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🕑 Added 2025-01-04 10:20:58 +0000 UTCThe air in the gloomy temple was thick with tension as Bryan lifted his wand. An illusionary chain glowing with pulsing golden flames emerged from its tip and the chain entered the wrinkled forehead of the centaur elder Horn, penetrating deep into his mind.
Horn swayed unsteadily on his hooves, his eyes glazing over in a daze as the magical chain invaded his thoughts. In his stupor, he seemed to hear a crisp 'click' reverberate through his skull, like the sound of a sturdy iron lock falling decisively into place, sealing away secrets in the hidden vaults of his memory.
"Forgive me Horn, but this is a matter of the utmost importance. I had no choice but to take this drastic measure," Bryan said, his voice tinged with regret as he slowly lowered his wand. "I have placed a seal upon your recent memories. As long as you do not speak of them to others, there will be no problems."
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Author's Note: Originally, I did plan for Bryan to actually obliviate Horn's memory but later thought of just bluffing horn by saying that he had casted a spell on his mind and if he mentions or tries to mention then he will be obliviated. In fact Horn just heard about his home being in starry sky which is too mysterious; he won't even understand whats that supposed to mean and if Merlin who is his tribes savior left a prophecy for someone then he would surely never try to leak or even harm Bryan. So, with this thought process MC just warned him and Horn also partially understood but he was still a little intimidated.
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Though Bryan did not explicitly state would happen to Horn if he divulged the sealed memories, Horn could imagine it all too easily - a swift and certain death would be the most likely outcome. Anger and sorrow were both useless. After a long, heavy silence, Horn gave a slow, reluctant nod, indicating that he understood.
"Good, I'm glad we have a consensus then," Bryan sighed, his shoulders sagging with relief. He turned his gaze to the open doorway, where the oppressive blackness of night pressed in like a suffocating shroud. Beyond the creaking woods, the silhouettes of trees tops trembled frantically in the howling winds, adding an ominous touch of primeval horror to the dreary, moonless sky.
"In light of this, I'm afraid the matter of centaurs allowing druids to reside within the Forbidden Forest is also an issue that cannot be ignored," Bryan continued somberly as he turned back to face Horn. "Especially when considering the long-term consequences, it may well bring unacceptable risks and dangers to Hogwarts."
Horn remained silent; his face etched with deep lines of helpless resignation. It was obviously clear that regardless of what Bryan Watson decided, the centaurs were powerless to resist or influence the result. This domineering man standing before him was not Albus Dumbledore, who might be swayed by persuasive words and a gentle heart. He would not be moved by...
"Due to the complexity and sensitivity of this situation, I cannot act arbitrarily," Bryan said, interrupting Horn's unspoken thoughts. "I must call Dumbledore here to consider his views on the matter. After all, he is the headmaster of Hogwarts."
Horn blinked in surprise, his dejected eyes widening as he stared at Bryan. He had been certain that Bryan Watson was stubbornly set on driving the druids out of the Forbidden Forest by any means necessary. This unexpected turn stunned him.
Bryan lifted his wand again, and a shimmering orb of hazy silver light burst from the tip, shooting off into the night sky. Breathing another sigh of relief, Bryan noted with satisfaction that his Patronus charm still functioned perfectly despite the stresses of the evening.
Although the centaurs of the tribe had all obediently returned to their homes as Horn had ordered, Bryan could still sense the weight of dozens of tense, anxious gazes peering out at him from behind the cracks of closed doors and shuttered windows.
"I've just had a thought," Bryan said abruptly as he stood with his back to the open doorway. He suddenly turned his head to look at Horn again, and his eyes narrowed shrewdly. "How exactly did those druids infiltrate and settle within the Forbidden Forest in the first place, completely undetected? Surely the stealthy relocation of hundreds is no simple feat, even after including for your people's aid?"
"They used Portkeys," Horn replied, his voice was low and muffled, heavy with obvious displeasure at the question.
The conversation was abruptly interrupted by a blinding flash and a concussive boom that shattered the humid darkness. The figure of Dumbledore wearing a purple silk nightgown emerged in the dying sparks of his phoenix Fawkes' flames. His eyes swept the room, taking in every detail. With a gentle smile, he nodded kindly to Bryan in greeting before focusing his attention on the elderly centaur elder.
"Horn, my old friend! It's been far too long," Dumbledore exclaimed enthusiastically as he approached with arms spread wide in welcome. "Dear me, I must say the years have left their mark on you. Why, when was the last time we spoke face to face? Fifty years, if it's been a day!"
"Not quite so long as that, Professor Dumbledore," Horn replied, some of the earlier tension easing from his face and posture now that Dumbledore had arrived.
Stomping one hoof firmly on the stone floor, he drew himself up to his full, height, and a glimmer of his old confidence and strength returned. "Surely you haven't forgotten the last time you sought me out? It was during the days of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's reign of terror. You came to me then, hoping to sway the centaur to abandon our ancient vows of neutrality and join your alliance against that Dark Lord."
