The experience of riding on Fluffy was so vastly different to anything else Holly had ever experienced before. The powerful muscles of the Cerberus tensing and contracting under her, the heat of his body and the sheer speed with which they travelled through the forest, green shapes just blurring past her.

She contemplated how much more enjoyable this would be if they weren't still running from the horde of spiders hot on their heels. Holly clung onto Fluffy's fur for dear life as they barreled through yet another thicket, getting scratched by thorns and sharp twigs.

Fluffy made a sudden sharp turn to dodge another spider leaping at them out of a tree. With all his quick twists and turns trying to dodge, Holly would have been thrown off long ago if she hadn't stuck herself to his fur with a blob of spiderwebs that he had been hit with earlier.

A shriek pierced the forest. Had the spiders finally given up their chase? They'd hunted them for ages, deep into the healthy looking part of the forest again. But when Holly turned her head to confirm, she was surprised to find a spider pinned to a tree with spears or javelins.

"Hyah, get the intruders!"

"Send the foul beasts back into the abyss!"

"Chaaaarge!"

Fluffy leaped over the five charging centaurs, almost grazing the tips of their raised spears and landed, not so gracefully, on his injured leg and slid across the mossy forest floor.

Holly watched as the Centaurs clashed with the spiders, spears piercing into eyes and claws ripping into flesh. There were far more spiders than Centaurs, and while the horse-men had the advantage of reach with their weaponry, they lacked in numbers and manoeuvrability. Once one of them got locked into a fight and couldn't overrun the spider anymore, he was prone to being attacked from multiple sides.

Still, they were almost evenly matched, surely they would appreciate some assistance. Holly climbed off of Fluffy's back, leaving her outer robe behind that was too sticky to get off, and searched her pockets for something that could maybe come in handy. She didn't know if it'd work on the spiders, but in a pinch, it could help the centaurs.

When she had found it, she readied herself and spoke to Fluffy:

"Fluffy, Fluffy! We have to help the nice horsies okay?" He barked excitedly in reply. "Help them kill the bad spiders, you got that? Help the horsies! They're not for ea-" he charged into the fray, "-ting!"

Wait, did he even know what a horse was?

Well, he was a smart dog, it'd work out.

While Fluffy practically ripped the spiders to shreds, Holly was barely any help just randomly throwing stones at spiders. So she started intercepting any globs of webs being shot at the centaurs, since they, in comparison to Fluffy, were actually in danger of getting stuck.

If today's events had confirmed one thing, then that Fluffy was an absolute predator and that while he was still basically half a puppy. When he grew up he'd be a killing machine. Though for now, he was simply the best puppy. Hopefully Fang never heard her admit that out loud, he'd be devastated.

"Out of the way beast," a newly arrived centaurs with long black hair and beard shouted at Fluffy as he joined the fight. One of Fluffy's heads looked at him confused, at least until that arse hit him with the blunt end of his spear, making him growl and fletch his teeth.

"The glory of Mars shall be mine!"

Rage surged within Holly as she witnessed the centaur striking Fluffy again to get him to back off of 'his' glory kills. Without a second thought, Holly sprinted towards the bastard of a centaur, fueled by an anger she didn't know she possessed. The centaur, busy fending off and killing a spider, didn't see her until she was right in front of him.

Holly slapped a small piece of parchment onto where his human torso met the horse body and backed off again with a smug smirk on her face. The paper fizzled, leaving nothing behind but some smoke. She could see the magic taking effect, a thin transparent film of blue encasing the centaur, covering his skin.

"What is a human doing here," he questioned her as he pointed his spear at her face.

She didn't bother replying, trying very hard not to burst out laughing when the spear in his hands slowly began to slip forward. The dumb look on his face as he scrambled to hold onto the spear better, but kept failing to, was to die for. The spear clattered to the ground, the centaur's face turning beet red.

"You, human, what did you do to me!?" He took a step forward… and promptly slipped as well.

