Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter Nine

The Flame Within

When Harry returned to the bustle of the school the next day, it was to an atmosphere of fear. The news had reached the school that the Death Eaters who had been arrested last June had all disappeared and were feared to be back in the company of You-Know-Who. That however was not the only thing that was on their minds. Somehow, it became evident that people knew about him collapsing in the Gryffindor Common Room, and that he had to be taken to the Hospital Wing.

Madam Pomfrey was hesitant to let him go after his fall, fearing that he might have got a concussion, but gave in on keeping him longer in time for him to hurry to the Greenhouse for Herbolagy; As he ran through the halls and out into the cold morning air of the grounds, people paused to watch him, many talking behind their hands.

Harry entered the Greenhouse just as the bell rang, but forgot that he did not have his bag with him. Hermione seemed to have noticed and ushered him forward and handing him a bit of parchment and an extra quill. Professor Sprout entered a few moments later covered in earth, and smelling of fertilizer.

"Today we will be working with Aconite," said Professor Sprout, pointing to the row of pots placed out before them. The plants were spindly and fragile looking. Its stalks were tall with flowers of a pale purple. "Now," continued Professor Sprout, "as generally most of my N.E.W.T. students are also taking potions, this is a time on your educational career where we join classes together and work to provide you experience not only in cultivation, but proper use of all ingredients that one can grow.

"Today you will need to gather your Aconite, which also is known as Wolfsbane, Monkshood, and Friar's Cap. You will need to be very careful while cultivating your specimen as if you are not steady and exact the stalk will become unusable in potion making. Now, if you would all pull up to a pot I will walk you through the steps of properly pruning and cultivating Aconite. Those who are taking advanced potion making are required to gather for themselves 3 stalks. If your stalk withers when your prune it, you have not done it correctly and please try not to do that as Aconite is not very common and can be hard to grow."

Professor sprout set them to work first showing the process of cultivating the plants. It was far more complex then Harry would have expected. He had to cut the leaves at the base of the stalk. Then he had to carefully remove the leaves all together from the top leaf cluster to the bottom. Lastly, he had to remove the flowers gently until all that remained was the stalk, devoid of leaves and blooms. Harry and Hermione were both able to gather their three stalks quite easily, though Ron withered his second one when he cut first at the top cluster of leaves instead of the bottom.

Harry found it rather enjoyable to not have to sit through another lecture; however he soon found it was inevitable.

"Now," said Professor Sprout, as they put away their tools. "That you all have gathered your Aconite, it is time to discuss it uses and properties. Aconite is commonly found in Northern Europe and is fabled to ward off Lycanthropes. This superstition made it popular though ineffective. It was believed by some that it would destroy a Werewolf, though recently, it has been discovered that it, with many other ingredients and methods could be used to help a person with lycanthropy to get through the full moon as a tame and harmless wolf."

And so it went, as Professor Sprout lectured on the abilities and uses of the Aconite. Harry was more then happy to hear the bell ring for the end of class.

"I want a detailed drawing of the Aconite plant, labeled with the various uses of the various parts, and the proper cultivation on an aconite stalk to be turned in next Tuesday."

"I'm just glad we don't have anything else till after lunch," said Ron, as they made their way up the sloped lawns to the castle for a quick wash.

"I have arithmancy now," said Hermione, casting a stern look at Ron. "Maybe this would be a good time to work on your homework."

When they parted with Hermione and headed up to the Gryffindor tower, Harry knew she was right. Ron reluctantly decided that Hermione was right as well and together they set out to work on their Potions assignment.

Harry started taking scraps of paper and writing each ingredient and its preparations on them then laying them out before him. He had only a partial list of what went where and spent the better part of an hour rearranging them. Ron had finally given in and followed suit and started laying out scraps of paper also in a attempt to label each step.

Harry was happy to say that by the time that Hermione had returned from her Arithmancy class, he felt confident that he had finished the task. Hermione looked down at the list he had written down, and only found one error in the order of his instructions; he had mixed up two of the preparations of Aconite.

