That DA meeting had quickly devolved into a scrabble of political nonsense that had actually made Harry's head hurt until the following morning. That saw him at breakfast holding his head in his hands over his plate of eggs and bacon.
"Harry?" Hermione asked in a low tone as she sat down next to him. "Are you alright?"
"It's just a headache," he waved off. "A perfectly regular headache."
Hermione placed her hand in her pocket up to her elbow and rummaged around for a second before pulling out a small potions vial.
"Here."
"Thanks, Mione," he said as he took what he recognized as a medical grade headache potion.
"You look stressed," she said after casting a now-standard privacy charm.
"I am stressed," he admitted with a sigh. "I think we all are. As much as we try to have a good time, we're still preparing to fight for our lives and our future. I'm trying my best to make friends with groups that entire governments have failed to ally with all while I'm still in school. Sometimes, I feel like people like the matriarchs aren't wrong. How can a school boy do everything I'm trying to do?"
He swallowed once he realized just how much he'd ended up saying. Thankfully, it was just him and Hermione on the side of the bench protected by the privacy charm. It was too early for Ron or his other dorm mates to be dragged out of bed yet.
"Harry," she said as she placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Do you realize that you've already succeeded in places where those governments have failed? You've made friends with centaurs and veela and you know what else? You haven't done it alone. You've inspired so many people to work hard to make the world around them better."
"You've done most of the inspiring, Hermione."
"No, I haven't," she said. "I'm terrible at inspiring people to make a change. Remember S.P.E.W.?"
He cringed and she rolled her eyes.
"I know, I know. It wasn't great."
"It was terrible," he snorted. "The house-elves called you 'she who must not be named' for a month."
"Anyways. You've inspired everyone to believe in a cause and to work towards a goal. You're doing something great here Harry and one day you'll see just how much."
"Thanks, Hermione," he said, looking as if he felt slightly better but didn't fully agree with the sentiment.
The brunette woman just shook her head softly. "You'll see, Harry, you'll see."
…
The moon was hanging high overhead sending scattered rays of light through the dense forest canopy. Below it was an unlikely group that was slowly coming to be normal in the already odd forest.
Two centaurs, tall and proud, patrolled through the woods with two armored teenagers.
Zacharias Smith and Justin Finch-Fletchley were originally pretty nervous about constant forays into the forest but with two experiences guides, centaurs Ronan and Magorian, they were becoming much more comfortable and familiar with their surroundings. The bows and strength of the two dark-brown horsemen might have helped with that.
"And then the professor walks in the room, takes one look at Kevin and Anthony hanging from the torch holder with their smoking underpants, and walks back out. She said they had a single minute to get themselves in order or to the Headmaster's office — they could take their pick as to which," Zacharias said to Justin as they came about the end of their patrols, laughing through the story.
"Our educations as foals were nothing like your wizard school," Magorian said whilst shaking his head. "Though perhaps I could see the humor in the situation."
"If I saw your smoking hindquarters stuck in a tree, I might laugh," Ronan said with a wry smile that most humans never saw on a centaurs face.
They all fell quiet when they heard something moving up ahead.
As practiced, the centaurs stepped back to flank the teens who started walking more defensively on bent knees with wands extended. Their caution was for naught as they recognized the centaur commander Balthazar at the end of their usual patrol path.
"Commander," Ronan greeted while placing a fist over his heart and bowing his head.
"Ronan, Magorian," Balthazar greeted whilst cantering up.
"Do you have need of us, brother?"
"I have come to talk to the wizards, actually."
"Oh, hello," Justin said nervously before roughly copying Ronan's greeting. This made all three of the centaurs laugh gruffly before sobering up.
"In two nights, the centaurs will close in on the giant spiders last refuge."
Ronan and Magorian stomped their hooves restlessly, clearly more than ready for the hunt.
"For our ally's part in this," Balthazar continued. "I would extend an invitation to your commander — five of your combatants are welcomed to join my hunting party. We will hunt with our bows and you wizards with your wands. Perhaps this can be a test of our kinsman-ship."
Justin blinked before giving Zacharias a prodding look.
"Oh, right," Zacharias cleared his throat. "Thank you, sir, for the invitation. We'll be sure to relay it to Harry as soon as we return tonight."
"If he will come, we will meet in the usual clearing in two nights time."
"I will bring him the message," Zacharias repeated again. "Thank you."
Balthazar nodded then receded back into the underbrush. The two boys said a polite farewell to their centaur patrolling partners then began moving back towards the school with their wands still out.
"So…" Justin said slowly after a minute or two. "Was that as big of a deal as I think it was?"
"Ohhhh definitely."
…
"One more time, Smith," Lilian Moon was saying seriously. "What exactly did Balthazar say?"
"He told us the centaurs were going to close in on the last refuge of the spiders. He said 'for our ally's part in this, he extends an invitation to our commander. Five of our combatants are welcomed to join his hunting party,'"
"Then he said something weird about how they'll hunt with their bows and we'll hunt with our wands and that it'll be a test of our kinship," Justin recanted.
"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?" Harry interjected, confused at the rapid fire questioning that had commenced as soon as the early Saturday meeting had begun.
The Ravenclaw v. Slytherin Quidditch match was today so the meeting needed to be relatively quick. The centaurs invitation was important enough to warrant waking up an hour early though.
"Imagine, Potter, that you were from a species whose entire history is passed down from father to son by word of mouth."
"Okay," he nodded slowly.
"Then imagine that your species has been plagued by man eating spiders for a couple of generations, giant beasts that have eaten your children and terrorized your village."
