As Odd As Can Be ~Hogwarts AU~

Chapter IX

Riley and Luna were finding a compartment in the train, They found one, near the back, put not too far so that it would take too long to get off. They had it entirely for themselves, and Arlo, who was in his basket, wings hidden.

They were both enjoying a cauldron cakes from Luna's dad, and Luna was reading one of the books that Riley got her last Christmas. Riley had gotten Luna a book on painting, a book on cures, and a book on weather, which was Luna's latest interest. She had finished reading the weather book first, as it was the biggest, and was now on the one with painting, as it was the most intriguing.

That's when it became all cold.

Riley was brought back to a time where she was being held, as a small child, perhaps, not that she ever remembered that.

There were two people talking in the background, saying things like, 'How dare you!' or 'I will kill you!' or 'How could you!' or- you get the gist. She would have thought they were her parents, had they not both been male. Had she had two dads? Been adopted twice? Were they- dare she imagine a possibility of being loved dearly- her brothers?

She felt like having a panic attack. That's when a silvery figure went to attack the cause of the draining of light, and it disappeared.

---

When Riley came to, she found Luna standing over her, with Arlo on the table, using his paw to occasionally tapping her, wings out with stress, fluttering in and out randomly.

When she awoke, she said, "W-What ha-happened?"

"I-I don't know." Luna stuttered, "A-A black figure came in, and we both fell unconscious. But I-I lasted for a shorter time than you. Wh-when I woke up, the thing had l-left, and I-I heard one thing: Cure. I braced myself and looked in the book of cures you gave me. It said to eat chocolate. We still had a few chocolate frogs from when Harry brought, so I took one, and Arlo helped me start feeding one to you while you were out. You were lightly sweating, like me, but a bit heavier, so I got Arlo to wipe the sweat off with his wings. He was such a good boy, wasn't he?" She petted the cat, absentmindedly, though they both didn't pay too much attention, only focusing on Riley.

"I-I'm fine. A-Are you?" 

Luna nodded, "What did you see? Or hear, it depends on your mindedness. Like, if you're left-brain-dominant, then you hear it, if you're right, you see pictures(Me and Nar are right. What are you?). I-I'm right. I s-saw my-my mom... D-d-die..." She had tears in her eyes but was smiling through her pain.

"Oh, Luna." Riley gave her a hug before answering her question, "I'm not really sure. I guess I'm left, since I heard sounds, but I don't recognise the voices."

Luna shrugged, wiping her tears, "It might have been a long time ago, but a time you still have a few memories of."

Riley offered Luna a Cauldron cake, which she gladly accepted, as they riddled each other to oblivion.

---

Luna and Riley got out of the train. Riley began to walk over to the boats, but Luna stopped her.

"That's where the first years go. Everyone else goes on carriages." Luna explained, leading Riley and Arlo to where the carriages. 

Riley gasped at the Thestrals.

"They-they're beautiful. What are they?"

Luna scanned for a carriage, "Thestrals. Creatures of the 'dark', as they say. Hogwarts uses them to pull the carriages. Only those who have witnessed death can see them. Have you?"

"Not than I can remember." Riley was about to ask about Luna's experience, but remembered what happened in the train.

Luna grabbed Riley's hand, "Follow me." 

Luna dragged Riley all the way to a carriage, holding Neville and Ginny.

They made light conversation, with Neville being introduced to Riley for the first time, but they got along very nicely.