After two days of whispers and stares, Aria was grateful for Hagrid's invitation to tea. She, Harry, Ron, and Hermione traipsed down to the man's hut after classes, still in uniform, and were greeted with great enthusiasm by Fang who proceeded to drool all over Ron and Harry to their delight.
"I thought ya might be ready for some peace'n'quiet," Hagrid said as he poured them all tea.
"Thanks, Hagrid," Aria answered, letting the tea warm her hands. "I've been getting a bit of mail over it too. So far, I've had Teddy Lawrence and Frank Treworgy write, though I think Frank's changed his name to Lawrence too, and I've gotten notes from Percy, Tracey, Prudence, and surprisingly Oliver and Marcus."
She was pretty certain that, since all those letters came with Percy's owl Hermes, that there had been some communal letter writing and that Flint had most likely been bullied into writing her a letter. His letter had, after all, said that Prudence threatened his manhood if he did not try and be encouraging towards her and he had then listed a series of hexes that she was certain would land her in detention if not suspension if she got caught using them.
"Aw, glad to see some people still lookin' after ya!" Hagrid cried with a pleased grin. "Good to know ya got good friends 'ere and outta 'ogwarts!"
He was interrupted by Fang standing and barking at the door. Everyone stared at the dog who usually cowered under the table or in his bed whenever someone approached the door, unless it was a student. Hagrid slowly moved towards the window, moving the corner of the curtain back before dropping it in shock.
"Firenze!" he greeted, throwing the door open. Aria, Harry, Ron, and Hermione crowded in the doorway with Hagrid, staring in shock at the two centaurs standing in the pumpkin patch. Aria remembered them. They had been there when the unicorn had died and had ensured that the unicorn parts made it into her hands.
"Hagrid," the one named Firenze greeted. The other, Bane, simply nodded at the groundskeeper before his heavy gaze landed on Aria. She felt her heart shutter at the look. There was something there in the centaur's gaze, like he knew something she did not, as if . . . well . . . her divination textbook did say that centaurs were known to be oracles on occasion.
"We are here for the witch," Bane said.
"Er . . . which one?" Hagrid questioned.
"The one born of Muggles."
"Gonna 'ave ta be a bit more specific than that," Hagrid said with a note of apology. "Both girls 'ere are Muggleborn."
Bane sighed, as if Hagrid were being purposefully difficult.
"The one who is a friend of unicorns," he said. Aria glanced at her friends. Hermione nudged her forward and she stepped out onto the front stoop of the hut.
"Aria Bourne," Firenze greeted.
"Hello," Aria greeted. She gave a little curtsy.
"It's time for you to progress in your training as a witch," Bane stated. "It has been foretold that you will learn from us for a time."
Foretold? Who was foretelling? And learn from the centaurs? Was that even possible? They didn't even like humans! Aria's confusion must have shown on her face as Firenze picked up the conversation.
"We, of course, understand that it is against the laws of your school for students to enter our forest. A wise law. However, for you to learn what you need from us, you will need to enter into the forest. We would like to speak with Headmaster Dumbledore on this."
Aria glanced at Hagrid, knowing that he was the only person here besides the centaurs that might have any idea about what was going on. Hagrid was doing a terrible job at hiding his shock and confusion. When he realized Aria was looking at him, he drew in a deep breath.
"I think it best to fetch the 'eadmaster," Hagrid told her. "Use that fancy Patronus of yours."
"My Patronus?"
"Aye, I've seen 'em used to send messages!"
Aria drew her wand and seconds later her fox was running around her ankles, looking for dementors to chase away. She crouched down and it came trotting towards her, the warmth of the Patronus gently heating her skin as it got closer.
"Um . . ." she glanced at Hagrid.
"Just, I think you can just say the message like a letter." Aria turned back to the fox whose tail was swishing back and forth.
"Headmaster Dumbledore," Aria said, "please come out towards Hagrid's hut. Two centaurs, Bane and Firenze, would like to talk to you." She nodded and her Patronus was suddenly running up the hill and disappearing straight into the castle through a wall.
"That's amazing!" Hermione cried. "It seems a relatively secure way to send messages quickly. I'll have to practice it!"
"Let us meet your headmaster," Bane said, turning towards the castle. "We will not step one hoof into your . . . castle . . . but we can meet him part way."
