then the moon disappears

[Benjamin Chase]

After the first sizzle of his semester and after the second spark of his days, Benjamin thought to add another addition to his little things that gave him some danger and excitement. The inexcusable desire of just a little whisk of danger took the upper hand of his boyish mind. It bubbled just beneath his chest and he wanted to find out if ever he had any of those Gryffindor courage. Well he really thought that he was one of those Slytherins who rarely thought to even take a walk in the itty bitty forest of the castle in which case majority would perhaps chicken their asses out. Benjamin heard a string of stories that involved centaurs wrecking the forest because of their stampedes and threatened students to get out of their territory. Some of those beasts did quite the contrary. They befriended students, like that former werewolf of a Head Girl. Benjamin could not recall her first name and what she looked like. He even wondered if ever she had any friends lingering in his year. A disgusted frown crossed his face and t'was apparent under the evening's moonlight. His fear for centaurs because of an early childhood experience still haunted him as he walked out of the massive castle and cast his gaze unto the vast woods that was waiting.

"Lumos." The tip of the Birch wand illuminated suddenly to help Benjamin's eyes scan the perimeter around him. It was incredibly dark even with the moonlight shining around the top of the trees. The silhouettes of the large trees were visible still and it gave an eerie aura to any person. Gathering all the bravery he did not know he contained, it seeped in his veins rapidly before he could even turn back. Benjamin walked deeper into the forest with a drop of hesitation. Whatever, he just wanted to maybe climb a tree if ever his eyes would catch the sight of a perfect spot without much roughness to its bark. Ben held his wand hand just above his hip to ensure that the light scattered easily. A grim line was set upon his lips as he walked very slowly, oblivious to the fact that there were perhaps prefects on the look out for students that yearned for trouble. To the fourth year, it were only the first years that went here and there without even the need of a peaceful slumber. They were always curious about the castle. Benjamin however was just so different compared to them three years prior.

The stretch that between the entrance of the forest and Benjamin's spot was somewhat lengthy and growing. Benjamin knew that there was no chance to run away. That option was offered minutes ago and now, he took the risky route. Green eyes searched the ground for any sign of life except for the plants surrounding him. He saw some puddles that were weirdly filled with water, like it rained or something. Benjamin gripped the wand tighter and still walked forward, his head held up in wonder and awe. He actually felt that he liked it, even with the constant threat of suspense posed in the air.
​

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Athena had really done her best to remain out of trouble since her visit to Professor Styx’s office. He had made good on his threat to notify her father, and she knew that any other wrong doing would just give her father more reason to be upset with her. She had never known her father to be upset with her, so she didn’t really know how to deal with any of this. She had kept her promise to herself to not contact Matthew even though she often had the urge to write to him, if only to tell him how angry she was with him. She knew that it wouldn’t help anything though so Athena hadn’t bothered. Mostly, she kept to her room these days, not even spending much time in the common room, an area she had once loved dearly. Her room was much more private though. This evening she had been forced out of her room though. She pulled her robes more tightly against her as a small breeze passed by. The tall blonde was performing her prefect duties by patrolling the grounds with a Ravenclaw student. She didn’t know the student very well, so the patrol had passed by slowly, minutes dragging by. Athena rolled her eyes as the Ravenclaw announced the time for what seemed like the millionth time, and she wished that she could use the silencio charm to shut the prefect up. That behavior wouldn’t be becoming of a prefect though so she refrained.

As their patrol neared its end, Athena’s mind drifted to the work that she still had to get done before she could go to bed. She had to complete her Astronomy essay, which was taking her far longer than she thought it should. Glancing towards the forest, Athena could have sworn she caught a glimpse of light and she nudged the Ravenclaw and pointed. “Did you see that?” she spoke quietly, wanting confirmation that she hadn’t just imagined the light. When the Ravenclaw shrugged, Athena frowned, her silver eyes scanning the forest to see if she saw it again. A moment later, she did. It was just a glimpse, a reflection off the trees, but she knew that she hadn’t imagined it. “Look. There” she pointed as the light dimmed more and more as if someone was walking deeper and deeper into the forest. The teenager paused, debating whether to go after the person or just head to a professor and report the incident. “I’m going in…are you going to come?” she asked, her silver eyes still glancing to where the light had been. Now, there was just darkness. As the Ravenclaw shook his head, Athena rolled her eyes. “Fine…if I’m not back in ten minutes, get a professor. Do you think you can manage that?” she drawled as she turned her back on the prefect. She walked straight into the forest, lighting her wand as she walked.

