Lauren A. Black (my Harry Potter oc)

Thestrals (Age 13)

Harry walked down the hall to lunch. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Lauren walk out of the castle. 

Where is she going? he thought. He looked around to make sure no one was following him, and he followed Lauren out of the castle. He trailed behind her all the way into the Forbidden Forest. On its edge he stopped. WHAT is she doing? he thought anxiously. But he continued after her. When he reached a clearing he stopped again. Lauren was nowhere to be seen. 

Suddenly, a figure jumped down from the tree in front of him and tackled him to the ground. Harry felt the cool edge of a knife pressed to his throat as he was pinned to the ground. Bewildered, he blinked a few times before he realized that his attacker was Lauren. He wasn't sure if he imagined it, but Harry thought he saw a disappointed look cross over her face before she just looked unimpressed. It was as if she was hoping that someone that wanted to kill her was following her. 

"You are a horrible spy, Harry Potter." she declared. "The nosiest one I've ever heard." She flipped the knife in her hand and re-sheathed it. Then she climbed off him and helped him up. 

"So you've met a lot of spies before?"Harry questioned. Lauren rolled her eyes. 

"Yes, as a matter of fact I have."s he admitted. "I could be one if I had to." Harry looked at her. 

"Really." he said sarcastically. Without a sound, Lauren disappeared. Harry's eyes widened. I thought only adults could apparate, he thought. "Lauren?"he called to no one. Then someone grabbed the back of his head and put a knife to his throat. Lauren again. 

"Honestly Harry, you would be so easy to kill. I haven't the slightest idea why Voldemort hasn't done it yet."she proclaimed, releasing him. 

"Glad to know I have your support." Lauren shoved him. 

"Oh, come on, you know I'd do anything for you." she declared. "You're my brother." Harry smiled. It was nice to have a family, even if it wasn't blood related. He and Lauren knew that better than anyone. 

"So what were you doing out here?" He asked.

"I was going to visit the thestrals."

"The what?"

"Come on, I'll show you."she said. They walked to another clearing. This one had a pack of skeleton-like horses with wings in it. Harry bit back a gasp. "You can see them can't you?" Lauren asked. Harry nodded. 

"Why wouldn't I?" Lauren pulled a piece of raw meat out of her pocket and tossed it to the creatures. 

"They can only be seen by those who have seen death."

"Oh," Harry said. "Who did you-I mean," he stammered. She looked at him. 

"You want to know who's death I saw." she finished for him. He nodded. Lauren swallowed and her eyes went dark. "I saw my mother die." she said softly. "I saw it play over and over in my mind when I was cruico-ed. It wouldn't stop." she added. Harry gave her a look of sympathy, but he understood. 

"How do you do it?" he asked. "How do you go through something like that and still have the same life that you did before?" Lauren stared at him. 

"We've both been through a lot."she began "But I've learned something about it." 

"What is it?"

"That the loneliest people are the kindest. The saddest people smile the brightest. And the most damaged people, are the wisest." With that, she walked away. A memory of the Yule Ball flashed in Harry's mind. Of Lauren's smile. It was bright.