Chapter 651 - Patrolling Ⅲ (2/2)
Rowan's dark eyes flicker with suppressed emotions before she closes her eyes to call up her mindscape. She was no longer in a mood to walk down to the dungeons. That and well, she was a Slytherin after all. They tended to be petty. But mostly she would not risk another unwanted encounter. Two unexpected encounters were more than enough for one evening.
However, before Rowan can teleport away on the edge of the Hogwarts map appears the figure of Hagrid moving rapidly into the depths of the Forbidden Forest. But that was not what caught her eye, but the Acromantula's that were following him in droves. And even more particularly the lone figure of a centaur rushing towards the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Firenze.
Ensuring that she is alone on the map, Rowan teleports away at the edge of the Forbidden Forest just past Hagrid's hut and the giant pumpkin patch. Tree leaves rustle loudly in the night breeze, while branches creak and m.o.a.n disturbingly. The waning moonlight dimly pierces the veil of darkness, but Rowan dares not cast the light spell, Lumos in the Forbidden Forest. Casting such a spell in the Forbidden Forest was akin to setting up oneself as prey for any hunting predator
Still, there was a thread of worry within in that Rowan was unable to untangle from her heart. Taking a risk, she slowly raises her wand and is silent for a moment forming her thoughts and desires, before casting the spell, ”Expecto Patronum!”
A silver mist erupts from the tip of Rowan's wand to form a silverly Thestral flapping its wings. The Thestral flaps its wings harder and glides off through the Forbidden Forest with expert ease fluttering between the trees until its glistening glow vanishes plunging the forest dark once more. The only sounds heard are the creaking of branches and the rustling of leaves beneath the waning moon in the sky.
The creaking silence did not last long when the stomping of hooves against the cold ground and the sound of fallien crisp leaves being crushed under hooves is clearly heard. A shadowy figure flits between the trees drawing ever nearer. ”Firenze,” Rowan called out as the shadowy figure of a centaur skid to a stop under a moonlight beam through the tree branches.
A flicker of a smile appears on Rowan's face as a look of appreciation in her eyes. Firenze was still as breathtaking as she remembered from her second year. The teenage boy with a swimmer's build, white-blond hair, and a palomino body. But even more astonishing is his blue like eyes that gleam like the brightest and palest of sapphires.
”I saw Capricornus in the night sky descending,” Firenze quietly murmured causing Rowan to stare deadpanned at him as he stared up through the foliage at the starry night.
Failing to notice Rowan's bland expression, Firenze continues, ”Sagittarius runs before Capricornus, the traveler comes and as does the archer.” Firenze turns silent as he remains staring at the night sky in solemn contemplation.
Exasperated Rowan firmly interjects, ”I saw Hagrid enter the woods, Firenze, and yet here you are as well. If you would speak straight and true, Firenze, I would dearly appreciate it.”
”What I have spoken is straight and true, -” Firenze responded as he turned his pale sapphire like eyes towards her, ”-child of the Founders, Rowan Prince.”
Before Rowan can speak, a roar is heard in the distant. ”We must depart, Child of the Founders,” Firenze urgently said, before kneeling onto the forest ground.
Rowan hesitates for a moment, before clambering onto the back of Firenze. ”Hold on tight, Child of the Founders,” Firenze instructed as he wrapped Rowan's hands around his chest, before rising and rushing off at a full gallop. Time waited for no one and not even for a centaur.