Woohoo! I'm fairly impressed with myself to keep at this! (I mean, I'm starting the second part of book FOUR of all things, so that's saying something.) Thank you for reviews and favorites! It makes my day every time I see them. :) Furthermore: I am taking full liberty here by (SPOILER) creating a new creature. Enjoy!
The following day found Harry awake before the sun was even up and riding behind Theodore on the oddest little pony he had ever seen. It was rather shabby with a long woolly grullo-colored coat and frizzy locks of mane and tail all knotted and muddy. Its short legs rose high with each step and it felt and seemed like it was stomping instead of walking. Theodore explained it wasn't a real "pony" by Muggle terms, but a creature called a Burok, which was much like a Kneazle since it looked almost exactly like another animal (in this case a horse), but wasn't at all. Burok were very dangerous, Theodore further explained, because of their intelligence and were considered to be right up there with Acromantulas, Basilisks, Dragons, and Werewolves.
"Because they're considered a bit temperamental and when they're mad they can cause crops to wilt and disease to spread and they can even affect the weather. Their officially rated at five X's, but you can own one if you have a license for one, like my father does. Sleipner here is an especially even tempered Burok and therefore is perfectly safe to ride."
He further informed Harry that Burok were the fastest horses alive, able to outrun unicorns and flying dragons and lightning if they wanted. Furthermore, they were also able to run on air and walk on water and, by rumors, Apparate to the answer of someone they know who's in need. In ancient times, they were believed to be the immortal (because they live what seems an unnaturally long amount of time) horses of the gods and even wizards and witches practically worshipped them, though mostly because they were rare and misunderstood.
"More and more common nowadays as wizards and witches are starting to figure out that the five X's are only for if you get them mad, which turns out is pretty hard to do."
Sleipner gave a snort as if he was agreeing.
They continued their ride, this time Theodore was telling Harry how they were going to use a Portkey (he had explain what that was too), but the closest one was quite a distance, hence the leaving so early and riding Sleipner, who would get them there on time one way or another. Harry didn't want to know the other way.
Thankfully, they arrived with time to spare and Sleipner decided to stay with them grazing while they sat down on the grass beside an old boot and waited for the others to arrive as Theodore finally admitted they would be accompanying the Weasleys.
"They're the only family in the area to accompany...well, they're pure-bloods, so my father concented to let me travel with them."
"You're father's not coming to the tournament?" Harry asked with pinched brows.
"No." Theodore shook his head. "He doesn't like Quidditch. I'm not much for it either, except our Slytherin team, but I know you like it..."
Harry smiled and thanked his friend.
Not long afterwards, Mr. Weasley and his spawn (as Theodore called them), Ronald, Ginny, and Fred and George, and Ginny's friend, Hermione all turned up along with Mr. Amos Diggory and his son, Cedric, whom had beaten Harry in Quidditch the year before, a fact the man seemed to like to rub in Harry's face.
"I didn't know the Nott's lived near here." Mr. Diggory admitted, giving Theo a welcoming smile, though there was a hint of nervousness in his eyes.
"We prefer it that way." Theo told him dryly. "Less house calls."
Mr. Weasley gave a weak laugh to this. "How is your father these days?"
"Old...his back has been bothering him lately. Some days he can barely stand straight."
"Ah, yes...tends to be the sad result of good potion-makers. Is he still much into it?"
Theodore seemed to struggle a little, not used to this much socializing. "S-sometimes...I don't see him much."
"Busy then?"
"Preoccupied with more important things."
"Well, I'm sure he looks more into quality than quantity." Harry had the impression Mr. Weasley was trying to reassure Theodore, but this only caused the Nott boy to adopt a cool bored tone Harry was coming to realize was Theo's personal survival technique when he was talking about something uncomfortable.
"More like he's too old to put up with young people."
"I doubt that." Mr. Weasley seemed even more on edge now. "I'm sure he's..."
"A wonderful git of a dark wizard father." Harry heard a twin mutter to his counterpart and the two laughed lightly.
