Chapter 44

While Potter was planning and plotting with Ron and Hermione, Alex wanted to know why they went to the forbidden forest in the first place.

Alex was the first one to arrive for Professor McGonagall’s class. He sat there, thinking of a way to get Nicole to talk about the events of that night.

Soon Nicole came along with Daphne. When they saw Alex already in the class, they hurriedly walked up to him. Nicole sat beside him and Daphne in front of them.

“Brother, how are you feeling?”

“I am fine, I just broke a bone, everything else is fine.”

“You know, I still find it hard to believe that someone like you ended up in the infirmary because of slipping a couple of steps.” Daphne, who has this larger than life, an invincible image of Alex in her mind, said.

“Can we stop talking about it? I saw the house points today. Gryffindor lost a lot of points again. Is it your doing?” Alex changed the topic smoothly.

“Why would it be because of me? It’s all because of that damned Malfo—ee—” Hearing her brother blame her, Nicole blurted out Malfoy’s name.

“What did he do?” Alex asked.

“It’s nothing, what is done, is done, no need fretting over spilt milk.” Nicole knew it was no way of avoiding it, but she still tried.

“I asked, what… did… he… do…?” Alex said, speaking a word at a time, implying that he was serious and won’t let go of the matter unless he hears the truth.

Nicole was now regretting naming Malfoy. Now that the cat was out of the bag, there was nothing else she could do except for telling the truth.

After hearing Nicole start with how they went to Hagrid’s hut to watch the egg. After that how Malfoy found about them and complained to Professor McGonagall, and they were punished to go to the Forbidden forest. Then she told him about the unicorn, the centaurs, and how someone saved Potter.

Nicole was waiting to be scolded, but to her surprise, Alex was lost in his own thoughts.

“Brother, you will not scold me?”

Alex smiled, listening to his sister. Looks like he has been scolding her a lot lately. He stroked her hairs and said, “Well, it is partially your fault, but I feel like the greater responsibility here lies with Professor McGonagall.”

Professor McGonagall, who was about to enter the classroom, stopped in her tracks. She stood at the entrance by the door, listening to them.

Alex continued, “Headmaster Dumbledore already warned us at the beginning of the year that students are not supposed to enter the forbidden forest, so she could have avoided your punishment to go there.”

“But Hagrid was there to look after us,” Nicole said.

“And what of him? You don’t think he is some almighty wizard, do you?” Alex did not want to belittle him, but it was true.

“But—” Nicole wanted to say something.

Before Nicole could start, students about to enter the classroom called out to Professor McGonagall, “Professor, why are you not going inside?”

It was only then, did Alex and the others notice that Professor McGonagall was standing at the entrance.

‘Did she hear them?’ this was the first thought that came to their mind.

Professor McGonagall walked inside, sparing no glance to the trio.

After the lecture started, Daphne threw a piece of paper towards Alex. The note said, ‘It is the second time Professor McGonagall has caught you criticising her decisions, you better be careful’. Alex could only shake his head wryly. He never meant for Professor to hear what he said. He was just a bit unlucky criticising her.

* * * * *

Hermione, Nicole, Neville, Ron and Potter had been the target of scorn from the Gryffindor students for the past few days. Gryffindor was in a close race with Slytherin on the points table. But now, in just a moment, they were down to the last. To make up for their mistake, Hermione and Nicole earned points with every opportunity they got. Hermione kept herself low key while Nicole was the face. Except for the potions class where they get nothing, the duo tried to cut down the gap between them and Slytherin in other lectures. The Quidditch results were also in favour of Gryffindor, with them being on the top of the table, followed by Slytherin.

As days passed, exams grew closer. Now the usually quiet library was not at all peaceful. Students started spending more and more time in the library rather than being in their dormitories.

During these days, Alex also got to know from Nicole how Potter suspects that Professor Snape is colluding with ‘the one who should not be named’ to get the philosopher’s stone and the Unicorn’s blood.

Since Professor Snape has cleared his stand that he won’t tell him what was going on, he is going to look for someone who can help. Late at night, Alex grabbed his robe, covered his face with the hood and, with the map in his hand, he slipped out of the school towards the Forbidden forest. He was going to look for the centaurs. After hearing about them from Nicole, he swept through the library, gathering information about them.

From what he understood, it was hard to get something out of the centaurs and even if he could get them to talk; it was uncertain that he would understand the depth of it. But he needed to give it a try.

Sprinting through the thick trees, Alex ventured deep into the forbidden forest. He had no way to find the centaurs, so he could only rely on his luck.

Even after wandering around in the forest for more than an hour, Alex could not find a thing. He was about to give up when he heard the sound of galloping from somewhere nearby. Alex sprinted towards the sound.

