[Note: Read up to Chapter - 130 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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"This is... the power of astrology!"
Firenze, who had been quietly observing Aris, was the first to notice the change in the boy's eyes.
In that instant, the entire starry sky seemed to transform into a vast black curtain.
Streams of starlight poured down from above, weaving through the air until they completely enveloped Aris.
Bathed in celestial light, the boy stood radiating an aura both commanding and otherworldly—one that demanded attention and reverence.
Every eye turned towards him, drawn by the overwhelming presence he now carried.
Aris, meanwhile, appeared lost in a trance—immersed in some mystical state.
"It really is the power of astrology!"
"Impossible... this defies belief!"
"Who is he, to wield such a gift?"
"By Merlin, may the gods watch over us!"
The centaurs could hardly contain their shock. The fury that once burned in their eyes had vanished, replaced now by awe, reverence—even a touch of fear.
Some among them dropped their heads low in respect. A few even bowed, something Dumbledore had never expected to witness.
The centaurs were a proud race. Even in the darkest times—whether under Grindelwald's terror or Voldemort's reign—they had remained neutral, untouched by fear or politics.
They had always relied on the stars to guide them through turmoil, avoiding alliances and steering clear of conflict.
Dumbledore himself had tried countless times to win their support during those wars, but the Centaur Tribe had consistently declined, offering polite refusals masked as wisdom.
And they had never once shown him—Dumbledore, the most revered white wizard of the age—such deference.
Yet now, here they were… bowing before an eleven-year-old boy.
It was nothing short of extraordinary.
"Professor Dumbledore, what in Merlin's name is going on?"
Even Hagrid looked utterly flabbergasted by the scene before him.
He, more than anyone, understood the pride of centaurs—and never in his wildest dreams did he expect to see them bowing to a human.
"Perhaps... it's got something to do with the astrological prophecies they hold in such high regard," Dumbledore mused.
Even he didn't fully grasp what was unfolding. The descent of celestial energy upon Aris was unlike anything he had ever seen.
Still, he had a hunch—perhaps Aris possessed an extraordinary gift for astrology, far beyond the norm.
Nothing else could explain how the raw power of the stars had begun flowing into him.
Aris, meanwhile, remained immersed in the starlight. His eyes were open, yet distant. Those silver-white pupils shimmered with a peculiar enchantment—as though time itself were bending. Fleeting visions danced within them: fractured, flickering images flashing one after the other.
Just then, Firenze's expression changed. He looked away from Aris and up toward the glowing veil of starlight cascading from the heavens.
"A vision... it's a vision!" he exclaimed.
The other centaurs immediately followed his gaze.
In the semi-transparent curtain woven from celestial light, shapes began to form—blurry at first, but gaining clarity.
"He's sharing the vision!" Firenze cried out.
"This lad is glimpsing the future!"
All at once, the centaurs entered a peculiar trance. It was as if the starlit veil had granted them some ancient right—some forgotten privilege passed down by the stars themselves.
And the images—fast and flickering—grew sharper.
They beheld a boundless grassy plain, where herds of centaurs thundered forward in unison, galloping across the land in pursuit of a blinding, radiant light.
It wasn't chaos. It was purpose. As if they were fulfilling some great and ancient duty, drawn ever onward by fate.
They had no idea how much time had passed—but within that soft blue glow, they glimpsed a dreamlike vision: a kingdom of the gods, majestic and distant.
And then, just as quickly as it appeared, the vision vanished.
Aris's voice rang out, not from his lips but directly in their minds—deep, calm, and filled with a power far beyond his years.
"The gears of destiny are already in motion. That place… it is the crossroads that leads to the Kingdom of the Gods. In the torrent of time yet to come..."
"You will have only one chance… to honour me as your king."
The voice didn't sound like it belonged to an eleven-year-old boy. It carried the weight of age, of wisdom, of something ancient. A presence that transcended time itself.
In that moment, Aris no longer seemed like a student of Hogwarts, or even a child.
He seemed like a being beyond space and time—gazing down upon the living world, watching waves ripple across the river of time.
Then, as if reacting to his final words, the blazing starlight erupted, bright as the noonday sun.
And just as suddenly, the starry sky dimmed.
The lights faded.
Aris's silver eyes slowly returned to normal.
Hagrid stood rooted to the spot, jaw hanging open in disbelief.
"Blimey..." he whispered. He looked like he'd forgotten how to breathe.
