Disclaimer: Not JK…

Chapter 5: Goblin wars and the indomitable wisdom they offer

#5: When she is the reason you choose a side, you know there's noone for you except her.

"But I don't understand what they got out of it, Professor" Blaise's frustrated voice was heard reverberating through the otherwise vacant halls and a rather deep voice followed it, replying.

"Sometimes, Blaise, you do not make choices for yourself but for those that mean the most to you" Dumbledore explained, his sky blue eyes twinkling wisely behind the half moon spectacles and Blaise had a curious feeling that he wasn't referring to the Centaurs' stand in the goblin wars.

I'm sorry if I sound slow professor, but…"

"On the contrary, you are quite quick in grasping things, Blaise and that is precisely why I'm telling you this." He remained silent for a minute and Blaise thought he had almost forgotten the question when the Headmaster answered.

"The Centaurs, though they had no personal interests in it themselves, sided with the goblins at first during their revolution"

"Because they did not trust humans?"

"To an extent, yes. Their mutual disbelief in the other did have a role to play but that wasn't the vital point. You might have read about how Unicorns are the only other creatures Centaurs trust?"

"Yes, I have Professor, because Centaurs consider them the purest of creatures"

"That is correct, and their loyalty to the Unicorn species is immeasurably strong. At that point in time, hunting of Unicorns was considered legal and Unicorn hair and blood, or any part of the creature for that matter, was considered to bring the owner good luck. The entire race was slowly declining and the Centaurs had no chance but to sit and watch as the creatures they considered their loved ones were hunted down mercilessly. They thought they could save such blasphemy if they joined forces with the goblins and won over wizards"

"But why did they shift loyalties so suddenly in between?" Blaise was so engrossed in the story that he didn't even notice that he wasn't addressing the headmaster properly. Dumbledore didn't seem to mind though and explained to him patiently. It had been too long since he had taught someone like Blaise. Someone who was interested enough in the history of wizarding kind. Someone who understood that what had been had molded what they were and would, in time, shape what they would become. A child shrewd enough to decipher the lessons the pages of the past endowed.

"Ah, I guess I had a small hand in that dealing" Dumbledore seemed abashed, but Blaise seemed dumbfounded.

"You were there during the goblin wars?" recollecting himself he said "Sorry professor, that was awfully out of line and disrespectful of me"

"I find it rather refreshing, Blaise so you don't have to chide yourself about it. As for the goblin wars, yes I did play a tiny part in it. What do you think is the best way to lure people to your side?"

"Tempt them with their innermost desires" the answer was quick and confident and made Dumbledore smile.

"Spoken like a true Slytherin and I do not mean it as a reprimand. Nevertheless, your answer was what I sought to achieve. A law was passed by the Wizengamot terming the hunting of Unicorns illegal and punishable with the Dementor's Kiss. With their purpose fulfilled, the Centaurs felt a momentary gratitude towards humans which we used to our advantage in putting out the revolution"

"That was pure tact, Professor" he was smirking. Such incidents always left him feeling high and superior but Dumbledore's next words startled him.

"No it wasn't, Blaise. It was the loyalty and affection the Centaurs held for the Unicorns that made it possible. That's why I'm insisting this. Sometimes, the choices you make aren't for your own survival but for the welfare of the ones you consider your own"

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The man might have been slightly balmy, but his words made perfect sense, Blaise thought as he looked at the ongoing war. The incident earlier this year crossed his mind, lingering on his last words as he dodged the various colored flashes that flew past him. It was impossible to even attempt to spot a particular person in this mess of a battlefield that had once been the expansive Hogwarts grounds but that didn't seem to deter him. He was looking around for a particular head of honey blond and thought he had found it when the person turned around and he came face to face with Daphne Greengrass who promptly turned away from him. He continued his search until he found her at the heart of the battlefield. Not that the battle was in any particular formation but that was the place where the streaks of light were densest so he assumed as much.

It wasn't easy approaching her but he managed fairly better than either party, because neither of the sides thought him a threat. The benefit of being a neutral party, he mused as he moved single mindedly to reach her side. Which he did just in time to see her finish off one of the three Death Eaters she was dueling. Clearly, her side was outnumbered and she was trying her hardest to make the battle even.

Not that the dark side ever played by the rules, but seeing one of the masked figured creep up from behind her ignited a blinding rage in him that he had never experienced before, and a clutching fear he never wished to feel ever again.

"Incarcerous!" "Stupefy!" "Petrificus Totalus!" hearing the strong voice she knew regrettably well, Luna came upon the sight of Blaise Zabini, flustered and out of breath, holding his wand aloft as he approached her, a part of his attention focused on their surroundings. She seemed unperturbed, merely adding, "You could have avoided the dramatics" indicating the first unfortunate victim before she began scoping out opponents.

"He wasn't playing fair" Blaise stated by way of explanation as he followed her unconsciously, his stance fiercely protective, not even aware that he was eliciting a few surprised looks by his actions.

"And the others were?" even though her eyes were averted in the direction of the battle, he could picture her wondering expression.

"He was cheating, more so than usual. It was underhand and altogether a despicable thing to do"

"Don't be so vicious or people would think you were taking sides" she replied calmly, her wand still held aloft cautiously.

"I am anyway. Taking sides, that is" this comment earned him a glimpse of her surprised expression as she turned to look at him. He could see her face clearly, without the obstruction of her hair wall of hair coming in the middle.

"And may I know whose side you are in?" she was trying to be diplomatic but he had no patience for it today.

"Yours" he replied simply, catching her by the elbow to avoid a jet of murky brown light colliding with her.

"Thanks" she seemed pleased, whether by his declaration or his actions, he didn't know nor did he have the time to ponder as the Death Eaters began retreating, sending as many spells as they could while at it.

He had to take a lot of care to avoid the streams but she deflected them effortlessly. Only later did he learn that it was the effect of the Phoenix Felicis. Right then, he could only admire her skill and composure.

As the last of them disapparated, a commotion behind them caught his attention. Blaise ran towards it, Luna following close behind. He barely caught wind of the words "Dumbledore" "killed" and "Snape" before he reached his destination.

Seeing Dumbledore's lifeless form sprawled at the base of the Astronomy tower brought in him a grief so profound that he could only stand there, staring at the once wise and deep eyes of his former headmaster close for the last time.

When the students, professors and the rest of the present members paid their respects, it was the spark from his wand that rose highest. Afterall, it he owed the Headmaster his life. It was he who had given him the best and perhaps the clearest piece of advice.

A/n: Please do tell me if there was anything awkward or confusing about this chapter.