Centaurs
It was about ten minutes later that the Knights had moved far enough away from the map that Harry was sure it would be safe to remove the Disillusionment Charm. "Okay everyone!" Harry called out. "We should be far enough, so take the charm down. Find a partner! Students in third year and below I want you to partner up with a member of the D.A."
With a sigh of relief everyone removed the charm and instantly scrambled to find a partner...In the end, the partners ended up being:
Harry Potter and Natalie McDonald
Ron Weasley and Kevin Whitbey
Hermione Granger and Emma Dobbs
Ginny Weasley and Jimmy Peakes
Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood and Rose Zeller (since Rose is a first year they decided it would be best if she had two guards)
Katie Bell and Andrew Kirke
Lavender Brown and Laura Madley
Parvati Patil and Graham Pritchard
Padma Patil and Orla Quirke
Terry Boot and Stewart Ackerly
Michael Corner and Eleanor Branstone
Anthony Goldstein and David Bradley
Ernie Macmillan and Jack Sloper
Susan Bones and Eloise Midgen
Justin Finch-Fletchley and Kristina Bundy
Hannah Abbott and Bryan Dunstan
Dean Thomas and Ritchie Coote
Seamus Finnegan and Demelza Robins
Colin Creevey and Dennis Creevey (since Dennis is only a second year Colin felt it would be best if they partnered up rather than have him watch over a student)
Cho Chang and Victoria Frobisher
Daphne Greengrass and Astoria Greengrass
Tracey Davis and Rolf Scamander
Theodore Nott and Adam Harper
Leanne Laughland and Susie Capper
Sarah Spinks and Damien Urquhart
Sophie Roper and Charlotte Montgomery
Angela Montgomery and Quintin Rivers
Kevin Entwisted and Danny Stebbins
Bridgette Chambers and Stephen Cornfoot
Eddie Carmichael and Wayne Hopkins
Lisa Turpin and Mandy Brocklehurst
Morag MacDougal and Lillian Moon
Benjamin Cadwallader and Megan Jones
Sally-Anne Perkins and Su Li
Satisfied with the partners, Harry turned to face everyone with a serious look. "Can everyone hear me?" Everyone nodded. "Good, here's the thing...I haven't really been that far in the forest, so I don't really know much of what to expect. What I do know however is that we have a high chance of passing by the centaurs, and if we do, do NOT insult them! They are not very happy with witches and wizards right now, and it would do not to have our first test battle be against them."
"Are they really that dangerous?" Emma Dobbs asked her idol.
"They were going to kill Harry and I the last time we were in the forest...We only just managed to get away," Hermione informed her seriously. "It would be best that you do not argue with them or speak down to them."
"That's exactly right, Hermione," Harry said and said girl blushed. "From what I've seen centaurs are proud creatures and we do not want to create another enemy...The next bunch you want to be on the watch for are acromantula."
"ACROMANTULA?" Lillian Moon shrieked. "But, there aren't supposed to be any in these parts!"
"Yeah, well there are," Harry said sternly. "Hundreds of them and they will not hesitate to kill and eat you. Should we come across any, we are going to battle! No ifs, ands or buts about it!"
"How...How big are they really?" Lisa Turpin squeaked. "I know I've read they can grow to be quite large..."
"At least as big as a car..." Ron said with a violent shiver...He still had nightmares about it. "If anyone remembers my boggart in third year, it's that big."
"HOLY!" Dean yelped. "That thing looked like could eat you in one bite!"
"Thanks Thomas, I really needed that image in my head," Adam Harper muttered disconcerted.
"Yeah, it seems you guys got the general idea," Harry said with a nod. "Aim to kill."
"What else is there, Harry?" Colin asked with bated breath, but Harry shook his head.
"I don't know...I've never really explored anything else," Harry told them. "Well there was Grawp, but Hagrid took him into the mountains to live which is why he wasn't at his hut..."
"Grawp?" Ernie asked.
"Hagrid's giant half-brother," Hermione said nonchalantly.
