DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter. If I did, I would be rich. And the story would be a whole lot weirder...

Somebody please stop me. I mean it!

To my Anifanfic fans, don't worry! I'll finish my anifanfics! I'm not abandoning them!

I just need to get this Harry Potter streak out of my veins!

So, enjoy the streak while it lasts!

Introduction

Cider quickly walked through the forest, breathing fast. The young, snow white centaur had no idea what she was doing.

She had just left the large herd behind. Forever. She could never go back. Not after what they'd found.

Her book.

A History of Magic.

It was a wizard's book. A school book.

From Hogwarts.

No sensible centaur would carry a book of wizards!

Unless they were a traitor...

Cider now hurried through the bushes, looking around nervously. She had to get there. Hogwarts. If she could reach there she might be...safe... maybe...maybe they would let her stay!

Don't be ridiculous! Her mind told her. They'll never let you stay! A beast like you! You belong in the forest! They'll laugh! Don't you realize? Don't you see? That's all you are to them- a creature, an animal, nothing more. Some pretty forest horsie. Not a person.

You'll be a joke to them!

I have to go!

No you don't!

Where else can I go?!

Go back! Ask, beg, for forgiveness. You do that, they'll forgive you, forget all about it!

No they won't! And even if they would, I don't want to! I can't go back! Go back to what? Living in the woods like an animal?! Forget it! I want to know! I want to learn!

Know what? What is there for a centaur to know?

Everything she doesn't...

Cider hurried by tall trees. Stumbled over roots. She heard noises and speeded her walking to a full gallop in terror. She slowed down, panting, near the cabin.

She knew whose it was.

The cabin of the man Hagrid.

She remembered Firenze, the centaur who had been beaten and cast out for just wanting to teach.

They had not beaten her. But they had given her a choice. Burn the book and forget it forever, or leave, forever.

Forever.

That word echoed in Cider's mind.

She pushed her long, white hair behind her.

I want to know...

She stood on the edge of the forest, looking up at the looming castle ahead. The sun shone down on Hogwarts, making it, and it's surrounding fields look inviting. It didn't frighten her at all.

She chuckled. It's a school, how frightening can it be?

She'd heard so much about it. Seen so much near it.

When she was younger, she had snuck over near the edge of the forest and peered from behind trees with her friends, giggling and watching curiously.

The students out in the snow at Christmas. The lights in the towers. The strange fireworks that had flown around the year before. The quidditch games. The lights moving across the lake when they brought the new students on little boats in the fall. The students strolling down to Hagrid's cabin to look at magical creatures.

That last thought made her stomach cramp. Magical creatures. What a term!

She looked down at the cinders on her snow white fur with large, dark, violet eyes. The cinders of the book. They had burned it anyway, and thrown the ashes in her face, some of them still burning.

Cider's mother had turned away in shame. Her father had died years ago, fighting the acromantula.

"It's good your father cannot see you!" Her uncle had yelled in anger, as Cider had run away.

Cider pushed this out of her head, trying to squash the hurt down, though it welled up even more.

She wiped tears from her reddened eyes with sooty hands. She slowly moved up to the cabin.

She stared at the door for a few moments.

Should she knock? Would anyone answer?

What would she say?!

She heard a loud barking that made her jolt a little. She stepped away from the door.

"Quiet now Fang!" A voice boomed. She recognized it as Hagrid's.

Albus Dumbledore. She thought. I must speak to Albus Dumbledore.

She had seen him at the centaur's camp when he came to collect that awful rude fat woman. He had been so tall. His snow white beard and funny clothes and hat, and half moon spectacles had been so interesting to peer at. Cider had had to stop herself from reaching forward and touching his beard and robes.

With the thought of Dumbledore, she smiled, and reached out slowly with a hand, and knocked on the door.

"Oh, so it is somebody then! You were right Fang!" She heard heavy footsteps near the door. It opened.

A tall man, very built, with a bushy head of hair, and a large, black, bushy beard looked down at her smiling. Then his eyes opened with surprise as they registered what she was.

"Ahm...may I help you?" He said gruffly.

"I...please...I need to speak to Albus Dumbledore." She said softly.

He stared a few moments, then let her inside.

She clopped in slowly, and stood by the fire place. He closed the door.

"What's wrong? Is it the centaurs? Did somethin' appen?!"

"N-no...well...yes..."

"Are they 'urt?"

"N-no...I...they...they made me leave..."

"Why?"

"I...I...had a book...a wizard's book...See, I wanted to know-"

"Why would they throw you out fer a book?!"

"Because I wanted to know about wizards. About other people. Other than centaurs."

He gave a look of understanding. "Oh. I see. Like Firenze."

She grew excited. He understood! "Yes!"

"And you want to speak to Dumbledore?"

"Well, yes!"

"Well...alright. I s'pose so! Why not then?" He smiled brightly and she did also.

"You stay 'ere, and I'll go get 'im!" He opened the door and went out and closed it behind him.

She stood nervously, looking around. She nearly jumped when she saw the gigantic dog sitting comfortably on the large bed by the wall. He looked at her through droopy eyes and woofed. She smiled a little at how funny looking it was. He didn't seem mean even if he was...well...large...

She stood there, near the warm fireplace, looking down at the cinders on her legs and body.

All of the grief welled up in her again.

"Mama..." She said softly. A solitary tear streaked down the young centaur's face. She had almost wiped it away when the door flew open.

She turned around quickly. The blinding light of day flooding through the door made her squint.

There, in the light from the door, stood a tall figure.

"Hello." A calm, kind voice said. "Are you alright?"

"Albus Dumbledore." She said softly, as he entered the room slowly. "Please, I need to talk to you."