The forest was creepy during the daytime, but at night, it seemed even more threatening. Trees loomed all around the leggy blonde as she headed deeper into the forest, hoping that she was heading in the right direction. Athena glanced up, able to see some of the stars very far away, though it was difficult with the trees rising so high. Taking a step, the prefect’s foot landed right into a puddle and she swore loudly. The sound of her voice echoed around the forest and she cringed. Holding her wand higher, so she could see further ahead, Athena spun around quickly when she heard what sounded like footsteps. “Who’s there?” she asked, her voice more sure than she felt. When she didn’t get a reply, Athena turned around and continued walking but she turned around every few moments. It felt like she was being watched, and when she heard what sounded like someone stepping on wet leafs, she stopped. “C’mon…I can hear you out here” she uttered, holding her wand aloft to try and get a glimpse of what could be making that noise.

 

[Benjamin Chase]

What Benjamin hated so much about his predicament was that he had no idea about the things going on inside the castle. Hate was such a strong word however, it just did not seem fitting to his mind. No, it wasn't really that he hated how he was getting away from his comfort zone. The distance between his location and the entrance of the forest was stretching with each and every curious step the boy made. It was more of the fact that he strongly disliked the thought that absolutely anybody can notice Benjamin Chase missing in his four poster bed, in his dormitory, in the Slytherin common room. But whatever now... Benjamin did not really think his housemates would stick their nose in whatever business that was not supposed to linger in their thoughts. The silent night drowned the whole castle in its mysteriousness and silence that perhaps most were used to. The forbidden forest had a haunting atmosphere that increased the vibe to delve deeper into the chain of trees. Who said that only the Gryffindors were adventurous? Slytherins also had their own secretive times of "trouble."

The tip of the Birch wand still flaunted the light it was shining forth. Its light power had the possibility to attract other people or strange creatures to even get a glance at the Slytherin. Benjamin continued his slow and cautious walk whilst his fingers were wrapped in a tight manner around his wand. Still, the adrenalin pumped in his veins - not decreasing its speed at all. For a reason, he liked doing this but he knew sooner or later that he would regret it. Damn it then, that would be later on. All that mattered to him was now. Currently. To prove that he cared for the current, he took in a deep breath to absorb every sound that was resonating around him. Leaves rustled as an occasional night breeze came by. Some creatures growled and did other noises that Benjamin could not distinguish from far away. Still from where he was located, he knew that if it would be just a block nearer, it would give him the chilly chills. And it was not only that that he could hear. He heard something else. Something more terrifying.

Initially, just like one anyone, sounds by other demanding people inside the forest twisted Benjamin's guts. Like a never ending knot of tension enveloped his whole belly which he found terribly unpleasant. Shoulders tensed because of that female voice. The words were smoothly said just like any slithering snake waiting to cross its prey. Stiffness surged in his bones meanwhile his heartbeat increased its rate. Benjamin relieved himself from the tension in his body by twitching his lips in a lazy, sour expression. He turned to look back and knew that there was a human somewhere, who owned that feminine voice. It continued to haunt him and he immediately knew that he wouldn't get rid of it in his mind unless he responded to it. So he did, but it was a lazily made up reply. "Join me then." Stupid was his mind at the moment, blurred by the constant noises that mysteriously sounded. Even if the scared bud inside him was slowly growing, he did not care anymore. There was another thing to deal with and it was this person who caught him in the forest. He assured himself that he would not beg if ever threatened to tell this tale to Professor Styx. He wasn't too horrified to face any consequences but he was nervous to tell frankly... Now, who was this little bugger who decided to track him?

How little did he knew about her...
​

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Athena paused when she heard a response, she hadn’t expected one. She had expected to hear some thrashing through the forest or more likely, to hear nothing at all because who would honestly give themselves away. She knew that she wouldn’t if she was caught somewhere after dark. The voice, she knew, came from a strong male voice, though she quickly knew that it didn’t belong to an adult. It was too…young sounding to her ears. Still, the person had told her to join him. Athena took a breath and then stepped forward, keeping her wand high so she wouldn’t trip on any branches or step into any more water. As she came to a small clearing, Athena looked around. The trees here were particularly close to each other, making a small enclosure that made an excellent hiding spot because it was so dark. Dirt covered the ground along with long dead leaves that had fallen months before. Her eyes were used to the darkness of the forest now though the lack of moonlight in this area was doing her no favors. Luckily, her wand helped to illuminate the small radius that she was in. As her silver eyes drifted around, they landed on a shadowy figure. She knew it was a person and let her breath out. The Slytherin had heard many tales about the other creatures that lurked the forest, abominations that she hoped to never see. Taking another cautious step, Athena briefly wondered how much time had passed since she had entered the forest. 3?4? She wondered if the stupid Ravenclaw prefect was even keeping track and whether the student would, in fact, go for a professor if she didn’t return soon.

