Chapter 296 – Thestrals
After getting off the train, most students never questioned how they would reach Hogwarts. For Harry, the answer changed year by year. In his first year, he boarded a ship; in his second year, he and Ron soared in with the flying car; in his third and fourth years, he assumed the carriages were simply enchanted to move on their own; and it wasn't until his fifth year that he finally learned the truth — the carriages were pulled by Thestrals.
It wasn't that Harry was an ignorant wizard. With Ron's strange but extensive knowledge of all things unconventional, and Hermione's encyclopedic brilliance, Harry normally picked things up quickly. And after becoming friends with Hagrid and taking Care of Magical Creatures, he had learned about all sorts of magical beasts.
But the Thestrals… those remained a mystery.
Strictly speaking, this wasn't Harry's fault. The Thestrals were considered unlucky creatures in the wizarding world, associated with bad omens and tragic misfortune. Even Hagrid — who adored fearsome magical beasts — hesitated to bring them up during his early years as a professor.
The Hippogriff incident had been more than enough to scare him. That only happened because he never expected a student to deliberately provoke the creature after he specifically warned them not to.
Before Hagrid, Professor Kettleburn had also avoided the topic entirely. And in the original timeline, Hagrid only introduced Thestrals to his class several years after Harry had already witnessed death.
Thestrals had another unique trait: only those who had seen and fully accepted the passing of a sentient being could see them.
That acceptance took time. Even Harry didn't see them immediately after Cedric's death; he needed months before the sight of death settled into his understanding.
This alone explained why most students never noticed what pulled the carriages. No teacher ever addressed it, and most young wizards — still mentally unready to comprehend death — simply couldn't see them.
And to those who could see Thestrals… the sight was unsettling. Their skeletal frames, taut black skin stretched over bone, pale pupil-less eyes, and wide bat-like wings made them appear like ghosts of dragons.
Add to this the wizarding world's general superstition — where hearing voices no one else heard or seeing things no one else saw was considered a sign of trouble — and you had a creature that no student wanted to mention.
Luna Lovegood's reputation suffered in the original timeline because of this very reason. She enjoyed feeding the Thestrals fresh meat from the kitchen. To students who could not see the creatures, Luna appeared to be tossing bloody raw meat into thin air while covered in stains herself.
It was the makings of a horror story.
Her silver-white eyes only made her seem more mysterious.
So yes — seeing a Thestral was rarely considered a blessing.
Not because of superstition alone… but because of how others reacted.
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Alexander had just stepped off the carriage when Hermione tugged at his sleeve.
"Alexander, if these carriages move on their own, why do they have the spurs in front?" she asked, pointing at the two long wooden poles designed for harnessing animals. "There's clearly nothing pulling them."
Alexander hesitated. Should he explain right away? Or should he use a spell to let Hermione see the truth for herself?
Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Alexander were already seated inside. Draco, Goyle, Crabbe, and Pansy took the next carriage behind them.
"Yeah, what are those things?" Harry leaned forward. "Invisible horses?"
"And Alexander, long time no see, Hermione!" Harry greeted brightly. "Thanks again for your gifts over the summer!"
He looked eager — clearly full of magic-related questions after spending weeks away.
Alexander exchanged a few words with Harry, then greeted Ron as well.
"I think it might be an alchemical construct," Alexander said casually. "Dumbledore did work with Nicolas Flamel, after all."
This immediately made Ron puff up proudly.
"You didn't know, but Dumbledore came to Harry's birthday this year!" Ron announced, his chest swelling. "He gave Harry a magical Deluminator — and Harry even invented a spell through him!"
Ron spoke as if he were the one who received the gift.
Alexander could understand why. Ron had been inflated ever since the previous term — though he didn't know that Alexander was fully aware how simple the magical trap had been, or that he and Harry had stumbled into Voldemort's treasured vault.
Harry, meanwhile, desperately tried to get Ron to stop talking, winking repeatedly to shut him up.
Ron misinterpreted every wink as encouragement.
"Yes, yes! Alexander isn't an outsider!" Ron carried on. "Hermione is my friend, Alexander is my roommate, and I already shared everything about the Philosopher's Stone last year with them!"
He nearly mentioned Regulus next — and Harry finally cut him off.
"Alright, Ron, let's hear what Alexander actually thinks," Harry said quickly. "Alexander always knows these things."
Ron clicked his tongue, annoyed. In his mind, Harry kept giving away credit they could use to boost their reputation.
He had learned last year that bragging could damage friendships if taken too far — but he still desperately wanted recognition.
Alexander kept a calm expression. "Harry is right," he said lightly.
Ron's face lit up like Christmas morning. "See? I told you!"
Harry leaned forward, trying to catch every word, now extremely curious.
Alexander finally raised his wand.
"They're called Thestrals," he explained. "You can only see them if you've witnessed death — and accepted it."
Ron, who had been listening with casual interest, froze in shock.
"Thestrals!? Those things bring disaster! Worse than Ominous!" he burst out — but his words died halfway.
Because in front of the carriage, shimmering into existence like a creature stepping out of a shadow, a massive black skeletal horse appeared.
Skin clung tightly to bone, wings folded against its bony frame. Its pale eyes gleamed faintly.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared in stunned silence.
The creature had been there all along.
Only now could they truly see it.
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End of Chapter 296
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