Intervention Upon a String

Chapter Ten

"I miss Harvey."

The duo's journey continued at a slow but steady pace. No interruptions or blood-thirsty monsters thus far. They woke up refreshed and actually a bit clouded from all the pollen in the air but were content nonetheless and filled with new-found energy. The outline of the castle was a beacon of hope; a sip of water in a desert that kept them going. They couldn't visibly see it through the trees anymore but they knew it was there and the prospect of reaching it by the end of the day was making their hearts race. Yet, despite it, Angelina showed an ever so subtle hint of sadness as they passed on without their unicorn friend.

"Get over it," Marcus said. "You're the one who wanted to get him back to his stupid family."

"I know," Angelina said heavily and sighed. "But I miss him anyway. The way he pranced around and followed you and loved you like his ickle mommy..."

"All right, shut up," Marcus interrupted before Angelina could go any further with it. "You're making me sick. Besides, what would you do with him once you reached the castle?"

"Give him to Hagrid!" She smiled.

"Ha!"

Angelina narrowed her eyes. "What was that little 'ha' for?"

"It was exactly what you think it's for." He pushed away a dew-covered spider's web for Angelina and let her walk through. Despite the polite gesture, she turned up her nose and brushed past him.

"Hagrid is a brilliant professor and he loves those animals. Honestly. Did you see the way he cried when Buckbeak was sentenced to death? Oh no. Wait. You were too busy pretending to be a dementor at the Quidditch game."

Marcus sniggered quietly until Angelina swatted his arm. He instinctively blocked himself and laughed harder.

"You are such a jerk!" she snapped.

He continued to laugh as Angelina crossed her arms and stormed past him; her black braids whipping around her shoulder. Once all the awkward moments of the last two nights drifted away, they were back to fighting like an old married couple it seemed. Flint relished in it.

The air was getting warmer by the hour and once again, the trees became tall and plentiful; slowing them down as they were forced to climb over fallen vines and logs. Sweat began to form on their foreheads. Marcus couldn't take it anymore and finally peeled off his jumper and tossed it over his shoulder. Angelina glanced behind her curiously and then grinned. "Woohoo! Take it off, Flint!" she hollered and winked.

Marcus smirked. "Don't be a tease." Absentmindedly, he patted his back pocket for his wand and furrowed his eyebrows when it wasn't there. "Woman, do you have my wand?"

"No," Angelina replied lightly. "Why?"

"Because," he growled. "We can see if we can apparate now."

"I don't have your wand, Marcus."

Marcus stopped dead in his tracks and began to furiously pat every inch of his body, his jeans, his shirt, even his jumper slung over his shoulder. His wand was nowhere to be found.

"Shit."

"Oh!" Angelina suddenly said, lighting up. "You mean this wand." With a cocky grin, she slid out from her pocket a long ebony wand and twirled it in her fingers.

Marcus narrowed his dark eyes dangerously at her. "Woman, quit playing around. I want to get out of here."

Angelina made an 'oooh' sound of mock intimidation and pretended to revel in Flint's ferocity. "What would you do if I didn't give it back? You going to smack me around like the rest of your harem?" She backed up while facing him and continued to playfully twirl the weapon.

"You'd be asking for it," he warned. "Come on. Quit fucking around."

"I think I'll just apparate without you."

"Yeah right. Give it back."

Angelina flashed her eyebrows and smirked. "Come and get it."

Being close to their goal had made her giddy and playful as endorphins rushed through her veins. The fact that her playmate had to be Marcus Flint of all people made it even more hilarious and with a daring giggle, she darted away leaving Flint very confused. For a moment he just stood there and could hardly believe that Angelina would fool around like this when they could be closer to home. But then his mind snapped like a lion's; something was running and it needed to be chased. Angelina was already yards away when he began to pursue her. They tossed aside vines and branches and jumped over logs, chasing each other like children. Angelina's long, slender legs were used to her advantage. Unfortunately, she was running out of places to flee for directly ahead of her was a small rocky incline about 25 feet high; the top covered with grass and trees and the bottom littered with large boulders she'd rather not fool around on. However, before she could make a decision, a hand tightly wrapped around her wrist and yanked her back.

