Chapter 742 - Frost Moon Ⅸ

While the elderly shaman, Aldonius conversed with Ronan inside the tent, Firenze quietly chatted with Rowan, while Nadira happily encircled her protector. From a nearby distance, the centaur chief, Magorian alertly watched over them lest anything occur on his watch. With Firenze declared a true seer by the guardian of Hogwarts, and the successor to the Shaman, he was the highest valued member within the tribe only second to the chieftain and shaman of the tribe.

After some time, a handsome red-headed centaur with a beard emerged from the shaman's tent, Ronan. He possessed a well-toned upper body with a gleaming c.h.e.s.tnut horse body with a long, well-groomed reddish tail. Trotting over to his charge, he says, "Child of the Founders, I have been instructed by the Shaman to escort you back to Hogwarts."

Nadira unhappy let's go of Rowan to allow her to get up from the grassy ground. "Thank you," Rowan said as she barely stifled a m.o.a.n as she climbed to her feet. She almost whimpered out loud at seeing Ronan bend down onto his knees for her to climb onto his back. With a resigned expression, Rowan climbs onto Ronan's back even though her leg and b.u.t.t.o.c.k.s are already screaming in agony.

Firenze's sapphire blue-colored eyes glitter like the brightest of gems as he says, "I am certain that we will see each other soon enough, Rowan Prince."

"Well, I would truly not mind," Rowan lighthearted answered, "I've grown rather fond of you, Firenze."

Firenze lets out a laugh as Nadira impatiently twirls in the air and murmurs in English, "Let us depart," before darting forward.

"Naturally, Guardian," Ronan obediently answered before galloping forward without so much as a goodbye to the shaman or chieftain.

Rowan, on the other hand, pales drastically in pain as they rushed forward. With ease, they traversed the large clearing, before exiting through the narrow pathway and past the thorny wall of bushes. Ronan confidently trotted through the Forbidden Forest with Nadira darting overhead between trees like some pale ghost.

Finally, the Forbidden Forest begins to thin as they reach the edge of the Forbidden Forest as Rowan lets out a sigh of relief. Nadira comes to a halt at the edge of the Forbidden Forest and flicks her tongue at them. "I must return to the lake now, Protector," Nadira softly said, before her serpent sapphire-colored eyes turned towards the centaur.

"Ronan, remember your vows," Nadira sternly said with her forked tongue flickering in stern warning.

"The tribe will guard your existence with our very lives, Guardian," Ronan solemnly answered.

"As it should be," Nadira hissed before turning invisible and darting towards the lake. A loud crackling sound is heard as Nadira with ease breaks through the ice, before plunging into inky, icy depths of the lake.

Turning away, Ronan trots forward carefully with his charge on his back, Rowan. With ease, they cross the frozen grounds until they reach the entrance of the castle. Hooves echo across the cobbled stone road, before slowing to a halt. With a painful grunt, Rowan slides off the c.h.e.s.tnut horse quarters of Ronan.

Hobbling forward, Rowan turns and stops at the front doors. "Will you speak to Professor Dumbledore?" She asked.

"I have been requested by the shaman to do so this very night," Ronan quietly replied hiding his disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e at the Shaman's orders. He did not possess any interest in interacting with magical humans, unlike Firenze. But he would not dare disobey a direct order from the Shaman, and the Shaman had said that it was for the protection of their tribe. And he would be willing to do anything to protect his tribe.

"I thought as much," Rowan quietly said as she pulled out her wand from her robes. "Climbing up to the Headmaster's office may not be a feasible option," she drily murmured, before saying, "Expecto Patronum!"

A bright silver mist erupts from the tip of Rowan's wand to form a silvery Thestral flapping its wings. The Thestral flaps its wings eagerly before darting into the night sky towards the Headmaster's tower. The glowing Thestral vanishes through the castle to its immediate destination.

Letting out a tired sigh, Rowan turns to face Ronan. "I don't suppose you could omit my visit the tribe would you, Ronan? I would prefer to have detention for being out and wandering at this late hour than having to explain myself to the Headmaster."

"The Shaman instructed as much," Ronan calmly answered, before turning his head to gaze up the starry night.

Believing the centaur has nothing more to say, Rowan is about to turn away when she clearly hears Ronan say, "The Frost Moon is extraordinarily bright tonight."

"You don't say?" Rowan drily replied as she observed the centaur out of the corner of her eye.

"Yes," Ronan sincerely replied lowering his gaze to meet that of the young witch. "many a creature prepares for the harsh winter to come," he solemnly said.

