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HP - Chapter 183: Special arrow
🕑 Added 2024-08-15 14:23:12 +0000 UTCThe next night after getting rid of their pursuers again, they headed to the area of the forest where the centaur camp was located.
When they were about ten minutes away from arriving, James stopped everyone and told them to wait for him. It would be best for him under the invisibility cloak to steal an arrow with his telekinesis. So, he must be careful, and it is best to go alone.
Everyone agreed, except Gwen, who ended up accompanying James in the invisibility cloak.
James agreed for two reasons. One because he liked being alone next to Gwen, and the other because it would be good to have a backup if he ends up in a battle against the centaurs, and being two people stealth with the invisibility cloak is still good.
"It's cold. Come closer," Gwen said, intertwining her arm with James to pull him closer to her.
"We're not taking a stroll through the forest," James commented, moving closer to Gwen. The forest in front of their eyes was scary, dark, and with eerie sounds of strange and ugly creatures.
"It would be a good place for a date," Gwen commented, looking at the gloomy forest in front of her eyes.
"Since when do you like scary things? I remember in your room, you had lots of cute, brightly colored stuffed animals," James said with a slight smirk.
"That was when I was a child. Now I'm all grown up. I don't have those stupid stuffed animals anymore," Gwen said in a dismissive tone.
"Oh... Does that mean you got rid of the stuffed animals I gave you?" asked James, acting hurt.
Gwen's previously scornful expression changed to one of concern, and she quickly took back her words, "Those stuffed animals, I still have them! I just kept them in a different place so they don't get damaged," she explained.
What she was saying was partly true. What she didn't tell James was that she slept next to two of those stuffed animals. She even brought one with her to Hogwarts and used it to sleep with when she closed the curtains on her bed so no one could see her.
"Mm, I don't know if I believe your words miss. You seemed very grown up and confident before," James said with a thoughtful expression and a hand on his chin.
"Believe me! I wouldn't lie to you," Gwen said, grabbing and shaking James' arm, who was still playing dumb to annoy her more.
'It's easy to piss her off,' James thought with an amused grin looking at Gwen. Only he could piss her off like this and not end up frozen or something.
After telling her that, he believed her words, they continued chatting jovially until they reached the centaur camp. They seemed to be taking a stroll through the countryside, instead of showing the seriousness that this mission should have.
When they saw the camp a few yards away from them they stopped talking and looked ahead seriously.
"They seem to be nocturnal beings these centaurs," Gwen commented, looking at the active centaur camp.
"They like to watch the stars and give cryptic answers," James commented.
The camp was lit by torches arranged in a circle. Consisted of several leather and canvas tents, designed to protect the centaurs from the elements without losing their connection to nature.
Each tent was adorned with symbols and runes, indicative of their culture and traditions. In the center of the camp, a large bonfire burned brightly, around which several centaurs were gathered.
The centaur that caught James and Gwen's attention the most was one with long, dark hair. His face had high cheekbones and a proud expression. He was taller than his peers, and his muscles were larger.
James' eyes were fixed on a quiver, a cloth cylinder used by archers to carry arrows. There were several of these cylinders. With Gwen, they moved a little closer and stopped.
Looking at the most unprotected quiver, he used his telekinesis to cause one of the arrows to slide smoothly out of the quiver and fly toward him.
The arrow moved silently through the air, hidden by the darkness and shadows of the forest. No centaur noticed its absence as the arrow reached James' position. Gwen with a swift movement pulled her hand out of her cloak and grabbed the arrow.
"That was easy," Gwen said, noting the crude arrow she held in her hand.
After that quick adventure, they returned to the others, who were happy that it had been so easy, though they had already guessed as much. James possessed wandless magic, an invisibility cloak, and the Silencio Barriera. Stealing was easy having those three advantages.
Reaching the entrance to the vault again, James placed the arrow in the hole. The arrow went in perfectly, but nothing happened. No gears activated, nor was any noise heard. The stone door remained firmly in place without moving an inch.
The whole group was silent until, after a few seconds, James spoke up, "Looks like it wasn't as easy as we thought,"
"Will there be a special arrow?" asked Snape.
"It's the safest thing to do. The problem will be finding it and stealing it... You'll have to go into the camp and inspect the whole place," said Lupin, looking at James, who made a slight grimace.
It is one thing to position himself in a faraway place and steal an unimportant arrow with his telekinesis. The centaurs didn't notice anything because of the darkness and how careful James was in moving the arrow, but it's entirely different to go deep into the camp and investigate the centaur tents.
However, he had to do it. He was the only one who could use magic while wearing the invisibility cloak. So, it was safest for him to perform this mission. If you have an invisibility cloak you cannot cast spells as they will hit the cloth of the cloak. This does not happen when you use your telekinesis.
Gwen was reluctant to let James go alone, so this time, she also accompanied him, even though the dangers had increased. The others stood anxiously waiting at the entrance to the vault.
They arrived more quickly than the other time, as they were not distracted by merry chatter. The camp was still the same as before.
