@wolfstarmicrofic September 20 - prompt 20: Centaur [word count 716]
It had been the first thing James had said on the train that September 1st: the now-renown Marauders couldn’t go their whole second year at Hogwarts without setting foot in the Forbidden Forest. So there they were, one cold October night, sneaking through the trees, their wands lighting the path.
“Okay, we’ve seen it, can we go back now?” Peter whispered.
“Come on Pete, where’s your sense of adventure?” James asked.
“In my bed as I should be,” Peter mumbled. “And this path is too narrow.”
“There’s a clearing a bit ahead,” Remus said distractedly.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt the stare of his friends and froze. He had missed them so much over that first summer apart he was growing careless around them. No need for them to know the wolf’s nose could detect a place in a forest from miles away. No need for him to lose the only friends he had ever had once they found out he was a monster.
“Remus darling,” James smirked. “Have you been exploring the Forest without us?”
“Of course not, I’m from Wales, I know about forests,” Remus answered quickly. “Come on, let’s go.”
He sat out again, looking away from Sirius who was detailing him with a piercing gaze. And after a couple of minutes, there it was, the beautiful clearing with a glorious view of the starry sky, the moon reflecting itself in the pond. Beautiful, and peaceful and clearly occupied by the figure leaning over the pond.
“It’s a Centaur!” James whispered way too loud.
Remus cringed as the Centaur looked up at them.
“That I am, James Fleamont Potter,” he smiled benevolently.
“You know my name?”
“My people have been blessed with the gifts of Prophecy and Intuition so yes, I know all your names. Mine is Firenze.”
“Like the Italian town?” Sirius blurted out, and Remus cringed even more.
“Who knows, Sirius Orion Black,” Firenze smiled. “Maybe the town is named after me. Both Past and Future are so complicated for you humans after all.”
“So you could tell us our future?” Peter asked.
“I’m so sorry, sir,” Remus clamped his hand on Peter’s mouth. “We’ll leave you be, sorry again for bothering you.”
“You’re not bothering me, Remus John Lupin,” Firenze chuckled, then he turned to Peter. “I am not allowed to tell you your future, Peter Edmund Pettigrew, but I could offer you a sentence to accompany you through life. It may help you, or not, you may never know its significance or realise it too late. Would you like that?”
As the others nodded, Remus shook his head vigorously. However vague, he didn’t want any sentence telling him how shitty his life would be.
“Sirius Orion Black,” Firenze fixed his gaze on Sirius. “Remember that the Walpurgisnacht won’t devour the heart in the end, nor will it engulf the light.”
Sirius shivered, his hand reaching out to clutch Remus’s as the Centaur turned to Peter.
“Peter Edmund Pettigrew. Remember that fear can save as well as destroy, as the tiniest animal like the termite can destroy a whole wooden house.”
Peter frowned and Firenze turned to James, who was almost bouncing with excitement.
“James Fleamont Potter. Always remember to get up with your hands full,” the Centaur seemed to linger on James’s confused face, then gracefully inclined his head. “And now I shall bid you good night, young humans.”
As Remus made to follow his friends away from the clearing, he turned around one last time to look back at the Centaur.
“Remus John Lupin,” Firenze smiled.
“I don’t want to know my future.”
“I know. I just want you to know you will always be welcome under these trees, despite what you think.”
Remus swallowed, looking deep into those clear eyes.
“You… You know?” his voice was strangled.
“We always know our own. You have found some good friends, Remus John Lupin, cherish them. And remember that even now, the star always needs the moon.”
Feeling his cheeks heat up, Remus nodded and ran after the others. When he had caught up with them, Sirius slid his hand in his again.
“You were limping the other day, I don’t want you to fall,” he said.
“Thank you,” Remus answered, his heart beating faster.
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