The Forgotten Twin

Forty points may have been deducted from Slytherin that night on Saturday by Gryffindor’s Head of House but barely a week later, Bard and Draco with a little bit of help from their Potions Professor, had gained back with double that amount. He may be losing points from his celebrity twin brother but let it not be said that Bard wasn’t a team player when it comes to competitions. He held his Slytherin Pride up as well as any other, which earned him good graces from his fellow housemates. Though he could not say the same for his brother and Neville, earning almost hateful glares and mostly ignored by their fellow Gryffindors. He scoffed at the show of the hypocrisy of it all. And here he thought Gryffindors were above petty rivalries.

He caught the note Fahrir delivered before it fell in his milk filled breakfast oats. Simple and to the point, it said:

Your detention will take place at eleven o’clock at night.

Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.

No greetings, no warnings, not even a complimentary closing that of a letter should entail, not that he had expected it from the ever so austere Head of the most honorable House of Hogwarts. A firm no-nonsense direction ending with a sharp signature as a close. He almost laughed out loud by the near comparison of a certain tutor she reminded him of back in his home country.

“What does it say?” Pansy, ever the gossiper, asked out loud as soon as he had it, catching the attention of several of their peers.

“Just to meet Filch at the entrance Hall an hour before midnight.” Draco answered, reading his own note. Pansy leaned back in her seat, disappointed.

“That’s all? Nothing hinting at what your detention will be? What a bore.” She sighed. Bard raised a brow at her. What caring friends he had. Typical Slytherins.

“Well, it did say an hour before midnight, and that Filch will be the one who’ll see to your punishment. Explains why he’d been so happy lately.” Blaise commented. Theodore turned an quizzing eye at the proud Italian.

“You don’t think he’ll actually be allowed to do the things he was mumbling about, do you?” he asked.

“Mumbling about?” Bard parroted.

“Filch has been reported to be mumbling about torturing students whenever he passes by. At least all of the student population has been warned to clear out if he comes by.” Pansy explained.

“That’s not very unusual for him.” Draco stated.

“People said he’s been spotted smiling.” Blaise described and not even a Slytherin within hearing distance could hide the shudder from the mental image it carried.

“We-Well… I’m sure Professor McGonagall won’t stand for it. If memory serves, wasn’t there a rule that states: ‘Only the Head of House and/or the Headmaster himself are to decide the punishment of the student.’?” Bard quoted.

“They also have the power to assign another if requested.” Theodore implied. Draco then scoffed, loudly and stood.

“Where you going, Draco?” Pansy grinned, the true nature of the conversation emerging as they went on.

“To class.” Draco left his seat. “I’ll not listen to another word you say. It’s obvious to what you’re doing and I’ll have none of that, thank you.” And without another word, he left. Bard gave a grin at the three before hurrying to follow the retreating blond.

No one said another word, nor commented about the blonde’s pale skin as he walked out the Hall’s doors. A dignity of a Malfoy was to be kept in the eyes of the masses after all.

[Entrance Hall]

As per the note said, Filch the caretaker was waiting for them, standing in the middle of the entrance hall with nothing but a lamp in his hand and the moonlight shining down through the glass windows as though in a cliche horror film. And as proper horror films went, the area was quiet, too quiet in his opinion, with nothing but the occasional sound Mrs. Norris makes when she felt like it and the squeaking of the lamp’s, no doubt, rusty handle whenever it moved. Fortunately they needed no longer than a few minutes to wait as the last three detentionees arrived.

“Follow me.” said Filch, lighting the lamp and leading them outside. It was also then that he started on some monologue that Bard didn’t bother listening to and instead focusing on the path they were heading to. But even with the moon so bright on this particular night, the clouds overshadowed its glow, yet still there was no mistake of whom they were to spend their detention with if the wooden house they’re nearing to was a sign.

“Is that you, Filch?” a booming voice sounded from across them, “Hurry up, I want ter get started.”

“I suppose you think you’re going to enjoy yourself with that oaf? Well think again, boy -it’s into the forest you’re going and I’m much mistaken if you’ll all come out in one piece. ” Bard blinked, caught off guard, was he talking to him? No, he realized, Filch wasn’t looking at him but at his relieved looking brother. But Bard could sympathize -he much rather have a detention with the Forbidden Forest any day than with Filch, no matter how amazing he has for a pet cat.

