Chapter 2 Through the Forest

Harry, Sirius flew over the short span of the ocean that was between their little island and Brazil. It took the better part of the day to get to the eastern most tip of the Amazon. Then they had to find a place to land that wasn't populated. Harry asked Sirius where they were and he replied that he had no idea. So when they found an opening to the forest that had no people around, they landed.

Buckbeak didn't run off this time, he eyed the small monkeys he could see chattering and jumping around the broad-leafed trees. The hippogriff pawed the ground, like he was going to take off any minute and catch one of the annoying beasts. He snapped his beak in irritation and continued to stand at the ready.

"It looks dark in there," Harry said warily as he put his hand on Buckbeak's neck, hoping the hippogriff didn't take off, "and there appears to be billions of animals." He jumped when one of the little monkeys screamed at him and threw some half eaten fruit at his head. "I don't think they like us much," he added, ducking the fruit.

Sirius chuckled and whipped out his wand. "No, I don't expect they do. Here let's put some of the repellant spells on, that might stop them from being all excited." He waved his wand over Harry and cast a notice-me-not charm and an insect repelling charm. He thought a moment and cast a cooling charm, a scent charm and a silence spell on the boy's feet.

The monkeys —not seeing their smallest target anymore— started to throw things at Buckbeak, making the hippogriff screech in anger and flap his wings in agitation, so Sirius quickly cast the charms on the large creature, not wanting him to run from them. He also added a tracking charm to both of them. He then turned his wand on himself and put the same charms on.

Now the monkeys found other things to do.

"Thanks for that," Harry said, with a sigh of relief. "Is it going to keep us from being eaten?" He eyed a large shadow that was moving in the tree line, not quite making out what it was.

"It should, but we'll be vigilant just in case. Well, no time like the present," Sirius said, making sure he had his extended bag on his belt. Lifting his wand and nodding at Harry to do the same, he set off into the dense trees.

"Wait, we have to call Dobby," the teen said, putting his hand on Sirius's sleeve.

"Right, you're his Master give him a call."

"Dobby."

"The Great Harry Potter is ready for Dobby?" the little elf asked as he popped to their side. "Ohh, it is being dark in there," Dobby said echoing Harry's earlier comment. Dobby now sported children's hiking clothes, khaki pants and an adventurer's shirt, both had at least five pockets each. He wore a jungle hat that had a net over his face and hiking boots made of dragonhide, which looked weird on his overly thin feet. It had taken Sirius three tries to get those boots comfortable enough for the little elf.

Sirius and Harry were dressed similar; both went without robes, thinking they would be encumbering. Their hats didn't have nets, since they had the spells. Harry's glasses were spelled to keep the humidity from fogging them up. They had debated about getting him contacts, but settled on making the glasses shade in the sun and clear in the dark.

"Our eyes will adjust," Sirius waved it away. "Do I have to spell you, Dobby, or can you do it yourself?"

"Dobby is good at not being noticed," Dobby said with a nodding of his head and then snapped his fingers and the noise that had started up again quieted. "The buggies will not bother Dobby," he added as he adjusted his net.

"Great! Let's go," the dogman said once more starting for the trees.

There was a lot of racket, with monkeys playing and fighting, insects of all kinds chittering and chirping, birds of many colors cawing and singing. It was midmorning when they landed, but it looked like dusk in the jungle. Sirius waited until his eyes adjusted, putting his hand on Harry's shoulder so he would do the same. Soon enough he could see better, so he started west.

They trudged along a small trail, it looked like someone had been here before, since the vines were cleared and the dirt was patted down. Harry kept looking around him, tripping over the trees' roots often. The forest was dark and the trees were plentiful and varied. Vines crept everywhere, choking trees and hanging off branches, making the whole forest creepy, yet awe inspiring.

There was a large swamp off to the left of the trail; Harry could hear the mosquitos, other bugs and the rumbling of the crocodiles. He hoped they passed that soon. He gazed upward, wondering where the sun was. He could see streaks of light as the sun tried to break the impenetrable canopy created by so many trees.

Monkeys swung from tree to tree, eating, resting and playing. The young wizard watched as they groomed one another, picking through the fur and eating the bugs they found. He grimaced at that, but figured it was better than being infested. The little critters kept glancing around like they sensed a predator, but couldn't locate it. Sometimes when the humans got too close to them they'd screech and climb further up the trees, mums keeping the babies on their backs. After the adventurers passed they would quiet down and go about their business.