Ron shuddered and made an audible noise of revulsion.
"The warriors who cleanse the forest of them will be remembered in the centaurs war-songs for generations to come. By inviting you, by acknowledging that your alliance made this possible, they're inviting you into the history they'll pass on to their children's children."
"Ariadne and Ramadi mentioned their war songs once," Jason Swann spoke up. "To me and Seamus. Said that they'll definitely sing songs about this upcoming one."
"So this is a good thing?"
"It's incredible," Lilian agreed. "It may not seem that huge war-wise but as far as centaur-wizard relations go, it's incredible."
Harry nodded and seemed to be taking everything in. Lilian continued speaking.
"But you will need to pick carefully who goes with you. No offense to anyone but, well, it would be disrespectful to the centaurs if we didn't bring the best of our best."
"Do you have any recommendations?" Harry asked after looking around and noting that everyone seemed to agree with what the Slytherin teen was saying.
"Aside from you and Ron whom they recognize as our commanders?" she thought. "Lucas Masson, definitely, and possibly Madam Bones. Other than that I'd say one of the squad leaders."
"Either Blaise, Neville, or Megan I'm thinking," Harry said after a long moment. "What do you three think?"
Megan was quick to answer and frank too. "Giant spider hunt through the forest at midnight? Count me out."
"Blaise, Neville?"
"I'll go," Neville shrugged. "But I could be just as happy spending Sunday night catching up on bloody NEWT homework."
"I think I'll go, if you don't mind, Nev," Blaise said. "Anyone disagree or have an urge to go?"
"Anyone want to take my place?" Ron asked hopefully.
Harry nudged him painfully in the ribs. "No," he told his friend before turning to see what everyone had to say about Blaise being the last of the five. They all agreed so it was decided.
"So what are we going to need?" the Slytherin asked.
"First, we've gotta talk to Amelia and Lucas. Since they're not here, we're not going to make assumptions about a token yes. I'm not going to volunteer anyone for a spider filled forest trip," Harry said.
"Except me," Ron grumbled to which Harry ignored him.
"Then, we'll need our basilisk hides, daggers, and our wands as well as comfortable black trousers and tops. Muggle jackets will be more mobile than cloaks as well. If you don't have one, I'm sure someone can let you borrow one."
"Should I bring my tent?" Blaise asked.
Ron snorted. "I think it would offend the centaurs if you did anything other than sleep under the stars in whatever camp they provide or we make. If we're even there long enough to sleep."
"Ron's right," Ron shot Hermione a look that had her rolling her eyes. "I can admit when you're correct, Ronald. I don't think you'll be sleeping much though."
"I know that," he defended while hiding a smile.
"So no tent?"
"Jacket. Wand. Armor. Daggers," Harry simplified. "And of course your amulet with your trunk attachment for actual emergencies. But those are the only four things you'll need accessible for this trip."
"I'm bringing my spider defense system. I'll talk to Balthazar about it when we get there but if they're using our concrete spray, I'm using my flamethrower."
"That sounds like a plan," Harry said agreeably before his brain caught up to Ron's last word. "Wait what?! What kind of spider defense system have you got?"
Ron's eyes gleamed. "I've been saving money. My emergency trunk has grown."
"Yes but — flamethrower?"
"It's a handheld design," he explained. "Ordered it from an American wizarding magazine."
"They have magazines for magically altered muggle weapons in America?" Hermione asked, baffled for once.
"America's got everything," Ron shrugged. Most of the adults around the table like Charlie and Bill nodded in agreement.
"Bloody hell, okay, fine," Harry agreed. "But you have to specifically ask him about that device if you want to use it. I don't think the centaurs would appreciate you burning down the forest."
"Deal," Ron agreed.
"I'll write a note to Amelia and Lucas," Hermione said. "I'm sure she's busy at the DMLE but we should have answers by the time the Quidditch match is over."
"Speaking of," Blaise spoke up. "I want my team to stay behind after this meeting so we can go over some plans for guarding the stadium. It's strategically weak considering how far it is from the main castle. Sally-Anne, Sally Smith, you two think you could stay behind and give me a new perspective on our positioning?"
"Sure," both girls chirped. They were going to go over maps of the forest after this anyhow so they weren't going anywhere.
"Alright then," Harry said with a yawn. "To breakfast then for everyone else."
With that, the DA started their day with plenty of chatter between the members of the Ravenclaw and Slytherin Quidditch team that were present.
…
Sunday morning, another DA meeting was held.
This one was less formal and was aimed more at letting everyone study or practice whatever they needed to. Similar to the way their meetings ran in the very beginning, they were all spread out in various sections of the room.
"You'll have better luck with the proteus spell if you tighten your wrist and move your elbow back a little further before you jab," Blaise was advising Daphne. "It's a defensive shield so your movements are more defensive too — they need to be rigid with any movement being tight and close to your body."
Daphne adjusted her grip quickly but couldn't seem to position her elbow in the most effective way possible.
"Here," Blaise said as he stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. His long fingers wrapped around her wrist and began repositioning her arm. "This is how you want to hold it."
Daphne blushed slightly but adjusted as he had so helpfully demonstrated.
"Now try it," the Slytherin teenager said, ignoring her blush while thinking about just how much he had enjoyed that.
The next time she cast the spell, a bright shield popped into place successfully.
"Nicely done," he praised.
"Thanks," she said with a small smile that most would have missed.
