0235 Forbidden Forest

Words : 2036 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

"Helper?" Hagrid's face creased with confusion, his thick eyebrows knitting together above his eyes. "You'll see in a moment—oh, here he comes." Adrian's voice had a tone of anticipation as he gestured toward the deeper shadows of the Forbidden Forest. The ancient trees seemed to part like curtains as they entered the forest's area. Just as Adrian and Hagrid entered the Forbidden Forest, they saw a flash of red approaching quickly. It was a centaur with red beard and hair, dragging a beautiful chestnut-red tail behind him. "Ronan!?" Hagrid's voice cracked with astonishment. The helper Adrian had mentioned was actually Ronan? This was very strange indeed. Centaurs were proud creatures, bound by traditions older than Hogwarts itself. They normally wouldn't lower themselves to aid wizards under ordinary circumstances—their disdain for human interference in their affairs was legendary. If it were Firenze who had already broken so many of his people's sacred laws, that might be conceivable. But Ronan? He was among the most traditional of the centaurs, one who viewed humans with contempt. His hatred for wizardkind was famous. Usually, only those with giant blood coursing through their veins could manage to exchange even the briefest of words with him—and even then, it was more tolerated than welcomed. Ronan came to a graceful halt before the two, his hooves scraping against the rocky ground with a sound like grinding stones. His eyes showed the wariness of a wild creature confronting the civilized world. "Good afternoon, Ronan," Adrian stepped forward and said. "Thank you for being willing to help us in this matter." Ronan raised his head, and spoke in his typical slow tone. "I believe you should understand that I am not specifically here to help you, young wizard. I am simply here to see a friend." As he spoke, his gaze lifted towards sky. "Friend?" Hagrid's confusion deepened, his massive hands gesturing helplessly between Adrian and the centaur. "What friend? I don't understand—" Adrian's lips curved in a knowing smile as he pointed toward the sky, where a shadow moved among the treetops. That's right—the "friend" Ronan referred to wasn't Adrian at all, but Ray. The centaur was only reluctantly willing to guide them through his territory for the sake of the Thunderbird who had somehow earned his respect. The story of how Ray had established this friendship with the centaurs remained largely mysterious to Adrian, though he suspected it was closely connected to the centaur foals. After all, centaurs were a race that treasured their young above all else, and anyone who brought help or joy to their children was remembered with gratitude. At that moment, Ray noticed Ronan's arrival and immediately let out a cheerful call that echoed through the forest like a song of greeting. Without hesitation, Ray dove down in a spectacular arc, his wings folding at precisely the right moment to land with grace on Ronan's broad back. Ronan rarely permitted such an impertinent action from any creature, human or otherwise. "Ronan," Hagrid began, his voice dropping to a whisper as he rubbed his enormous palms together nervously. "Have you and your people seen any... suspicious individuals in the Forbidden Forest recently? Anyone who doesn't belong?" Ronan's mane swayed gently in the autumn breeze. He tilted his head back to study the sky, his expression taking on the distant look. The silence stretched between them, filled only by the rustle of leaves and the distant calls of forest creatures. "The light of Mars has been falling in the northwest recently," he said finally, his voice taking on the rhythmic tone of an ancient chant. "The red planet speaks of conflict and blood, yet there is no evil presence in that direction. The stars speak truly—there is no darkness there that threatens the forest's peace." "What in Merlin's name does that mean?" Hagrid scratched his disheveled hair, sending a shower of leaves and twigs to the ground. He looked at Adrian with the expression of a man trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing. Although Hagrid had known centaurs long enough to expect their cryptic manner of speech, and had mentally prepared himself for riddles wrapped in star-lore, he simply couldn't decipher the meaning behind Ronan's words. Adrian could only shrug in response. But what could be known was that the centaurs had probably seen something through the stars. "Could you take us to that… place where Mars' light falls?" Adrian requested. "I would be deeply grateful for your guidance." "You will probably find only disappointment," Ronan shook his head, his expression growing serious. "There is nothing in that place that you hope to discover. The stars have shown me this truth." "That's perfectly alright," Adrian smiled. "Please, take us there regardless. Sometimes what we don't find is as important as what we do." "Follow me, then." Seeing that Adrian remained resolute despite his warning, Ronan said no more. With fluid grace, he turned and began to move deeper into the forest. Ray leaped from his back and took to the sky once more, circling over their head, his sharp eyes scanning the forest for any sign of danger. Without hesitation, Adrian and Hagrid fell into step behind the centaur, and the three figures quickly disappeared into the deeper shadows of the Forbidden Forest. As they traveled, Hagrid took it upon himself to describe Sirius Black in vivid detail to Ronan. He highlighted Black as a "sinister and cunning criminal of the worst sort," listing his numerous crimes. However, Ronan appeared completely indifferent to these tales of human wickedness. His expression remained as unchanging as carved stone, his eyes were only focused on the path ahead. He seemed utterly unconcerned about the possibility of criminals lurking through his area, as if such human concerns were beneath his notice. This reaction was quite unusual, and it didn't escape Adrian's