“-Should’ve thought about them werewolves before you got in trouble, shouldn’t you?” Bard caught Filch say before Hagrid came striding out of the dark, geared up as any hunter would be before entering a dense wooded area complete with a large boarhound at his heels.

“Abou’ time,” Hagrid said. “I bin waiting fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Hermione?” -with a glance at both of them and slight hesitation, “Charles?” Ignoring the looks, Bard smiled and gave a nod.

“I shouldn’t be too friendly with them Hagrid,” said Filch coldly, “they’re here to be punished, after all.”

“That’s why yer late, is it?” said Hagrid, frowning at Filch. “Bin lecturin’ them, eh? ’Snot your place ter do that. Yeh’ve done yer bit, I’ll take over from here.”

“I’ll be back at dawn,” said Filch, “for what’s left of them.” he added nastily before leaving. Bard gave a snort earning glares from two uptight Gryffindors who thought he was laughing at poor Neville’s quivering frame. Having enough of being assumed off, he made a huge show of rolling his eyes at them uncaring of what they think which only intensified the glares. Draco ignored the battle to turn to Hagrid with panic filled eyes, the mask of cool indifference finally dropping at the face of potential danger.

“I’m not going in that forest.” He declared.

“Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts.” Hagrid said fiercely, catching Bard’s attention on them two. “Yeh’ve done wrong an’ now yeh’ve got ter pay for them.”

“But this is servant stuff, it’s not for students to do. I thought we’d be copying lines or something, if my father knew I was doing this, he’d-”

“-Tell yer that’s how it is at Hogwarts,” Hagrid growled, having Bard narrow dangerous eyes at him. “Copyin’ lines! What good’s that ter anyone? Yeh’ll do summat useful or yeh’ll get out. If yeh think yer father’d rather you were expelled, then get back off ter the castle an’ pack. Go on!”

“Okay! I think we get the point, Hagrid!” Bard suddenly burst out causing startled eyes to focus on him. He let out a breath and before Harry or Hermione could reprimand him for yelling at Hagrid he sheepishly apologized.

“Sorry Hagrid, my temper got ahead of me there. You were saying?” Harry and Hermione both stared, unexpecting, in disbelief.

“Err…” Hagrid started awkwardly before slowly coming around from that sudden scare. “Right then,” he coughed out, “now, listen carefully, ‘cause it’s dangerous what we’re gonna do tonight, an’ I don’t want no one takin’ risks. Follow me over here a moment.” Unseen by most, Bard glared heavily at Hagrid’s back for but a moment’s notice before following with the rest of the students.

He led them to the very edge of the forest. Holding his lamp up high, he pointed down a narrow, winding earth track that disappeared into the thick black trees. A light breeze lifted their hair as they looked into the forest. “Look there,” said Hagrid, “see that stuff shinin’ on the ground? Silvery stuff? That’s unicorn blood. There’s a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday. We’re gonna try an’ find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery.”

“And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first?” said Malfoy, unable to keep the fear out of his voice. A valid point. They shouldn’t even be asked to do this in the first place. Did Hagrid even truly understand what he was asking them to do in the first place? ‘Put it out of its misery’ he said. And here Bard thought that the school only looked like something out of the middle ages...

“There’s nothin’ that lives in the forest that’ll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang,” was Hagrid’s response. “An’ keep ter the path.” He added. “Right, now, we’re gonna split inter two parties an’ follow the trail in diff’rent directions. There’s blood all over the place, it must’ve bin staggerin’ around since last night at least.”

“I want Charlus.” Draco quickly decided, scooting up to Bard’s side as fast. Bard held down his chuckle but let out an amused smile -even not minding the name, for once. It was cute -reminding him of how En would do the same in a somewhat different but likely scenario- and also touched by the trust the Slytherin had on his capabilities. They both ignored the taunting looks they got from both Hermione and Harry, most probably thinking awful and distasteful thoughts.

“In that case,” Bard suddenly whistled, jumping Neville in a slight fright. “Fang will be coming with us.” He patted the dog that obediently came.

“All right, but I warn yeh, he’s a coward.” Hagrid turned his eyes to the three Gryffindors and so missed the disapproving frown Bard gave of the jest.

“So me, Harry, an’ Hermione’ll go one way an’ Charles, Draco, Neville an’ Fang’ll go the other. Now, if any of us finds the unicorn, we’ll send up green sparks, right? Get yer wands out an’ practice now,” they did as told, “ that’s it. An’ if anyone gets in trouble, send up red sparks, an’ we’ll all come an’ find yeh -so, be careful -let’s go.”