"Ahhh yes, now it comes back to me," Dumbledore said, a hint of good-natured humor dancing in his eyes. "Quite the frank and uncompromising exchange, as I recall. You made the centaurs' position very plain: that you would never consent to being drawn into the conflicts and wars of wizardkind.
Though you did concede that if Voldemort himself came knocking, you would of course resist him with all the might of your noble race. A controversial point, thankfully, young Harry Potter thwarted Voldemort's plot, and the situation did not deteriorate to that extent--"
Horn's mouth twitched and his eyes flashed as he detected the subtle jab embedded in Dumbledore's jovial words and tone. Dumbledore, however, continued on casually.
"As it happens, I was feeling a bit peckish and had popped down to the kitchens for a satisfying mug of hot chocolate when I sensed a peculiar ripple in the magic that hangs over your little corner of the forest. I was just wondering if I should come take a look when I received your message."
Dumbledore looked at Bryan. He noticed that although Bryan looked the same as usual, there was a uncharacteristic hint of heavy, troubled thoughts swirling behind his eyes. "What's wrong, Bryan? Did something happen?"
"It's like this--" Bryan said slowly, walking back into the temple with slow steps until he stood directly before Dumbledore. Drawing a deep breath, he continued, "There are some serious circumstances that I think you need to be aware of, Headmaster Dumbledore. In short, our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Miss Cliodna, has apparently reached an agreement with our centaur neighbors here. The centaurs found a place in the Forbidden Forest, where Greyback's werewolf tribe used to live, and established a hidden secret land. Miss Cliodna has made it the new home for the druid order--"
Even Dumbledore, a man who had seen more upheavals and faced more significant revelations in his long life than most wizards could hardly imagine, was struck speechless by Bryan's words, stunned by the sheer audacity and scope of what the centaurs had done.
For more than ten seconds, the world seemed frozen as Dumbledore thought of the far-reaching implications of this development.
"How very surprising indeed," He murmured at last, looking at Horn with an inscrutable expression. "I must confess, Horn, after countless fruitless attempts to open even the most basic dialogue between your people and the school, I had quite lost hope of the centaurs ever consenting to interact with humans at all, on any level, for any reason. I suppose you simply find me uniquely objectionable on a personal level, then?
"No, That's not the same thing, Dumbledore!" Horn practically jumped, his eyes darting to Bryan and then back to Dumbledore, anger and indignation radiating from him.
"What is your attitude, Headmaster Dumbledore?" Bryan asked. "Regarding the group of druids who have moved into the forest, should we wait a while and then expel them, or turn a blind eye?"
In any case, immediately driving the druids out of the Forbidden Forest was inappropriate, whether considering it from a humanitarian perspective or from Bryan's and Dumbledore's own plan. They wanted Cliodna to continue lurking at Hogwarts.
"Can you take me to see them?" Dumbledore had clearly seen through the risks of leaving the druids in the Forbidden Forest. These people were Cliodna's deployment. Would they follow Voldemort and wreak havoc in the magical world after his return, or bring some unnecessary troubles?
"Of course, Professor Dumbledore," Horn replied, the anger fading from his voice as he walked toward the door with a clip-clop of his hooves. "I'll have Firenze send the key over. We must--"
"No need to go to such trouble," Bryan said smoothly, glancing up at Fawkes where the phoenix was perched high in the beams.
The clever Fawkes caught his meaning at once, launching himself into the air with a musical cry and a burst of shimmering golden flames. A blinding flare of swirling magic enveloped the three figures standing below, and when it faded an instant later, the hall stood empty with the flutter of Fawkes' wingbeats echoing into stillness.
When the world changed around them few seconds later, Dumbledore, Bryan, and Horn found themselves transported onto a carpet of dense leaves and twisted roots deep in the heart of the Forbidden Forest.
Dumbledore landed lightly on his feet, seemingly unmoved by the sudden shift, while Horn wobbled slightly before regaining his balance.
"Ah, I see it now," After landing, Dumbledore's piercing blue gaze quickly locked onto the space under a collapsed log. Picking up the hem of his nightgown, he agilely jumped over a few vines and reached the log.
Fawkes landed on Dumbledore's shoulder, tilting its head, its ruby-like eyes blinking a few times. Suddenly, it flapped its wings, scattering a burst of brilliant light. A circular door was woven in mid-air by the aurora-like radiance, revealing the scene inside the secret land.
Dumbledore did not cross the threshold to enter this realm, but stood outside the door with a solemn expression, quietly observing the world within - the gigantic oak tree, the treehouses below its branches, the druid believers practicing and drawing life energy from the trees, and the children running and laughing in the fairytale-like forest.
"Oh--"
Both Bryan and Horn remained silent, waiting for Dumbledore to make a decision. About ten minutes later, Dumbledore suddenly looked at Bryan and said amiably, "I believe they are safe--"
Horn immediately breathed a huge sigh of relief, while Bryan was not particularly surprised by Dumbledore's reaction. After a brief silence, he asked, "You mean to allow them to reside in the Forbidden Forest?"
"I don't see why not, Bryan--" Dumbledore said thoughtfully, "Look at those children, Bryan. Oh, I think perhaps one day they will become students at Hogwarts!"
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