“You do realize the definition of the word forbidden , right?” she drawled as she crossed her arms under her chest, the tip of her wand still illuminated. Athena was banking on the fact that the guy had wanted to be discovered and hoped that he wouldn’t run or anything now. She was tall and could run decently fast, but she would much rather not exert herself in that manner. Her foot was wet, and she wanted to get out of the forest and crawl into bed already. She recalled a spell for drying items that were wet, but she hadn’t paid enough attention in Charms to bring the incantation to mind. The blonde waited to see if the student would move closer to her. “Or do you need me to explain it to you…in simple words?” she added after a beat. Her patience had always been thin, but had been even thinner than usual as of late.

 

[Benjamin Chase]

That drawling voice was undoubtedly of a female's. The female pitch that can be differentiated from the male's was laced with the unknown voice that Benjamin was distantly familiar with. It was like a fragrant scent that easily wafted through the air, giving him a warning that he should take note of. Benjamin looked at the source of the voice and did not approach her with gleeful enthusiasm to walk deeper into the forest with him, of all people. Checking out her slim figure, he could see that she was tall and a blonde - judging by the soft illuminated glow her hair gave off whilst both of their wands were lit. Benjamin was aware that he was partially screwed because of her discovery. He knew what threats he could receive later on from her. Without any second glance, he knew that the female student was older than him. Her sharp features were more of a teenager in her late years rather than of tall third year. A scowl toyed with the lips of the Slytherin boy as he heard the smooth drawl of the older student. Ooh, ouch. "How hurtful," Benjamin drawled - a drawl that matched hers - as he clicked his tongue. Even with the bad pressure building up in his gut about this, he continued to play around with his indifferent self tonight. "That you underestimate my vocabulary. Ouch." Benjamin waved the wand in hand dramatically and this time, seriously looked at her deadpan in the eye.

If he really had known from the start that this would happen, Benjamin wondered if he would ever have the guts to back out. Especially now that he was slowly realizing who she was and what she did. Benjamin decided that he did not really mind if she took points off their house... His lips curled into a smirk of surprise whilst he let the silence drip with deadliness. He was not going to let her take control of the situation especially remembering the possibility of receiving a week's worth detention which could piss him off for those seven days. "Ah, Zhefarovich. Nice to, well... meet you." The place was nothing of his liking to become a meeting place but still, it would be fun to mock the said pureblood. He added, "even if this place, is uh, not an ideal one for these kinds of meetings." Benjamin looked too casual, that even for him, it was scary to think how far he was going. Right now that he was in front of a prefect of his own house, he left his mind unwillingly drift to the image of Professor Styx scowling down at him. What a bummer this was but hell, why would he waste his usually uneventful evenings in the common room? Also, he had the feel of staying up late tonight hence, this what happened. He stepped backward, feeling that his boat shoe was on a puddle of water. He grimaced slightly as he looked down to see that his assumption was correct. Benjamin shuffled to the side and looked at the prefect, his eyes questioning her next move.

"Is it just me or you haven't been spending much time with the other Slytherins?" He knew he was useless in attempting to make civil conversations. In his current predicament however, it was not the time to formulate any of those. He was just subconsciously buying himself time before she can even scream at him for going here. If ever she'll scream, that is. He doubted that a Zhefarovich like her will do any of those. Just like her, Benjamin came from an old and extremely wealthy pureblood family but in his case, Benjamin was American and a little of Scottish. He cocked his head and let that proud smirk of his flash again. It would be fun mocking her but he thought that it would be more fun for her to threaten him.
​

