Harry Potter and the Thunderstruck Muggles(01) - Sahits

Seconds later, the Patronus came back. "There's no harm, master - quite the opposite."Harry bowed. "Thank you."With a last graceful movement, the Patronus centaur disappeared. At the same moment, Harrycould feel another centaur approaching - a real one. Then Firenze appeared between the trees,stepping closer.Harry stood up. "Good evening, Firenze ... I'd like to introduce you to Samantha Sheridan.Samantha is the new Hogwarts teacher for Care of Magical Creatures."Samantha was standing, too. "Howdy, Firenze. How are you doing?""Mostly without care, but this may change."Samantha chuckled. "I'm from Texas - the horses there are less funny ... Come to think of it,the men too."For an instant, Harry expected the centaur to disappear - he himself would never have talkedthat way with him. But then he remembered Cho's words. Here again, Firenze seemed toaccept remarks of this style, provided they came from a woman.Firenze turned to him. "Harry Potter, can't you find anything better in your vacation time thanstrolling around Hogwarts?""Yes, somehow ... The rest of my family's somewhere else - suddenly, I had spare time inexcess. And then I met Samantha.""You should enjoy the break - it'll be over soon."Harry felt startled. "Are you talking about school, Firenze?"The centaur looked up, toward the sky. "Mercury's nowhere seen, Venus lost in clouds ..."Harry was waiting to hear that Mars was bright tonight."... while Saturn's ruling the sky. This is what the closer planets tell us - so much for a lesson,Harry Potter."Provided you knew what it meant. At least, Harry knew better than to ask directly. He said, "Ittells you more than me, Firenze.""If my reading's right, you'll know soon by yourself - and many others too. You have faced anenemy, a single one, powerful, unique, and you have made predictions fail ... Can you do itagain, when there are so many?""Enemies? ... I know only one, and this one's lying low, since the last time we've met.""But alive ..." The centaur looked at Samantha. "Be careful in this forest, Samantha Sheridan.Not everybody living here may respond well to your caring ... Good night." Seconds later,Firenze was gone, from their view as well as from Harry's senses.16