However much Bard appreciated Hagrid for turning his life around that day when he was naught but a babe -nevermind accidentally-, he certainly wouldn’t trust him as far as he could throw him.

The Forest loomed ominously on them, as if watching as they passed through their borders.

[Forbidden Forest]

The Forest proved darker than what it seemed from Hogwarts grounds but thankfully, not as dense. Also, fortunately, the weather seemed to be in a helping sort of mood as the moon brightly lit what patches of the path it could from the thick covering of branches and leaves above. Bard took the unofficial title of group leader and stood at front with Fang by his side, leading them deeper while, unknown by the two, keeping a strict, almost strainful, guard over their surrounding area. Once this ‘detention’ was done and over with, he sure as Hel- won’t forget to write a complaint or just straight up head to the Headmaster for this most ridiculous, unacceptable ’punishment’ for mere eleven year olds anyone in the twenty-first century has ever seen- !

In an instant he blasted unharmful green sparks at a movement behind them, hoping to startle the intruder into a daze before grabbing the other two to run, only to wince for the abuse his ears endured as Neville loudly screeched and sent red sparks in the air.

“Draco!” “Bard!” The two shouted simultaneously at each other.

“What do you think you’re doing?! I almost blinded you!”

“What do you think you’re doing?! You nearly blinded me!”

Bard was about to respond but saw the stupidity of continuing and turned instead to the collapsed, paralyzed form of Longbottom, Neville, shaking like no tomorrow. He let out a sigh and crouched beside the quivering form -Draco, he could scold at later, probably was bored out of his mind with the quiet and all- thought it would be fun to scare the frightened out-of-his-mind-

“I wasn’t trying to scare him, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Draco snapped at him. Bard didn’t even turn to look at him, lest his temper once again get the best of him. He placed a hand on Neville’s shoulder and sat him right up while gently calming the frightened Gryffindor down. He could feel the glare those icy blue eyes directed at him like a sudden cold shower on a hot summer’s day but could also feel the childish pout and crossed arms he could put an image on without having to turn around. Among these, his guard of the area never faltered and was glad that Draco was wise enough to stand within grabbing distance should something attack them while in a vulnerable state. It helped that the blond had his wand gripped tightly and tense in his right palm. Fang, the cowardly yet intelligent dog stood guard and alert beside them.

“What were your intentions then?” Bard finally asked once Neville had his head tucked in between his knees and breathing regularly to combat the faint spell he was sure to have if left alone. With his intense focus on Neville and the area, he, unfortunately, missed a rare sight of a blushing Malfoy.

“All his quivering like a frightened mouse -an annoying one, might I add-, was starting to irritate me and so I wanted to put an end to that.” Bard raised a brow and finally looked at the pouting Malfoy. Draco certainly wasn’t beyond showing a childish side to Bard, he was only eleven for goodness sake. Neither spoke but had an understanding of what was untold.

Draco Malfoy, the supposed bane of all first year Gryffindors, wanted to -in no other words to describe it- comfort the pitiful Neville Longbottom. Bard wanted to smile. He did. A wide smile that stretched across his face, complete with teeth and all.

“A tap on the shoulder and he freaked, that’s all.” Draco shrugged, face turned anywhere but on Bard’s grinning face. And though this was a perfect teasing moment, practically served on a silver platter awaiting to be taken, this was not an ideal time. Fortunately, It looked like Neville was coming to.

“You alright there, Nev?” Bard asked as he lightly patted the stout kid’s back.

“Ye-yeah.” Neville managed to say only to be startled once again by Bard’s tensing features as he shot up, nearly knocking him, with an intense stare down the path, slightly at their right. A shift of shuffling dirt was heard when Draco moved slightly, almost shakingly, behind Bard’s stiff form. Fang whimpered yet thankfully stayed beside him. It was only when Bard heaved a sigh of relief that, almost comically like one, did they release a similar breath of relief. Neville was never more glad to see Hagrid’s bushy face come out of the dark then at that moment, and judging by Fang’s wild wagging of tail, he felt the same.

“Hagrid.” Bard breathe.

“Wha’ happened?!” Hagrid’s panicked voice echoed the wild swinging of his crossbow.