Rowan's eyes reflexively narrow at Ronan, but before she can speak, she hears loud footsteps coming from inside the castle. Whirling her head about, she stares intently at the door behind her. Dumbledore should not have been able to traverse the castle, so quickly. Then again, she was certain that Dumbledore possessed the ability to fly and turn invisible as well. She highly suspected that Dumbledore owned a gemstone belonging to a variant of Great Horned Serpents like that of the Great Mother Snake and Nadira.

"Out for a late-night stroll, Rowan?" Dumbledore asked as he studied his apprentice.

"Yes, I went to visit Hagrid, and then I decided to take a nighttime stroll," Rowan carefully worded telling absolutely no lies. "I met Ronan here on my journey."

"Is that so?" Dumbledore mused out loud turning to stare at the handsome red-haired centaur with a red beard.

"I have been sent to speak to the Headmaster of Hogwarts by the Shaman," Ronan steadfastly answered.

Dumbledore's eyes flicker intently for a moment at Ronan but find no lies there. Turning towards Rowan, he says, "It is late, and you should already be in bed."

Rowan wasn't about to push her luck and hurried forward painfully with a grimace. She'd teleport directly back to her dorm, but knowing Severus, he was probably still waiting up for her return. She'd have no choice but to make her way the old-fashioned way to enter through the Slytherin common room entrance.

With Rowan gone and out of sight, Albus peers pensively at the centaur before him. He'd had more than a few dealings with the centaurs of the Forbidden Forest. They were wild and violent in a manner, but they were incredibly kind and sincere in another. A constant paradox, but were not witches and wizards very much the same?

Albus had at long last finished composing the letter of a job offer for the position of Divination and was just about ready to retire to his bed. He'd plainly put the incident out of mind so overjoyed with his relinking with Aberforth, and the invitation to burning the traditional yule log. It wasn't until the board of Hogwarts letter arrived pointedly asking if he'd yet found a replacement for Professor Zephyros. It was a bit late, yes, but he was certain that Sybill Trelawney would accept the post. Thankfully, he'd not meet with the board until tomorrow tonight!

Pulling himself away from his inner musing, Albus says, "Pardon my mind's wandering, it is late, and a Headmaster's duties never seem to be done. What might the Headmaster of Hogwarts do for the tribe that dwells within the Forbidden Forest?"

"The Shaman has seen a sign in the heavens," Ronan straightforwardly declared. "Our tribe has a part to play and I, Ronan of the tribe have been sent to offer my services to the Headmaster of Hogwarts. There is a Divination position open and I have been ordered to request to be one of the candidates for the position."

"Hmm," Albus hummed contemplatively to himself as he gently tugged on his long silvery beard.

"The Shaman is aware that another has also been asked for the position and I am not to supplant them for I am merely a secondary option," Ronan firmly stated.

"Excellent," Albus said as he clapped his long fingers together with a beaming smile. "I was most worried about Miss Trelawney being overwhelmed with the influx of students and the start of the school term already in progress. We shall split the classes in two and permit both of you to teach. And the wages will be the same as a starting professor. Are there any requests on your part, young centaur?" He carefully had not called the young centaur a man lest Ronan takes offense.

"I request to be permitted to retire to the tribe at the end of each day," Ronan asked with a rather determined expression. And as for wizarding money, the tribe did not have much use for it, but it had its usages now and again.

"That will not be an impediment at all, Ronan," Albus frankly answered. "I shall ensure that a classroom on the first floor is set up for your usage." That and climbing up and down the castle stairs may be a difficult obstacle for the rather large centaur.

Ronan nodded his head in acceptance as Albus continued, "Well if there are no further impediments, I shall have the Divination professors commence in two weeks!"

"That is acceptable, Headmaster of Hogwarts," Ronan said, before whirling away without so much as a goodbye. The galloping centaur quickly fades away across the grounds as he darts back towards the Forbidden Forest.

Tugging on his beard thoughtfully, Albus closes the castle front doors. He'd been rather worried about Miss Trelawney as despite her talents, she was a rather nervous young witch. With a fellow teacher to aid her, Miss Trelawney should feel more confident in her own teachings. Still, he was certain that the Board of Hogwarts would not approve the hiring of a centaur.

Young Lucius Malfoy was the Chairman of the Board, but Albus was not Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot for naught. Albus knew exactly when to pick his battles and use his political power when needed. Ronan of the centaurs would be hired in conjunction with Sybill Trelawney. And that would be that.