G'relax!
The following moments were a blur of frantic yelling and running.
Rose hurriedly filled Al and Scorpius in as I fidgeted by the window. I pressed my hand against the cold glass, my fingers slowly clenching into a fist as I heard muffled curses from behind me.
I peered into the impenetrable darkness. The night hid many things; it was odd to think that somewhere out there, mere meters away from where I stood, lurked the monsters that had haunted my dreams. I felt oddly detached from the notion; I should be frightened, shaking in my boots, sweating bullets, or whatever other cliché for fear. Instead, I was...apathetic.
I couldn't even bring Numberita to begin concocting a plan. Where 87 separate thoughts (107 on a good day) once bloomed was now only dull emptiness.
I felt a cool hand on my shoulder, and I looked back to see the pale expanse of Al's neck. I tilted my head up automatically, noting that his mouth was creased into a taut, worried line.
"You okay?" he asked.
I shrugged, turning back to the window. I was - relatively - safe at Hogwarts, standing idly in a warmly lit library while somewhere in the shadowed forest Ragnuk's forces were targeting the Thestrals.
The hand slid down my arm, Al's fingers lacing between mine. His other hand reached up to brush my cheek, gently redirecting my attention away from the window.
"Adela?" he prompted.
I opened my mouth to produce a statement comforting enough to assuage his worries, but my throat stubbornly clenched, robbing me of speech.
He frowned. Then he tugged me forward, maneuvering me past the arguing couple in the center of the room. I stumbled after him, staring at the rigid line of his shoulders. Al pulled me five meters deep into the seldom visited section of the library and pushed through a narrow wooden door hidden behind a bookshelf filled with self-help books ("Get Rid of the Gnomes in Your Inner Garden with the Three G's: Ground Yourself, Gather Your Thoughts, and G'relax!").
The door slid shut. I surveyed the room quietly, steadfastly avoiding the gaze of the fervent man before me.
The room was a scant two and a half meters long and two meters wide. A small, round window on the opposite wall revealed only the immense, unbending night sky. There were worn posters plastered on the ornate flowered wallpaper. Upon closer inspection, I realised the posters advertised various Quidditch products - more specifically, Beater bats of all shapes and sizes. This room felt oddly familiar. I drifted towards the wall, my breath catching as my fingers traced the wavering messages scratched into the wall - my messages.
I leaned in, mouthing the words as I read: "Awesome Adela's Admirable Applications: 5 for a Galleon!" "Note to self: obtain raisin cookies that taste like bacon. Hide false cookies in Wood's bed. Laugh." "540 out of 10983 books read." "Personal record: 11 brownies in one sitting." "Note to self: purchase smiley-face pajamas. Revel in soft, cheery comfort."
Merlin, I'd completely forgotten about this room; during my first year, before I'd discovered the pear painting that led to the beloved bacon haven (and, incidentally, before the Glorious Weight Gain of Second Year), I'd used this hidden room as a sanctuary.
I greedily pored over my notes, an overwhelming sense of regret and nostalgia and determination welling through me. My first year hadn't been full of happy occurrences; Al had rejected my aid, my parents had rejected my House, and Seth had rejected my company in favor of his Slytherin roommates. Still, I couldn't spot a single negative note on this wall.
I turned to Al, my hand still firmly pressed to the wall (perhaps if I left my hand there, I could reclaim the unabashed optimism of my childhood).
"How did you know about this room?" I asked.
"You used to knock the last row of books down every time you entered it. I was in the library one day and noticed," he said.
I nodded, my gaze drifting back to the words half-hidden underneath my hand. Awesome Adela, it read. It was time to live up to that title. Taking a deep breath, I shook out my shoulders.
"Right. Let's stop those nasty buggers," I said.
Al's mouth curved into a brilliant grin, sending a welcome flush to my cheeks. He stepped forward and nudged my shoulder with his own.
Tipping his head down so his lips were a mere centimeter away from my own, he let his gaze roam lazily down to my mouth before flicking back up to meet my eyes. He winked. "Race you back," he murmured. Then, without giving me time to react, he crossed the room and ran through the door.
