Centaurs Know Leo's Secret

"Oh whoa… wow," Leo whispers, speechless as he stops at the edge of the forest to stare at the castle known as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

It's something he knows Annabeth would love to examine. If she was here, they would talk about the great engineering of the castle—how the placement of towers would actually help with the air flows that would never fail to keep the students away from harsh the harsh light of the sun. If she was here…

Shaking his head to dispel the depressing thoughts from his mind, Leo turns to the twins in disbelief. "You never told me that you, guys, study in a freaking castle of all things!" he exclaims.

"What do you mean?" Fred questions, tilting his head in confusion.

"Shouldn't you have known?" George continues, looking over at Leo.

"Oh yes, of course, duh…" Leo rolls his eyes. "Of course , I knew," Leo answers sarcastically. "After all, studying in a castle is the obvious norm around the globe, and it wasn't like I didn't crash here or whatever. Oh, wait, nope, I was seriously not unconscious when the others brought me up to the Hospital Wing."

"Err, right…" George assents, nudging his brother roughly.

"Yeah… Sorry, we just forgot," Fred adds, scratching his head sheepishly.

At that, Leo burst out laughing with the twins eventually joining in.

After a moment, Leo wipes his eyes, stating, "It's fine, guys. Don't worry too much. It's just real different back at ca—I mean, from where I came from. You don't exactly see castles in the US." Leo shrugs.

"Wizard schools are usually in castles, though," Fred says.

Leo shakes his head. "I mean, I know one wizard school that was in a mansion or a chateau, and no one knows what the Belgian school looks like."

"Belgian? You mean Bulgarian?" George asks, bringing him back to reality.

Leo nods. "Yeah, that."

That, of course, was something Alex from the Romanian Sanctuary mentioned briefly hence the slight mistake. Leo shakes his head when his thoughts brought him to the reason why he had to learn to pick up details for his survival in the first place.

"Only proves that no one will ever know where Durmstrang is," Fred replies, "but still, I heard Ilvermorny was held in a castle."

Leo panics for a moment before remembering another piece of information he got from Alex. "Yeah, but it was originally a stone house. They just expanded it so the students could fit. It's great and all but it's mostly one structure with towers. This one—" he gestures at the castle in front of them—"several structures with several towers. It's a legit medieval castle!" [1]1

With that final statement, the trio trudges on towards the forest.

"You, wiz—er, wizard Europeans," Leo starts, chastising himself for slipping up, "What is with you and forests?" he asks as he and the twins finally enter the forest.

"Us and forests?" Fred asks.

"Yeah," Leo starts, "I mean, you, people, are always in forests."

"I thought you're used to nightly forest touring?" George asks.

Leo hums. "No, no, I mean… I'm talking about your locations for every institute or whatever. It's always in the middle of a forest. Your school is actually less accurate with that new stereotype in my head right now… but everywhere else I've seen so far? Always in the middle of a forest."

"You've been in different wizard locations?" Fred asks.

"Yup… like that French school, Academia something—"

"Beauxbatons?" George offers.

"Yeah, that was the one I said that was a chateau instead of a castle," Leo says with a hum, not noticing the twins share a look at that, "and the dragon sanctuary in Romania. Oh boy, do I—"

"The Romanian Dragon Sanctuary?!" both twins exclaim, finally making Leo stop walking to look back at the twins on either side of him.

"Yeah, you've heard of it?" he asks as they continue walking.

"Our brother, Charlie, works there!" Fred says. "Did you meet him?"

"Ch—Weasley!" Leo exclaims. "Of course! Fred and George Weasley! Gods, I cannot believe I let that go past me! Charlie Weasley!"

"So, I'm guessing you've heard of our brother, then?" Fred says, chuckling.

"How did you even end up in the sanctuary?" George asks. "Charlie told us it's a bit difficult to just barge in there… It takes months to process a free entrance."

Schist, another improbable thing I managed to do. At this rate, I should just say I'm a demigod and move on with it, Leo berates himself.

"Well, I'm a bit of a… I have close relationships with dragons, let's just settle for that," Leo replies with a shrug. "I actually went to the sanctuary because the dragons lured me in… When I came there, I just wanted to ask more questions about them. The guy in charge told me your brother's name… and he said he's in the UK at the moment… It's kinda why I ended up here, actually. I'm looking for him."