"Absolutely extraordinary," Dumbledore murmured, his eyes gleaming with wonder. "So this… this is the power of astrology?"
Then he shook his head.
"No—it's more than that. This isn't just some run-of-the-mill divination. This is a higher form of stargazing… one fused with vision—true prophecy!"
He stroked his beard thoughtfully, awe still etched across his face.
"The world really is vast," he sighed. "So many mysteries yet to be uncovered..."
Meanwhile, the centaurs—still recovering from the vision—turned their gaze back to Aris. Their expressions had changed entirely.
In their eyes was a mix of awe, joy, uncertainty… and something deeper: hope.
Hope for the future.
"The gears of fate have turned…" someone whispered again, as if to reassure themselves it had truly happened.
"The road to the Kingdom of God..."
"That was a glimpse of the future's torrent..."
"Only one chance..."
The centaurs exchanged solemn glances. Then, as if silently reaching an agreement, they moved in unison.
Led by Firenze, they lowered their human torsos and bent their forelegs—gracefully kneeling upon the forest floor. One by one, the entire tribe bowed before Aris.
"What are you lot doing?"
Aris, who had only just returned to full awareness, blinked in confusion. The sight of the proud centaurs kneeling caught him completely off guard.
He hadn't the faintest idea what was going on.
The last thing he remembered was falling into that stargazing trance—no, something beyond mere stargazing. He sensed that Merlin's astrological talent had fully awakened inside him. He now had the ability to re-enter that state whenever he wished.
But what happened while he was in that state? No clue.
It was like blacking out after too many Firewhiskys. You remember drinking… but the rest? Blank.
Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, a deep voice echoed from the centaurs:
"The entire Centaur tribe hereby swears loyalty to you as our king!"
They spoke in perfect unison, firm and resolute, as if this decision was not just tradition—but prophecy.
"You what?!"
Aris gawked, wide-eyed.
King? Had he heard that right?
His mind was spinning. He stared dumbly at the kneeling centaurs, not knowing whether to run, laugh, or faint on the spot.
Dumbledore leaned in slightly and murmured with a smile, "Might be a good time to let them up, don't you think?"
Aris jolted back to his senses.
"Right—yeah, get up, please! I mean, really, someone tell me what in Merlin's beard just happened!"
He turned to Firenze, eyes pleading for clarity, trying to make sense of how things had flipped upside-down so quickly.
At Aris's word, the centaurs slowly rose to their feet.
Sensing the confusion in Aris's expression, Firenze stepped forward and spoke with reverence.
"My king, this is the destiny of the centaurs."
"There's an old legend... it's said that our ancestors once entered a mysterious land—sacred and hidden. There, they were gifted the ability to read the stars and divine fortune."
"And that gift... it's been passed down ever since. It's how our branch has survived from ancient times till now."
Firenze glanced at Aris and, seeing him listening intently without any hint of doubt, continued:
"We centaurs can't wield magic like wizards do, and in the wizarding world, our place has always been... marginal. We're never treated with the respect or status we deserve. That's why we roam—why we've formed tribes and chosen to live apart."
"But there's been a prophecy in our line, passed down through generations..."
At this, Firenze's voice dropped slightly, filled with solemnity.
"When the gate to the Kingdom of God opens once more, our people will be freed. We will no longer live in hiding or shame."
"On that new land, all magical races will flourish. Together, they'll build a magnificent and thriving civilisation—without fear, without prejudice."
He raised his eyes to Aris again, unwavering.
"And now, it is your prophecy, my king, that's rekindled this hope. You've shown us the path to the Kingdom once more."
"Our fate is sealed. From this day forward, the Centaurs are bound to you. We rise with you. We fall with you."
"We pledge our loyalty—our lives—to serve our king."
After hearing all this, Aris finally began to piece things together.
So it turns out... he'd made a prophecy earlier, when his astrology talent activated—and the message just happened to be tied to the centaurs. That's why they suddenly pledged loyalty?
They recognised me as their king? Just like that?
That's mental.
We're talking about the fate of an entire tribe—handed over on the basis of one starry outburst? And to a lad who barely looks eleven?
Absolutely barmy.
Aris couldn't help but grumble inwardly. This whole situation was a bit much.
Of course, what he still hadn't quite grasped... was how deeply the centaurs respected and believed in the power of astrological prophecy.
If he had, maybe he wouldn't have found all this quite so mad.
Let's be honest, they've spent their whole lives studying the stars. And now, someone's shown them a glimpse of a future they've never seen before.
