Chapter 0003 - Otherworldly

I stood with my right hand outstretched and my eyes tightly shut, enveloped in darkness. A few drops of rain pattered onto my outstretched hand. I sensed its approach. A cold sensation passed through my body, and a warm shiver ran down my spine. I felt the soft nuzzle of the young Thestral against my palm.

Opening my eyes, I turned to face the creature. Its empty eye sockets met mine. Its large, empty eye sockets seem to gaze out into the beyond, devoid of emotion or expression. Yet, I could perceive a glint of intelligence, and I could see the half-moon shining back at me. Its dark, taut skin stretched over a skeletal frame, giving it a gaunt and otherworldly appearance. 

The thestral unfurled its wings with a graceful motion, revealing their bat-like structure—a delicate network of membranes stretched between elongated bones. With slow, measured steps, the young thestral circled around with its nuzzle in close proximity to me. Despite its skeletal appearance, the thestral moved with a grace and fluidity that contradicted its skeletal exterior. Its movements are silent and swift, almost ghost-like as it glides across the ground.

"Percy!" Jennifer's sudden shout startled the young Thestral, causing it to retreat and re-join its herd.

As the Thestral walked back, I turned back towards the carriage and rejoined the Ravenclaw girls. I took a seat next to Jessica. 

"We have to take a detour to the boat house before we can take our normal route," I said, much to the discomfort of the girls. 

"What? Why?" Isabel asked.

"There are seventy-three first years. There are enough boats for a maximum of seventy, so I need to get two or three boats out of storage," I said.

"Why can't Naomi do it?" Jennifer asked. "She's the head girl."

"She's having 'fun' time with the three Hufflepuff boys," I replied.

"That whore!" Isabel exclaimed. "What else could she possibly be doing?"

"How about this? I'll take one of your patrols, Jessica and Jennifer, I'll attend one of the fan club meetings. Isabel, I'll look over your research paper, and Pricilla, I'll contact Madam Mitford for an apprentice opportunity," I said. 

"Okay," Jessica replied.

"I'm on board," said Pricilla with a grin. "But remember, I expect a glowing recommendation in return."

"Doable."

"You have to read it before December so I can submit it to the Guilds," Isabel said. I nodded.

"How about this? You attend two meetings, but I owe you a favour," Jennifer proposed, raising an eyebrow.

"One meeting, no favours, and I won't tell anyone what happened on March 26," I said with a smug face.

She quickly nodded her head. "One meeting sounds good."

"What's going on?" Jessica whispered, glancing at Jennifer with a puzzled expression.

"It's nothing. It's just between us," Jennifer replied. She turned back to face the thestrals at the front. She whispered something in a language that nobody was able to decipher. The carriage started to move shortly afterwards. "So, how were your summer holidays?"

"Mine was okay. We spent most of it in Italy, as my dad had business with the House of Black and White. After, we went to support Percy during the Duelling Circuit and followed the events at the circuit," Jessica said. "Congratulations on you and Fleur winning."

"Thank you, Jessica. It was quite an intense competition, but Fleur and I managed to pull through in the end. The support meant a lot. I guess it's my turn," I replied. "I was at the Greengrass Manor discussing when we would administer the cure to Astoria. I stayed with them until the Duelling Circuit started. As you know, me and Fleur won. After, I stayed with her for the afterparty. I spent the last week at my grandparents. Pricilla, how was your holiday?"

"Well, I have some news, everyone. I got engaged over the summer!" Pricilla said as she was showing off her ring. It was attached to a silver necklace. 

"Engaged? That's incredible, Pricilla! Tell us all about it," Jessica said.

"I'll tell you guys in the common room; I'm sure someone here wouldn't like to hear a sappy love story, especially after they got their hearts broken," Pricilla said.

"Congratulations, Pricilla! But that's not cool. That's wonderful news," I said.

"Congratulations, but why aren't you wearing your ring?" Isabel asked.

"We're going to have an engagement according to the Old Ways. For that, my husband-to-be would put it on my finger when the moon is at its highest during the Winter Equinox."

"Are you happy?" I asked.

"It could have been worse. I could have been married off to an 80 year old man. My fiancé is the second son of an Albanian pure-blood family. His family is rich and is willing to let love grow between us. Did I also mention he is also a virgin?" Pricilla said. "We can use the Old Ways to do rituals, so our children have a greater chance to be magical."

"Congratulations in advance, and I assume the engagement party and the wedding will be in Albania?" Isabel asked

"Yep," Pricilla said, emphasising the 'p'. "The Old Way rituals are illegal in Britain, so we have to do them in Albania. Jennifer, it's your turn."