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Athena kept her arms crossed as she listened to the student speak. When she could finally see him, she could see that he was a bit younger than her, though she didn't think that he was much younger. She couldn't tell how tall he was since he wasn't right next to her, but she figured she probably had an inch or two on him. At 5'10, she was usually taller than most of the younger students. He had extremely dark hair, or he was wearing some kind of hood. She was fairly certain they shared a common room, and even more that he was a pureblood like herself. There unfortunately weren't very many of them so Athena made it a point to know who they were. If she wasn't mistaken, his name was something Chase. It was obvious to her that he knew exactly who she was, especially as he continued speaking. The Slytherin before her was behaving much too cavalierly for her liking, not even looking as if he was sorry for being caught. Standing a bit straighter, Athena listened to the teen continue, her head cocking to the side as she tried to figure out what he was insinuating with his comment. Her mouth opened and closed quickly, and when it opened once more, she spoke. "What are you trying to say?" she stated, her silver eyes narrowing. Waving her hand, her wand shook, the light from the tip of her wand waving frantically from a tree to the ground.

"Never mind...do you realize what would happen to you if Professor Styx caught you out here?" she continued, a frown on her face. Her uncle was not the type to be easier on people from his own house when he caught them misbehaving. If he didn't give his family members special treatment, she knew that he wouldn't give his house special treatment. "You obviously don't care, but you should..." she added on, her eyes rolling at the lameness of her words. Sometimes, she didn't know why she was a prefect. Athena didn't think she was a good example of model behavior. Not like her sister,one of the former head girls. " I have no idea what he'd do if he caught you, but I can take a couple of points to make sure that you remember." A smirk crossed the prefect's face as she waited for the guy to respond. She was also trying to figure out how many points to take away from him, trying to decide if ten points would be a good enough reminder to keep him out of the forest. Athena tapped her foot impatiently, the bottom of her foot making a squishing sound as it made contact with the mud.

 

[Diagoras]

It was a beautiful night for a hunt with the family, and Diagoras had wasted no time in collecting his fawns from their twilight lessons to ride out with he and his lifemate. In the distance, further than any student might hope to reach, the thunder of hooves stirred his blood as the thrill of impeding pursuit alighted in him once again. Many moons had passed since the joining of he and his doe-eyed partner, Dover, and with the time came much healing from the past's pains. It was going on seven turns of the planet since the day the giant centaur's heart was broken at the slaying of an innocent by his own hand. The students did not wander so far anymore, least of all the little sunshine that was Artemis. He had slain her lovemate and she would never return. Diagoras had avoided the werewolf girl like a plague, though the same couldn't be said for his two fawns. Abel was much too friendly and Cain, though shy, was a great lover of humans and their fascinating dream-talk.

It had taken a turn and a half before he could stomach the sight and sound of bowstrings, and another two before he would draw his own. Finally the time of mourning had passed, and once again he rode out with his mane catching in branches that whipped with the speed of his hooves. Diagoras waved a signal to Dover to catch up to the herd. A hunt with the family, to him, meant hunting at the same time as them, not necessarily with. Still, after all these years, he preferred solitude when stalking. Diagoras chose rabbit as his prey tonight. They were poor eating but rich in furs that the elderly centaurs wrapped around their flanks in the cold winter. His bow was out and his ears pointed high, but there was no thump of soft paws in the undergrowth. Instead, a very different sound reached the old stallion, and it sent a shiver down his flank.
Voices.
Very young voices, not centaur ...
Diagoras' hoofbeats turned from soft to silent as he walked through the pines. It was clear the moment he arrived on the scene that both students were too distracted by their argument to notice his approach. Face as dark as thunderclouds, the towering centaur reached the small copse where they stood and simply remained, terrifyingly silent behind the young female human.​

 

[Benjamin Chase]

This girl had a unique character to become one of Slytherin's prefects. Benjamin could almost taste the authority she was producing out of thin, hot air. The look in her eyes was dangerously beautiful as she pronounced her words that replied to his and Benjamin only shrugged. He was buying time wasn't he? The meaning of it was shallow and very above the surface. He was no Gryffindor extraordinaire and he was not planning to become something of that sort. Euw. Gross. Benjamin felt his adventurous side spark the fire even more which was certainly not a normal thing for him to feel. Screw him for getting himself into this - all he wanted was excitement. Benjamin gave a sly grin and replied, "I dunno, you tell me." He backed off a little, cautious that she might hex him into oblivion or do something else nasty. Oh but, she would not risk her badge just for him right? Benjamin felt out of his character, as if he drank firewhiskey or some strong alcoholic drink. Perhaps that was the result of spending too much of his time around Gryffindors wherever he went. He liked it though but sooner or later, he had a feeling that regret would fill him up instead. Maybe it was not a feeling, he just knew it for a future fact.

