𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒔 ☆ 𝑅𝑜𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑦𝑛 𝑃𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟

𝑌𝐸𝐴𝑅 𝐹𝐼𝑉𝐸 ☆ 7

Snow fell on the grounds sooner than expected. Most students spent lunch and break indoors, the blustering cold too strong for even their thick winter cloaks. This was why it was unusual to see a student in a place without no people.

But that's what Rosalyn wanted to be. Away from people.

She ploughed on in deep snow, her knee high boots only just higher than it. She was wrapped up warm, with two wooly jumpers and her own winter cloak on, but still the cold hit her determinedly. She wrote a letter to her godfather as she walked, cheeks reddening more every step.

Dear Scarlet and Padfoot,

I hope you're alright, it's starting to get colder here. Winter is definitely on the way. In spite of being back at Hogwarts I feel more alone than ever. I know you two, of all people, will understand. People don't believe me and Malfoy is bullying me more every day. On top of that the new DADA teacher is a complete bitch and she's making me write with my own blood in detention.

I'm sorry for burdening you with this, but I can't find anyone else who won't judge me or stare at me weirdly.

Your favourite goddaughter,

Rosalyn

After this, Rosalyn went up to the owlrey to post the letter, sending it off with Ruby addressed to 12 Grimmauld Place.

Having no desire to return to the common room, Rosalyn walked back out and wandered until she found herself in the forbidden forest.

She saw the winged creatures first, the ones that Ron, Harry and Hermione couldn't see. Then she saw someone standing, barefoot, feeding them, this someone had a slightly muddy blue shawl on and a white blouse and trousers.

"Hello Rosalyn," Luna Lovegood said without turning round, and before Rosalyn reached her. She stroked the muzzle of a creature, looking up at it for a second before turning, facing the person to whom she spoke.

"Your feet..." Rosalyn asked, looking down at the dirty, forest ground. "Aren't they cold?"

"A bit," Luna answered absent mindedly as she turned back to the creature. "Unfortunately all my shoes have mysteriously disappeared at the moment."

The creature walked slowly away from them, spreading its wings. "What- what are they?"

"They're called thestrals," Luna said, smiling slightly. "They're quite gentle, really but, people avoid them because, well, they're a bit-"

"Different," Rosalyn said after a pause.

She knew what this was about, and it wasn't thestrals. Her and Luna were both being sidelined at the moment. Luna because she was the "weird kid" with the radish earrings and Rosalyn because she was the "nutter" who was also an attention seeking liar.

They were both different.

Luna walked forward, and Rosalyn followed. "But why can't the others see them?"

Luna answered calmly. "They can only be seen by people who have seen death."

Another pause. "So... you've known someone who's died then? Seen it?" Rosalyn asked Luna.

"My mum," she nodded, looking quite sad. "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."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Rosalyn said, face falling. They reached a baby thestral, and Luna smiled at it.

"It was quite horrible," she said sadly. "I do feel quite bad about it sometimes, but I've got dad."