The Jade Malfoy Book 2: Order of the Phoenix

Chapter 19

     Ursa spots the horses from the carriages flying and follows them into the forest. She finds Harry on her way. "Following those things from the carriage too?" Ursa asks.

     "Yeah. I wish I knew why no one else can see them."

     "Luna seems to know. I keep meaning to ask her." They walk together. They find Luna among the horses, barefoot. "Hello Harry Potter. Ursa Malfoy." Luna says.

     "Your feet. Aren't they cold?" Harry asks.

     "A bit." Luna replies. "Unfortunately all of my shoes have mysteriously disappeared. I suspect Nargles are behind it."

     "Or other students." Ursa suggests. "What are they?" Ursa asks motioning to the horses.

     "They're called Thestrals." Luna answers. "They're really quiet gentle, really, but people avoid them because they're a bit..."

     "Different." Harry finishes. Luna starts walking towards them and Harry and Ursa follow. "But why can't the others see them?"

     "They can only be seen by people who've seen death."

     "Cedric." Ursa says.

     "So you've seen someone die?" Harry asks.

     "My mum." Luna replies. "She was quite an extraordinary witch, but she did like to experiment... and one day one of her spells went badly wrong. I was 9."

     "I'm sorry." Ursa says. "And now know to be extra careful when I experiment."

     "Yes, it was rather horrible." Luna says. "I do feel sad about it sometimes, but I've got Dad." They stop in front of a baby and Luna takes an apple from her bag. "We both believe you, by the way. That He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back and you fought him... and you were cursed by him... and that the Ministry and Prophet are conspiring against you Harry."

     "Thanks." Harry says. "It seems you're about the only ones who do."

     "Yeah." Ursa agrees.

     "I don't think that's true." Luna replies before rolling the apple to the baby testral. "But I suppose that's how he wants you to feel."

     "What do you mean?" Harry asks.

     "Well, if I were You-Know-Who I'd want you to feel cut off from everyone else because if it's just you alone you're not as much as a threat."

     "True." Ursa says. "Though he's not trying to kill me."

     "Just get you to join him." Harry says.

     "Yeah."

***

     Ursa is sitting with the Gryffindors studying in the Great Hall. "Did anything interesting happen to you this summer Ursa?" Hermione asks.

     "Pretty much uneventful except for one thing and Draco and my birthday party." Ursa replies. "My father thinks Pansy and I are more than friends so he took me into the garden shed and threatened me. I overreacted, thinking he was about to hex me, that I hit him with a binding curse and locked him in the shed. Then I went back to the garden and I kissed my best friend."

     Pansy comes up behind Ursa. "Well since I wasn't there," Hermione starts. "Your only other best friend is Pansy."

     "Yep." Pansy says.

     "Oops." Ursa says with a chuckle. "He was right."

     "Wait you locked him in the shed too? You're psychotic."