So without any honest interest, Benjamin listened to the prefect as she spoke of what could possibly happen to him. Benjamin caught a few words, but he was mainly focused on how he could just leave her without his pride falling apart in pieces. He looked down at his wand which was already facing downwards from his firm grip. He stepped backward casually and felt one of his feet sink into the muddy ground. "Damnit," he thought and stepped somewhere else where it was not as wet as the former. By the time he was satisfied on where he was placing his feet, Zhefarovich stopped her babbling and smirked at him. Oh how he could just match that smirk if the situation wasn't entirely waiting for his response. He thought quick and logically and let his green eyes meet with her silvery ones. A thought came to mind and he spoke of it like he was only stating factuality into words nonchalantly. "If you're willing to take off points from your own house, I wouldn't mind at all." Benjamin shrugged unbelievably. "Reality is, you're just docking points off from both of us." A feeling of victory stimulated his insides and for the countless time, he smirked cockily. What a game he was playing at.

The darkness clouded the real things hiding in it, making Benjamin feel that both of them were perfectly safe still. Benjamin cleared his throat and spoke once more. "So maybe I'll be off, since you don't really want to have fun." The younger Slytherin started walking backwards, deeper into the forest, in small, cautious steps. He did not want his pride and ego to be broken again, just like in the past, so he was going to continue this reckless ride of his. Despite the Slytherin prefect standing a few meters away from him, he allowed the stretch between them to widen even more. For some last words, Benjamin thought of what he said about earlier and waved his wand before turning his back away from her and walking into the deeper forest. "I was wrong earlier by the way. You could go spend time with your friend of no pure magical blood. She's your roommate yeah? The French one? If she's French anyway." Benjamin now turned his back on her and chuckled, in attempt to make this little scene he was doing a real and dramatic one. God was he so good. He amusingly thought of becoming one of those muggle actors one day, but spending his time with people like them was not worth it. He walked, careful to display an unaffected Benjamin Chase.
​

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

The Slytherin stared into the boy’s green eyes, admiring their beauty for a moment. She had a fondness for guys with green eyes for some reason, perhaps because they were so different from her silver ones. The boy spoke like a true Slytherin, full of cockiness and bravado. “10 points it is. It’s not like we’re in first. Any other place makes us losers anyway.” Her shrug matched his own, an innocent smile crossing her face. The prefect had never won top honors which she would care about far more than her house winning the House Cup. If Slytherin had been in first, she might have been more likely to let the younger teen slide but it didn’t seem to her that 10 points would matter much. If it turned out that her house came in second by ten points, she was more than willing to take the blame for that. She knew that wouldn’t happen though, not with Slytherin so far back in the house points.

Athena felt a chill run down her spine, but she chalked it up to the dampness in the air and the wetness of her sock. Had it been any other occasion, Athena might have thought that the younger Slytherin was flirting with her. Even now, she had a hard time deciding. She furrowed her eyebrows, her expression confused as he began to walk away from her. He hadn’t turned away just yet, though she wasn’t sure if it was because he feared that she would hex him or if he wanted to continue the dialogue. Finally, Benjamin turned away from the prefect and began to walk away. His words carried back though and they stung her more than she wished to let on. Athena’s jaw tightened as she drilled holes into his back. “We don’t even hang out that much anymore” she bit out, the words sounding lame even to her own ears. Of course, she had heard the talk that Kiara wasn’t a pureblood just as much as she’d heard the talk that Kiara was her lover, a rumor begun by the lovely gossip magazine that circulated the school. Athena knew that the rumors of her being in a relationship were false and she chose to believe that the other talk was false too. If she didn’t confront Kiara about it, she could continue to befriend the girl, something she desperately wanted. Deep down Athena knew that Kiara wasn’t a pureblood. Her last name, Tine, was not a pureblood one. It didn’t carry any of the weight that her own surname did.

“And at least she’s a Slytherin” Athena continued, her voice more haughty than it had been a moment before. “ It has to be better than hanging out with the Gryf…” Athena broke off, another chill sweeping down her spine as if someone had taken their ice cold hand and brushed it right down the bone. “Benjamin. Stop. Did you hear that?” she asked, her eyes looking to the left and the right. She didn’t know what she had heard, but the space that they occupied felt different. She couldn't explain exactly how, even to herself, but she knew that the feeling that had come over her was not a pleasant one. Suddenly, Athena was eager to be out of the forest. She had never liked the bloody place.

