Uncanny and unusual

"Name it? But what could i.." Arabella was thinking to what she could name the creature seeing it still nuzzling into her hand slowly. The baby was cute and she smiled finding it precious. But what to name it? "Hmmmmmm; maybe starling gale?" she said.

" a bit windy but thats what yeh like." hagrid said and the silvery foal was leaning into her hand. caius imagined that this creature would grow up to be like a black sheep amongts the unicorns and be dark caoted as it grew up. the mother was recovering and all that was left was to clean up the mess. hagrid was surprised by the events and this was completely abnormal.

arabella was completly overjoyed to have such a powerful creature bonded to her. she must have been dreaming fo sucha thing for a long time. caius felt he was in the way as albus was talking with her excitedly.

"I know the name is a bit..weird but I was never one good with names." she rubs her head laughing a little at herself. "Though, maybe I can give it a better name later down the road."

" too late lass its already taken to the name yeh gave it." hagrid said and albus was still shocked.

"i love the name i think you should keep it. and besides not everyone has their own unicorn." albus said excited and eager to finally get his own words in. caius was quiet and remembering his own bond forming with the Quetzalcoatl. he knew she and this unicorn were bound to a desitny just like he was with his own bond.

the owlet hovers down with a mouse in its beak and begins to eat it. normally it returned to the owlery but seeing his master out in the night drew it close. the cat smelling the blood of the mouse peeks is head out of his robes and watches everything pretending it isnt interested. seeing the movement near caius the newborn unicorn notices him fo rthe first time and clumsily walks over.

caius was nervousa nd didnt move and the unicorn looked between him and arabelle looks at him seeing how she feels and seeing him as an ally. it butss its head against him making the owlet sway while it ate an the cat mew. caius nearly fell but stood his ground and gently pat the unicorn. its bright eyes marked him in a similar way as it imprinted on her and she was touched that it liked him too.

"I see...well, I guess it's name is going to be starling gale." She smiled but she did like the name either way. It was something she made up when she was a little girl for a special doll she made. So it seems it would be passed on to the unicorn. Her eyes shifts to hearing Albus saying he liked the name to make her smile.

"Aww thanks Albus." she said. She sees the owlet hovers down with a mouse but it seems to be fine when noticing the baby unicorn going to Caius now. She wonders if it was going to like or hate him but it changed when seeing it being friendly to him. "Awwwwww, he likes you too Caius." Arabella said happily.

"Are we sure it's a he?" Caius asks as the difference between male and female animals means something to him. Largely how to treat them since male and female animals react differently. She giggles and Hagrid checks. Caius was nervous because of the warnings about unicorns and while they are beautiful they are dangerous to protect their herds. Who knew what magic they could weave?

Album didn't care he was petting the new foal. Hagrid and teddy finished cleaning up and it was time for feeding so they returned to the castle leaving Hagrid and teddy behind. Albus knew it was late and he pulled out a silvery cloak from under his robes.

"Here you two get under this and we won't get in trouble" He said and caius was not understanding. Arabella however gasped in shock seeing

"An invisibility cloak." She gasps out and claps her mouth shut. She had to keep it quiet. Albus nodded and threw the cloak over the three of them.

"Its perfect" He said whispering. "Got it from my dad he got it from his dad and so on. " albus said leading the way through the castle Arabella had never heard of a cloak like that one that was old like albus'. She just accepted it as a novelty and a rare cloak. Caius who liked reading about magical tools knew it wasn't normal but was thankful to have it because filch the decrepit caretaker was prowling around muttering to a young cat about how students were always out of bed and he was supposed to catch them.

Slipping around a corner and through a tapestry albus led them down a secret passage straight through to the entrance of the hufflepuff common room. There Arabella and caius slip out of the cloak and give the password before going to bed. Albus set off for griffins tower alone and invisible as most nights before.

She smiled happy for tonight from a new friend that she was giggling quietly to herself heading to bed without waking anyone in the dorm room. After getting dressed for bed, she gets in and lays down, smiling as she watches the night. Closing her eyes, she dozes off to sleep with happy dreams.

Caius was not restful. He tossed and turned thinking about what he heard away from Arabella rumors and whispers. They all pointed to a darkness roaming the school. Maybe the strange birth was going to help them in the future. His sleep was broken but he got some rest. The dormitory was calm and quiet when a fluttering ghostly sound filled it settling near caius. The image of a feathered serpent looked at him next to it the image of a Phoenix. Not only animals but spirit animals were attracted to him. They watch him and as they do his sleep becomes easier.

The Phoenix image faded away with a mournful note and when someone Storrs the image of the feathered serpent faded. Dawn touched the sky and so did several clouds.

Everyone or some was still asleep for the moment but many a few were awake getting ready for classes. Arabella was still sleeping but she was happy after resting up from the other night. Dreaming of their new friend but she did hope the mom and baby were alright now. As dawn still rises, she turns in her bed still sleeping peacefully.

The next day album sat with them at the breakfast and he whispered to them about things he learned. How slytherin students were planning to challenge them to a duel just to get them in trouble. And how a fee ravenclaws were going to ask permission to use a classroom at night for practicing and doing homework out of bed.

