Just Outside the Forest

Theresa rushed back outside after she had talked to her friends. She clutched a book close to her as she ran until she was close enough to see inside the forest but far away enough not to be in it. She looked into the forest then down at her book and opened it, she wished that she wasn't so curious but she couldn't help it. As she looked at the trees, creatures that she wanted to see passed her mind Werewolves... Acromantulas... Centaurs... Thestrals... Unicorns... She sat down, facing the trees and opened her book to the right page as she read about the different creatures that would be in the forest. "If only" she muttered to herself as she looked into the forest, wondering what they would look like and not just as some pictures in books.

Raven walked around the edge of the forbidden forest and wondered if he'd have a chance to go in there again. He didn't really want to wait until Third Year to do so. Maybe he could talk Prof Lewis into letting him and Dixie go in the forest for a detention? He'd been walking with his hands in his pockets but looked up and frowned seeing a Hufflepuff sitting facing the forest. Curious, he went over and stood behind her. "Whatcha reading?"

Theresa turned the page, smiling as she read about werewolves, they would probably be the best to see, except Centaurs of course. She tensed when she heard a voice and quickly looked over her shoulder. She sighed when she saw that it was only a Slytherin, she had already gotten in trouble once by a teacher for being too close to the forest. "Fantastic beasts and where to find them" she said.

"Really?" Raven canted his head. "That was on our school list wasn't it? I still haven't read all the books I got. I think my copy of Hogwarts, A History is collecting dust in my room."
Thinking of the dorm room had him frowning. He could never relax in there now. "So, you reading up on a specific creature?"

Theresa nodded "Yeah, it is the book we need for Care of Magical Creatures in our third year, I got mine early just to read" she said. "I don't think anyone likes that Hogwarts, A History book, I was one page into it and couldn't take any more of the agony" she said. She looked back down at her book "not really, I am looking at about five that are supposedly in this forest, it would be amazing to see them" she said, smiling as she thought of what a centaur would look like.

"Five?" Raven canted his head as he tried to think of which five those could be. He forgot who, but one of the Slytherins told him that the Acromantulas were dead. So, that left, Centaurs, which he and Will had run into. He heard about Will's encounter with a Unicorn....He didn't know what else. Then remembering his manners asked, "Do you mind if I sit with you?"

Theresa nodded "sure" she said before she looked back down at her book. She wondered what it would be like to be in the forest. Her sister had gone in with that Hale guy but she had never been in herself. The one time she did, she got caught the moment she was under the trees and didn't get to see anything.

Taking a seat next to her, Raven sat down with his legs out in front of him. "So, what five are you looking for and why? You haven't gone to the forest yet?"
He wasn't sure who all had and hadn't been to the forest yet, but knew a handful from each house must have.

"I don't think I would ever find them but I would love to see a Centaur, Werewolf, Acromantula, Thestral and maybe a Unicorns, I have always been interested in magical creatures and it would be brilliant to see them" she said. She looked back up at the trees and sighed "I tried to go in there once but Professor Mitchell caught me before I could even get a few feet in and I haven't tried since" she explained, she was too ashamed to after she lost ten points, even her curiosity couldn't make her after that.

"Ah," Raven acknowledged with a nod. He'd heard about that. "Well, I dunno about Unicorns, you'd have to ask Will or that other Ravenclaw girl. As for the Acromantualas, I heard from another Slytherin that they were killed off. Will and I have seen a Centaur in the forest though. He and Harmony were able to keep it from killing us."
Canting his head, he frowned. "I dunno if I actually want to meet a werewolf. As for Thestrals, I'm kind of glad I can't see those. I know they have a bad rep and all, but I think I prefer not seeing them as to having an experience that would allow me to see them."

"Yeah, I think I would actually cross that off my list" she said as she quickly scribbled on a piece of parchment that was in the book she was looking at. "I am sure that Werewolves would be a great thing to see, they are so interesting, I have always wanted to see one up close" she said, thinking about how great it would be to see one instead of just swimming in the lake to look at plimys or to try and get another glimpse of the big, dark creature thing. "How were the Acromantualas killed?" she asked, that was definitely news to her, she remembered her sister telling her about one that she had found with a group of Gryffindors and Ravenclaws.

"I forget which Slytherin told me," Raven confessed. "It was when we were trying to find a spot for the rave we were planning. That would have been so awesome too! Except our HoH found out and was ticked we hadn't invited her."
Raven winced at remembering that Howler. "Anyways, a girl said she knew of a place in the forest. The old Acromantula den She said that Voldemort killed them off when they refused to join his cause."
He shrugged. "I didn't see one when we were in there, but that doesn't mean they're not."

Theresa smiled "it would be great to see one, even seeing just a Hippogriff would be great" she said as she turned the page to see a picture of one. "Only problem is the rules but as long as your not stupid enough to get yourself caught, I guess it cant stop people" she said. She thought about what she had heard and read about all these creatures and she hated that she had to wait until her third year for Care of Magical Creatures.

Raven raised his brow and smiled. "Rules don't stop people anyways, whether they are smart or stupid. And luck is a skill I think. You can always make your own luck. Turn situations to your advantage. If you're skilled enough."
Scratching the back of his neck he looked at her. "You're taking Care of Magical Creatures then? For sure? You must really like animals."

"I guess but you have to admit, a lot of people are either following the rules or haven't been caught lately" Theresa said. She was glad about that, she could see the school breaking down if the points went to minus again. "Yep, I am going to probably be the first people to sign up for it" she said cheerfully, she couldn't wait for the lessons to start in third year. "I do like animals but I prefer the dangerous ones, they are always more fun" she said. She wouldn't go as far as dragons but she did love dangerous animals better.

Raven shook his head with a grin. "Wow, you wouldn't hear most girls say that. Or most of the guys, now that I think about it. Well, they'd say they would, but they would get scared if they actually were face to face with one."
Looking at the time he jumped up. "Sorry, but I don't want to be late for Herbology. Maybe we can talk again some time."
Waving he ran off.

Theresa sighed as she slowly made her way back to her favourite place outside the forest where no one usually were. She sat down with her book and wiped at her eyes. She hated Ravenclaws... Hufflepuffs too, why couldn't she have been a Gryffindor or a Slytherin. She knew the answer to that right away, she was not brave and was not cunning or sly, she was just her. She opened her book and sighed as she thought about what those girls had said, they were right.

"Resa?" Shelby asked softly, joining her friend. She looked upset, so Shelby sat next to her and put an arm around her to comfort her. "It's okay," she said in the same quiet tone. "Is this about what happened earlier?" She hated whoever had done this to her friend and she was going to make whoever it was pay for what they had done.

Theresa quickly wiped her eyes "it's nothing, honestly, I was just reading" she said, gesturing to the book in front of her. She hated that she could cry, there was no point. So what if she didn't fit in with the other Hufflepuffs or even the other houses. There was no reason to cry like a little girl.

Shelby frowned. She now knew what it had been like for Hilary and Resa when they saw her crying in the Room of Requirement. They'd both looked like they were ready to rip off one of Indiana's arms. She wondered momentarily if either of them had spoken to him yet.

She decided to give Resa a moment to cool off and simply sat with her arm around her friend, figuring that if she wanted to talk about it more, she would.