"Johnson!" Marcus said sharply. He was stronger than they both anticipated and Angelina stumbled back so hard that she tripped around to his other side and lost her footing. Desperate to regain her balance, she yelped and latched onto Flint's shoulder but fell backwards nonetheless; taking him with her. Clumsily, they fell; Angelina pinned beneath Marcus; both panting. "...There," Marcus said. "I fucking caught you. Are you happy now?"

Angelina groaned and clutched her head in pain. "No. God, you're heavy. Get off."

Marcus took advantage of this little situation. Keeping Angelina pinned, he propped himself onto his elbows with a very cocky smirk. "I'll get off," he said. "But you'll have to snog me first."

Angelina glared at him with malice. "You are such a manipulative bastard."

He flashed her a grin and jabbed a thumb at himself. "Slytherin."

Suddenly there was a loud thud to their left. Both whipped their heads up only to come in eye contact with a young centaur staring at them with the same shocked expression. He had jumped off the dusty ledge on his way to some unknown destination when he stumbled upon the duo in a rather...provocative position. Before anyone could say anything, the centaur jumped back up the cliff and darted away. Several seconds went by until Angelina blushed and cleared her throat and urged Marcus to get off. With the unexpected appearance of a centaur, he was no longer in the mood to fool around and complied. Both sat there for a moment to rest until a sharp and strangled cry caused them to stumble to their feet.

"What the fuck was that?" Marcus asked.

"It came from up the incline," Angelina replied with a worried tone. "Something's hurt." She began to head for the base before Marcus grabbed her hand.

"No," he said sternly. "Then we're going around. No more search and rescues. We're done."

Angelina angrily snatched her hand back. "No more search and rescues? Marcus, did you forget that you were rescued a few times out here too?"

He scowled. "Bullshit."

A cry came from up the ledge again. Angelina didn't reward Marcus with an argument but instead studied the steep incline. Watching her footing, she stepped up onto a rock and grabbed one of the many tangled roots protruding out of the sand from the trees above.

"What are you doing?" Marcus whined exasperatedly.

She looked over her shoulder. "What am I doing? What are you doing? I thought you were selfishly going home. Here's your wand." Angelina dug into her pocket and threw it at his head. Unfortunately, he caught it. Again, she began to climb, hanging onto the roots as she pulled herself up. Dust and weeds drifted into her eyes but she continued upwards anyway. Her feet desperately tried to keep traction but only kept slipping under the shifting sand. With a frustrated groan, she kicked her legs and got a bit higher until Marcus planted his hand on her bum and pushed up. Normally, she would welcome his help but not this time. Roughly, she smacked his hand away. "I don't need you, Flint. Go home. I'll be at the castle later."

"Bitch, I'm not leaving you alone in the Forbidden Forest. You're a Gryffindork but I didn't think you were that stupid."

"Then don't talk to me." She began to climb again with more determination.

Marcus stood at the base and rolled his eyes. Honestly, it was like dealing with a child. Angelina was the most infuriating woman he'd met so far. "Bloody hell," he muttered to himself and began to climb at her side.

Grabbing onto roots, both made their way up the ledge slowly and clumsily. Marcus used his strong arms to get to the top first and when he offered Angelina his hand, she ignored him completely and made it up herself. She stood and brushed the dust from her jeans and studied the area ahead to find the source of the anguished cry. Marcus watched her; she didn't even acknowledge him. "All right, what the hell is the problem now?" he sighed.

"I don't know. What's the problem? I see no problem. Go back to the castle now."

"Stop being difficult. Just because I'm tired and want to get the hell out of here unlike some other mad people I know doesn't make me the bad guy. Well, ok it does. But that's my job."

"Whatever, Flint. If it were you crying out like that and I decided to just say 'fuck it' and leave, you'd be pretty pissed off wouldn't you? Considering the last thing you helped saved your life, I think you should be damn eager to do a few favors out in these woods."

"Yeah, if we were hundreds of miles from civilization. But we're not. The castle is probably a mile away. Are you asking to die out here?"

"No. And neither is something else. So I'm going to find it and help it because I'm here."

