"But do you know which house?" Hermione asked Harry excitedly, sitting down with him and Ron at the Gryffindor table for dinner.
"It wasn't a Slytherin, was it?" Ron moaned.
Harry thought back, then shook his head. "I can't remember…but not a Slytherin, she was too nice." Ron snorted.
"Harry, why don't you look around the tables?" Hermione suggested. "You said she helped you with the potion, right? So she's intelligent. Try Ravenclaw first," she told him. He did as he was instructed, scouring the Ravenclaw table, searching for the nameless girl. Finding no evidence of her, he turned to Hermione and sadly shook his head.
Across the hall, Draco Malfoy lazily glanced up at the 'boy-who-bloody-lived', then narrowed his eyes, glaring. The bushy-haired girl and Potter were talking animatedly about something. Potter suddenly began searching the Ravenclaw table. Apparently failing, Potter turned to the Mudblood and shook his head, then began on Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and, as a last resort, their own table. Hermione adopted a puzzled countenance, Harry stared into space, and Ron continued to eat. Draco snorted. Bloody git, he thought. Pushing his curiosity aside, Draco Malfoy studied the Golden Trio intently, digging into his dinner.
Trysten walked hurriedly from the Potions classroom, in case Snape decided to follow her. Again lost in her thoughts, this time consisting mostly of Snape's beet red face with a small portion reserved for the thestral, she was letting her feet lead her once more. She looked up as her feet slowed to a stop and was surprised to find herself standing a foot before the Great Hall's entrance, the doors thrown open. She tried to figure out why this occurred, and could only settle on the reason that she was hungry. Shrugging slightly, she headed down her well-traversed path to the kitchens.
Harry gave up his search and turned back to his mashed potatoes. "Where's Ginny?" Hermione asked suddenly. "I thought she said she had something to tell us." Automatically, Harry's head swiveled towards the doorway, and although he did not find Ginny, the sight before him made his eyes grow wide.
"It's her!" Harry cried sharply, but not so loudly as to disrupt the din in the hall. He stood up without thinking, ignoring Ron and Hermione's question, and strode quickly towards the girl in the doorway. He saw her spin on her heel and disappear from view. Picking up his pace, he burst out of the Great Hall, only to find the entire corridor empty and silent.
Draco sat at attention as he saw Harry Potter go rigid, staring at the doorway. He studied the scene as Harry leapt to his feet, the other two teens speaking to the unresponsive boy. Harry left the room in a hurry, leaving an excitedly whispering duo. A few moments later, Harry came back into the hall, panting, as if he had been running. Ron and Hermione talked hurriedly, then watched Harry expectantly as he sat dejectedly and shook his head no. Malfoy snickered as the trio's shoulders hunched perceptively in unison, then returned to his meal, thinking.
What is it that Potter, Mudblood, and Weasely are on about? Draco asked himself. He squinted his eyes at the aforementioned, trying to figure it out. Sighing in defeat, Draco looked at his turkey. They're looking for someone. And I'll be damned if I don't find out who it is.
Having greeted Rifka and Dobby, learning they were terribly busy, and getting dinner, Trysten navigated the halls expertly before being deposited in the astronomy tower. Conjuring up a blanket, Trysten Moonjade spread the thin fabric over the ground and lay down, watching the stars as she had a lovely, solitary picnic.
The moon had moved a great distance when Trysten finally roused herself, rolling her shoulders to dispel the cold tension. She folded the blanket and left it in a corner. Free of burden, Trysten silently walked the halls until she found her dorm. Whispering the password, she moved softly upstairs to her trunk. Removing her uniform, Trysten changed into a pair of soft oversized pajama pants and a baggy silk shirt, both of dark green. Thanking any gods she could think of for the mercifully empty common are, she slipped out, unnoticed.
Not knowing what to do but unable to sleep, Trysten stealthily slipped outside and walked towards Hagrid's hut. She wanted to ask about the thestral, but wasn't sure how to go about it. Thinking only of her planning, Trysten didn't see the person looming a few meters ahead.
"Hey, you!" Trysten stopped, paling, and looking up to see a very appealing young man with silver-blonde hair striding purposefully towards her. She gulped.
