Chapter 346 344. Correct Hogwarts
As for the layout of this forbidden forest, even Hagrid is not familiar with the centaurs.
Soon Firenze, Jon and the others came to an open space. There were no fire dragons stationed nearby, and during the game, no Aurors and the like would appear here. It was a very open space. Good place to talk.
After finding a good place to settle down, the horse people immediately dispersed to find food and prepare a temporary resting place, leaving only Firenze, Jon, and Cedric talking.
Jon took out the little wooden sign that Hagrid had given him.
"The Forbidden Forest is now completely surrounded by the magic of the Aurors. Hagrid tried to get in but failed. He could only ask me to contact you during the game to ensure your current situation and needs. And , Hagrid also asked me to find a man named Parson among the centaurs."
Hearing Jon's last words, Firenze remained silent.
The air suddenly fell into silence, but even if there was no answer, just like this situation, Jon could guess the ending of Parson.
"Many of my people have died." Firenze looked up and looked at Jon with his only remaining eye, "We have no pursuit of the outside world, even when wizards determine the categories of humans and magical animals, Our forefathers voluntarily set themselves apart from men and disdained the company of wizards."
His voice is very soft and calm, so calm that people can hardly hear the vibrato in it.
"But even if we just live in this forbidden forest, the British Ministry of Magic is not willing to let us go. Killing us will not do them any good, but they still did it because we have dirty blood on our bodies." Blood."
Jon can understand Firenze's mood.
The number of centaurs in the magic world is very small. In the whole of Britain, and even the whole of Europe, the branch living in the Forbidden Forest can be said to be the largest tribe of centaurs.
But now an indiscriminate disaster has befallen them, most of their compatriots have been slaughtered, and the rest of the old, weak, sick and disabled can only hide in the XZ, and two or three fire dragons at random can almost trap them all to death.
It would be strange if Firenze had no resentment against the wizard in his heart.
Cedric on the side also had a look of guilt. He really should be guilty, no matter what he thought in his heart, but as a half-blood, and his father had a job in the Ministry of Magic, he was a half-blood who officially joined Voldemort's camp and enjoyed privileges. Everything we enjoy today is based on the oppression of other people.
But Jon wouldn't just be fooled by his one or two sentences like this. It's a pity what the horses are going through now, but is it really not their fault?
"I sympathize with what happened between you and the Yi people, Mr. Firenze, but I also have a question I would like to ask you to answer." Jon did not avoid Firenze's strange blue eyes, "Since you have encountered the situation you are in today, all If you can immediately think of asking Dumbledore and Hagrid for help, what about the whole Hogwarts war against the Dark Lord? What is the position of the centaurs as a whole?"
Jon's question made Firenze close his eyes, and made the guilty Cedric look up to listen to his answer.
After a long time, Firenze spoke again.
"At that time, I tried my best to persuade other clansmen to get out of the Forbidden Forest and help Dumbledore. No matter who wins or loses in the end, only Dumbledore and the others are our most steadfast allies. But other people don't think so. They think that since the centaur They can’t even count as people, so they shouldn’t meddle in the disputes between wizards, no matter who is ruling this school, the horse people can live well in the Forbidden Forest.”
Jon was not at all surprised by his answer, even though neither Dumbledore nor Hagrid had ever mentioned it, but if the centaurs had participated in the war in which Hogwarts Castle fell at that time, then in the end Deng Bullido will definitely try his best to take the centaurs out of the Forbidden Forest, and keeping them will only make them extinct.
But there is no centaur in the Order of the Phoenix today, so it can only be that the centaur back then was in a state of watching from the sidelines.
"With all due respect, Mr. Firenze, if the horses had chosen to help us back then, they might have been in a difficult situation, but they would definitely not have fallen to where we are today."
Jon's words are very straightforward, and he must be straightforward. He can't be fooled by others like Cedric, and he feels that it is his fault.
It is true to help the horse people, but this kind of help must not be defined as compensation.
In this regard, Firenze also showed no stubbornness. He wanted to combine Voldemort and Dumbledore into one, and attribute the current tragic situation of the centaurs to the wizard's fault. He took a deep breath and looked brightly. with Jon.
"I don't mean to put this battle on you because of such a thing. I know who the enemy is better than anyone else. In the eyes of other centaurs, maybe a wizard is a wizard, but I know that the Dark Lord and Deng The difference between Bumbledore is also very clear who is our friend. So this time I am asking you, Mr. Green, please contact Dumbledore, please help rescue the rest of my tribe, continue The only thing waiting for us in the Forbidden Forest is genocide."
He put his posture very low, obviously standing in front of Jon, he was half a body taller, but he bent his waist and lowered his head, which instead made Jon, who had been standing up straight The stature is taller and general.
This is a request, an unequal, extremely humble request from one side.
The ponies around all huddled together to keep warm. Their faces were a little dirty, and they looked at their patriarch with slightly bright eyes reflecting the moonlight.
These cubs were well protected. Almost all the surviving adult centaurs had more or less injuries on their bodies. Only the vast majority of these children were only a little dirty and didn't have many scars.
Jon looked up at the bright night sky, and suddenly said.
"How much did Cedric tell you about this Triwizard Tournament?"
This time, before Firenze could speak, Cedric answered first.
