you dare think for one moment that I don't regret my bullshit Granger. I have a lot of people to apologize to, a lot of bridges to mend. Shit takes time. I can't change years of cruel words or mistreatment overnight. Get over yourself and quit thinking the world revolves around you. The lot of the wizarding world may worship at your feet, but you will never find me kissing your shoes."

Draco watched as sparks began to shoot from the tips of Hermione's fingers. He knew he had possibly gone too far, but she needed to be brought down from her Golden Trio high, "You don't know fuck all about me Malfoy. You think I'm some high and mighty Gryffindor princess-"

At that Draco interrupted her and began shouting, "BECAUSE YOU ARE GRANGER! You think you're the first person I was cruel to during my time at Hogwarts? No! You think that because you're famous and because you were tortured in my home, you should've been the first person I apologized to? Do you know how many people I hurt prior to you? Do you know how many families were torn apart by my father and the vile man he allowed into our home? THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DESERVE MY FORGIVENESS FIRST GRANGER - LONGBOTTOM, POTTER, HAGRID, SO MANY OTHERS. While you were off in Muggle London before Hogwarts, doing God knows what, lives were being destroyed by my family. So get the fuck over your Gryffindor superiority and come join the rest of us down here on earth okay?"

Hermione ground her teeth, her eyes turned dark, and her voice was low when she spoke. "You don't know me Malfoy. Don't pretend to."

At that Hermione stormed forward and led the rest of the way deeper into the forest. Both remained silent the entire way into the forest only pointing at tracks on the forest floor and readjusting their route to get as close as possible to the centaurs.

Once they felt they were close enough, they set up camp. Hermione gave the Perkins tent to Draco and while he set that up, she began setting up wards around the site much as she had when she, Harry, and Ron had been on the run. Luckily, this time her wards would be more effective and it was unlikely Draco would leave in a fit of rage like Ron.

Hermione entered the tent after she finished the wards and began cooking them dinner. Draco unpacked their files and began reviewing the notes about the centaurs.

Draco's voice broke through Hermione's focus on the meal, "I wonder if the centaurs aren't actually involved with what's going on, but are rather trying to warn the wizarding community."

Hermione mulled over what he said, "You may be right. It's not in centaurs nature to interfere with what is to come. Harry told me about his meeting a centaur during your punishment the lot of you had first year. It's frowned in their community to interfere with human matters."

Draco nodded his head, "Yes, but maybe they don't see it as involvement if they are giving vague warnings?"

Hermione just shrugged her shoulders as she sat the food down in front of him. Draco mumbled a thanks to her as he dug into their meal. Draco had more manners than Ron ever did when it came to eating. For one, he ate slowly and with a purpose. Ron normally just dug in, scarfing the food down as if he had been starved for weeks on end. Draco also ensured he didn't get any food on the papers before him. Hermione couldn't remember a time Ron didn't turn in some homework that didn't have food or grease on it.

The pair ate their dinner in peace and cleaned up. Both sat in front of the fire reading over their notes and making marks on certain areas of interest.

Hermione spoke after some time, "I'll take the first shift. I don't sleep well at night."

Draco thought back on the previous night and Hermione's screams echoed through his brain. He nodded his head to agree with her, he didn't really want to have to deal with that while they were on a mission, "Wake me if the centaurs come."

Hermione agreed and walked outside to take the first shift at the front of the tent. Draco began to get ready and thought over that days events.

Blaise was bloody wrong about her. She may have nightmares, but she's still the same know-it-all Gryffindor princess. And what did she mean by I don't know her. She's acting all high and mighty like she deserved the first apology. I guess some things don't change.

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Narcissa's heels clicked on the marble floor of the ministry hallway. Nobody would notice her today, she ensured that with her stock of Polyjuice potion that she had at home. Today she looked like the Minister's new, plump, plain Jane of an intern. Charlotte had been out sick with the flu so the Malfoy matriarch had to act quickly with her news.

She knocked on the Minister's door and she heard him grant her entrance from the other side. She opened the door and Kingsley Shacklebolt stared at her dumbly, "Charlotte, I thought you were-"

Narcissa walked through the door and her potion wore off. Anyone that tried to enter the Minister's office would be stripped of any disillusionment charms, glamor charms, potions, or cloaks that would otherwise conceal the person's true identity. Narcissa quickly shut the door behind her and put a heavy silencing charm on the room.

