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ys at Hermione。 She was wearing a triumphant smile。
'Who are you？' said a voice。
Harry looked left。 The chestnut…bodied centaur called Magorian was walking towards them out of the circle： his bow； like those of the others； was raised。 On Harry's right； Umbridge was still whimpering； her wand trembling violently as she pointed it at the advancing centaur。
'I asked you who are you； human；' said Magorian roughly。
'I am Dolores Umbridge！' said Umbridge in a high…pitched； terrified voice。 'Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic and Headmistress and High Inquisitor of Hogwarts！'
'You are from the Ministry of Magic？' said Magorian； as many of the centaurs in the surrounding circle shifted restlessly。
That's right！' said Umbridge； in an even higher voice； 'so be very careful！ By the laws laid down by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures； any attack by half…breeds such as yourselves on a human …'
'What did you call us？' shouted a wild…looking black centaur； whom Harry recognised as Bane。 There was a great deal of angry muttering and tightening of bowstrings around them。
'Don't call them that！' Hermione said furiously； but Umbridge did not appear to have heard her。 Still pointing her shaking wand at Magorian； she continued； 'Law Fifteen 〃B〃 states clearly that 〃any attack by a magical creature who is deemed to have near…human intelligence； and therefore considered responsible for its actions …〃'
'〃Near…human intelligence〃？' repeated Magorian； as Bane and several others roared with rage and pawed the ground。 'We consider that a great insult； human！ Our intelligence； thankfully； far outstrips your own。'
'What are you doing in our Forest？' bellowed the hard…faced grey centaur Harry and Hermione had seen on their last trip into the Forest。 'Why are you here？'
'Your Forest？' said Umbridge； shaking now not only with fright but also； it seemed； with indignation。 'I would remind you that you live here only because the Ministry of Magic permits you certain areas of land …'
An arrow flew so close to her head that it caught at her mousy hair in passing： she let out an ear…splitting scream and threw her hands over her head； while some of the centaurs bellowed their approval and others laughed raucously。 The sound of their wild； neighing laughter echoing around the dimly lit clearing and the sight of their pawing hooves was extremely unnerving。
'Whose Forest is it now； human？' bellowed Bane。
'Filthy half…breeds！' she screamed； her hands still tight over her head。 'Beasts！ Uncontrolled animals！'
'Be quiet！' shouted Hermione； but it was too late： Umbridge pointed her wand at Magorian and screamed； 'Incarcerous！'
Ropes flew out of midair like thick snakes； wrapping themselves tightly around the centaur's torso and trapping his arms： he gave a cry of rage and reared on to his hind legs； attempting to free himself； while the other centaurs charged。
Harry grabbed Hermione and pulled her to the ground； face down on the Forest floor； he knew a moment of terror as hooves thundered around him； but the centaurs leapt over and around them； bellowing and screaming with rage。
'Nooooo！' he heard Umbridge shriek。 'Noooooo： I am Senior Undersecretary： you cannot … Unhand me； you animals： nooooo！'
Harry saw a flash of red light and knew she had attempted to Stun one of them； then she screamed very loudly。 Lifting his head a few inches； Harry saw that Umbridge had been seized from behind by Bane and lifted high into the air； wriggling and yelling with fright。 Her wand fell from her hand to the ground； and Harry's heart leapt。 If he could just reach it …
But as he stretched out a hand towards it； a centaur's hoof descended upon the wand and it broke cleanly in half。
'Now！' roared a voice in Harry's ear and a thick hairy arm descended from thin air and dragged him upright。 Hermione； too； had been pulled to her feet。 Over the plunging； many…coloured backs and heads of the centaurs； Harry saw Umbridge being borne away through the trees by Bane。 Screaming non…stop； her voice grew fainter and fainter until they could no longer hear it over the trampling of hooves surrounding them。
'And these？' said the hard…faced； grey centaur holding Hermione。
They are young；' said a slow； doleful voice from behind Harry。 'We do not attack foals。'
They brought her here； Ronan；' replied the centaur who had such a firm grip on Harry。 'And they are not so young： he is nearing manhood； this one。'
He shook Harry by the neck of his robes。
'Please；' said Hermione breathlessly； 'please； don't attack us； we don't think like her； we aren't Ministry of Magic employees！ We only came in here because we hoped you'd drive her off for us。'
Harry knew at once； from the look on the face of the grey centaur holding Hermione； that she had made a terrible mistake in saying this。 The grey centaur threw back his head； his back legs stamping furiously； and bellowed； 'You see； Ronan？ They already have the arrogance of their kind！ So we were to do your dirty work； were we； human girl？ We were to act as your servants； drive away your enemies like obedient hounds？'
'No！' said Hermione in a horror…struck squeak。 'Please … I didn't mean that！ I just hoped you'd be able to … to help us …'
But she seemed to be going from bad to worse。
'We do not help humans！' snarled the centaur holding Harry； tightening his grip and rearing a little at the same time； so that Harry's feet left the ground momentarily。 'We are a race apart and proud to be so。 We will not permit you to walk from here； boasting that we did your bidding！'
'We're not going to say anything like that！' Harry shouted。 'We know you didn't do what you did because we wanted you to …'
But nobody seemed to be listening to him。
A bearded centaur towards the back of the crowd shouted； They came here unasked； they must pay the consequences！'
A roar of approval met these words and a dun…coloured centaur shouted； They can join the woman！'
'You said you didn't hurt the innocent！' shouted Hermione； real tears sliding down her face now。 'We haven't done anything to hurt you； we haven't used wands or threats； we just want to go back to school； please let us go back …'
'We are not all like the traitor Firenze； human girl！' shouted the grey centaur； to more neighing roars of approval from his fellows。 'Perhaps you thought us pretty talking horses？ We are an ancient people who will not stand wizard invasions and insults！ We do not recognise your laws； we do not acknowledge your superiority； we are …'
But they did not hear what else centaurs were； for at that moment there came a crashing noise on the edge of the clearing so loud that all of them； Harry； Hermione and the fifty or so centaurs filling the clearing； looked around。 Harry's centaur let him fall to the ground again as his hands flew to his bow and quiver of arrows。 Hermione had been dropped； too； and Harry hurried towards her as two thick tree trunks parted ominously and the monstrous form of Grawp the giant appeared in the gap。
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