As they sat down a few minutes later in the Great Hall, Harry once more picked up on the conversations that others were having about him. Many people were growing fearful that there might be a connection between the escape of the deatheaters from the Ministry of Magic, and Harry being removed from the Gryffindor Dormitory unconscious. Of the conversations he overheard, no one had figured out the fact that he and Voldemort were connected through his scar. People were worried more about if Voldemort could have done it, would they really be safe within the castle walls. Many people were of the opinion that the two events were unrelated. Harry compulsively rubbed the back of his head where the bump from when he hit the floor was still evident.

By the time they left the Great Hall amid more whispers and glances, it was to find the grounds of the castle to be bright and warm as what might be the last blaze of the summer sun arched overhead. Hagrid was waiting for them at his hut for the Care of Magical Creatures class. Some of the students had already gathered and Hagrid looked excited, something which made them all very nervous.

"Gather round," said Hagrid, happily. "Got somethin' good ta show yeh."

It was only reluctantly that the class shuffled forward. Hagrid was straining to look toward the front door to see if everyone had arrived. Harry turned too and saw the unmistakable silver blonde glint of Malfoy's hair, and the thuggish outline of Crabbe and Goyle ambling at a casual pace. Hagrid waited until they were in earshot to begin speaking.

"I got yeh a real treat today," said Hagrid, excitedly. "Might be yer only chance to see one. Come on, gather round, don't be shy."

Harry noticed that when Malfoy finally took his place, some of the slytherin choose to move away. He found it strange that Pansy Parkinson and a few other slytherin did not bother moving. Hagrid however did not take notice.

"It took me along time to get yeh one," said Hagrid, leading them around his hut and off into the edge of the forest. Many of the students looked nervous, but not as nervous as Harry and Hermione who knew that the danger of entering the forest had grown all the more since Firenze had aided Dumbledore. Harry could not think of a way to tell Hagrid this, and instead prepared for the worst.

Hagrid led them onto a dank dark path that Harry had never been on. Hermione shivered slightly though the air around them was warm; Harry remembered very clearly the last time he was in the forest and could not do anything to stop an involuntary shudder at the thought.

The only sound that met their ears was that of their footsteps. Harry braced himself when he noted that if the centaurs were coming, he would hear them before they would arrive.

Hagrid led them deeper into the woods. No one talked until Hagrid led them into a clearing in which stood a creature that put Harry's mind off of centaurs altogether.

Tethered in the center of the clearing was what looked like an ape though its coat was a silvery white. There was something about the gleam of its hair that seemed familiar to Harry. The creature watched them with mild interest. Hermione let out a gasp as she looked at the creature before them and whispered into Harry's ear. "How did he get one; they are really hard to catch."

"Now, gather 'round," said Hagrid, smiling broadly.

Harry found it odd that Hagrid was so excited about this creature when it didn't seem very dangerous.

"Now then," said Hagrid, moving forward, "who can tell me what this creature is?"

To no ones surprise, Hermione was the only one who raised her hands, either because she was the only one who knew the answer, or because no one would bother raising their hand knowing she already had the answer anyways.

"It's a demiguise," Hermione said, promptly as usual.

"Well done," said Hagrid, Beaming as he moved forward. "Now, this beast is one that aint particularly easy to catch. Now this one I've been bringing up in the forest for a few years now and got him pretty trusting. If yer calm and slow he might let yeh come closer."

Hagrid moved aside and beckoned them to come closer. As they approached the demiguise eyed them suspiciously.

"That's it," said Hagrid, as the class approached cautiously. "Nice an easy. Now that yeh know what it is, can anyone tell me more?"

No one bothered to answer once again as Hermione's hand shot quickly into the air.

"The demiguise is a peaceful creature often found in the Far East," said Hermione, as she enumerated the various points about the silvery ape like creature before them. "Though not dangerous when encountered, it is very hard to catch, owing to his ability to hide itself if it feels it safety is about to be compromised. It has the ability to disappear, allowing it to run away from a predator unseen. The hair of the demiguise has magical property, and is highly prized. The international confederation of wizards however count demiguise pelts as a class "C" non tradable in an effort to protect it."

As Harry looked at the demiguise, it struck him why he had found the creature so familiar; the silver hair reminded him of the silvery invisibility cloak his father had left him. Hagrid, it seemed, was thinking along the same lines as Harry.