"Minister Shacklebolt, we have a problem."

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Draco woke to Hermione shaking him rather violently, "Malfoy wake the bloody hell up. The centaurs are here. They can sense us and have requested a meeting."

Draco shooed her away from him, "Fine, fine. Let me get my clothes and supplies. I'll be out in a second."

Hermione exited the tent and waited for him to gather himself together. She stared at the group of centaurs standing just beyond her boundary. They looked at her as though they could see her, but she knew all they could see was an empty forest. There were 5 of them there; two men looked like twins with chestnut manes and bright blue eyes; one man with a black mane and bright green eyes; and one man with a silver mane and hazel eyes. Hermione began to get chills as they stared at her intensely waiting for her and Draco to emerge from behind their protective walls.

Draco came out from the tent, with his wand in one hand and a map of the constellations in another. What the bloody hell does he think he'll do with a map like that?

They walked from the protection of the barrier just to the side of the centaurs. The centaur with the silver mane stepped forward and bowed to them both, "I am Ironflame, you must be the lion and snake the stars have spoken of."

Hermione and Draco bowed awkwardly back to the centaur, unsure of what exactly was proper in this situation. Hermione spoke first, "I suppose I am the lion, I am Hermione Granger. And this is-"

Draco stepped forward, "I am the snake, Draco Malfoy. The stars have spoken of us?"

Ironflame looked up to the sky, "The stars speak many things."

Draco looked at Hermione dumbly and mouthed to her, What the hell? Hermione could only shrug in return and shake her head at him.

The twin centaurs stepped forward and bowed to the two. One of them began, "We are Flamerunner and Icerest. The stars speak of this snake and lion forming an alliance."

The other stepped forward, "An alliance that if broken will be defeated by the dark forces."

The last centaur stepped forward, "The stars have allowed us to speak these words only, for we are not to interfere with what is to come. Heed our words with caution. What is to come, will come."

And with that, all 5 centaurs ran off and disappeared into the forest. Hermione and Draco slowly backed into their protective curtain back to their campsite. Draco looked at Hermione and began pacing, "Well that was bloody helpful!"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Obviously we are the lion and the snake. And obviously we have to work together. Otherwise whatever the hell is happening out there," she gestured to the rest of the forest, "will win."

Draco stopped pacing and stalked over to her, "You don't think I realize that Granger? You think that just because you were the 'brightest witch of her age' doesn't mean I have a bloody brain in here? I'm not your thick-headed Potter or daft Weasel. You seem to forget I was right behind you in Hogwarts."

Hermione fumed, "They are not thick-headed or daft Malfoy! They are brave, noble, kind, intelligent, and loyal. That's more than I can say for you!"

Draco's cheeks began to flush with anger, "Oh yes! Anyone that isn't in Gryffindor is beneath you correct? Anyone in Slytherin can't be brave, noble, or whatever the fuck else those two are, can they? Nobody can live up to the wonder twins can they?"

Hermione's body began to crackle again with raw magic, "I never said that at all Malfoy! I have friends in other Houses. Those two are my best friends. And you were some pathetic, albino bully who felt the need to follow whoever your precious father did. You can't even think for yourself!"

Before Draco could say anything, Hermione stormed into the tent and put a protection and silencing spell on it so Draco could not enter the tent for the next 2 hours while she calmed down and fell asleep.

Draco fumed outside of the tent, "Bloody Gryffindors. Those centaurs must be wrong. There's no way in hell Granger and I will form an alliance."

Outside of the protective walls the five centaurs stood just out of view watching the entire conversation. Icerest stepped closer to Flamerunner, "Is the world as we know it doomed?"

Flamerunner had a small smile on his face, "Don't you worry young one. Do not count them out just yet. The stars are never wrong."

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Author's Note: What do you think? I know that I threw centaurs in there as kind of a wrench and I'm sure many of you were thinking that they couldn't play for either team, but I felt like maybe they were important for some foreshadowing maybe?

Also sorry if the centaur's names are super corny, my brain is shot and I just decided to do some play on words. I mean the great J.K. did that, but much much better.

If you have some fics you would like to recommend I would love to read them. I just hopped back on my Dramione binge and I am powering through them like nobodies business. I love longer stories. I have a hard time reading one-shot's just because I think there is too much history in order to just capture it in one simple chapter.