Holly couldn't hold it in the laughter any longer, his horse body sprawled on the ground, struggling to stay upright looked far too funny. A spider dropped out of the tree above and onto his body, making him scream. The spider lunged for his face, teeth glinting dangerously.
The centaur managed to raise his arms in time to shield his face and maybe flight the spider off, but the spider managed to bite him regardless.

Or tried to rather. Its fangs just slid off his skin as if he was made from oil. Holly quickly hurled a stone at the spider. Due to how close she stood, the throw had some more power, the spider being sent flying and Fluffy snatching it right up in his jaws.

"Me? Oh, I was just teaching you a lesson!" She patted one of Fluffy's necks as he sat down beside her, still growling at the centaur. "Don't hurt my friends!"

She turned away from the helpless centaur and focused back on the battle, ignoring his angry screams about dishonouring the noble race of centaurs.

This invention had been the evolution of her one time spells using runes on parchment, that had saved her life from drowning in her own blood last year. It had dispelled the effects of a body-bind. But what was better than dispelling magic? Not getting hit with a spell in the first place.

So she had worked on finding a good combination of runes to make a portable shield. Since parchment could only hold so much magic at a time she'd been limited to her simple triangle rune formation. It was clear that she'd have to use Algiz, the futhark letter that looked similar to a trident for its meaning of protection and shielding.

She'd tried a lot of different variations of runes, strengthening the protection with the rune, Isa, for standstill/blocking and Eihwaz for strength for example had worked wonderfully. If one overlooked the flaw that it made the shield almost physical, preventing you from moving entirely until the magic ran out.

The one currently affecting the centaur was using the rune for protection of course, with the added runes for change and the one for flow/renewal. And while it worked, no one would be able to touch you, neither would you be touching anything. Your skin would lose all friction. Holly had planned to keep that on her at all times to maybe stick to Malfoy one day if he got too annoying again.

Actually, now that she saw the centaur struggling to even sit upright, if she used one on herself, could she slide down the stairs in Hogwarts like a waterslide? That would need some testing later.

If Holly had foreseen today's events, then she'd have definitely packed her best working one, that absorbed spellfire and repaired itself if it got damaged. Weirdly enough, it used the rune Kenaz for creativity and Fehu of all things. Fehu usually symbolised money or wealth, but could also be understood as luck or abundance. She didn't know how any of the first three could help with any of the shields functions, so 'abundance' had to be the thing making it work. Of course there was no right answer or interpretation to any rune, but still, it was weird.

Just another thing she'd been too busy to try out this summer.

All her thinking had taken so long that by the time Holly remembered that there was a fight going on, it was practically over. Fluffy had sat himself down beside her and was licking his wounds, albeit they were minuscule. If she took a look at the centaurs though it was a different story entirely.

They were soaked in sweat and blood, both their own and the spiders'. Their flanks were riddled with gashes, exposing flesh and strong muscles in open wounds. The centaurs had stoic looks on their faces, ignoring the wounds that were certainly painful, instead preferring to place the stones she'd thrown earlier in a big circle where they collected the spider bodies.

"What are you doing," Holly asked as she approached a white haired centaur by the mass of bodies, Fluffy following on her heels. Striking stones against each other to create sparks, the centaur tried to set the bodies aflame.

"The forest's blight has to be burned before it can taint the lands." He turned to her, when the sparks just wouldn't work. "May I be so presumptuous as to ask for your assistance once more, young witch?"

Holly nodded and with a jab of her wand, sent a wave of blazing heat at the bodies. They seemed to resist the fire for a short while, but like all things, burned eventually, spreading thick black smoke through the treetops above and into the sky.

"Thank you, Holly Potter and your companion, for the aid," he said as he laid a hand on her shoulder with a smile. "May Luna's light continue to blaze brightly within, unimpeded by Minerva casting long shadows around."

Holly's eyes widened in surprise, how did he know her name? And what was Professor McGonagall casting?

