THE FORBIDDEN FOREST
“You are the Potter boy,” he said. “You had better get back to
Hagrid. The forest is not safe at this time — especially for you.
Can you ride? It will be quicker this way.
“My name is Firenze,” he added, as he lowered himself on to his
front legs so that Harry could clamber onto his back.
There was suddenly a sound of more galloping from the other
side of the clearing. Ronan and Bane came bursting through the
trees, their flanks heaving and sweaty.
“Firenze!” Bane thundered. “What are you doing? You have a hu-
man on your back! Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?”
“Do you realize who this is?” said Firenze. “This is the Potter
boy. The quicker he leaves this forest, the better.”
“What have you been telling him?” growled Bane. “Remember,
Firenze, we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. Have
we not read what is to come in the movements of the planets?”
Ronan pawed the ground nervously. “I’m sure Firenze thought he
was acting for the best,” he said in his gloomy voice.
Bane kicked his back legs in anger.
“For the best! What is that to do with us? Centaurs are con-
cerned with what has been foretold! It is not our business to run
around like donkeys after stray humans in our forest!”
Firenze suddenly reared on to his hind legs in anger, so that
Harry had to grab his shoulders to stay on.
“Do you not see that unicorn?” Firenze bellowed at Bane. “Do
you not understand why it was killed? Or have the planets not let
you in on that secret? I set myself against what is lurking in this for-
est, Bane, yes, with humans alongside me if I must.”
And Firenze whisked around; with Harry clutching on as best he
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