For the first time, Harry saw Theo mad.
"Accusations against my father during the first wizarding war were disproven through substantial evidence of his innocense." Theodore bristled as he glared with loathing at the twins. "Keep your own opinions to yourself, blood-traitors!"
"All right, all right!" Mr. Weasley quickly got in the middle before a squabble broke out. "Well, it's about that time."
After Theo had instructed Sleipner to return home, they all gathered around the boot, which was now being held by Mr. Diggory, and each touched a piece of it. Then they were spinning away.
It took time to get settled down with the Weasleys in a tent that from the outside looked rather small, but which was much larger on the inside. Even then it was going to be cramped. There was supposedly no magic allowed, but Mr. Weasley admitted that wizards and witches couldn't help showing off when they were gathered together like this.
He then ushered Hermione, Ginny, Ron, Harry, and Theo off to get water. The two girls, sadly, ditched them at some point and it was just the three boys left to walk awkwardly together towards the tap on the other side of the camp. When they ran into Dean and Seamus, Ron's friends, the red-head abandoned them and Theo and Harry were left with getting the water.
Then Harry spotted a young wizard playing and an idea struck his mind, "Theo...I have a question?"
"All right."
"What about school before Hogwart's? Do younger wizards and witches go to a wizard primary? I mean, I know you can't have gone to a Muggle school, not only because of all the Pure-blood stuff, but also all the accidental magic and things..."
"Actually, they do." Theo told Harry. "A lot of young wizards and witches go to a Muggle primary school, but quite a few are homeschooled like the Weasleys who were taught by their mother. As you said though, Pure-bloods wouldn't send their child to a Muggle school and there are teachers for hire from the Ministry who will help tutor children, but it is still up to the parent to teach."
"Is that how you were taught?"
"No." Theodore shook his head. "I went to Ottery St. Catchpole Primary School, a Muggle school."
"Why?" Harry was quite stunned, amazed a Pure-blood boy who wasn't considered a blood-traitor had gone to a Muggle school.
"My mother died when I was very young." Theo explained quietly. "And my father took it very hard. He decided he didn't care what happened to me, so he sent me away to the nearest Muggle school since it was easiest. I would ride Sleipner most of the way and then walk the rest. Never really liked them Muggles though. They just see us all as too different from them. They don't understand us...even if they don't see the magic or know what we are. I could never get along with them."
Harry remembered his own childhood and friends he could have made if it hadn't been for Dudley. He wondered if they would have remained friends with him upon seeing some of the strange things he could do when in need of it and he instantly understood what Theodore was talking about. Accidental magic aside, wizards and witches had an air about them that was very different from Muggles. If a Muggle wasn't drawn to this oddness, they would instead be repulsed by it or at the least misunderstanding of it.
"Don't tell the others." Theo told Harry with an almost plea in his voice. "Especially...the Slytherins. They wouldn't understand."
"They don't already know?" Harry asked in surprise.
"No. I wouldn't dare tell them, especially Malfoy and his two sidekicks. They all were homeschooled by their parents like normal Pure-bloods. They'd look at me differently, maybe even down on me for it, and they'd...I don't really want to know what kind of treatment they'd dish out upon learning I wasn't exactly like them."
Harry nodded. "Don't worry. I won't tell, but didn't they come over? Didn't they ever see?"
"You're the only friend I've ever had come over." Theo gave a tiny flick of a smile. "I've always gone over to the other's houses, but there's no way you'll ever hear my father's permission to let me sleep over at your house, Harry."
"You won't hear the Dursleys' permission either." Harry shared a light laugh with his friend as they finally arrived at the tap.
That night at the match, Harry and Theo did not follow the Weasleys up to their seats, but instead went to their own somewhere in the middle of the roaring crowds and enjoyed a wonderful game and bags and bags full of sweets and snacks. By the time they were back in the tent, they had nearly exhausted the excited chatter over Ireland's win, though famous Seeker Viktor Krum had caught the Snitch. Even Theodore had been excited, saying it was the craziest game of Quidditch he'd ever seen. It took some time to finally settle down to sleep, but once Harry had stopped talking he was amazed at how quickly he was swept off to it.