“Nothing you wild oaf!” Draco said, ducking out of aim. “I demand you stop swinging that weapon of yours before you shoot someone’s eye out!” Hagrid glared at him in response.

“If nothin’ happened, then why the sudden sparks!” He shouted, “Yeh had me worried! I thought summat attack yeh or worse!” Bard tightly held his eyes from rolling. Hypocrisy, thy name is Hagrid.

“Neville panicked, is all.” Bard said, getting ahold of the situation before it got worse. “Just a tap on the shoulder and he sent sparks flying. You have to admit, the boy was practically shaking even before we entered the fore--”

“Just a tap?!” Hagrid disrupted. “Oh, now I understan’! I understan’ perfectly! You-,” He pointed the crossbow accusingly at Draco, “got bored an’ thought it would be funny tah jump the poor scared Gryffindor out o’ his wits, huh?!”

Draco glared. Bard glared. Poor Neville didn’t know what to make of the situation nor what to do. Hagrid continued to scold despite the attempts at explanation and looked not to be swayed by his belief. Neville chose to stay quiet instead and relish on the feeling of Fang’s warm fur beside him as a safe place from this scary, cold, and dark situation they were in.

“Enough of yehs!” Hagrid huffed, “We’re wasting time arguing while the thing that attacked the unicorn’s still out there. You three come with me an’ we’ll change yer group. Let’s go.” And without a by-your-leave, he turned and walked. Fang glanced pitiful eyes at Bard before following its master. Bard released a frustrated yet tired sigh before helping Neville up and following the fuming half-giant back to his part of the group.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have called him an oaf, Draco.”

“Maybe he shouldn’t assume things on the spot, Charlus.” Despite the name, Bard chuckled, suddenly finding the circumstance in which they’re in funny.

“There’s nothing I find entirely humorous about this, so stop laughing.” Demanded Draco. And Bard did as asked… for about two seconds. Draco harrumphed, giving in and instead battled the giggles out with words.

“I suppose this would be funny to you since you’re not the one wrongly accused.” he said.

“Heh, well,” Bard swiped a loose tear on his eye, “you did call the man an oaf, Drake.”

“Hmph!” Draco crossed his arms and pompously raised his chin, “ And you call yourself a friend. You haven’t even punched back that Weasel in the last month, like you said you would.” Neville swiveled his head at their direction at that moment, specifically at Bard.

“Why’d you want to punch Ron Weasley?” he asked.

“Remember that black eye he gave Draco last month?” Who wouldn’t? It was the talk of the school for days. Ron was deemed a hero of justice by his fellow Gryffindors that day. “I promised him I would return the favor when the opportunity arise.” Bard explained before Draco could.

“A month ago.” Draco butted in. Neville defyingly frowned at him. Bard felt proud for Neville at that.

“Only because you put a Leg-Locker curse on me that day.” And Draco shrugged not even the slightest bit apologetic for that.

“I was pissed.” The Gryffindors were starting to gain on them for the race of the House Cup. “It was your fault for being at the wrong place in the wrong time.”

“Doesn’t mean you could punch Ron for that. He was only defending me.”

“He wasn’t defending you. He wasn’t even there. What right does he have? And besides, Bard’s the one who’d do the punching.”

“A punch, Draco.” Bard cut in. “One. Unless he did something worth needing more, one punch will be enough.”

“Better be worth the wait then! And make sure it’ll last as long on his face as he did on mine.” For Neville’s sake, Bard kept quiet but the smirk on his was enough to assure the blond. He also didn’t mention it, but Draco did do what he first intended to do and help distract Neville from his fears. Neville focused more on arguing with Draco than on the current situation at hand, and if Bard didn’t mistake the current comfortable atmosphere the two made, he’d say that they both were enjoying each other’s company. And if Hagrid and the other two Gryffindors weren’t so superficial, then they would had agreed that there was no need to change groups and to go on as planned. But of course that wasn’t the case and instead, the mood sunk worse than with a frightened Neville which he would have preferred rather than having to endure two arch nemesis glaring spikes at each other behind your back.

An hour and a half later and gratefully, it seems that their mission to find the unicorn had come close to an end. The blood was getting thicker as they moved on just as the path seemed to disappear. Finally, just through thick tangled branches of an ancient old oak, they came at a stop to find the unmistakable but dim glow of a great mythological creature. It was sad, but at the same time, beautiful to behold. Harry took a step only to freeze where he stood. Bard nor Draco did not miss the sound of a slither near them and so also froze on their spot. A bush nearby quivered and Bard’s hand twitched near his behind as if ready to grab something. Fang stood cowering next to them.

