Matilda Matlock

Busy Busy

disclaimer: mature content.

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All throughout the day about a week later, Matilda patiently awaited what was to come that evening... the first D.A. lesson.

Luna had taken care of the coins almost immediately after meeting with the group in the pub, engraving one for each member and telling them to keep it safe. Thus, the date and time for the first meeting spread throughout the students perfectly, making it clear that it was set to be their very first lesson with Matilda in the mysterious Room of Requirement at 7:30 p.m that night.

"That Dobby is quite useful, isn't he?" Ginny said quietly as they walked down the hill to Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical Creatures. "What luck that he overheard about that room."

"I still don't quite understand it," Matilda muttered. "A room that you cannot see? How does that even work?"

"I suppose we'll find out," Luna replied.

Nearing the hut, they spotted Hagrid standing atop his porch step looking quite excited as the class approached. He had a big smile on his face and he was beckoning everyone over, as per usual, and bellowing to each student.

"Come along, now, that's it, gather 'round!" he called. "We've got quite the lesson today, a real interestin' one..."

Matilda, Ginny and Luna positioned themselves at the front of the group, Matilda flashing a friendly smile to Hagrid who returned one before looking up to the now huddled group of students.

He directed everyone to follow him around the back, towards the woods, guiding them past the fenced pumpkins and across the mossy stones, nearing the entrance to the forest where they typically learned about larger creatures...

Matilda looked up and sharply gasped.

There, standing in a pack of three, were the same large, black, winged skeleton-like horses that she saw pulling the carriages about three months prior.

They were lazily pawing at the ground and shaking their heads every once and a while, showing no intent of walking up to the students just yet, and acting quite peaceful despite the large group approaching.

"Here we are!" Hagrid said, motioning to the horses.

Matilda was staring in a wide-eyed bewilderment, eager to know what these things really were and why very few people in the class were gasping and eyeing them closely.

"Erm... sir, what exactly are we supposed to be... looking at?" Hannah Abbot asked hesitantly.

"Ah, right," Hagrid said. "Now, today we're going to be learning about Thestrals."

Matilda flicked her eyes to Luna, who was admiring the winged creatures with an adoring gaze, a small smile pulling gently at her lips.

"Thestrals are a fascinatin' creature," he continued. "If yeh haven't noticed already, it seems that only some of yeh can see 'em. Now, show of hands, who can see them standin' right here?"

Matilda looked around at her peers. Neville slowly raised his hand, as well as a Slytherin boy named Theodore Nott, Luna standing next to her, and finally, Matilda.

"I can see 'em too," Hagrid said, motioning for the few students who did to put their hands down. "There's a reason why only some of us can. Any guesses as to why?"

Luna promptly raised her hand again. Hagrid nodded at her with a smile.

"Thestrals are only visible to those who have witnessed death," she answered dreamily.