Hagrid pushed the kids out of his hut and the four friends led Bane and Firenze up the hill. Their presence was immediately spotted and carried throughout the school. Aria could see a growing number of students coming out of the castle or peering out random windows to see the centaurs and the fact that she, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were walking with them.
As they approached the front doors of the castle, Dumbledore appeared from within, followed closely by the other two heads of school, and several professors including Snape and McGonagall. No one even tried to hide their shock at the scene before them.
"Firenze," Dumbledore greeted, "Bane. To what do we owe this pleasure? Have students been encroaching into your territory?"
"There are few students who break the law of entering the forest," Bane answered. "We are not here because of that. The stars have told the herd that the friend of unicorns should be taught for a time by us, and we seek your permission to allow her entrance into the forest to learn from us."
Aria had the feeling that, based off Bane's tone, the centaur did not think she really needed permission. It was, she thought, probably good manners to ask the headmaster anyway.
Dumbledore frowned.
"Friend of unicorns?" he questioned. Firenze and Bane motioned to Aria.
"Several years ago, this foal became friends with the unicorns that live beside us," Bane stated. "Offering comfort and protection in a time of great distress against a Fiend."
Understanding came across Dumbledore's face.
"Of course," he said. "I remember now. But I'm afraid I do not completely understand your request. You wish to grant Miss Bourne the opportunity to learn under the centaurs? Why?"
"Because it is what has been commanded us by the stars of the heavens," Bane answered. "Do you think we would be here otherwise?"
It did appear as if Bane would rather be anywhere but where he was.
Snape turned to Aria.
"Do you understand what is happening?" he asked.
"Not really," Aria admitted. "But I think Bane and Firenze are offering to have me learn from them? Learn what I don't know . . ."
"Magic, child," Firenze answered. "We centaurs have our own brand of it. You will not learn what you need in the high towers of this place."
"What I need?" Aria questioned.
"Does your student have your permission to enter into the forest and learn her craft?" Firenze asked Dumbledore. "She has permission to enter into our territory."
"I am afraid I don't wish her exposed to the dangers of the forest," Dumbledore said.
"We will not allow any harm to come to her," Bane said. "Will you doubt the word of a centaur?"
"This is truly a once in a life-time opportunity," McGonagall said to Dumbledore. "You must let her go and study!"
Dumbledore hesitated.
"I'd . . . like to go," Aria finally piped up. Even though she had no idea what kind of magic the centaurs wanted to teach her, she doubted that they would come all this way just to kill her or do any kind of dark magic over her.
"Very well," Dumbledore agreed. Excitement filled Aria as she looked to her friends, a grin spreading across her face. "So long as it does not interfere with your own studies here, you may attend to lessons with the centaurs."
"Good," Bane said. He and Firenze looked down at Aria. "Come on the last day of your week in the mid-afternoon. Until the snows come and make the forest impossible to traverse, we will meet on that day and that time."
The two centaurs reared up, causing the students to fall back. A few of the first years screamed as the centaurs took off at a gallop back down the hill and disappeared into the forest after leaping over a few pumpkins.
A small breeze was the only disturbance around the front of the castle as everyone either stared at Aria or after the centaurs. A hard blush came over Aria as she slowly turned back towards her professors and heads of school. Snape had his arms folded and was studying her like she was a particularly interesting potion's ingredient. McGonagall was unashamed at her shock and Dumbledore's look . . . was heavy. Overwhelming. She felt a push at her head. Like invisible hands shoving against her eyes. Her magic flared in defense before she could do anything more than cry out at the excruciating pain. Around her stones on the ground rattled or began to float, and several students were shoved over by an invisible force, causing several to cry out in alarm. She squeezed her eyes shut and rammed the heels of her palms against her eyelids.
"Aria!" she heard her friends shout.
"Miss Bourne?" That was Snape. She felt his hands on her shoulders, turning her towards him, and his hand gently drew her hands away from her eyes where tears escaped her clenched eyes.
"It hurts!" she cried. "It's like . . . like that time with Flamel! Like someone's shoving their fingers into my eyes!" She bit back a sob. "Merlin, the pain's spreading!"
"Describe the pain," Snape ordered, his voice stern but gentle.
"Like someone was shoving their fingers into my eye," Aria answered. "God, the pain's spreading. My whole head hurts!"
A cool vial was pressed against her mouth, and she dutifully drank. Immediately, her headache began to subside, and the sharp pain that had been left behind her eyes began to fade to a dull ache. Her magic drew back within her, the stones stopped rattling, and those that levitated dropped with solid thuds to the ground.
