Nearly two and a half years had passed since Dante Malfoy had left the wizarding world behind. During that time, he had kept to himself, focusing on his exploration and the gradual assimilation of his soul fragments. The process was nearing completion; in less than a month, he would finally be able to absorb the last fragment and achieve his goal.
But as Dante sat alone in a forest, a faint glow caught his attention. The two-way mirror he had connected to the centaur tribe was reacting—to the first time. Dante picked up the mirror and saw the stern face of Magorian, the centaur leader, staring back at him.
"Magorian," Dante greeted, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity. "What's wrong?"
Magorian's expression was grim, his usual stoic demeanor replaced by urgency. "The Ministry of Magic is planning to send hundreds of wizards to destroy our tribe," he said, his voice heavy with concern. "They will arrive tomorrow morning."
Dante raised an eyebrow, then his silver eyes narrowed slightly. "Why? What do these idiots think they're doing?"
Magorian's face darkened. "The wizards have not been idle these past two years. They've been rallying magical communities across the world to fight you, the so-called 'seeker of the doom.' They asked us to join them, but we refused. Now, they fear we will take your side and have decided to eliminate us."
Dante was mildly surprised. He hadn't expected the wizarding world to go to such lengths. "I didn't think they'd go that far," he admitted.
Magorian nodded. "Their prophecy has made them desperate. Even we, the centaurs, looked into the future to try and discern your intentions. We saw no such evil. Your path does not align with the destruction they fear."
Dante's expression softened slightly. "I have no intention of destroying the world," he said. "My plans have nothing to do with that, it is the opposite in fact. But it seems my presence has caused enough chaos as it is." He paused, then added, "I'll arrive in a minute."
Magorian gave a solemn nod. "We'll see you then."
Dante set the mirror down and stood, his mind already calculating the steps needed to reach the Forbidden Forest. He was far to the east, and it would take a few apparition jumps to get there. Without hesitation, he disappeared from his location, reappearing in a series of flashes as he crossed vast distances in moments.
When he finally arrived at the centaur tribe's encampment, he was greeted by Magorian, who offered a rare smile. "The ancient seeker who left the world trembling," the centaur said, his tone a mix of respect and amusement.
Dante returned the smile, though it was faint. "It's not the first time," he replied with a shrug. "People fear me and my work, though I've never gone out of my way to hurt them."
Magorian's expression grew serious again. "The attack is prophesied to come tomorrow morning. We are prepared to defend ourselves, but the numbers they bring are concerning."
Dante's face hardened, his silver eyes glinting dangerously. "If you don't mind, I can set up protections in the forest. The wizards won't be able to see or hear you anymore—unless you allow it, of course."
Magorian was visibly surprised. He has never heard of such powerful magic before. After a moment, he nodded. "We would be grateful for your assistance."
Dante shook his head. "This is my fault in the first place. Consider it my way of making amends."
Without wasting another moment, Dante got to work. He moved through the forest with purpose, carving runes into trees, rocks, and the earth itself. The runes glowed faintly as he activated them, weaving a complex web of magic that would shield the centaurs from detection. The protections would last for decades, ensuring the tribe's safety long after this conflict was over.
By nightfall, the work was complete. Dante sat with the centaurs around a small fire, explaining the details of the protections. "The wizards won't be able to see you or your arrows until after they've been hit," he said. "Tomorrow, I will enjoy your hunt. If I think you need support, I'll step in."
Magorian chuckled, a rare sound that echoed through the forest. "You've done more than enough, friend. We have a bone to pick with these arrogant wizards. Let them come—they'll regret it."
Dante smiled faintly, his gaze drifting to the flames. The centaurs' resilience and pride reminded him of why he had always respected them. They were a people who valued freedom and wisdom, qualities he admired.
The wizards had chosen this path, and now they would face the consequences. For the centaurs, for himself, and for the future he was building, Dante would ensure that tomorrow's hunt would be one they would never forget.
___________
The morning sun cast a pale light over the edge of the Forbidden Forest as wizards began to apparate one after another. In less than a minute, a force of a hundred wizards stood ready, their wands drawn and their expressions grim. They were not all from the British Ministry of Magic; many were aurors and hit wizards from different countries, brought together over the past two years to confront the coming threat of Dante Malfoy and his supposed allies.
The group organized themselves quickly, their confidence apparent. They are skilled wizards with years of experience. What could a tribe of centaurs do against their numbers and magic? Arrows were no match for wands, or so they believed.
As they moved deeper into the forest, the atmosphere grew tense. The trees loomed overhead, their branches casting long shadows. The wizards moved cautiously, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of the centaurs. But the forest was eerily quiet, as if holding its breath.
Suddenly, a scream shattered the silence. One of the wizards fell to the ground, an arrow lodged in his neck. The others turned, their eyes wide with shock. Before they could react, more arrows flew through the air, striking their targets with deadly precision. Wizards fell one after another, their screams echoing through the trees.
Panic set in as the remaining wizards realized they couldn't see their attackers nor the incoming arrows. The centaurs were invisible, their arrows seemingly materializing out of thin air. The wizards raised their shields, but the arrows found their marks regardless. The forest had become a death trap, and the wizards were the prey.
In less than three minutes, the once-confident force was reduced to less than twenty survivors. One of them, his voice trembling with fear, screamed for the others to flee. Without hesitation, the remaining wizards disapparated, leaving their fallen comrades behind.
Among the trees, the centaurs stood tall, their bows still in hand. They had not hidden or used any tricks; they had simply stood their ground and fired their arrows. The wizards' arrogance had been their downfall. Dante, watching from a distance, shook his head at the pathetic display. The wizards had underestimated their opponents, and it had cost them dearly.
The centaurs returned to their encampment to celebrate their overwhelming victory. Magorian approached Dante, his expression one of gratitude. "Thank you again for your help, friend" he said. "Your protections made this victory unbelievable."
Dante waved off the thanks. "There's no need. If more come or you need help, just call me."
Magorian nodded, then hesitated. "Will you stay and join us? We would like to show you our hospitality."
Dante shook his head. "Not this time. I have other things to attend to, but I'll visit again."
Magorian accepted this with a nod. "We'll be waiting for your visit."
As Dante prepared to leave, a centaur stepped forward. It was Firenze, his expression solemn. Dante recognized him.
"Dante," Firenze began, his voice soft but steady. "I am a friend of Luna Lovegood. She used to come to the forest at night to talk with me."
Dante nodded. That sounded like Luna—curious, kind, and unafraid to seek out the unusual.
Firenze hesitated, then continued. "Two years ago, she stopped coming. I asked Hagrid about her and was told she had been expelled from Hogwarts."
Dante's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "Do you know why she was expelled?"
Firenze was silent for a moment, his gaze distant. "She was bullied and harmed because she refused to speak ill of you. They expelled her to protect her from the other students."
Dante's eyes narrowed, but he remained calm. "I see. I'll check on her and fix that."
Firenze shook his head, his expression filled with sadness. "You can't. A few months after her expulsion, she was murdered."
Dante froze, his silver eyes glinting with an unreadable emotion. For a moment, he said nothing. Then, quietly, he replied, "I see." His voice was calm, but there was a cold edge to it. "I need to check what happened while I was away."
Without another word, Dante disapparated, leaving the forest and the centaurs behind. Luna Lovegood, the kind and eccentric child who had called him a friend, was gone. And Dante intended to find out why.