Firenze has paid a high price for his choices. The centaur from the Forbidden Forest once saved Harry Potter’s life, defying the rigid beliefs of his herd in the process. Years later, when he accepted Dumbledore’s offer to teach Divination at Hogwarts, he was cast out for good.

Today, Firenze lives and teaches at the castle. His divination is based on the careful observation of stars and planets. Centaurs see possible developments in them—and know that even they can misread the signs.

For weeks, Firenze has followed Mars as it draws close to Antares, the red heart of the Scorpion. In old records from his herd, he finds the same celestial event and a warning: Two paths will cross, and neither will emerge unchanged.

What those words truly mean, Firenze does not know.

On the night Mars and Antares reach their closest approach, he meets you at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

Perhaps it is coincidence.

Firenze has learned, however, that a good prediction sometimes begins with finding out exactly that.