Demons » Drarry

9 | Thestrals

Chapter Nine: Thestrals

Harry awoke the next day to the drawling sing-song voice of his blonde-haired house mate.

"Wakey-wakey little snakey," Malfoy smirked at Harry's exhausted form. "Only fifteen minutes today, you'll have to fly." And with another smirk, he was gone.

Harry groaned as he stood up. His muscles were sore and stiff from how long he'd been in his dragon form last night. He quickly got dressed and grabbed his bag for class, and headed off to Care for Magical Creatures without eating breakfast.

Hagrid was outside of his hut waiting for the rest of his fifth year class to arrive, so Harry decided to talk to him. He hadn't had a conversation with his friend since last school year.

"Hi, Hagrid!"

"Well hello, Harry. I forgot you were in this class," The large man replied, looking slightly troubled.

"Yeah, it's a bit strange, isn't it?"

"A bit strange it is. If you ask me, I think there's more to it than just the Sortin' Hat havin' a change o' heart. I think You-Know-Who might have somethin' to do with this. Unless you've really changed that much; have you, Harry?" Hagrid rumbled out the first part in malice, then lightened his tone towards the end.

"No, I have no idea what I'm in Slytherin for. To be honest, I think Voldemort might be connected. I don't have the slightest idea how, but I wouldn't doubt it." Harry replied nonchalantly, hoping to avoid getting too far into the subject.

"Well, you be careful now, Harry. You be careful."

The remainder of the Slytherins had shown up, and the last three Ravenclaws were on their way down the path, so Harry joined the rest of his classmates in their blob around the hut.

They were headed to the Forbidden Forest today, as the lesson was on Thestrals. Harry had heard of them before, but he'd never seen one. Apparently, only people who'd witnessed death could see them, but Harry wasn't sure that was true. On the trek to the Thestrals, Harry tripped over the uneven ground beneath his feet, and fell unceremoniously into the body in front of him.

"Watch it," Malfoy glared at Harry, brushing himself off. Harry wasn't positive that he'd heard the blonde correctly, but he mumbled something afterwards that sounded a lot like "Scaly prat."

Harry only shook his head at Malfoy, and continued walking. Soon, they had reached a clearing in the trees where six... Somethings stood. Harry assumed that they were the Thestrals, but he wasn't sure. They were tall and black, and generally horse-shaped, but they were incredibly bony, like they were underfed. Not to mention, they also had veiny bat-like wings. They were very strange creatures.

"So these here," Hagrid gestured towards the animals. "Are Thestrals. Now, most of you probably can't see them. Does anybody know why?"

Multiple hands flew up, specifically from the Ravenclaws.

"Because Thestrals are only visible to those who have witnessed death." A short Ravenclaw boy answered. Well, apparently it is true, Harry thought absently.

Harry wondered how many of his classmates could see the strange creatures in front of them. How many of his classmates had watched someone die? Harry shuddered and pushed thoughts of death away. He didn't like to remember what had happened to Cedric; remembering in the day only made the nightmares worse at night.

"Now, can I get a volunteer to pet this little guy?" Hagrid asked, looking around at the class.

Harry stepped backwards a little, not wanting to have to be the volunteer this time.