The Hogwarts Descendant

Chapter 39

Dahlia was having a hard time concealing her panic as the train rolled to a stop at the Hogwarts station. Harry hadn't returned at all the remaining two hours to Hogwarts. Ginny, Luna, and Neville had come by as promised, but Harry never made a reappearance. She hadn't seen Malfoy, Zabini, or Nott either while departing the train.

She now stood beside her trunk, scanning the crowd worriedly. Something had happened - she was sure of it. The bond with Harry was silent, seemingly nonexistent which both worried and comforted her. The necklace was silent, too, though it did nothing to soothe her worries.

Dahlia worried more as Hermione and Ron gathered around her, dropping their trunks next to hers. They were both nervously scanning the crowd round them, uneasy at Harry's failure to return. For a few moments no one spoke, eyes searching the crowd for any sign of Harry.

"We're supposed to leave our trunks here this year," Hermione said quietly, her eyes skimming the crowd. Dahlia nodded, continuing to search the crowd, though admittedly not for Harry. Her heart was pounding so hard she feared it would burst through her chest. Desperately, Dahlia silently begged for one of the boys to have opened her message - to have not accidentally betrayed their secret.

"We better go," Ron said uneasily as Filch started rounding up the straggling students toward the castle. "I'm sure Harry went up already..."

"Because suspicious things always turn out good for us, right, Ronald?" Hermione said crossly, taking Dahlia's arm as the three began to slowly make their way towards the last carriage. The three walked forward in silence, rounding the bend in the path that led to the carriages. As the carriage came into view, Dahlia gasped in surprise, stumbling back and out of Hermione's grasp. She'd always heard that the carriages were horseless - pulled by magic. That's what all the young students spoke of, but before her a creature stood harnessed to the wagon.

"What the..." Dahlia exhaled shakily, staring wide-eyed at the queer creature that stood at the front of the carriage. It was a dark grey, it's skin like leather. Two huge wings were folded on it's back, paper - thin flesh joining its large dark bones. The animal was large - bigger than the average horse, its wings adding to the intimidation.

"What is it, Dahlia?" Hermione looked at her curiously, almost cautiously. She looked between Dahlia and the carriage curiously. "What do you see?"

"Th-that thing! Pulling the carriage!" Dahlia looked astounded at Hermione, raising her finger to point at the strange creature. "Do you not see it? It's pulling the fucking wagon!"

"Dahlia, the wagons pull themselves," Ron said quietly, looking strangely at the dark haired girl. Dahlia gave him an incredulous, in complete disbelief that he couldn't see the creature..

"Am I going mad then?" Dahlia asked, stomping her foot in indignation. "Watch - there's something there!"

Dahlia took a few steps forward quickly, slowing her pace when she neared the creature. It didn't react; simply watched her cautious approach. Slowly, step by step Dahlia eased herself closer, giving the animal time to react. It made no indication of hostile behavior, so Dahlia continued forward until her hand bumped into it's skin. It wasn't warm, though it wasn't cold either. The papery leather beneath her hand was softer than she expected, the animal snorting when her hand connected with it.

"Come," Dahlia called to Hermione, gesturing for her friend to accompany her in front of the carriage. Hermione approached apprehensively, looking concerned for her friend's sanity.

"Dahlia, there's nothing -"

"Shut up and give me your hand," Dahlia insisted, snagging Hermione's hand in her own and lifting it to the animal's flank. The moment Hermione's hand connected with it she shrieked, falling back. Dahlia jerked her hand back, anticipating the animal to react to Hermione's scream, but it remained where it was calmly, looking expectantly at Dahlia.