"Where could that arrow be?" asked Gwen, looking toward all the quivers, but she only saw arrows just like the one they stole. There was no difference.
"Probably, in some of the tents," replied James.
"Which one?" asked Gwen. It would take too long if they had to go into every tent, and the chances of getting caught were higher.
"I'd say in that one," replied James, pointing his finger at a tent just like all the others. Gwen raised an eyebrow not understanding the difference of this tent from the others.
"The tall, long-haired centaur went into that tent. From the interactions I saw him have with the centaurs, I'd say he's the leader. If an object of value is to be guarded in any tent it should be the one of the leader of the herd," James explained.
"You're very perceptive about these things," said Gwen.
"It's just a bit of observation and deduction," said James with a shrug.
James and Gwen walked deeper into the camp, trying to be as far away from the centaurs as possible. They waited a few feet away from the long-haired centaur. When he comes out and moves away it will be time to go in.
Once the centaur was out and away from the tent, they slipped inside as quickly and stealthily as possible.
Inside the tent, it wasn't hard to find what they were looking for. James' deduction was true. The long-haired centaur possessed what they were looking for.
The items in the tent were simple. On a low wooden table, they saw a quiver that possessed a single arrow, unlike any other arrow they had seen. This arrow had a jewel-encrusted tip.
'Bingo,' thought James, approaching next to Gwen at the small table.
Gwen again was quick to grab the arrow. She pulled out her small purse and stowed it in there, as it would be awkward to carry it back.
As they were about to leave, they quickly backed up as they saw a shadow approaching the entrance. The centaur returned. James, having it so close, could see more clearly the great height and muscularity of the centaur. It was imposing. Gwen tensed and approached James. Unable to use her wand as she had the invisibility cloak over her and a centaur at close range, she felt insecure.
The centaur with a simple glance, noticed the absence of his important arrow and roared in anger, aware that something was wrong. A few minutes ago, he saw the arrow there.
His instinct was right. His sense of smell noticed two different odors a few minutes ago. Two peculiar smells he recognized and loathed.
"Humans," the centaur said in a hoarse tone and with a furious look, fixing his gaze on James and Gwen, who were under the invisibility cloak.
The centaur began to walk slowly towards James and Gwen, who were still frozen in place. James noticed how the centaur tensed his powerful muscles ready to attack.
"James..." murmured Gwen, fearfully hugging James.
The situation was dangerous. If they removed the invisibility cloak and attacked the centaur with their wands, they would not make it in time. The centaur is only inches away from them, and its speed will be greater than its spells no matter how nonverbal they are.
James at Gwen's whisper snapped back to reality. He was surprised by the imposing and great presence of the centaur that left him motionless. It was the first time such a thing had happened to him, and he had faced several creatures such as a drug-enhanced troll, a giant ice golem, a dark wizard, etc.
The only way out of this place was to quickly defeat the centaur in front of his eyes and for that, he needed all the strength of his wandless magic. The easiest way to empower his wandless magic was to use negative emotions.
In less than a second, he remembered the insults towards his family and his late grandfather, and let those emotions fuel his power.
James raised his hand and pointed it at the towering centaur. This time his eyes flashed a cold, hate-filled glare.
The centaur was lifted off the ground. His previously furious face showed an expression of confusion before the invisible force that imprisoned him, he tried to free himself, but it was useless.
James, with a quick and decisive movement, threw the centaur away from the tent. An invisible force struck the creature sending it flying. It tore through the canvas and wood structure, shattering it as it flew through the air until it crashed violently into a nearby tree.
The impact echoed through the camp, and the centaur was stunned and wounded, unable to get up immediately. At such a disturbance in the silent camp, all the centaurs ran towards the wounded centaur shouting in confusion.
"Leader!"
"Are you all right, Magorian!"
"Who dared to do this to you!?" asked a centaur, grabbing his bow and ready to give chase to the mysterious attackers.
James and Gwen wasted no time. They took advantage of the confusion and chaos to escape from the centaur camp. They ran as fast as they could. They would be in a more dangerous situation if they should fight more than twenty centaurs. However, so much vigor in their flight was not necessary.
"Don't go," ordered Magorian, getting up with the help of his companions and coughing up blood.
"Why not? They can't go far if we chase them," said a centaur, confused by his leader's decision.
"I said no. It's dangerous," Magorian said in an irrefutable tone.
When he was enveloped by the invisible force, he felt a hatred and fury directed at him. He had never felt so many negative emotions. As a centaur and prophet, his insight into these things was more acute. Though he thinks any living being would feel hatred and intent to kill of that caliber.
'A dangerous power,' Magorian thought with much conjecture in his mind. He didn't care about the theft of the arrow. He preferred not to mess with a person who could harbor so much hatred. He didn't want that hatred to be directed towards his herd. He would choose the safety of his companions over a stupid arrow that hasn't been used in years.
The centaurs looked confused at the look of fear on their leader's face, followed his command, and helped him heal and set up a new tent.