I laughed, the sudden sound billowing into the empty room. Merlin, I hadn't laughed in two days, six hours, and eighteen minutes.
I glanced at the words on the wall and my smile softened. "Thank you," I murmured.
I was gone in the next moment.
When Al and I burst, laughing and out of breath, back into the main area of the library, we were met with the tense, horrified stares of the room's three occupants.
My smile didn't falter; for the first time in a very long time, I felt truly hopeful. I refused to be dragged back into the dull fog that had gripped me for so long.
Kate, who had returned from alerting the Headmaster to our arrival, cleared her throat. "Hi, Adela, Al. While you two were...uh, gone, we decided it would be best for Rose and Scorpius to return, help the Aurors and update Auror Potter - er, the elder one. The Headmaster requested that Vane remain at Hogwarts to help with the students."
Al nodded slowly, pushing his disheveled hair back absently. His eyes flicked to Scorpius, who nodded grimly.
"We hate to leave you, but I can't endanger Ro-er, ignore the chaos in Diagon Alley in good conscience," Scorpius said.
I looked at Kate. "What about you?"
Kate blinked. "I'm going with you, of course," she said simply.
I opened my mouth to protest automatically but, seeing her determined glare, paused. Who was I to tell her what she could or couldn't do? She hadn't signed up for this any more than I had, and I was still going into the Forbidden Forest.
"Besides, I can get the centaurs to help us," she added.
Al's brows arched. "How?"
Kate tucked her curly hair behind her ear, looking down at the ground for three seconds before meeting our gaze steadfastly.
"They owe me a favour," she said firmly, jutting her chin up.
I glanced at Al, but he shook his head slightly; Kate obviously did not want to elaborate, and I wasn't going to force her.
Al dumped a black pouch identical to the one Vane had given me onto the wooden table next to Rose and Scorpius.
"This will take you back to Diagon Alley," he said. Scorpius ignored the pouch and, stepping forward, hugged Al abruptly. I could see Al's eyes widen over Scorpius's shoulder, but after a second he relaxed, his knuckles white as he returned the hug.
I was distracted from the unusual sight (Al and Scorpius were not the affectionate type) when Rose enveloped me in a tight hug.
"Stay safe," she said fiercely, her wild curls pressing into my face. I nodded, my throat tightening.
"You too," I whispered. She pulled away and smiled, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Don't bloody cry," Rose warned.
I laughed. "You're the one with tears in your eyes," I pointed out. She grinned, swiping at her eyes impatiently.
"You have your Adela Tomato. I have my tears," she sighed dramatically. I grinned, watching as she turned to Kate and hugged her, too.
Once the farewells had been made, Rose and Scorpius held our gaze solemnly as they reached down and, with a final, sad smile, gripped the Portkeys tightly.
"I'll see you soon," I whispered.
They didn't - couldn't - respond.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The forest was as wonderfully cheerful as I remembered it. As in: dreadful.
Note to self: evaluate life and research why 10% of it is spent in mortal peril.
I gingerly picked my way through the brittle leaves, cringing each time I trod on a particularly loud bunch (that was another source of confusion - why was there always a more than healthy supply of dead leaves? Was someone hired to make this forest as creepy as possible? Could I hire said person to transform Seth's flat?).
Al walked beside me, holding his lit wand high (as the tallest person, he was saddled with light duty. I'd also modified his superhero name from "Al Laser Eyes" to "Al the Human Lamp").
Kate paused in front of us, motioning for us to stay put. Al ended his spell and, pulling me behind a tree, watched Kate intently as she began kicking a birch tree.
"OI!" the normally quiet Kate bellowed.
Al hissed, his eyes darting nervously around the clearing at the sound. "Merlin, she's going to bring Ragnuk's forces right to us," he muttered.
Kate put her hands on her hips, looking around the clearing. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, she flung her arms into the air.
"OI! MAGRON! I'M ABOUT TO DEFILE YOUR PRECIOUS TREE!" she yelled. Still nothing.