"Thank goodness he's not in here..." Hannah whispered to herself.
"Okay, I want about ten people to use the Lumos spell," Harry said regaining order and instantly everyone snapped to attention. "I'd like to have more light, but we don't want to attract attention..."
"Roger." Everyone saluted as Parvati, Padma, Lavender, Terry, Anthony, Justin, Susan, Tracey, Charlotte, Bridgette and Harry muttered, "Lumos."
With a light that barely covered everyone they began to walk forward. For hours they seemed to just keep going forward and it wasn't long that the trees began to become more packed together and the light from the sky seemed to fade faster and faster. It was difficult on everyone and they all seemed to be on edge as if an attack will happen at any moment.
Every snap of a branch, every hoot of an owl and any other little sound would set at least one person off. The only ones really calm through the whole thing seemed to be Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"How can you be so calm?" Kevin Whitbey asked Ron in disbelief and Ron laughed softly.
"Calm? Me?" Ron asked incredulously. "Here take my hand, Kevin."
"Call me Kev," Kev said instantly. "And, why?"
"Just trust me." Kev took his hand and almost yanked it back instantly in disgust.
"That's gross! Next time warn me before having me take your sweaty hand!" Kev barked disgusted as he wiped his hands on his robes.
"Sorry, but see I'm sweating like there's no tomorrow," Ron told him. "I always panic when I go in here...I'm only managing so far because I know Harry'll need me. Can't lose my head, you know?"
"Well said, Ron." Ron beamed at Hermione's praise. "I'm the same, my hands are shaking so bad I might not even be able to curse straight, but I got to do what I got to do."
"You don't seem so scared, Harry," Natalie said as she held her hero's hand and let out a harsh cough.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked instantly.
"I-I'm fine...I was real sick when I was little, but magic healed me," Natalie said with a softer cough. "It can't seem to get rid of my cough."
Harry frowned wondering if he should have let her come if that was the case before he banished the thought for even she had the right to fight this war. "Oh...Well anyway...I just...I dunno calm down when others panic..."
"And, that's why Harry's our fearless leader," Ginny said with a giggle and slapped Harry's back. Harry glared back at her, but scowled even more when Ernie and Justin agreed with her.
"I'm calm too, Natalie," Jimmy said messing up his hair a little in a way that reminded Harry instantly of his father in Snape's memory.
"I'm sure you are." Natalie giggled and Jimmy huffed indignantly.
"You know I'm not so sure about this, Katie," Leanne said her nerves getting the better of her. "I've never actually been in the forest before and it's giving me the willies!"
"I've never gone in either," Katie put a calming hand on her best friend's shoulder, "but Harry wouldn't have let us come if he didn't think we would make it."
"You sure?" Andrew asked as he practically punched Katie in the mouth when he stepped on a small twig.
"Yes I'm sure," Katie said very grateful to Oliver Wood for his maniac Quidditch training at the moment.
"I've been in the forest once," Susie Capper told them. "Not this far mind you, but once."
"Come across anything?" Leanne asked her partner.
"Thestrals...the whole herd," Susie explained. "I wasn't quite sure what they were at the time so I ran away as fast as I could. Luckily Professor Hagrid found me and was able to explain what they were...I was a bit freaked out at first with the whole dying thing, but they weren't so bad once you got past that."
"Dying thing?" Andrew asked.
"Only someone who has seen someone die can see them," Katie explained.
"Oh." Andrew nodded his head before turning to Susie. "So, who'd you see die?"
"Tactless!" Katie exclaimed as she hit her partner upside his head.
"What?" Andrew asked confused.
"You just don't ask—"
"—It's okay Katie," Susie interrupted. "I saw my sister die...I was about four years old at the time. You see I'm Muggle-born and my sister was a Muggle. By time I was four she was already sixteen and in high school...The students at school picked on her relentlessly and she didn't really get along with my mum. Well one day my mum and sister got into the biggest argument I've ever seen, but by the time school was out for the day my mum realized she was wrong. She decided she would take my sister home today since my sister usually walks home, so she loaded me into the car and drove to school...Except my sister was standing on the edge of the roof. The argument with my mum was too much for her and before my mum could get out of the car, she jumped...She died on impact..."