 

[Benjamin Chase]

In times likes these, Benjamin was confronted with a question that leaded to a decision. His decisions were not the best of the lot though. Tonight, he chose mainly for his pride and image. He did not want to be known as the Slytherin who felt terrified because of Athena Zhefarovich's presence in front of him. She was a prefect. He heard some people talk about her, whispering that she was a relative of Professor Styx. Also, she was known to be cold and Benjamin thought that she was too guarded or something of that sort. To him she appeared to be uptight and Benjamin ridiculously thought that he was doing her some fun. He felt strangely adventurous for the night and so he dared to explore the area that was forbidden for any student to walk on, unless permitted by a professor which was highly doubtful. He continued to walk and ignored the words that Athena bit out rather quietly. She felt her glare on his backside and he ignored it even if his heart was beginning to pump faster than normal. A smirk appeared on his lips in response to her not hanging out with Tine anymore. Was the French blonde her only friend? What a pity. Strangely though, he could relate because he did not really befriend the whole castle. There were only a limited few who he talked to and they weren't always there to accompany him. He was used to being alone, just like now as he was pushing himself dangerously deeper into the forest.

He thought that the prefect had no longer anything to utter anymore. It made him feel momentarily victorious. He looked around as he held out his wand to scan the area around him. There were leaves and the ground still had the same old puddles. He thought that some were possibly ankle deep and he wrinkled his nose. Just then did the older Slytherin start to speak again, her voice haughtier than ever. Despite he not wanting to hear it, he heard it anyway and he cringed in the dark. He knew what was coming and turned his back to face Athena again whilst walking backwards, this time. He did not notice how her sentence faltered, since he boiled up at her pronunciation of half the word of Gryffindor. "Look okay. I do not hang out with --" Then he was interrupted by the blonde. He scowled, feeling sensitive about how he was "associated" with Gryffindors. Yeah, he did come around those and teased them rudely but to actually make a polite conversation was borderline impossible. His mind ran with images of different Gryffindors and it caused him to slump. What he did not expect though was when Athena said something that he never thought she would say. He froze temporarily and strained his ears for any sound that can come. There was pure silence and Benjamin looked at the form of Athena which was farther than he thought and released the breath he was holding in.

"No, I did not hear anything." Benjamin looked around briefly and sighed. Terror was a feeling he hated to ever feel, much less experience in this part of the school. Though he felt that there was something unusual. There was a stir in the air. A change that could almost go unnoticeable if Benjamin was not ordered to focus on his surroundings even more. He almost felt a shiver climb up and tickle his spine but he held it down and made himself believe that there was nothing wrong. There was nothing there. Or perhaps that was what he hoped. He wanted to say something, so that any bad images that would want to deviously enter his mind would halt. It served as a distraction in other words. "You're only paranoid." Benjamin stood there though, almost motionless except for the small movements of his head. The clock was ticking and he hated wasting his time just because he felt something alarmingly odd. It was normal, especially here in the Forbidden Forest. "So you are gonna chicken out huh," his perfect drawl ran out around the perimeter and he shifted from one leg to another. Whatever response she'll make out, he would make sure to turn around to leave her and maybe look for a tree that he could climb and rest on. He had done that before, but not in this part of the forest where almost everything could be eerily suspicious. He then waited for something to happen. A response, a movement, or just plain anything.
​

meh sorry it's lame.

 

[Diagoras]

Diagoras flicked his tail hard against the surrounding trees and stomped. Tired of being ignored, the old war horse's teeth were on edge at the arrogance of the young, soft-footed ones whose petty friends still would not leave he and the rest of his forest kind be. They played and trotted over the dark mosses, thinking that they would be safe with their untried hands clutching their magic sticks. The centaur knew better. Nothing could prepare them for the forest's dangerous intricacies and, prepared or not, it would take them. He too, was part of the forest, and he had taken a wizard's life though he grieved much for their passing. Where his hand would stay, another would strike, and no beast, man or spirit would harm another child from the castle on his watch. Diagoras was no steward, though. He'd not teach them kindly.

