"What manor of beast is this?" The huge centaur that they were sure was Maridien asked.
"They call themselves humans." the centaur that had talked with them said, "They speak our language but have a strange sound to it."
"Who is the leader?" Maridien asked.
"The dark one."
"Speak dark one."
"Hello sir. We didn't mean to trespass on your land we apologize for any upset we may have caused you." Harry said.
"You are correct Sosan. The speech is odd." Maridien agreed, "Why would you think you have upset us?"
"The centaurs I have met before were very particular about their home." Harry said, "Add to that your warriors met us and brought us here blindfolded I gather you want your home safe. I do not wish to make it unsafe so the blindfolds are fine with us."
"Where have you come from and how did you get here?" Maridien continued the questioning.
"I'm not sure you will believe this but it is the truth." Harry took a deep breath, "We are from the future. A wicked human used magic to force us to your time. We are also magic users but do not use it to harm others. We aren't really sure how he made us come here but we landed about five hours walk south of here."
"What is this south?" Sosan asked.
"If you'll permit me to do some magic I will show you which direction." Harry said.
"Show me this magic." Maridien commanded.
"Point me." Harry spoke with his wand on his palm. The stick shifted and then Harry pointed the other direction, "We came from that direction."
"Then you are the visitors we have been expecting." Maridien laughed, "The stars told us we would have odd visitors and here you are."
"Did the stars happen to tell you how long we would stay?" Harry asked.
"Not exactly, but we think it will be a moon cycle." Maridien said thoughtfully. Harry found these centaurs to be much more open than the ones from their time. He suspected the treatment they had received at the hands of humans had made that impact. After a few minutes thought the leader asked, "Which one is your mate?"
"What?" Harry asked.
"There are differences between the six, I am guessing that three of you are males and the others are your females. We will keep you with your mates." Maridien stated.
"We would like to stay all together if it's permissible."
"No." Hermione was already clutching Ron's arm to keep herself steady. Luna was near Neville so Ginny stepped up beside Harry, "Good your female knows her place. Tonight is a special night for my herd, please do not wander from your dwelling or you will be killed. Sosan take them to Sara, she will find places for them to stay."
As they followed the centaur Sosan through the camp Harry cast a worried look at the rest of his group. None of them had spoken a word during their time with the lead centaur or since. In fact none of them had even moved during the meeting except Ginny. That thought brought up another point to consider, how did he feel about being paired with Ginny? How did she feel about being paired up with him? Harry was honest with himself and realized he was actually happy with the situation as a whole. He didn't mind being in the past, he wouldn't get nightmares from Voldemort he was sure. He was beginning to fancy Ginny so being paired with her was nice too. Although if Ron knew he fancied her he wouldn't like the sleeping arrangements. Sosan stopped and talked to a female who looked over at them, she nodded once and motioned them to follow. She lead them to the edge of camp and pointed wordlessly to three huts. Looking inside they saw beds of straw. Back outside the group gathered.
"What do you guys think?" Harry asked.
"I can't think." Neville admitted.
"They seem nice." Luna shrugged in a nonchalant manner.
Hermione was still shaking and Ron was the only reason she was still standing. Harry noticed and sat down encouraging the others to join him, Ginny sat on his right side. He didn't mind that their arms were touching, he even found himself leaning into it a bit.
"Are you sure we're in the past?" Ginny whispered though the others could still hear. She had also leaned closer to Harry seeking the assurance and safety his presence provided her.
"Yes we are." Hermione said shakily, "This is so scary, what if we do something and mess up our lives? Can you imagine what would happen? This is just terrible. I can't even form one single thought, I have fifty trying to make it out all at once."
Ron put his arm around her and pulled her close in a comforting gesture, "Don't worry so much. We'll just have to be careful. We can't have much interaction with others. If we don't go back soon I'd suggest we try to make a life here."
"We have to get back." Hermione said, "If we stay who would defeat Voldemort? We couldn't start families because we might leave at any time. It would be so sad to stay."
"None of us want to stay Hermione." Harry pointed out, "But Ron's right if we don't get back we'll have to think of something to do. It's only logical, we can't sit around doing nothing for the rest of our lives."
"What are we going to do tonight?" Neville asked.
"Sleep." Harry replied, "I don't think we need to keep watch or anything. The Centaur's will keep away any animals or anything that might try to hurt the herd and us by association."