The colorful birds flew around the tops of the trees. Every now and then they would descend and capture something to eat, mostly insects and fruit. Harry watched them with a sad smile; he had written Hermione, via Dobby, and asked her to look after Hedwig until they found what they were looking for. Now, he missed his faithful owl.

Harry turned back to his godfather, who had his wand out and was using a cutting charm to get through some of the low hanging vines and branches. During their time on the island, Sirius had taught Harry many things, Diffindo (the cutting charm), Episkey (the healing spell), and many more spells that they would need on their hike. The older man made sure Harry knew what potion to use if either one of them got bit by a snake or poisoned by insects or frogs. There were also potions for the many diseases that were abundant in the rainforest. They had taken the potions equivalent of the inoculations before they set off, but it never hurts to be careful.

Buckbeak went on his own, crashing through the forest, somewhere off to their right, looking for something to eat. With the charms on him small creatures didn't stand a chance. The trees were too close together for the hippogriff to fly and Harry hoped that he could find something to eat, possibly one of the hundreds of snakes he could hear hissing in the foliage, but there were too many for him to hear them clearly.

Dobby was almost jogging to keep up with the two larger humans, but he didn't seem winded so Harry gave him a wink and the little guy smiled.

They walked on for hours, until Harry said, "Sirius stop! I'm hungry, tired and I need the loo."

The older man stopped, looked at his godson and the panting elf and nodded. "Dobby, see what we have to eat that will give us energy. We still have a while to go," he said, after casting a point-me spell to find water, "and I want to find a clear space to set up the tent, hopefully near a creek and away from the swamp. It makes putting up wards easier."

The two smaller hikers collapsed. Dobby was sorting through his bag for anything that was ready made. He came upon an odd dish that had lots of rice, vegetables and beans. There didn't seem to be any meat in it, but the beans would do for protein. He pulled out the meals and with a snap of his fingers, took them out of stasis and heated them. He then handed one to his Master and then the other to the dogfather, leaving the last for him.

They ate in silence, with only the scraping of utensils on plates. When the meal was done Sirius banished the dirty dishes, since they had no sink and they didn't want to leave food waste in the jungle.

Suddenly the monkeys, birds and other animals got quiet.

"Quickly, up a tree," Sirius suddenly ordered.

They all scampered up a tree, well Dobby popped. Harry looked down, but didn't see anything. However, he could feel it. It was cold, like a Dementor, but not quite as bad. He got the memory of his mum, but it was only a whisper. He could feel his elation about his godfather start slipping out of his mind. He shook his head to clear it and heard something drew across the path they were just cutting, like robes being dragged through leaves.

Now, Harry could see the creature, it looked like a small version of a Dementor, with a ragged cloak and bony hands.

The being looked around the freshly cut vines and then to the trees.

Harry held his breath and prayed the charms would work; keeping wand in his hand, ready to cast the Patronus.

With a rattling noise coming from under the hood the thing, turned and floated to a nearby tree. It seemed to be sniffing the air.

"Damn," Sirius said in a quivering voice, from Harry's right. "I was hoping we wouldn't run into one of them."

"What is it?" Harry said quietly, looking away from the creature and to his godfather, who also had his wand at the ready, but his hands were shaky. This thing must remind the man of his time in Azkaban. Harry looked down but didn't see anything.

"It's a Bugalard," the dogman answered just as quietly. "They're cousins, of sorts, of the Dementors, only not as powerful. They only feed on small animals, like the monkeys." He waved his free hand at the canopy. "They don't actually devour souls, like their cousins, but they do feed on happy memories and they should be avoided at all costs, because they can still make you relive your worst memory. If I remember your story about the train correctly and what I saw at the game that makes you pass out. Not a good thing to happen in a jungle that has bugs that will eat you alive if you sit still long enough. Your Patronus should work to keep them away if they swarm." He played off his own fear of the demons, not wanting his godson to think him weak.

"Should I cast it?" the green-eyed boy asked, lifting his wand, the words on his lips.

"Nay, it's gone. Don't you feel it?" his godfather replied, jumping down from the tree, grateful that his knees didn't give.

Harry did feel better; the cold that had cooled his hot skin was gone. The monkeys and the birds were making their noises again. "Why did you have us climb the trees, can't they fly? And how many other magical predators will we run into?" he asked as he joined his godfather. It had been Sirius's job to look that up, while Harry's was to learn the spells they would need.