Susie let out a choked sob and Leanne hugged her tightly. "Shh...It'll be okay..." Leanne soothed. "Your sister's in a better place now..."
"I wish I hadn't asked..." Andrew muttered quietly.
"Maybe next time you'll think before you speak," Katie scolded softly as she tried to cover up her horrified look...She couldn't imagine what it must have been like to see that.
"Everyone!" Harry called out getting her attention. "We've made a good solid five hours into the forest, so we're going to take a break! There's a clearing just ahead where we'll relax a bit before we continue on!"
Katie sighed in relief as she hurried to the clearing and practically collapsed onto the soft grass while Hermione built a camp fire for everyone to gather around.
"About time," Daphne Greengrass muttered as she rubbed her sore feet. "I thought we'd never stop!"
"When are we going to sleep, Harry?" Wayne asked yawning.
"Probably the next break," Harry said sighing. "I want to get further away from the school...Despite everything we're really not that far."
Every single Knight groaned at that announcement and all of them dropped to the ground in fatigue. "At this rate, fatigue will kill us before You-Know-W—"
"Voldemort," Harry interrupted Jack Sloper and everyone but Harry and Hermione flinched. "Oh come on all of you signed up to fight him, but how are you going to if you can't even say his name?"
"But, that isn't his name, Harry," Ginny pointed out carefully. "It's actually his nickname..."
"What are you on about Weasley?" Damien asked raising his eyebrow, but realization came over Harry.
"Tom Riddle," Harry muttered.
"What was that, Potter?" Charlotte and Angela asked in unison.
"Tom Riddle," Harry said loudly enough for everyone to hear, and he watched in fascination as no one flinched, yelped, shivered or even squeaked.
"What are you on about, Harry?" Kevin Entwisted asked confused. "Why did you mention some bloke named Tom Riddle?"
Harry smirked and pulled out his wand; with practiced ease he wrote for all to see:
Tom Marvolo Riddle
Then with a flick of his wand everyone watched in confusion as the letters began to rearrange themselves into:
I am Lord Voldemort
"Tom Riddle is Voldemort's real name," Harry explained once again ignoring the flinches. "It's a name he created for himself so people wouldn't associate him with his Muggle father or his witch mother."
"You-Know-Who's half-blood?" Quintin Rivers asked wide eyed.
"Yes...Ironic isn't considering his belief that purebloods are the only true wizards out there," Harry said with a bitter grin. "His followers don't even know that! You should have seen Bellatrix Lestrange's face when I told her!"
"What's your point, Potter?" Theodore asked bored.
"The point is that you are all taught to wince at Riddle's alias, so why don't we call him by his proper name instead...The name he tried to get rid of."
"Wouldn't that just piss him off even more?" Bryan Dunstan asked.
"Yes, but if we're going to stand against him then we're not going to play by his rules," Harry decided. "Voldemort is nothing but a name to show off how great he is, and we're not going to give him the satisfaction of going with it. From this point on you are to call him by nothing more than Tom Riddle or Riddle. Am I understood?"
Everyone mumbled incoherently. "I'm sorry, what was that?"
"Yes sir!" Everyone yelled together.
"There that's better."
The minutes seemed to just tick by as they sat there contemplating what Harry said and what they were doing. Finally, unable to stop his curiosity Neville asked, "Harry why are we going through the forest?"
"Didn't I already explain?"
"I get that you wanted to go somewhere where you can use magic without second thought, but there are plenty of places like that in magical Britain, so why the forest?" Neville asked again and blushed when everyone turned to him surprised.
"That's a really good question, Neville," Hannah complimented and the Knights turned to their leader.
"Yeah...Well, I don't really know anywhere else," Harry told them embarrassed. "I've only been to a couple of places and I doubt secret training together would work in Diagon Alley."
"True, but you almost sound like you're sure there's something here that could help us," Morag pointed out.