They sat and chatted until several centaurs showed up with a basket of food. Harry jumped up and took a basket, "Is there anything we can do to help? We don't want to be a burden on your family."
"Maridien says you are guests. You do not need to help us. Although the thought is appreciated." Several giggles came from behind the lead female, "Some of our younglings would like to see you. None of us have seen a two legs before and they are very curious."
"That would be great." Harry replied. She stepped aside and exposed three young centaurs. Two were girls and one was a boy. Even as youngsters they were as big as the centaurs back home. But you could tell they were young by their bodies, "Hello."
The girls only giggled in reply but the boy said, "Your voice sounds funny."
"Graynerson that was unkind." the female said shocked.
"Sorry, it just caught me off guard." Graynerson said, "My father is Grayner, second in the guard. I will be able to get my adult name very soon."
"Younglings keep their parents names until they are of age." the female said, "Mine name is Zarot. This is Krasom and Leatty they already have their adult names."
"Pleased to meet you." the group answered as a whole. Then they introduced themselves.
"When do we need to go into our dwellings?" Harry asked, "We have no wish to disturb your special night."
"Sundown is when it starts." Zarot said, "I would go inside before the sun disappears. You can come out again when the sun is up."
"Is this not a special night for you?" Graynerson asked.
"No I don't think so." Harry replied, "But we aren't sure what day it is. Sosan told us your date but we name ours differently so I don't know where it falls in our own time."
"Your other's don't talk much." Krason pointed out.
"I'm not sure what to say." Ginny replied, "Harry's really the only one with experience talking with centaurs I'm a bit nervous about all this."
"For our species we are still considered younglings." Hermione said, "Like you we are near to being adults but not there yet. I have about twelve moon cycles until I'm an adult and I'm the oldest of our group."
"Younglings out on their own." Zarot gasp, "Did you get lost from your herd?"
"Sort of." Harry replied, "I'm not sure I can explain exactly what happened but we aren't where we should be."
"I see you are all getting familiar with the herd." Sosan approached the group from behind the other centaurs.
"Yes we are thank you." Harry replied.
"Sosan did you know they are only younglings?" Zarot asked.
"No, we assumed they were just adults on their own starting a new herd." Sosan replied as he turned to leave, "I need to inform Maridien."
"I hope this doesn't cause any trouble." Harry called after him, "We don't want any trouble."
"Fear not young warrior." Sosan called back, "You may be a youngling in age but you are wiser than many adults. Your herd will be safe here, have no fear."
Later that evening as they were going to their shelters Ron paused looking at Harry and Ginny and then back to Hermione. He did this several times before he said, "I… I don't know what to do."
"We should stay in the groupings Maridien set up for at least tonight." Harry responded, "It was an order and I don't want to go against that. Tomorrow they may change it because we are just kids after all but tonight we need to comply with their wishes. And don't leave your hut for anything, they meant it when they said you would die. Centaurs don't joke about things like that."
"Harry." Ron said, "I'm sorry, it's just that she's my little sister."
"I know and you can believe I won't do anything. She'd hex me to pieces if I tried." Harry chuckled as he looked at the satisfied look on Ginny's face.
Neville, Luna and Hermione added their chuckles as they turned into their own huts. Ron conceded, "Fine but don't tell Mum I let this happen."
"I'm just as worried about your older brothers and Dad." Harry replied, "I don't want them to know either. They'd kill me just because I could have done something."
"They would not." Ginny chuckled as she pushed Harry towards their hut, "They'd be thankful you were here to protect me. Ron's too distracted by Hermione to be of any help to me."
Ron glared at her and then slipped into his own hut. Harry followed Ginny into their hut and stopped just inside the door. There was only one pile of hay and one blanket. Harry stepped over to the pile of hay and picked up a piece and transfigured it into another blanket. Setting both blankets aside he started to rearrange the hay to make a comfortable mattress. He then spread one blanket on the hay and a second over it. Turning he saw a confused look on Ginny's face.
"I don't like to sleep right on the hay. It makes me itch. We'll sleep between them." Harry said then stuttered, "Unless you want your own set of blankets."
"No I'll share." Ginny said, "Snuggling will keep us warmer with no fire in the hut. Are you ok with us being paired together?"
"Yes." Harry said quickly, "I mean… I don't mind being with you. Do you mind…"
"No, I've gotten over my crush but I do still like you." Ginny said.