"Um… hi," she murmured, staring at his shoes.
Draco Malfoy looked her over, smirking at how timid she was. "What are you doing out past curfew?" The girl blushed furiously, clashing with her clothing. Green, the boy noted. Probably Slytherin, although I don't recognize her.
She looked up at him. "Sorry, Draco," she murmured, her hand on her want, about to hex him.
"Don't worry about it," he told her, convinced she was Slytherin by speaking to him on a first-name basis. "Just get back to the common room; I don't want any points deducted."
Surprised and perplexed, Trysten mumbled, "Thanks," and walked past him, more aware of her surroundings as she made her way to Hagrid's cabin. Sprinting the last hundred meters or so, the girl knocked heavily on Hagrid's door, panting.
"Who's there?" Hagrid shouted, suspicious.
"It's me, Hagrid, it's-"
"Tryst'n?" Hagrid asked, amazed, opening the door. "What're you doin' out after dark?"
"I had to talk to you," she told him honestly. She paused. "Could I come in?"
"O' course," Hagrid guided her in, shutting the door behind her. "What is it you wanted to talk wit' me abou'?" Hagrid asked, pouring two mugs of tea.
"Well, I came down to see you this afternoon, and-"
"Sorry, I was off discussin' things wit' Dumbledore," Hagrid interjected.
"It's no problem," she assured him. Well, not directly, she thought. "It's just… something seemed wrong, so I went out back. While I was there, something… strange happened."
"What happened?" Hagrid asked, worried.
"Well…I was about to leave, but I heard something, so I turned around and…there was a thestral," she stated, watching for his reaction.
He sighed and furrowed his brows. "I 'ad been breedin' 'em in the forest, but they never come when I'm not 'ere." He looked contemplative, then concerned. "Didn' hurt ye, did it?"
"No, not at all…well, it nipped me, but just in fun. No, it was….nice. Friendly. It let me…pet it."
Hagrid looked skeptical. "Pet it?" She nodded. "Yer sure t'was a thestral?" She nodded again. "Can' imagine why he'd do that…" Hagrid fell off into thought, then stood suddenly. "Dumbledore's meeting me here. Soon," he added. "You'd best be off. Back way to be safe." He opened the back door for the girl, then smiled at her. "Y'er a special lass, Tryst'n, tha's fer sure." He patted her gently on the head and ruffled her hair, only throwing her slightly off balance. She crept out the back door and made a wide circle around Hagrid's gut, looking for people on the path. She raced inside, but made it only as far as the fourth floor before being ready to pass out. Wanting to rest, she opened a door only to find the most comfortable-looking bed she'd ever seen. The room smelled like worn leather and sand, a fire crackling in the corner. Without a second thought, she collapsed in the bed and fell asleep.
Draco returned to the dorms after his required rounds, opening the door to find a few Slytherin out and about. "Did she make it back?" Draco asked, interested only for the points.
"Who?" Blaise Zabini asked.
"The girl I caught in the hallway. I sent her back here. Are you telling me she's still out there?"
"Nobody came in past curfew," Pansy told Draco. Just as Draco began to swear, she added, "But, everyone's here."
Draco froze, confused. He sent an inquiring look to Blaise, who nodded. Bloody hell, he thought, she wasn't in Slytherin? He kicked the table after realizing he had wasted an opportunity to take house points from someone else. He stormed off to his room, promising himself that the girl in green would pay the next time he saw her.
Harry Potter sat awake in bed, wondering what had become of the girl, thinking she may somehow have been a ghost of sorts, able to disappear so suddenly. He changed positions for the fifth time, finally banishing her from his mind and falling into a troubled sleep.
Morning found Trysten more rested than she could ever remember being. She stretched, and then paused, not remembering the space she was using available on her bunk. She opened her eyes very slowly and saw an amazing mural upon the ceiling. Scenes from her childhood, mostly remembered landscapes, littered the mural, the colors gradually shifting. Shifting her eyes to take in the whole picture, she saw that the faint outline of a dragon had been worked in. Staring in wonder a few moments more, she decided to turn her attention to her surroundings.