Marcus cursed under his breath and watched Angelina study the thick forest ahead. The trees were so winding that it was hard to see past a mere foot in front of your nose. She began to mutter to herself and the only thing Flint caught was 'such a jerk'. "I've been a jerk for days! Why is that pissing you off now? Are you ragging or something?"

Angelina whipped around to face him with her fists clenched at her side. Even though he had, indeed, been a jerk for days, the reason it was angering her so much now was because she thought that after he finally opened up to her, he would change. I suppose I expected too much when I expected a decent man. "You don't care about anyone but yourself!"

"You just now figured this out?"

"We've been together out here all this time the only thing you cared about was yourself and saving your pathetic ass!"

"Who else am I supposed to care about?"

"Me, you jerk! The way I cared about you even though I hate your guts and you're an asshole! I still wouldn't let you die or leave you out here!"

Marcus's temper was heating up. He furrowed his eyebrows. "What the fuck are you talking about?! I saved you eight times a day!"

"Because I 'have a nice rack'," Angelina quoted him bitterly.

He rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on! That was days ago! Why didn't you bitch at me then?"

"Because I didn't think it would do any good! And now after everything we've done and said, I figured maybe it would make a difference. But I was wrong. You're still a coward and a prat!" She stomped away with her fists still clenched and her eyes on the ground in fury.

Marcus followed after her. "So, that time I broke my fucking leg going back for your stupid unicorn?" He grabbed at her shoulders to make her stop but she shook him off sharply and kept forcing her way through the branches. "And sliced open my hand catching you on the cliff right before you woke up all those trolls in the cave I was stuck in? Or how I pushed you and your stupid pet out of the spider web before I got out? I'm a coward and a prat, huh? Here, want my fucking jumper again you needy bitch?"

He took it and threw it at her but before it could hit her, she spun around with lightning fast speed and swatted it to the side right before she connected her hand with his cheek. "So why did you do it, Flint?" she cried. "Because you thought you were going to get a little reward from me? Impress me enough and maybe, just maybe, I'll be just as stupid and easy as every other girl you've had?" She approached him with fire in her eyes. Marcus, for once, was actually intimidated and he stepped back until she had him backed against a tree along the edge of the small cliff. As she walked, she slowly began to unbutton her blouse in a teasing manner. "Tell me," she continued. "Is this why you kept me happy? For a snog? Something else? You pride yourself on being a Slytherin. What was your ambition, Flint? To have a romp with a Holyhead Harpy Chaser out here in these woods all alone? Well, what if I gave you what you wanted right here, right now? What would that make me when we're done?"

"...Uh."

"Here's your chance, Flint. Do whatever you want to me. Have a go with me right here. Show me what a man you are. If you didn't save me all those times for this, what did you save me for?"

Marcus looked up for a second and began to say something before Angelina gave him a tiny shove to get his attention back.

"What are you waiting for?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow and letting her arms fall to the side. Her blouse was undone down to her bra.

Flint's eyes barely flickered down to the newly exposed flesh before he spoke. "I'm waiting for you to calm the fuck down and save this for later because that thing you were looking for...is right behind you."

For a moment, Angelina's brain didn't register what Marcus meant. She blinked and furrowed her eyebrows until something in her mind told her to put their little squabble to the side and turn around. When she did, she gasped. Only a few yards away from them was the same young centaur they saw before hiding and trying in vain to escape, but something was holding him down. Without precaution, Angelina ran towards him.

"Johnson! Wait!" Marcus ran after her. She really was incorrigible sometimes. Here she was charging at a potentially dangerous creature to help it when it could kill her instantly if it wanted to. He was impressed.

Angelina approached slowly and held up her hands to show that she was unarmed. The centaur was very young and small, an adolescent by centaur standards, and was trying frantically to run away. However, his leg appeared to be caught on something that Angelina couldn't see yet. His fur was a dark black as was his short curly hair and eyes and his strong arms broke and grasped every branch he could touch in order to escape. He wasn't tall like the other centaurs, probably due to his young age, and on all four hooves reached only the same height as Marcus.

"Easy!" Angelina said gently. "I'm not going to hurt you, I swear."

"Stay back!" The centaur said.

Angelina immediately stopped and Marcus bumped into her back. Both stared at the centaur uneasily. "Look, I want to help you," she said.