"To your first question, I had no idea what was coming, but if the animals stop their noises, get up a tree and have your wand ready. Bugalard only fly when they spot something to eat." He gave a quivering smile, trying to be reassuring, but he was still shaking off the effects of the Bugalard; it wasn't that long ago he almost had his soul sucked out. He wasn't even sure if he could cast a Patronus, something he'd have to work on at night. Thank Merlin, Harry could.

He shook off the thought and continued. "As to you second question, not many, there isn't much game for larger ones. The ones we'll run into are easy enough to frighten off or kill, but it is always best to let them pass. There are a few large cats and tons of snakes, both magical and non. There's also some poisonous insects and reptiles, let's not forget the crocks. But we'll do our best to avoid them, mostly because you're still untrained. You did well," Sirius said quickly at the affronted look, "but you're still learning. We'll practice an hour or so each night until you can do the spells in your sleep."

Harry shrugged his shoulder and went into the trees. He kept his senses open and stayed close to his companions. His business was done quickly, thanking Merlin he was a boy, and then, after a quick cleansing spell, he came back to where they had eaten. "I'm ready when you are, but do you think you can slow down a bit. Dobby had a hard time keeping up and I don't want to leave him behind."

"Dobby, do you think it would be better if you wait on the island during the day and we'll call you when it's time to eat or we stop for the night?" Sirius asked the tired looking house elf.

"Dobby is thinking that would be fors the best, sir," Dobby answered with a weary nod of his head. He really wanted to be with his Master, but house elves were not walkers.

"Harry, you have to tell him," the older man said.

"Dobby, why don't you stay on the island until we call you? If someone starts to break down the wards, hide and watch. If they get through come and let us know," Harry suggested, putting his hand on his little friends shoulder. "Don't put yourself in danger."

"The Great Harry Potter is too kind to Dobby," the emotional elf said with tears forming in his eyes, both grateful and saddened. Grateful for such a kind Master and saddened that he wasn't as helpful as he wanted to be. "Dobby wills be doing what the Great Harry Potter has been ordering." And with that he popped away.

After the little guy left, the two adventurers started back into the trees. Sirius cast a point-me spell to make sure they were going in the right direction. Hacking away the vines and branches they trudged on for a few more hours. Sirius wasn't finding a good place to stop for the night, but it was getting too dark to see. Since they had three wands, the older man cast a Lumos with his left hand and continued creating a trail with his right.

Harry stayed as close as he could to his godfather, his wand was also lit. If he thought the noises in the day were weird it was nothing to the chaos in the night. He couldn't identify any of the creatures roaming the canopy with their reflective eyes. Some were jumping, others were slithering, and still others were prowling the trees. The hissing confirmed there were snakes roaming just above them. He jerked when he heard the roar of a large cat somewhere off to his left.

"Sirius, we have to stop soon," Harry whispered, a bit frightened, only ever having been in the Forbidden Forest before, which was nothing like this. He was remembering all the horror stories he had heard on the telly about people being eaten by large cats and bears. He knew there were no bears here, but still, the darker it got the spookier it got. He hoped that he would get used to this, he hated being such a wuss. He was thirteen, damn it, and he faced Voldemort many times and drove him off. He faced off a hundred Dementors and a Basilisk, what was it about this jungle that made him so fearful?

"Right, I hear water up ahead, so let's make it there and we'll call it quits for the night," the older man said, marching onward.

Now that he was paying attention Harry could also hear the sound of running water and it did sound close by. So he followed by the light of his wand.

It only took a few more minutes and the tree line broke. The clearing wasn't large, but it was big enough for the small tent they had. Harry couldn't see the water, but he could hear the snakes in it. They were making plans to eat the interlopers, making Harry shiver and thankful that they had wards. The notice-me-not charms must be wearing off, if the snakes could see and hear them. It would explain why the monkeys started following them, right before night fell. He'd have to warn Sirius about that later.

Sirius banished the leaves and rocks that littered the ground, and formed a small circle. He then reached into the bag and called up the pup tent. They had reasoned the smaller the tent the less noticeable they'd be. Plus, it would take less magic to erect the wards, making them tighter and stronger.

Setting up camp was easy, since the tent was a wizarding one and had a kitchen and bath there was no need for a campfire or to get water. Once they got it raised, Sirius put up so many wards that Harry couldn't identify them all. He did note the animal and reptile wards and was thankful for them. An insect ward was also added.

