Saturday morning finally arrived, which meant Gavin was free to head into the forest. He'd used his evenings the week before to plan for the coming week, so he'd be able to sneak off for the weekend. There was a chance he'd be gone until Sunday, depending on how deep into the forest he went and whether he met up with Kent along the way. Since he was going away, he sent a request down to the kitchen for some boxed food. It wasn't an unusual request, so it was really no surprise when a packed picnic arrived in his room with a crack. He stowed the food in a travel satchel and left it by his door before heading down to breakfast. He didn't want to let anyone know about his plans. Tina would nag him if she found out.
Luckily, she was conspicuously absent that morning, though it wasn't unusual. He'd woken up early to get a head start, and Tina liked to sleep in. The teacher's table was almost empty. He actually felt a little self-conscious since Hank was the only other person there. They didn't talk often. Their schedules were busy, and they sat two seats away from each other at mealtimes. They also rarely saw each other on their days off. He had no idea what Hank did with his free time, but he certainly didn't seem to spend it in Hogsmeade or around the grounds.
"Morning, Gavin." Gavin nodded a polite greeting as he hurried up the steps and circled to his usual seat. There was a lot to choose from. Fried food, five different cereals, porridge, fresh fruit, toast, bread and pastries with butter and jam. Since he was going to have a busy day, he piled his plate with fried food and buttered toast. He probably wouldn't eat again for a good few hours to make sure he had enough food for the trip. He didn't feel confident about which wild berries were safe to eat, so he didn't want to come up short in the forest. It wasn't too much of an issue. He could disapparate outside the grounds of Hogwarts, so he wouldn't be stranded. "I haven't really had the chance to check in lately. How are classes going?" Hank asked as he looked down the empty table.
"They're going well…" At least, he hoped they were. The students certainly enjoyed them, and he was pretty sure they were picking up everything. Practical lessons were always a success. The only doubt that crept into his mind were the times Connor questioned his methods. Was that why Hank was talking to him now? Had Connor taken issue with it and asked him to intervene? He was pretty sure Hank had ways of monitoring his classes, so surely he would have spoken up sooner if there was a problem. Hank huffed, almost as if he knew what he was thinking.
"I know Connor's been giving you a hard time. Don't think too much about it. His heart's in the right place, but between you and me, he's a little soft." Gavin nodded his agreement. He'd certainly seen that, though soft in no way meant incompetent. His softness was an asset for his own job working with magical creatures, but it would be an ill-suited match for Defence Against the Dark Arts. If you were going to use powerful spells and curses, you had to mean it, and if you were going to teach them, you had to know them inside out and backwards. That was why the Defence Against the Dark Arts professors usually had backgrounds in the ministry as aurors or unspeakables. Civilians didn't have the stomach for it.
"I get that, and I understand his concerns." But handling students with kid gloves wouldn't be helpful in the long run. It was important for them to know how to defend themselves, especially those in their final years who were planning to join the Ministry of Magic. Hank understood that, which was why he'd been hired. He'd also sided with him in every argument he'd been a part of. Hank couldn't fault Connor for playing the role of a concerned faculty member, but he also needed to give Gavin room to breathe and grow into the role on his own terms. So far, he seemed to be doing well. The students certainly raved about his classes.
After that brief exchange, Gavin excused himself to slip back to his rooms and grab his bag. He had a long day ahead. He was glad he'd pulled on his old leather jackets for the trek, and dressed down in some of his older clothes. His pants and boots were already well worn, so it made sense to use those rather than dirty his new ones, and he left his fine waistcoats and cameo behind for the day. Little else came with besides his food and water cannister. He'd climb a tree to sleep if he stayed out that long, and huddle into a small nook in his animagus form. It wouldn't be the first time.
Since he wanted to make good headway in the forest, he disapparated to the to the treeline as soon as he cleared the school grounds. There were fewer students around as winter exams approached and Quidditch practice began. He didn't think anyone had noticed him leave, and even if they had, it was the weekend and not unusual for staff to venture into town. Sighing, he turned his back to the forest and took one last look at the sprawling farmland around Hogsmeade. He wasn't looking forward to the oppressive darkness of the forest.
