Chapter 44: Ritual of resentment – 6(Thestrals).

Flitwick saw two students with Snape.

"Please come in." Snape Cedric and Liam entered the Room.

Flitwick waved his wand and three small chairs kept on his desk grew larger. Suitable for a human to sit.

"So what is it that you want to talk about?" He asked with curiosity.

"I heard that a Ravenclaw student has gone missing, would you care to tell us who that student is? And we want you to call someone from the Ravenclaw dormitory. His name is Michael a first year student." Snape spoke in the politest manner but his tone made it seem like he was sarcastic.

"Of course, let me send a message to him first." Flitwick Whispered to a man in the painting and he ran out of the painting somewhere.

"About the student who went missing. He actually isn't missing, he is just a very shy kid who is very antisocial and doesn't do much. He was often bullied by some of the upperclassmen so much so that he hides. It is not the first time he has gone missing. His name is Arlo, he is such a poor young child. If you don't mind me asking, Why are you looking for him?"

Snape wasn't going to Answer Flitwick but Cedric spoke, "We suspect that he may be involved in what happened today."

Flitwick laughed, "You mean Arlo?" He laughed, "I have known him for a year now and I know that he wouldn't even harm a fly. Maybe you have misunderstood something."

"That we will find out in a while." Snape sneered.

'This is very weird. It's the first time I am even hearing about this Arlo. He has no reason to do something like this. Why do I think that things are not so simple?' Liam thought.

The guy in the painting returned, Prof. Flitwick heard what he said.

Professor Flitwick got startled, "Prof. Snape, it seem that Michael has ran away."

"What… We must follow behind him. Professor quickly tell us where did he run off to." Cedric shouted.

"He ran outside of the castle maybe towards the forbidden forest, Let me come with you. He is a student of my house, I am responsible for his actions as well." Professor Flitwick waved his wand and his clothes changed into normal clothes from the pajamas he was wearing before.

"Liam you will come with me through the west gate. Cedric you go with professor Flitwick through the east gate. Filch is guarding the north gate tell the painting to inform Hagrid to not let any student pass through the south gate. We must find him." Snape ordered.

…

[The forbidden forest]

The tall trees had covered the evening sky, the surrounding was dull and black. A boy could be seen running through these tall trees towards a place only he knows about.

"I can't be caught, no matter what I won't be caught." The boy mumbled while running.

The boy slowed down his speed and gasped for air. He was out of breath.

"I can't understand the limits of his body. His stamina is still better than mine even though he is a year younger than me."

The boy had already reached his destination. He shouted something incomprehensible, "@#!%$@!."

Just as he shouted this a horde of black winged horses surrounded him.

"With them I will be safe…

…

Cedric was with Prof. Flitwick walking through the forest. Looking for a possible way Michael would have gone through. He was sure that Arlo was the one currently possessing Michael's body as Michael's behavior was exactly the same as Arlo.

"Professor, if we keep looking like this we wouldn't be able to find him even if we search for days. Can you think of some place Arlo would hide? When the last time he disappeared where did he hide?"

"I am not sure why you think that Arlo has possessed Michael's body. He is genuinely a very nice kid. It's just that the other kids misunderstand him because he can see thestrals and has a connection to magical creatures. His childhood was very sad, he has seen many deaths in such a young age. I pity him."

"Thestrals?? They are real…." Cedric was shocked.

Flitwick smiled a little, "There are many things in the world which you don't know about. Thestrals are real… I can see them too. Only people who have witnessed death can see them. They are very odd and rare creatures, the forbidden forest has a lot of theastrals. Although they are not harmful to anyother creature, they are considered as bringer of misfortune.

Arlo was also seen as Misfortune, because he can see them, not only he can see them, he has a weird connection to them. I have heard that his family's guardian beast are thestrals. His family used to be one of the pureblood family but later they were denounced that they are not purebloods.

The world had gotten very peaceful and many purebloods denied the existence of Thestrals. But the reality was that they just wanted to take away all the properties and wealth from his family."

Cedric felt very bad after listening to Flitwick dictating Arlo's past and history.

"Professor didn't you say that there are a lot of thestrals in the forbidden forest. Maybe he is with the thestrals."

"I know where that place is… let me inform Professor Snape as well. Thestrals are harmless creatures but they can be deadly if provoked. We may need their help as well." Flitwick raised his wand in the sky, through which a shot of light launched and travelled to the west side of the castle.