Chapter 657 - Patrolling Ⅸ (1/2)
Frowning, Nadira abruptly turns back and hurries to the protector. Carefully making her way through the trees, she finds the protector coming to a halt in a clearing. Slithering closer, Nadira's eyes gleam as she spots a pair of blank, white, shining eyes that draw nearer through the gloom to reveal a dragonish face, neck, and then a skeletal body of a great, black, winged horse with leathery bat-like wings.
”Thestrals,” Nadira mutters to herself as she watches the protector approach the harbingers of death for wizarding society. Not wishing to frighten the Thestral, Nadira turns herself invisible and hides her presence from all as she observes from a large, sturdy branch.
A Thestral whickers softly and rubs its head into Rowan's hand. A soft smile flits across Rowan's face as she gently strokes the Thestral. ”Tenebrus,” she said, ”that is your name is it not? Mm, Hagrid gave you a good, solid name.” And how she knew, well, she just knew and had no way of explaining it. (That and well, Hagrid had told the brats the Thestral's name in Potter's timeline as it was the first Thestral foal born to the herd within the Forbidden Forest.)
Reaching into her pouch at her side, Rowan removes a packet of dried jerky, she kept for snacks and tosses out pieces of the jerky to the Thestral, who nimbly catches them. The warm scene is interrupted by the sound of a twig loudly snapping causing Rowan's to turn towards the source, while the Thestral flutters its wing in threat and bares its fanged teeth in the direction of the sound. From the darkness emerges a robbed figure that carries the scent of burned herbs, raggedy oily hair, and red eyes that are always distant, Professor Ariel Zephyros, the Divination professor.
”It is a bit late to be patrolling, Prefect Prince,” Professor Zephyros kindly remarked in his usual dreamy tone of voice. ”And especially all the way out here.”
”My apologies, Professor Zephyros, I had a bit of trouble sleeping, and I thought a night walk might help,” Rowan nonchalant lied. ”Though I will admit, I did wander off much more than I originally intended to. I shall make haste and return to the Slytherin quarters.”
”Not to worry, Prefect Prince, I shall accompany you back,” Professor Zephyros replied with a peculiar grin. ”I was merely appreciating starry night as well. I can assure you; it shall be no trouble at all, Prefect Prince.”
”Of course, Professor,” Rowan thanked with a poker face. ”Just a moment, please.”
Gently reaching up, Rowan tenderly rubs the face of Tenebrus, before leaning over and whispering, ”Follow silently.” Rowan knew for a fact that Nadira was nearby and would hear her as she had spotted the snake coiled on a branch, before turning invisible.
The Thestral makes a loud huff and shakes its reptilian-like head as its white eyes flicker uneasily towards the figure of Professor Zephyross. ”Shh, off you go now,” Rowan said in a louder voice. Stepping back, she gently slaps Tenebrus on the rump and sends the Thestral trotting back into the forest to return to its herd.
The Thestral quickly vanishes into the woods, and Rowan turns around in one swift motion allowing her wand to fall into her hand. However, she keeps her arms as relaxed as possible to not show the wand carefully held in her hand that is hidden by her cloak. The two of them are silent as they walk down the narrow and dark path without a lantern except for the dim moonlight streaming faintly overhead.