"I like you too." Harry grinned, "I was kind of glad to hear you weren't with Dean anymore."
Ginny smiled and climbed into the bed as the light was quickly fading and she wouldn't be able to find her way in a few more minutes. They settled under the blanket back to back. Both were still awake some time later when Harry turned over onto his back trying to find a comfortable spot.
"Are you warm enough?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm fine just a little keyed up." Ginny said, "Something about the last couple of days just has me on edge."
"I understand." Harry chuckled.
Ginny shivered a bit then said, "Ok I lied I am cold."
Harry turned to face Ginnys back, "Lift your head for a moment." when she complied he stretched out his arm and then she laid her head on his bicep. His other arm he wrapped around her waist and pulled her close, "Better?"
"Yes." she said and then yawned, "I was too cold to sleep." within a few minutes her steady breathing told Harry she was asleep, he followed soon after.
He dreamt that night about laying in a field of wild flowers. A soft breeze blew filling his nose with their aroma. He woke up once during the night to hear the distant sound of drums beating out a tempo. He found himself on his back again with Ginny's head on his shoulder. His arms were wrapped around her holding her close. Her hair was right next to his face and he could smell the flowers from his dream. He sighed contentedly and went back to sleep.
Over the next few weeks the group learned much about the day to day lives of the herd. They learned to help gather food and play games with the other younglings. Though they were seriously handicapped in many of the games they still played as best as they could. As they reached what they hoped was the end of their time they tried to stay together as much as possible. One evening they were called into the presence of Maridien.
"We believe your time here will be over soon." he said to them.
"Thank you for sharing your lives with us." Harry said, "We have learned much. I do have some warning for you though. Not all humans are good. Not all care about creatures that they don't understand."
"Wise words. We would be foolish to underestimate others." Maridien nodded, "I may not get another chance to see you before you go so I wish you safe journey."
"We wish safe journey and prosperity for you and your herd." Harry replied.
A few days later as they were playing with the younglings something began to happen. They felt the earth shake but noticed the centaurs didn't seem to feel it. They stumbled towards each other just as they were surrounded with smoke. When their world stopped shaking and the smoke cleared they found themselves in the same spot but the herd was gone as was any trace of their camp.
*8*8*8*8*
"Professor Dumbledore." Dean Thomas stood as the feast ended, "Harry, Ron and Neville aren't here, are they ok?"
"What about Ginny?" Another asked.
"Hermione isn't here either." Lavender added.
"Luna Lovegood isn't over here either." a Ravenclaw student, "She usually sits with Harry and Neville on the train."
"Ron and Hermione were in the Prefect meeting." a Hufflepuff prefect added.
The room erupted in conversations the only silent spot was at the Slytherin table.
"Silence." Dumbledore called, "Did anyone see them all in one compartment?"
"I did." Lavender said, "It was maybe three hours before Hogsmeade. It caught my attention because Ginny doesn't normally sit with them."
"Anyone else?" he asked.
"I didn't see them." Ernie said, "But about an two hours later I did notice an empty compartment about half way through the fourth car."
"Sounds like the same one." Lavender said.
Albus flicked his wand and a silvery substance shot out of the room. Minerva looked worriedly at the Headmaster before scanning the tables again looking for more missing students.
"Filius, Minerva please check the common rooms and dorms for our missing students." Albus ordered. The two professors left the room at a quick pace. Albus held all students in the hall and continued the questions, "Did anyone see them get off the train at the station?"
No one responded and it was silent until a silvery substance flew into the room. It resolved it's self into a Lynx and a deep voice said, "I'll check."
"Can we go to our dorms now?" Draco asked.
"No. Not until I'm sure It's safe." Albus replied.
The room went back to light conversations until the two professors returned, "They aren't in Gryffindor tower."
"Nor are they in Ravenclaw."
" I don't believe they made it off the train." Albus whispered to the two professors, "Kingsley is checking it but I suspect Draco may know something, he was the first to ask to return to dorms and he didn't even laugh about the disappearances. I'll have Severus check." Out loud he announced, "Alright now if the prefects will please escort your students to the dorms we can all get some rest."
The Slytherins were the first to vacate the hall. Most of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs left after they did. The younger Gryffindors were led by the prefects while the older students tried to stay to ask more questions.
"All of you to bed." Minerva announced, "We'll let you know more when we have learned what has happened."
*8*8*8*8*