attention. Centaurs had always considered the Forbidden Forest their ancestral territor. They were fiercely protective of their land, and if there were external enemies invading their place, they would traditionally be the first to take swift and decisive action. Obviously, the centaurs didn't consider the intruding Black as any sort of threat to their place. As they ventured deeper into the forest's heart, Adrian began to feel an odd sensation of familiarity creeping over him. Had he walked this path before? Ronan led them through a grove of dead trees and circled around a small lake. Finally, they emerged into an open clearing where the afternoon sun could reach the forest floor unimpeded. At this point, Adrian's memory clicked into place with clarity—wasn't this very near the location of the beech tree he had once tried to transplant? Come to think of it, since that last failed transplantation attempt, he hadn't returned to check on the tree's condition. Life at Hogwarts had a way of consuming one's attention, and the tree had gradually faded from his immediate concerns. Ronan came to a halt at the center of this clearing. Adrian's gaze was drawn into the distance, where he could make out the familiar silhouette of the beech tree standing not far ahead. At this moment, Ronan turned to face both Adrian and Hagrid. "We have arrived, this is your destination, as foretold by the stars." Hagrid looked around the peaceful clearing with obvious bewilderment, his face creasing into a frown of confusion. It seemed like the last place on earth where a desperate fugitive would choose to hide. "Are you absolutely certain that Black would hide in a place like this?" He asked with a tone of skepticism. "It's so... peaceful. So open." Ronan slowly shook his head. "I never said such a thing, keeper of the grounds. I spoke only of Mars' light and the absence of evil." Hagrid felt his confusion deepen like a well being dug ever deeper. If Ronan had never claimed that Black would be here, then why had the centaur brought them to this particular spot? Was it really just because "the light of Mars has been falling in the northwest recently"? The whole thing seemed like mystical nonsense to him, even coming from a centaur's mouth—and he had seen enough genuine magic in his lifetime to know the difference between the real thing and empty fortune-telling. "So where should we go next?" he asked, looking around the clearing with the expression of a man seeking answers in an empty room, then turned his questioning gaze to Adrian. Adrian didn't answer but silently walked forward. He heard it! Something was calling to him! A strange calling sound was coming from the direction of the beech tree, as if the voice was echoing directly in his mind. "What's wrong, Adrian?" Seeing this, Hagrid followed with confusion, as did Ronan. Soon, the unusual party of two humans and one centaur had arrived in front of the magnificent beech tree. Compared to his memory, the tree hadn't changed much—it had just grown taller. Golden leaves rustled in the autumn wind—it was the season of falling leaves again. "This is... that tree!" Hagrid's eyes widened with sudden recognition, his voice rising with surprise as he looked between the tree and Adrian. "Didn't you transplant it last year? How in Merlin's name did it come back to this exact spot?" His memory was remarkably clear on this point. He remembered that last year he had almost chopped down this very tree to provide lumber for furniture, but Adrian had stopped him just in time. He had even witnessed Adrian somehow managing to fit the entire tree into a small, suitcase—a feat of magic that had left him scratching his head for days afterward. "There were... some complications," Adrian explained carefully, his eyes never leaving the tree. "This tree wasn't suitable for my garden environment. It needed something more... specific. So, I brought it back to where it belonged." Hearing this explanation, Hagrid's eyes lit up with unmistakable enthusiasm, practically glowing with anticipation. "So, you don't need it anymore? Excellent! This is perfect timing!" He rubbed his massive hands together with the excitement of a craftsman who had just discovered a treasure trove of the finest materials. "Too bad I didn't bring my axe today, but I can always come back tomorrow. Do you have any idea what beautiful furniture I could make from such magnificent wood?" "I would strongly advise you not to have any such ideas about this tree," Ronan suddenly spoke up. "This tree possesses life." "Of course, I know it has life," Hagrid replied dismissively, waving one hand. "Every tree, every blade of grass, every flower in the forest has life. But that doesn't mean—" Hagrid's words stopped abruptly, cut off as cleanly as if someone had cast a silencing charm on him. His mouth hung open, his eyes growing wide with shock and disbelief. The rough bark of the beech tree before them began to writhe, slowly forming a human face. "Merlin's beard!" Hagrid stumbled backward two full steps, his massive body nearly tripping over his own boots in his rush to retreat. His face had gone pale beneath his wild beard, and his hands trembled slightly as he stared at the incredible sight in front of him. He had seen many strange and wonderful things in his years as Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, but nothing quite like this. Trees that walked, certainly, and plants that bit and grabbed, but never a tree that formed a human face and prepared to speak. "Hel... lo," the tree face said slowly. Its gaze moved among the people before it, finally settling on Adrian. "Oh, Master!" it burst out in a deafening cheer, the entire tree trembling with excitement. "You've finally come to see me!" This shout was so loud it startled the birds roosting in the forest. The two humans and one centaur all covered their ears simultaneously. ________________ You can read more chapters on: /IamLuis

0235 Forbidden Forest

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