Then he was awoken with a start by Mr. Weasley sounding worried and then Harry was outside, tugging on a coat, and witnessing wizards in masks torturing the Muggles who owned the camp. It was horrific to see. Theodore was suddenly very on edge and he yanked Harry hard into the forest even before Mr. Weasley began ordering his children to hide.
"What's going on?" Harry asked, somewhat terrified.
"Death Eaters." Theo told him in a hiss. "Followers of You-Know-Who from the first wizarding war...making sport of the Muggles...and I'm sure they wouldn't mind getting a wand pointed your direction, Harry."
"Over here!" Came a call in the woods and Theo tugged Harry right on over to Draco who was leaned against a tree and looking smug. "Deserve that, don't they, stupid Muggles."
"I don't..." Harry started, but Theodore elbowed him hard in the side, silencing him with an oomf.
Theo insisted the three of them go further into the forest, but Draco didn't seem worried and also didn't want to leave.
"Scared, Nott?" Draco drawled, but there was a slight snarl in his voice. "It's not as if you have anything to fear...only Potter."
"And we're going." Theo grabbed Harry again and they started off into the woods.
At one point they passed a House elf, Harry recognized from earlier who belonged to Barty Crouch and then they finally came upon three Veela surrounded by men who were all bragging about things that weren't even true.
Harry glanced at Theo, but noticed his friend wasn't paying the Veela much mind.
"You know, I noticed," Harry finally murmured. "The Veela seem to affect every bloke I've seen except us."
"Got to like girls to be affected by Veela."
Harry's mouth dropped and he stopped dead in his tracks, which jerked Theo backwards. Annoyed, Theodore gave Harry a brief glare before asking sharply, "What?"
"I don't like blokes." Harry stated factually.
"Doesn't mean you have to like blokes in general." Theo snorted, crossing his arms. "If you even like just one bloke and no girls, a Veela can't affect you."
"I don't like a bloke." Harry amended.
Theo rubbed the back of his head. "But if you don't like any girls than any bloke you like, even as a friend, becomes what you like, right? Therefore a Veela can't affect you."
"I don't like any blokes." Harry amended again.
Theo sighed. "But the Veela don't affect you, right? Therefore you like a bloke, Harry. That's just how it works. Of course, if you feel left out, I'm sure you can go over there and make a fool and laughing stock of yourself. I'll just wait for you here."
Blush came over Harry's face at this and he muttered that he didn't want to do that either.
"Then let's keep going." Theo started away, but then suddenly screams were erupting all around them and Harry and Theo's eyes turned skyward to the brilliant green sign above them: of a skull with a great snake weaving through it. Theo yanked on Harry hard until they were breaking into a run while Harry panted out questions that he got no answers to. They ran into several people left and right, but it didn't seem that Theo was paying any attention of them. He wanted to get out of there.
"Theodore!" A ragged old voice called and Theo spun to it and Harry abruptly recognized Mr. Nott, who looked significantly older at this moment and was shaking in a hunched way. Theodore latched onto his father a moment later and then they had Apparated.
Harry didn't get an answer to his questions until the next day and not until Theodore had wished his father goodbye. Apparently Mr. Nott left frequently to visit old friends and rarely spent any time at home...ever.
"Usually only a couple days and then weeks away. He won't take us to get our books, so we'll need to get them...and then get ourselves to the Hogwarts Express as well..."
The answers Harry received were not comforting and reading the Daily Prophet about the incident only made his nerves dance. Apparently, everyone had been looking for Harry until they'd received a note from Mr. Nott explaining that Harry was safe and sound at his residence, which made the Ministry, in particular Mr. Weasley, look a little stupid. Harry hoped Ron's treatment of him didn't worsen because of this.