Their small moment was interrupted by the arrival of Remus, Sirius, and Tonks who had something to say to the group at large. They all quickly found their usual place during the meetings and settled in to wait for everyone else to arrive. Close to twenty people (mostly Lucas Masson's associated members) came in and found places quickly, some on tighter schedules than others.
"Remus, Sirius, and Tonks have some information from the Order," Harry said to start, giving the floor to the three Order members.
"I think you'll be interested in this, Lucas," Sirius began. "We've long suspected the Dark Lord has been gathering more mercenaries. We already know they've been much more active in Europe recently."
"You mean Mercer and his men are not enough for this faux-Lord?" Masson sneered in his french accent.
Michel Mercer was the mercenary who had driven Lucas Masson towards the DA for the protection of his men and their families in the first place. Even the man's name tended to rub him the wrong way.
"Moody's sources have told him that all of the good mercenaries, meaning the worst ones, are moving towards Albania," Tonks said with a frown. "Not only that, rumor has it that Fenrir Greyback and his pack have been seen in the Balkans as well. It wouldn't surprise me to hear that they're moving towards Albania as well."
"Albania?" Harry blinked.
"That is one of his known haunts," Hermione noted. "That's where Professor Quirrel was possessed in the first place."
"If that many mercenaries are moving towards one place, Mercer must have put them in contact. He is the middle man," Tonks said. "And one of the only ones capable of organizing them all."
"He's beginning to become a bigger problem than we thought he'd be," Amelia noted; she'd been here since long before the trio had come with the news. "We need more information on his movements…"
"More information on Mercer could mean more information about Voldemort," Anita Macduff joined in. "What do we know about him? Has he been hanging around Albania for any particular reason?"
"Do you think Albania could be the Dark Lord's base of operations?" Kevin asked.
"No," Ron shot down immediately, shaking his head.
"It's too well known as one of his haunts, as Hermione said," Sally Smith spoke up as she tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"It's more likely just a halfway point in his mercenary recruitment program," Gareth picked up from his place between Sally-Anne and Sally Smith. "A place for them to meet. He's not going to invite a bunch of mercenaries into his actual sanctuary."
"He's too paranoid for that," Harry agreed. "But why would he have mercenaries moving there specifically?"
"Albania's a great country to meet all sorts of scalawags and scoundrels," Marcy answered. "Loose transportation restrictions, no portkey or apparition monitoring of any sort, barely any border enforcement — it's a criminal hotbed."
"Where do you think Mercer stays?" Dean asked curiously.
"Probably a secondary safe house," Flora Carrow answered.
"Near the rest of his forces and available to answer his call at any second," her twin, Hestia, finished.
The two Carrow twins had close ties to Lord Voldemort's followers; their mother had been one of the inner circle before her death in the first war and their aunt and uncle still were. They had grown up with her vicious aunt and uncle, Amycus and Alecto Carrow, whom generally just did as they pleased.
Needless to say, the two girls had been exposed to plenty of dark magic and general nastiness.
"But not in the same house as him?" the ebony haired teen reaffirmed with one of the twins.
"Never in his house," Flora answered. "He certainly wouldn't let any of his creature forces stay too close to him. Not unless they're planning an attack or something. For a Dark Lord who rallies them all under his banner, he's surprisingly racist."
"Speciesist," Luna corrected. "Prejudice on the basis on species is speciesism. Although he may also be racist. Who could say?"
"Right, sure," Flora blinked slowly. "The point is, only his inner circle are really trusted in his home-"
"If you can call it that," Ron muttered.
"-so he probably hosts meetings in a different follower's ballroom when he has to," Flora continued, ignoring the interruption.
"Then we might have better luck tracking Mercer and his men. Lucas, I'd like a list of anything you know about him, his people, their hangouts, anything," Harry said.
"Even their families?"
"Especially their families," Harry answered. "We're not going after them but they're a good place to start looking for our targets. If only to see if they come around. The holidays are coming up so that might be our best chance to get a tracker on one of them."
"They don't have the Dark Mark so our standard one won't work," Lisa mused.
"No, it won't," Harry agreed. "Maybe someone can come up with something before the hols?"
"I might have a few ideas," Nigel Wroxton responded.
"Me too," Hermione agreed.
"Work together and that's that then," Harry said. "Tonks, can you keep an eye on the Greyback situation as far as rumors around the DMLE goes? Remus, same question with any of your contacts?"
"Yeah, you got it," Tonks agreed.
"I'll ask around," Remus said, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair.
"How are things going on the werewolf planning front?" Harry asked him.
"Quite well, actually. I think Leanne or Hannah might be better suited to give you the run down."
"Leanne?" Harry prodded as he turned towards the brunette Hufflepuff.
"We've finalized blueprints on a werewolf facility for full moon transformations including recovery rooms, medical wings, ten general population transformation areas, and special isolation areas. We've quietly spoken to Tracey's father about beginning to stockpile Wolfsbane potion and its ingredients so he has everything on hand whenever we're ready," Leanne summarized briskly.
"Will he be able to manage that? It takes ages to brew, right?"
"Using the new revised American recipe, it takes two weeks to brew and the dosage is a dose a day for two days before the full moon to be effective," she answered. "He sounded confident about taking it on."
"Do you have a plan for how we're getting that potion to werewolves two days before the moon?"
"We do, actually," Hannah answered. "Wayne and I worked out a plan for a department specifically for potions distribution."
"They'll either be delivered by house-elf or individuals can pick them up from an office," Wayne explained. "Though we'll push the house-elf option because of their efficiency over distances and through wards."
