Peculiar ~A T.R fanfiction~

Chapter 3 ~The thestrals~

The rest of the day continued normally with her succeeding in every class despite her lack of a wand. This was until potions class began. When she entered the room Slughorn's eyes were drawn to the powerful young girl. Slughorn may have been good at potions but he was far better at sniffing out any potentially powerful or slightly famous students. He was like a Bloodhound sniffing them out and marking them as his territory. Nothing was a better prize than Julietta. She was a Goldwood, even if she was a squib her family name would get her into his club. Her magical ability just made her more of a worthy prize in his eyes.

She sat next to the girls from her dorm room and immediately Slughorn made his way over to them. "Miss Goldwood, I host a party in my office every so often and I would be delighted if you could come to the next one. I have one in a few days time on Saturday night. It would be a pleasure to see your face there, you too Miss Prince," he asked sounding far to excited at his own success for finding a Goldwood. "I can't. I have Gobstones club." Eileen replied before returning her eyes to her textbook. "I shall attend if I must," Julietta sighed and then almost winced at Slughorn's squeal of delight.

The rest of the class trudged into the room and all got ready for potions. When everyone was all settled in Slughorn announced, "Today we will be making the draught of living death. Instructions are on page 139 of your textbook. I expect good things from all of you. Go!" Julietta got out her textbook and caldron while everyone ran to get ingredients. Then once everyone had got them and while they were setting up their caldron she went to collect her ingredients. As she made her potions she did it with a sort of rhythm. It was almost as if she had a loud song playing in her head. Maybe she did but either way she practically danced as she worked. While even the best potions makers in the class looked slightly frazzled she was calmed by the work.

Some of the other students worked methodically, going step by step. Others were running around wildly collecting forgotten ingredients and stressing out. Julietta, on the other hand, was doing it with her usual class. She was always doing one step while preparing for the next two. It was mesmerizing like everything the girl does in life. Slughorn could watch her work for days and never get sick of the talent in front of him. Before he knew it she had her hand up declaring "I am finished, what shall I do now." He went over to her cauldron and sure enough, he saw a perfect concoction and beamed, "By Merlin it is perfect! 10 points to Ravenclaw. You Miss Goldwood may leave." She quietly packed up her things before leaving.

She went to her room to get started on her homework. She was done all to quick and now she craved a distraction. At this point she was bored and it was only day two in this stupid castle. When she was bored at home she would find a new project, tend to her animals or move to a different one of her families many houses. She never really ran out of things to do as there was always a gala to attend or a new language to learn. She packed up her things and went to find something to do. She walked until she came to the edge of a large forest but what she didn't know was it was the forbidden forest and it was called forbidden for a reason. She walked through it until she came to a group of thestrals.

The dark creatures were always a favorite of hers and she would often play with the ones that filled her family estate in northern Scotland. She had been able to see them since she was a child when she watched her parents die. They say it was one of the greatest duels in history. Her Father died first. Him against Grindelwald, it lasted for hours with spells flying backwards and forwards. They danced, occasionally mocking each other but never opening their mouths to say a spell. It was one of the best duels the wizarding world had ever witnessed. Though no one can beat the elder wand and as she sat there under the invisibility cloak, that was borrowed from the Potters, she watched and cried at her Fathers death. She was silent of course but she watched her father fly backwards, dead! A look of stubborn determination on his face.

Next was her Mother, furious at the loss of her husband she stormed into Grindelwald's camp. She knew she was going to die that night but if she was going to die she would sure as hell die fighting. Her mother was deflecting spells left and right while sending her own right back. For every spell sent her way she would send two right back. She never was much of a dueller until that day. A younger Julietta watched a second duel but this one with her other parent. She took down eighty of Grindelwald's men that day. She avenged her husband's death but left her children orphans at the same time. A stray spell shot through her protections and that was it for the widow.

She no longer felt bored but more alone than anything else. She finished patting the thestrals, said her goodbyes and was off. She wrapped her cloak tighter around her as the cold wind tried to nip at her skin. She made it inside and skipped dinner to sit on her bed while she stared at the photo of her once happy family. Her sister, her brother and her were the only Goldwood's left on the earth. She wiped the stray tear that had fallen down her cheek and readied herself for an early night.