Chapter 98: The Centaur

The Forbidden Forest was dark and eerily silent. Moonlight filtered down through the branches above like shattered crystal, scattering silver-white fragments across the fallen leaves below.

After walking for a short while, Kyle began to notice that the surroundings felt strangely familiar. Just a few yards away, a group of Mooncalves gazed at them with wide, curious eyes, peeking through the trees.

At that moment, Hagrid commented, "Besides the Unicorn cub, it seems there are far fewer Mooncalves here as well."

Kyle's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a calm expression as he asked casually, "Are we searching for them tonight, too?"

"No, no need," Hagrid replied, shaking his head. "The other Mooncalves don't seem to be actin' differently. I reckon they've probably just wandered south to the woodlands where the larger herd roams."

"That's… good to know," Kyle murmured, feeling relieved as he followed Hagrid deeper into the forest. Before moving on, he discreetly tossed a handful of Dittany leaves near the Mooncalves, a small snack to tide them over.

Hagrid noticed but was too preoccupied with the missing Unicorn to question it, assuming Kyle had simply grown the Dittany himself.

As they continued their search, Hagrid's expression grew more anxious with each step. Kyle noticed and, after a moment's thought, asked, "Could another creature have taken the Unicorn cub?"

"No way," Hagrid said firmly. "Unicorns are fiercely protective of their young, and they're powerful magical creatures. Even a Dragon wouldn't be able to snatch a cub without some kind of trickery."

They wove through a patch of moss-covered ground, with mushrooms sprouting around their feet, until they came upon a winding stream.

"Ow-oooh…" Fang suddenly howled.

The loud bark pierced the quiet of the Forbidden Forest, echoing through the trees.

"Fang, did yeh find somethin'?" Hagrid hurried over, fitting an arrow into his crossbow and scanning the area with a keen eye.

Fang was pawing at a branch nearby, where a small, palm-sized piece of black fabric was snagged.

"Well done, Fang, well done!" Hagrid exclaimed, grabbing the rag. He rubbed it between his fingers, then held it up to his nose, inhaling deeply.

"It's rough... and there's a distinct smell," Hagrid muttered, almost to himself. "This means someone from outside's been in the Forbidden Forest."

"Isn't it just an ordinary rag?" Kyle asked, frowning.

"No," Hagrid replied confidently. "This cloth's made from a special kind o' rattan. It's tough, but uncomfortable to wear. Only certain folks wear this sort of material—Aurors who go on long assignments, and dragon keepers mostly. That's 'cause it's durable and can handle rough conditions."

This scrap of cloth was their first solid clue. Hagrid encouraged Fang to track the scent, but after sniffing around and circling a bit, Fang simply returned to his original spot, tail drooping.

Hagrid's face fell slightly, but he straightened up and nodded for them to keep going.

They continued their path along the stream, both carefully scanning the surroundings for further signs of the intruder.

Suddenly, a dark shadow flitted through the trees.

"Who's there!" Hagrid shouted, raising his giant crossbow protectively in front of Kyle. "Come out, I can see you."

A soft neigh echoed through the clearing, accompanied by the sound of hooves. Emerging from the shadows was a creature that was half-human, half-horse. From the waist up, he had a human torso, with red hair and a beard, while his lower half was that of a reddish-brown horse, with a long red tail.

"Oh, it's you, Ronan," Hagrid said, relaxing. "Are you all right?"

He stepped forward to shake the centaur's hand.

"Good evening, Hagrid," Ronan greeted in a low, mournful voice. "You almost shot me with an arrow."

"Had to be sure, Ronan," Hagrid replied, patting the quiver slung over his shoulder. "Got a young wizard with me tonight, so I'm just being extra careful. Ah, this here is Kyle Chopper, one of Hogwarts' students."

Then, turning to Kyle, he introduced, "And this is Ronan, a centaur."

Kyle's interest waned somewhat upon seeing that the centaur was male, but he nodded politely and said, "Hello."

Ronan studied Kyle, then placed an arm around his shoulder, his front legs bending slightly. "Good evening, young one. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Kyle felt slightly perplexed. There was something odd about this centaur; he seemed unusually formal. Centaurs were known for their pride, and they rarely showed much regard for strangers, typically offering a brief nod at best. A bow—legs bending like this—was usually reserved for someone of Dumbledore's stature.

"Ronan, I'm glad we ran into you," Hagrid said, putting his crossbow away. "An unicorn's cub has gone missing. Have you seen anything unusual?"

Ronan didn't respond right away, his eyes fixed on the night sky.

"Don't worry," he finally said. "Mars is behaving as it always do."

"Right…," Hagrid muttered, glancing up at the sky with little interest. "But Ronan, did you see anything down here? Maybe strangers, or anything out of place?"

"You're acting strangely," Ronan observed, looking at Hagrid with mild confusion.

"I'm perfectly fine!" Hagrid replied, growing a bit impatient. "I just need to know if you saw anything unusual."

Ronan paused, then glanced at them both. "Follow me."

He led them through a thicket of low-growing bushes. Hagrid and Kyle hurried after him, their steps muffled on the thick forest floor. Soon, they came to a halt before a massive, ancient tree, but Ronan was gone.

"Odd, he brought us here and then just vanished," Hagrid murmured, looking around. "Centaurs know a lot more than they let on, but they rarely share what they know. Most of the time, they're only interested in whatever's happening up by the moon."

Just then, Fang bolted forward, barking at something at the base of the tree.

"Found something already?" Hagrid asked, moving quickly to join Fang with Kyle close behind.

There, at the tree's base, was a large hollow, almost as if a chunk had been bitten out of the trunk. The edges of the hollow were uneven and showed signs of corrosion.

Hagrid knelt beside it, an unsettled look crossing his face. "This is dark magic, no doubt about it."

Kyle, unable to see the hollow from his angle, decided to circle around the massive tree. It was nearly five meters in diameter, an impressive size even by the standards of the Forbidden Forest. Compared to it, the surrounding plants seemed stunted and starved, dwarfed by its imposing presence.