Yay! Theodore is back! (He's my favorite! Er...after Snape...)

Harry and Theodore sat alone in their compartment, Blaise and Millicent having left after Theodore had made it clear he planned to stay. They had't talked much really aside from Theodore pulling out his "pet beetle" and them tormenting the thing with various jar-shaking and spider-tempting. Finally, they sat silently together while each contemplated what would be the best thing to say after such a long time from each other's presence.

Theodore spoke first. "Missed you, Harry."

This made Harry smile. "I missed you too. What have you been up to?"

"Bunch of things I can't exactly share." Theo made a disgusted snort and let his gaze wander to outside. "You?"

"Nothing really." Harry replied. "Except practicing my Patronus Charm. I want to make sure it's in prime condition."

Theodore's lips twitched. "Is that what happened? Not much on the verdict of the trial, just that Dumbledore had managed to convince the Wizengamot with some cock-and-bull story...as the Prophet printed. Were you attacked?"

"Yeah...dementors...two of them...attacked my cousin and I near my house."

"Could have gotten a lot from him, your cousin." Theo smirked. "Is a big boy."

"A bit like Goyle..." Harry pointed out. "But I think he has more brains than Goyle."

"Goyle's not all bad." Theodore mumbled slowly. "Just...a follower...not a leader."

"Yeah..."

They fell quiet again, Harry doing his best not to stare at Theodore while the other boy gazed absently at the scenery flying by.

"Are..." Harry hesitated and waited until Theodore's eyes flicked his direction before continuing, "Are we still dating?"

"We were dating?" Theodore sat up and turned his face to stare directly at Harry. It didn't look like he was kidding either.

Feeling his stomach writhing inside of him, Harry had to fight down his emotions before he could state, "I thought we were. You said it was okay if we did."

Theodore's features relaxed. "Thought we'd "broken up" after that when we weren't friends for that time, though it never felt as if we were dating."

"Oh..." Harry twitched nervously. "I thought we still were..."

Shifting in his seat, Theo's bored expression returned. "Wouldn't be wise to be dating."

"Us being friends would be wise either."

"Are friends again?" Theodore asked, an eyebrow raising, but his true emotions were masked again by boredom.

"Aren't we?" Harry couldn't stop the heat coming to his face and tone.

"Never wrote, Harry." Theo pointed out. "Never told me we were. Never..."

"I covered for you." Harry hissed, glaring at the other Slytherin. "And only a friend would do that and you know I couldn't write. It was...your father...and all that...it..."

Theodore gave a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. "Know...is just...are right, Harry. My father...doesn't like you...but...he wants me to be friends with you."

Harry tensed, knowing what Theodore was saying.

"Malfoy's asked Draco to be nice to you as well, not because they want people to think they trust you, but because of Slytherin's policy. We stick close to each other, if no one else. Even though you ratted out Malfoy...they all think you'll stay close to our side because you didn't rat out my father. Your kindness is a way in for them."

Slumping in his seat, Harry glared at the floor. "Great..."

"Told you it would happen."

"I know..." Harry looked to Theodore. "But I don't care about any of that. I just want to know if you actually want to be my friend and...maybe...more..."

Theodore didn't hesitate. "Want to be your friend, Harry, but I don't want to be more."

It was like ice being shoved down Harry's throat. He stared down at the floor hard, willing his features to become as devoid of emotion as Theodore's could. "Oh, okay. That's fine."

With a nod, Theodore returned his gaze to outside and the conversation stagnated. Draco came and checked on them a couple times, but he moved along quickly enough. As the sky outside darkened as did Harry's mood. He had spent the entire summer worrying about Theodore and thinking about him in definitely more than a "friend" kind of way only to find out that Theodore hadn't been entirely sure Harry and him were still friends even. He understood Theodore was a little dense when it came to socializing, but he hadn't expected him to be that dense.

They arrived at Hogsmeade only to find that it was Professor Grubbly-Plank you would be leading the first years instead of Hagrid, which Harry found odd and then he froze at the sight of a monstrous winged horse-like creature pulling the carriages.

"What are they?" He gasped, grabbing onto Theodore as the taller tried to pass him.

"What's what?" Theodore asked with a sigh as he stopped.

