[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-transfiguration-master-of-hogwarts":3,"chapter-the-transfiguration-master-of-hogwarts-the-transfiguration-master-of-hogwarts-chapter-43":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Transfiguration Master of Hogwarts",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2320748,4539,"Chapter 43: Centaur and Ruin","the-transfiguration-master-of-hogwarts-chapter-43",43,"\u003Cp>Allen hid behind a large rock inside the cave, observing for a long time without spotting any signs of life...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cautiously leaned forward to peer into the depths of the cave, where faint glows could barely be seen...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Allen was absorbed in watching, a strange voice suddenly came from behind him: “If I were you, I wouldn’t ignore what’s behind me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Allen spun around instantly to see what was happening, while reaching for his wand...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ping!” An arrow struck the rock just behind his arm as he reached for his wand, its feathered end still trembling...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Allen opened his hands and slowly raised them above his head; only then, by the cave’s dim light, did he see the creature behind him...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a being with a human upper body, silver-white hair, but below the waist, a luminous silver-white horse’s body, trailing a long white tail...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was drawing his bow, arrow nocked, aiming directly at Allen...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Centaur!” Allen stared in shock at this strange, beautiful, and powerful creature—the word suddenly popped into his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Allen cooperate, the centaur relaxed slightly. “Why are you here? Turtle-man!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Allen remembered what Hagrid had said before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hagrid! Hagrid! I know Hagrid!” Allen cried out urgently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The centaur instantly drew his bow taut again; Allen lowered his voice at once. “Hagrid brought me into the Forbidden Forest—I’m his new assistant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The centaur approached Allen cautiously; only then did Allen notice how muscular the centaur was—and he dared not move an inch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The centaur found a bundle of vines, tied Allen up, dragged him out of the cave, and threw him onto a patch of grass outside, then lit a torch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly are you? How did you become Hagrid’s assistant?” The centaur’s voice had softened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My name is Allen Finis. I’m a first-year student at Hogwarts, sent to help Hagrid with some tasks!” Allen said quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hogwarts? Now Hogwarts is taking students as strange as you?” The centaur’s voice turned surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He searched Allen thoroughly, indeed finding his wand, and spotted the Gryffindor emblem on his robes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression grew gentler. “Why did you come so deep into the Forbidden Forest? Even Hagrid hasn’t come this far!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That unicorn pulled me here!” Allen nodded his chin toward the unconscious unicorn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The centaur’s gaze swept over Allen’s carapace, covered in deep scratches from being dragged...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you like this?” He still found it hard to believe Allen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Allen explained his situation again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m Ferenc!” The centaur lowered his bow, untied Allen, and returned his wand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Allen politely thanked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a red spark exploded in the sky far away...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s Hagrid!” Ferenc gazed at the spark in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hagrid? How did he shoot a red spark?” Allen asked, then suddenly remembered the red light Hagrid had fired from his umbrella when the unicorn fled—he understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drew his own wand and fired a red spark into the sky; immediately, another red spark answered from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then silence fell between the boy and the centaur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, curiosity got the better of Allen. “What’s inside that cave? Have you been in there?” Allen asked cautiously, pointing at the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s an ancient ruin. Legend says your wizards’ power comes from these ruins. Our ancestors have always taught us never to enter that cave.” Ferenc gazed at the stars, speaking softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Allen froze. He suddenly recalled the history of ancient runes in “Origins of Ancient Runes”—could this be the very first ancient rune ruin mentioned in the book?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surge of excitement rose in him; he took a few steps toward the cave, wanting to go back inside...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I were you, I wouldn’t go in. Our ancestral teachings still hold value.” Ferenc kept his eyes on the bright stars above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Allen snapped back to his senses and stopped in his tracks...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, faint barking echoed from the distant trees; Allen quickly fired another red spark...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barking grew louder, and Allen heard Hagrid’s heavy footsteps approaching...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Hagrid burst out of the trees, disheveled and frantic; he rushed to Allen and scooped him up in a tight embrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you hurt?” Hagrid asked anxiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Allen once again appreciated the advantage of his carapace—despite being crushed in Hagrid’s arms, he could still breathe easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine! Ferenc took good care of me!” Allen mumbled into Hagrid’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Hagrid notice Ferenc beside him...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good evening, Hagrid! The stars are bright tonight!” Ferenc smiled at Hagrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid suddenly plopped onto the grass and wept like a giant dog. “Thank you, Ferenc! I thought Allen was dead! I didn’t know how to explain this to Professor McGonagall!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Hagrid sob, Allen walked over and gently patted his hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid wept for a long while before calming down...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you escape the unicorn?” Hagrid’s voice was hoarse from crying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It crashed into that tree and passed out!” Allen pointed to the tree the unicorn had hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid, not forgetting his duties, walked over to the unicorn and examined it carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Several of its horns are broken—two seem to have been broken for a while,” Hagrid reported his observations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have any unfamiliar creatures entered the Forbidden Forest lately? Creatures capable of harming unicorns are rare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Darkness has invaded the forest,” Ferenc whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid opened his mouth to ask more, but Ferenc already knew what he was going to say. “I haven’t encountered it yet. The planets haven’t revealed the answer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ferenc began to prepare to leave. “I must go. You should return too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Allen watched Ferenc’s figure until he vanished into the depths of the Forbidden Forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned his head—and the cave was gone. He shouted after Ferenc: “Where did the cave go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It appears only for a time on the last night of each month!” Ferenc’s voice echoed from deep within the forest, then faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What were you talking about? What cave?” Hagrid asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing!” Allen murmured, staring at the spot where Ferenc had disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s get back quickly. Too much happened today.” Hagrid looked at Allen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay!” Allen suddenly felt utterly exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>",1014,"2026-06-20T16:09:23.977Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","511d1d2097612e7abacd1092e5be41d6360db87bb29a2be38344b972bdb3c62a","the-transfiguration-master-of-hogwarts-chapter-44","the-transfiguration-master-of-hogwarts-chapter-42",284,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-transfiguration-master-of-hogwarts-cover.jpg"]