Reading the Past to Change the Future - The Philosopher's Stone

Back to School

Today was a wonderful day for Harry Potter, he was finally returning to Hogwarts, leaving the nightmare of the Dursleys behind for another year.

He was going home.

Even though he had made the journey to Kings Cross Station countless times, the Hogwarts Express still held its own kind of magic for Harry. Ron and Hermione were prefects this year, so he was sharing a carriage with Neville and a curious blonde girl named Luna Lovegood.

She was odd, but Harry liked that about her.

While there was a sense of nostalgia about returning to the castle, Harry couldn't cast from his mind the fact that Cedric was dead, and Voldemort was back.

He hated being stuck here.

Alone with nothing but his thoughts, his friends were chatting away, but it wasn't enough to distract him.

His dreams were getting worse.

Voldemort's high, cold, cruel laugh as he taunted him, his parents appearing before him and Cedric's lifeless eyes haunted him constantly. Harry was snapped from that dark place by a warm hand resting upon his knee.

He turned to see Luna smiling at him.

"It's ok," she whispered, "we all have days like these, but we smile through the pain, right?"

Harry's eyes widened at the message hidden within that sentence. It was ok to feel this way, but people would worry unless he plastered on his perfect smile. He flashed the blonde that oh so fake smile, and she nodded, but he knew she understood.

It wasn't long before the train arrived at Hogsmeade Village, hundreds of children disembarked heading for the carriages. As the trio walked onwards, the light began to fade and for the first time Harry since he arrived at the castle at only 11, he was stunned.

Before there was nothing pulling the carriage and now there stood a large, skeletal, Pegasus-like creature. Leathery wings folded against its side. It stood head and shoulders above Harry but didn't even move when he ran his hand down its flank.

"Harry... what are you looking at?" Neville asked curiously.

"Don't you see it Nev?"

"There's nothing there Harry, same as always."

"Don't listen to him Harry..." Luna said quietly, "I can see them too."

He took a step back, admiring the creature in all its glory. Its coal black eyes turned to him, assessing. It dragged its hooves along the ground as if it were telling him to hurry up and board, so he did. Seating himself beside Luna, he leant over to whisper in her ear as she read from her upside down magazine.

"Luna, what are they?" He jerked his head in the direction of the creatures.

"Thestrals. Amazingly gentle creatures despite their intimidating appearance. Yet lonely."

"Lonely?"

"Yes. They can only be seen by people who have seen death."

"Seen death... Cedric..." Harry whispered, mostly to himself.

"Yes. Only those who have seen someone die can see the thestrals, that's why they're lonely. Not many can see them."

Harry tugged at his cuffs, the question burning on his tongue.

Without missing a beat Luna replied.

"You want to know who I saw die?"

Harry nodded shyly.