Thestral

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Taehyung closed his book with a hum, happy to finally have completed his assignment. "I'm going to check on the creatures. Wanna come?" He asked Jungkook.

The younger shook his head. "It's fine." He told simply. "I'll pass."

Taehyung raised an eyebrow as he shuffled backward. "Uhh? What?" He asked, dumbfounded.

"Not interested." Jungkook hummed keeping his eyes glued to the book.

"Is everything okay?" Taehyung asked carefully. 

"Why wouldn't it be?" Jungkook asked, although he still didn't turn to face Taehyung.

Taehyung tilted his head. "You've been acting weird ever since we got back from Hogsmeade." He stated, where there was no room to argue. It was very clear to him something was bothering the younger, what that thing was is the question. 

Jungkook slammed his book closed. "I'm fine Taehyung, let it be!" He gritted out before leaving. Storming down the hallways of the castle before coming to a stop out by the courtyard. 

Glancing over to see Taehyung making his way past the greenhouse. Sighing as he watched his friend make it off to the forbidden forest. Although he narrowed his eyes again as he saw Jimin and his crew of 'Slytherin henchmen' following him. Jungkook sighed and turned away, maybe he'd hang out with the Ravenclaw's instead.

Taehyung sat on the forest floor. Rubbing at the feathers of the occamy-like creature. "How are you?" He asked as they preened their feathers. "Well, glad to see you're doing good then." 

Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows, thinking back to Jungkook. He really wasn't sure why he was acting so weird. Something must have happened at Hogsmeade. He highly doubted the Ravenclaw's or the Hufflepuff's did something to set him off. The quidditch team? Hmm... Still unlikely.

So that left...

Himself.

"What did I do wrong?" Taehyung questioned as he pulled his knees close to his chest. 

The creature nudged Taehyung's shoulder, letting out a squawk-like noise. 

Taehyung chuckled. "I really need a name for you. Uhh... Julia?"

The creature ruffled its feathers.

"No? Uhhh... Alison?" 

Another ruffle of feathers.

"Mona?" Taehyung suggested, there wasn't an immediate reaction this time. However, the creature eventually ruffled its feathers. "Becky?"

This time Taehyung received a harsh peck to his fingers.

"OUCH! How about Pecky instead? Yeesh..." Taehyung complained placing his lips against the wound and shaking it off. 

Taehyung looked back at the creature. "No western type names then? What about... Something like Vivus? Means 'life' would you like that?" 

The occamy life creature chirped in response. 

"Vivus it is then," Taehyung said stroking the creature's neck. Turning to the sound of leaves crunching on the forest floor. "Hello, Atax." He hummed to the small thestral that stood a distance away. 

Taehyung took out a piece of meat from his bag, attempting to coax Atax closer. "Come on look! A nice juicy cut of raw fleshy meat..." He said waving it around. The thestral took a few steps closer but wouldn't go past that. "Eh, I'll take it. Progress is progress..." He said tossing the meat over.

Taehyung couldn't help but chuckle a fair amount watching Atax eat. His legs were long and skinny, he looked rather awkward bending down to take the treat. 

"So, who did you watch die?"  Taehyung jumped as Vivus scrambled away from him, making a racket as they disappeared into the trees. Turning back to see Jimin standing a short distance away. "Sorry for startling the peacock." 

"Vivus isn't a peacock." Taehyung rolled his eyes. "Also, what are you doing here?" He asking dodging Jimin's other question. "It's the forbidden forest. It's y'know... Forbidden..."

Jimin shrugged. "I didn't want to deal with Clem and his shit at the moment so I'm out here to clear my head." He explained taking a seat next to the Gryffindor. "Also, answer the question."

"What question?" Taehyung asked, playing dumb.

"Sheesh I know you Gryffindor's are airheads but I know you aren't that stupid. The thestrals. You can see them, can't you?" Jimin stated, pointing at Atax who was rolling in the dirt. "Everybody knows you can only see them if you watch someone kick the bucket."

Taehyung clicked his tongue, giving in knowing it was no use. "My aunt. You?"

"My grandpa." 

There was a long silence after that. Neither of them talking, just soaking in each other's words. Watching Atax run around as they got lost in their thoughts.

"Sorry for being pushy..." Jimin mumbled.

"Awww, the Slytherin actually has a heart behind the ice-cold blood that runs through you!" Taehyung cooed as Jimin pinched his arm. 

Jimin huffed. "Slytherins aren't all bad you know..."

Taehyung hummed in response, eyes still fixated somewhere in the distance. "And not all Gryffindors are strong and brave all the time. Not all Ravenclaws are quiet and mellow. And just because Hufflepuff's fall under 'the rest' doesn't make them pushovers or softies. So I think we can safely say the house stereotypes are shit." 

Jimin laughed at Taehyung's statement. "Yeah, you're right. Come to think of it, we know a lot of people that don't fit perfectly..."

"Hardly anyone fits perfectly. That's a lot to ask of someone don't you think?" Taehyung questioned, finally flicking his eyes back over to Jimin for a short second. 

"I suppose..."

"You're pureblood. Your parents attended Hogwarts too, didn't they? Do you think they perfectly fit their houses?" Taehyung asked.

Jimin looked away, the answer was obvious enough. Of course, they didn't, but they all still relatively fit. His mom was wise and had a good sense of intuition, it made her a good Ravenclaw. His Dad was always loyal and hardworking, like a Hufflepuff.  Yuju always had a thirst for adventure, like a Gryffindor. Which left him, with his ambition and drive to succeed. Clever as well...

"Ugh, how did be get wrapped up in this conversation? I just wanted to talk about thestrals. Hardly anyone can see them." Jimin muttered.

Taehyung chuckled. "Then let's talk about thestrals."

☽✧ ✦ ✧☾

Sorry, it took a while to get this chapter out. I wasn't sure where to go with the story, and then my computer exploded and I lost all my notes for this fic (╥_╥)  so I had to redo all my research about spells and wandlore. 

The story's status is technically, on hold, as updates may remain infrequent until I can tie up loose ends and possible plot holes. But still expect updates maybe every 10 days or so.