"That!" Harry pointed a the front of the carriage to the creature. "What is pulling the carriage?"

"Can finally see them?" Theodore muttered, bitterness entering his tone. "Those are Thestrals. Can only be seen by those who have seen and come to terms with death."

"Seen and come to terms with..." Harry started and then he remembered seeing Macnair fall to the killing curse which had been intended for Harry. "Thestrals...how long have you been able to see them?"

"Since before Hogwarts." Theodore seemed like he wanted to get moving. "Since a few months after my mother died when I was five. Is a herd of them that hang about the cemetary and pester the Burok. Can we get in now, Harry?"

"Yeah..." Harry followed his friend into the carriage and took his seat. "Have they always pulled the carriages?"

"Yes." Theo answered shortly. "Largest trained herd in all of Britain lives here on school grounds...most likely in the forest."

"What are they like?"

"Clever." The taller boy seemed to be consenting to elaborating. "Loyal. Able to discern an enemy from a friend. Don't like them, much."

"Why? They seem like they'd be something you'd like."

"Are distasteful-looking." Theo wrinkled his nose. "And their connection with death? Disgusting."

Harry frowned. "Are they violent?"

"Gentle, really." Theodore answered after a thoughtful pause. "But they like birds, which can cause a bit of trouble when sending owls. At my house, the thestrals aren't trained and they eat any owls that come into the cemetary. Is why we keep our owls in their own owlery."

"I did wonder that." Harry mumbled. "Why didn't I run into any? I mean, just because they're invisible doesn't mean they're intangeable."

"There's that Slytherin mind." Theodore feigned shock and Harry smacked him lightly. "Avoided us for the most part. Almost did run into one, but it moved out of the way. Bit skiddish the ones around my house. Figured since you hadn't said anything about them, you either saw them pull the carriages before we were friends or you couldn't see them."

"They don't seem all bad." Harry commented. "I mean, they're trusted to pull the carriages."

"Still disgusting."

"I think they're kind of...interesting."

"You would, wouldn't you?" Theo sighed. "Eat meat, they do...should see if they like beetle."

"Theodore..." Harry grumbled even as a smile came to his lips as he knew Skeeter the Beetle could hear them. "You know you could get it for kidnapping..."

"Not if she doesn't want to end up in Azkaban." Theodore snorted. "Believe you me, she is much grateful to our tormenting."

They arrived at Hogwarts only to find that indeed Hagrid wasn't there. Theodore didn't seemed bothered in the least, mumbled something about Hagrid being a bad teacher, and then fell silent and the loathing glare Harry had sent his direction. While the Thestrals had distracted Harry's emotions for a little while, his sour mood had returned quickly. Then he saw something worse as they sat down.

"That's Umbridge!" Harry hissed into Theodore's ear and jutted his chin to the witch in pink sitting next to Dumbledore.

"Dolores Jane Umbridge." Theodore whispered back. "She is Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic and would have been at your hearing."

"She was." Harry snarled back. "I recognize her. She wanted me to be expelled and my wand snapped."

"She's a socio-path." Theodore spat out the words. "Ruthless, cruel, brutal, corrupt and devoid of a moral or ethical center. She's a fanatic against anything she considers "half-breeds", which includes half-giants, so it's probably a good thing your Hagrid isn't here and I can't imagine what she'd do to Flitwick if she figures out what he is, and her prejudice has even caused her to believe merpeople and centaurs are "half-breeds" as well, even though they are clearly seperate species. She also passed a series of anti-werewolf legislation, which has made it almost illegal for those afflicted with lycanthropy to hold jobs. Worse than all that is, she hates children. How she's going to be a decent teacher is well beyond me."

"How do you know so much about her?" Harry questioned as the sorting began.

"My father has connections in the Ministry, much as Malfoy, but less financial." Theo's eyes narrowed at the witch in pink. "She's one of them. Used to bat me around because my father didn't care. Started hanging out in the cemetary more with the Thestrals and Burok because she doesn't like them Thestrals. Only thing they were ever good for was keeping her away."

When Umbridge gave her speech finally, Harry fears were confirmed: the Ministry of Magic was interfering at Hogwarts.

Another short one. Review if you want.