Chris had thought that after coming back in the hospital wing and getting insulted in front of the whole school, Umbridge will think twice before doing sothing new but next morning proved, like Chris, Umbridge didn't know when to quit. There were two new notices on all the boards around the school.
The first one was:
——— BY ORDER OF ———
The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts
Teachers are hereby banned from giving students any information that is not strictly related to the subjects they are paid to teach.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-six.
And the second one was;
——— BY ORDER OF ———
The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts
Students now can join the Inquisitorial squad under the supervision of the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts. Interested students will be given extra credit and career advice for their accomplishnts.
As expected, half of the Slytherins joined.
Jason ca to talk that morning when Chris was leaving for Herbology after breakfast. Ginny, Luna and Colin said they will wait outside the greenhouse and left. It was the first ti Jason and Chris were talking after the last hospital wing conflict.
"Er. . . listen, I'm — well, I am — sorry," Jason said.
"I'm sorry too," Chris said.
"Don't, it's my fault, I kinda blew up at you over a small thing," Jason sighed.
Chris was about to say that, "Quidditch definitely wasn't a small thing", but bit her lip.
Jason continued, "I missed you. Today, when I saw the notice and almost every one of classmates joined Umbridge, I realized she will ask them to spy on you and your group. I thought I should tell you. . . I don't want to see you expelled."
"I won't be expelled," said Chris. "Dumbledore will —"
"Dumbledore can't save you every ti," Jason said.
"But I can save myself, don't worry," Chris snapped.
Jason sighed.
"Can't we just —"
"You started it," said Chris flatly. "Do you know what happened with in this past few days? Do you know how upset I was? No, you don't. I care about you, Jason, but I think you should consider if you care about or not. I'm getting late for class, bye."
Chris didn't see Jason for the rest of the day. After lunch, she decided to take a walk around the castle, alone. Ginny and Colin didn't like it but Luna suggested it was a nice way to clear soone's head.
After walking a little bit Chris sat down at a bench just outside the Entrance Hall. The weather was nice but a little chilly. Wrapping her arms around her Chris sighed.
"Troubled?" said soone behind her.
Without realizing who it was Chris answered, "Very much troubled."
Then she looked back and jumped up. The new Divination teacher, the beautiful looking Centaur, Firenze stood there.
"Sorry — er — sir," said Chris standing straight. The most important thing Chris had learned about Centaurs, was that they don't like humans, who disrespect them. "I didn't realize —"
"Christina Norton," Firenze said, holding out a hand to Chris and surveyed her unblinkingly through those astonishingly blue eyes but did not smile.
"You know ?" Chris said surprised. Then quickly shook hands with him. She also noticed Firenze's eyes were very similar to hers.
"Yes, everyone in the forbidden forest does," said Firenze, inclining his white-blond head. "It was foretold that we would et."
"Oh!"
Chris looked away from his eyes and noticed that there was the shadow of a hoof-shaped bruise on Firenze's chest.
"My herd has banished ," said Firenze noticing Chris' gaze. "That is the sign of my betrayal to our kind."
"Betrayal?" Chris looked back at his face.
"Yes, I have agreed to work for Professor Dumbledore, which is a betrayal to them."
"But Dumbledore is the headmaster of Hogwarts," blurted out Chris. "Why would they —?
"Our kind doesn't think like that," said Firenze. "Any kind of relationship with humans is betrayal to us and Dumbledore is a human."
"Sorry to hear that," Chris said. "You had to leave your ho and friends just to help Dumbledore. That's hard."
"Dumbledore is a great man and wizard, he is not like others," said Firenze and to Chris' surprise, he smiled. "Sa can be said for you."
"?"
"Yes, not many wizards or witches love and respect every creature in this world, you are different."
"Yeah, the last Centaur I t said I shouldn't be here," said Chris absently.
"He did?" Firenze slowly asked. "Ronan doesn't get involved in human business but if he did say anything to you then you should consider it."
"Ronan?"
"The one t you. He had told us," replied Firenze.
"Thanks for the advice, sir," said Chris smiling.
"The war is coming, the situations will be worse than ever, people will seek guidance," Firenze looked into Chris' eyes. "So prepare yourself."
Chris stared at Firenze, unblinking. Finally, Firenze looked away at the forbidden forest.
"Christina Norton, you are a friend of Hagrid's, are you not?" said Firenze.
"Yes," Chris felt a little surprised at the sudden change of topic.
"Then give him a warning from . His attempt is not working. He would do better to abandon it."
"His attempt is not working?" Chris repeated blankly.
"And he would do better to abandon it," said Firenze, nodding. "I would warn Hagrid myself, but I am banished — it would be unwise for to go too near the forest now — Hagrid has troubles enough, without a centaurs' battle."
"But — what's Hagrid attempting to do?" said Chris confused.
Firenze looked at her impassively.
"Hagrid has recently rendered a great service," said Firenze, "and he has long since earned my respect for the care he shows all living creatures. I shall not betray his secret. But he must be brought to his senses. The attempt is not working. Tell him, Christina Norton. Good day to you."
And he strolled away. Chris watched his retreating figure for a long ti then looked back at Hagrid's hut and the forbidden forest.
"I knew sothing was up with him," Harry said as Chris told Ginny, Colin, Hermione, Ron and him about the talk with Firenze.
"But how are you going to tell him that?" said Colin. "All of our classes are watched by Umbridge."
"Yeah, ours too," said Hermione.
"But we got to tell him, it sounds serious," said Ginny.
"Do you think it's related to his injuries?" asked Harry.
"His injuries?" said Chris surprised.
"Yes, that day at Hogsade I saw him all wounded," said Harry.
"But we never saw anything big in class, did we?" asked Ginny.
"He must have used Chris' potion," said Colin.
"We need to et Hagrid before things go out of hands," Hermione said.
"Do you think it's another Dragon?" said Ron.
"It's better not," grimaced Hermione.
______________________________
To be continued. . .
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