Harry Potter: Beyond the Parselveil

"Just stop, guys. We shouldn't be out after hours. We'll get detention," Hermione whispered furiously to Harry and Ron.

"Then go back. We were sneaking out together—you're the one following us," Ron shot back, a little annoyed.

Meanwhile, Draco and Aaric were also out and about.

"Why did you challenge Ron to a duel anyway? What are you going to do, throw Lumos and Levitation Charms at each other? Or just go for a traditional fistfight? I'm hoping it's the second one…" Aaric teased, his tone light.

"The red-headed git insulted me. I'm not letting that slide," Draco huffed.

They reached the meeting point and met up with the trio.

"I'm sorry for what Ron said, Draco. Let's not escalate this," Harry said.

"Thank you, Harry. But Ron is the one who needs to say it, not you," Draco replied calmly, like talking to a friend.

Ron looked to the side and muttered, "Why would I? Your dad insulted mine right in front of me when we were just minding our business. He even called us traitors for no reason. I'm not taking back my statement—I stand by it."

Draco looked down for a second. He knew what Ron was talking about. He had been there, after all.

I still want to punch his face, Draco thought.

In the end, he turned to Aaric. "Please make a dueling ring for us, and watch over the duel."

"My office should suffice as a sufficient enough venue," came a stern voice from behind.

All five present turned their heads stiffly to see Professor McGonagall standing there. Aaric noticed a hint of a smile on her face.

The five kids sat in front of McGonagall as she scolded them.

"Five points from each of your Houses and detention for all of you," she concluded after a half-hour lecture.

They were taken to Hagrid for detention in the Forbidden Forest by Filch.

"I'll take it from here," Hagrid told him. Then he looked at the group. "Is there any day you five can follow the rules?"

"On the bright side, we didn't have to sneak out to meet you today. It's totally legal this time," Aaric said with a triumphant smile.

Everyone stared at him like they wanted to hit him. Draco bonked him on the head, followed by the others. Even Hermione jabbed his side.

"Stop fighting and follow me," Hagrid said after a moment of watching Aaric get harassed. "Just stick together with me. There've been some unusual things in the forest, and I need to investigate."

The five followed Hagrid like ducklings behind their mother.

Norberta joined the group in the forest. "Good girl. Now lead us to the smell," Hagrid said, greeting her and giving her a few pats. Norberta was now as tall as an adult human and could breathe fire.

She led the group to a horrific sight—a dead unicorn lying in the forest, its silver blood pooled around it, while a dark figure drank from its wound.

The group winced. Hermione hid behind Aaric, not wishing to look at the thing.

Aaric didn't waste time and pointed his wand at the figure.

"Chillaria Maxima!" he shouted as ice shards burst from his wand, piercing the figure's cloak and even its flesh. The figure screeched and turned into black mist, fleeing.

Harry clutched his scar, wincing, and Hagrid steadied him with a hand.

Three centaurs appeared, bows drawn.

"You mind telling us what that was?" Hagrid asked, thinking they might know something.

"Mars is bright tonight," replied the red-haired centaur.

"We are not made to meddle in the affairs of humans," the black-haired one added.

The pale blond centaur, however, did reply: "Someone very stupid drank the blood of a unicorn to stay alive."

The other centaurs looked at the blond one in disapproval as he approached the group.

He seemed wary of Norberta at first but calmed when Hagrid told her not to harm the centaur, and she listened.

"I am Firenze. It is nice to meet you all," the blond centaur greeted them as the other two departed.

The group walked with Firenze for some time, chatting quietly.

"This is as far as I go. I cannot help you much for now, for it is not time yet," Firenze said, stopping.

Aaric stepped forward. "Here. This is a gift from some friends, as a thank you."

He handed him a circular dial that showed visible stars. Some of the stars would brighten or dim periodically.

Firenze's pupils shrank as he looked at it. He was about to say something, but Aaric interrupted.

"It's from some friends. Take good care of it," he said, then turned back to the group, ending the conversation.

"What did you give him?" Hermione asked.

"A gift for the help," Aaric replied.

The kids, exhausted and reflecting on the day's events, returned to their rooms and slept like logs.

Aaric knew what was about to happen next—Harry would find the Philosopher's Stone, and there would be challenges. He wasn't worried. He knew Dumbledore was watching over Harry, and he would be safe.

I already have everything that stone can give me, and much more, Aaric thought. Moonblood resin was the perfect version of the elixir of immortality the Stone would produce. It would eventually change the body so fundamentally that aging would no longer be an issue—and they wouldn't even need to keep drinking it.

And gold? That was the last thing the family needed. After a certain point, money was just numbers. The Hawthorne family had passed that point years ago—even without counting the Nightshade vault.

Aaric looked at his wand. I still haven't mastered Chillaria Maxima, he thought. That was expected—it was a fifth-year spell. No matter how talented he was, he couldn't fully master something that advanced yet. He did, however, have the advantage of being guided by the spell's creator.

In the Forbidden Forest, Firenze walked toward his tribe, holding the dial as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

Some centaurs glared at him for speaking with humans, but he paid them no mind.

He approached the chieftain's hut but was stopped.

"State your business," said a black-haired centaur with contempt. "If it's not important, my father won't be wasting time on a human-lover."

Firenze answered calmly, "It is important and essential for the prosperity of the herd. Please let me pass."

After more back-and-forth, Firenze finally shoved the other centaur aside and called out, "Chief Magorian, I require your counsel. Please grant me audience."

A voice replied from within: "Enter."

Firenze entered the hut and bowed before presenting the dial. "Please look at this. It was a gift from a human."

The chief looked at it with distrust at first, then picked it up and was surprised.

"This… is a way to communicate with another centaur colony. And to be able to make a device that uses stars to communicate… they must be very advanced."

He looked at Firenze with appreciation.

"A human gave you this, you say? Sit and tell me more."

Firenze nodded and began to explain everything.

"How does one communicate with this device?" he asked.

"How do you read the stars?" Magorian replied, then explained: "You manipulate the stars inside—move them in a way that was divined. They'll form a message. And that is how others will respond too."

Magorian was rough—but ultimately fair—and fiercely loyal to his herd.

A/n : I have had great response from you guys this past few days, thank you for that.

Stones guys, let's at get to the rankings.