Draco stared at Pansy questioningly. He tugged at the jeans. Those said jeans hugged his legs uncomfortably, more than the normal suits. He could feel wind blowing at his knees. He had wondered too much why jeans had to have holes to be considered fashionable. Muggle fashion. He might just freeze.

Draco toyed with the silver necklace, which was the only thing Draco liked from Pansy’s fashion session. It came from Pip’s Parlor according to Pansy. The necklace consisted of a serpent symbol and the phrase, “Cracks are where the light shines in”. Draco didn’t believe himself as the philosophical type, but the necklace was an exception.  

“Can’t I just go back to my old style?” Draco stared down at himself. Utterly ridiculous.

“The funeral guy? We don’t want him back,” Pansy stared at Draco, or rather, she stared at his outfit. Scanning the clothing on the floor, she picked out another jacket one before throwing it away.

“I thought the old style was cool secret intelligence agent.” Pansy had said so when she dressed him up in fifth grade. When Pansy finished, Draco ended up wearing everything in black. The black formalwear style stuck with him ever since.

Blaise came out the bathroom.

“What are you doing? What happened to my bed?” Draco turned his head; Blaise’s bed was chaotically piled with unwanted clothing.

“She’s ‘unleashing my extrovert, gay side’,” Draco glanced helplessly at Blaise.

“You don’t have an extroverted, gay side,” Blaise whispered to Draco. Fearful of Pansy as she launched another five sweaters onto Blaise’s bed.

“That’s the problem. She thinks it’s about the outfit. But seriously, it’s about the person,” Draco whispered back, gesturing himself, “Don’t tell her. She’ll throw me away with all the clothes.”

“I don’t think you deserve to be thrown with these clothes. These all real expensive,” Blaise mused, picking up a random sweater, “Melinda… My mum loves this brand.”

“Well, I want Melinda to be wiped out of this planet,” Draco huffed.

“I feel you,” Blaise patted Draco solemnly before he navigated the clothes-covered floor, “Well, it’s been a fun time watching your dignity suffer. I’ll wait for you in the Hall?”

Draco nodded lightly, mimicking Blaise’s casual and melodic voice, “Always a pleasure to offer the entertainment.”

Blaise slammed the door on his way out. Theo came in minutes later, wearing a wool cloak and beige sweater underneath. He glared at Theo in envy. Theo landed his eyes on Draco. He examined the room and handed Draco a Melinda sweater on Blaise’s bed. Forest green. Cozy. Warm. The sweater swallowed Draco and tickled at the back of his neck. He swore Theo was laughing at him despite the monotone expression. Moments later, Theo walked over to Pansy, “Draco looks fabulous. Let’s go now. We won’t want to miss the departure. The elves will clean after this.”

Draco’s protests died as Pansy hauled him out of the door.

He left the couple in the Hall. Draco moped alone in a corner. He regretted not stealing Harry’s invisibility cloak when he had the chance. Currently, Harry was laughing with Ginny. Draco’s frown deepened unconsciously as Ginny linked her arms with Harry. Like that was normal.

“You didn’t change out of this?” Blaise leaned beside Draco.

Draco grunted as response, still fixated on Harry. Blaise followed Draco’s gaze, “Potter’s cute, don’t you think?”

Draco jerked around. He knew his cheeks were turning red. Blaise howled with laughter at Draco’s reaction, which caused wary glances from nearby students.

Blaise teased him more as the group started their walk to Hogsmeade.

Halfway along the walk, Blaise abandoned Draco for some of his Ravenclaw friends. Maybe not abandoned. More like Blaise offered for everyone to hang out together and Draco turned down. The Ravenclaws were obnoxious with their condescending manners, at least that group were.

Draco slowed down, purposefully staying at the back. The forest loomed beside him. His feet crunched on the fallen leaves. The red, autumn hues died long ago. Some trees were already stripped bare by the cold. For a moment, Draco caught glimpses of shadows, moving within the forest.

Draco stilled as he saw the horses, their black skeleton figures trotting along the forest edges with elegance. One expanded its wing; light shone through the thin layer of skin. The horse studied Draco with pupilless eyes.

A girl approached Draco, walking side-by-side with him. Draco remembered her, Luna Lovegood, whimsical yet bravely rebellious. He felt she deserved to be in Gryffindor rather than Ravenclaw, but maybe her quirkiness outweighed the bravery.

“They’re called Thestrals,” Luna stated. Her voice carried an aristocratic and elegant air, maybe because she herself seemed aloft.