"We also have a spell that will allow us to check whether or not the potion has taken effect on the day of the full moon when check-in begins."
"Check-in?"
"There's a check-in and check-out process. You can check in two days before the full moon and you can stay for up to five days to recover after," she answered. "We also have an area in the blueprints for any werewolves who arrive that haven't had wolfsbane."
"That way we've got room for treated and untreated people," Harry nodded, seeing the wisdom. "You guys have thought up rules, protocols, and general practices, haven't you?"
"Yes," Leanne agreed. "We've got a binder with everything in it."
"Have you thought about staffing?" Hermione queried.
"That's what we're working on now," Remus answered. "We need to know how many security forces we'll have and how many medical staff and how many general staff, etcetera etcetera."
"I might have some ideas on that," Lisa spoke. "There's a similar facility in Oregon that has been running for two years now on a smaller scale. If we take a look at their numbers, we can see how they do it and work from there."
"That's a good idea," Remus mused.
"Lisa, you'll have to work with Leanne, Wayne, and Hannah on that," Harry interjected. "Remus, I think it's time to try starting up some talks with the packs again."
"Which ones?" he asked warily.
"For now, just the Snowdon pack and the Galway pack. How many people can you bring with you?"
"I shouldn't bring any but-"
"I'm going with you," Sirius growled immediately.
"Sirius will be coming with me," Remus continued as if he hadn't been interrupted. "He'll be the only one who's safe as an animagus."
"It might seem soon but now we're actually taking steps in the right direction that might work to our advantage as far as securing alliances go," Harry continued, explaining his thoughts. "Dumbledore didn't have anything to offer them when he kept sending you but I've thought about it and I do."
"You do?"
"I've got at least four land parcels that are completely empty aside from stretches of forest and a source of freshwater. The Snowdon pack is still living on a parcel of ministry relegated land, aren't they?"
"Yes," Remus confirmed. "And we're not sure how long before the ministry starts cutting back on the territory size as well. They've done that twice in the last decade."
"Then I'm willing to offer either pack the use of a land parcel," he continued.
"What about the Galway pack? They're not at all worried about their lands being stolen."
"No, they're not," Harry agreed. "Their lands are owned by them and I'm not quite sure how. There is one thing I know about that particular pack though — they have a lot of young and a lot of elderly. The transformation is harder on those two groups than it is on healthy adults. The Wolfsbane potion would go a long way in their pack."
"You want to offer them Wolfsbane?"
"In exchange for their alliance or their word to stay away from the Dark Lord's side? Yes."
"That would be expensive," Hermione mused aloud. "How come you haven't talked about any of these ideas with us?"
"It's just been an idea mostly until I went through a couple of my bank ledgers and we started talking about Lord Davis and his ability to brew large amounts of Wolfsbane."
"I'd only be worried about making that offer to the Galway pack and not being able to deliver before the full moon."
"Which is…the 29 of this month," Tracey spoke up helpfully. "My dad would have to start in the next week to have that prepared three days before the moon."
"What do you think, Remus?"
"I think they might actually go for that offer," the werewolf said thoughtfully. "With some work. We have to make the same offer to the Snowdon pack though — if one found out we were giving the other pack 'a better deal,' so to say, they'd turn on us."
"How many members in each pack?"
"Snowdon, easily forty. Galway's got more, probably closer to fifty."
"I guess we need to talk to Lord Davis then."
"And arrange a vault in the Ravenborough name for him to pull from," Hermione said as she continued to take rapid notes.
"Remus, Sirius — you two okay with this assignment?"
"You know it, Harry," Sirius agreed exuberantly while Remus just nodded.
"I feel like I've got a better chance now than I ever did with Dumbledore," the werewolf said with a shrug. "Hopefully they've had long enough to forget about the trips I went on for him."
"Anything else?"
"Yeah, quick thing," Fay spoke up. "I talked to my uncle. He's going to extend the gardens a little bit and build another set of terraces and steps up to the new building."
"That'll look lovely," Hermione said with a smile.
"I have some plans for around the central fountain near the entryway of the chateau," Neville spoke up.
"I trust you," Harry just shrugged. "And Maxwell."
"He's very pleased," Fay admitted. "Whatever you worked out with Gringotts really made his day."
"I trust the goblins as well," Harry said. "They've yet to take advantage of me. I just gave them permission to assist on anything they're willing to assist me on."
"At what pay rate?" Zara asked incredulously.
"Whatever they see as fair," he shrugged. "They charge me after the work is done whatever they feel they're due."
"Wait, the goblins are willing to work for you before being paid?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes?" he said. "Honestly they seem happier this way."
There were a few incredulous mutters before she shook her head, a few strands of shiny blonde hair flying loose of her updo in exasperation.
"It's saved us a lot of time," Harry defended. "Now there's no weeks worth of pauses for negotiations each time something new pops up like a pool or a patio or a garden."
"Incredible," she muttered. "Just how much money have they made on you?"
"I prefer not to look at the cumulative total," he admitted with a wince.
"Merlin, how rich are you?" she asked as she started tallying numbers from their various other expenses in his head.
"That's a much nicer total to look at," was all he would say with a wink. "And Luna's very good with numbers."
"Blimey," Dean muttered.
"We do well," Luna said with a scary grin.
"I'm not going to complain about it," Fay said with a grin.
"Me neither," Neville agreed. "It's the only reason the garden extension and new terraces will be able to be planted by early next week."
"That's great," Harry said enthusiastically. "We'll have something to show Apolline when she comes."