"Sad thing," said Hagrid, as he looked down at the gentle creature before him. "The hairs are worthless if they are removed from one that was killed. They are prized from the pelt of one that died naturally because they can be woven into an invisibility cloak." His eyes flicked towards Harry.

"Now," continued Hagrid, grinning broadly, "this one took me a while to get because its pelt is a class "C" non tradable, it is considered the same for the creature itself. I only just got him a few years after the ministry gave me a permit. Been raising him in the forest, give him a nice home free from poachers. I think he might let you come closer still."

Slowly, one by one, the class moved forward. The demiguise was taking great interest in the students now that it had decided that they were not threatening. Hagrid it seemed was really proud of having such a rare and hard to find creature and as Harry backed away after moving forward, he couldn't help but grin at the sight of Hagrid watching the class.

As Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle moved forward Harry had turned to watch the Demiguise instead. Something was happening. The Demiguise was becoming more nervous, and in a few seconds, it vanished.

Harry had the unnerving feeling that they were being watched, though he could not hear anyone else but the class. He felt as if many unseen eyes were watching them.

"Oh no," whispered Hermione in his ear. "I knew this was going to turn out bad."

Hagrid seemed more worried about the demiguise and had not taken notice of the fact that they were being watched. Pavarti Patil was standing close by, shaking and staring straight ahead of her. Harry looked too, but he could see nothing beyond the trunks of the trees lining the clearing. Most of the others however did not seem to understand just how dangerous the situation might turn.

Parvati was backing towards them stepping on Harry's foot before stopping. "Who is it?" she breathed.

Hermione did not have the voice to answer, and nor did she need it; Harry's worst fear was confirmed as the fierce face of Bane appeared out of the darkness of the trees before them. Many of the students gasped as more centaurs joined. Hermione gripped Harry's arm painfully, her breath coming in shallow gasps which sounded like every gulp of air was costing her a great deal of effort.

"You lead your young into our forest," said Bane, with suppressed rage, "after we told you that you were no longer welcome here."

"The grounds are just as much theirs as it is yours," growled Hagrid. Most of the class had gathered close together in the center of the clearing.

Bane moved forward menacingly. "We have warned you not to enter our domain," Roared Bane, rearing angrily. "You may have shown respect for all creatures but you show no respect for your superiors. Your mind has grown tainted by your human blood and you have betrayed any respect you have ever deserved by the inhabitants of our forest."

His eyes wandered at the students trembling before him. A sick smile twisted his fierce face as his eyes fell on Hermione. He moved forward towards her as she shrieked and gripped Harry's arm so tightly that his hand was becoming numb. "It is you who led her into the forest so that we could do your dirty work!"

Harry and Ron both reached for their wands. Hagrid moved forward to get in banes way, but with a jolt, Harry heard the sound of arrows soaring through the air. Hagrid let out a howl that made the students scream moving as close as they could together as Hagrid turned; he was riddled with the centaur's arrows.

Bane turned back and started moving quickly towards Hermione. Harry jumped in front of her, and heard the swish of arrows soaring through the air. He did the only thing he could thinks of and raised his wand. "Protego!"

The arrows fell short and landed at his feet. Bane gave a roar that did nothing more then incite Harry's anger. He felt as if a fire was burgeoning within him, as he pointed his wand at the advancing centaur. He gathered every ounce of strength he could as Bane raised his arms to push Harry out of the way.

Bane was coming closer though for some reason, to Harry it felt as if time had slowed down. He did not know what made him do it, nor that he could, but with one swift wave of his wand, he seemed to channel his rage towards the centaur before him.

There was only one other time he had ever seen this happen. It was when Dumbledore battled Voldemort in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic. A thin long flame erupted from the tip of his wand, and soared in a graceful arc, wrapping itself around Bane's body. Bane let out a howl of pain, and for a few moments it seemed that the other centaurs were raising their bows towards him. However, the thin long flame was changing.

The fire of Harry's anger was growing inside him. He felt as if his body was being torn apart by it. As his anger grew, the thin flame grew as well. The blaze lashed out more intensely. In the distance Harry could see the centaur's expressions growing to one of fear. The inferno growing inside him was too much and he didn't think he could handle it any longer. With an upward movement of his wand, he broke the spell, and collapsed into darkness.

