FRIENDS UNSEEN
Harry flew low and fast. The feeling of freedom once again filled his senses. Harry was so engrossed in the high-speed obstacle course that he nearly fell from the broom when he skewed around a tree and was illuminated in the glare of two bright lights. Harry recovered from his initial shock, rounded on the scene below and almost laughed. Hidden on the forest floor, covered in a camouflage of dirt, vines and leaves, was Mr. Weasley's flying Ford Anglia. It definitely looked dodgy. The right-hand door was smashed, pinning the steering wheel in a perpetual right hand turn. The bonnet was smashed down almost on top of the motor. The boot was squashed (thanks to the Whomping Willow) almost to the rear bumper. There were small odd holes irregularly distributed in the sheet metal. There was even an arrow skewered in the upholstery. The remaining window glass was cracked and filthy. The turquoise paint was so dirty that that colour was barely discernible. Apparently the Anglia had been through a lot.
Harry felt an affinity for the little car. It had saved his life at least twice and he felt he owed it a quick squizz. Harry landed and walked carefully around the car. After assessing the damage, he took out his wand, and starting with the driver's door, Harry focused his mind and thought "Reparo". The dents, scrapes and bangs popped out, holes filled in; leaving a smooth, albeit dirty, metal body; window glass pieced back together and cracks mended. When the car was "un"dented (Harry could think of no other term), Harry focused his mind, "Scourgify" he thought. Dirt, leaves and debris fell away from the car, leaving it shining in the gloom of the forest. Harry aimed his wand at the fuel tank and used an incantation he had used to refill goblets at meal times. He hoped that he was filling the tank with petrol and not pumpkin juice.
The little car reacted quickly. The motor started with a pop and cloud of smoke. Then the engine settled down to tick over. The front wheels turned right and left to their stops as if testing their newly regained mobility. The horn sounded a quick two note thanks, the transmission ground into gear and the car motored off, back into the depths of the dappled gloom.
Harry watched the car disappear into the forest gloom. He looked at his watch, 8:46, Dumbledore had told him to be back to the office by 9:00. He was fairly close to the forest edge; he had plenty of time. Harry had just turned to remount his broom when a sudden rustling of leaves and moan of pain reached his ears. The moan had come from off to his right but Harry could not detect any breeze. He quickly mounted the broom and flew over a bole of tree roots that created a natural embankment. What Harry saw as he cleared the top of the bank almost made him retch. There, in a natural dish made by the huge boles of the surrounding trees, was a badly injured centaur. It had been slashed across its almost human face and down its torso, its sides and belly were similarly slashed and drenched in time-blackened blood. Even through the horrific wounds, Harry recognized this centaur. It was the black bearded Bane. The centaur didn't move but moans of pain carried through the forest from the nearly still form. With the each moan, blood bubbled from the centaur's mouth and nose. Harry landed noiselessly a few feet from the centaur. As Harry stooped to assess the extent of the centaur's injuries, two things happened in quick succession; Harry's invisibility cloak, loosed from the high-speed trip through the forest, slipped down around his shoulders revealing his head just as Bane's eye flickered open, his gaze landing fully on Harry. Harry quickly pushed the cloak back up over his head, rendering him once more totally invisible. Harry thought quickly. He didn't have the skill to help in this matter. These wounds were werewolf inflicted as Bill Weasley's had been. He needed Hagrid or Professor Grubbly-Plank, or Madame Pomfrey, maybe all three. Harry knew he shouldn't go directly to Moody on the castle grounds, that would endanger the plan he had just put into motion, but Harry knew that if it was a choice between the plan and this centaur's life, the plan came in a distant second. Harry had just made the decision to raise the alarm to Moody, when out of the gloom two bright lights came pelting toward him. The Ford Anglia came to a screeching halt on the forest floor next to him. Here was his answer! Harry quickly explained to the car (he felt barking for talking to a car) that he needed Moody contacted on Hogwarts grounds and brought here to help the injured centaur. The little car didn't hesitate, it backed out and took to the air, flying away from Harry and directly toward Hogwarts. Harry was oddly reminded of an old American television program about a dog that could communicate with people, "what's that, Timmy fell down the well?" Harry put the inane thought behind him and flew after the departing car.
The Firebolt was much faster than the car and by the time Harry cleared the forest edge he had caught it up. The sunlight was dazzling after the gloom of the forest and Harry temporarily lost sight of the Anglia. As his eyes adjusted to the sunlight, Harry paused and watched as the Anglia flew toward Moody. It was honking its horn and flashing its lights. Harry thought this was working out well until he saw Moody draw his wand and aim it menacingly at the little car.
Harry's heart sank, he had forgotten Moody's paranoia about being attacked. Before Moody could blast the car from the sky, Harry leaned forward on the Firebolt and streaked toward the car. He knew that Moody's magic eye could see through the invisibility cloak he was wearing. Harry urged the Firebolt forward as fast as it would go. He flanked the car, placing himself between the car and Moody. Moody did not cast a killing spell. He instead scanned the sky and then dropped his wand to his side. The car landed hard next to Moody and the right hand door immediately flew open. Harry watched in amazement as Moody approached the car and slid behind the wheel. The car spun around, took to the air, and headed toward the forest. Harry could have sworn that Moody gave him a little salute as the car flew past.
Harry looked at his watch again, 8:56! Now he had to hurry! Assured that Moody was well on his way to the centaur's aid in the dark forest, Harry handled his broom around and made for the tower that housed the Headmaster's office. The morning had brightened and warmed. Even with the broomstick breeze whizzing past him, Harry was becoming uncomfortably warm under the invisibility cloak. Even in the bright morning sunshine, the blue glow around the hidden tower opening was plain through Dumbledore's glasses. As he approached the tower, the hidden door opened and slid sideways, revealing the back of the broom cupboard. As Harry entered and landed, the doorway rotated silently, shutting off the bright outside light as it closed. As Harry stowed the Firebolt and removed the invisibility cloak, he noticed that the Nimbus 2000 that he was sure had been next to the Firebolt was curiously absent. Harry entered the Headmaster's office as the school clock boomed out the first chime of 9:00.
« Chapter 15 - Dark Deeds in the Forbidden Forest Chapter 17 - Reading Between the Lines »