Then, out of the shadows, a hooded figure came crawling across the ground like some stalking beast. Harry, Bard, Draco and Fang stood transfixed. The cloaked figure reached the unicorn, lowered its head over the wound in the animal’s side, and began to drink its blood. Bard had the foremind to immediately turn and slap a hand just before Draco, in his panicked state, scream loudly thus catching the blood sucking’s attention at them. Fang however, reacted accordingly by natural instincts of bolting when crossed against something possibly dangerous. The cloaked figure’s head snapped up -unicorn blood dribbling down its front. Got to its feet and came swiftly toward them -no, to his brother. Like hel- will Bard allow something like that.

Pushing back Draco -knocking him to the ground-, he swiftly turned and gripped the revealed, hidden blade he had had strapped on him the entire night. Grabbed the frozen Harry by the front of his clothes and unceremoniously threw him behind next to Draco on the ground. He poised his gleaming weapon at the man -creature -whatever, and slightly crouched for an expected assault. The creature, momentarily startled, loudly hissed angrily and would have attacked him if not for loud clamping of what sounded like hooves coming directly towards them. The cloaked figure ran away -Bard ran the opposite way onto the new threat galloping toward them. He had had enough of this Forest and its creatures!

He made a horizontal swipe and if not for the high jump that the creature with hooves did, it would have been a clean, one slice, kill. The creature made a graceful arc and landed heavily behind them. Bard turned at the ready only to stop and sigh once light of the moon revealed the creature’s full figure.

A Centaur. Half-man and half-horse, it stood proud and a little irritated at having come close to death, if the stamping of his leg was anything to go by. Bard sheathe his weapon back tiredly. Draco and Harry took a minute before scrambling up to stand beside him. Fang was nowhere to be seen.

“Are you alright?” he asked, genuinely concerned yet Bard could see the man -horse -centaur, still slightly irritated. Bright, pale sapphires that complimented his palomino body and stark white hair glared directly at hazel green.

“Yes -thank you -what was that?” Harry asked, turning the centaur’s attention toward him.

Having read about Centaurs in his book of ’Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ by Newt Scamander, Bard expected nothing other than riddles coming from said beast and turned instead towards the other beast that they purposely came here for. Draco didn’t follow yet chose to stand near their circle of odd individuals.

“What are you doing?” the centaur snapped at him. Bard ignored the beast to crouch down beside the poor unicorn. He placed a hand near its neck to the confusion of both humans on their group. He frowned at his discovery.

“I’m doing what we were sent here for.” He then looked up to the centaur. “Where’s the heart? This unicorn’s still breathing and I’d like to end its pain.” Harry gasped.

“You can’t!” Bard ignored him. The centaur, surprisingly, or not so, agreed and showed him the way to its heart. Bard pulled out his dagger once again and turned to the two innocents watching despairingly at him. “Turn around, cover your ears, close your eyes and don’t look back until I say so, got it?” Harry defyingly glared but Draco obediently did as told.

“You too, Harry” Harry flinched -it was the first time Bard had ever called his name, yet stubbornly stood still.

“Can’t we save it? If it’s still alive--” But even the centaur shook his head negatively.

“The wound is too deep, too great to save. The unicorn will bleed to death, prolonging its agony if left alone.” The centaur said.

“And we were told to ‘put it out of its misery’.”

“No! Hagrid said to light up green sparks--”

“And what? Wait, until he gets here?” Harry winced at Bard’s harsh tone but nevertheless understood. He slowly turned and covered his ears.

“Perhaps, I should--” the centaur offered only to be refused.

“I’ll do it.” Bard quietly murmured. He’d done the same for a horse before back in Ezra when an accident occurred and the poor creature’s half was trapped beneath a pile of rubble, there’ isn’t any difference to do the same now. And who could ask a half-horse creature to willingly kill a mythical horse of its kind? That would be beyond cruel.

A precise stab to the heart and it was done. “You can look now.” Bard stood and walked off, not bothered in the least. He then took off his tainted cloak and hung it on his arm, inadvertently revealing the sheath strapped on his back to the two innocent eleven year olds. According to the centaur, the unicorn was to be left alone until one of his people showed up to bring the unicorn for a proper burial ceremony. Bard raised a brow, interested but made no more of that subject.