"Yeah, the way were walking through here is almost like you have a direction in mind," Mandy added on.
Ron and Hermione looked a little uncomfortable...They knew why Harry chose to go to the forest since he told them after dinner. The two of them were used to following Harry's lead and trusting him even after what happened at the Ministry. However, they weren't quite sure how everyone else would feel about a nameless, faceless source that might not even be real.
"Alright, here's the thing," Harry said uncomfortable. "All year I'd been hearing this noise from the forest and it sounded like it was calling me...At first it was easy, but when I formed the D.A. it suddenly grew louder. Still I was able to ignore it...Only ever since I decided to form the Knights I haven't been able to block it out..."
"You mean we're going through this because you supposedly heard some sound?" Seamus asked in disbelief. "We're risking our lives for some noise? How do we even know it's not a trap by You-Kno...Riddle?"
"Look it's not any ordinary sound, okay?" Harry said exasperated. "I've heard the sound before and I know for a fact that Riddle can't imitate it. It's too pure for him to handle. You see what I've been hearing is—"
Harry suddenly rolled to the side and an arrow flew right by where his heart was a second ago. "I will not miss next time, Harry Potter," a voice said behind them and everyone jumped up.
"No, don't take out your wands!" Harry barked as he stood up and held his hands up. "We mean you no harm Bane."
"I am sure," Bane sneered as he readied his second shot. "You humans are so trustworthy, are you not? It is not like any of you have ever betrayed us before, is it?"
"Maybe they aren't here to kill us Bane," Ronan said coming from the foliage along with around fifty other centaurs including three females who if not for their fur would be topless. "Maybe they are here to use us once again!"
Any hope the Knights had instantly disappeared when majority of the centaurs drew their weapons and poised to strike. "Please we do not mean any ha—"
"QUIET!" Bane commanded. "I have not forgotten you girl! You were the one who used us with Harry Potter against that vile woman, and then you had the gall to have Albus Dumbledore go to our camp to get her back!"
"Hermione didn't ask Dumble—fmph"
"Shut up, Ron!" Ginny hissed covering his mouth. "Do you want them to kill us?"
"They're going to kill us anyway," Terry muttered quietly to Anthony and Michael as the three of them wished they could pull out their wands, but they knew if they made even the smallest attempt to they would have an arrow through their skull before they could even utter a single word.
"Tell me Harry Potter, why have you entered the forest?" Magorian asked seriously. "I know very well that you were there when I reminded Hagrid that humans were no longer welcome in the forest...You obviously had forgotten when you brought that human and used us to do your bidding. You escaped punishment only because of the giant, but it will not let it happen."
"Please Magorian, we only entered because I need to find the source of the phoenix song," Harry pleaded carefully. "We don't wish to do anything to you or even use you!"
"I care not for your re—"
"Hold your tongue Magorian!" A voice barked and Harry turned to see the oldest centaur of the group. His fur was pure white with a long white beard and his body was extremely wrinkled.
"Elder!" Magorian gasped as did all of the centaurs. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard your group making quite the ruckus and came to investigate," the elder said simply. "You may call me Aegis, Harry Potter."
"Nice to meet y—"
"What was it you said about a phoenix song, Harry Potter?" Aegis interrupted impatiently and Harry reiterated what he told the Knights as Aegis stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I see...The way you speak of the song...Only someone who has truly heard the magnificence of it could describe it as you do..."
"I don't understand elder, what is the importance of the phoenix song?" Ronan asked confused.
"Beyond this forest there is a secret that only the one who hears the song and his companions can reach...What lies there is unknown to even me, but the stars have spoke to me about it," Aegis said seriously with everyone's (centaur and human alike) rapt attention. "Those of great heroism and purity will only be able to hear it...The stars speak of hope."
"What are we to do than elder?" One of the female centaurs asked.
"We will guide them to the edge of the centaur territory...Should they be worthy then they'll be able to cross the wards," Aegis explained.
"But, elder—!"