***

Harry heard the sound of many whispers and mutterings when he opened his eyes. He tilted his head; they were in the Entrance Hall. Many of the class were watching as Hagrid, his blood staining Harry's robe carried him towards the staircase. He noticed that many of his classmates were watching him with curiosity.

Hagrid's breathing was staggered and hoarse as he rushed Harry up the stairs and towards the hospital wing. He had not taken notice that Harry had come to. When Hagrid burst through the door, it was to find Madam Pomfrey looked up suddenly stern.

"What happened this time," she said, as she rushed over. She stopped as Hagrid tipped Harry onto one of the beds. "Hagrid? What is going on?'

Hagrid didn't bother to stay, and ran back through the doors quickly. A few moments later the doors burst opened and Ron and Hermione entered. Hermione was shaking violently, the shock of what had happened had not passed. She collapsed onto the foot of Harry's bed, white as a ghost.

Madam Pomfrey quickly helped Hermione onto her feet and with Ron's help walked her to the next bed. Ron seemed unable to talk.

They were spared the need to talk as the doors to the Hospital Wing swung wide. Professor Dumbledore entered looking angry followed by professor McGonagall who was almost as white as Hermione. The door banged closed and Harry waited, wondering where Hagrid was.

"But Albus," said professor McGonagall, rather weakly, "what can we do? We can not force them to leave and nor should we."

"I am not going to force them to leave," said Dumbledore, as he moved closer. "But they will not threaten the lives of our students."

Dumbledore stopped, looking at Hermione on her bed shaking due to shock, and then to Harry. It gave him the familiar feeling as if Dumbledore's eyes were probing him like an x-ray. A strange look came over Dumbledore, and no longer did he look angry; instead he looked slightly shaken, as if he had seen Harry's memories of what had just happened. Then he turned away, almost as if he felt ashamed for what he had done.

"Where is Hagrid?" asked Madam Pomfrey, in a worried tone.

"We felt it was best to have him escorted to Mt. Mungos," said Dumbledore, gently. "I would not put it past the centaurs to poison their arrows, and we hope you don't take it personally, but we felt that he would be better were he can be cared for by more then one person."

"The centaurs did all this?" said Madam Pomfrey, looking shocked.

"I am afraid we can no longer ignore the danger they now bring to our students," said Dumbledore, his eyes blazing again. "They now have chosen to defy that which was the nature of their tradition. We must ensure that no student nears the edge of the forest, lest they choose again to target them." Dumbledore looked towards Harry and Hermione. "It is my wish that they stay here tonight. The school is already abuzz with what has happened, and I do not want them to be bothered by the gossip."

Dumbledore turned and left, followed by Professor McGonagall who turned back to look at them just before leaving the hospital wing with a nervous look on her face.

Harry felt a little hurt. Dumbledore did not even ask if they were okay or what happened. It made Harry jump when someone reached out and grabbed his arm. For a few moments he thought it was Hermione, but looking up, Madam Pomfrey was checking his pulse.

"I do not know what we are going to do with you," mused Madam Pomfrey as she bustled over to Hermione who winced when the she tried to take her pulse also. "First you knocked yourself out, and now you are fighting the centaurs."

"We were provoked," said Harry, defensively. "They started it in the first place."

"First you face You-Know-Who and lead your friends into danger," said Madam Pomfrey in a stern voice. "Next you kill a basilisk, chase a dangerous criminal, battle in a graveyard, and break into the Ministry with five other students in tow. If you are not careful, one of these days you won't be coming back from the fight. What were you thinking taking on a herd of centaurs?"

Harry found that it was best just to let Madam Pomfrey vent; no matter how many times he said it was in self defense. It seemed that she had been waiting many years to voice her opinions of his dangerous doings. However, she left him with much to think about.

Too many times, he had put himself in danger, and yet, how many more times would he return. He followed Quirrell through the trap door because he could not stand the idea of Voldemort regaining power with the Philosopher's Stone. He very near came close to dieing. He went into the depths of Salazar Slytherins Chamber to save Ginny and had the basilisk's poison course through his veins, only to be saved by Fawkes. He had battled dementors to save Sirius...