"Thats not going to be allowed." She said and caius agreed.

"I'm just saying what I've heard." Albus said and caius sighed.

"It must be nice having invisibility" caius looked at his wand "I wish I could get used to this wand. It seems yo be very powerful or wanting me to be powerful." He said looking at the wand and feeling hiw it touched his magic.

"Dad said its like the wand has a will of its own but mostly to help the wizard it chooses. So maybe it is. Do you want power?" Albus said asking seriously and caius sighs

"No... not really I just want to be strong creative and dependable." He said and albus smiles.

"They say that those are the best wizards." Arabella said as she listened to everything going on. "I've heard of a spell that makes you go almost invisible its a disillusionment spell and you're not supposed to speak to cast it." She said hearing that the week before in the common room.

"How do you cast it?" He asks and she thought back trying to remember.

"Hmmm maybe hit tour head with your wand thinking about cracking an egg or something" She said trying to remember.

Caius gave it a try he hit his head with his wand as he focused what he could feel with his wand. He felt a cold wet tricling down his head and someone screamed as his head vanished off his shoulders. But not completely. It was like light was bending around his head cresting am after image like heat where his head should be.

Everyone laughed but he didn't care. He tried thinking the opposite way and trying again he vanished completely. Everyone laughing gasped and he laughed. Then froze. Hiw was he going to undo this?

"Uh oh"

What's wrong you did it!" Arabella cheered as she tired to hug him and fell over making everyone laugh at her. "Caius? Where are you. " She asks feeling for him and finding his head. "There you are"

"I don't know how to be visible again..." he said and albus giggles. "

Maybe my dad knows I can write him and ask." He said and ciaus thanked him. His voice coming from. Where he was sitting. A prefect walks over from the griffondor table. His furry head a rainbow of changing color.

"Hey albus where is your friend?" He said and albus smiled

"Right here. He tried the disillusionment charm and can't change it back. Uncle teddy" albus said and teddy looked where caius sat.

"Think hot thoughts and rap your head again to melt the spell. If that doesn't work go to the hospital wing." Teddy said and caius tried it. To everyone's surprise ot worked and he felt like a hot egg burst on his head and the spell bled off him leaving patches. He had to try again to finish and everyone seemed impressed.

Everyone was quiet but some was really impressed clapping or some saying that was pretty cool.

After breakfast they went together to their first class of the day double potions. It was a good thing caius was visible but he was horrible at potions. He could barely manage it but his potions were either weak or didn't completely work. This time he was chewing on his tongue reading carefully and writing the instructions down.

Arabella seeing it like cooking didn't have alot of trouble sometimes the steps didn't make the potions react how they were supposed to. She started to notice and when she checked her book for ways to get the results she wanted she started fixing her potion.

Albus was good at potions and while not spectacular or perfect his potions worked. Teddy was in a different year than them and had his own classes elsewhere. Arabella started to think that caius had trouble Le with potions because the instructions weren't accurate and he was following them exactly. Their essence of rue was supposed to be an antidote for love potions and hers turned out perfect.

"OH I see you've been using reagents to produce the effects you need. Very clever 10 points to hufflepuff. " the teacher said and his jovial nature was clear on his face. Albus smiled at her and caius was happy but trying to finish. He had only a few ingredients left to add and it was going like normal. "Hmmm seems you aren't quite done yet. I se le you ge the general idea but your potion just won't counteract a love potion. You need to make it stronger or more efficient. " He said moving on to albus who he gave a passing grade.

"Now class I didn't expect you to finish or even get results. This lesson was about searching for ways to improve your existing concoction. Now if you turn to your books you will find the real instructions and spend the second half of class brewing them up. Let's get started evenessco " he waved his want and the spell made all the cauldrons empty by vanishing the contents.

With a collective groan the class started over and Arabella giggles as caius and albus groan with the class. Maybe this is a lesson about starting over too" albus said and caius grunted thinking the same thing. And they set to work. This time caius did much better and he saw what Arabella did and copied her since she still used the extra ingredients and techniques she picked up. She was happy to help them both and all their potions not only finished but turned out...

"PERFECT my word you 3 are quite the students but of course the credit goes to miss Arabella here. Another 10 points to hufflepuff and 10 to griffindor as well." Sweaty drained and tired caius and albus clean up and drag themselves out of their chairs to follow Arabella who was skipping. She liked doing well in class and it made her happy. The boys were just tired. They had transfiguration next and that made caius very nervous.

They were working on turning matches into needles amid the noise of failed attempts caius was getting frustrated again. The spell was hard for him to pronounce and finally he stopped and raised his hand.

"Yes what is it?" The teacher said looking up at his hand and then his match that was nearly burned.

"Is it possible to use magic without speaking? I can think the word but saying it is hard. " the teacher raised an eyebrow almost like suspicion and wonder.