“I didn’t know they had a name,” Draco awed, “All my friends told me they’d saw nothing when I started seeing them. Thought I was delusional.” Something about Luna bought his guard down. Like he knew he could her everything, and she’d still smile wholesomely and comfort him.

A baby Thestral hopped with its mother. The creatures barely regarded the students as they passed by. The Thestrals soon disappeared into the mists of the forest.

“They can only be seen by people who witnessed death. It was my mother. What about you?” Luna seemed comfortable and unfazed by her own choices of companion.

“I- I don’t know. They’re always around I suppose,” the lie burnt in his mouth. He could still remember Dumbledore, tumbling down from his office tower. His arms out and his voice steady only moments ago, as though expecting his own death. Draco grew quiet, his throat felt dry and his eyes suddenly wet.

Luna only hummed, Draco knew she knew his lies. Though she didn’t voice her suspicions as she turned towards Draco abruptly. Her eyes tingled with mischief, clouded by her floaty demeanor, “Do you want to see them up close?”

Draco shrugged, agreeing with hesitation.

Luna smiled and hopped into the forest. Her neon-blue sweater fading into the mist.

Draco pulled out his wand as he followed her in. The forest seemed to move, the trees stretching out to him.

Draco’s gaze fleeted between branches. He raised his wand higher.

Luna seemed to sense his distress, “We’re here now. You don’t have to worry, see this as a small detour if you like.”

Draco stepped beside her, awestruck at the view. Trees parted for a small space. Families of Thestrals rested in the clearing. Light shined through. The quiet sounds of running water and hooves hitting the forest ground filled the silence.

Draco stepped closer. The baby from before hopped up and nibbled Draco’s sweater with their beak, leaving a wet trial and reminding Draco of a goat. Goat were annoying though, this isn’t. The Thestral elicited a small grunting as it pulled back. Draco suspect his sweater wasn’t tasty for them.

Luna chuckled lightly, grabbing a piece of raw meat from her pouch. She threw it at the baby, who pounced on it hungrily and, swallowed without biting. Draco panicked as the Thestral coughed, as if choking on the meat. It appeared fine seconds later.

“After the battle, lots of students seem to see Thestrals. I’m not sure if they liked the attention though,” Luna started. Draco doubted who she talked about, the Thestrals or students. Draco leaned towards Thestrals, but he couldn’t be sure.

“I don’t think they cared, must be a good thing that more people are giving them food,” Luna spoke airily. She was definitely talking about the Thestrals.

“Could I try with - you know,” Draco awkwardly gestured her pouch.

Luna smiled kindly, handing a piece of liver. Blood lingered on her palms. Draco took the liver hesitantly. It seemed to wiggle in his grasp.

He kneeled and stretched out his hand. The baby stepped slowly towards him.

“How did you know their names anyway?” Draco turned his head to Luna. The baby Thestral retreated sharply. Draco’s frowned slightly but remained still.

“I thought I was different, not that I really minded. But Harry could see them too, so I’d done more researching. They’re quite hard to find really, since people seem have tendencies of ignoring odd thing,” her grin grew broader as the Thestral nipped the liver. The baby swallowed it, with more ease than last time.

Harry had seen them, Draco wondered when it happened. Maybe earlier than most students. The thought irritated Draco.

Draco felt a small yet sharp pain at his fingers. Blood dripped down, and not from the liver. He glared at the culprit, who was prancing around Draco, as if begging for more liver.

“It bit me!” Draco exasperated. He didn’t really mind though. He’d just earned the affection of a little Thestral.

He stared at the Thestral with delight. Its beaks poking at his shins as it rubbed her head on his jeans.

“Do you have anymore?” He eyed Luna’s pouch again, hastily casting a healing spell to his finger.

“I’m sure that’s enough for now, she’ll start bloating if you gave more,” Luna closed her pouch when Draco planned to ask for another. Little disappointing.

The pair stayed in the clearing for a few more minutes before they had to leave. Draco glanced back at the Nyx. The little one deserved a name other than “baby Thestral”. He shuddered as he realized suddenly that he understood Filch’s obsession with Mrs. Norris. Nyx had decided to stay with her mother, its wings fluttered with excitement as her parent turned towards Draco, judging their daughter’s newfound playmate.

“Nyx likes you. She’s an excellent judger. You don’t take credit for what you can be,” Luna commented.

Draco and Luna soon reached Hogsmeade. He knew his friends were either on the date or starting pranks. So, Draco stuck with Luna.

He retold his unfortunate Hippogriff encounter in third grade. Luna laughed lightly and gave him a lecture about magical creature respect. The conversation flowed to Nargles and Moon Frogs, all while over Butter Beer.