The Master of Death

Chapter18: Hogwarts

An unexpected voice drowning the noise of the crowd caught his attention. "First years in two rows, please! First years here," a very female voice shouted. Harry spotted Professor Grubbly-Plank; her familiar wrinkly face with the prominent chin lit up by a lantern.

The street was still wet from the rain and Harry was surrounded by the squelching noises of countless feet walking through the mud towards the carriages. After a while, he noticed that Ginny and Neville had been swallowed by the crowd. A fluttering feeling rose in Harry's stomach when he spotted Hogwarts in the distance.

The towers cut through the black night-sky like blades, its windows were golden lights matching the stars. Hogwarts pulsed with magic. Even in the distance, Harry could see the swirls intertwined with the building, surrounding the castle like a glowing halo in the dark. With a smile on his face, Harry turned away and let himself be carried along by the faceless crowd.

Only when he reached the carriages, he stopped a little offside in the shadows. Death materialized behind Harry, tall and inhuman as ever. Harry smiled when he felt Death's chin on his head and hands sneaking their way around his torso in a protective way. Possessiveness pulsed through the bond, and Harry knew that Death was grinning. He continued to watch the people entering the carriages, chatting with their friends laughing and trying to escape the cold.

Without a word, Death drew Harry's attention to the closest carriage. The Ravenclaw girl, who had just wanted to lift her suitcase inside squeaked when it moved on its own. Well not on its own of course, but it was enough for the girl to snatch her suitcase and to join her surprised friends.

The reason for the strange behaviour of the carriage were the two Thestrals pulling it. With a horse-like curiosity, they came closer, clouds of steam coming out of their nostrils matching the rhythm of their breathing. Harry was reminded of small dragons.

The carriage leaving the usual row had raised some interest, but the pupils were eager to leave the cold. No one investigated further other than sparing them a few glances. Most of them quickly turned to the other carriages, which left Harry to inspect the skeletal horses. He hadn't seen Thestrals in ages and he watched them curiously as they approached him. Harry laughed when one of them nudged his shoulder. Death extended an arm and began to pet one of the creatures while the other one licked Harry's hand affectionately.

"They are close to the afterlife, Thestrals. Only visible to the ones, who saw someone die..." Death elaborated. Harry was surprised to see that they weren't really dark. The magic connected to their life force was neutral. Harry smiled at the creatures who started to nip on his clothes, perhaps searching for treats.

"Harry!" someone shouted, and he turned his head. A mop of red hair emerged from the crowd and Ron came closer, followed by a dishevelled Hermione a few moments later. "Where is Pig?" he asked.

"Luna's got him."

"What are you doing?", Hermione asked and looked at him strangely. To her, he was probably standing alone in the dark, an abandoned carriage in front of him. Of course, she wasn't able to see the Thestrals nor Death, who - when Harry's attention was no longer on him - took pleasure in sneaking his hands under his shirt and he teased Harry with light touches. When a finger traced a line right over his waistband, Harry couldn't suppress a shiver. After he shot Death a dark look, the being even had the audacity to grin at him, smugness echoing through their connection.

"I can see the beings who pull the carriages now," Harry said, turning to Ron and Hermione. Both stared at him as if he'd grown a second head. "The Thestrals," he added helpfully and understanding reached Hermione's eyes, a pitying glance following right after.

"Only people, who saw someone die can see them," Harry repeated Death's earlier words. Ron's eyes widened and he stared at the Thestrals, or the – for him – empty space. All of a sudden Ginny left the crowd, an angry Crookshanks in her arms. Luna appeared behind her, Pigwidgeons cage in her hand.