“I can’t believe you actually did that.” Harry whispered.

“I can’t believe you never told me you have that.” Draco pointed at Bard’s weapon. Bard sheathe the blade back to its proper place behind his back. Harry watched and couldn’t help notice the differences between their bodies. Identical twins or not, Bard’s lean body showed more muscle than Harry could ever hope for -even with Quidditch training.

Bard shrugged, nonchalant. “It was a gift.” Now that this was done, he could not wait to go back to civilisation. What’s left is the centaur that had saved them from the creature -whatever-it-was- earlier.

“My name is Bard Ignatius. The blond is Draco Malfoy and my duplicate over there is Harry Potter.” He introduced. He could feel his twin stare at him confused, but ignored it for the centaur that was currently staring at his offered hand. Was this the acclaimed pride that he read centaur’s stubbornly held?

“What do you think you’re saying, Charles? I never allowed you to introduce me to a centaur.” Draco sniped. The centaur and Harry glared. But Bard took it all in stride. He had no patience, nor care for a debate about race equalization. He hated politics. He dismissed Draco with a wave of his hand.

“Ignore him.” He said. “It’s been a long night for all of us.” He ended with a sigh, hand still offered to shake.

“I am Firenze.” The centaur finally replied, grabbing not his hand but his whole arm in greeting. “You are not who you say you are.” Firenze narrowed suspicious eyes at him. Bard shrugged.

“I have two legal names. I have the right to choose which one I use to introduce myself.” Firenze stared, but agreed, then turned to address them all.

“You all had better get back to Hagrid. The forest is not safe -especially for you,” He glanced at Harry, then back at them three. “Sadly I cannot carry all three of you at once. We must go now if we’re to--” Bard flinched and had his hand grip the handle of his blade when two more galloping hooves were heard coming their way. Two more centaurs appeared, one red and one black, with just as much grace as Firenze, and just as much feet, though one was wilder looking than the other two.

“Ronan, Bane. It is good to see you. Help me send these children back to Hagrid, so that they may go back out of this Forest. It is not safe for them to be here.” Firenze immediately requested. The red one -Ronan, looked hesitant but willing to comply, the other, not so much. Seeing that, Bard took matters in his own hands as he is prone to do. Taking a step forward, he disrupted Bane before he said things that were bound to start a fight.

“That isn’t necessary, Firenze.” Bard called, catching all of the others’ attention. “Lead us to the nearest part of the forest out of here and we’ll send a signal up for Hagrid and the others to see. We’ll wait for them there. I don’t think the creature, whatever-it- was, will attack again. I don’t believe it was here for that purpose other than to drink unicorn blood.” As one, they all turned to the poor, dead creature lying undisturbed on a bed of roots.

“And what makes you so sure, human?” The black one -Bane, narrowed his eyes at him but Bard was not one to cower easily.

“It would have attacked us long before we spotted the unicorn, if that were the case.” Three inexperienced eleven year olds walking all alone with only a dog for protection in a dark forest at midnight, it’s any murderer’s dream. Bane snorted, but agreed with the point.

“I suggest you give the unicorn a proper burial -the sooner, the better.” Bard continued, then gestured to Firenze. “Shall we?” Thankfully, with only a few grunts and snorts from Bane at being ordered around by a mere human child, they all saw the importance of the bigger picture and followed directions. Ronan was kind enough to give them a smile as they left -Bane focused more on the unicorn.

An hour and a half it took to find the unicorn, with Firenze as their guide and added protector against the forest, it took no longer than half. They all sat around the middle of the forked road on which they first separated on as it was close enough to the school and close enough for Hagrid’s group to find them easily. While waiting, Harry managed to pull Firenze some parts away from the two Slytherins to ask some unanswered questions which Bard knew was bothering him, heck, Draco could easily tell. Firenze, confused yet respectful of Harry’s need, answered some, if not all of what he thought the young one should know, in a whispered manner. Unknown to his assuming brother though, he and Draco were not, if at all, interested of what they were talking about. Bard lounged crossed legged on the dirt path, wiping his blade clean of silver unicorn blood while Draco lay down fully with his head on Bard’s lap. They were clearly bored. The both of them, sleep deprived.

“Harry! Harry, are you alright?” Fortunately, the wait has finally ended.