"Wait, Charlie's in England?!" Fred exclaims.

"Not sure at the moment. Said he'll be in Scotland for quite some time. I'm not really sure why. I didn't have time to ask more questions."

"What's Charlie here for?" Fred asks George who shrugs in answer.

"Look, all I know is that he's doing some official business things with your, er, government or whatever—"

"The Ministry?"

"Yeah, and he'll be staying at Hogwarts after he finished dealing with them. I have no idea about anything else."

Leo can tell that the twins want to ask more questions when he noticed them sharing a look above his head—I really hate being short, he thinks—but the thought dissipates from his head as he stops in his tracks.

"FESTUS!" he yells before running out.

"Oi, Leo, wait up!" he hears one of the twins yell behind him, and he can hear from their steps that they're running after him.

"Bloody hell, Leo, get the hell away from there!" he hears the other yell.

"Oh gods, Festus," he mutters as he runs, not noticing that he and the twins are not truly alone.

"Halt!" he hears someone yell in front of him.

Removing his eyes away from Festus' severed head, Leo finally looks around to see about fifty centaurs surrounding Festus' body parts, bows and arrows all pointed right at him—arrows that look eerily similar to some of the arrows that had managed to embed themselves on Festus' hide… not to mention, their menacing glares.

Leo thought he should care. He can sense that he's at a danger zone, after all, but after everything he went through—after Gaea—no, this is nothing compared to the war. This is nothing compared to dying.

Besides, they're centaurs. Chiron's family are quite a chill group of people, and a bit crazy. Maybe these centaurs are a bit jumpy from the war, too. Hold on, had Gaea's forces even gone to Europe? Did they even attack this place? Thinking about it, he's not really heard of anything about demigods in Europe but—

"We asked for your name, boy !" the centaur with the black hair and the chestnut body yells at his face—aiming the arrow at him menacingly.

Leo tries not to get himself caught in flames. He really hates being called that.

"He's fine! He's sorry! He didn't mean to barge in!" he hears two people behind him yelling at them.

Leo turns around to catch Fred and George running towards him, jumping over large roots to stand beside him, hands raised in surrender—fear evident on their faces but that doesn't seem to stop the two red-heads.

"Magorian, they are wizards!" a centaur yells.

Leo notices that their grip on their respective bows and arrows tightened.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, we're not here to harm you!" Leo yells, raising his hands.

"That boy has darkness lurking within him!" the centaur with the black hair and black horse body exclaims. [2]2

Leo winces. Is it because he died? Is it because he is a fire-wielder? Or is it because of another thing entirely? Maybe he really is a dark person. Leo tries not to chuckle because his skin is pretty dark compared to most people.

"Who are you?" the same black-haired chestnut-bodied centaur that could be their leader glares at him, tightening his hold on his bow and arrow, clearly intent to shoot if he dares move.

So, let's see… We're about to be killed by fifty centaurs. These centaurs seem to hate wizards—wizards like the two redheads beside me who are both scared witless. So, what in Tartarus could I do at the moment?

"I'm a friend of Chiron!" he says without hesitation, surprising himself but silently approving his own quick thinking. "We come in peace," he adds, just because he's always wanted to say that legitimately plus it stops him from freaking out by reminding himself that he's just Leo, the most funniest commander ever.

"A half-blood," the centaurs whisper amongst themselves.

"Yes! Yes! I'm a half-blood!" Leo exclaims nearly desperately since they seem to be hesitant in attacking him, judging from their wary looks and stances. "I'll prove it!" he tells them.

With that, he opens his palms and let the fire dance on his palm.

The leading centaur in front of them staggers momentarily, stepping back in surprise, and staring at Leo in what Leo thinks is both horror and awe.

"The child of fire, destroyer of Earth," the centaur breathes out in reverence.

Leo stares blankly ahead for a few minutes, feeling as if he was doused with cold water, before seemingly coming to his senses. Where had he heard that before?