She strode thirty centimeters away from the tree's trunk, stooped, and gingerly cradled something in her hands. Kate moved back to the birch tree and brought her hand close to its pristine white, papery bark.
"HM, OH, LOOK, SOME WONDERFUL FECAL MATTER. I'VE ALWAYS HEARD DUNG MAKES A GREAT BARK-STRENGTHENER. MIGHT AS WELL INCLUDE SOME WORMS, TOO-"
A large, dark form barreled into the clearing, pushing Kate roughly out of the way. She fell to the ground, looking terribly small next to the immense centaur glaring down at her.
That was it. I moved to help her, but Al jerked me back. I glared at him - did he want to see Kate killed? - but he merely motioned for me to look back at the scene.
I turned reluctantly, releasing my breath when I saw that the centaur, while imposing, didn't seem to be in a "kill Adela's friend" sort of mood. Yet.
"Hello, Magron!" Kate said cheerily.
The centaur snorted, his muscled chestnut legs shifting irritably.
"One touch of dung and you would have ruined the Great Tree," he said, his voice a rough rumble.
Kate slowly got to her feet. "I am sorry; I was under the impression that the poo-er, fecal matter would greatly aid the Great Tree's prophetic capabilities," she said formally.
Magron crossed his arms. "Ah, and I suppose the kicking was also supposed to be beneficial?"
"Er...yes?"
"Why are you here, human?" Magron asked gruffly. "Are you here to finally release me from this burden of debt?"
"Yes," Kate answered, and I could see Magron's dark eyes narrow.
"What do you require?"
"We need you to lead us to the Thestrals."
The centaur tensed, his front legs rising to stamp forcefully on the ground. "We?"
"A witch and wizard are with me."
Magron snapped his teeth together, baring them menacingly. "You dare bring wizard scum near the Great Tree? I ought to rescind your favor for that insult alone; I do not care if you once saved the Tree if you are now actively trying to defile it!"
I looked at the birch tree; it looked identical to the other thirty-nine birch trees we'd passed on our 1012 meter walk into the forest's outskirts.
Kate's eyes widened, and she brought her hands up a calming gesture -
Magron howled. "You think I am an animal you can tame?"
Al cursed. "Okay, now is a good time to intervene," he said.
"You think?" I didn't wait for his response; I barreled into the clearing, flinging myself between Kate and the angry centaur.
Magron reared, whipping a crossbow out (Merlin; where'd he get that from? He had no pockets!).
Remembering how Kate's gesture had gone over, I dove into a deep bow. A centaur was no hippogriff, but Numberita recalled a passage detailing the centaur's deep pride. Perhaps I could appeal to his ego.
"Glorious Magron, I am honored to behold you and the Great Tree," I said into the leaves (Merlin, I hoped Kate hadn't dropped the poop here).
The ground vibrated as Magron approached me, his heavy hooves thudding in solemn procession.
"Rise," he ordered.
I obeyed cautiously. I had to bend my neck at a painful angle to meet the centaur's eyes (he must be two and a quarter meters tall). Up close, I could see a jagged scar running down Magron's weathered cheek.
He scrutinized me for thirty-two long seconds. "You know of the Great Tree?" he asked. I could hear a dangerous note in his words, and Numberita worked frantically for a suitable answer. I could feel Kate's eyes boring into me, but I couldn't risk looking away from Magron's gaze.
Magron had said that Kate had saved the Great Tree once. She must have done this sometime during her time at Hogwarts. Students were forbidden from entering the Forbidden Forest; besides, how'd she know of the tree's importance?
"I knew of it but not its location," I said finally, hoping fervently that I'd chosen the correct response.
Magron nodded slowly, and I cheered inwardly.
"Why should I help you? You witches have labeled us as beasts, as having near-human intelligence," he said.
"You don't want to be in the debt of a witch any longer," Kate said.
He frowned. Then, with a scowl, he turned and began walking slowly out of the clearing.
He paused at the treeline. "Do you not wish to follow? And call the wizard out from behind the tree."
We hurried after him.
