"This is just a misunderstanding, Mr. Watson! A terrible misunderstanding!"
With a swoosh of movement and a spray of dirt from his hooves, the centaur elder Horn leaped athletically in front of Bryan and the druid who had so rashly attacked, aligning himself between them. He moved with surprising agility and his voice rang out anxiously, almost desperately,
"Flomid didn't know your purpose in coming here! He mistook you for an invader! He was only trying to protect them!"
Even as Horn spoke, more druids were arriving rapidly from different directions. They wore coarse linen robes in earthy tones of browns, greens, grays and carried staffs of various shapes and sizes. They continued to arrive in ones and twos, forming up behind Flomid in a defensive line.
Most of the druids displayed great hostility toward Bryan for intruding into their secret sanctuary, their safe haven. Their hands gripped their staffs tightly, their expressions were hard and suspicious. A few, however, shared Flomid's strange expression. Their eyes widened in surprise as they observed Bryan's face, clearly recognizing him from descriptions.
"Mr. Watson is not an enemy! He means you no harm!"
Horn feared that some hot-headed young druid, full of fury and protective instinct, might ignorantly attack Watson again without thinking. Such an act would bring catastrophic disaster upon this peaceful paradise.
He spread his arms wide before the gathered druids, physically blocking their view of Bryan with his body, urgently telling everyone in a voice that resounded across the clearing,
"Mr. Watson is the castle's guardian! He represents the castle in coming to find you, to speak with you!"
Not knowing Bryan's true purpose for this visit, uncertain of what he intended to discuss, Horn turned his head to look at Bryan over his shoulder, hoping for some guidance or clarification that might defuse the situation.
"All right, Horn, I understand. I know this is just a misunderstanding born of fear and caution—"
Bryan said calmly, his voice carrying no anger or threat despite having just been attacked. He stepped out from behind Horn's body. His eyes settled on Flomid, the druid who had just tried to crush him with wood.
This particular druid recognized him specifically.
Come to think of it, this wasn't strange at all when Bryan considered it. Even before the druids had migrated here to this enchanted forest sanctuary, he had already made quite a name for himself throughout the wizarding world. It wasn't unusual or surprising for druids who paid any attention to magical affairs and politics to recognize him on sight.
Yet despite this logical explanation, Bryan felt instinctively it wasn't quite that simple. There was something more in Flomid's reaction.
"You know me, don't you?"
Bryan didn't hide his confusion and curiosity. He asked directly.
After Bryan's inquiry, this druid's expression became even stranger, more complex. The hostility that had been emanating from him like heat completely disappeared, as if it had never been. His face now showed clear hints of gratitude mixed with embarrassment.
After exchanging glances with several druids standing behind him who wore similarly odd expressions of recognition and embarrassment, Flomid nodded respectfully to Bryan. His entire posture changed, becoming respectful.
"That's right, Mr. Watson, we do know you. Oh, I wonder if Lady Cliodna mentioned to you at any point that we once searched for you?"
A flash of lightning crossed Bryan's mind. His eyes lit with recognition as pieces fell into place.
"Ah, I see it now. You followed Cliodna to the underground world deep in Knockturn Alley when you were looking for me?"
"Later Lady Cliodna went to contact you alone, without us—"
Flomid nodded honestly, his expression open now, no longer guarded.
"She felt it would be safer, less hostile for you. And you helped us, just as the prophecy of our predecessors told us you would. You helped Lady Cliodna when she asked, helped us obtain the Caduceus—the Twin-Serpent-Staff—from that place. Without your assistance, we would never have retrieved it."
Bryan pressed his lips together in a thin line. Clearly for him this was not a particularly pleasant memory to revisit. The Isle of Avalon's collapse, Cliodna's manipulation, the whole complicated mess of that situation.
This story and the details of Bryan's assistance was known only to the most core, trusted members among the druids. The others in the gathered crowd, learning of this history for the first time from the conversation, all showed surprised expressions. Their eyes widened, mouths opened slightly and the hostility toward Bryan that had filled the air quietly dissipated.
Murmurs spread through the druids, discussing this revelation.