The weight on his back was a little annoying as he crept his way through the trees. The day was fairly nice outside the forest, crisp and partly cloudy. There was grey in the distance, but the sky above was patched with blue and white. There was a bit of a breeze, but that wouldn't reach him in the forest. The sunlight wouldn't either. His skin prickled as he crossed the treeline and headed deeper inside. The grass soon became patchy and uneven before giving way to damp earth and shrubs. He wasn't far from the bogland where Connor had taken his students earlier in the week. It was hard to get his bearings, but he let his instincts guide him towards the roar from a few days ago.
The air became heavy and oppressive, the lingering humidity making it hard to breathe. His jacket was soon a heavy, clinging layer on his back in the heat. He stopped to remove it, looking around warily as he listened for the sound of approaching animals. This was centaur territory. He had to be careful. Kent wasn't there this time if those young bucks found him. With that in mind, he moved as quietly as possible, more or less darting from tree to tree. The deeper he went, the taller and wider those trees became. Many of them were hundreds of years old, and so wide he couldn't even wrap his arms halfway around the trunks. There were oak-like trees and various evergreens on every side. He had plenty of places to duck for cover, but so did any creature that may be hunting him.
He could rule out dugbogs and spiders in these parts. Dugbogs lived exclusively in bogland, and rarely ventured so far from their pools, while spiders preferred the deeper forest. They lived in great caves with vast underground tunnels. They rarely came to the forest floor, and never so far from their lairs. He wasn't worried about unicorns. They were shy creatures and tended to steer clear of people. With their regular hunts and patrols, his biggest concern was the centaurs. Unless Kent's right about the poaching ring…
He let out gentle whistles occasionally, making bird sounds to blend in with the forest, but using a code that Kent would understand. His eyes slowly adjusted to the lack of light. The sun couldn't touch the ground through the trees anymore. He was well and truly in centaur territory. It was as dim as dusk, but he didn't dare light his wand. It would be like a beacon through the trees. His steps crunched dead leaves more than he'd like, and he stopped more than once to listen for company. Unfortunately, at this time of year it was impossible to escape the fallen leaves. Many were undisturbed with how quiet and untravelled the forest was. There wasn't even a noticeable path this deep inside.
He quickly lost track of time. It felt like it had been a good few hours, but without the sun, he had no way of knowing. The forest was timeless like that. He paused and listened, sniffing the humid air. It smelled earthy, much like Nines' greenhouse, only there was a lot more rot as fallen leaves gradually wilted and decayed. The dampness of the underlayer made the leaves slippery in certain places, but Gavin was good at staying on his feet. He was a little worried about getting turned around. He knew the forest, but not nearly as well as Kent. Figuring out exactly where the sound had come from was also a challenge, especially at ground level.
Eventually, he came to a shallow, flowing river. It would be easy to step across the stones to the other side after lunch. He sighed as he removed his pack and sat on a large, flat rock overlooking the river with a view into the forest on all sides. This was a double-edged sword. On the plus side, he could see danger coming. On the downside, he was fully exposed and easy to spot from the surrounding trees. Opening his bag, he found one package contained a simple ham and tomato sandwich. He ate that and saved the rest for later. The longer he rationed out his food, the further he'd be able to go.
It was peaceful, sitting by the river. The stone was relatively dry and flat, with only a thin coating of moss on the lower sides. The water was soothing, a babbling brook trickling downstream. It was nice to finally hear something in the eerie silence. It made the forest feel more normal, chasing away the reminder of what lurked in the trees. He was tempted to stretch out and sleep for a while, but that was a bad idea, leaving himself completely defenceless and easy pickings. He dangled his legs over the edge of the rock, slowly eating his sandwich and watching the water rushing by. It was clear and clean, though the dimness made it hard to see the rocks beneath the surface. He couldn't see any fish, but the water was pretty shallow in these parts.
He raised his head with a jerk as he heard a thud, heart leaping in his throat as he looked over his shoulder towards the treeline. He couldn't see anything, but that meant nothing when dealing with forest creatures. This was their territory. They had the home advantage. The safest thing to do was to leap into action and get across the river as soon as possible. With that in mind, he rolled from the stone in a single push and fell into the water. His catlike reflexes help steady his balance as he landed on a low rock and set off, bounding from stone to stone. Adrenaline pumped as he ran, cursing quietly as an arrow whizzed by his shoulder. He let out a loud whistle, hoping that Kent may be close enough to hear it as he stumbled across to the opposite bank.