"The practice of non verbal spells as this is called is not normal taught until students reach 6th year. And after they have some training controlling their magic which I'm sad to say you... lack... " the teacher was trying to be polite. "You can go a ahead and give it a try but I warn you it can be very messy to get it wrong. " the whole class had stopped to watch as caius screwed his face into a deep scowl of concentration and thought the incantation as hard as he could.

There was a collective gasp as the match and everyone's match turned into a needle. Dead silence fell Arabella and album were astonished the teacher had their mouth open dumbstruck and caius was shaking with excitement. "I DID IT I CAN DO MAGIC" echoed around the silent room then everyone rushed him except Arabella who was shocked and blushing hard and album who was just as surprised but not flushed.

The clamoring of how did you do that and teach me were interrupted by the teacher "back to your seats" 50 point to hufflepuff and you get to sit out and help me distribute new matches to the class. Caius did as he was told and everyone got new matches. Arabella and albus understanding g what the rest of the class didn't decided to practice wordlessly.

Arabella could already turn beetles into buttons so matches to needles was easy for her but with out speaking it was hard but she did it as well. Albus couldn't. And his needle was still wooden.

After class the 3 talked about the lesson amd what they learned when Arabella spoke up. "I think we should practice all our spells nonverbal. We would get a leg up on people who have to speak their spells." Albus agreed and caius nodded.

"It might be the only way I CAN do magic." What do you think albus?

""I think spells are hard enough when spoken silent is even harder. But I'll try. I don't want to be left behind by you two." He was nervous and they were going to their lunch break.

"Even so that was amazing! Even with that it still shows it's possible!" Arabella smiled proud of him and yet this made her happy for him even if he was rubbing the back of his head.

Hmmm that is true....." Caius said with Arabella thinking about it while walking with him.

"That's also true too.." she said.

Halloween drew nearer and the castle was decorated by giant pumpkins and clouds of live bats. The classes were getting easier and they were all moving on nicely. She was still the best in their group and caius was getting better at his classes as he could perform the spells with only a few tries now. Albus still spoke his incantations but in their private training he worked on nonverbal. The Halloween feast was only two days away when albus rushed to find them in the library. He was excited and told them that his parents were happy to hear his progress.

"That's great albus. You've been working very hard." Arabella said smiling and scooting over to let him sit while she picked another chair. He sat down and opened his schoolwork and started to practice saying the incantations.

Caius said nothing but was focused on his book. He was trying to memorize the movement of the wand practicing without his wand but visualizing it was in his hands. Magic was forbidden in the library. They study together the whole day albus and Arabella teasing caius when he got the wand movement wrong and exaggerating his mistake with a dumb look on their face. Making them all laugh even caius laughed. The librarian appears and pushes them with a hissing "shussshh" they all jumped and fell silent. The other students were glowering at the trio.

The Halloween feast came when it should and they feasted heartily the food just kept coming and when they were full they relaxed. Albus was sitting at the griffindor table talking with a hairy boy with hair that changed color all the time he was teddy. He was an animorphmagus and half werewolf. He was a large 5th year and looked out for albus like a brother. When albus pointed at them they waved and teddy looked at them then returned to his conversation. Albus clearly was telling him about them and what he had learned recently.

Caius was fascinated by teddy and when ever he saw him asked him to change his color to green and his face into a horse. He liked it saying it looked like a kelpie and teddy always laughed. He was the life of a party with his power and after the feast he came over to them in the entrance hall.

"I'd like to thank you two for watching out for albus potter. It's goo's to know he has such good friends. If you need anything just ask and I'll see wha ti could do. " He said and Arabella and cauis both nodded a bit shy. Teddy was one of the popular ones but he was decent.

"Thank you so much, Teddy. Honestly, Albus is really sweet. Though, I don't know about the bullies that tend to think their better." Arabella sighed seeing a few from slitherine seething at the griffindor table.

"I know what you mean. Though, most of the bullies are from that house. Or maybe not all of them I'm not sure." he said scratching his head to think about it. Though, he sees hufflepuff talking and some even minding their own business after a while.

"Even so, try to be careful and don't let them get to you guys. Bullies don't know any better.."

Caius really liked teddy. That was good advice and he hoped he could follow it. He hated bullies and wanted to put them in their place. But he wasn't good enough at magic yet. After the feast the trio go to an abandoned classroom to practice their spells. Caius was definitely improving now that he had a method of actually casting spells and sometimes he began to think he could use magic without a wand. Sometimes he thought that but he never really tried.

As always Arabella was nearly perfect in the magic they picked by the end of their training and she went with caius back to the hufflepuff common room hoping they would get there before the curfew. They did and breathed a sigh of relief. They avoided trouble again. Peeves was causing a ruckus on their way but they dodged him and ran making it just in time.

She giggles and hugs him wishing him good night before going to her dormitory and he did the same. That night he had another visit from the creature in his dreams and it seemed to be proud of his progress. He wished it would appear in real life but it said it couldn't yet since it wasn't born yet and he didn't understand.

Everyone still sleeps but even Arabella was sleeping with a smile on her face. Before bed, she did hear that everything was well right now and that many of the others were improving as time goes on. This really was a improvement. Even Teddy was excited about it even if he was sleeping in his own bed as well with the others.