"As long as the construction does not dirty her robes, she will be happy," Fleur agreed with a light smile and chuckle.
The DA laughed at that along with her before the meeting started to taper off as groups formed and people coupled together to train or study.
…
Sunday night came quickly.
Lucas and Amelia (after sufficient exclamations of incredulity) had agreed to be the fourth and fifth person in their hunting party.
"Do we have everything?" Harry asked a few minutes before they were due to leave.
"I think so," Blaise agreed.
"We've all got our armor," Masson said as he straightened the buckle on the basilisk hide.
"Better than the auror issue I had been wearing the last decade," Amelia muttered.
Harry nodded as he looked over each of them.
Black pants and sweaters were the theme as were sturdy combat boots. Masson and Amelia had daggers strapped to their forearms and thighs while the teens had their thigh daggers and tactical belts with pouches all around.
Ron looked particularly ready with a beanie drawn low over his forehead and a small one-shoulder bag slung across his back.
"Everyone ready?" Harry asked, looking around. He got various nods back. "Alright then, invisibility charms on."
They trekked through a few secret passages then slipped onto the grounds and across the sloping lawn to the forest.
"V formation, wands out," Harry directed while taking up the front.
They had just cleared the tree line and the forest was already darkening as moonlight disappeared.
"Blaise, shield behind us while Ron shields in front. Lucas, Amelia, watch the left and right please."
"Aren't trips into the forest standard?" Amelia asked.
"In groups of four with two centaurs — the creatures tend to leave them alone more so than humans. We attract attention and I don't trust this forest. Plus, I've got a weird gut feeling. So, caution."
"I'm on the same page," Ron agreed, looking around shiftily. "Let's move for the clearing and hope the centaurs are already there."
The shimmering shields were raised quickly and the group began moving at an even pace. They were as quiet as they could be in the dense forest. Soon, they came upon the clearing and found a group of centaurs waiting for them.
"Good evening, Balthazar," Harry greeted.
The muscled centaur was wearing a hard-bodied leather chest plate and bracers. All of his warriors behind him were outfitted similarly and were carrying an array of bows, spears, and (to Ron's satisfaction) cans of concrete spray. Wizarding tools were, apparently, welcomed.
"And to you as well, Harry Potter," the centaur said with a nod. "These are my men. Ariadne, Ronan, Magorian, Ramadi, Bane, and Altair. We shall make one of three hunting parties in the woods tonight."
"I would like to thank you for your invitation."
"Though we centaurs may not often admit it, your alliance has given us the edge we have needed for many years. Soon, the spiders presence in this forest will be no more. For that, I believe we should share our victory."
The only centaurs who seemed to vaguely disagree with that comment was Bane whom Harry recognized from his first year foray into the forest.
He had vehemently disagreed with Firenze allowing Harry to ride upon his back. Still, he seemed to be under strict orders to maintain a civil tongue as he had not spoken out yet.
"This is Lucas Masson, Amelia Bones, Blaise Zabini, and Ron Weasley."
"We are glad to see you in attendance, Commander Weasley," Balthazar greeted sincerely. "Your hatred for the spiders is welcomed tonight."
Ron looked embarrassed and flushed by the manner of address but nodded back respectfully anyhow.
"Come," Balthazar said after a moment had passed. "We must move deeper into the forest to make camp."
"Make camp?" Blaise asked — he hadn't quite planned for an overnight trip.
"The attack will not happen for some hours," Ariadne told the human he recognized as one of the leaders of the two DA members he patrolled the forest with. "There are two other hunting parties moving into place."
"I am surprised to see you here, Amelia Bones."
"Just Amelia will do, Commander," she said in her usual austere tone. Her salt-and-pepper hair was in a tight bun and though she looked different outside of her normal clothes, she was no less commendable. "I am honored by the chance to fight alongside your warriors."
"This will be no fight," Balthazar laughed in good humor. "This will be a hunt. They will fall to our arrows and spears and even to your spells."
The ministry employee shook her head to herself once the centaur commander seemed to focus on the path in front of them.
It was hard to believe this was happening. Centaurs sharing one of their famed hunts with wizards — certainly one for the books.
They continued on into the forest for a long while.
This was deeper than most of them had been aside from the forays to the centaur greenhouses. Even that had been a much lighter portion of the forests. Here, the roots grew thick and the trees were too wide for three men to wrap their arms around completely.
They saw many strange creatures scurrying away from their heavy footfalls. None of them were aggressive as most of them seemed to realize the party full of hunters was not one to be bothered.
Eventually, they reached a dry riverbed with one tall side and one that had given way to time and turned into a gradual slope. The set up would protect their backs and give them a wide view of the forest.
"This would be a good place to set up camp. How far are we from their den?" Ron asked, looking around.
"They are a ways to the north east," Magorian answered after holding up his hand to the stars then moving it slowly downward. "There."
"Commander Weasley is correct. We will set up camp here."
Bane and Ronan broke away from the main group as they began setting up close to the fifteen foot riverbed wall.
"We will go hunt now, commander."
Balthazar nodded and waved at them to go.
"For spiders? Alone?" Harry asked.
"No, they will bring back a kill to share between us as is tradition," Balthazar answered. "We will need a fire."
Something told Harry that they probably didn't mean one summoned by wizarding magic.
"I'll help," he volunteered. "Ron, watch my back while I get some firewood?"
"Sure, mate," Ron agreed as he took off his shoulder bag and set it near where they were setting up.
The two teens walked a little further away from the camp before Harry started picking up a collection of sticks and branches.