"Ah, yes, I suppose that did happen."
Bryan's brow twitched slightly at the memory, a muscle was jumping in his jaw.
"Speaking of which, that Caduceus is indeed the most powerful and impressive alchemical artifact I've ever personally seen or handled. It's still in your possession, isn't it? You managed to keep it safe?"
These druids who believed deeply in 'harmony with nature' and living simply weren't particularly cunning or skilled at deception. It wasn't in their nature. Flomid nodded readily, openly, without any attempt to hide the truth.
"Lady Cliodna demonstrated its power to us once, shortly after we arrived here. It was indeed magnificent. She's keeping it safe now. Oh, Mr. Watson—"
Flomid's voice took on a hopeful, almost pleading tone.
"Since you've come from the outside world, do you have any news of Lady Cliodna? Do you know when she'll return to us? We've had no word for months now."
At this earnest question, the druids all showed hopeful expressions, leaning forward slightly. That somewhat brave little girl named Roya poked her head out from behind Flomid's body too, her bright, curious eyes were blinking as she stared intently at Bryan, desperately wanting to hear good news.
Meanwhile, off to the side, Horn frantically signaled Bryan with his eyes—wide, urgent gestures, clearly saying. Don't tell them.
After a brief, heavy silence, Bryan shook his head slightly in a gesture that could mean many things.
Crushing disappointment showed immediately on all the druids' faces. Shoulders were slumped, expressions fell. Little Roya's eyes filled with tears she bravely tried to blink back.
"Then your purpose in coming this time is—"
Flomid had completely let down his guard by now, his defensive posture was relaxing.
In his view, the logic was clear and reassuring: Mr. Watson had helped the druids retrieve the invaluable Caduceus from the dangerous, collapsing Avalon Island. He had entered the sanctuary accompanied peacefully by the trusted centaurs.
Being able to do this, being granted access, clearly meant Lady Cliodna had informed him in advance about the location and the means of entry.
Lady Cliodna must have considered Mr. Watson completely trustworthy, and reliable, which was why she had granted him the right to enter the sanctuary.
"I've indeed come with important matters to discuss with you all, matters that affect your future—"
Bryan said with a warm smile. "And also to return something that belongs to you."
Several thick branches, each as wide as a man's torso, had been encouraged to grow and intertwine to form the living pillars supporting this platform suspended in mid-air. The construction was organic, beautiful, a perfect example of druidic harmony with nature.
Bryan stood at the very edge of the platform, hundreds of feet above the ground below, lightly breathing in the refreshing fragrance carried by the gentle breeze. The air here was almost intoxicatingly pure, untainted by the corruption of the outside world. He could taste spring flowers and growing things.
As far as his keen eyes could see stretched an incredible scene—lush forests with trees in full health, golden waves of ripening wheat swaying in fields below, sparkling lakes that caught the sunlight, verdant lawns like green carpets.
Below, he could see men plowing, women weaving at outdoor looms, children playing. Humans and nature coexisting in perfect harmony, the way the druids believed it should be.
It was idyllic, beautiful. A world frozen in perfection.
Turning away from the breathtaking view, Bryan found that Flomid had already prepared tea for Horn, who now sat cross-legged on the wooden platform, and for Bryan himself.
Bryan returned to sit at the simple, primitive wooden table. He picked up a wooden cup with a few unknown green leaves floating in the hot liquid within. He brought it to his nose and sniffed carefully—a cool, mentholated sensation rushed straight to his forehead, clearing his sinuses immediately.
"Thank you for your help to the druids, Mr. Watson—"
Flomid raised his own teacup to toast Bryan. His face was earnest as he spoke,
"You helped us obtain the Caduceus when we had no other options, gave us supplies when we were starving, and even specially returned the sacred altar to us. We will remember your assistance. The druids do not forget kindness shown to them."
Cliodna's assistant was referring to last winter, during those harsh months when Cliodna, disguised as Mad-Eye Moody, had come to Bryan for an advance on her salary. At that time, Bryan had given Cliodna a sum of galleons to help her struggling people get through the hard times, to buy food and warm clothes.
