Harry Potter 05 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

the quiver over his shoulder and fitted it into the crossbow. Harry and Hermione raised their wands; now that they had stopped walking, they, too, could hear movement close by.
    ‘Oh, blimey,’ said Hagrid quietly.
    ‘I thought we told you, Hagrid,’ said a deep male voice, ‘that you are no longer welcome here?’
    A man’s naked torso seemed for an instant to be floating towards them through the dappled green half-light; then they saw that his waist joined smoothly into a horse’s chestnut body. This centaur had a proud, high-cheekboned face and long black hair. Like Hagrid, he was armed; a quiverful of arrows and a longbow were slung over his shoulders.
    ‘How are yeh, Magorian?’ said Hagrid warily.
    The trees behind the centaur rustled and four or five more centaurs emerged behind him. Harry recognised the black-bodied and bearded Bane, whom he had met nearly four years ago on the same night he had met Firenze. Bane gave no sign that he had ever seen Harry before.
    ‘So,’ he said, with a nasty inflection in his voice, before turning immediately to Magorian. ‘We agreed, I think, what we would do if this human ever showed his face in the Forest again?’
    ‘“This human” now, am I?’ said Hagrid testily. ‘Jus’ fer stoppin’ all of yeh committin’ murder?’
    ‘You ought not to have meddled, Hagrid,’ said Magorian. ‘Our ways are not yours, nor are our laws. Firenze has betrayed and dishonoured us.’
    ‘I dunno how yeh work that out,’ said Hagrid impatiently. ‘He’s done nothin’ except help Albus Dumbledore –’
    ‘Firenze has entered into servitude to humans,’ said a grey centaur with a hard, deeply lined face.
    ‘Servitude!’ said Hagrid scathingly. ‘He’s doin’ Dumbledore a favour is all –’
    ‘He is peddling our knowledge and secrets among humans,’ said Magorian quietly. ‘There can be no return from such disgrace.’
    ‘If yeh say so,’ said Hagrid, shrugging, ‘but personally I think yeh’re makin’ a big mistake –’
    ‘As are you, human,’ said Bane, ‘coming back into our Forest when we warned you –’
    ‘Now, yeh listen ter me,’ said Hagrid angrily. ‘I’ll have less of the “our” Forest, if it’s all the same ter yeh. It’s not up ter yeh who comes an’ goes in here –’
    ‘No more is it up to you, Hagrid,’ said Magorian smoothly. ‘I shall let you pass today because you are accompanied by your young –’
    ‘They’re not his!’ interrupted Bane contemptuously. ‘Students, Magorian, from up at the school! They have probably already profited from the traitor Firenze’s teachings.’
    ‘Nevertheless,’ said Magorian calmly, ‘the slaughter of foals is a terrible crime – we do not touch the innocent. Today, Hagrid, you pass. Henceforth, stay away from this place. You forfeited the friendship of the centaurs when you helped the traitor Firenze escape us.’
    ‘I won’ be kept outta the Fores’ by a bunch o’ old mules like yeh!’ said Hagrid loudly.
    ‘Hagrid,’ said Hermione in a high-pitched and terrified voice, as both Bane and the grey centaur pawed at the ground, ‘let’s go, please let’s go!’
    Hagrid moved forwards, but his crossbow was still raised and his eyes were still fixed threateningly upon Magorian.
    ‘We know what you are keeping in the Forest, Hagrid!’ Magorian called after them, as the centaurs slipped out of sight. ‘And our tolerance is waning!’
    Hagrid turned and gave every appearance of wanting to walk straight back to Magorian.
    ‘Yeh’ll tolerate ’im as long as he’s here, it’s as much his Forest as yours!’ he yelled, as Harry and Hermione both pushed with all their might against Hagrid’s moleskin waistcoat in an effort to keep him moving forwards. Still scowling, he looked down; his expression changed to mild surprise at the sight of them both pushing him; he seemed not to have felt it.
    ‘Calm down, you two,’ he said, turning to walk on while they panted along behind him. ‘Ruddy old mules, though, eh?’
    ‘Hagrid,’ said Hermione breathlessly, skirting the patch of nettles they had passed on their way there, ‘if the centaurs don’t want humans in the Forest, it doesn’t really look as though Harry and I will be able –’
    ‘Ah, you heard what they said,’ said Hagrid dismissively, ‘they wouldn’t hurt foals – I mean, kids. Anyway, we can’ let ourselves be pushed aroun’ by that lot.’
    ‘Nice try,’ Harry murmured to Hermione, who