Course they're going to latch onto that like a Kneazle on a gnome.
Nearby, Hagrid stood blinking, clearly trying to process what had just happened. He gave himself a sharp pinch on the thigh—hard enough to make his eyes water.
"I'm not dreamin', then..." he muttered, half in disbelief.
"But... the centaurs just bent the knee to Aris? He's just a kid!"
The low murmur caught Dumbledore's ear.
Though he, too, was quietly astonished, the old wizard wore a faint, knowing smile.
"His future's bound to be brilliant," he said softly.
"The centaurs were right to submit now—it's a clever move, really."
"They spend all day with their noses in the stars, and seems it's paid off for once..."
There was a thoughtful glint in his eye.
Because Dumbledore alone understood just how frightening Aris's potential truly was.
Not just the elemental magic—no, that was only the beginning.
Even the little red dragon, Iris, would one day shake the wizarding world to its core.
Its wisdom far surpassed that of any human, its body stronger than the dragons of this world, and it even wielded mysterious magical powers—ones Dumbledore himself couldn't fully comprehend.
Could something like that truly be called just a dragon?
And then there was elemental magic... If Aris genuinely managed to bring that system into the wider wizarding world, then what lay ahead wasn't merely a shift in power—it would be the birth of an entirely new magical civilisation.
Dumbledore found himself overwhelmed by how much of the world remained unknown—how much there was still to learn.
He had seen it with his own eyes—the elemental realm. And in that moment, he felt just how small he truly was.
He understood one thing clearly: when that new magic took root, everything standing in Aris's way would be flattened like mud beneath the wheels of history.
Swept away. Crushed. Without mercy.
Because Dumbledore had seen it. He had glimpsed its brilliance.
And from the moment he'd touched that world, he had already made up his mind.
There was no turning back.
He had only one choice in this lifetime—to stand beside Aris, to walk alongside him until the dawn of that great magical age.
Still, a shadow of concern tugged at his heart.
Would the boy remain true to himself on that journey?
Would he lose sight of who he once was?
Just then, Bane and Ronan stepped forward, standing before Aris—and without a word, dropped to one knee.
"My king, we owe you an apology," Bane said, his tone solemn.
"We acted rashly and disturbed you. Please—punish us as you see fit."
Aris stared, clearly uncomfortable. He hadn't exactly prepared for this whole 'king' business.
"Alright, alright—none of that," he muttered, frowning slightly.
"You're makin' me feel awkward..."
"Get up, would you?"
Bane and Ronan gave him a grateful nod and slowly rose to their hooves, casting him a look of genuine respect.
"The houses you lot live in—those were destroyed by Iris, weren't they?" Aris sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I suppose that's on me for not keeping a closer eye on her. I'll have her help rebuild the lot."
He added, with a shrug, "And, well… she's a dragon. She's got a bit of a thing for anything shiny, you know?"
"I'll make sure she gives back whatever valuables she nicked."
"My king, please, those are trifling matters," Firenze said quickly, lowering his head, Bane following suit.
The memory of how they'd behaved earlier—storming in all riled up—was enough to make them both want the ground to swallow them whole.
Who would've guessed it?
The one they'd thought was the enemy had turned out to be their king.
"No arguing," Aris said with a wave of his hand.
"Oh, right—" He turned to Firenze. "Among all the centaurs, you're the best at reading the stars, yeah?"
Firenze exchanged a look with Bane and Ronan.
Though they looked a bit reluctant, they eventually nodded.
"Yes... Firenze does have the sharpest gift among us when it comes to prophecy."
"Brilliant!" Aris's eyes lit up.
"Then we'll have to chat more, yeah? I've still got loads of questions about astrology and prophecy."
"You know we don't even get Divination classes in first year at Hogwarts—and even when we do, it's all a bit naff compared to real astrological predictions..."
"Understood, my king." Firenze smiled and bowed again, clearly chuffed.
"If you wish to learn, I'll share everything I know."
"Right then, it's settled!" Aris grinned.
"I'll swing by tomorrow—and I'll bring Iris too, so she can help with rebuilding your homes."
"As you command, my king." The centaurs all bowed low once more.
And so, under the watchful gaze of the gathered centaurs, Aris, Dumbledore, and Hagrid slowly made their way out of the Forbidden Forest.
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Drop power Powerstonessssssssss!
[Note: Read up to Chapter - 130 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]