"Why don't you just float them?"
"I'm trying not to use magic too much," Harry answered honestly. "Balthazar said something about traditions so I'm trying not to step on them, you know?"
"I get it," Ron said as he kicked a decent branch towards Harry. "Probably the right idea now that you mention it."
"This is a really big deal, Ron," Harry said. "It may not seem like it now, but this is part of the first step towards a working relationship with centaurs on a ministry level in the future."
"You mean a ministry filled with DA members."
"Not just DA members," he objected. "But yeah. With Neville and Zara and Daphne and Blaise and all of the other future lords and ladies of their families. If we can work with them now, we can do it again in the future. Tonight is going to be a big turning point if it all goes well."
The boys were silent after that as Harry's arms were full and they needed to head back towards the camp.
While they had been gone, Masson and Blaise had been moving logs and a flat rock and had arranged them in a loose semi-circle for seating.
"All is well?" Masson asked as they returned.
"Yeah, plenty of firewood," Harry answered.
He set the wood down by a rock and then sat down.
From his pocket, he withdrew a small square of grey rock attached to a beaded chain along with a thin piece of black metal. Then he gathered some dried grasses he'd found in the underbrush and began scraping the piece of metal against the rock quickly.
To the surprise of everyone there except Masson, sparks were emitted.
"What is that?" Balthazar asked as he watched intently.
"A magnesium rock," he answered. "If you strike it against metal, it sparks and helps catch fires. It's muggle, actually. I got it from my uncle."
His uncle had thrown it at him angrily on a one-off camping trip that was never repeated because he couldn't get the fire to catch. Harry had managed to start the fire and his uncle had never taken the lump of rock back from him. It was one of the few things in his trunk from the Dursley family that he had kept.
He kept trying with it and eventually got the sparks to catch.
"Woah," Ron said, impressed.
"Nicely done," Blaise complimented.
He cupped the kindling in his hands and blew on it until a small fire grew. Then, he placed it in a larger pile of kindling (before it could burn his hands) and began slowly building the fire around it. The centaurs watched with interest as the human created a fire without magic.
"May I see that?" Ramadi asked, nodding towards the magnesium rock.
Harry handed the implement up to the centaur and went back to carefully tending the fire.
Amelia passed him a few more sticks that she had collected from the edges of their camp. It quickly began to warm up as the fire grew and the five centaurs and five humans began moving closer together.
There was an almost awkward silence that none of them really seemed to mind.
The walk had been long and cold and they were all appreciative of the chance to warm up. The fire was casting beautiful glimmering light along the frosted ground while the shadows danced.
Soon, Bane and Ronan returned from their foray into the forest. They were carrying three rabbit-like creatures that Harry couldn't put a name to.
"Hispids," Ron recognized.
"How do you know what those are?" Harry asked curiously.
"Hermione talked about them once. They're easier to hunt at night because they're heavy sleepers and share burrows."
Harry gave his redhead friend a surprised look. He hadn't expected him to retain any random fun facts from Hermione that might actually prove useful.
"You have made good catches tonight," Balthazar commented.
"Allow us to clean your kill, brothers," Ramadi said as he gestured between himself and Ariadne.
The two other centaurs handed the creatures over to be skinned and gutted while drawing closer to the fire which Harry had grown to a respectable height.
"See anything interesting in the forest?" Blaise asked Ronan.
"No more than any other night."
The teen nodded at that and went back to passing Harry the occasional stick.
There was silence for a few more moments (aside from the wet sounds made by Ariadne and Ramadi's task that they tried not to think about). Then, it was broken by a pitter patter from up above.
"Oh, hell," Harry said as he looked towards his fire.
It took a few more seconds for the first drops of rain to reach them but the sound of heavy sheets of water hitting the forest canopy only grew.
"Damn," Ron said.
"We were expecting snow, not rain," Blaise groaned.
"There goes the fire," Harry muttered as the rain really began to come down.
He and everyone else was surprised to see it covered by a mercurial shield that put off light bright enough to rival the fire. It shielded the warm flames from the downpour of water. The magic didn't come from any of their number which had the alert wizards drawing their wands.
"Huh?" Ron voiced as he noticed the being sitting on a tree branch up above them.
It appeared to be a slim blonde woman with waist-length hair in a white dress and white lace cape. Her pale, clean feet were bare and were dangling over their fire.
"Who goes there?" Amelia asked seriously as she trained her wand and eyes on the possible threat.
The blonde looked down at them to reveal beautiful elven features and clear blue eyes. They also noticed her tail when it unravelled from the branch to twitch and hang below her. It was similar to a lion's, being covered with soft sleek fur finished with a silky tuft of white hair at the end.
"Stay your wands," Balthazar told them immediately.
Harry met eyes with the centaur and then nodded, lowering his wand in a sign of faith. He trusted the centaurs and this was their domain. Ron followed his lead, as did Blaise, but Masson and Amelia did not.
"Wands down," Harry said in the firm voice he used when dealing with the DA. Masson and Amelia listened, surprisingly, though the latter was not pleased.
"This is another being of great wisdom. Why have the stars blessed us with your presence, fair maiden?" Balthazar asked as he turned his head skyward.
A tinkling, bell-like laugh was the only response before she swung herself off of the branch to land across from them. She looked even more beautiful and out of place up-close with her white lace elbow gloves and half-cape.
"I am Runa Kelda."
"Greetings," Balthazar said while executing a half-bow that the centaurs followed.
"Thank you for shielding my fire," Harry said after noting that the mercurial shield was still holding even as he got more and more soaked. "What are you doing here?"