Carefully she opened her eyes, wincing at how bright the evening sun was. Snape knelt in front of her, concern barely detectable on his face.
"All right!" McGonagall cried, shooing students away. "Nothing to see here. Nothing to see. Get along now!"
"Professor?" Harry whispered, stepping closer to Aria and Snape. "Did someone try to perform Legilimency on her again?"
Right, that was what it was called. Aria barely remembered the conversation that had taken after the incident in first year, but clearly, Harry had remembered more.
"It certainly seems that way," Snape whispered back.
"Is she going to be okay, Professor?" Hermione asked, worried. She was clinging to Ron's arm and, even though the grip looked painful, Ron was managing not to grimace.
"She will be," Snape declaring, rising to his feet. "Let's go to the Hospital Wing and get you a stronger headache potion." He held onto Aria's elbow as she stumbled beside him into the castle. Students from all three schools parted to let them through. Harry, Ron, and Hermione hurried after them, Hermione chattering nervously to Harry, questioning him rapidly about what Legilimency was and how did he know what it was.
In the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey bustled around to find her strongest migraine potion while Snape lay Aria on her favorite bed.
"I should make a sign," Harry teased as Hermione lay a cold wet cloth over Aria's eyes. Where had she gotten the cloth? "It'll read: ARIA'S BED."
"Very funny," Aria muttered. Someone sat on the side of the bed and began stroking her hair. She lifted the corner of the wet cloth to see Harry, looking very worried.
"I'm fine, Mother Hen," she said. He did not look convinced. He did, however, get out of the way when Madam Pomfrey came over with the migraine potion.
Aria accepted Harry's help in sitting up and quickly downed the potion. The angry throbbing in her head immediately began to subside and after a few minutes, it was completely gone. She sighed with relief.
"Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome, dear," Madam Pomfrey answered. "Though I'd prefer it if you managed to never land yourself in my infirmary. Between you and the Weasley twins, I ought to label your beds!"
Aria's friends snickered.
"Come see me after dinner," Professor Snape said as Aria climbed off the bed, tossing the wet cloth onto the sheets. "I'd like to . . . discuss what happened."
"Which part?" Aria asked, sighing. "The centaurs or the fool I made of myself?"
"Both. Though I'd hardly call what happened 'making a fool of yourself'." Snape opened the infirmary doors and Aria walked past him, straight into a group of fourth years.
"You're alive!" Hannah cried.
"I told you she was," Susan admonished.
"What happened?" Padma asked.
"Is it true you're going to be taught by centaurs?" Lavender asked. "Dean told us what he saw!"
"If you do not cease your senseless questioning, Miss Bourne is going to have to return to the hospital wing for another migraine potion!" Snape growled. Everyone shut up. Snape looked pleased with himself.
"Now," he continued, "Miss Bourne would like to go to dinner. So, I suggest you all toddle along back to the Great Hall."
Aria and her friends hurried off, the crowd of fourth years following her. Only when they were out of sight of Snape did they start talking again.
"Yes, the centaurs have asked to teach me," Aria told Lavender. "I don't know why. Something about they were told to do so. The stars or something."
"That's amazing!" Parvati cried. "I've been reading up on divination and centaurs and well known for their divination abilities. It's said that that is their special brand of magic."
"Are they coming here or are you going into the forest?" Lavender asked.
"I'll be going into the forest. My first lesson is on Saturday."
They came to the Great Hall, and many fourth years decided to sit with Aria at the Slytherin table. Down at the far end where Durmstrang students sat, several of them sent Aria sharp looks even though she did her best to ignore them.
As dinner appear on the tables, an entourage of Beauxbatons students arrived, and they immediately followed an older looking student towards the Slytherin table, stopping just across from Aria. Harry and Ron had to turn around to look at them.
"I am Fleur Delacour," the girl said, her French accent thick as she spoke English. "I wish to tell you, on behalf of the Beauxbatons students, that the treatment of you by the Durmstrang students is deplorable!" The Beauxbatons students nodded their heads in agreement.
"Oh . . ." Aria smiled at them. "Thank you for saying that. Would you like to sit with us?"
The Beauxbatons students eagerly gathered around the group of fourth years, filling the Slytherin table.
