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After the intense battle, Harry and Malfoy were both silent for a long time. The fight had left a deep impact on them.
The way magic could be controlled so effortlessly, how even simple spells could carry deadly force, and how defense could be so precise and fluid—it all opened their eyes to a whole new world. It was a level of mastery that made magic feel almost ethereal, where every move was smooth and natural, as if it was second nature. No hesitation, no wasted motion—just pure control.
The Forbidden Forest was silent. Augustus stood there quietly, staring in the direction their opponent had disappeared, a thoughtful look in his eyes. A soft breeze blew through, and in the darkness, it felt like something—or someone—was approaching.
Hoofbeats sounded behind them, quick and light. In moments, a centaur appeared beside them. He looked fairly young, with platinum-blond hair and the body of a silver-maned horse.
"Are you all alright?" the centaur asked, scanning the group with concern in his voice. "There was a huge magical surge just now. I sensed something strange coming from this direction, so I rushed over. I hope I wasn't too late."
"We're fine. Thank you," Harry said politely, nodding at him.
"Yeah, perfect timing," Malfoy muttered, clearly unimpressed, his face full of disdain.
The centaur didn't seem bothered by Malfoy's sarcasm. His eyes were a striking blue, like pale sapphires.
He looked Harry over carefully, his gaze stopping at the unmistakable scar on Harry's forehead. "So, you're the boy from the Potter family," he said. "You'd better get back to Hagrid. The forest isn't safe at this hour."
"By the way," the centaur added, "can I ask what just happened here? That magical surge was massive—it's got half the forest on edge. With everything going on lately, this kind of disturbance is enough to make anyone uneasy."
"There was a fight," Harry explained. "We ran into the one who's been killing unicorns. He's a very powerful wizard. After a fight with Mr. Augustus here, he left—with a unicorn's corpse."
"Augustus? Augustus Julius?" The centaur's eyes flashed with a strange intensity—like that name mattered far more than any battle or dark wizard. He turned urgently to Malfoy and Augustus, trying to figure out which of them was the one.
"What? Is there something wrong with my name?" Augustus asked coolly, eyeing the centaur's anxious reaction.
The centaur didn't respond. He just stared at Augustus, his expression deep and unreadable.
Suddenly, more hoofbeats echoed from the far side of the clearing. Ronan and Bane burst out of the trees, panting and sweating.
"Firenze!" Bane shouted furiously. "What do you think you're doing? Hanging around with humans?! Have you forgotten our oath?"
Firenze ignored Bane, his eyes still fixed on Augustus.
"What have you told them?" Bane snapped. "Remember, Firenze, we swore an oath. We are never to interfere with fate. Have we not seen the signs written in the stars?"
Ronan pawed at the ground uneasily. "I believe Firenze means well," he said in his usual sorrowful voice.
"Means well? What does any of this have to do with us?" Bane growled. "We're centaurs. We follow the stars and their prophecies. We don't trail behind lost humans like a bunch of donkeys!"
But Firenze wasn't angry at Bane's insults. In fact, a strange, satisfied smile crossed his face. He raised a hand to calm the others and then pointed toward Augustus, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "Do you know who this is? This is the boy from the Julius family. Augustus."
Bane and Ronan froze. Their eyes widened in shock, as if seeing Augustus in the flesh was something beyond imagination.
"So everything that happened today wasn't just coincidence?" Ronan said slowly, piecing it together. "The scene we saw in the stars—it's playing out exactly as foretold? A destined meeting written in the heavens, a fated crossing of paths?"
Firenze nodded. "The stars never lie. Everything unfolds as it was meant to."
Surprisingly, Bane didn't argue. He just gave Augustus a faint, thoughtful look and then turned away with Ronan. "Firenze, take Augustus and the others out of the forest. Today might be a day worth celebrating for our kind."
While Harry and Malfoy were completely confused, Augustus had understood most of what the centaurs were talking about. Though he'd always been mildly interested in astrology, he couldn't help feeling a bit uneasy now that his own fate seemed to be written in some cosmic script. Fate? He had never believed in that kind of mystical nonsense. For someone who valued strength, destiny was something you carved out for yourself.
Firenze started leading the three of them toward the forest's edge.
"This whole fate thing you guys mentioned… does it have something to do with that person we fought earlier?" Harry asked, walking beside Firenze. "Why would someone like that kill a unicorn?"
"Harry Potter," Firenze said calmly, "do you know what unicorn blood can be used for?"
"No idea," Harry said, surprised by the question. "We only used their horns and tail hairs in Potions class."
"It's obvious," Malfoy cut in, sounding pleased to know something Harry didn't. "Unicorn blood can be used to prolong life."
"Exactly," Firenze nodded, then added seriously, "But it comes at a terrible cost. To save your own life by killing something so pure, so innocent—you'll end up with only half a life. A cursed life. The moment that blood touches your lips, you become something that should never exist."
"But who would do that?" Harry burst out. "If your life becomes cursed forever, wouldn't death be better?"
"Think about it," Firenze said. "Who's been hiding all these years, waiting for a chance to return? Who clings to life at any cost, biding their time?"
Suddenly, it felt like an icy claw gripped Harry's heart. He could hear Hagrid's voice again from the night they first met: "Some say he's dead. Codswallop, in my opinion. Don't reckon he had enough human left in him to die."
"You mean..." Harry said, his voice hoarse and low, "...Voldemort?"
The winter night in the Forbidden Forest was chilly. Malfoy shivered without knowing why. Augustus walked silently down the path, his steps crunching through fallen leaves.
The wind caught his golden hair, and pale moonlight spilled across his shoulders, casting a long, quiet shadow behind him.
"....."