"Pirheah sahl damazahs, cor bin sivahl!"* he bellowed in the tongue of the centaurs. The leaves around him shivered and withdrew to let him through the copse where the small soft-foots stood.
"If you have no care for your own life, small wizard, then have a care for she who follows you! The Great Forest-" the centaur addressed Benjamin in inhumanly low tones "-is not your playground. It is the playground of those who would sweep off your head with a single strike." Diagoras now stood to full height and gripped his bow with one massive hand. "Or spear your chest with an arrow."

He could not think of another thing to say that could possibly warn them further. If he told the young wizards that he was the centaur in the stories that had killed the student from the castle, he would send them into a terror and then he would have to mind them while he sent word to his herd, wait for them to send messengers to the castle and then stay till a castle warden brought them back. They will see sense, he reasoned. The children may be arrogant, but neither of them looked foolish. Although, thought Diagoras with a scowl, They are here already.

​

Out of Character:

* "Pirheah curse you foals, who have no understanding!"

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Athena was glad that Benjamin seemed to be taking her seriously. He had stopped talking anyway, and together they listened. She didn’t hear anything, and she wasn’t even sure what she had heard to make her think that there was something with them. But, the uneasy feeling still hadn’t gone away. Catching Benjamin’s eye with her silver ones, she let go of the breath that she hadn’t known she was holding as he stated that he didn’t hear anything. When he called her paranoid, Athena’s silver eyes widened. How dare he? she thought to herself. She knew that she wasn’t being paranoid. Whether he wanted to believe her or not, something had been there even if it no longer was. Crossing her arms across her chest for what felt like the millionth time, Athena tried to rub some warmth into her arms. The chills that had run through her spine combined with the cool air had left her wishing she’d dressed more warmly.

As he called her a chicken, Athena stomped her foot. It wasn’t very effective as the ground was soft and she only succeeded in making a squishing sound. “I am not a chicken. You know nothing about me, Benjamin” she stated angrily. She thought back to her time in the Borely Mansion with her cousins, and how frightened she had been then. That experience had changed her significantly, making her more cautious and more- yes, paranoid was the word to describe the changes that had been wrought in the teen. Athena knew that there were things to fear in the world, things that she couldn’t be protected from simply because of her name and her blood status. Athena moved her hands to her hips and spoke once more. “You know what? Stay out here. See if I care. But, I’m sure the Ravenclaw I’m with will report you to Styx.” Athena gave him one more look and then turned to walk away.

Before she had could take a step, the Slytherin prefect heard a loud stomp in front of her. The bellowed speech, of which she could understand nothing, sent her stepping backwards swiftly. Athena hadn’t even noticed how quickly she had moved until she nearly banged into Benjamin. Staying just a step in front of him, Athena watched as a centaur came into the clearing in front of them. Her silver eyes looked up at the creature and then to the bow in its hand as it spoke once more. The Slytherin had never seen one of these things in person and she knew that she would have been fine to continue her life in this matter. As the centaur continued to speak, Athena hoped that Benjamin would be wise enough to keep his tongue. She had heard the rumors of the Forest, knowing that people had been killed there in the past by creatures like the one before her. That the centaur was telling Benjamin to at least care for her as if it thought they were in some way connected was something that she would probably think about later, but at the moment, she wasn’t thinking about it. “We have to go” she said with a sideways glance to her fellow Slytherin. She did not want to think what might happen if some of the centaur’s friends showed up. Her silver eyes looking up at the centaur, Athena took a deep breath. “Please let us be on our way” she stated in a level voice, though inside she was a mess. Athena knew enough to not point her wand at the creature even though it was her instinct to do so, knowing that would escalate the situation. She knew that centaurs didn't take kindly to having wands pointed at them.

 

[Benjamin Chase]

Benjamin did not exactly notice the stomp that Athena made but if he did, he would have smirked at her. He would sure fail if he needed to cope with the mood swings girls had, but he definitely had the skills to aggravate them in every manner. He was stellar at that, there was no denying! He snorted as Athena stated that he knew nothing about her which was not false really. The only valid things he was aware about her was her name, her blood and her status in the school as a prefect. The rest was a complete mystery that he doubted Athena will unfold unto him. The young lady would surely be an annoyance to him now but there was always the slim chance that it could change. He momentarily contemplated whether he should just go with her back to the castle or not. It would take minutes before they can safely say that they are in the castle again! He did not want that, since the awkwardness would probably drive him insane. Plus, he disliked the idea of his roommates raving about his absence. Those exasperating oafs did not have the word fun in their narrow vocabulary. When at last Benjamin just bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from apologizing, his orbs met silvery ones and they turned away from him, giving Benjamin a magnificent view of blonde strands. He scowled at her, knowing that trouble was going to bite oh so sweetly.