It seemed Cliodna hadn't "embezzled" his credit or claimed the assistance as purely her own doing. She had probably told Flomid and the others honestly that the grain and supplies came from support provided by the castle's administrator.
As for the altar Flomid mentioned—
During the second tournament task months ago, Cliodna had used that ancient altar with its large-scale teleportation function to transport Harry and the others out of Hogwarts' grounds, circumventing the school's powerful anti-Apparition wards.
Later, after Voldemort's resurrection in that graveyard, the altar had seemed to want to carry them back to Hogwarts automatically, responding to some preprogrammed instruction. But unfortunately, Voldemort had brutally interrupted the teleportation mid-process with his superior magical power, and the damaged altar had returned to the lake bottom on its own, sinking into the depths.
After Bryan returned to Hogwarts following those chaotic events, he had taken the time to fish the altar out of the water.
An altar capable of large-scale teleportation, able to move multiple people simultaneously across vast distances, was an extremely precious and rare alchemical artifact. Such objects were invaluable. But unfortunately, the power that activated it was the druids' divine magic, not wizards' conventional magic. The two systems were essentially incompatible.
Druidic magic was a unique power based on the druids' cherished philosophy of harmony and balance, mixed with natural magical energy drawn from the earth itself.
In other words, unless you truly believed in the druids' set of principles, unless you lived according to their teachings, you couldn't possibly possess or wield the power of druidic magic. It simply wouldn't respond.
Returning it to the druids wasn't something Bryan had carefully planned in advance—it was a thought that had just suddenly occurred to him during his journey here.
"This is merely a small favor, Flomid, no need to be overly concerned or feel indebted."
Bryan smiled easily, as if giving away priceless artifacts was nothing.
"After all, we're neighbors now, aren't we? Practically living on each other's doorstep. Neighbors should help each other."
"For this too we must thank you, and Elder Horn—"
Flomid said with obvious gratitude coloring his voice.
"We know this ancient forest is under the jurisdiction of the centaur tribe and Hogwarts castle. Without your permission, without your blessing, we couldn't have settled here safely. We'd have been driven out or worse."
"Many centuries ago, centaurs and druids once lived together peacefully on Avalon Island, Flomid—"
Horn interjected in his hoarse, aged voice. His eyes held distant memories of stories passed down through generations.
"Our ancestors both received the great sage Merlin's teachings. We studied at his feet, learned from his wisdom. We should naturally watch over each other now, honor those old bonds."
Though as he spoke, Horn's eyes glanced at Bryan, clearly wondering where this conversation was leading.
Bryan leisurely sipped the beverage that could charitably be called tea—though it tasted more like liquid leaves than anything resembling proper tea. But he showed no false modesty in response to Flomid's repeated gratitude. He simply accepted it as his due.
"Since you've already settled down here permanently, Flomid—"
Bryan said in a gentle tone.
"Have you actually considered what lies ahead? Your future here?"
'What lies ahead?'
Bryan's seemingly simple inquiry left Flomid looking genuinely confused, his brow was furrowing. He tilted his head slightly, not understanding the question's deeper meaning.
Their plan for the future was simply to continue recuperating peacefully in the Forbidden Forest, away from persecution. To raise their children, tend their gardens, practice their magic, live quietly. What else was there to consider?
As if reading Flomid's confusion in his expression, as if expecting exactly this response, Bryan continued mildly,
"I need to correct a mistake of yours, Flomid—The Forbidden Forest belongs neither to the centaurs nor to Hogwarts exclusively, but to the British wizarding community as a whole. It's governed by Ministry law, technically. The centaurs have traditional rights here, yes. Hogwarts has jurisdiction over the edges. But ultimately, this is British magical territory."
Under the solemn gazes of both Flomid and Horn, Bryan remained completely calm.
"Since you've chosen to settle here, you're essentially telling everyone that you've made a decision. You've decided to give up your past, to abandon your centuries-old life of wandering under the Church's persecution."
He leaned forward slightly.
"And formally joining the British wizarding community by settling on British magical soil. So, have you actually considered how to integrate and contribute your part into this collective?"
————————————
For More Chapters; patreon.com/FicFrenzy