She lay in an ornate room, centered around a bed, in which she was currently resting, covered in silky sheets in different shades of tan, green, and orange. She sat up, hesitantly, and saw that a fireplace sat to her left, a wall to her right, and a chest sat at the end of the bed, facing the door. Fascinated, Trysten crawled on the bed and lifted the lid, revealing a set of school roves with no House colors, a delicious-looking chocolate chip muffin, a quill, and a set of books for the day. She closed the lid and noticed a leather backpack had appeared next to the trunk.
Deciding to forget logic for the time being, Trysten changed into the uniform, which fit perfectly, shoved the books in the bag, along with the quill, grabbed the muffin and headed to the odor. Pausing with her hand on the door handle, she turned back to the room. "Thanks," she murmured to no one in particular, then left the room. Bypassing the kitchen, Trysten headed straight for Hagrid's hut, hoping he had an answer for her. When she arrived, however, he was once again absent. She huffed and turned back to the castle. She heard a familiar sound behind her and a tingle went done her spine. She spun around, coming face to face with-
"A bunny?" she asked herself, disgusted. She turned to head back to the castle, rolling her eyes while she stepped forward, coming immediately in contact with something hard. Blithely hoping she hadn't run into a wall, she opened her eyes, a tingle racing throughout her body. "You again?" she squeaked. The thestral gave a majestic nod, dipping its neck forward with one leg extended, resembling a bow. Trysten bowed back, even more deeply, and the black creature puffed air out of its nostrils in approval.
Trysten stepped forward, placing a tentative hand on the thestral's shoulder, then slowly rubbing her hand on the taut skin, her eyes never leaving the creature's. The next few moments stretched for a contented eternity, Trysten's head becoming dizzied with euphoria.
"He likes you," she heard someone say behind her. She spun, somewhat slowly, as to not spook the thestral. She saw a pale young man, dressed in black and pressed against the trunk of one of the trees of the Forbidden Forest.
"Who are you?" Trysten asked, before thinking, And when did I get so close to the tree line?
"My name is not important," the man said in an elegant, seductive voice. Trysten felt the thestral nudge her forwards with its nose. She looked back toward the man, who was just barely smiling. He looked at something past her shoulder. "Someone's coming," he told her, his eyes meeting hers. "We shall meet again. Until then, I bid thee adieu, fair lady." The man was slowly swallowed by the shadows, which Trysten watched the entire process of. The thestral bit Trysten's cloak and tugged to get her attention, its sharp teeth grazing her shoulder blade ever so slightly as he did so. Trysten winced, but was brought back to reality. She turned to face those shining eyes, only to find that the thestral had already left. She looked up the path to see Dumbledore and Hagrid walking together towards the hut. Trysten straightened her appearance and walked towards them.
"'Ello, Trysten!" Hagrid shouted when they were a small number of meters away.
"Good morning, Miss Moonjade," Dumbledore greeted jovially.
"Morning, Hagrid, Headmaster," Trysten murmured.
"Is there something we can help you with?" Dumbledore asked, obviously quite busy.
"I was just wondering if…" She turned to Hagrid. "Have you gotten a chance to think about the-…my problem?"
"No, Tryst'n, sorry. Be'n awful busy since las' nigh'. I'll think 'bout i' soon, thought," Hagrid promised.
Trysten was about to take her leave when the headmaster stopped her. "Dear, what's happened to your cloak?" Dumbledore asked, worried by what looked like blood.
Trysten looked confusedly at him for a moment before pulling her cloak in from of her face to look at it. Seeing a hole in the middle of quite a long tear, Trysten heaved a sigh and muttered, "My problem ate it," and wandered off, mumbling goodbyes.
Dumbledore turned to Hagrid and raised an amused eyebrow. "Now this I'd like to hear about."
At breakfast, Draco Malfoy scoured the table with his eyes, looking for the girl he met the night before. It was established that she wasn't in Slytherin, so he looking in Gryffindor first, hoping he'd be able to harm the 'noble Gryffindor' amidst his revenge. During his frantic search, he noticed Harry Potter was doing the same. Their eyes locked and Draco sneered, in return to which Potter glared. Not finding the girl in Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, or even Hufflepuff, Draco gave up his search, reminding himself to keep an eye open during classes.
