Chapter 236 : Centaur and Advice
Only a few people can influence the position of the Black family patriarch—namely, the reclusive mainline members and certain side branches. Most of them have little emotional connection to Phineas. They are the type who won't interfere with his management of the family estate, but they also refuse to recognize his authority.
Phineas understood this clearly from the beginning. He knew only the alchemical branch that produces Floo Powder supported him. The rest held no affection for him.
He had long anticipated this situation and made preparations. In the original timeline, Sirius would eventually escape Azkaban regardless. Even as a fugitive, he would still hold claim to the family name. For a pure-blood family, reputation can be reshaped—once someone assumes the role of patriarch, past mistakes are quickly swept under the rug. In canon, Sirius inherited the Black family estate and offered it up to Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix as headquarters and funding.
This was precisely what Phineas wanted to avoid. Unless Sirius died in Azkaban, Phineas would eventually be forced to face him.
But the cost of exposing an heir trapped in Azkaban would be catastrophic. And there are no secrets that last forever—Phineas couldn't take that risk. So, he began preparing the moment he took charge of the Black family fortune. Lisa and her werewolf wizards were part of those plans. The manor registered under Lisa's name and protected by a Fidelius Charm was another. There were even deeper secrets—hidden cards Phineas hoped would never be revealed.
Still, Phineas had no intention of severing ties with the Black family. He knew full well that, while everything he now had was earned through effort, it was also made possible through the family's influence. Without the Black name, his path would have been far harder.
He maintained this distance not out of disloyalty, but because his goals far surpassed the legacy of any legendary wizard. He needed the family's resources—but not the interference of the Elder Council. Keeping his ties loose but intact was the best strategy.
Once affairs at the manor were settled, Phineas returned to Hogwarts. After all, he was still a student, and Dumbledore's leniency wouldn't last forever. With his tasks complete, there was no reason to stay away from school.
By now, word of his battle with the vampire ancestor must have spread through the wizarding world. Other families would inevitably try to test his strength. Though he wasn't afraid, the constant provocations were beginning to wear on him.
Shortly after returning, Phineas was approached by Harry, Ron, Neville, and Hermione.
"Phineas, you'll never believe what we saw in the Forbidden Forest last night!" Hermione exclaimed, wide-eyed with both panic and excitement.
Phineas sighed inwardly. No wonder Hermione had been sorted into Gryffindor in the original timeline. Even with his interference shifting her to Ravenclaw, her thirst for adventure remained unchanged.
Before he could respond, Harry burst in with the story.
"Someone really is attacking unicorns in the Forbidden Forest! I saw him—the one who did it!" Harry's voice trembled.
"It was a man in a cloak—I think. He was crouched over a unicorn and... drinking its blood. Then my scar started hurting, and right after, I ran into a centaur."
Phineas narrowed his eyes, brushing back Harry's hair to examine the lightning-shaped scar. "Centaur? From the Forbidden Forest tribe? They didn't attack you?"
Harry hesitated, then remembered Phineas's hand on his scar. "No... the centaur's name was Firenze. He seemed mysterious, but friendly."
Phineas nodded. "That means you were still near Hogwarts. The deeper centaur tribes in the forest are much more hostile to wizards. They fiercely guard their territory, and most wouldn't hesitate to attack a wizard who trespasses."
"The centaurs closer to Hogwarts are more neutral. They keep to themselves, don't interfere, but also don't outright reject wizards. Still, even among them, some are hostile. Firenze sounds like one of the few exceptions."
Seeing the curiosity on their faces, Phineas couldn't help falling into a lecture.
"Centaurs are fascinating beings. They aren't hybrids—they are a unique race that's existed since the dawn of magic, around the same time as humans. When the Ministry of Magic was founded, it tried to classify centaurs as a 'near-human species,' but the centaurs rejected this and insisted on being classified as 'beasts.' They consider themselves superior to many other creatures, like vampires and yakshas, and would rather be labeled beasts than be grouped with them."
"They don't use wands or typical wizard magic, but they excel in healing, divination, archery, and astronomy. Our modern stargazing practices, like burning sage and marshmallow herbs, come from their traditions. One last warning: aside from Firenze, don't approach other centaurs lightly. They can be extremely dangerous."