"SILENCE!" Aegis thundered. "Do you wish to go against the stars and the clan? Do you wish to be banished like Firenze? The stars have willed it and we shall follow it for we are nothing but their servants! Now lower your weapons!"
The centaurs reluctantly did so and the Knights sighed in relief. "Thank you," Harry said politely, but Aegis looked sharply at him.
"Do not thank me yet Harry Potter...Should you be lying and not able to cross the wards I will kill you on the spot." Harry gulped but nodded. "Good you understand...Follow me now."
The Knights followed silently and stiffly...All of them pulled their wands out as the centaurs carried their bows and arrows at the ready. Whether it was to protect themselves from monsters attacking or to warn each of the groups that they'll fight was unknown.
"Why do the centaurs seem to hate us so much?" Stephen Cornfoot asked his partner Bridgette Chambers.
"Humans have wronged us many times in the past," one of the female centaurs answered instead. "Although my kinsmen don't like to mention, we have wronged humans many times as well."
"What's your name?" Bridgette asked politely and silently thanking Harry for telling everyone not to fight the centaurs.
"I am called Agalaia," Agalaia introduced herself.
"You don't seem to hate us like the others," Bridgette pointed out carefully and Agalaia nodded.
"You're right, but I was never wronged by a human like many other were...Most of the centaurs in this forest are refuges from other forests where their kin were killed or enslaved to be like common mules." Agalaia scowled. "Bane, Ronan and Magorian were all from the Forest of Dean for instance."
"What brought them up here?" Stephen asked politely.
"About twenty years ago, a centaur ended up hit in the crossfire of a wizard's duel and the curse caused him to go insane...He kidnapped a little girl and tried to kill her. The centaur was caught before he could do too much damage or kill her," Agalaia explained. "The wizards used that excuse to why 'half-breeds' as they called us should be caught and forced to work or die...Bane, Ronan and Magorian were just foals at the time and were used for easy labor. Luckily, five years from then the stable boy did not properly shackle them and they were able to escape...They have been bitter to humans since then. Especially that little girl."
"But, it wasn't her fault!" Parvati exclaimed horrified.
"That little girl spent those five years ridiculing them and sabotaging them so they'd get whipped," Agalaia explained.
"Do you know who that girl was?" Graham asked curiously.
"No...The only thing we know is that she liked a lot of pink, wore a bow on her head and looked a bit like a toad."
The group of Knights who heard all froze in their tracks at that and looked at each other in disbelief. 'It's got to be coincidence.' They all thought together.
"What's wrong?" Agalaia asked confused.
"You know you look a bit like Professor Firenze," Lavender Brown said suddenly deciding it was best if a herd of centaurs didn't charge Hogwarts in a fit of revenge.
Agalaia couldn't help but snort at that (she decided the subject change was just a fault in the attention span of humans). "Its weird hearing you call my brother that," Agalaia informed them.
"Your brother?" Lavender and Parvati gasped.
"Uh huh...Hey can I tell you a secret?" The small group nodded wondering if it would be juicy. "The truth is I'm the one who told Hagrid about him being beaten to death...After all I can't say I disagree with my brother's point of view on humans..."
"We have finally reached the wards," Aegis spoke up cutting off conversation. In front of them was what looked like a giant mirror...In fact the group was actually reflected back. The only strange thing was that in the center were two trees that looked like a gateway. "Through those trees is a clearing that no one but the Listener and his followers can enter. It is a small clearing where you will be able to rest without disturbance. As the Listener Harry Potter you shall be able to cross through the mirror much like all the nonhumans of the forest can, but should you not be him then you will simply be forced to turn around. Pass through Harry Potter and prove to me that you are the Chosen One otherwise you will die."
"A-Alri—" Harry stopped mid sentence as an arrow scratched his face and he turned to see Bane smirking with a relaxed bow. "Why did you do that?"
Every single Knight had their wands pointed at Bane, but the centaur simply pointed to where his arrow flew and Harry saw the dead acromantula. Without warning, a giant flock of the monsters came storming out from the forest clicking in anger and swearing revenge against the centaurs for killing their kin.
