Chapter 7

- Thestrals -

Arkie watched as Harry joined his friends on the Gryffindor table, yet there was no sign of Teddy. She began to worry and scraping her food left and right with a fork. "Where is he?"

"Where's who?" One of her friends asked. "Arks, it's not good to play with your food."

"Teddy. He was given a detention with Harry, who just came back. But I don't see him." Her eyes once again searched the entrance and the Ravenclaw table. "I'm worried-" Her friend gave a fed up sigh and Arkie looked at her weirdly. "What?"

"Well, I just don't get it."

"Don't get what?"

Now the rest of her friends were watching. "Why you decided to date that guy, that is what you're doing, right? Dating?"

"Yes, we're dating. So what?"

"So what? I mean... come on Arkie. You're the Chaser for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, one of the greatest duellers in the school and an 'A' plus student. What's he, an average student, doesn't take part in any extracurricular and is a Werewolf for Pete's sake." She whispered the last part.

"Part Werewolf, technically." She said, cutting into her chicken, but not planning on each it.

"I'm just saying, you can do better."

"Better?" She putted down her cutlery. "Teddy is the sweetest, kindest person I've ever met. He's not afraid to be himself, and I admire that. And I'm sorry if you all have a problem with that, but I'd prefer it if you could just be happy for me." She watched as they all ducked their heads shamefully. Suddenly, she caught sight of Teddy, walking through the Great Hall towards his table.

She waved, but he didn't even meet her eyes. "Yeah, sweet isn't he?" She glared at her friend.

"Something's wrong, that's all. Must be Professor Umbridge." She stood up walking over to Teddy, who, even when she was sitting right next to him, didn't looked at her. He didn't even fill his plate, which was weird as she had always said he had a wolfish appetite. "Teddy, are you alright?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

He nodded.

"Teddy, please don't lie to me... My God, Teddy." She gasped as he met her eyes. His face and hair were damp, like he had splashed his face with water, his eyes were red from crying and his lips were pursed together. People were looking at them, which she could tell made him feel even worse. He friends were whispering among each other. "Come on, let's get out of here."

The two retreated out of the hall. "Teddy, tell me what happened. Did she say something?"

"No... well, yeah."

She huffed. "I knew it! What'd she say this time, cause I swear-"

"Arkie, I don't wanna talk about it."

Arkie's eyes slid down his hands which were still tucked weirdly into his robes. "What's wrong with your hand?"

"Huh? Nothing, nothing's wrong."

She held out her palm and Teddy eventually putting his splinted hand in it. Arkie took one look at the blood and gently pulled off the splint, her eyes widening. "Did this happen to Harry too?"

"I don't know, I didn't get a chance to ask."

"You have to tell Dumbledore."

"No!" he pulled his hand back. "Dumbledore's got enough going on with the... the Order."

"But Teddy, this is cruel."

Teddy didn't reply, just pulled his sleeve down further. Arkie let out a sigh, looking Teddy in the eyes. "If you're not going to tell Dumbledore, then at least tell your father." He glanced up. "I know you two have had some... difficulties for the past few weeks. But I'm sure he'd want to hear about this."

Hesitantly, he nodded and Arkie hugged him. "I'll write to him in the morning."

Teddy tapped his quill to the bit of parchment, around him owls flew in and out of the Owlery. His hand was still tender after his detention with Umbridge. He made a low trilling sound with his lips, unsure of what to write.

Dear Moony,

Hope everything's going well.
It's starting get cold here at Hogwarts...

He paused, twirling the feather between his thumb and index finger.

Crunch!

He scrunched the parchment up in his fist and putting it in his pocket, running his fingers through his hair. "Teddy?" he spun around.

"Oh, Harry. What are you doing here?"

"I was about to send a letter to Padfoot. What about you?" He asked, handing the envelope to Hedwig.

"Just... looking at the view." He lied, peering over the railing. "When do you think Hagrid will be back?" Staring at the empty groundskeeper's cottage then at the Dark Forest, as if expecting Hagrid to finally walk out of it with some strange and dangerous creature ambling behind him.

"Don't know."

"Do you think he's doing stuff for the Order?"

"I think so."

Suddenly there was an weird cry. "Look." Teddy pointed to the sky. A black horse-like creature, the same one that'd been pulling the Hogwarts carriages, was soaring down into the trees. Teddy was once again relieved to know that Harry could see them too. Soon the two boys were running into the forest, looking around for the creature. "Luna?"

The familiar light-haired girl was standing bare foot, in front of one of the creatures, stroking it gently. It cooed gratefully at her touch.

"Hello, Harry Potter. Hello, Teddy Lupin." She greeted them individually.

"Your feet. Aren't they cold?" Teddy asked, standing beside her and looking wearily at the creature.

She shrugged. "A bit. Unfortunately, all my shoes have mysteriously disappeared. I suspect Nargles are behind it"

"What are they?" Harry asked.

"They're called Thestrals. They're quite gentle, really, but people avoid them because they're a bit..."

Harry finished her sentence. "Different." The Thestral snorted, trotting over to join the rest of its herd. As it walked it stretched out his wings, giving the same soothing cry they'd heard from the Owlery. It reminded Teddy of a whale, its voice echoing like it was underwater.

Suddenly, a young Thestral walked unbalanced. It let out a shrill bird-like chirp. "Why can't the others see them?"

"They can only be seen by people who've seen death."

Teddy's memory flashed to the night he'd witnessed Barty Crouch's murder. "So you've known someone who's died, then?" He said, watching the young Threstral.

"My mum." Luna nodded. "She was quite an extraordinary witch, but she did like to experiment... and one day, one of her spells went badly wrong. I was nine."

"I'm sorry."

"Yes, it was rather horrible. I do feel very sad about it sometimes, but I've got Dad." From her satchel she pulled out a large red apple. "We both believe you, by the way, Harry." She turned towards him. "That He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back, and you fought him, and the Ministry and the Prophet are conspiring against you."

"Thanks. It seems you're about the only ones that do."

"I don't think that's true." She rolled that apple to the Threstral who sniffed it curiously, pecked it once and looked back up at her with its completely white eyes. "But I suppose that's how he wants you to feel."

Teddy froze as he felt something nibble at his sleeve. A large Threstral was sniffing him. Cautiously he held out his hand and patted it softly on its forehead. It let out a low coo.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked from beside Luna.

"Well, if I were You-Know-Who... I'd want you to feel cut off from everyone else... because if it's just you alone... you're not as much of a threat."He watched as she threw a piece of meat and the young Threstral gobbled it up hungrily.