"I don't know much. Dad never told me these things. He just told Firenze that you will come to Hogwarts Castle in this competition, and the outcome will have a great impact on the situation."
"It's not very big. The outcome of this game will determine the outcome of the current situation between us and the Dark Lord. This game is a gamble. As long as we win in the end, then we can win in the French host." The battlefield has achieved a complete victory, and Hogwarts Castle has been recaptured, and the situation where two Hogwarts coexisted has been completely eliminated."
Both Cedric and Firenze were stunned. Firenze had also thought about the fact that this event, which had been suspended for such a long time, must be reconvened under the current situation, but he never I thought that the Dark Lord and Dumbledore actually had such a big bet on this game.
Hogwarts is of great significance to any ruler of the British wizarding world. It can even be said that only by taking control of this castle can it be said that the most complete control of the entire United Kingdom has been completed.
Once the only legitimacy of this thousand-year-old school is lost, it is almost equivalent to losing half of Britain to Voldemort. This is much more serious than the so-called loss of France, and it directly shakes the foundation of his rule.
Jon and Dumbledore also understand this very well, and the reason why Dumbledore agreed to the bet without investigating why Voldemort proposed the purpose of the game was because they There are two plans.
Jon only needs to be responsible for completing the game with all his strength, while Dumbledore has to make additional preparations and investigations.
"So what do you need us to do?" Firenze looked at Jon and asked.
"You don't need to do anything. It is best for you to stay on the edge of the Forbidden Forest near Hogsmeade during this time. I will explain your situation to Professor Dumbledore after this game. If you If you want to leave the Forbidden Forest directly, then we can also help you at that time and take you to France, where it is under our control, and going there means your safety."
After Jon finished speaking, Firenze shook his head, his eyes were obviously dark with hatred.
"The cubs can go to France for protection, but the men go to the front line. We are not afraid of sacrifice, let alone sacrifice for hatred and blood!"
Jon knew the value of these centaurs. Even if they couldn't use any magic, they were all good players. Not only did every adult centaur have superb archery skills, but they were far superior in terms of agility and physique. Much better than the wizards, otherwise, in the face of so many years of siege, the gang of horsemen in the Forbidden Forest would have died long ago.
"I will pass on your thoughts to Professor Dumbledore, but the most important thing you need to do now is to protect yourself. I always think that the three fire dragons will not be so coincidental and block your way out just right. If it is not a coincidence , that means someone has other plans for you.”
After telling the centaur what he should tell, Jon turned his attention to Cedric again.
"Can we have a private chat?"
Cedric was a little at a loss in the face of Jon's sudden turning eyes, but soon he regained his composure and nodded.
Firenze was very interested in organizing the tribe to build this new temporary camp, and Jon also started a private conversation with this mixed-race student.
"You should be very clear about what you are doing now, what it means to your principal."
Jon's expression and tone were very serious. He was not threatening Cedric, but stating the facts.
Cedric is of course very clear, although in most cases now, Voldemort will only show his "kindness" to those who support him, so that few people in Britain today will mention his previous methods, but since Cedric Knowing Dumbledore and Jon, they must have known the true face of Voldemort.
"If I am found out, it will not only be me who will die, but also my father and mother. They will all be punished."
Cedric's voice was trembling slightly, but his expression and eyes were firmer than the night wind that was always blowing.
"But I can't deceive myself. The education I have received since I was a child let me know what is right and what is wrong. Maybe I can still use the illusion that mixed-race students in Hogwarts did not suffer much injustice. Comfort myself, but the words you said when you rescued the **** girl that day made me unable to accept everything I have with peace of mind."
Jon looked at him.
"Britain has declared to the outside world that the dark wizard who sneaked into Hogwarts Castle last year was me?"
"No." Cedric shook his head. "They will never admit that they will be tricked by a student like you who has not yet graduated from school, but it is no secret in the Ministry of Magic. Many staff members know that, The person who did what happened last year is the same person who killed the Lestrange couple in public this year. I know this, and it was my father who accidentally said it when he drank too much during the summer vacation."
He looked at Jon, those clear eyes reflecting the moonlight.
"I know I'm not as good as you, Jon, but I don't want to be a pure-blooded slave either. I know what I'm doing now will bring danger to my family, but I can't force you to I admit that what should have been wrong has become right.”
Jon never had any doubts about Cedric's integrity. Even when he first saw this boy, the first question he asked with Dementor was to determine if he was really Cedric Dee. Gorey, because the name itself has convincing capital.
"Excellence is never the key to a person's contribution, but what he does." Jon said earnestly, "What you did tonight has made it impossible for you to turn back, Cedric , now you need to make up your mind to stand with us."
Without hesitation or hesitation, Cedric said calmly.
"When I decided to help Firenze and the others, I had already made up my mind. As long as I can change the current UK and allow people who should be equal to regain their freedom and human rights, I am willing to do anything."
Jon showed a smile that he would only show when facing Hermione and Neville, and he patted Cedric on the shoulder.
"When you express your determination, you don't need to make the atmosphere so heavy. The road we are on is not so difficult. At least the scene in front of us is no longer dark."
Cedric also exhaled, with a smile on his face.
"Am I turning from the dark to the bright?"
"You just got back to a proper Hogwarts."
(end of this chapter)