Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, I do not have any rights to Harry Potter and I do not make any money from writing these stories.
A/N: Written for the Relationship Bingo Challenge using the prompts Femmeslash. and Song prompt. The pairing I chose is OCFemaleCentaur/Hermione. Written for the Quidditch League Challenge. Written for the Disney-A-Thon challenge. Written for the If You Dare Continued Challenge.
Warnings: femmeslash/yuri, nonehuman/human, Centaur/human.
Prompts used: Hermione riding on the back of her Centaur lover, (Quote) "So many books, so little time." Frank Zappa, (Word) Quicksand, and (Word) Creature and Faline character prompt - write about a pairing of your choosing, and castle.
A Girl And Her Centaur Lover
Curiosity shone brightly in Hermione's eyes as she stared at the hut in front of her, it was a simple one made of mud, straw, and fallen tree branches much like the other buildings the Centaurs had built but this one was different. Where other buildings in the Centaur village was done simple and plain with only a small piece of art work here and there to show who lived in the hut or what it was used for, this hut had beautiful images carved tastefully onto the wooden walls. This strange hut was the very last thing that Hermione had expected to come across when she was asked by one of her fellow teachers to get the healing herbs that the Centaurs grew.
"I see you have found our book hut," a soft voice said from behind Hermione, making the brown -haired woman jump slightly.
Spinning around in surprise Hermione found herself standing in front of a female Centaur. Soft brown hair fell down the female's head like a cascading waterfall, perfectly framing her delicate features, hazel brown eyes, and full red lips. As Hermione lowered her gaze, a blush found its way onto her face as she took in the female Centaur's tanned skin from being outside in all weather and her large bosom that was only being supported and hidden by a small piece of brown material that somehow made her sun-kissed skin glow. Her horse half was covered in a soft brown coat that just seemed to beg Hermione to run her hands through it to feel how soft it was.
"You can touch you know," the female Centaur said in amusement, her voice sending shivers through Hermione's body. "I am not some wild creature who will bite or kill you the very second you get within a hundred miles of me."
"I-I am sorry, I just never realised that there were female Centaurs," Hermione said, only for her face to turn bright red and her hands fly upwards to cover her mouth.
"It is alright, normally the male Centaurs are very protective of us females and when humans are about, we are led to a safe place along with the children," the female Centaur said as she gave Hermione a little bow, much like how Harry had bowed to Buckbeak but not so low, "My name is Kallisto, it is an honour to meet you human."
"It is nice to meet you too, my name is Hermione," Hermione said as she did her best to copy Kallisto only for the female Centaur to let out a happy laugh, making Hermione's heart skip a beat.
"For a first time without any help, you did a good job," Kallisto said kindly as she slowly moved forwards and placed her hand on Hermione's shoulder, "You need to be careful about how low you bow through as the depth of your bow means different things."
Hermione winced, "I hope I was not too insulting."
"Unless you count greeting me as your daughter in your culture, than no," Kallisto replied as her eyes twinkled at Hermione's blush, "You did not insult me at all, you are lucky that I was the one chosen to come and find you, if it was one of the older, more stricter members of the herd, than you would of been in trouble."
"Then I should thank you for your warning," Hermione said as she stood still. For some weird reason that was not even clear to her, Hermione wanted Kallisto to keep her hand on her shoulder, "Why were you sent to fetch me for?"
"Blunt. I like that," Kallisto said with a laugh which only increased in volume as Hermione began to stutter an apology out. "Calm down, it is alright. In fact, you are a refreshing change compared to certain cold, emotionless members of my herd."
"If you are sure," Hermione said with a shy smile.
"I am," Kallisto replied before sending Hermione an apologetic smile, "I am here to take you back to the giant stone castle where you teach other people's foals to be adults. It is too bad really..."
"What is?" Hermione asked in confusion which only grew when Kallisto motioned behind her.
"I heard from Frienze that you liked books a lot and you were just about to go into our library," Kallisto answered only for Hermione to give her a shocked gasp, "I know, it is surprising that Centaurs have books let alone a library, but we do. That hut you were looking at before I arrived is the library. It is filled to the brim with books that our ancestors have written to guide us and teach us the way of the stars."
"So many books, so little time," Hermione said as she looked over her shoulder and cast the library hut a longing look. "Do you think that I will be allowed a chance to read some of your books?"
"Only one or two and even then it might not be the whole book as the books are filled with knowledge that we depend on," Kallisto answered softly, wincing slightly at the upset look on Hermione's face. "But I am sure I could put in a good word for you and maybe get one of the herd elders to let you read just one book."
"Really? You would do that for me?" Hermione asked with a large smile as her eyes lit up, causing Kallisto to look away to hide her own blush.
"Of course I would; it would not be a problem," Kallisto replied, only to whisper the last part quietly so Hermione would not hear, "For you I would do anything at all."
"Do you think I could send you letters?" Hermione asked excitedly only for her excitement to suddenly disappear as she looked past Kallisto, "Maybe...maybe we should talk about this while we are making our way back to the castle?"