Once the wards were up, they crawled into the tent. The inside, of course, was larger than the outside. There were two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen/dining room and a small living area. The furniture was what could be found in a normal home. There were two comfy chairs and a small loveseat in the living area. The bedrooms hosted double beds and the tiny dining room had a small wooden table with three chairs. The kitchen had a wizarding stove, a counter and a sink. There was a cold box, but Dobby kept all the food in his bag.

"Since I'm the oldest, I call dibs on the shower," Sirius said, heading toward the bathroom.

"Whatever," Harry replied, dropping into one of the comfy chairs. "Dobby," he called.

"The Great Harry Potter is calling Dobby?" Dobby asked when he popped in.

"Yeah, can you make us some dinner? Something hearty, we're beat and need replenishing," Harry asked, running a hand tiredly down his face.

"Dobby can be doing that," the little elf said and popped to the kitchen and started to putter around.

Harry leaned back in the chair and listened to the noises coming from outside. He truly hoped that all those wards kept out the snakes and insects. Not that he didn't trust his godfather it was just that they didn't know everything that dwelled in the forest. Thinking about all the things he saw today and the wild beauty of the rainforest, he closed his eyes for a moment. He was nudged awake a few seconds later by a clean Sirius, who was dressed in pajama pants and a T-shirt.

"Go and get washed up, Harry. Then we can eat that wonderful smelling dinner your elf is cooking." He handed the tired teen some nightclothes.

"Yeah," Harry said as he grudgingly got out of the chair and headed to the shower.

After a nice hot shower that did wonders for his sore muscles, he went to the dining area and sat in the only available seat. "This smells wonderful, Dobby. What is it?" he said looking at his plate.

"It is being called, vatapá, it is being made from bread, shrimp, coconut milk, peanuts and palm oil. Dobby is having to be mashing it in to a paste and putting it on breads. It is being something new that Dobby thought the Great Harry Potter would likes to be trying," Dobby said, shooting hopeful looks at his dark-haired young Master. "Dobby is also thinking that the Great Harry Potter and his Paddy would be liking many vegetables and fruits."

"It looks and smells great, Dobby. I'm sure we'll like it," Harry said, taking a bite of the food and rolling his eyes in pleasure as the flavor exploded on his tongue. "This is brilliant," he praised, making Dobby beam with pride.

They set about devouring the meal, once again paying more attention to their food than conversation. Once they were done eating Sirius and Harry settled into the chairs, while Dobby cleaned the kitchen.

"You did well today, pup," Sirius said seriously, reaching over and ruffling the boy's hair.

"What did you call me?" Harry asked with a raise of his eyebrow.

"Well, ummm, that's what I used to call you when you were a baby," the older man said in a sheepish voice, rubbing the back of his head. "You know, since I'm a dog and all." He shrugged his shoulder as if it was a given and looked through his still damp bangs at the younger man.

"I suppose I can get used to it," Harry conceded, not really offended. He wanted his godfather to feel comfortable around him. The man was still recovering from Azkaban and this wasn't a huge thing. If Sirius wanted to call him pup, he'd let him.

"Thanks," Sirius said with a beaming smile, once more ruffling the dark-haired boy's head.

"Leave off, will ya," Harry snapped, batting the hand away.

"Right, so, you already told me about your first and second year at Hogwarts and I'm still peeved at Dumbledore for all that shite he let happen. Did anything besides me and the Dementors happen in last year?" the dogman asked settling into his chair.

"Well, I told you about the Dementors and how they affected me. What I didn't tell you is what I hear when they're around, which is probably the reason I pass out," Harry said, settling in his chair as well. So he told his godfather about hearing his dad yell for his mum to take him and run, and then about Voldemort coming into the nursery and his mum pleading for him to be spared. Then the high pitched laugh the green light and then darkness. "It's the only memory I have of my parents." His eyes teared up and he angrily wiped them away. He was too old to cry.

"That's bloody awful," Sirius rasped. His eyes also filled with wetness.

"Well, you caused quite a stir when you sent me the Firebolt," Harry said, trying to lighten the mood.

"How so?" Sirius asked, taking the change in subject.

"Hermione and Ron got into a huge fight over it. Hermione knew it was from you, but thought it was cursed to kill me, so she went and told McGonagall, who took it away. This caused me and Ron to ignore her for weeks," the green-eyed teen explained. "Now that I look back on it, she probably did the right thing," he added thoughtfully.

"Yeah, she did," Sirius said after a moment's thought. "Sorry, I caused trouble, I wasn't really thinking clearly at the time. When I saw your broom get destroyed by the Whomping Willow, I just acted on impulse."