"Firenze!" Another centaur shouted from across the clearing. "The secrets of the heavens are not to be spilled to the likes of them!"

Turning to see who had disrupted their conversation, Holly was instantly annoyed. It seemed like her magic had run its course, the centaur she had taken out of the fight was back on his feet, or was it hooves? And he looked very, very angry, even angrier than before.

"As you told me before, Bane, we are sworn to the movements of the heavens," Firenze calmly replied. "And just as us, humans are a part of the firmament. We have witnessed their influence this summer, the humans have a bigger role yet to play..."

"...Especially this one."

Bane fell silent, giving her a look of absolute disgust and loathing. Holly glared back, Firenze seemed like a much more reasonable centaur than Bane. Even if she had no idea what they were talking about, she was definitely on Firenze's side in this argument.

"Sure… this one," Bane scoffed. "The abominations are agitated, something has stirred them into a frenzy to attack our forest. I wouldn't be surprised if it was her fault. What a great role to play!"

"Excuse you," she interjected, "if you couldn't tell, Fluffy and I helped you fight the spiders off so-"

"Ah yes, right after leading them here and bewitching me."

"Bane," Firenze said warningly. "Without their help we would certainly have lost someone in the fight. Not to mention that the abominations have encroached upon our lands for weeks already. Do not be so hasty in passing judgement for our plight onto the innocent.

Whatever is driving the acromantulae away from the caste and into our lands cannot be a student!"

"Tch, if you choose to ignore my warning, then on your head be it."

With those words, he turned his back to them and disappeared into the underbrush. Firenze looked after him with a sad look on his face.

"I apologise for his behaviour. Please do not blame Bane for his harsh words. We have lost many a great warrior in recent weeks, including his mentor," he paused. "No matter, I see your escort has arrived."

And just as he said that a familiar booming voice echoed through the clearing.

"Firenze, I came as soon as I saw the smoke! I dunno what's gotten into Mosag and her brood."

Hagrid was huffing and puffing, the thick cloak he usually wore slung over his shoulder. Clearly he'd been running here.

"Hello Hagrid, it's good to see you again," Firenze greeted him.

"Wha' exactly 'appened here," Hagrid asked. But before the centaur could reply, Fluffy bound over to the half-giant, barking happily.

"So this is where yeh've bin hidin Fluffy, I've bin looking fer yeh. 's not safe for yeh in the forest anymore, Dumbledore wants yeh to- H-HOLLY!"

And then he had finally spotted Holly standing next to Firenze. Like a fish out of water, his mouth opened and closed without sound, too shocked to actually say anything. So Holly took it upon herself.

"Ehr, hey Hagrid. Lovely day for a stroll through the forest isn't it? Fluffy is such lovely company," she nervously scratched the back of her neck. Hopefully this would only result in a long lecture about safety in the forest and not a lot of detention.

"Hol-… Fluffy… company!?" Hagrid stammered out.

"They were a great asset to our defence, Hagrid. But it's best if you take them back to the castle soon," Firenze added. He almost looked proud as he smiled down at her. "Miss Potter, this forest is like a tapestry of wonders, and even if the other's don't see it yet, one day you will make a great w-"

"Are yeh insane, Holly! Did yeh seriously brawl with Mosag's daughters? Someone could've gotten hurt."

Hagrid looked beside himself, almost on the verge of tears again. On the one hand, Holly wasn't sure if Hagrid understood what a brawl was exactly and what they were burning in the circle of stone. On the other hand he seemed genuinely worried for her, but also the… spiders?

"Ah, ehrm yes. I only 'brawled' with her *cough* daughters," she tried to placate him, foregoing to tell him that she probably did have a run-in with this so-called Mosag as well.

"Is tha' righ' ?" He seemed unconvinced. "Well, come on then. Better not ter dally in the forest. Thank yeh fer takin care o' her, Firenze."