Turning back, he recognised the young centaur that chased him. It was the grey one with the blonde hair, silvery eyes glinting as he held his bow ready. Gavin cursed again, stumbling backwards as the arrow released and snagged the edge of his shirt sleeve. The force was enough to throw him off balance, giving the young buck time to gallop through the shallow water. Gavin scrambled back, heart pounding as the centaur approached with mischief in his eyes. He wasn't sure how much trouble he was in. This centaur at least knew who he was, and that he held a certain amount of standing in his herd. He'd also been fairly gentle while handling him before, though his current attitude didn't fill him with confidence.
"If it isn't Kentar's little wizarding toy." Gavin stiffened a little at the teasing tone, unsure he liked what lurked beneath the surface. He especially didn't like the way those silvery eyes were currently roving over his prone body. He felt a little less on edge as he lowered his bow and returned it to his back. Gavin slowly pushed to his feet, not even blinking as he straightened up, hand ready to reach for his wand. The handsome silver plodded towards him, making him stumble back. He didn't want to fight with Kent's people, something the young buck seemed to pick up on with some smugness. Unfortunately, this soon left him with his back against a tree with the centaur looming over him. "Why are you here…Philia?" He spoke the title as if it amused him, lips curling as he caged him against the trunk with muscular arms. Arms that were far bigger than his own. He swallowed nervously. His arms weren't the only thing that was bigger.
"I'm looking for something…a dragon, maybe. Have you heard anything like that this past week?" The centaur was suspicious. He could see it in his sharp eyes as he towered over him. This one wasn't as big as Kent, but centaurs were all naturally larger than wizarding folk. His upper body was strong and broad, though softer than many more seasoned centaurs. His lower body alone almost reached Gavin's chin. He had a broad back, sturdy legs, large hooves, and a glossy silvery tail that matched his soft hair. His hair was loose, besides two small braids that kept it out of his face in a windswept style. He was so close that Gavin could clearly see the light coating of soft fur that covered his upper body and face, so light and faint you wouldn't notice it at a distance.
"And what if I have?" Gavin froze as a large hand reached out to stroke his cheek, almost curiously. It was like he'd never been up close to a wizard before, though Kent had said the poachers had moved into the forest. Gavin swallowed, nervous as a thumb traced his lips. He didn't like the way the centaur was looking at him. Unfortunately, he didn't have much avenue of escape, pinned to the tree as he was.
"Dragons don't live in these parts, so either it's lost, or it was brought here, and with poachers lurking around, we both know which is more likely." The centaur seemed more than a little amused by his response. What was a single wizard to do against a dragon and possibly a whole ring of poachers? "I want to check things out…help if I can…" He wasn't sure why the centaur distrusted him so much. He'd done nothing to offend him personally, and despite being wizarding kind he knew he'd been named Philia by his people. Gavin quietly wished Kent would turn up and get him out of this. He didn't feel safe, especially not as the silver buck bowed his head and started scenting him. He shivered as warm breath brushed his bare throat, the collar of his shirt kept loose in the humid heat.
"There are better things for you to help with, Philia…" Gavin stiffened as the large head moved closer, barely daring to move an inch as gentle teeth grazed his throat. Phck, you cannot be serious! He felt his skin heat at the deep purring chuckle in his ear. The hands that came to rest on his waist were surprisingly gentle. He was pretty sure the centaur could snap him like a twig if he chose, which made fighting back a really fucking bad idea. "Let's see how friendly you can be." He hated the mocking tone and liked it even less as one of those hands slipped around to squeeze his ass. A quick draw was his only chance as he dropped a hand to his wand. He didn't even make it halfway before his wrist was swiftly pinned to the tree, forcing a whimper from his lips.
A blind panic ensued, almost making him forget where he was. He was defenceless, in the grasp of someone much stronger than him. He pulled and writhed, grunting as his back slammed the trunk, though he managed to duck his head and avoid cracking his skull. The strike winded him, leaving him breathing heavily as a large hand pushed the satchel from his shoulder and started pulling his shirt loose. Gavin swatted his chest weakly as he regained his breath, though that did little more than illicit a low chuckle from the silver buck. Gavin whimpered as a large hand finally stroked his bare chest before moving lower to paw his slacks. He wriggled and writhed, pushing the hand away as best he could.