Rain seemed to slide off of the blonde woman like water on a duck's back. The rest of them, even the centaurs, were not so lucky but were more focused on this new distraction rather than the weather. She tilted her head as if to size him up before reaching a decision.
"I was sent by my people to find the strange humans who ally with the centaurs."
"You were sent to find us?" Harry parroted.
"And who are your people?" Blaise interjected.
"We are known as the Huldra," she answered. "We have lived between the realms for many years but your Dark Lord proves to be a great threat even there. More so than even the previous darkness that ruled over your world and threatened the balance in ours. This new evil is what has brought us. His magics poison even the in between. We have come to offer the only help we can."
"Which is?" Ron pressed.
"Knowledge," she answered lightly.
The humans in the group gave her scrutinizing or suspicious looks but the centaurs seemed perfectly at ease.
"Join us for our meal, keeper of fire," Balthazar invited, shuffling his hooves as if to emphasize his invitation.
"My thanks, centaur," she said as she sat gracefully on an empty log between Harry and Masson who remained alert but showed no discomfort.
Magorian had finished constructing a small spit and setting up the skinned animals. Blaise avoided pulling faces when the raw meat was passed in front of him to begin roasting over the strong fire. Above it, the Huldra's mercurial shield remained.
"So, Runa," Harry said slowly when it appeared all of the non-humans were content to sit in silence. "How did you hear about us and the centaurs?"
"The fairies tell tales about your group to all whom listen. One of the ladies of the lower Sidhe court has taken a summer residence in your water caves and tunnels — she tells many stories. They have seen you wandering forests with the centaur warriors as if fast friends."
"Water caves?" Ron blinked. "We don't have any-"
"The Chamber's hot springs," Harry interrupted suddenly. "Hannah said a group of fairies had taken up residence. Apparently they're gossips too."
"You live in the forest?" Amelia asked the blonde humanoid with a skeptical look.
The beautiful woman's white dress was glowing it was so clean. The pale skin of her back, exposed by the dress's low cut, looked cleaner than that of any forest dweller. Plus, the bottoms of her feet were perfectly clean and manicured as far as she had seen.
"No," she said with a musical chuckle. "My sisters and I live in the in-between."
"The in-between?"
"The High Realm," Blaise breathed. "Where the elves of old originated from?"
"Where all magical creatures originated from," Runa laughed before clearing her head. "Except for your kind and their creations."
"Then why have you come?" Harry asked her. "You said something about the Dark Lord poisoning your world too. Are your people looking for a new home?"
"A new home?" she asked in a tone that implied she was questioning their mental capabilities. "No, never. Your Lord cannot reach through to our home. Not physically at least."
"Then why come?"
"Our worlds, Harry Potter, are like pages in a book. An ink drop on one will leak into another. The darkest of his magics have been consecrated and their effect is bleeding over stronger. There used to be one wreaking havoc on a small settlement but it seems to have been destroyed. Since then, four locations are always poisoned while there are three sources that have moved but are always present somewhere."
"Moved?"
"For the past two years, one source reappears for a season every year then returns to this location."
"One of Voldemort's…poisons?" Ron stumbled over the phrasing. "Is in Hogwarts? Coming and going?"
"No, there is always one here," Runa said. "But it is joined by a second for nearly three parts of the year."
"That doesn't make any sense," Amelia said with a furrowed brow. "What kind of magic would account for that many sources and that strong of an effect? Let alone one that moves locations."
Harry's mind was returning to the conversation he had with Chie Shinohara about soul severing rituals weeks ago. She'd said Voldemort had to have prepared his soul for a severing ritual for Harry to end up with a piece of the man in his head. She'd said that the soul could be put in items to preserve life. Maybe those items were bleeding through.
"Harry," Blaise whispered sharply to jerk the teen out of his thoughts. It seemed everyone was waiting for him to say something.
"You said you came to offer help. What is it?"
"A map," she answered. "Of the affected locations."
"You know where they are?"
"Not in your world," she said. "But in ours."
"And like the pages of a book," Masson spoke for the first time. "One can be laid over the other to see where the locations lie in this earthly realm."
"And then what?" Blaise asked. "Why can't you do that?"
"We do not have the time or the power in this realm to purge such darkness."
"So you want us to do it?" the Slytherin asked as he was beginning to see the Huldra's true motive.
"It could be important to defeating him," Harry said, thinking hard. He needed to tell Hermione and Chie about this. "Do you have the map?"
Runa gave him a fleeting look before stretching her hand out to the fire as if to shake its hand. Then, she wiggled her fingers and strained them up towards the sky with her palm still facing the side.
Slowly, she turned her hand palm-up. From the embers of the fire and the smoke of their cooking meat, a pale grey scroll began to form. Once it was finished, she held it out to him in offer.
Harry took it carefully and unfurled it, sensing how delicate it was. Like veins in a leaf, slightly darker shades of grey marked out valleys and roads without using words. In eight or so locations, dark ink blots marred the map.
"Where are we on this map?" Harry asked, knowing that information would be a vital starting point for them.
Delicately, she gestured to a dark blot. Then she fingered a slightly lighter one.
"What's this one?"
"The fluctuating one."
They studied it intently for a long moment. They were interrupted when the ethereal creature rose from her seat and straightened her cape. Her purpose was fulfilled.
"Once you have aligned this scroll over a map to reveal the cursed locations on this plane, it will crumble back to the ash and dust from whence it was formed," she said. "That is how you will know that it is correct."