"I cannot accept your help," the centaur replied. His voice was smooth and young. "It is a human trap that I've been ensnared in. Whether you set it or not is not my concern. Neither is your change of heart."

"I swear to you we didn't set it," Angelina pleaded. "Please. Just..." She approached him again and he stomped down a hoof to keep her back.

"Keep away, I said!"

"You're hurt."

"It is painful. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Angelina shook her head and stared at him sadly. "No. Can I see what you're caught on?"

"Why? So you can nod your head in satisfaction? Another trophy for your cause?"

She took another step forward. "No. I promise you. Look, my name is Angelina. I was just down that ledge behind me and you came through. I've been lost in the forest for days."

"Lies. You would be dead. And I don't care what your name is."

"I would be dead but...," Angelina said and looked at Marcus by her side. She looked at the forest floor for a moment. "...I had some help."

"My kind will be looking for me shortly. If they see you here, your luck will not be so plentiful. Leave now."

Angelina crossed her arms. "I'm not leaving until you let me help you."

"Then you will die."

"I don't believe that," she said, shook her head, and approached the centaur again.

Marcus quickly grabbed her arm from behind. "Are you mad? The dumb beast doesn't want to be helped. Leave him before he kicks your face in."

Angelina pushed him away. "It'd be a sore site better than your face."

"What did you call me?" the centaur asked in anger. He narrowed his eyes at Marcus.

"Oh, don't pay any attention to him," Angelina said and stood before the centaur without a trace of fear. "If there's any dumb beast in the universe, it's him. He's just jealous. What's your name?"

"You don't deserve to know."

Angelina shrugged. "Fine. Hold still. I'm going to see what you're caught on and get you out of it."

Not seeing how the situation could get any worse and also accepting his fate, the centaur remained calm and allowed Angelina to do as she pleased. His family would be by shortly to save him and kill her before she could maim him any further.

Angelina brushed some weeds out of the way and gasped. The ground was covered in blood splatters and clenched into the flesh of the centaur's left hoof was a strange metal contraption not unlike a Chinese finger trap. It was a metal ring lined with spikes attached to two very thin strings stretching to nearby trees. When the centaur stepped into the ring and pulled it as he stepped up, the strings tightened and dug the spikes into his skin. The more he thrashed, the tighter it pulled. Angelina never saw a trap like it before in her life but judging how close they were to the castle; she had a pretty good idea who set it. "Slytherins," she hissed. "I'm not sure...how this thing works...but just hold still. I'll try not to make it hurt too much."

"I hope mocking me gives you great pleasure," the centaur said calmly.

"It doesn't," Angelina answered blankly as her mind focused on the trap. Gently, her fingers found the strings that drew out to two surrounding trees and bending over, she bit them clear off with her teeth. The lines snapped, leaving only the ring to pull off. She wasn't sure if she should pull down or up or apart. The ring looked locked tight in his flesh and blood oozed from the spikes. "All right, you're free, but don't run yet. You still have the ring on. Let me get that off or it'll get infected or something."

To her surprise, the centaur obeyed. He now couldn't understand the motive behind this human freeing him when she had so cunningly set the trap in the first place; a sick joke for sick humans. His elders were right. They couldn't be trusted anymore. So what was this female up to and where was his family?

"Ok almost," Angelina whispered and concentrated hard on untangling the ring. The centaur hissed in pain but kept signs of discomfort to a minimum. Finally, Angelina succeeded and urging his hoof up, she gently slid the ring of spikes from his flesh and threw it in the dirt away from them. "There. Oops, wait." Selflessly, she sat on her rear and lifted one of her legs in the air to rip at the seam of her jeans. She grunted and pulled hard enough until a strip of denim tore from the bottom of the leg, leaving her jeans several inches shorter on one side now. With great satisfaction, she wrapped it around the centaur's wound and tied it before sitting back on her haunches and observing her work. "All better. You're good to go," she said and stood up, dusting dirt from her pants and shirt.

The centaur was staring at her with a confused and analyzing expression. His eyes studied Marcus and Angelina before glancing down at Angelina's handy work. Finally, he looked at her again and cocked his head. "I don't understand," he said.

Angelina raised her eyebrows and smiled. "Don't understand what?"