"Quickly Harry Potter!" Aegis said drawing his bow. "Go through the arch with your followers while we hold them off! You must not leave the protection until we are sure you're safe!"
Harry had frozen though as he stared at the giant spiders...There must have been at least three hundred there! There was no way the centaurs could fight this many and come out alive. Not with the monsters overwhelming numbers and their deadly poison.
Plus he swore he would take an active role and stop having to be protected all the time. NO! He will not just leave and let the centaurs go at it. This is his battle too, and so with a calming breath he released Natalie's hand and pulled out his wand.
The Knights watched in fascination as Harry's face took a determined look that only Ron and Hermione truly understand with Ginny, Luna and Neville having a small inkling what was going through his head. "Thank you Aegis, but I'm not going to just leave you to die," Harry said seriously and the old centaur stared at him stunned. "KNIGHTS! Go through the wards if you wish to not fight tonight!"
"Oh come off it, Harry," Hermione said standing next to him her hand shaking but her eyes steely. "You don't think I'd just abandon you do you?"
"I guess not." Harry shrugged as Ron stood next to him.
"I really hate you right now, you know that Harry?" Ron asked.
"Going to run away?"
"Course not." A second later Ginny, Luna and Neville held their wand out ready to fight...It was their reaction that caused the rest to stand their ground in preparation. Even little Rose Zeller stood her ground.
"Reducto!" Harry cried blasting two acromantula, and with that deadly signal the battle was on.
"Lumos!" Rose cried blinding the acromantula in front of her and with its eyes unseeing it was unprepared for Ernie's blasting hex. Susan and Hannah stood back to back shooting stunning charms off as quickly as they could.
The monsters' hides were thick and resistant but it was blasting them together enough for some of the centaurs to shoot them with their arrows to take their numbers down. "Incoming!" Theodore called out and the two only had only an instant to roll out of the way before a potion sprayed all over the area catching at least ten acromantula instantly freezing them.
"Instant Freezing Elixir," Theodore said with a smirk. "Knew it would come in handy."
"Confringo!" Daphne and Astoria cried together causing the frozen spiders blew up.
"Got it!" Astoria said in relief.
"Astoria, watch out!" Tracey yelled diving in front of Astoria and she was crushed under the weight.
"You look delicious," the acromantula clicked out hungrily before it screamed in pain and rolled off. Tracey lifted her head enough to see Ronan holding his bow with a scowl.
"You alright human?" He asked uncomfortably.
"I can't feel my leg," Tracey said and sure enough her leg was bent the wrong way; Ronan nodded. Looking around, he saw Natalie trying to fight off a couple of acromantula by herself, but wasn't able to make much difference. With sharp precision he shot the two beasts simultaneously.
"Tha—"
"Do not thank me, just get this girl into the wards she is hurt," Ronan commanded and Natalie scrambled to follow orders dragging the girl along.
"Let me help young one," Agalaia said as she lifted Tracey up and hurried to the wards. "Quickly pull her through the arch."
Natalie nodded as she pulled Tracey (who had fainted by this point from pain) into the arch...Agalaia was quite relieved when the wards let her in. "Don't get distracted!" Justin cried out as he and Cho used the cutting curse to slice two acromantula in half.
"Incendio!" Jimmy, Andrew and Kev yelled together setting several acromantula alight only for a bunch more to jump at them. However, before they could reach the younger members of the Knights something ran past them and slashed them down.
It was Eddie Carmichael who transfigured his legs into cheetah legs and his hands into wolf claws. 'Thank you Krum for this one,' Eddie thought remembering how Krum transfigured his head into that of a shark's during the second task.
Neville was being chased down by two acromantula when he spotted something just beyond an ice patch Theodore created. He ran right for it, but just before he reached it he pulled out his wand and declared, "Diffindo!"
The middle of the ice broke apart and he slid to a stop right in the middle...The acromantula weren't so lucky and slid on the ice. They went flying straight into a bunch of vines that tightened their grips on the giant arachnids with no remorse...They were squeezed to death for they were fell into Devil's Snare.
