Chapter 177: Dividing the treasure key

"Temple, starlight..." Ivan wanted to ask about that too, but before he spoke, he was interrupted by Firenze.

"I don't think it is appropriate to continue discussing this matter now. There are more pressing things to do." Firenze looked worriedly at the distant fire, and from time to time the noisy clicks of Acromantulas came from the trees. He said quietly, "Ivan, you just mentioned Peter Pettigrew. If I'm not mistaken, shouldn't he be dead?"

"He's not dead, it was all a conspiracy." Ivan told his briefly what had happened twelve years ago and a while ago at the Castle.

Firenze listened in silence, not seeing much surprise on his face.

What Ivan said about the shocking truth between James Potter, Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black, Firenze seemed to believe instantly, as if he had already known the truth.

"So, it was all done by Peter Pettigrew, Sirius has been wrongly imprisoned." Quickly said Ivan, "We must catch him and not let him run away. This is very crucial as upon him, rests the fate of many people."

"Everyone's fate has been doomed for a long time. For example, as for Peter Pettigrew, the omen of heaven told me about this unfortunate affair twenty years ago." Firenze stepped forward, "I once warned James and Sirius, but they didn't believe me.

The harbinger of heaven, twenty years ago?!

Ivan was not reluctant to believe Firenze, nor did he know if he really could see some glimpses of the future.

However, he did not seem to have entered the true prophetic state; like Professor Trelawney, who was generally not worth believing in.

"Where is Peter Pettigrew?" asked Firenze.

"He should have been badly wounded near Aragog's lair, but he'll be here soon. There are plenty of Acromantulas chasing him." Ivan, who was lost in thought, came to his senses. He pointed ahead and said, "We're heading in that direction, to an open space that he'll pass from in half an hour."

"Time is pressing!" Firenze did not ask why Ivan knew of this. he crouched down on his front paws. "We must hurry! You can get on. It'll be quicker that way." Firenze said, letting Ivan climb on his back.

Ivan had never had such an experience. Riding a Centaur, he had felt like riding a horse before, but this was a little different. He didn't feel even the slightest bump. Firenze was as delicate as a reindeer, and very fast.

Walking through the forest, it took them less than five minutes to reach the place where Ivan used Mr. Weasley's old car earlier.

The dark forest was quiet, and whatever was happening in Aragog's distant lair seemed to have nothing to do with it. Through the sparse trees, the starry sky could be seen.

"Well, let's wait here, thanks for helping me, Firenze!" Ivan slipped off the back. "I just met Ronan and Bane. They both refused to help me..."

"It's not surprising that centaurs won't help humans. We should never disobey what the heavens tell us. If a planet's trajectory had predicted your death, then even if you died alongside them, they would never help you," Firenze said.

"But you helped me, you are different from the other Centaurs," Ivan said.

"Everyone has a different understanding of the signs of heaven, so our practices are different. I once said, 'If necessary, I will side with the humans.'" Firenze looked up at the sky. "I have to admit that I am an anomaly in my ethnic group."

When he finished his words, silence reigned for a while, as neither of them uttered a word.

In the darkness, Ivan thought of the thing that was preserved within the centaur tribe, the magical object that was said to have massive power, the Secret Treasure Key left by Gryffindor.

"Firenze, if I want to get what is kept within your tribe, what must I do?" Ivan suddenly asked, "I have heard that I need the approval of the centaurs, what does that really mean?"

"For those who are chosen by fate, the planets will give a clear omen, and then the elders will make specific requests and ask you to do something for us." Firenze answered softly, still looking up at the sky.

"An omen from the planets?" Ivan was speechless at that moment.

He wanted to get recognition, and the centaurs demanded something specifically. He could understand it as long as they were something that could be fulfilled.

But what was the clear foreshadowing of the planets?

He could see no connection between the planet and his own fate. These mysterious things were really a headache.

Firenze did not answer Ivan's question. He pointed to the brightest star in the sky and said calmly, "Mars is shining tonight."

"I know, Ronan and Bane just said that, what does that mean?" Ivan sighed. Centaurs were all like that. He thought Firenze would be a bit normal, but it seemed their normality had its limits after all.

"That's an omen." Firenze said simply, "The harbinger of calamity, the worst harbinger of all. It's no coincidence that you showed up here tonight, Ivan. Perhaps you are the one chosen by fate, but I must warn you..."

Ivan did not speak; he waited for Firenze to continue.

"No matter what your purpose is, the one that makes you want to get that powerful magical object." Firenze looked at Ivan, his sapphire eyes glittered under the night sky, "I have to remind you that thing is completely different from what you think."

"Completely different?!" About the Secret Treasure Key of Gryffindor, Ivan had some guesses, but Firenze said that it was completely different from what he imagined. Why did he say that? He didn't even listen to his own guesses, yet he dared to come to such a conclusion?

"Yes, it's totally different! In fact, it's not even complete. It split in the past with the internal division of the Centaurs. We did not keep our original oath. For centuries, the elders of our tribe have been troubled by this."

"What did you say? is it not complete?" Ivan was stunned.

"This is a very long story, a dark history about the Centaurs." Firenze turned away and avoided Ivan's question.

He only vaguely said that the Secret Treasure Key that Gryffindor left behind was divided due to an internal split in the Centaur tribe. Obviously, he did not want to explain the matter in detail.

It was clear from his expression that, for the Centaurs, this was not something to be proud of.