"Why must you be so cruel? Are we to play this game of cat and mouse?"

"Cruel? Look, for the last time, we didn't set that trap. Ok? I'm really sorry that some sick students who I can wager which house they belong in..." She glared at Marcus for a moment. "...set this for a laugh or any other reason but I'll tell Dumbledore and it'll never happen again."

"Dumbledore," the centaur repeated. "The one who brainwashed Firenze?"

"Who?" Angelina furrowed her eyebrows.

"The centaur who betrayed us to join you humans. He works at your castle like a common invalid now. Dumbledore lured him with false promises. I have no reason to trust him or rely on him."

Finally, Marcus smirked and nodded. Angelina shot him a deadly glare. "Dumbledore didn't brainwash anyone," she argued. "If Firenze left, maybe it's because he had no reason to trust or rely on you. I just freed you and you still seem to think I set this trap. How much sense does that make?" She planted her hands on her hips and dared the centaur to think of an excuse for that. Honestly, some people were so ungrateful nowadays.

"I don't have time to place myself on the low mindset of humans to understand what gives you the motive to be deceitful and how that makes sense."

Angelina rolled her eyes. She had enough. Maybe Marcus was right. They should have kept walking. "Whatever. You're welcome," she snapped and started to head towards the castle once again.

For a moment, the centaur watched her back before looking at Marcus. Marcus only shrugged and started to follow her. "I suppose she was the decoy. Now you're just going to finish the job?" the centaur asked him.

Marcus snorted. "Hell no. I didn't even want to go anywhere near you. I bet she can see why now. She's daft but at least I thanked her when she saved my ass."

The centaur's eyes now followed the two humans as they seemed to dismiss him all together and continue on their journey. Something in his intuition told him that the girl was not lying. Judging by her attitude, he derived that she was, indeed, innocent but somehow his pride clouded this conclusion until now. If this was a cruel game of cat and mouse, it was the strangest form he'd ever seen and didn't want to waste any valuable time and brainpower trying to figure out such a foolish human trick. He was free. He could run at any time. And the humans were unarmed.

"Wait!" the centaur said and galloped after them. The two spun around and were shocked to find him extending a strong hand out to Angelina. Hesitantly, she shook it. "I'm afraid I've misjudged you," he said. "I can sense you are pure of heart and that your intentions are either really good or really foolish." A small smile cracked on his lips.

"Probably both," Marcus said under his breath. Although Angelina didn't hear him, the centaur did, and his expression turned cold when he gazed at him.

"You could learn something from this female," the centaur told him. "Something that your kind and my kind alike choose to ignore; something that could finally end our foolish wars. Do not take that tone up around her. More importantly, do not take it up around me."

Marcus was not intimidated. "I'll take up whatever the hell I want to take up."

"Just ignore him," Angelina said quickly to the centaur. "Anyway, thanks."

The centaur stared at her incredulously. "Why are you thanking me? Don't be foolish. I am here to extend you my gratitude for sparing my life when others would have left me over fear or heartlessness. So I thank you. And my name is Sysleis."

Angelina smiled at him. "Sysleis. Glad to meet you."

"Our laws forbid me to extend you any favors now, but I am in debt. Tell me, is there anything I can assist you with? Quick, before my kind comes for me."

She sighed in relief. "Can you tell us how to get back to the castle? We really are lost."

"The castle is but an hour's walk east. You should be there shortly. That way," Sysleis said and pointed a strong arm in the right direction. "There is also a small cluster of apple trees along the path. Eat from it. You have my protection."

"All right, let's beat it," Marcus said, urging Angelina to move on.

"Don't push me!" Angelina said to him in disgust. "Bye Sysleis. And be careful."

"Likewise. And you, young human, will best learn to keep your hands behind your back from now on," he growled at Marcus.

"Yeah, I'll jot that down," Flint replied sarcastically.

Sysleis eyed Marcus suspiciously. "Are you sure you will be all right with this male?" he asked Angelina. "I do not trust him."

"He's all talk, believe me," Angelina said, waving Marcus off as nothing more than an annoying fly.

"When we get back to the castle, I'll show you just how much talking I won't be doing. Actions speak louder than words," Marcus sneered.

