~Searching For Centaurs~

[Helia Ollivander]

"We didn't want you to teach us anything." she blurted out. She hadn't meant to, but she wanted to explain there reasons for coming. "We just wanted to know if you could tell us what the stars were saying that were making you so angry. And yes, we want to be your friends, but in times like these everyone could use more allies, is that not true? Besides, if we could talk to you and understand your reasons for wanting us to be kept out we might be less curious and keep from sticking our noses where they don't belong. I'm sorry you don't like wizards and witches, and perhaps I am not helping our case, but I dearly wish that somewhere inside of you... you could see that at least some of us want to help. I would offer what help I can give, except that now my wand is broken and as such I am of no use to either the wizarding world or to you. I ask your forgiveness for trespassing for I see now that that is exactly what I have done, I only wish that there were some way I could show you, something I could offer you as a peace offering to prove that I mean no ill will to you or to the forest. I mean only to try and understand, for retribution without knowledge is nothing more than a cruel act of violence. I know that wizard and witches in the past have wronged you, its obvious because of how you treat us now and I wish that I could apologize to you for them but I don't know what good that would do. Please, jsut don't punish us for the sins of our ancenstors." she took a deep breath. She saw many a centaurs bow twitch, whether they wanted to kill her even more now, or if they wanted to accept her apology, she could not tell, but she would not leave this forest until something changed, until someone was willing to comprimise. Be it the centaurs (which she doubted it would be) or the students, she did not care.

[Apronia Silvanus]

¨SILENCE COLT!¨Isfahel thundered. His massive arms pulled his bow back, and his arrow´s wicked tip was a mere few inches from Helia´s left eye. ¨The stars tell us this evil is the Forest is YOUR doing! Do not dare to lecture me about peace! Long ago we centaurs taught you humans the ways of magic, and you turned it against us! There will never be peace between our peoples.¨ his bow trembled in his fingers.

Apronia reached up ever so slowly, gripping the arrow just behind the tip and redirecting it to the Forest floor. She held the golden key up to the light.

¨By the treaty struck 260 years ago between Isdra Hellsbane and Fingle Daedelus, renewed by Alfred Cumberbund, Tinius Flatwick, Marini Toefl, Rubeus Hagrid, Deedle Warner, and myself, I invoke my rights of guest-friendship among you.¨ Isfahel hesitated, and she could see an anger not entirely his own exerting pressure behind his eyes. ¨There is evil here, in the Forest. You know this. I know this. We must defeat it. Zinion´s herd was possessed by it, to their ruin. Do not allow it to take hold in your herd. If you fail, I will not be able to keep the others from declaring all out war.¨ Isfahel jerked his bow away from her grasp.

¨Perhaps with this evil on our side,¨ he said coldly, ¨we will stand a chance against your perverted powers.¨ He raised a hand, bowstrings trembled. ¨By our treaty, we grant you the right of passage OUT of the Forest.¨ The line of bows lowered. Apronia held his eyes fiercely. ¨That is all I can offer.¨ he grated, and the centaur herd melted into the trees.

[Prof. Algernon Moncrieff]

The centaurs let them leave. They do.

-end thread-