The Halfwolf (Year 1)

A New Friend

He felt someone sit down on his left and turned his head to face them, still laying it on the table. Matt looked at him with concerned eyes.

"Are you alright?" He whispered, glancing up to make sure no one else was listening. No one else needed to know what happened, and he could tell Teddy didn't want to talk about it much at all, he just needed to know he was okay.

Teddy nodded. "Molly looked after me." Matt nodded his head at him.

"Who's Molly?" Zach asked as he slid into the seat across the table from Matt.

"His older cousin. If she found him, she wouldn't have let him leave until he knew he was going to be ok, right Ted?" Matt looked back at his friend, the concern gone from his eyes. Teddy nodded again.

"Alright then, good. Enough drama for today. Are you guys excited about Care of Magical Creatures? I think it's going to be my all time favorite class! I hope we get to see a hippogriff! My dad said they saw one in their third year, but some idiot Slytherin git went and got himself hurt trying to show off and got the Professor in trouble. Big thing, that was." Zach told them as he grabbed for some soup. Matt just nodded and chewed his sandwich, still watching Teddy out of the corner of his eye. He hadn't touched any food at all. He could tell he was lost in thought, but he made a note to talk to him alone later if he could. He felt something bump his elbow and looked down. Moony had climbed from Teddy's pocket and was nudging Matt to give her a piece of his sandwich. He pulled a piece off and handed it to her, then lifted her onto the table between him and Teddy so he could keep an eye on her. She plopped onto her furry bottom and started nibbling her sandwich piece. She caught sight of Zach's spoon and went to reach out for it, but Matt grabbed her around her middle.

"Didn't Teddy just have a conversation with you this morning about taking things that aren't yours?" He scolded the little Niffler gently and he parked her back beside his arm. She made a little clicking sound at him and plopped back down, looking at the spoon with what was probably her version of a pout.

"Alright, mates, lets get going" Zach stood up and grabbed his bag off the bench. Matt and Teddy did the same.

"Let's hurry up so we can get there early and get good seats" Teddy said with a small smile. He knew Matt was still worried, even if Zach was oblivious to it. He would talk to him later on.

The three boys ran across the grounds towards the massive stables at the far corner. They reached the broad flat expanse of grass in front of the stable doors and slowed to a walk. Teddy spotted Hagrid standing beside the fence of the large corral that stood next to the stable.what looked like a large chestnut-colored horse stood next to him. Teddy started towards him, Zach and Matt at his heels. As they got closer, Zach gasped and stopped in his tracks, eyes practically bugging out of his head. Teddy stopped a few feet ahead of him and raised an eyebrow.

"You alright there mate?"

"What is that?" He whispered. Teddy looked over his shoulder at the horse and it's giant wings.

"Some type of winged horse. Why? What's wrong?" Zach looked horrified. Hagrid noticed them then and walked towards them. He noticed Zach's frightened expression and looked over his shoulder at the corral. He knew what he saw.

"That there's a Thestral. Surprised yeh can see her. Most can't, especially at your age." Hagrid looked at Zach sadly. Matt and Teddy shared a confused look.

"Um, Professor, we can see the horse too...." Matt started.

"No, no, I'm not talkin' bout tha winged horse. She's an Aeothonan, common breed of winged horse in this part o' the world. No, Zach here can see the beauty standing beside her. Thestrals are rare beasts, and the only way yea can see em is if you've witnessed death." Hagrid looked fondly at the corral and the two winged horses within it. Teddy and Matt stood dumbfounded, staring at Zach with gaping mouths.