The centaur, with reflexes like a cat, shot his hand out and grabbed Marcus by the collar of his shirt and pulled him forward so sharply that he was rendered speechless. "Is that a threat you make upon her?"

"Sysleis, it's really ok," Angelina said, trying to step between the two before a brawl formed. "He's not threatening. He's just showing off because he's jealous. Don't worry. Thank you for sticking up for me."

"Put me the fuck down!" Marcus shouted and pried apart the centaur's fingers. Luckily, Sysleis complied with Angelina and released him the rest of the way. Marcus shook off his shirt and turned away from them.

"To hell with you, Johnson. Find your own way back with your little centaur now. I obviously am no fucking good to you," he spat and began to storm away. For good measures, he took out his wand to simply show that he had it and Angelina was shit out of luck. However, as soon as he turned his back on her, he stopped again and seemed to jerk back ever so slightly. Angelina assumed he was having second thoughts.

"Chickening out?" she asked and flashed her eyes. However, Flint only fell to his knees, causing Angelina to become puzzled. She rounded on him. "What are you doing? Marcus? MARCUS!" Her eyes widened in fear. There was an arrow neatly embedded in his left shoulder right below his collar. Seconds later, the shooter came forward with two other centaurs armed and ready with bows aimed directly at them.

"No!" Sysleis exclaimed desperately, stepping between Angelina and the nearest centaur. "Do not harm her!"

The older centaur's eyes were icy and dark as he glared at Sysleis for speaking such nonsense. His vision trailed down to his injured hoof and the denim that was wrapped around an oozing wound. Disregarding his pleas, the centaur once again aimed his bow at Angelina.

"How dare you?" he hissed at her. "Hunting us like mere game. He is young and easy prey for you is he not?"

Angelina shook her head fearfully, pleading with them to understand. "No! I swear I didn't hurt him!"

"She tells the truth," Sysleis said. "I was ensnared and she set me free."

"A human trap," another centaur said. "How could you be so foolish, Sysleis? To fall into not one but two deceptions?"

"No! They are lost and heading back to the castle."

"And you help these traitors like a common guide!"

As the centaurs argued amongst themselves, Angelina dared to approach Marcus while she could go unnoticed. He was still on his knees with an arm bracing himself on the nearest trunk, panting as blood oozed down his chest. Not a word slipped from his mouth. Angelina knew what he would say anyway. "Marcus?" she asked meekly; her voice but a whisper. "Are...you ok?"

"Stay where you are!" a centaur bellowed. Angelina froze in terror. The large beast stomped over to her and grabbed her by her braids, pulling her up hard as if she was merely a severed head. She cried out in pain and tried to pry the fingers off by they held tight. "For this crime, you will be a shining example to all those who dare think themselves so great and us so low that they can meddle in our forest and torture our kind! We shall see how much you enjoy silly traps of torture before we kill you and hang your body for all to see! This ends tonight!"

"Ow! Please!" Angelina begged. "I didn't set the trap! I promise! Marcus!"

Sysleis continued to plead with his elders but was met with cold resistance. She grimaced and cried as a centaur hauled her up beneath his great arm and carried her away kicking and shouting. The centaur then reared up on his hind legs and shouted curses before him. To her amazement, Marcus had gathered his strength to ram himself into the centaur enough to make him drop Angelina. She screamed, however, when a second centaur roughly grabbed Marcus by the collar and lifted him straight up off the ground, ripping the arrow brutally from his chest. Marcus gave a strangled cry and screwed up his face in pain, trying to free himself from the centaur's grasp. Blood poured from his wound and before Angelina could run over to him, the centaur effortlessly threw him off the nearby ledge.

"MARCUS!"

She heard no response. As the third centaur went to finish him off, the leader grabbed Angelina once again by the arm and stopped him. "Leave the male," he ordered. "He will die shortly. We have other matters to attend to."

With that, he hauled Angelina up once again under his arm and carried her like mere luggage. Sysleis watched the scene before him helplessly. The more he pleaded with the elders that the humans were innocent, the more they assumed he was brainwashed and became increasingly more enraged. Angelina began to sob in fear as she was carried off to an unknown but horrifying fate. She could conclude only two things: Marcus was now dead and she would be next.

Only a mile from home.