110 Chapter 110: "The Centaur Encounter"

Despite his injuries and fatigue, Harry knew he couldn't leave the battlefield just yet. He had to clean up and collect the valuable spoils from the fight. The task was important not only to prevent any evidence that could trace back to him but also to utilize the resources from the fallen creatures.

First, Harry quickly created a makeshift splint from twigs he conjured with his wand and applied basic first aid spells to stabilize his leg. Once his leg was somewhat manageable, he moved onto the task of gathering the spoils of the battle.

He began with the huge body of the acromantula colony leader. Harry realized that, since the creature could speak, it likely had a name, though he had never gotten the chance to learn it. The venom of such a large acromantula was extremely valuable in the wizarding world, and Harry was careful to collect every possible drop. He meticulously extracted the venom, ensuring not to waste a single drop due to its high demand among potion makers.

After collecting the venom, Harry packed all the other valuable parts from the acromantula leader. He stored them in a specially brought trunk, designed to hold and preserve such rare materials.

Harry felt a twinge of regret as he worked. He wished he had the chance to engage in a proper sword fight with the acromantula leader for the combat experience it would have offered. However, given his condition then, particularly after the surprise attack that had injured him, he knew it was wise to end the battle quickly rather than risk further injury by prolonging the fight for the sake of experience. In the dangerous environment of the Forbidden Forest, safety was paramount and lingering could lead to more unexpected dangers.

With the leader's remains securely packed away, Harry then shifted his focus to the other larger acromantulas. The smaller ones had been completely incinerated during the battle, leaving behind no remains to collect. However, the larger acromantulas still held valuable materials.

As Harry was busy gathering materials from the larger acromantula carcasses, the sudden sound of hooves echoed through the forest, causing him to pause and ready himself for more potential trouble. With swift reflexes, he pulled out his wands, prepared to face another threat.

Out of the forest shadows, a group of centaurs appeared. These creatures, with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse, had a stern look on their faces and bows at the ready. They were known residents of the Forbidden Forest and were looking at Harry with clear suspicion, their bodies tensed as if ready to leap into action.

The leader among them, a robust centaur with an authoritative air, was the first to speak. "Who are you? Did you kill the new acromantula colony here?"

Harry responded without hesitation, "Yes, I did. What brings you centaurs here? This isn't close to your usual territory."

The centaur leader, introducing himself as Dorran, explained, "We heard about a new acromantula colony and came to monitor them."

Harry stated plainly, "I've already taken care of them. They're all gone. Now, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me finish up here. I'm collecting what's left from the battle."

However, one of the centaurs, visibly upset by Harry's demeanor and actions, accused him sharply, "How dare you conduct battles in the forest, endangering our home? Dumbledore has made agreements with us that no humans are to interfere with the forest's affairs."

Harry retorted strongly, "I don't care about any agreements. Those acromantulas posed a direct threat to the school, and I eliminated that threat."

The centaur shot back, "We could have managed them ourselves. What right do you have to interfere?"

Harry then revealed his sword, adorned with the emblem of Gryffindor, and declared, "I am a descendant of one of Hogwarts' founders. It's my duty to protect this school from any threat, including you, if necessary."

The situation grew tense as the angry centaur drew his bow, aiming an arrow directly at Harry. "I don't trust you, humans. Leave this forest immediately and never return," he demanded sternly.

Harry, undeterred, firmly stated, "I'll leave once I've collected my spoils. And I'll return whenever it's necessary. You can't stop me." His tone was calm but firm, indicating he was not intimidated by their numbers.

The angry centaur, unconvinced and still hostile, responded, "You're just one injured wizard, and we are eight battle-ready centaurs. You stand no chance against us."

At that moment, the other centaurs, except for Dorran, raised their bows, ready to support their fellow centaur.

Harry, showing no sign of fear, warned them, "Are you sure you want to start this? My injury doesn't limit my ability to cast spells."

Without waiting for another word, Harry summoned two massive fiendfyres, controlling them with intense concentration to ensure they didn't spread uncontrollably.

Seeing the potential for a disastrous fire, Dorran quickly intervened, "Stop, Bane! We're not here to fight. Please, human, put away those monstrous flames. We don't want to see our forest burned down. We acknowledge that you're not looking for a fight either, so please, control your magic."

