Firenze (Harry Potter)
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Firenze is the name of a centaur recurrent in the Harry Potter series, written by J. K. Rowling.
He is introduced in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (alternately titled Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone) when he saves Harry from the antagonist of the series, Voldemort. In this section of the book, Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Draco Malfoy are serving detention in the Forbidden Forest, where unicorns were being killed. Hagrid was attempting to find out why with the help of the children. Harry was accosted by Voldemort, but Firenze rescued him. The other centaurs of the forest, mainly Bane, lashed out at Firenze for letting Harry ride his back and an argument ensued concerning a centaurs apparent responsibility to read the stars, yet not attempt to change them.
Firenze neglected to make another appearance until the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. He took over the Divination teaching position after the former instructor, Professor Trelawney was fired by High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge. When Harry saw Firenze in class, it was obvious that Firenze had been attacked, and Rowling reveals that Firenze was indeed cast out of the centaur herd for agreeing to assist the Hogwarts headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Firenze ignored centaur rule because he believed he had to do that which was necessary to stop Lord Voldemort. At the end of the fifth book, Firenze remained a member of the teaching staff, so it is likely he will return in future works.