The Thestrals
Disclaimer: I own nothing aside from the voices in my head.
A shy looking first-year reached up slowly, tugging gently on the sleeve of the Gryffindor Head-Girl, who stood nearby, chatting amicably with some other older student.
He cleared his throat weakly before speaking. "Excuse me, miss?"
The red-headed girl paused in her conversation, turning around and smiling prettily at the young boy.
"Yes?"
The boy pointed at the window of the tower, looking down at the group of older students gathered in the courtyard. "What are those people doing?" He asked, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and concern.
The girl followed the little boys finger with her eyes, her gaze landing on the group outside. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw them, her eyes softening as she looked at the gathered teenagers, standing in a half-circle around a group of animals.
The animals were acting quite odd, moving with slow, uncertain steps, flinching away from the hands that reached out to pet them, before, hesitantly, acquiescing and allowing themselves to be touched.
Indeed, as more and more students filtered out of the castle, joining the group on the grounds, the animals seemed increasingly confused by the amount of attention they were receiving.
Slowly, they adjusted to it, and began running around, frolicking playfully, snapping thrown bits of food out of the air as the students laughed.
Ginny Weasley gave a heavy sigh, tearing her eyes away from the scene down below, looking down at the first-year who had attracted her attention.
The child stared back at her with bright eyes, a confused expression playing across their features.
"Them?" Ginny said, "I wouldn't worry too much about it, kiddo, they're just petting the Thestrals."
AN: Sorry if it was sad, hope you enjoyed the read.