The standoff, tense and filled with potential for conflict, hung in the balance as both sides considered their next moves in the quiet of the darkened forest.

Harry, realizing that it was not the best time to make enemies with the centaurs, spoke up to de-escalate the situation. "I don't want to fight you," he said firmly. "But I won't tolerate any provocations either. Since you initiated this standoff, lower your bows first, and send that centaur, Bane, back to your group. I find his attitude unsettling."

Upon their leader's signal, the centaurs lowered their bows, and Bane, though visibly upset and muttering under his breath, retreated towards their group. Witnessing this, Harry extinguished the giant fires he had summoned, showing his willingness to reduce tensions.

Harry then attempted to smooth things over by saying, "I apologize for the damage caused to the forest during my battle with the acromantulas. Given my injuries, I had to act decisively, but I assure you it won't happen again."

Dorran, the centaur leader, while still wary, acknowledged Harry's apology. "Your actions have complicated things for us," he explained. "Though these acromantula colonies are divided, they still communicate. The destruction of this one will likely make the main colony more aggressive. We have refrained from attacking them for this very reason."

Harry responded confidently, "If they become a problem, I'll handle it. I was actually hoping for a more challenging fight to gain some combat experience. This was too brief."

Dorran warned, "Your desire for battle is reckless. Such confrontations could wreak havoc on the forest, which we must protect at all costs."

"I intend to use only my sword in the future," Harry promised. "Today's injury was a result of my carelessness. Normally, my sword is all I need."

"We must insist that you adhere to that promise," Dorran stated firmly. "We cannot allow our home to be destroyed by careless use of powerful spells. If it comes to that, we will defend our territory, even if it costs us dearly."

"I understand," Harry replied. "Please go now. I'll be leaving soon as well. Just make sure your people keep their distance. If anyone attacks me without provocation, I will defend myself without hesitation."

With a nod, Dorran led the centaurs away from the scene. Harry waited a few minutes to make sure they were truly gone before he continued to pack up the remains of his battle.

Harry felt somewhat relieved to have met the centaurs, despite the initial tension. Although their first interaction was rocky, Harry knew that during his remaining years at Hogwarts, he would likely encounter them again while exploring the forest. Starting some form of relationship was beneficial in the long run.

Moreover, Harry had a long-term goal to ensure the safety of the forest surrounding Hogwarts. He planned to either eliminate or relocate all dangerous creatures within the forest by the time he graduated. It was irresponsible to allow such threats to linger near a school filled with curious and sometimes reckless students. In achieving this, Harry recognized that he might need the cooperation of the centaurs, who knew the forest better than anyone else. Establishing a mutual understanding now could be crucial for his future endeavors in maintaining the safety of the Hogwarts grounds.

Harry wasted no time in packing up all the spoils of war and meticulously cleaning the battlefield of any traces that might lead back to him. He was thorough in his efforts to remove the sticky slime that had ensnared the acromantulas, ensuring nothing of the sort was left behind. Using a few more spells, he worked to restore the forest area to its normal state as quickly as possible before making his departure.

Despite his need for medical attention, Harry knew he couldn't just walk into the Hogwarts infirmary without having to answer a barrage of questions about his injuries. His knowledge in Healing magic, though growing since he had started learning it this year, was still not enough to fully treat a fracture on his own, especially if he wanted a quick and complete recovery.

Knowing he needed to be back in top form by the next morning, Harry decided he would need help from outside Hogwarts. As he reached the edge of the forest, he removed the disguise he had used during the battle with the acromantulas and his encounter with the centaurs and draped himself once again in his invisibility cloak. He moved slowly and carefully, mindful of his injured leg and using several stabilizing spells to ensure he did not aggravate the injury further.

It was still early in the night, just 9 o'clock. The grand Halloween feast had ended, and the curfew was now in effect, but it wasn't too late for Harry to sneak out of school to seek the needed medical treatment.

With deliberate, cautious steps, Harry headed towards the castle and the Room of Hidden Things where the vanishing cabinet still rested. His pace was slow, giving him ample time to think about the night's events.

As he walked, he replayed the battle in his mind, critically analyzing each move and decision, pondering what he could have done differently, and where he might have made mistakes. This reflection was crucial for his growth not just as a wizard but as a fighter who had just faced one of his most challenging battles yet.