After uttering that name, Firenze's expression twisted into a hideous grimace, yet his eyes began to gradually regain their clarity.
Tver hurriedly interjected, "No need to say more!"
He deepened his control, forcing the centaur to calm down.
Let's share a small detail about the Imperius Curse. The strength of the curse depends on the relative power of the caster and the one being controlled—just as Dumbledore could easily command Harry, but the reverse would be impossible.
However, there is one exception: the curse cannot directly contradict the victim's strongest will. If it does, powerful emotional resistance may disrupt and shatter the control. Yet this only applies when both sides are close in power. Someone like Harry could never possibly resist Dumbledore's Imperius Curse.
That was why Tver found it so strange. How could a single name give Firenze enough power to nearly break free from his curse?
Helga Hufflepuff. Anyone familiar with Hogwarts knew that name. Even if one didn't recognize the first name, the surname alone resounded throughout the wizarding world.
Hogwarts' four Houses were named after its four founders. Hufflepuff House corresponded to this very Helga Hufflepuff.
As one of the founders, Lady Helga was known for her humility. Her most famous contribution was her culinary magic—the Hogwarts kitchens were her creation. Yet few people knew that she was also a master of Herbology. Her culinary magic was likely just a pastime born from her research into magical plants. After all, it wasn't unusual for a Herbology master to study whether herbs tasted good.
But according to Firenze, the Undetectable Extension Charm in the Forbidden Forest had been cast by Helga Hufflepuff.
Could she be the one hidden deep within the forest? Was that badge of his also her creation? And even more astonishing—could this figure from a thousand years ago still be alive?
Immortality wasn't unheard of in the wizarding world. Both the Philosopher's Stone and Horcruxes could achieve it. For someone of a founder's level, such a feat wasn't unimaginable.
Curiosity welled up uncontrollably in Tver's chest. Maintaining careful control over Firenze, he coaxed him to reveal what he knew about Helga and the centaurs.
A thousand years ago, after wizards gained the aid of wands, their power grew immensely. They began to encroach upon the lands of other magical creatures. The centaurs, who dwelled across the open plains, were among the first to suffer.
Though the centaurs were strong, the wizards had become far stronger—and far more numerous. Countless centaurs were slaughtered, and vast stretches of their territory were seized.
From then on, the centaurs were driven from one harsh place to another, wandering in despair and living in constant hardship.
Fortunately, Helga Hufflepuff appeared at that moment. She stopped the wizards' pursuit and led the centaurs who trusted her into this forest, where they found refuge.
Back then, the Forbidden Forest was just a small grove. But under Helga's magic, it gradually expanded into the boundless forest it is today.
Most of the magical creatures within were also those she had rescued—beings she couldn't bear to see hunted by wizards. They came here with her, living peacefully under her protection.
"Wait, live together? Doesn't Helga live in the castle?" Tver asked, puzzled.
From the centaur's tone, it didn't sound like he was referring to magical creatures living here—it was as if Helga herself had a residence in this place.
Firenze nodded.
"After one of the Founders left the castle, the grieving Helga entrusted her estate to her descendants and came to the Forbidden Forest, where she has lived ever since—at its very heart."
Tver's eyes immediately lit up with excitement.
Of course. This badge must be Helga's creation. If that was true, then she might still be residing in the center of the Forbidden Forest.
"Then please, take me to the heart of the Forbidden Forest. Help me find Helga's dwelling."
"Impossible!" Bane suddenly interjected, shaking his head.
"The Centaurs have searched for centuries, yet all they've ever seen are endless trees. None have ever found a place resembling Lady Helga's home."
Tver rolled his eyes. "Then how can you be so sure Helga lives here at all?"
Bane flushed red and mumbled a jumble of phrases like "since ancient times," "as the legend says," and "passed down through generations."
Firenze, on the other hand, explained that the magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest were protected by a spell cast by Helga herself. It shielded them to some degree, which was why the Centaurs firmly believed that Helga had always watched over the forest.
Hearing this, Tver became even more convinced of his theory.
It didn't matter if the Centaurs didn't know where Helga lived. With the badge as his guide, he could find her himself.
After erasing their memories of the conversation, Tver bid the two Centaurs farewell and, gripping the badge tightly, pressed onward into the forest's depths.
As if sensing his determination, the guiding line on the badge grew clearer and more vivid.
Even more striking were the creatures he encountered along the way.
In just a short distance, he came across unicorns, Mooncalves, and Diricawls—beings rarely seen outside. Diricawls, in particular, never stayed in one place, yet he had already seen at least three here.
Compared to the outer forest, this place was like a hidden paradise—a small world crafted by a wizard's hand.
The more magical creatures he encountered, the more exhilarated Tver became. The badge in his hand grew warm, its magic pulsing restlessly, mirroring his racing heart.
But this journey was longer than any before. He walked from dusk until dawn—fifteen hours straight.
He was forced to rest a few times, eating a little food before continuing on.
The guiding thread stretched endlessly ahead, testing his patience as it pointed unwaveringly toward its destination.
Until, finally, he reached a thin golden line.
It was extremely fine, about the size of a door handle, floating in midair.
Under the sunlight, it was nearly invisible unless one looked closely.
If not for the sudden pulse of magic from the badge alerting him, Tver might have missed it—just as the Centaurs had for generations.
Yes. He could sense it now—the golden thread's secret.
As Tver approached, the thread shimmered faintly with golden light, quivering in the air as though stirred by an unseen breeze.
He slowly reached out. The moment his fingers closed around the thread, the world flipped upside down. Space itself seemed to twist, compress, and fold.
The sensation came and went in an instant.
It was like opening a door.
Tver stepped into a new space—
A simple room. So plain that, if not for the array of herbs scattered throughout, it could easily have belonged to a Muggle farmer.
But Tver didn't spare the furnishings a glance. His eyes were drawn instantly to the woman before him.
She was elegant and composed, a gentle smile resting permanently on her lips. Her deep, serene eyes held a quiet power that calmed the soul.
She sat behind a wooden desk, smiling warmly as she looked at him.