Harry waved it away and said, "I understand. Still, I'd better apologize to Hermione." He'd write her a letter in the morning before they set out.

The two adventurers and one house elf talked for about an hour more, until Harry let out a huge yawn that made his jaw pop.

"To bed with you," Sirius ordered, standing and hauling the teen to his feet. He then nudged the weary young man to a bedroom. "We'll go over a few spells in the morning."

Harry stumbled into the door, then made it to the bed and collapsed. He slept through the night without any disturbance. When he woke, he called Dobby to have him get some of his clothes from Sirius. Dobby popped away and was back in minutes. Changing from his nightclothes into some comfortable jeans and a T-shirt he left the room and looked for his godfather.

Sirius was sitting in one of the chairs reading a book. Dobby was serving up a breakfast of pancakes, sausage and fruit. Harry tapped his godfather's shoulder as he passed and said, "Breakfast."

The man nodded, put his book away and went to the table. They ate and chatted about nonessential things. When they were done, Sirius went to the living area and pushed the furniture to the walls. "This really isn't big enough, but it'll have to do. We're going to go over some of the spells now. Then we'll set out," he explained at the confused look from the teen.

"Oh, right," Harry said, rubbing the back of his head at the reminder.

So they practiced the severing charm and the healing charm. Then Sirius started teaching his godson a few banishing charms. They worked for an hour and Sirius declared it was time.

"Let me write a quick note to Hermione," Harry said, holding out his hand for paper and pen. "Dobby, can you take it to her?"

"Dobby can do."

Sirius handed him the pen and paper and Harry jotted off a quick note of apology, folded it and handed it to Dobby.

Dobby took the note, put it in one of his many pockets and popped away, stating he had work to do, which confused the two wizards.

"Sirius," Harry said, after they broke camp and removed the wards, "I think the charms you put on us yesterday have worn off. I noticed the monkeys and the snakes following us right before we stopped."

"Really? Damn, I must not be as strong as I was before prison," the man swore, then recast the charms.

"You'll get there," Harry said, patting the man on the shoulder. He had faith in that. "Hey, have you seen or heard Buckbeak?"

The older man looked around as if the hippogriff was standing where he could be seen. "Now that you mention it, no, I haven't. I hope he's okay," Sirius answered, still looking to the trees. He cast the spell to activate the tracking charm. When he noticed the hippogriff was to the west and still near, he shrugged and said, "I'm sure he'll catch up, if he wants to. Well, best be off." And he headed to the forest, still going west.

Harry followed along; going over the spells he learned this morning and once again looking at the beauty of the rainforest. They trudged along for hours with nothing happening. They seemed to be following the small creek, which was swarming with insects and a few snakes.

Suddenly there was an open path in front of them, which made Sirius wary. He stopped Harry from going further and had him call Dobby. When the little guy popped in Sirius asked, "Dobby, can you scout up ahead and see if there are human or other sentient beings?"

Dobby looked to Harry, who gave a nod, causing the house elf to smile and pop away. He came back a few minutes later. "There is being a small village ups ahead. There is being abouts fifty peoples in this village, sir," he reported, bouncing on the balls of his feet at a job well done.

"Can you tell if they are magical?" Sirius asked, not really wanting to deal with the natives.

"They is being muggles, sir," Dobby answered.

"Great! We'll just go around them. Thanks, Dobby," the older man said with a grateful smile.

So the two humans added a muggle repelling charm and ventured northwest, going around the tiny village. Harry caught a glance at one of the natives and noted that he wore sturdy clothes, like the people outside the forest, though his shirt was open. He also saw the man carried a bow with arrows on his back and a large hunting knife strapped to his waist. He thought he saw a glimpse of a gun handle, but he couldn't be sure. Harry was glad they were going around, since this man didn't seem hospitable.

After they cleared the area the natives dwelled they went back to the little creek and headed west again. They took a break for lunch, rest and nature then walked for a few more hours until it got too dark to see. Setting up camp, eating, reading books and letter from people warning them to stay away, which were brought by Dobby (Hermione had written a long note telling Harry she forgave him and missed him), talking and sleeping was what they did that night.

The last few days set up the pattern they followed for a week. It had taken them forever to get this far because the days were short inside the canopy.