"Mene!" Gavin's heart raced as the hand left his crotch, leaving him trembling against the tree. He sighed in relief, almost sobbing as Kent's large chestnut form came lumbering through the trees. Mene clicked his tongue in annoyance, still pinning one hand to the tree as he looked over his shoulder. "Unhand him this instant!" Kent's dark eyes left no room for arguments as he paced from side to side, clearly agitated. Mene pouted somewhat as he returned his attention to Gavin, almost smirking as he leaned in to his ear.
"Another time, Philia," he chuckled, leaving a parting nip on his throat as he released his wrist, sending him falling to the earth. Kent reared instantly, a challenge to the young buck. Mene did not accept, quickly darting back into the safety of the forest. Gavin pulled his shirt together, still trembling as he leaned back against the tree.
"Philia, are you injured?" Gavin licked his lips and shook his head, doing his best to close his shirt with quivering fingers. It was the first time he'd been in that position, and it wasn't one he cared for. He was pretty sure Mene would have torn him up with his enthusiasm. He was in no way built or prepared to be a centaur's plaything, whatever he thought was going on with Kent.
"J-just shaken up." Kent gave him a few moments to compose himself, keeping an eye out as he righted his clothes and grabbed his satchel.
"You should not have ventured so far alone…The young ones are coming to season and emotions are running rampant." That explained Mene's odd behaviour, at least. He accepted Kent's hand up, letting him keep it in his grasp as he checked him over. He could see that Mene had done no real mischief. Apparently, he'd arrived just in time. "Did you come about the poachers?" There was little other reason for him to come so far.
"Yeah, and maybe a dragon. Do you know anything?" It was difficult to miss such things, especially so close to home. Kent nodded, watching as Gavin tucked in his shirt and pulled on his satchel. He was clearly a little shaken, but Mene certainly hadn't dampened his spirits. Kent softened a little as he turned his flank, planting his feet ready for Gavin to climb up.
"It's a little further than we usually travel, but I can take you there. Come." He held one muscular forearm down to help him swing on. Gavin felt much safer on Kent's wide back. It was rare for forest creatures to attack centaurs, and Kent was among the senior hunters in his herd, so other centaurs would also leave them be. "I'm impressed you made it so far…The young ones often stalk and hunt in this area…In some ways, you're lucky Mene was alone." Gavin wasn't quite convinced by that. Then again, one centaur wrecking my ass is better than a whole hunting party…If that's what they would have done.
"I signalled a few times, but I guess you weren't close enough." That much was true. He wasn't on patrol that day, so he'd been much deeper in the trees than usual. He was lucky he'd been close enough to pick up his last call and whimpering cries. Any later and he would have been in an unfortunate position. The thought made Kent's brow furrow. Being in season was a poor excuse for treating a Philia with such disrespect. He truly couldn't apologise enough, though Gavin didn't blame him. He knew well the risk of entering the forest alone, though amorous centaurs certainly wasn't one of his usual concerns. Guess I should add it to my list…
Progress was much faster now that he'd met Kent, and no longer worried about getting lost. Kent accepted his hands on his waist as he cantered between the trees. His hooves made rhythmical thuds on the damp earth, throwing up fallen leaves as he went. He leapt over fallen trees and rocks, always avoiding low-hanging branches. He remained mindful of Gavin's fragile body, but wasn't concerned about him falling. Gavin had ridden many times in his youth, and from the way his thighs gripped his flank and his ass bounced on his back, it seemed he remembered how. Gavin watched the forest fly by, enjoying the breeze in his hair and the exhilaration in his chest as he was rocked and bounced. He couldn't help grinning as Kent dove over a huge fallen log, hooves barely clearing the surface. It was unreal how high he could jump.
Gavin sat a little straighter as Kent began to slow. The forest floor was getting harder now, and the trees thinned. They'd gone all the way to the edge of the forest, where trees gave way to mountainous slopes. The forest surrounded the base, but between the mountains were extensive areas of flat, barren ground. It was a good place to set up camp as far as the terrain went, but a terrible place if you wanted cover. That was probably why the area had been cleared out. Recently it looked like. Gavin frowned as he slid down and took a few tentative steps along the rocky path.