"Always a pleasure Hagrid. And may we meet again under better circumstances, Miss Potter!"

Firenze disappeared as quickly as Bane earlier, Holly barely had time to scream a 'goodbye' after him. But now that she was alone with Hagrid, and he seemed to have completely ignored that she wasn't actually supposed to be with Fluffy, or in the forest at all, she could ask him some things on the way back to the castle. She ran to catch up to him and Fluffy who had already started the trek back.

"So, that acromantula, Mosag was it, you know her?"

"O' course i know her, i practically raised her husband Aragog by hand an' later found her so they could raise a nice family here," he replied. "Yeh see, they're not usually native ter Britain, but they're such beau'iful animals tha' i jus had ter get one as a familiar."

Holly almost stumbled from shock when Hagrid finished. He'd wanted a giant spider as a familiar? Now that she thought about it, that wasn't too far off wanting to raise a dragon in a wooden hut or a Cerberus in a castle with no way of letting out his energy.

Maybe Hagrid wasn't the most responsible adult around… Not that Holly cared though, she also wanted dragons and a Cerberus and many more cute animals. And maybe, if they weren't currently trying to kill her, acromantulae could be a little cute?

"Well, they did have a very big family."

"Oh yes, they did. An' such good parents they are, their children have on'y attacked me twice by accident. I'm so proud o' 'em," he wiped a tear from his eye.

Only twice… she gaped up at him. Maybe she should just ignore those statements. No, not maybe, she definitely should.

Her curiosity satisfied and too scared of the answers for any of her other questions, they continued to walk back quietly. Except for Fluffy happily running around again, having forgotten his injury when Holly began throwing another toppled trunk they came across for him to chase. And before Holly knew it, they'd arrived back at the edge of the forest, where Fluffy said his final goodbyes with a lot of licks. Thankfully cleaning her of most of the spider blood in the process. How Hagrid hadn't noticed that, she couldn't guess.

"Now, back to the castle with yeh, classes start early tomorrow an 's almost dark already."

"Of course yes," Holly replied with a small giggle. "Just one more thing, could you help me get my robe off of Fluffy? It's been stuck to his back for quite a while now."

Holly got some weird looks walking past the great hall covered in Cerberus slobber. Dinner was still in full swing, but at least she didn't come across Malfoy, or worse yet, Filch the castle's caretaker. She definitely would not have avoided a detention like she did with Hagrid. The caretaker was too keen on punishing students for 'dirtying his halls'.

So, as quickly as possible, Holly ran up to the common room and jumped right under the shower, clothes and all. After today's difficulties the warm water cascading over her face and washing away the filth was a welcome feeling.

When she had finally finished and dried herself off, she fell into bed and was out like a light, the full moon casting a soft glow over her bed.

*drip*

~Three hundred and five~

The wind howled through the cold cave, blowing droplets of water at her face.

She went back to sleep.

*drip*

~Three hundred and six~

*drip*

~Three hundred and seven~

She was alone.

She went back to sleep

*drip*

~Three hundred and eight~

*drip*

~Three hundred and nine~

She scratched another mark into the wall of the cave.

She went back to sleep

*drip*

~Three hundred and ten~

*drip*

~Three hundred and eleven~

How much longer would she have to wait?

She went back to sleep

*drip*

~Three hundred and twelve~

*drip*

~Three hundred and thirteen~

The darkness was so lonely.

She went back to sleep

*drip*

~Three hundred and fourteen~

*drip*

~Three hundred and fifteen~

Had her sisters truly abandoned her?

With tears in her eyes, she went back to sleep.

*drip*

~Three hundred and sixteen~

*drip*

~Three hundred and seventeen~

Her heartbeat quickened. Beckoned by the beauty of the moon casting its soft glow over her marred face, she dared to leave the safety of their cave.

For the first time in decades, magic called out to her.

Weaving through the rocky mountainside, she followed the whispers.

She listened, she learned, she stayed awake.