“Bane, what do you think?” one of the centaurs asked the other.

“There is nothing to discuss. We won’t meddle in the affairs of humans, no matter what.” the one named Bane replied. Arrogance was clearly visible all over his face.

“Then?”

“We need to make preparations to keep ourselves safe.” bane said.

“I think we need to warn that Potter guy.” the centaur who was silent all this while said.

“Firenze! remember, we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. The humans have powerful wizards to look after themselves and that boy.” Bane roared at the one named Firenze. It was clear from the way he carried himself that he was the leader of this group.

“I can’t predict about that boy,” Ronan said dully.

“His fate is intervened with the dark lord, there is no way we can predict his future accurately.” Bane said.

“What about the little friend who came to visit us this late?” Out of nowhere, Firenze said, looking towards the bushes Alex was hiding.

Alex was shocked to hear this. He was confident about his camouflage skills which he has been practising for years now, but unexpectedly he was seen by these three centaurs.

“No need to be wary of us little friend, why don’t we have a little chat face to face.” Firenze’s voice rang out again in the silent forest.

Since they have already discovered him and the centaurs were ready to talk to him, there was no point in hiding. Alex walked out of the bushes and stood in front of the three of them.

“What do we call the little friend here?” Firenze asked.

“I am Alex and you guys.” Although Alex has heard them taking each other’s name, he still asked.

“I am Ronan. This big over here is Bane and that scholarly looking one is Firenze.” This time it was Ronan who replied.

Alex nodded in acknowledgement towards the other two.

“What are you doing so late in the forbidden forest?” Bane arrogance filled in his tone.

“Looking for you?” Alex casually said.

“Why look for us? Do you need anything from us?” Bane asked.

Alex nodded

“What?”

“Have you seen anyone wander around a lot in this forest?” Alex asked.

“There are many, you are one of them,” Firenze replied in his typical centaur riddles.

“Who else have you seen? Other than me or Professor Snape.” Alex asked again.

“Snape?” Ronan looked towards Bane and Firenze.

“Arey… the one who has a long face, pointed nose and an especially mean face. You don’t remember?” Firenze said.

“I remember now.” Ronan nodded continuously.

Alex felt embarrassed for his master to be described as such. “Yeah, you can describe him somewhat in that way. Well, you can remove the mean part.”

“Many people visit this forest. Any one of them could be the one you are looking for.”

“Well, if that’s the case, can you tell me something about the night Hagrid came here with a bunch of students?”

“You mean the night they found the Unicorn?” Firenze asked.

Alex nodded.

“Little friend, the affairs you are meddling into are very dangerous. I would suggest you leave it for your headmaster to handle.” Ronan warned Alex out of goodwill.

“I know, but I can’t avoid them now,” Alex said.

Listening to Alex, Ronan shook his head in disappointment, Firenze then said, “I can’t tell you much, but you need to know—-”

“Firenze! you can’t divulge anything.” Bane interrupted Firenze from continuing.

“It’s fine Bane, I am not telling him anything more than the tip of the iceberg and many already know this,” Firenze said.

“Let him do it, Bane, there is no harm in warning someone.” Ronan also backed Firenze.

Now that it was two against one, Firenze turned towards Alex and said, “Little friend, someone is hanging onto his life with a thread, and he is extending that worthless life with the noble creature’s blood.”

“You mean the dark lord?” Alex asked. He did not know why these guys need to sound mysterious every time they talked about something important. All the other times they were talking perfectly fine.

Firenze nodded.

“But isn’t he dead? At least his body should have been destroyed all those years back.” Alex asked, confused. After reading all those books over the years and going through countless stories, he had a hunch that maybe one percent, the dark lord was alive. But to actually hear this, he found it quite inconceivable.

Firenze, with his lips curled upwards, looked at Alex. “You never know,” he said, trying to sound mysterious again.

“What else can you tell me,” Alex asked. What they told him till now was nowhere near a very big secret. He could arrive at the very same conclusion just by connecting some dots.

“Sorry, little friend, but this is all I can tell you,” Firenze said, spilling water on Alex’s hope.

"Useless," Alex said under his breath, dejected hearing them. His trip has been in vain. He got nothing out of these self-centred centaurs. Well, at least Firenze was a little friendly and cooperative.

Since there was nothing more he can achieve staying here, it was time for him to leave. Alex bid his farewell to the three of them.

Alex only walked a couple of steps when he heard Firenze once again.

“Remember little friend, Mars has been bright for some time.”

Although confused by his words, Alex still nodded towards him and sprinted back to the school, thinking on his way what Firenze meant by Mars being bright.

* * * * *