This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

School: Durmstrang

Year: 4

Grammar School- Descriptive Writing

Word Count: 785

Wild and Free

Newt and Jacob sat in the field under a large oak tree; Jacob wiped the sweat from his brow, huffing and taking a gulp from his water bottle, almost emptying it in one swallow.

"So, when are they showing up?" Jacob complained. He was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt. Newt leaned in close to whisper, "It's the heat of the day; it's too hot for them."

"Then why are we here now?" Jacob asked, annoyed.

"We need to wait it out, Jacob," he explained carefully, "that's why we brought snacks."

The sun hung low in the sky, seeming to set the field on fire. The field was filled with daisies, and soon the daisies disappeared below the majestic hooves of a herd of unicorns, like a fresh snow glimmering in the light of a setting sun.

"Hey, look!" Jacob exclaimed in delight. Newt nodded in response.

"Was it worth the wait?" Newt queried at the awed tone. Newt couldn't hide his own excitement at the beautiful creatures grazing at dusk.

"Did you know that using unicorn blood in potions will curse the drinker?" Newt asked in his own way.

"Strange, who would harm or kill something so beautiful?" Jacob asked in response, gazing at them in wonder.

"It's written in ancient texts that their blood makes the drinker immortal, but at a terrible cost," Newt said informatively, Newt's eyes focused on the horizon, where the unicorns grazed on daisies, looking like snowflakes on the earth.

"That's disgusting," Jacob said with raised eyebrows. It was all he could say.

"It would have been ideal to have Queenie or Tina here today, as they prefer a woman's touch," Newt continued, unfazed by his friend's reaction.

"Look, Jacob; a foal!" he pointed at a golden fleck among the mature unicorns. The tiny golden foal was hornless, and when Jacob asked about it, Newt pointed out that they change color when they mature, and they only grow their horns at about four years old.

The foal was much more curious than the adults and walked right up to where to two men were still sitting under the big oak tree.

"It's a boy," Newt added.

"How can you tell?" Jacob asked, leaning over to peer beneath the foal's legs.

"No need for that," Newt chuckled. "Look at those markings on his head where his horn is going to be. Those twirls go clockwise, that means it's a colt; if it was anti-clockwise it would be a filly."

"Clockwise?" Jacob asked, still confused.

"Right," Newt answered easily with a laugh. Muggles.

The foal let out a small whinny, and sniffed the air, head held high, looking for signs of danger. When he sensed none, he trotted cheerfully up to the two strangers, coming within reach to sniff at Newt's outstretched hands.

He bumped his nose against the wizard's hand and Newt slowly took a sugar cube from the bag and offered it to the small horse in his cupped hand. As the foal consumed the treat, Newt gestured for Jacob to come over and pet him while he was distracted. Newt had not told Jacob that sometimes unicorns had strange reactions to Muggles he didn't want to worry his friend unnecessarily.

Jacob's clammy hands rubbed over the soft velvety nose and the smooth hair of his mane. As Jacob rubbed his mane, a hair came loose between his fingers.

"Keep that, it's useful," Newt said before Jacob could let the hair fall to the ground.

"What for?" Jacob asked softly, not wanting to startle their small visitor.

"Wands, healing potions, various things…" Newt said.

After the foal finished his snack, he nuzzled both men (to Newt's surprise) before a loud whinny from his mother had the foal trotting back to join the rest of the herd. The men watched the herd heading off just as night fell, and it appeared as if the glittering herd had flown up into the night sky to shine down to shine down on the now bare field to light the night sky as bright as a full moon.

"What a beautiful night. The stars remind me of the twinkle in Queenie's eyes when she is being mischievous," Jacob pondered aloud.

"And I wasn't supposed to say salamanders," Newt said, rolling his eyes in exasperation. "You two are smitten," he continued without waiting for a response.

It was clearly time to return home to the Goldstein ladies; his friend already had the dopy look on his face that he got when he was missing Queenie.

"It's going to be a long night," Newt said, addressing the night sky full of stars before touching Jacob's shoulder to Apparate the two men back home. Mission accomplished.