Ingratitude

Night in the Forbidden Forest.

"What the hell were you all thinking?!" Barnaby shouted at the people in front of him.

Neville, Luna, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Harry flinched at the roar for a moment, while several crows, bats, and owls fled the area, scared.

"Let's not even talk about how, apparently, you led Umbridge into the Forbidden Forest, into centaur territory, only for her to end up being taken by them, with her fate unknown (though I hope she never returns)," he began, pacing back and forth like a sergeant yelling at new recruits. "I just don't care," he clarified. "But, what the hell were you planning to do with the poor thestrals?!" he asked, with a look that promised pain if they weren't honest.

This was too reminiscent of that time someone almost turned his beloved chocobo into fried food!

His poor thestrals hadn't even had dinner yet!

"You don't understand, Barnaby!" Harry stepped forward anxiously, not wanting to waste time. "Sirius is in danger! Voldemort's captured him, and we have to save him!"

One might expect that, driven by anxiety, they would try to push past Barnaby and leave in a hurry, but there were two problems.

One, the thestrals had landed just seconds after taking off, having heard Barnaby's whistle as he spotted them by chance. They were clearly trained and knew that the redhead's orders took priority.

Two, apparently learning from what Hermione did earlier, Barnaby had confiscated all their wands with a sweep of his staff. And no one knew how or could perform wandless magic.

"Uh-huh," Barnaby kept his gaze on Harry. "And how do you know that?"

"I saw it!" Harry revealed, his eyes bloodshot. "In the dream, everything was clear!"

"Harry, with all due respect, you have less divination skill than Trelawney's teacups," Barnaby frowned, unconvinced. "Besides, since when do you have these dreams?"

Barnaby had a feeling Harry's explanation was too clear and detailed. These kinds of dreams are usually vague, and he suspected Harry had been influenced, though he didn't understand why Voldemort would do that.

"That doesn't matter!" It was Harry's turn to shout. "We're wasting time! Sirius is being tortured by Voldemort at the Ministry of Magic, and he could die any moment!"

"And why didn't you use Floo Powder from Umbridge's office to go there?" Barnaby looked at them like they were idiots. "You literally just got her out of the way, and it would be much faster."

Ron and Neville wanted to bravely refute the argument, but they realized that compared to flying from Hogwarts to the Ministry of Magic on thestral backs, it was actually much better to use the Floo Network to get there in seconds.

Also, the headmaster's fireplace has direct access since Dumbledore took office.

"Are you going to stop us from saving Sirius?" Hermione narrowed her eyes as she stared at him.

"I could," Barnaby said in a tone that conveyed absolute certainty, causing everyone to tense up. "But I'm sure of the kind of reaction you'd have later. You've made your attitude quite clear. So, let me ask you just one question."

"What?" Harry wanted to respond quickly and leave immediately.

"How do you know it's not a trap to lure you there?"

Harry was about to answer instantly, but he realized he couldn't.

In fact, he hadn't even considered that possibility…

"Harry saved Mr. Weasley before!" Hermione seemed ready to take Harry's place to answer, or in this case, provide a viable excuse to continue.

"Screw you, Granger!" Barnaby snapped at her. "I'm asking him! Maybe Harry doesn't have divination skills, but you're in massive debt in comparison!"

Hermione's eyes widened, indignation written all over her face, while the others stared at Barnaby, mouths agape, not expecting her reckless behavior tonight had pushed his buttons so much.

"Even if it's a trap, I have to go!" Harry finally found words.

"I don't know if I should applaud your bravery, approve of your loyalty, or lament your stupidity, but do whatever you want." Barnaby tossed their wands back to everyone except Hermione, whose wand he just dropped on the grass at her feet. "I've tried to help you since our first meeting, Harry, but it seems my efforts have been in vain."

Harry remained silent.

Barnaby turned and took the thestrals with him with another whistle.

"Need a hug?" Sanshi asked worriedly, sensing Barnaby's mix of emotions.

"Later, let me settle the thestrals first and give them their dinner."

A few minutes later, as he tossed meat to the creatures associated with death and severely misunderstood, he saw several green flashes of light coming from the headmaster's office windows.

Barnaby sat on a rock, sighed wearily, and shook his head as Sanshi emerged from the shadows to hug him. The nyokai glared toward the headmaster's office in disapproval. Barnaby had only ever wanted to help Harry over the years, but the boy was too influenced by the manipulative old man and the bad influences around him.

Like Ron's laziness or Hermione's moral hypocrisy.

"Still, at least he didn't offer to go with them," Sanshi thought. "His safety is more important than that black dog," she concluded without a shred of doubt.