Oh, how he was right.

A massive bellow occurred and it sent the leaves shaking. The wind stirred with terror as Benjamin stepped back in swift alarm. He gasped when the creature's horrifying voice boomed in the area which sent the birds residing in there awaken suddenly. He only stared, frozen, at its silhouette in the darkness, but judging by its hoofs and weapon the creature's specie was already obvious. How he loathed centaurs! He had seen one when he was young and he heard the stories on how they could kill. Their kind was just a small portion of the horrible stories he heard about them as a child! The rumours about deaths by the doings of centaurs roamed around the school, but the boy never payed it any heed. This fellow though, whose body was hefty, looked to have more than fifty years of living experience in this world. Benjamin swallowed nervously and felt himself tremble, as if the wand in his hand was causing the vibration.

The first words of the centaur he could not perceive and from there, he knew that the language was not from his own tongue. Benjamin's senses were mostly focused on the other male before them. The wizard's body was stiff as a board, that was until he felt another body collide with his. "Sh!t," he swore under his breath. He felt himself unfreeze and stumble backwards, gripping his wand so tightly that he thought it would snap. But he recovered a second after he realized the horse man was actually talking to him. Benjamin's heavy breathing ceased as he stationed himself next to Athena, who stated the obvious with a hint of anxiousness. He nodded slowly, not trusting his mouth to say anything at the moment. He lowered his wand too partly because Athena did not raise hers and he did not want the light to let him see the centaur's face repeatedly. His heart hammered in his chest and he felt his hands grow cold. He heard the voice of the tall prefect beside him and he let out another breath. The building distress inside was breaking his adventurous side gradually. His mind yelled at him to run, but he only stayed there beside the prefect who politely asked the centaur to let them be on their way. His silence was an indication of all the mixed emotions he was feeling - which by the way, had no drop of positivity.
​

 

[Diagoras]

Diagoras narrowed his slanted eyebrows at the students who had backed off faster than a fox to a wolf.
"And be on your way to where, might I ask?" he said in his low, rumbling tones. The centaur knew the smell of human fear when it drifted through the air and he felt the first flashes of sympathy for the foals he was scaring. He softened his voice a measure, then lifted his bow to place it in its thick leather holster strapped to his shoulder.
"Indeed, you must leave, but that is not the way."
Diagoras sighed and the whispering leaves fluttered with the strength of his breath. So far as he could tell, neither of the foals knew where they were and if at some point they had, he'd scared the knowledge out of them. They were backed into a corner and wisely remaining unarmed. There was nothing for it. Diagoras dropped his hands and made a gesture of peace as he stepped forward to lower himself onto his knees and hocks. They were no longer craning their neck but looking at him eye-to-eye, feet away from one of the most mysterious and dangerous inhabitants of the Forbidden Forest. He was quiet at first, speaking non-threateningly and with greater restraint than he'd ever used before.
"Do you know now why you have always been told not to enter the Forest without permission and with an escort?" said Diagoras, frowning at them under thick brows. "Perhaps you have heard that the Centaurs may be a friend to human folk; offering them wisdom or shelter in dark places? Or is it that you have heard other things ... That we are dangerous and not to be trusted, so you thought to impress yourself upon us with your courage?". He looked at them carefully with solemn eyes. "Preferable to the idea that you did not think at all."
He did not relish in the idea of having to guide them back to the castle, but on further inspection it was a better idea than trusting the young witch and wizard to their own devices and having them go on alone. Diagoras looked extremely uncomfortable for a moment before saying,
"I apologise for frightening you so." He could not think of another way to explain himself and so he didn't.
"I cannot trust you to return to whence you came by the correct route, so I will ask that you ride with me." He expected them to take his meaning well enough: they were to climb upon his back, which was wide and strong enough for two young wizards, and allow him to take them back to the castle.
"Although," said Diagoras with a pause, "If I do not trust you, than I cannot ask you to trust me." He thought a minute, then swung an arm around to unhook his bow and place it on the damp forest floor at Athena's and Benjamin's feet.
"If you would take this, then you have both my weapon and yours." Diagoras fell silent and flicked his tail in expectation.​