The Thestral landed lightly beside Morris, as though walking on water, without making a sound or attracting anyone's attention.
It walked alongside Morris's boat, so close that Morris could clearly see its smooth skin.
"Hello?" Morris offered tentatively, unsure whether the creature could understand human language.
The Thestral's pure white pupils gazed quietly at Morris, as though they could pierce through appearances and look straight into the depths of his soul.
For some reason, Morris could clearly sense the affection this mysterious creature was conveying to him.
And, coincidentally, he too felt an inexplicable fondness for this strange creature.
He tentatively reached out to stroke the Thestral's head.
Rather than shying away, the Thestral brought its forehead a little closer.
Morris felt as though he were touching a warm skull covered in skin-this was a living animal, not an undead creature like Guantou or Yanhua.
Just as he was losing himself in this curious sensation, the Thestral suddenly leaned forward and gently nudged him with its head, lifting him out of the little boat and tossing him securely onto its back.
"!"
Morris instinctively grabbed a protrusion on the Thestral's neck, but did not cry out.
He knew the creature meant him no harm; perhaps this was simply its unique way of expressing friendliness.
Then the Thestral spread its enormous, batlike wings and carried him into the air.
The night wind brushed his cheeks. Looking down at the little boat receding below, he couldn't help sneezing.
Hmm, a little cold.
Despite the lack of any safety measures, the Thestral's flight was exceptionally smooth.
It seemed to have deliberately slowed down to let Morris grow accustomed to being high in the air.
Before they knew it, they had climbed very high.
Below, the Black Lake resembled an inky mirror reflecting a sky full of stars, while the little boats carrying the first-years looked just like a string of glowing pearls moving slowly across the lake.
What a truly... enchanting sight.
Morris couldn't help spreading his arms and letting out a shout. The Thestral beneath him caught his mood and answered with a soft whinny.
"Well then, darling, take me for a look around," Morris called, leaning forward over the Thestral. "But you'd better bring me back within ten minutes."
Meanwhile, the older students were heading toward the castle in carriages drawn by Thestrals.
Inside one carriage, the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan were chatting at their leisure.
"Have you noticed," Lee Jordan asked, looking around the empty carriage, "that nobody else wants to share a carriage with us?"
Fred lounged against his seat, tossing a Fizzing Whizzbee into the air and catching it. "Might be because George broke two Dungbombs in a carriage last year."
George immediately objected. "Wasn't that you?"
"Was it?" Fred paused.
Lee Jordan sighed silently.
He recalled last year's incident, known as the "death carriage."
These two really were... Would he be better off finding some other friends?
Bored, he looked out the window. Hogwarts Castle was already close at hand in the darkness.
"Speaking of which," he asked casually, "what do you think of Morris Black?"
"Interesting kid," Fred said without hesitation. "I bet he'll be in Gryffindor."
"Agreed." George nodded along.
Lee Jordan looked thoughtful.
He thought of that strange black cat again.
Just then, he heard an extremely faint tapping, as though someone were knocking on the window.
He looked toward the sound and saw something he could never have imagined.
"Mor... Morris!!?"
At Lee Jordan's startled cry, the Weasley twins immediately crowded up to the window.
Morris's face was right outside.
"!!!!"
The three of them scrambled to roll down the window.
Morris was floating in midair as though riding something, flying effortlessly alongside them. He even waved at them.
Lee Jordan rubbed his eyes.
In that instant, Morris vanished, as though what they had just seen had been nothing but a hallucination.
"Am I seeing things?" Lee Jordan blinked in disbelief. "Was someone just... floating outside the window?"
Fred and George exchanged looks, equally shocked.
"If that was a hallucination," George said slowly, "then all three of us had the same hallucination at the same time."
Fred propped his chin on his hand. "Let's ask Morris later. There's really more to that fellow than meets the eye."
Perhaps because they had enjoyed themselves a little too much, it was already rather late when the Thestral carried Morris back to the Black Lake. All the boats had moored on the shore, and the first-years were nowhere to be seen.
Fortunately, Morris eventually found the group-Hagrid was leading them up the stone steps toward the castle.
It seemed no one had noticed his brief disappearance.
To avoid attracting attention, he had the Thestral carry him straight to the very top of the steps.
Morris slipped lightly off the Thestral's back and patted its neck in thanks.
The Thestral nuzzled him affectionately, then spread its wings and silently melted into the night.
Morris straightened his robes and looked around, discovering that he stood on the outskirts of Hogwarts Castle, with an area resembling a courtyard ahead.
Since the students had yet to arrive, the place seemed particularly empty and quiet.
All I have to do is slip naturally into the group when it passes, he thought.
Just then, however, a voice Morris found somewhat familiar rang out.
"Mr. Black, I don't think I can pretend I didn't see what just happened."
Morris froze, then turned toward the voice.
Professor McGonagall stood in a corridor not far away, her square glasses gleaming in the moonlight.
She approached briskly, dressed in emerald-green robes, her hands folded across her chest and her customary stern expression on her face.
"Good evening, Professor McGonagall." Morris greeted her with a smile. "It really is a little cold tonight."
As he spoke, he drew the collar of his robes closer, looking as though nothing had happened.
"Don't change the subject, Mr. Black," Professor McGonagall said with a frown. "You arrived on a Thestral, didn't you? I never imagined Hagrid would fail to keep those animals under control."
So it was called a Thestral.
Morris nodded and explained cheerfully, "It's an enthusiastic little fellow. It invited me up for a ride, and I really couldn't bring myself to refuse such kindness."
An enthusiastic little fellow?
Professor McGonagall's expression darkened a little. "Mr. Black, please do not do that again. It's dangerous. Although Thestrals are gentle, flying at high altitudes for a first-year with no experience whatsoever..."
Before she could finish, Hagrid's booming voice came from the distance, and the first-years' footsteps drew steadily closer.
Professor McGonagall composed herself and lowered her voice. "I will deal with this matter separately. For now, come with me."