Harry Potter had never felt more alone. Ron and Hermione were wrapped up in themselves; Ginny and Neville were as well. Remus and the other Order members were busy. He was off the Quidditch team. The Headmaster had other things to worry about... The teenager was almost desperate enough to start hanging out with Malfoy.
Almost.
But not quite.
So here was our hero, sitting alone in the Forbidden Forest, watching the Threstals prance around and shoot him strange looks. The sky was dark, signaling the ever-present Dementors looming just outside the grounds.
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
Sirius was dead.
A flash of lightning.
He was all alone.
A deep boom.
Nobody wanted him.
"It is not fun to think depressing thoughts," a soft voice hissed.
A small girl, with long tangled blond hair and glassy blue eyes smiled dreamily down at him.
"Yeah well..."
"The Regalommies are sure strong."
Harry swallowed. What were you SUPPOSED to say to THAT?
"They are morose beings. Mind Dementors. They don't leave you with your worst memories, but with your most saddening thoughts."
"Hmm," the boy answered, still looking at the skeletal horses with their ripped wings.
"I like Threstals," Luna said, plopping herself down beside him.
"Even given what it means?... You know, the fact that we CAN see them?" Harry asked. He knew he would be a lot happier if he couldn't.
"They are like Phoenixes, in some ways," she continued, oblivious to his question. "They can tell when we are sad. I think they can feel it. That's why they're here. For you."
"No, I came here," he answered.
"They would have left, if they felt you didn't need them," the mysterious girl murmured, as a baby Threstal pranced over to nudge Harry's leg.
"They don't cuddle up to you, or comfort you like Phoenixes. They just come... to remind you that you're not alone."
Harry looked up at her, but she was still looking at the winged creatures, tilting her head a little to the side. "You're my Threstal," the teenage boy said, sounded baffled.
Luna smiled slightly, saying nothing.
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A/N I think the story just says it all. :)
Thank you for reading, and please review!