MrBlackWing
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✭ Chapter 98 ➜ Ronan, The Centaur ✭
🕑 Added 2025-05-10 22:28:39 +0000 UTCThe Forbidden Forest was pitch-black and silent. Moonlight poured through the branches above like shattered crystal, sprinkling silver fragments across the fallen leaves.
They hadn't walked far when Kyle recognized the surroundings. A group of mooncalves peered at them through the bushes with their large eyes, watching curiously.
Hagrid broke the silence, "Besides the unicorn foal, there are fewer mooncalves here than usual."
Though panicking inside, Kyle kept his composure, "Are we looking for them today too?"
"No need." Hagrid shook his head, "Since the other mooncalves here seem normal, they've likely moved to the larger colony in the southern woods."
"Oh... that's good then." Kyle breathed a sigh of relief and continued following him deeper into the Forbidden Forest.
Before leaving, he scattered a handful of dittany leaves nearby as a treat for the mooncalves.
Hagrid noticed but paid little attention, his mind preoccupied with the stolen unicorn foal. He assumed Kyle had grown the dittany himself.
As they walked further, his expression grew more anxious.
Noting Hagrid's demeanor, Kyle asked, "Could another creature have taken the unicorn foal?"
"Impossible." Hagrid said, "Unicorns are very protective of their young, and they possess powerful magic. Even a dragon couldn't easily approach their foals without using trickery."
They passed through an area covered in moss and mushrooms, arriving at a winding stream.
"Howl..." Fang suddenly broke the silence.
In the quiet forest, his sharp bark was particularly piercing.
"Fang, have you found something?" Hagrid rushed over, drawing an arrow and loading his crossbow, ready to shoot.
Fang sat there, pawing at a nearby branch where a palm-sized piece of black fabric hung.
"Good boy, Fang, good boy!"
Hagrid took the fabric, examining it carefully between his fingers before bringing it to his nose.
"Rough texture... and this distinctive smell." He muttered, "Someone from outside the forest has been here."
"Isn't it just a regular piece of cloth?" Kyle asked.
"No." Hagrid said firmly, "This fabric is made from a special vine. Though it makes for uncomfortable clothing, it's extremely tough and durable. Only Aurors on long outdoor missions and dragon keepers wear clothes made from it."
This piece of fabric was their first clue.
Hagrid wanted Fang to track the scent, but the dog merely circled once before returning to his spot, leaving Hagrid disappointed.
As they continued along the stream, searching carefully, a dark figure suddenly darted past.
"Who's there!" Hagrid raised his crossbow and stepped in front of Kyle, "Come out — I saw you!"
Clip-clop...
A centaur emerged into the clearing, his human half sporting red hair and beard, while his horse half was brownish-red with a flowing tail.
"Oh, it's you, Ronan." Hagrid said with relief, "How are you?"
He stepped forward and shook hands with the centaur.
"Good evening, Hagrid." Ronan said in his deep, melancholy voice, "Were you planning to shoot me?"
"Just taking precautions, Ronan."
Hagrid patted his quiver.
"I've got a young wizard with me this time, need to keep him safe. Oh yes, this is Kyle Chopper, a Hogwarts student." He turned to Kyle, "This is Ronan, a centaur."
Upon seeing it was a male centaur, Kyle's interest diminished, though he politely nodded and said, "Hello."
Ronan studied him carefully, then placed his arm on his shoulder and bent his front legs slightly, "Good evening, pleased to meet you."
Kyle felt puzzled by the centaur's unusually formal behavior.
Centaurs were proud creatures who typically offered strangers nothing more than a nod — such a respectful greeting with a bow was usually reserved for Dumbledore alone.
"Ronan, glad to meet you here." Hagrid said, lowering his crossbow, "A unicorn foal has been stolen. Have you seen anything?"
Ronan didn't answer immediately, his gaze fixed on the starlit sky.
"Don't worry." He said, "Mars is normal tonight."
"Yes, same as usual." Hagrid glanced up dismissively, "But have you seen anything, Ronan — anything unusual, or any strangers?"
"You're acting strange." Ronan said mysteriously.
"I'm fine!" Hagrid snapped impatiently, "What I mean is, have you seen anything out of the ordinary?"
"Follow me." Ronan said, turning toward a patch of low bushes.
Hagrid and Kyle hurried after him. They pushed through the bushes and found themselves before a massive tree. Ronan had vanished.
"This is quite remarkable, him actually leading us somewhere." Hagrid whispered, looking around, "These centaurs know many things but keep their mouths shut. I always thought they weren't interested in anything except what's in the sky."
Just then, Fang darted forward, lying under the tree and howling continuously.
"Found something already?"
Hagrid and Kyle quickly followed.
Where Fang lay, a chunk was missing from the tree trunk, as if someone had taken a bite from a loaf of bread. The edges showed clear signs of corrosion.
Hagrid leaned in, stroking his chin, "This must be some evil dark magic."
Being too short to see the gap, Kyle walked around the tree instead.
The tree was truly enormous, about five meters in diameter — a rare size even in the Forbidden Forest. Compared to it, the surrounding plants looked malnourished, growing small and stunted. He didn't even need to approach them; a quick glance told him everything he needed to know.