The boys spent the first week predominently in the old cemetary (which no one visited anymore) riding their brooms, though it was very clear that Theo was not particularily good at it, and riding around the surrounding magical woods on Sleipner and Nuckel, another Burok who was a little smaller than the former and had a large lighter patch on his rump. Theodore said this patch was from catching on fire.
"Buroks don't burn." He told Harry. "Not really, anyways. When they "catch on fire" they just wait for the flames to burn out, but every where the fire touches, it turns their coat lighter. Some people value white Buroks because they're said to be more powerful and so keep catching them on fire until they turn white. Real cruel to do so though because Buroks are still kind of horse-like and they don't really like fire."
"Are white Buroks more powerful?" Harry asked.
"No one really knows." Theo shrugged. "They get caged up because most white Buroks run up into the sky at the first chance they get and never come back. Some theorize that white Burok become so enthralled with the fire they've been put through so much in the past that they run away to live in the sun. Caged Burok don't do much at all."
Then they went to Diagon Alley to get their school supplies. It was practically chaos with students doing last minute shopping which had been hindered by the World Cup. They were nearly done with their shopping when they noticed they had a new item to get: dress robes.
"That seems a bit silly." Harry muttered, but Theodore just shrugged and they went to get Harry some dress robes. "You don't need any?"
"I already have some." Theo gave a weak smile at the look Harry cast him. "Pure-blood."
That was a good enough answer.
After the robes, they went to get some ice cream and were met by Professor Snape.
"Ah, thought you'd wait until last minute to do you're shopping?" He sneered and it didn't take a genius to figure out he was in an especially bad mood. For a second Harry wondered if the man had been rooting for the Bulgarians, but he quickly dismissed this idea as it was likely Snape hadn't even bothered to keep track of the game let alone attend it.
"Hello, Professor." They both said and smiled at the glare he cast them as if speaking in unison was one of the worst atrocities students could do. Harry continued with, "Are you doing last minute shopping as well?"
"No..." He drawled, scowling at Harry. "I'm not an inarticulate little rock like you, Mr. Potter."
Harry snorted down a laugh and tried to pretend he'd choked on ice cream.
"Something wrong, sir?" Theo asked coolly.
Snape snarled instantly. "Oh, nothing out of the ordinary, Mr. Nott, I assure you. Just more foul evil work from the Ministry as they throw wicked tricks at Hogwarts while we are still in the possession of a rather troublesome pupil who will undoubtedly get himself entangled in this mad adventure and need rescuing time and time again only to come out looking like a hero regardless of the trouble he puts his teachers and protectors through...typical."
"You wouldn't happen to be referring to me, would you, sir?" Harry asked as innocently as possible.
"Can it, Potter." Snape hissed.
"What is the Ministry doing to Hogwarts?" Theo asked, but this only caused Snape to growl through gritted teeth that it was forbidden for him to say as it was supposed to be a "surprise", which apparently was something he disliked greatly.
After a few more comments pertaining to how much the Ministry was lacking in intelligence or even common sense, Snape took his leave, abandoning Theo and Harry to a million questions.
The last week of summer was spent in much the same way as the week before and Harry asked near the end of it why Theodore never thought to bring Sleipner to Hogwarts.
"I'm sure Hagrid would love him and even help take care of him."
"The centaurs would kill him." Theodore explained. "If they ever knew a Burok was near their woods, they'd do their best to kill him, which could get very ugly. Centaurs don't much like magical horse-like creatures aside from Unicorns and Thestrals."
"Thestrals?"
"Yeah." Theodore didn't offer up an answer.
Finally, they went back to Diagon Alley and walked to King Cross's Station where they got themselves onto the Hogwart's Express and started, finally, on the journey home.
So the Burok is my creation. No one else is permitted to use it. I really like them, hence their frequent mentions in this chapter. I'm not really a horse person aside from Buroks and Thestrals...but that's not important. Hope you liked this chapter!