"I shall wait within the trees…I dare not tread where death still lingers." Gavin frowned a little as he looked back. Death? He drew his wand and swallowed, sweeping his eyes back and forth. If Kent sensed death here, then it was best to be cautious. On the plus side, he didn't say outright that there was danger ahead. Kent soon disappeared back into the forest, leaving Gavin to continue onwards. From the faded scorch marks on the ground, it seemed a dragon had definitely been there at one point. There were also broken crates, snapped chains, and burned tatters of canvas. A tent? The poachers would have needed somewhere to shelter, but with a dragon? Was it a fully grown dragon or an adolescent? It had sounded big.
The closer he got to the mountain path, the stronger the smell of burning became. Not just burning, but decay as well. Gavin swallowed as his mouth watered. He knew that smell. Flesh. Rotting flesh. His throat clenched in warning, and his stomach churned. He raised an arm over his mouth and nose, still wary as he edged along the path. He cursed under his breath as he reached the edge of the slope and circled round to find the dragon. It was dead. Luckily, the strength of the hide meant animals hadn't made much headway yet, even after a few days.
He approached the gigantic beast, taking in the majestic sight. It was fully grown, but young, barely started in life. It had to be less than fifty years old! He didn't know much about dragons, but it was huge. He'd say almost forty feet long, and far wider with the wing span. It was a deep shade of red with black armoured scales running down its spine and tail, with sharp claws and teeth. He balked as he reached the eyes, which were now deep, bloodied pits. The eyes were one of the few places that could easily be devoured. It was a damned shame.
He hated to get so close when the smell was so strong, but he wanted to find out why or how it had happened. What had caused it? He frowned as he took in the huge, open gashes along the neck and flank. There were more scratches that had healed over, and bite marks. There were few things that could do such damage to a dragon. Another dragon? It was rare, but dragon fighting was a popular sport. Popular, dangerous, and outlawed…It wasn't just for cruelty, either. If fighting dragons got loose, they'd probably torch the entire area. Well, looks like the camp got torched…He'd explore that once he was done with the dragon. If he had to guess, he'd say this dragon had lost the fight and died of its injuries. There wasn't enough blood to say it had bled out, but from the odd angle of the neck, he'd say the other dragon had closed its jaws around it and twisted.
With that done, he turned his attention to the remains of the camp. The heavy metal pegs from the enormous tent were still embedded in the rock. It looked like most of the heavy canvas had been obliterated. By the other dragon? Did it escape? Possibly, but it hadn't lingered. Thankfully, it also hadn't attacked the school or nearby village. The forest had also escaped unscathed. He probably shouldn't be surprised. Dragons were intelligent creatures. Whatever happened, it likely understood the forest creatures had played no part in it. Walking around the area, he could see the charred remains of a few bodies. It was impossible to say anything about them. They'd been charred and picked to the bone at this point.
"Gavin?" He turned with the reflexes of an auror, wand raised and ready to strike. The curse was already halfway to his lips before he realised it was Connor. His heart hammered with adrenaline at the sudden interruption, and his brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you doing here?" Connor had his own wand raised, but quickly lowered it now he realised it really was Gavin. He could tell he was as relieved as he was. Gavin sighed out a breath, cursing quietly as he lowered his hand and almost glowered.
"What am I doing here? What the phck are you doing here? How did you even get all the way out here?" He was pretty sure Connor hadn't spent his school years running around the forest at night, and he didn't have the protection of the centaurs. It made little sense that Connor had made it all the way there with no trouble. He certainly didn't look like he'd been in trouble. His clothes, though casual, were neat as ever. His hair was perhaps a little windswept as he ran his fingers through it.
"Sixty and I flew here, and you?" Gavin looked around, but couldn't see the other twin anywhere.
"I-uh-I walked." He didn't want to reveal Kent's presence. He was wary of outsiders, even if they were acquaintances of his. "I heard a weird sound a few days ago and came to investigate it…Have to say, I'm surprised to find a phcking dragon. Looks like it died in a fight." There was no reason to keep the details from Connor, and he was smart enough to figure it out anyway. Connor nodded his agreement as he joined him, casting his gentle gaze over the burned out camp with a sense of horror and regret. Gavin stepped a little closer, fully aware that this was likely Connor's first brush with death on this scale. There were at least seven charred up corpses. It always hit differently when they were people.