Harry began his search for his previous lab partner, wondering if it would become a meal ritual. Quickly into it, his eyes locked with Malfoy's. He glared in response to Malfoy's ever-present sneer then continued his search. Failing once again, Harry ate his breakfast, looking sullen.
Harry had received an owl stating that he was to meet Dumbledore down at Hagrid's, as they had business to discuss that the large man was privy to. Gulping his pumpkin juice, Harry said goodbye to those closest to him, gathered his things, and hurried down to Hagrid's.
Harry slowed his step as he neared the hut, having just come within hearing distance of a conversation Dumbledore and Hagrid were having. Always looking for new information (and not caring how it was obtained), Harry listened in.
"Yes, Hagrid, now that we're settled, what was she referring to as 'my problem'?" Dumbledore asked kindly.
"Well, I wouldn' norm'ly tell, but I trust ye, and I don' think she'd min' ye knowin'." Harry could picture Dumbledore nodding understandingly. "Well, I don' know much abou' it, but she says she came 'ere yes'erday (while I was with ye) and she says… well, a thestral came up to her, started letti' her pet it!"
Thestral? Harry thought. What bullocks! Why would anyone want to pet a thestral, let alone a thestral allowing it? Harry mentally snorted, and continued to listen.
"And I presume it came back today?"
"Soun's like," Hagrid agreed.
Come one, Dumbledore, you're not falling for this, are you? It's a ruse! Now Hagrid I can understand, but you? Wake up, are you blind? Harry spat.
"It would explain the bite," Dumbledore said thoughtfully.
Bite? Harry asked himself. What bite?
"Well, Tr-"
"Hagrid, I think it best if we didn't use names. I believe we have an eavesdropper." Harry froze. "You can come in, Harry, we were just finishing our discussion." Harry obliged, but his face must have shown some discontentment, for Dumbledore asked, "What is it, Harry?"
"Dumbledore, you don't actually believe that rubbish, do you?" Harry rushed, glad to be able to say it. The dark look he received from Dumbledore, however, brought his happy feelings down somewhat.
"And why is it rubbish? Do you have evidence against it?" Dumbledore asked calmly, his eyes seeming to dig into Harry's soul.
"It's just…it's not very likely, is it?" Harry countered. "Is it?"
"No, Harry," Dumbledore admitted, making Harry feel pride and superiority. "But neither is a baby being able to survive Voldemort."
Angry at having been bested, Harry cried "But it's not the same!"
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, his eyes twinkling. "Isn't it?"
"No!" Harry yelled, losing his argument even to himself. "They're completely different."
"A girl befriending a thestral, Harry, is much more likely than what happened to you," Dumbledore pointed out.
"She didn't befriend a thestral!" Harry screamed, losing his temper. "She's lying! She's just trying to get attention! She's probably just a death eater wannabe just waiting for you guys to trust her so she can get to me!" Harry seethed, angry that his professors could be so careless with his life. (A/N: You have to love his logic.)
"Tha's not true!" Hagrid bellowed. "She's not like tha'!" Hagrid was close to tears, having Harry, a boy he loved, accuse him of not caring for his life, as well as insult one of the best friends Hagrid had.
"Mr. Potter," Dumbledore growled authoritatively, "you will hold your tongue. You know not of what you speak and insult those only trying to help you. If you wish to put in an opinion, learn the facts; don't make wild and painful guesses. I see you are in a foul mood, so this meeting will be postponed until you learn to hold in that brutish temper of yours. Good day, Hagrid. Mr. Potter." Dumbledore stalked out of the hut without so much as a second glance.
Hagrid, not caring if it was his house, stalked out after him, slamming the door so hard the walls shook. Harry stood alone in the hut, the anger shocked out of him. Did Dumbledore just…yell at me? Harry shook his head in disbelief and strutted out of the cabin, anger boiling inside of him.
((A/N: Xe Vanne: Thank you for reviewing! Please continue, it helps motivate me to put up a new chapter! Yes, the story in material form (pen and notebook) is quite long already. I just have to type it up, and then finish writing it..))