"You're leaving?" Ron asked.
"The rain has passed and soon our star will fade. It is time for my sisters and I to go."
"Your sisters?"
"There are three of us here in these woods tonight," she answered openly. "I simply found you first."
"Please thank your people for the information and tell them that I will attempt to do whatever I can to alleviate the problem."
She gave him a slow nod then a short bow to the general assemblies. Balthazar bowed back more deeply as did his warriors.
"And thank you for protecting our fire."
"I should thank you for its warmth," Runa said as she turned away from their camp and disappeared into the forest. "Blessings be on your hunt, warriors."
"And good tidings in your travels," Blaise, surprisingly, responded when it seemed the centaurs were content to bow their heads in response.
She graced them with another smile and a twitch of her tail before she disappeared from their view. All of them kept their eyes on her almost luminescent glow until long after it had disappeared.
"This was a surprise, non?" Masson broke the silence.
"Indeed," Amelia agreed as she adjusted her armor strap. "I can't say I have ever heard of her species."
"The High Ones are little known to us though it is not the first time her kind has wandered this forest."
"Really?" Ron questioned Balthazar.
"It is said your Gryffindor roamed the woods in the company of a promiscuous lioness."
"Lioness?" Masson asked. "But this Huldra was no lioness. She had only the tail of a lion as far as I saw."
"Are there not humans who are also animals?"
"Animagus," Ron responded immediately.
"Then why is it so hard to imagine a lioness who transforms into a woman?" the centaur asked with a raised brow.
They all thought about that for a moment before the human frenchman gave a thoughtful hum. "If this is true, then I believe they may be closer to the veela in nature," Masson hypothesized.
"Perhaps," Amelia agreed.
"The meat has finished," Magorian announced as he pulled said meat from over the fire.
"Would you be opposed to us conjuring some plates and tables?" Harry requested.
The centaurs all shuffled their hooves and shared looks. Balthazar seemed to think for a moment before giving them a hand wave that said 'do as you will.'
Harry flicked his wrist, ejecting his wand from its holster, then conjured small individual three-legged table in front of all of the wizards.
For the centaurs, he conjured a tall, long, and relatively wide table that looked like a huge tree trunk cut in half on sturdy legs. They all looked surprised by the gesture, even more so when Harry conjured plates, forks, and sharp knives for everyone. A few trays appeared in front of Magorian so that he could set the meat down.
He drew his own knife to begin carving them and portioned everyone out a share. The magical half-horse beings almost hesitantly approached the wizard made table but found it very accommodating for their heights.
Still, it seemed they all had something to do as they all drew their hunting knives to cut a slice off of their meat. The DA members all waited and watched as the centaurs bowed their heads then threw a small portion of their food into the fire, completing their ritual.
Just as Harry was beginning to wonder if they should follow suit, he caught Ariadne's eyes who gestured for him to do the same.
He cut a piece from his portion and threw it into the fire as well. One by one, his friends and allies followed his example.
"We do this to honor the sacrifices of the warriors who are no longer here to share in our hunt," Ariadne explained when the moment had passed and the centaurs began cutting their meat with the conjured utensils.
Harry nodded in acceptance of that answer. A few moments past in silence while they consumed their meals. After a little while, though, Blaise's curiosity piqued and he asked a question.
"Are you accustomed to receiving unexpected visitors like that?"
"Many strange things happen in this forest," Ramadi answered. "She is just another of the many beings who come and go from here."
"Strange is right, I'd say," Ron snorted as he tried to remember to eat semi-civilly as Hermione had been drilling him to for years.
There were more small bits of conversation as the amount of food on each of their plates dwindled and the fire grew low from lack of tending once it too had eaten its fill. That was fine though; they could sense a growing tension in the air that told them it would be time to go soon.
"So, commander," Ron began once his plate has been 'subtly' licked clean. Though no one commented on it, it was easy to see the redhead at least appreciated the meal. "Now would be the ideal time to review the attack plan."
"So it would be," Balthazar agreed as he pushed his plate away from himself. "The first stage of the attack has already begun. A small group has killed all of the spiders scouts. That same group has heavily trapped the narrow emergency exit using some of the supplies provided by you wizards. A second group has established a perimeter in front of the main entrance. They will provide cover while we enter and take out out the main group. They will also stop any spiders from escaping."
Ron nodded thoughtfully. "Are you using the concrete spray?"
"Among other things," Balthazar said as he turned his shoulders to show a can latched just above his quiver so he could easily choose to draw it rather than an arrow.
"You mind if I use a few of my own tools then?" he asked eagerly. "I brought my spider kit."
"I see your dedication to their destruction is still as great as it was upon our first meeting," the commander laughed. "I do not think that will be a problem."
"Tell him what it is, Ron," Harry pushed.
"It's just a device that shoots a bit of fire," the other teen downplayed while rolling his eyes. "Nothing major or uncontrollable."
"Bring and use what you will, young wizard," the centaur permitted whilst looking towards the direction of the spider's den. "But collect your things quickly for it will soon be time for us to go."
Ron nodded and quickly opened his pack, strapping a prepared bandolier over one shoulder while adding an interesting device that didn't look dissimilar to a small black gasoline can with a long metal spout. Most of them watched his preparations with interest whilst Harry vanished the conjured tables and dinnerware.
Just as he finished covering the fire with dirt, a low toned horn rent the air.
"The signal," Ariadne said.
"Let us go, brothers and allies," Balthazar said as he stomped his hooves heavily for emphasis. "Tonight, we hunt."