Hermione was running toward them down the path, Hagrid puffing along behind her. Bard heaved a sigh of relief when Fang, followed by Neville, bounded up next barking and wagging, happy to see them, specifically Bard, slobbering him up and toppling him over. Draco was lucky to have narrowly escaped from that exposure.

“Are you kids, okay?” Hagrid puffed up in concern, crossbow in hand. “Firenze.” He called in confused shock and a means for explanation.

“We’re okay,” answered Harry, mostly to calm Hermione, “We found the unicorn, Hagrid, but -um…” Harry’s eyes drifted uncertainly to Bard and his gleaming weapon.

“We found it, almost got attacked by the thing that attacked it, Firenze showed up, it ran, we mercifully killed the unicorn and left it to Firenze’s people to handle the rest.” Bard summarized. Fang, thankfully, sat obediently in front while he explained. Hagrid turned to the centaur, sad yet thankful.

“I see, so Firenze-”

“No, my friend.” Firenze denied. Bard nearly let out a curse. Centaurs were not one for dishonesty, but Bard was hoping that that matter would be left alone. “It was not I to end the poor creature’s suffering,” Firenze nodded to Bard. “That young warrior there completed the task himself.” Bard ‘tsk’-ed in irritation.

“He did what?!” Hagrid gasped. Neville and Hermione stared at him in shock. Bard tried to discreetly hide his weapon behind his back but the movement only caught their attention all the more.

“What’s that?” Hermione questioned, already heading toward him. “-Hey!” Draco tried too late, as the only girl in their group grabbed Bard’s wrist and raised it for all to see Bard’s gleaming blade. Bard, clearly annoyed, rolled his eyes at the drama of it all but let her do as she wanted.

“Is that a knife?” Neville, clearly surprised by the unexpected events, couldn’t help blurt out.

“It’s a Janbiya, actually.” Bard answered wryly. He roughly pulled his arm out and away from the glaring girl, giving back as much as he got. “A gift I got from master. One of the best. Important, traditional, valuable and functional.” He gave a showy flip of his dagger with a flick of his wrist for his audience before smoothly catching and sheathing it back in one move with the same hand. Hermione pursed her lips, deplored by his actions as well as Hagrid, yet Bard could see the centaur smirk, clearly the only one amused and the only one Bard could care the opinion of. And although he could not see, it is not difficult for him to know that Draco is currently glaring intensely at Hermione’s back. Though angered by Hermione’s ways or being ignored, that, he did not know.

“Why do you even have that?” Hermione, ever the righteous gryffindor, demanded. “It’s against school and British law!”

Undeterred, Bard merely shrugged her way. “I have diplomatic immunity; check my passport.” Hermione scowled at him in return, unamused.

“It still is against school rules and on top of that yeh killed the unicorn?!” Hagrid yelled in anger.

“I made sure Harry and Draco covered their eyes and their ears. And the unicorn would have suffered a slow death if we have left it alone.” Bard retaliated, annoyed.

“Yeh should’ve left it to Firenze instead! Yer still a child and-” Firenze placed a hand on the bushy man’s shoulder for him to stop. Hagrid paused to turn to him. Even with Hagrid’s unusually large figure, the centaur seemed to tower him on all four legs, an intimidating figure.

“Enough of this, Hagrid.” Firenze interrupted. “I allowed the young warrior to do the deed in place of me. He has done no wrong and has told no lies. Indeed, he is young -too young for even my tastes but I feel he is experienced and wise to carry a weapon when in these woods, for these are dark times that we are entering, indeed.”

“What do yeh mean by that, Firenze? Do yeh know what it was that attacked the unicorn?” Hagrid asked, furrowed brows and concerned. But Firenze shook his head, a sign that meant he had said enough in front of those that he deemed need not know. Bard saw his brother tense, a knowing yet uncertain look in his eyes.

“I must leave now. I have lingered far too long. You best be going back also, it is not safe with the creature still on the loose. Farewell, Bard Ignatius, Harry Potter.” With a look at both brothers he added. “The planets have been read wrongly before, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times.”

With a final nod, he turned and cantered back into the depth of the forests, leaving Harry, Bard noticed, shivering behind him. Whatever answers Firenze had given Harry, it did not bode well for either Bard or Snape when and if, they ever find out. He let out a heavy sigh and glanced up to the darkened sky.

A contemplative smile stretched out upon his lips. ‘Mars is unusually bright tonight.’

That... was not a good sign.

Tbc