Smarter Than I Look

Madi loved the Beauxbatons carriages. There was something so magical (other than the obvious) about them. She felt like a princess when she was on her way, to and from school. Like she was going on and returning from some far off land, rather than just down the street from her home. Maybe it was the flying horses. Madi loved the flying horses. "How do you suppose they know where they're going?" she asked the person in the carriage with her. "Do they follow each other, or do they remember?"

Stephanie's life changed a lot. Her personality didn't change at all but her decision to live her life, no matter what, was something completely new to her. An unprecedented confidence now surrounded the young Italian girl. Maybe things were going to get better. She didn't know about that, though. The future is a mystery and she prefers to live more realistically. By thinking carefully of her actions, it was sure that the future couldn't go out of her control. She hated it when she couldn't control her own life. Unpredictable situations are truly the worst.

Turning her head slowly to face the girl that talked to her, the young witch tried to smile in a friendly way. A failure of course, but at least she tried. Only a slight grin could be seen and even this one wouldn't last for too long. Once she began talking, her facial features returned to her usual, serious expression.

"They are Abraxan, a breed of Winged horse. They are gigantic and extremely powerful, so their brain is obviously larger. Their intelligence helps them to remember locations and face difficult situations that may appear on the way to our school."

Madi adjusted her glasses and crossed her legs as she listened. She found the older girl's voice calming. She had noticed it in her first year when the girl had been her house's prefect, but Madi was too shy to say anything to her before. Her smile was kind of scary, but Madi's mother had explained to her that some people smiled less because they were private. "What do they eat?" she asked curiously. "Where do they come from?"

She supposed she'd learn about them next year in Care of Magical creatures or she could get a book in the library, but they had a long ride to go. She could learn something now.

Stephanie noticed that the girl next to her was quite interested in magical animals. The young Italian witch didn't mind explaining everything to her. She actually liked giving scientific explanations about everything that was happening around her. It helped her be more realistic and in touch with her environment.

"They come from the Greek winged horses, Pegasus being the most famous one. They were then taken by wizards and witches and spread across the whole world. In the beginning, it was actually quite hard to tame them.*