"What was going on here?" Connor's voice was quiet, filled with sadness at the senseless loss he saw around him. Gavin was surprised he couldn't guess from the state of the place, but before he could enlighten him, a third voice piped up.
"Poachers…but not the regular kind." Sixty was right. Normally poachers would sneak into the forest, gather rare or mystical creatures to sell on the black market, and then disappear. They tried to draw as little attention to themselves as possible. From the look of this place, they'd set up a semi-permanent base. A place they were hosting dragon fights. If they were hosting the fights, that means they had an audience…The closest audience around here, besides students, were the locals of Hogsmeade. Really? I thought locals had a thing about going into the forest…It was a well-known fact that centaurs didn't take kindly to outsiders in their territory. Hell, he'd been named Philia, and he still got in trouble!
"That's for sure. By the state of that dragon, I'd say they had a fighting ring set up." Sixty nodded his agreement. He wasn't as soft as his brother. He knew things like this happened, and had seen some of it first-hand. "The question is, did this incident end their operation for good, or will they set up again elsewhere?" None of them had an answer for that. The best he could really do was ask Kent to keep an eye out and let him know. If the business had been lucrative enough, and if they had access to more beasts like dragons, they'd surely be back. They've got to make up the losses from this shit somehow…"You probably shouldn't get mixed up in this shit," Gavin added as he turned to Connor, who glowered at the suggestion.
"Just because you used to be an auror doesn't mean-"
"That's exactly what it means!" Connor bristled at being cut off and opened his mouth, ready to argue again. "Dealing with shit like this was my job for almost two decades! Hell, jobs like this were easier than most. I don't want you getting yourself killed because you were meddling in shit above your paygrade!" He'd never sounded more like a teacher than he did when scolding Connor, who was ready to argue back when Sixty stepped in. This was one thing he and Gavin could wholeheartedly agree on. Of his brothers, Connor was the softest. He was kind and sensitive. Far too gentle to be touched by something like this.
"Gavin's right, Con…I don't want you mixed up in this either." Connor's ears heated a little at his brother taking Gavin's side. He felt betrayed. He was perfectly competent, and he knew more about magical creatures than either of them. If this was a fighting ring, he may be of use.
"We should look around a little more and see what was left behind." Giving them something to focus on promptly ended the argument. Gavin walked off without waiting for a response. He skirted along the edge of the tattered tent, examining the pegs and canvas. The canvas was pretty cheap, and the pegs had been driven straight into the rock. Judging by the huge circumference, he assumed it had been tall. Maybe a little taller than the tallest trees. It would have to be to fit two dragons and an audience inside. How did they keep the dragons inside though? Since there was only one left, he assumed their wings weren't clipped. It seemed the second dragon had broken out and escaped after winning the fight.
He paused by each corpse he came across, looking for anything left unscathed. Jewellery, a scrap of clothing, anything. He found a ring, but it was just a plain band. There was a battered pocket watch, but there were no identifying features like inscriptions. He picked up a gold chain, but it was just a standard necklace. Nothing special. Things like wallets and clothing had been charred beyond recognition or disintegrated completely. Besides one body having a few gold teeth, there was nothing remarkable at all. He kept the jewellery he'd found so he could send it with his report to the ministry. This probably wasn't what they'd had in mind when they asked him to keep watch, but it should probably be put on their radar.
Many crates had been burned to cinders, along with the contents. Judging by the smell, he guessed a lot of them had been full of meat. Food for the dragons…There were also cages that varied in size, but none were large enough to hold a dragon. He frowned as he noticed the huge hooks bolted to the ground with broken chains attached. Huge chains. The links were bigger than his fist. These could probably hold a dragon…but how did it get loose? Looking around, he found his answer. Two of the hooks had been loosened and pulled free, leaving gaping holes in the rock. So, the dragon got free during the fight, finished its opponent, and attacked its captors straight after. He couldn't blame it. He would have done the same.
