Thestrals and Willows

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A/N: Sorry for updating this so late! I literally had no inspiration or idea on what to write, so this is mostly (all) filler. I hope that it is good enough for now until the next update! 

On other news, I'm finally back home and have access to both my laptop and my copy of the COS so writing will be a lot easier. I will also have more time to write, so hopefully my updates will be more frequent. 

However, school is starting on Monday for me, so, while the first few weeks won't be so bothersome, I might have a heavier workload later on which could potentially set me back. (I don't think this will be a problem, but I'm just putting this out there in case.)

⚠️THIS IS UNEDITED, RUSHED, SHORT, AND SHITTY. I'M SORRY⚠️

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"Anyways," Blaise said, "what do you guys think about our new defense professor?"

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By the time the train stopped at Hogsmeade, the sun was long gone and the moon was hanging among the stars. The wind was bitter and quick, biting at any exposed skin rapidly and unforgivingly. Despite it only being September, various students, as well as Harry, had wrapped themselves in warm knitted scarves displaying house colors. 

Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, who had joined them some time after Mandy had, led the group to the thestral-drawn carriages. 

When Harry came within the horses' range of smell, they all stopped and stood at attention, turning to him and following his movements. A few carriages veered off path while others simply stopped as the horses tried to get closer to him. 

"What's wrong with the carriages?" Lee frowned, looking at the vehicles disapprovingly. 

"It's not the carriages," Luna said in a whimsical voice, " it's what's pulling them." 

Draco blinked at Luna. "What's... pulling them..." he said slowly, his face betraying his confusion. 

Neville gulped audibly from beside Harry. "Y-you mean you can't see them?" He stumbled backwards as one particularly daring horse came up to them and nuzzled into Harry. 

"See what?" Mandy asked, "There's nothing there!" 

Seeing Harry pet the first horse affectionately, a few other empty carriages made their ways over, vying for his attention. 

"Er- Harry? What are you doing?" Susan asked from behind him. 

"Petting the thestrals." he responded calmly. He reached over, taking the hand nearest to him - which happened to be Hermione's - and setting it on another horse's flank. Hermione squeaked as her hand connected with the rough scales before she too started to pet it, but with much more caution than Harry. 

"The what?" Tracy asked, staring at Hermione's hair as a thestral nuzzled against it, causing it to shift. 

"T-the big black horses with sharp teeth standing right in front if you. You really don't see them?" Theo asked meekly. His face was pale. One of his hands was clutched tightly around Daphne's while the other was tugging at Blaise's sleeve. 

They were both trying to comfort him, but the Ravenclaw was shaking like a leaf. 

Other students were starting to crowd around them while others spilled out of their unmoving carriages. 

Uncomfortable with the attention, Harry cleared his throat and stepped away from the small herd of horses that had surrounded them. He ignored the whines and complaints the horses made in favor of taking Neville's and Draco's hands and climbing into the nearest carriage. 

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