Katie quickly transfigured some boulders into statues of Muggle knights that Leanne instantly bewitched to fight with them.
"Expelliarmus!" Luna cried and the acromantula was forced to drop Susie Capper before she could be eaten. "Diffindo!"
The spider was cut in half as Eloise and Kristina carried the poisoned Susie to the barrier. "Don't worry, I gave them a bezoar, so she should be fine," Adam assured the slightly off girl and Luna nodded relieved.
"Do not lose your head, Bane!" Magorian said shooting the acromantula that Bane missed.
"I could say the same to you," Bane grit out as he shot an acromantula who almost snuck up on his kinsmen.
"Reducto! Reducto! Reducto! Reducto! Reducto! Reducto! Reducto!" Ron cried joyously as spider after spider was reduced to dust.
"You are enjoying that way too much, Ronald," Hermione scolded as she ducked under a spider and set it alight.
"Don't tell me you're going to start some protect the giant evil spider foundation now!" Ron barked as he blew up another spider.
"Funnily enough, I'm not feeling very sympathetic right now," Hermione said as she used the hover charm along with the leg locker to throw the spider at a great height only to fall and squish to death.
"Petrifus Totalus!" Ginny cried causing her enemy to freeze up and she used the hover charm to throw it at another one with such speed that the two squished on impact. "Did Hermione just tell a joke?"
"Fred and George would be so proud." Harry snickered as he used the shield charm to repel two acromantula and instantly cut them in half with the cutting charm. "Just a couple more!"
"Do not let your guard down, Harry Potter!" Aegis cried as he kicked an acromantula jumping at Harry's side...Unfortunately, Aegis kicked too hard and the monsters venomous pincer flew out of it right into Aegis' neck.
"AEGIS!" Harry cried as the centaurs cried, "ELDER!"
"Aegis, you can't die after all that!" Harry said removing the pincer. "You just can't! SOMEONE GET ME AN ANTIDOTE!"
"Do...Do not bother Harry Potter," Aegis coughed. "I...The stars are calling me..."
"No Aegis! I didn't want anyone else to die for me!" Harry cried.
"Foolish child...Everything dies someday..." Aegis coughed violently. "I'm...just glad I got to meet the Listener before I go...What a wonderful human you were..."
With those final words, Aegis said no more. "AAAAEEEEEGGGGIIIISSSS!" Harry screamed in despair as the centaurs cried at their loss. That's when anger bubbled up within Harry...An anger he felt as he thought about everyone that risked their lives for him to live. He couldn't take it anymore...This feeling of loss...This pain...He refused to let anyone die because of his carelessness from here on in.
"Meat..." The remaining thirty acromantula clicked hungrily and Harry turned those stupid creatures furiously. How dare they insinuate that they'll eat the centaur that saved his life? The centaur who made sure that he and his Knights got this far?
"REDUCTO!" Harry roared at the top of his voice and everyone watched as the very power of the spell reduced each and every single one to dust. The power was so great however that Harry fell to the ground exhausted.
"Harry Potter...Go to the wards and rest up," Magorian said breathing heavily. "You and your followers have done well today...You have fought and protected us with the dignity that any centaur would wish to possess. You and your 'Knights' are free to travel through centaur land...That is the honor I bestow you for your protection of our elder."
"Thank you..." Harry whispered as Hermione and Ron pulled him up.
"Harry Potter, wait!" Agalaia cried out and Harry turned his head to her. "I wish to go with you."
"Agalaia, you know what happens if you go with, don't you?" Ronan asked.
"Banishment..." Agalaia said softly and Harry stared at her wide eyed. "The elder spoke of his ability to bring hope back...I wish to be part of that. I wish to help the world."
"Are you sure?" Harry asked carefully and she nodded. "Then you can come."
"Thank you..." Agalaia said as she picked up Eleanor and carried her away as Harry and his Knights went into the wards.
"Good luck Harry Potter..." Magorian whispered. "May the stars be with you and please keep my wife safe..."