There were a few things he just couldn't figure out though. Why set up in the Forbidden Forest, so close to Hogwarts? It was a hostile environment that few people would enter voluntarily. Why dragons? If you were setting up in the forest, it made little sense to bring creatures from outside when the forest itself had various options available, though none so grand as dragons. How did they get the dragons there in the first place? Transporting live dragons was an arduous process, not only because they had to be kept sedated, but because they were so large they were almost impossible to hide without a lot of help. That means this group is big…bigger than the few bodies we found here…There was also a chance it went up quite high. It's not my business…I'll keep an eye on things, but I'm a professor now! I'm phcking retired!
"Looks like the dragon fucked shit up." Gavin snorted as he pushed to his feet. Sixty was less than delicate, but he was right. "Find anything?" He shook his head. Nothing that would help them pin down who these people were or what their plans might be. Not my job…It's not my job…Despite thinking that, his auror senses were tingling. That little voice in the back of his head and the dash of adrenaline that nudged him towards an investigation. The hair on the back of his neck prickled with suspicions as he started spinning silent theories. Phck! It's not my job!
"We should head back for now…" He trailed off, still bothered by the loose ends and unanswered questions. He was a little surprised as the twins offered him a ride, but he wanted to see Kent again before he left. After a little convincing, and insisting to Connor he'd be alright in the forest, they left. It seemed Kent had been watching, though he was too far off to have heard any details. "You didn't tell me there was a phcking fighting ring!" He accepted Kent's arm and swung onto his back, enjoying the lighter pace Kent set for the journey back.
"This area is on the very edge of our homeland…Although it's still our territory, it's rare that we venture so far. We only know of it because of the noise." You still knew about it! Gavin sighed, not pursuing it further. "It would be too dangerous for us to expose ourselves in such an open area, and with dragons in the mix, it would be a less than even fight." Gavin understood that much. There was no way of knowing how well trained the dragons were. He assumed there were also many wizards involved, so that made it even worse. So long as their core territory was defended, they tended to give way to superior numbers. That didn't mean they wouldn't take out lone stragglers, hence the reluctance to wander into their territory.
"Do me a favour and keep your eyes peeled for their return…I get the feeling they're not done yet." Kent agreed. So longer as they could make a profit, it was likely they'd return and set up again. Who the hell was watching this shit anyway? Gavin hadn't realised there was such an underground network for gambling in Hogsmeade. It had always seemed like such a sleepy, unassuming place. Maybe Allen would know where to look. He had to remind himself once again that it wasn't his job, and the most he was doing was passing on news to the ministry so they could deal with it. But what if they don't deal with it?
"What of your other troubles? You mentioned signs of evil at Hogwarts." That was a conundrum, and he didn't mind telling him so. There was no sign of anything strange afoot that he could see, and he'd walked the halls enough times to know. There was no residual dark magic, nor had he heard any whispers of mischief. He'd watched most staff at this point, and all of them had gone about their business as usual. He'd also walked the halls at night enough times to notice if someone was up to no good. Maybe the ministry had misunderstood the warning, and it was really about the poachers. That was the only disturbance he'd come across. "It is curious indeed for wizarding kind to show such interest in our troubles…They never have before." Gavin couldn't argue with that. If poachers were in the Forbidden Forest, that would usually be considered a centaur problem, unless they started attacking local witches and wizards or stealing their crops.
Kent was good enough to see him right to the edge of the forest near Hogsmeade, and they parted ways with the mutual promise of meeting again if anything turned up. It was dark as he left the safety of the trees, but not late. He'd missed dinner, but it wasn't like he was expected. Tina would probably assume he was in Hogsmeade or something. Since he was so close, he stopped in at The Three Broomsticks to get some supper and see if Allen could tell him anything about the locals. He didn't know him too well, but from what he'd seen, he seemed like a good guy. Not someone who'd be involved in any shady business.
"Well-well-well, look what the kneazle dragged in." He frowned a little at finding Sixty and Connor there, though it made sense since they'd been in the forest earlier. "How did you get back so fast?" It was a fair question. It would have taken a long time without Kent's help. He shrugged as he joined them at their table, sighing in relief as he finally sat. Riding Kent was hard on his ass, and walking the forest trails had made his feet sore. I'm not as young as I used to be, phck!
"I disapparated halfway." They accepted the explanation quickly enough. Who'd want to get caught at night in the middle of the forest? It was a dangerous place. They were already two drinks in, eating a hearty-looking stew with thick bread rolls and cheese. Gavin ordered the same and a Dragon Scale ale. It was on the weaker side, but he didn't want to touch the strong stuff after last time. He was still missing most of that night. His eyes were already heavy and tired as Allen dropped off his tankard and wandered out back to plate him some food.
