Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 28: Communication
The three centaurs were now staring at him, and Harry was starting to feel uncomfortable.
He didn't know if his magic was truly affecting the other living creatures in the forest, because this was not something he ever had to worry about.
Or perhaps it wasn't his magic that they were wary of.
Harry stored his tools and placed the hat over his head before canceling the conjured furniture.
"I should get going."
"Wait, Harry Potter," Asterion called for him, but didn't approach any further. The previous feelings of happiness were now gone, and replaced by the same cautiousness from his companions.
A gesture that he did not miss.
'They are scared of you now,' V sent a message into his mind.
'I can tell that much,' Harry responded.
"Yes?" He glanced at the centaur and waited to hear what he wanted to say.
"I didn't notice it at first but… there is something very different about you, Harry Potter," Asterion spoke in a grave tone, eyes filled with caution.
'Does he always have to say your full name?' V asked. 'The centaur is also stating the obvious.'
Harry could tell that V was only communicating with mental messages because he didn't want to make the situation more tense.
He considered for a moment how to answer Asterion, but before he could say something, the centaur spoke once more.
"We centaurs read the planets, and you have an important role to play in the future of this land, but I do wonder now if something has changed. Will you still save us, Harry Potter, or will you assist in our destruction?"
Harry noticed that the other two centaurs were positioned at his sides and had their hands near their bows, ready to draw them at any point, as if they were just waiting for the order.
For an instant, he thought that things were going to escalate into violence. Something that he would really rather avoid.
But then Asterion said something to diffuse the situation. "Go now, Harry Potter."
He glanced at the centaur with incredulity. "Aren't you going to shoot at me when I turn back?"
Asterion frowned deeply to show how offended he was by such a comment. "We would never do such a thing. And we centaurs have learned not to interfere with fate. Whatever future you bring to us, we will have to accept it."
"Mmm… that sounds like a very relaxing way to live," Harry commented.
"However… we would be grateful if you didn't return to this forest, Harry Potter," Asterion spoke in a somber tone. "There is something in you that makes the inhabitants of this magical forest very uncomfortable."
"Is that so?" Harry turned around and walked away.
But as he did so, his emotions were starting to flare up.
'How dare they? This was my home for much longer.'
'Not from their perspective,' V pointed out.
For the rest of the world, the eternity of time that Harry experienced inside the frozen world had only taken a single second.
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Still feeling angry and frustrated, he made his way back into the castle.
He had only taken a few steps before he heard someone saying his name.
"Harry! Where have you been?"
Turning his face to one side, he spotted the figure of Ginny Weasley standing near the stairs while holding a thick book in her hands.
"You look a bit pale… are you feeling alright?" Ginny asked.
'You better say something. Can't stare at the girl forever without uttering a sound,' V spoke inside his mind.
Harry adjusted his hat. "No… I mean. I'm fine. Just went out to get some fresh air."
"Oh?" She smiled. "I was about to do the same." She showed him the book she was holding. "Hermione let me borrow some of her 'light reading material' to entertain myself." Ginny let out a chuckle.
Harry still wasn't sure how he was supposed to talk with her. He had been pulling stacks of memories from his archives, but it remained a difficult situation.
Mostly because he didn't want to make a mistake when interacting with her.
"Don't mind him too much," sensing his dilemma, V decided to give Harry a hand. "He is just tired, you know… after last night's adventure."
"Right!…" Ginny glanced up at the hat. "I… I still don't know what to call you, Mister hat."
"Just call me V. That's what Harry calls me anyways."
"V?" Ginny tilted her head. "That is a very short name. Is it short for something else?" Ginny stared at the magical hat with curiosity.
"It is, but…"
Harry glared up at the hat.
"But some things are better kept a mystery," V said with an apologetic tone.
"Right." Ginny raised an eyebrow before turning her attention back to Harry. "Well, get some rest then. But if you feel up to it, can you go to the infirmary and visit my brother Ron? He has been asking about you."
"Ron?… I mean, yes. Of course. I will go visit him." Harry didn't want to admit to having forgotten about his old best friend, who had been injured during their escapade to the Ministry of Magic.
"Good then!" said Ginny with a grin. "We don't have any more classes, and now that the Headmaster is back, things seem to be returning to normal. So let's enjoy that." She walked past him. "See you later, Harry."
"Your ankle," Harry suddenly recalled.
"Hmm?" Ginny stopped and turned around.
"Your ankle. How is it?"
Ginny's expression changed to one of realization. "damn, I almost forgot to thank you for that." She moved her foot side to side. "It doesn't hurt at all, see? Thanks to you."
"No… it was my fault that you got hurt in the first place." If it weren't for him falling into a trap, no one would have suffered.
"Don't say that." Ginny placed a hand on his shoulder. "We were all glad to be of help. And I don't regret a thing. I would do it all over again." She gave him a wink and turned around to leave.
Once she had crossed the gates to the outside, V spoke again. "What a nice girl. To think that the Weasley family managed to produce something like that…"
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