It had been the first time Harry had thought about Sirius since his return to Hogwarts. It was only a few months ago that Sirius had died, and yet, now all he felt was a dull pain as if the shock of what happened had faded and now all that was left was his acceptance that Sirius was dead.

Harry remembered battling Voldemort in the graveyard. Before the events of last June, he never realized the true nature of what happened, what was fated to happen.

He turned to look at Hermione lying still, staring up at the ceiling. Harry did not know why he had not told them the nature of the prophecy; maybe it was because he was not ready to accept it yet; to accept that his past encounters with Voldemort were only going to pale when the time comes when he must either murder, or be murdered. As he watched Hermione, he knew he could not tell them now, not after what had happened. Instead he choose to stare up at the ceiling also, lost in his thoughts.

***

Harry was very grateful when Saturday arrived. The castle was still abuzz with what had happened, and Harry was annoyed that many were speaking of what he had done in awe. The story had been embellished in so many ways that by the time Saturday dawned, it was widely believed by many in the school that Harry had held a whole herd of raging centaurs off with just one wave of his wand. Harry got so sick of people asking him how he did it that he soon started to try to avoid the crowds in whichever way he could.

What annoyed him most was that they were praising him when they should be more worried that a threat was so close at hand. Harry noticed that the only students who were not showing any sign of awe towards Harry were the majority of the Slytherin House. Some however were among the crowds begging for his first hand account.

Harry woke up very early on Sunday morning and crept quietly down the staircase and across the deserted common room. The castle was calm as the first green tinge of light rose on the horizon outside the windows as Harry walked quietly down to the Great Hall for an early breakfast. As he reached the bottom of the marble staircase into the Entrance Hall and voice spoke near at hand.

"I would like to speak with you," said a familiar voice so calm and serene, "if you have a moment."

Firenze was standing at the door leading to the corridor in which the Divination class met. Above him, Harry heard the sounds of footsteps and chose to follow Firenze instead of facing the crowds again.

The classroom was exactly as he remembered with its mossy floor and the many magical trees. Firenze closed the door behind him and moved into the center of the room. He motioned for Harry to sit down.

"So much has changed since my banishment," sighed Firenze, "and yet, I was foolish not to see it coming. Am I tarred with the same arrogance that now flows in the hearts of my fellow centaurs," Firenze looked up at the ceiling, "or did I not want to read the signs and accept the truth."

There was silence for a few minutes as Firenze stared contemplatively at the ceiling above in which a sky of stars could be seen; the tiny points of light reflecting in his eyes as he stood deep in thought.

"And now," said Firenze, at last looking down from the enchanted ceiling, "I see those who I hold in great esteem suffering." He looked down at Harry. "We are a race old and proud, and yet, this is the bane of our existence. It seems my brothers have begun to allow their pride to make them forget that which we are set to follow. A person who shows the same virtue that our race used to value is now scorned, that is something a centaur is not sanctioned to do."

Firenze paused looking back up at the starry sky above him. "Hagrid is a person who has much esteem for other living beings. There was a time when the centaurs too held life in deference, and had respect for those who are different. Now, they have defied the nature of our past, and let their pride corrupt their hearts. And see now how Hagrid suffers from their hatred and greed."

Firenze, once again looked down at Harry.

"I fear their hatred and pride has clouded not only their hearts, but their minds. For I see above in the stars that we are now about to enter a time of fear that we have not seen many millennia. Fear is growing among all, and yet, what is fear but that which we do not hold control over. I am afraid that our world will soon change.

"As my brothers have defied that which a centaur is supposed to value, they have lost control of their path. And now, as the forces at work continue to grow, we too will lose the control, but we must learn from what my fellow centaurs have done. If we seek to be divided by hatred, we will only make ourselves all the more vulnerable when the tides of change sweep through this world. But hold true that which I say; you hold a burden that no one can understand, that no one else can carry, now is not the time to grow distant as you try to accept what must happen. Your friends must understand in time."

When Harry sat down next to Ron and Hermione a few minutes later amid the stares of the students around him he still felt that now was not the time...he was not ready to share the burden of what was fated to be. Looking up at the staff table, his eyes met Dumbledore's and he contemplated Dumbledore's burden, having to carry that knowledge for so long and to watch and wonder in who's death will come due to the terms of the prophecy in the end.