"We were thinking…the easiest way to track down the poachers may be via their clientele," Connor murmured, keeping the conversation quiet. Even in The Three Broomsticks, you never knew who was listening. There weren't many others there so close to dinner. The locals were mostly at home with their families and the shops were closing for the night. Gavin sighed as he looked between them. They were on the same track, but he'd told them to stay out of it. "We don't have to be involved directly to look into things…" It was a weak defence, but his heart was in the right place.
"I was thinking the same thing myself, which is why I stopped in here…You think Allen might know any potential spectators?" Sixty nodded. It was a definite possibility. Although most shady business took place at The Hog's Head, the village was quite small. Everybody know everybody, and they were all in each other's business. Allen was an outlier, but he listened and learned. People talked, and they especially enjoyed talking to their bartender. If you wanted to know anything, you could ask Allen, and if he didn't know, he'd be able to find out.
It wasn't long before Gavin had his own bowl of stew. It was great comfort food on a chilly night. The stew was thick, with large chunks of slow cooked steak that fell apart in his mouth. There were slices of onion, chunks of carrot, thick dumplings, and mushrooms inside with a side of fluffy mashed potato and fresh broccoli. On a second plate was a soft bread roll with a thick slice of cheddar cheese inside that he could dip in the stew. It was divine, and warmed him through, though the tavern itself wasn't cold. The fire was roaring, thick logs crackling away just a few feet across the room. Connor and Sixty had chosen a good table. They were tucked away in the corner, mostly out of sight, with a clear view of the door. It was a good place to watch as professors in the event students came in. That wasn't a worry at this hour. Curfew had fallen some time ago.
"Hey, handsome! Come sit with us!" Allen scowled a little from his place behind the bar, wiping a glass. There weren't many patrons, but he still didn't like it when Sixty put their business out there for all to see. Sixty grinned, utterly unapologetic as he leaned his chin on one hand and patted the seat beside him. Something about Gavin and Connor's expressions must have clued him in that he was actually needed as, a few seconds later, he put the glass on a shelf and left the towel on the counter. He accepted Sixty's weight as he leaned in and nestled his head on his shoulder and looked between them expectantly.
"We found proof of a dragon fighting ring out in the Forbidden Forest…Have you heard anything recently?" Gavin asked quietly, watching Allen's sharp grey eyes scan the bar before he leaned in. That was a good thing for Sixty, who took the opportunity to loop their arms and lean even closer. Gavin and Connor joined them instinctively, each leaning and shuffling closer to the table.
"I've heard whispers, and noticed things…Strangers passing through and such. It's not unusual to get visitors, but these were the…unsavoury type." Gavin didn't need him to explain. Sometimes you just knew a bad egg. "A lot of the planning happened in The Hog's Head. I wouldn't allow it in here, and the locals know it. It never used to be that way, but it seems The Hog's Head is becoming a hotbed for shady dealings. About a month ago, darker folk started turning up and heading out to the forest in droves. They tried to be discrete about it, but it's easy to notice when so few people venture that way." Connor hummed softly as he sipped his beer, nose wrinkling a little at the strength of it. Gavin could only guess he didn't drink that often. Despite his tipsy state, he was still fully invested in the conversation.
"Did you hear about dragons specifically? Or was there something else?" It was a good question, so Gavin let it go.
"Well, we could hear the dragons, especially out in the fields…but from what I understand, they'll fight anything they can lay hands on." He leaned even closer for the next part. "There's even been some talk of capturing live centaurs." Phck! Gavin tried not to let anything show on his face. Kent hadn't mentioned anything like that, so he assumed the plan had either fallen through, or they hadn't attempted it yet. Either way, I'll send word to Kent tonight. If they knew, they'd at least be prepared. It would take a little time for the group to reform after this latest loss, so they should have time.
"I'll send word to the ministry tonight…Hopefully they'll send someone out here." Hopefully, someone that isn't me. He was retired. Definitely retired. Absolutely one hundred percent done. He tried to shut down the little voice in the back of his mind that tried to tell him otherwise.