"As for you, child of fire, your worst hardships are yet to come. You will always be the outsider, the seventh wheel. You will not find a place among your brethren," Nemesis' voice echoes in his head. Her statements never really left Leo, and as each day passes, her words always prove themselves true…

But the other title? The destroyer of Earth? "To storm or fire, the world must fall." That was what the Prophecy of Seven said. To fire—to Leo himself, Gaea, the world—the Earth, had fallen—destroyed.

Yet, the twins don't seem to have noticed his momentary lapse of silence. In fact, he himself is also enraptured as the centaur once again begins to speak.

"Seventh of the seven, a child born.

Fire which will strengthen, a soul torn.

For the seventh time, he wanders alone,

With magic discovered, again on his own.

The seventh wheel shall flourish through mirth,

The child of fire, destroyer of Earth…

The Savior of Dragons concealed within Lions."

Silence fills their surroundings and Leo could feel the eyes of everyone around him settle on him, burning him in ways fire can never do. Though nothing could compete with the heavy weight which seems to have settle itself on his shoulders, causing him to hunch in on himself as if for protection from his own dejection.

He was hoping that he must have interpreted it wrong. That he was not the destroyer of Earth the centaurs were indicating… but now, he has to admit the truth. The seventh wheel? The destroyer of Earth? The child of fire? A child born on the seventh of the seventh?

Oh, who was that boy born on the seventh of July, who has fire powers because his father was the god of fire, and was told by the goddess of revenge that he is an outsider and a seventh wheel? Who was that boy who ran away from his foster home six times, and now running away from Camp Half-Blood? His new foster home? Oh, that's right. Leo freaking Valdez, because it has always been Leo Valdez.

Another prophecy… and just when he was in need to get away from it all.

The leading centaur asks him in a firm but cautious tone, "Are you truly the son of Hephaestus? The son of fire?"

Leo desperately wants to say no, to keep his identity hidden. He wants to have his own life for now—away from the title of being a half-blood, away from his father's name, his own fame.

But if he says yes, he knows they wouldn't harm them—evident from how the possibility that he is who they think he is made them momentarily drop their weapons away from them.

He glances at the questioning and still fear-ridden eyes of his two companions and he knows that this may be the only way for them to survive—giving his secret away. How these centaurs knew of him, he will never know…

With a sigh, he nods, raising his hands and letting the ever-familiar feeling of pins and needles on his palm continue before the flames emerge from his hands—like a gentle heartbeat growing and enlarging as it dances across his palm, full of life and light.

How it mocks him.

"Leo…" one of the twins whisper but he doesn't look at either of them.

Because much to Leo's horror and the twins' shock, the centaurs all drop their bows and arrows before bowing their heads at Leo as a sign of respect.

"Leo, what's happening?" George asks beside him.

"I… I don't know," he admits, still staring at the bowing group in front of him.

What in the gods' stupid names is happening here?!

"Leo Valdez," the leading centaur says in acknowledgement. "I am Magorian, leader of the Forbidden Forest Centaur Colony. The centaurs had heard of your heroic deeds, and to that, we owe you our respect." [3]3

"Umm, it was no big deal," Leo replies, shifting from one foot to the other.

A white-blond centaur with astonishingly blue eyes walks towards the three teenagers. "Your sacrifice was no easy feat, child of fire. We were aware of Gaea's plans to destroy humanity, nature along with it. I, Firenze, feel safe to say that to save it and to defeat the primal Greek goddess of Earth by giving your life will never be forgotten amongst the centaurs," he continues. [3]4

"Right…" Leo mutters, pointedly not looking at Fred's and George's face, his eyes staring down at his feet instead.

"There is a prophecy known to the centaurs about a child of fire," Firenze starts.

"Great. Another one," Leo whispers to himself, not knowing that the twins had heard him. "Was it the one you said earlier?" Leo asks loudly.

"Indeed," Firenze replies, "and is it safe to assume that this is your steed?" he asks, gesturing at the severed head of Festus.

Leo's heart breaks at the sight but he knew the modifications he had placed on Festus would make him easy to build again. He's not completely destroyed. Leo made sure he will never be again. Plus, during the week coming back from Ogygia, Calypso helped him with Fe—Calypso. Gods, even then he hadn't been alone.