The deeper they got into the forest the fewer villages they ran across. The trees got denser, the creek turned into a river (which they had to Apparate over). The primates got larger and the birds more predatory. The swamp was left behind, thank Merlin. There were more roars of cats in the air. They ran across more Bugalards and Harry got to practice his Patronus. They were having a harder time finding clearings for the night and once had to sleep in the trees. Dobby had stood guard that night.

They still hadn't seen Buckbeak and both of them were worried for their feathered friend. The tracking charm no longer worked, so he must be out of range, maybe above the canopy.

Sirius had no idea where they were, and Harry mulled over the idea that they would never find their way out of the forest.

One night when they were setting up camp, Harry heard hoof beats in the trees. "Sirius, what kind of animal would have hooves in a rainforest?"

"Centaurs," Sirius replied, suddenly very alert, raising his wand in case they were hostile. His eyes scanned the trees, but it was too dark to see anything. He kept the Lumos that was lighting the second wand.

The hooves came closer and the Centaur emerged from the blackness of the trees. He didn't have any weapons showing so Sirius lowered his wand, slightly.

This Centaur, unlike his British counterparts, was tan and dark of hair. That was pretty much all that separated the two. He was stocky and broad with long straight dark hair and tail. His coat was also dark and shiny. "Wizards, why have you ventured this far into the forest?" the half man/half horse asked, in accented English, as he kept his hands in view.

Harry, only ever having to deal with Centaurs once, kept close to his godfather and let him do the talking.

"Well," Sirius hedged, knowing you can't really lie to a Centaur, "to tell the truth we're looking for the Lost City of Z."

"Many explorers have died looking for this city," the still unnamed Centaur said, pawing the ground and folding his arms across his very broad chest. "The stars have told of one man and man child who would find the city and build a great community where all would be welcome. I am unsure if they speak of you." He cut a glare to the two humans and his tail twitched.

Sirius lowered his wand more and asked, "What did they say that will answer whether or not we are the ones?"

"They only say that two wizards, a man and a boy, in flight, will find the city of gold and peace," the Centaur answered.

"We're in flight," Harry piped up for the first time, now that he didn't think it was dangerous, earning a quelling look from his godfather.

"Yes, you are, Harry Potter. Mars is bright around you and your task still unfinished." Sirius raised his wand again and the hybrid man outstretched his hands in a peaceful gesture. "Worry not, Sirius Black, the stars only tell he has a dangerous task, not when that task will be."

"How could you possibly know our names?" the older man asked, not letting down his guard, the second wand still lighting the area.

"The stars warn of a prophecy," was the answer. "Now that I know you are in flight, they tell of you,"

Sirius groaned, he hated divination. "I don't want to know," he said, once again lowering his wand.

"Whether you know or not, it will come to pass," The Centaur predicted.

"What is your name?" Harry asked politely.

"I am Gundabald," the now named Gundabald said with a small smile. Then he looked to the canopy as if he could see through it and pawed the ground once more. "Take your rest for the night. Tomorrow I will come for you and you will talk to the elders." And with that he whirled and trotted away.

The two wizard shot looks at one another and finished making camp, this time adding wards to keep out Centaurs. They called Dobby and went through their nightly routine of showering, eating and settling in the chairs.

"So," Harry said after a wonderful meal of roast beef and potatoes, thankful that Dobby was so versatile in his cooking, "are we meeting with the elders?"

"Yeah," Sirius answered, rubbing a tired hand down his face, "it might be the only way we find the city." He looked to his godson and apologized, "I am so sorry I talked you into this, Harry. I had no idea when we started out that it would take this long. I'm sure that you must be exhausted by now." He looked the teen up and down as if to tell if the boy was ailing.

"I'm fine," came Harry's standard reply. "I agreed to come along, and, yeah, it was getting boring. There are only so many times you can watch the monkeys without getting tired of it, but," he held up his hand to stop the protest, "I'm with you and that's all that matters." He was actually proud of this adventure, his Gryffindor courage had come into to play each time they met the Bugalards, which impressed his godfather. Every day they were in the jungle, he felt braver. No, he wasn't sorry for coming along.

"Still, I'm sorry I dragged you along," Sirius said again, and then he shrugged and smiled. "We've gotten to know each other pretty well by now."

"Yeah," the teen agreed, returning the smile. "You're alright for an ex-con."

"Prat."

"Let's go over some defensive spells for a while," Harry suggested, wanting to make sure he could at least get way if the Centaurs got violent.

"Good idea, pup," the dogman agreed, getting out of his chair and pushing it to the wall.

They practiced for an hour and then went to bed, both thinking about what tomorrow would bring.