The four students were deeply impressed—even Hermione, despite all her reading, had never learned such in-depth knowledge of centaurs.
In truth, Phineas knew even more, including secrets guarded by the Elder Council—secrets about the origins of wizards and divine designs. But those weren't meant for the general magical world.
Harry frowned. "Firenze said killing a unicorn is extremely cruel, and the killer would pay a price. What kind of price?"
Phineas hesitated before answering. "You shouldn't know this, Harry. But since you asked—and to stop you from doing anything foolish in the future—I'll explain. Ron, Neville, Hermione, you should listen too."
"Unicorns are sacred creatures, pure and gentle, beloved by nature. Even predators rarely attack them. Killing a unicorn means earning nature's hatred. Wizards, already viewed with suspicion by nature, are even more vulnerable to the consequences."
"Some in the magical world do hunt unicorns, though. Their hair make wand cores, their blood is an invaluable alchemical ingredient, their horns serve as antidotes, and their pelts have magical properties."
"The real curse comes from drinking the blood of a freshly killed unicorn—or worse, from a still-living one. That blood carries a powerful curse that dooms the drinker to a half-life, neither truly alive nor dead. You become dependent on the unicorn's blood, and if you stop taking it, you'll die. Even worse, the curse clings to the soul."
Harry's eyes widened. "But Firenze said the curse can be lifted by drinking the Elixir of Life."
Phineas shook his head. "Not lifted—purified. And even that comes at a cost. The Philosopher's Stone is created using raw unicorn blood. So is the Elixir of Life. The difference is, the blood is refined. But even then, long-term use of the Elixir causes dependence. You won't die, but your body will still decay. It grants immortality—but not eternal youth."
"But it can turn stone into gold!" Ron protested.
Phineas gave him a flat look. "Ron, honestly, you're nowhere near your twin brothers' level. The kind of wizard who can create a Philosopher's Stone doesn't need gold. They can brew rare potions worth far more. And refining the Stone is costly. The ability to transmute stone into gold just drains the Stone's energy. It's inefficient and a waste."
Harry looked serious. "Phineas… do you think Voldemort will return?"
Ron and Neville flinched at the name. Hermione stayed calm—she didn't yet grasp what had happened a decade ago.
Phineas sighed. "Harry, his return is inevitable. Dumbledore and I are certain he didn't die eleven years ago. He was gravely wounded, yes—but not destroyed."
"And please—don't say his name out loud again. It's not about fear. I'm not afraid of him. But his name carries magic. Saying it can alert him to your presence. That's why most wizards use 'You-Know-Who' or 'the Dark Lord.' Many died because of that name."
"But Dumbledore says it," Harry argued.
Phineas cut him off. "Dumbledore is Dumbledore. He's powerful enough to handle the consequences. You're not there yet. Courage isn't measured by saying his name—it's shown through action."
Phineas leaned in, speaking more gravely.
"Harry, I don't want you to live in fear—but you must be prepared. He's incredibly powerful. Very few in the magical world could even challenge him. It's not cowardly to fear him—it's dangerous not to respect that power."
"Ron, Neville, even Hermione—they can still enjoy their childhood. But you can't. Your parents died protecting you. You must avenge them. You already defeated him once, even if it was a fluke. That alone ensures he'll never forget you. You're marked, Harry. Someday, you'll have to face him—alone."
"No one—not me, not Dumbledore, not even Sirius—can do it for you. This is your fate."
Harry remained silent, lost in thought. The weight of Phineas's words hung heavy in the air.
After the others left, Phineas turned toward a seemingly empty spot.
"Professor, you know, for a legendary wizard, spying on your own students isn't very noble."
A shimmer of air revealed Dumbledore, eyes twinkling.
"Phineas, your words were excellent. If you weren't still a student, I'd ask you to teach. I think you'd be quite fit for Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Phineas paled. "No, thank you, Professor—I'm not ready to die just yet."
He paused, then added more seriously, "But you heard what happened in the Forbidden Forest last night, didn't you?"
"You mean his scar?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
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Author's Note:
I wanted to write more, but it's Chinese New Year, and guests are arriving. It would be rude to hide in my room. If—if—I have time tomorrow (New Year's Eve), I'll continue.
Wishing everyone a joyful and prosperous New Year! May you live long, stay healthy, be blessed, and succeed in all things!