He shakes his head at the sudden wave of depressive thoughts. No, he is above his pain.

"Yes," he finally replies, "and I need him to get back to Camp… Firenze, why are you a bit… er… different from the centaurs in America?"

Firenze looks up at the sky. "Mars shine brighter and brighter as time passes by," he suddenly says.

"Mars? You mean Frank's dad?" Leo asks confusedly.

"The planet Mars, child of fire," Firenze replies. "It had been rich in its brightness two months ago—something you had changed after a day."

"Er, okay…" Leo says, rubbing the back of his neck. "Anyway, can… can I have Festus back?" he asks instead, walking towards the severed head with his hand raised to pat his friend's nose—something which initially alarmed the other centaurs.

Leo takes no notice of this as he passes through the other centaurs to place a hand on Festus' snout, closing his eyes to check on the mechanisms within Festus.

"Festus is fine, but he will need lots of work," he tells no one in particular, letting his hand glide on Festus' snout as if the dragon is awake to feel it. "Sorry I got you like this, buddy," he whispers, trying not to cry as he did when Festus was first destroyed at Midas' place.

"He's Festus?" Fred exclaims in shock, making everyone else tense at the reminder that there are two wizards among them.

"They're fine," Leo says immediately. "They're my friends… as is Festus."

"Son of fire, the centaurs apologise for harming your steed," Magorian says formally, lowering his head at that.

"He's my friend," Leo mutters.

With a sigh, Leo moves towards some of the arrows still embedded in Festus' bronze plates, pulling them one by one and handing them back to the nearest centaurs—most of which look shocked at the action.

"Is there a place safe and hidden enough for me to hide Festus?" Leo asks.

"The Forbidden Forest is not safe for younglings," Firenze suddenly says. "The further you are to this place, the better, son of fire."

"You can bring Festus to Hogwarts," George suggests cautiously but that does not stop the centaurs growling.

"We could help you talk to the Headmaster," Fred adds.

"Do you think he'll go for it?" Leo asks them seriously.

"We're pretty sure, yeah. The Headmaster is usually reasonable in these sort of cases," Fred replies after a short look with his twin.

"Plus it's not like you plan to... harm anyone or anything, so you should be good to stay for a while," George added as an afterthought, sharing a look with Fred.

Leo knows the two are thinking about what the centaurs had said about him giving his life for the world. He couldn't have just shut up, could he?

"You guys have many experiences with that?" Leo asks curiously, changing the subject, "You said the headmaster is usually reasonable in these cases, which y'know… sort of sounds like it's happened before."

"Ask us no questions," Fred cheekily retaliates.

"And we'll tell you no lies," George finishes off with a smile.

"Thanks," he says with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. He pats Festus once more. "I can't just leave him," he says, mindlessly brushing his hand on Festus' snout, resting his head on it just as he did when he met the dragon at the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary.

"We will guard your steed, Hero of Olympus," Magorian interferes.

Leo flinches at the title, not believing he deserves it, and hates being reminded of it. "You will?"

"The bronze creature was the one who aided you in defeating the goddess of Earth, was it not?" he replies.

"Yeah, he did," Leo sighs with a nod.

"Then we pay him our respects," he replies. Leo tries not to call out that some of their arrows are still sticking on Festus' body parts but he chose not to comment.

"Thank you," he tells them with a small bow of his own, too distracted by the damage of his friend to notice what he was doing. "Hopefully, I'll have Festus back in the castle to work on him. Tomorrow, maybe. I'll try so we won't bother you more."

The short silence breaks when all three of them speak at the same time, "Look, can you, guys, not tell anyone—" "Did you really sacrifice your life to—?" "If you're not a wizard, then what—?" They break the tension with laughter.

"I'm guessing you want answers?" Leo jokes.

"So Festus is a dragon…" George starts immediately.

"And the most prideful beings who hate humans on Earth just bowed to you..."

Leo tries not to flinch at the word Earth but fails, making the twins glance at each other above the tiny Latino's head.

"All right, there's a lot to learn so let's start from the beginning," Leo sighs. "So in Houston, Texas, there was a woman named… named Esperanza..."