"I'll wait. We're almost at the boathouse, and it's starting to rain pretty heavily. You might want to hurry up and grab those boats before you get soaked!" Jennifer said.

I waited for the carriage to stop. Once it did, I got off, summoned an incorporeal umbrella, and ran towards the boathouse. The boathouse stood nestled at the water's edge, its weathered stone walls adorned with creeping ivy and patches of moss. A sloped roof, fashioned from aged timber beams, sheltered the structure, blending with the landscape. As Percy approached, the scent of damp earth and lake water hung in the air.

As I hurried along the dock, a sturdy wooden dock extended from the boathouse, stretching out into the glassy surface of the lake, providing a safe and convenient pathway to the entrance. The dock was well-maintained, with handrails and lanterns to guide students during night-time journeys.

Inside the boathouse, wooden benches lined the walls, their surfaces polished smooth from years of use. Lanterns hang from the rafters. Along one side, a row of small wooden boats rested on racks, their hulls gleaming softly in the dim light of the lanterns. 

I drew my wand again and cast a silent levitation charm on four of the small boats. They levitated behind me as I went out to the lake. I gently placed it down before re-entering the carriage. 

"Wow, Pricilla, I didn't see that coming! Your fiancé sounds like quite the catch," Jennifer said as Pricilla giggled.

"Thank you, Yen. Now that Boy Wonder is back, it's your turn," Pricilla said.

"Hey, so, as I was saying—" Jennifer's words were cut off as the carriage lurched forward, prompting an exclamation from Isabel.

"Whoa, hold on!" Isabel steadied herself, gripping the edge of the seat. "Okay, sorry, go on, Yen."

"My sister married a couple of years ago, and his family are avid hunters. They invited me to go hunting with them in the States. I got to use a sniper, and we lived off the fat of the land. It was amazing! Oh, and did I mention I took down a grizzly solo? I have a photo somewhere in my luggage, if you want to see it. What about you, Isabel?" Jennifer said.

"I snagged internships at both St. Mary's Hospital and Saint Mungo's. I got my hands dirty overseeing clinical trials for the two drugs I've been developing. Percy's grandparents handled all the Muggle red tape while I navigated the magical side, swearing enough oaths to fill a library," Isabel said.

"Can you tell us what they do?" Jessica asked.

"My patrons don't want my blabbing my mouth too much, but I think they'll understand me telling you guys," Isabel said excitedly. "One drug slows the rate of cognitive decline by about 27%, while the other only magicals can use. It increases cognitive function by about 80%."

"How is that any different from Baruffio's Brain Elixir? And how did you get the idea for the other one?" Pricilla asked.

"The difference between Baruffio's Brain Elixir and mine is that it actually works and there is no major health risk associated with it. Mine is a pill, not a potion. As for the other one, I got the idea after reading some of Percy's research notes regarding Astoria's possible cure," Isabel said.

I interjected with a raised eyebrow, "You read my research notes? Without asking?"

Isabel shrugged unapologetically. "Hey, you always say it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, Percy. And trust me, my version? Way more effective. When you see my paper, feel free to borrow the recipe."

My expression softened, and there was a hint of admiration in my voice. "I'll hold you to that. But how did you manage to improve it? Aren't potions usually more potent than pills?"

Isabel launched into an animated explanation: "Common misconception, actually. That's only sometimes. The pill form in this case was much stronger than when it was in potion form, so I had to add dilutants to weaken it. Most of the time, potions are better." Isabel said this before Jennifer quickly intervened and put her finger on Isabel's lips.

"Alright, enough shop talk. We're approaching the bridge—time to check out the view."

As the carriage rattled over the aged wooden bridge, the familiar creaking of the timbers beneath echoed in my ears. I leaned towards the windows as we approached the edge.

And there it was, nestled within the depths of the Forbidden Forest: the waterfall. The crystal clear and pure water seemed to shimmer in the dappled moonlight that filtered through the canopy above. The sound of rushing water filled the air, a soothing melody that echoed through the forest.

"Look at that," murmured Jessica, her voice filled with awe. "Even after all this time, it's still as breath-taking as ever."

Pricilla leaned closer to the window, her eyes tracing the path of the waterfall as it disappeared into the depths of the forest. "I remember the first time we stumbled upon this place. We were arguing like little children, and we startled the thestrals. Yen tried to calm them down, and we ended up here."

Jennifer gazed out at the scene. "We were little kids. I told them to go to their happy place, and they led us here."

"I can't believe we're all still friends. We hated each other's guts and are now the only Ravenclaw left in our year," Isabel said.

"Funny how fate works," I said.