"I saw you come to the castle with the centaurs," one of the Beauxbatons girl said. She had a Spanish accent and dark hair that was pulled back into two plaits. "It is impressive that you have been able to befriend them."
"I'm as surprised as you are," Aria admitted. "I mean . . . I spoke to them last year and there were super cryptic about how the stars told them that they were meant to guide me, but I kind of brushed it off."
"When did you speak with the centaurs last year?" Harry asked. Aria stared blankly at him for a moment before realizing she had never said anything about her encounter with them!
"After I had The Vision," she told him. Many of the fourth years nodded their heads, remembering the disastrous attempt of Aria's to read Draco's tarot cards. "Down at the stone circle."
"You have a stone circle?" Fleur asked, eagerly. "Here at Hogwarts?"
"And a cairn," Hermione said.
"We must go see it!" another student cried. "To be so close to sacred places . . . it is truly amazing for you."
The evening mail swooped in. Three letters dropped in front of Aria, and she quickly rescued them before they could land in her goblet or soup. One was from her dad which she put to the side, the other was from Babic as she recognized his handwriting, and the other bore the Gringotts seal.
As the students around her attended to their mail or their evening editions of newspapers (a few of the Beauxbatons students had a French newspaper delivered), Aria first opened the letter from Babic. It was a short note, simply stating that he did not believe he as the right wizard to help her in her lycanthropy research anymore due to their incompatible magics. No well wishes, no apologizes, nothing. Just a simply cutting of ties and a signed name.
"Look at this!" Aria cried, handing the letter across to Harry.
"Why do you think he's not going to help you anymore?" Harry questioned. "What does 'incompatible magics' mean anyway?"
A few of the closes Beauxbatons students choked on their food or drink. Fleur coughed a few times before answering.
"It is, on the continent, the . . . how do you say? Sournois . . . way of saying two people cannot be together because one is pureblood and the other is Muggleborn."
Hermione sniffed, offended on Aria's behalf.
"You don't need him anyway," Hermione declared. "You've got Professor Snape!"
Aria tucked the letter into her pocket to show Snape later. She opened the letter from her dad.
Aria, it said,
I've been very upset since I saw in the paper how those students from Durmstrang acted. Remus and Sirius are also upset. They've been chatting about getting your something called a protection amulet. I've half a mind to pull you out of Hogwarts, but Remus has talked me out of it, and I'm certain if I did pull you out, you'd never talk to me again.
I hope that, beside the Durmstrang students, your year has not been difficult. Sirius is at the house now in the spare room, he spends the weekends in Switzerland, but his doctors are very happy with his progress. He, Remus, and I are getting along great.
Write me back soon. The only letter about the incident I've received is from Severus, but a letter from you would go a long way in soothing my anxiety about you being in the wizarding world.
Lots of love,
Dad
Aria put that letter into her pocket as well. She would need to write to her dad. It was not that she had not thought about it, she just had not known what to say. A part of her had been afraid he would pull her from Hogwarts, but if Remus had already convinced him not to, then she probably had nothing to worry about. Plus, she could now report that the Beauxbatons students were behind her and that might put some of his anxiety at ease.
Picking up the third letter she broke the Gringotts seal and pulled out the letter.
She read it again.
And then a third time.
"What is it?" Hermione asked, leaning over her shoulder. "A will reading?"
"For Nicholas Flamel," Aria said.
Everyone within hearing distance stopped talking and looked at her.
"Nicholas Flamel has passed?" a Beauxbatons student asked.
"He is one of our greatest alumni!" another student added.
"How do you know Nicholas Flamel?" the Spanish student questioned.
"Don't be nosy, Ana," Fleur admonished, although it was clear that she was curious too.
"I . . . met him a few years ago," Aria answered, glancing at Harry. "It was only brief. Excuse me." She got up from the table and made her way towards the Head Table.
"I hear you're going to learn from some beasts," Astoria hissed as she walked by. "Seems fitting for you don't you think?" Aria ignored her and ignored the stares from the Durmstrang students that she passed, two of them being Krum and Nikola. Mounting the dais to the Head Table, she held the Gringotts letter out to Professor Snape who had been having a conversation with one of the Beauxbatons professors that had come as a chaperone.
He read through the letter once before handing it back to her.
"I'll make sure you have the necessary permissions to leave the castle," Snape said. "We should be back in time for you to go to your new . . . tutoring sessions in the forest. I'll escort you. Wear something nice."