As we walked, I kept a careful eye on the centaur as he led us deeper and deeper into the Forbidden Forest. He could abandon us at any moment and we would be doomed; I had no idea where we were or how to return.
Magron flinched at every sound, his fingers tight on the trigger of his crossbow. There was something immensely terrifying in seeing such a physically intimidating scared in his home.
In my intent focus on the centaur, I tripped over an exposed root. Kate caught me, and I threw her a grateful smile.
"Thanks," I whispered. She nodded, but her eyes hadn't lost the nervous glint they'd had since we'd entered the Forest.
"How did you save the tree?" I asked, my curiousity getting the better of me.
She flinched. "Um, it was in seventh year," she said finally, looking down at her dark hands.
"Xavier wanted to explore the woods, so he dared me to go with him. He - we found this clearing and we, er, were exploring the ground right next to the tree. It was cold, so Xavier cast a contained fire spell, but it singed the bark. Xavier - well, he wasn't himself - we'd had some firewhiskey - and he wanted to let the tree burn." She took a deep breath before continuing, her words hurried and hushed.
"I extinguished the fire, but the bark was already damaged. Magron came then and saw that I was putting the fire out - he was going to kill us, so I Obliviated him. I made him believe that I'd saved the tree," her voice had faded to a whisper.
I forced a calm smile onto my face. Outside: sympathetic friend. Inside: holy sethogriff Kate - sweet, loyal Kate - had Obliviated a centaur and allowed him to believe himself beholden to her for four years?
"You did what you had to do; you'd be dead otherwise," I murmured, glancing at the centaur to make sure he wasn't listening.
Kate scoffed bitterly. "I'm a terrible person," she said.
I didn't have a chance to respond, for Magron halted abruptly and I barely avoided slamming into his haunches.
"Magron?" I asked. He was frozen, his eyes wide.
Then, slowly, mournfully, his eyes slid shut. "It is too late," he said.
Too la-?
I pushed past him, not caring if I angered him, and entered the small clearing.
Holy shitake -
A dozen Thestrals were strewn carelessly across the ground, their membranous wings shredded maliciously. None was spared - legs were broken into impossible angles, the hollows between the dark bones stuffed with dry leaves and jagged branches.
The Thestrals' tails were all noticeably absent.
I vaguely registered a broken sob from beside me - Kate.
The witch sank to the ground, a low wail building in her throat.
Al came up beside me, his eyes dark as he surveyed the massacre. He radiated cold wrath, and he spat out, "The bloody bastards. They only needed the hair."
I turned to ask Magron if the centaurs knew about the goblins' intent, but he had vanished.
Kate moved towards the nearest Thestral - a baby, I realised with a dismayed start - and cradled its head.
She looked up and, though her eyes were still wet with tears, the vengeful promise was clear.
"They will pay," she said simply, and while I knew House characteristics were mostly a sham, I realised now why I had always feared Hufflepuffs.
I felt the unopened pouch of Portkeys tucked into my back pocket; even if St. Mungo's would accept Thestral patients, it would do these victims no good.
Al cast a cascade of red sparks into the air and, his mouth still twisted into an angry grimace, produced another pouch from his coat (Merlin, how many Portkeys did he have?).
"We need to return to Diagon Alley," he said grimly.
Kate nodded jerkily and, pressing a soft kiss against the slaughtered Thestral's head, stood.
"Let's go."
Author Note: Ugh I'm the worst - I'm so sorry for the delay! Life got the better of me :( Thank you all so much for your patience! You all are amazing and I love you. If I could, I would give you all a dozen brownies/bacon/beater bats each.
800th reviewer will get an Outtakes chapter OR a drawing of an OQaS character of your choosing OR a title image for a fanfic (like the one I have)! :D (holy sethogriff I'm still astonished at the number of reviews - thank you all so much!)
IMPORTANT: I'll be transferring guest review replies to my tumblr (they got too long!). Guest review replies for ch 34 can be found at quillstrike dot tumblr dot com/post/118540042704/ocat-ch-34-guest-review-replies