Frowning in confusion, Kallisto turned and looked over her shoulder, only to stomp her front left hoof once in anger when she found several Centaurs standing behind her and looking at Hermione as if she was a bug to be squashed. Without thinking, Kallisto sent the other Centaurs a warning look before scooping Hermione up off of the ground and placing her down on top of her horse half.
"K- Kallisto!" Hermione cried out in surprise as shocked gasps came from all over, "I...I should not be up here, I can walk you know. I do not want to insult you by ridding you like this, as if you where some common creature."
"I want you to be on my back," Kallisto replied calmly, without letting Hermione know of her anger towards the other Centaurs, "Now, hold on tight, I do not want you to suddenly fall off and get hurt."
"Okay...and only if you're sure," Hermione said as she lent forwards and wrapped her arms around Kallisto's human half, much like she had when she wrapped her arms around Harry when they had rode on Buckbeak.
"I'm sure," said Kallisto before she began to walk forward slowly as she allowed Hermione time to get used to riding on her back.
Silently, the two females walked past every Centaur with their heads held high and took no notice of the whispers or stares that came their way. Inside, Hermione's emotions ran wild as she tried to understand just why Kallisto was doing this and why the female Centaur was allowing her to ride on her back. As the pair got closer to the edge of the village, a familiar figure stood waiting for them with an apologetic but understanding look on his face. It was Bane and he had the bag of herbs Hermione had come for in the first place.
"I am sorry about how the others treated you and your possible mate Kallisto," Bane said as he handed Hermione the bag of herbs. "While you are gone, I will make sure the rest of the herd knows not to act like this in future."
"Thank you Bane," Kallisto said with a small relieved smile on her face, "Nipping this in the bud would save us a lot of problems and arguments and confusion in the future."
"Wait a minute," Hermione cried out in surprise as she looked between the two Centaurs, "Whoever said I was a possible mate? What do you mean by that? And I thought you hated humans Bane!"
"It means what it sounds like, and I see you as a possible mate, I gave the signal to others when we first met," Kallisto admitted, causing Hermione to huff, "But I could not help it, there is something about you that draws me in, like quicksand. Like how it sucks people in, you have done that to me. Not by your beauty only, but your brains and personality as well!"
"I do not dislike humans, I only like a few," Bane said simply only to be ignored.
"I...while I am honoured and admit I do swing towards the female gender, I do not think I would be the right mate for you," Hermione said nervously as she fidgeted around slightly, "I mean, I am all about books and knowledge, I just drift through life with my head stuffed in a book-"
"Then do you not think it is time to ignite that spark within you and shine?" Kallisto asked as she twisted around so she could see Hermione, "I think it is time that you became a shooting star? You are perfect in my eyes Hermione, and I cannot see anyone else becoming my mate."
"I...I will think about it and send you a letter either by owl or with a House elf," Hermione said with a sigh causing Kallisto to grin madly, "But do not get too excited as things might not work out between us, you might find a better mate in another Centaur after I have returned back to the castle."
"I won't, you are perfect, you complete me," Kallisto said as her expression softened and her eyes shone with a hint of love, "You are perfect for me unlike everyone else here, but I understand your need to think things over, and I hope I get a positive reply."
Biting her lip Hermione nodded her head and hugged the bag of medical herbs close to her chest, her mind overflowing with everything.
"If you need another Centaur's point of view or if you want help with something that you wish for Kallisto not to know about, than I will be more than happy to help out," Bane said as understanding showed on his face, "I wish you a safe journey back to the castle."
"Thank you, Bane," both Kallisto and Hermione said at the same time, making both females blush and Bane chuckle.
"See you later, Bane," Kallisto said with a friendly smile as she walked out of the Centaur village and out into the forest with Hermione riding on her back.
The journey was done in silence as Hermione allowed herself to get lost in her thoughts about her future, while Kallisto did all she could do. As the castle came into sight Kallisto slowed down without telling Hermione. Inside, her heart was pounding at the thought of no longer carrying Hermione on her back as they travelled through the forest.
"You know what?" Hermione said suddenly as they got closer and closer to Hagrid's hut.
"What?" Kallisto asked politely while trying her best to hide her nerves. It was easy to hear the tone in Hermione's voice that clearly said she had decided on something.
"I have been over thinking again, I was going to go to the library and see what I could dig up but then I suddenly remembered something my mother once told me when I was a little girl," Hermione said passionately, causing Kallisto to gulp nervously as she began to walk out of the forest, "Mum told me that when I find the one I am meant to be with for the rest of my life I will know they are the one as I will feel like someone has made me sparkle and shine like a firework on bonfire night, and while others might make me feel like this the one who I am meant to be with will make me sparkle and shine like no other."
"So...what does that mean for us?" Kallisto asked nervously as her mouth suddenly went dry and her heart found its way into her mouth.
"Simply put, you are the one," Hermione said as she boldly leant forwards and kissed the back of Kallisto's shoulder, "This time I am following my heart and not a book."
The End.