They were over the Hogwarts grounds, they had passed Hogsmeade Harry could see mountains and gullies below them.

Harry did not think he had ever moved so fast: the Thestral streaked over the castle, its wide wings hardly beating the cooling air was slapping Harry's face eyes screwed up against the rushing wind, he looked round and saw his five fellows soaring along behind him, each of them bent as low as possible into the neck of their Thestral to protect themselves from his slipstream. He closed his eyes and pressed his face down into the horses silky mane as they burst through the topmost branches of the trees and soared out into a blood-red sunset. 'įor a moment Harry's Thestral did nothing at all then, with a sweeping movement that nearly unseated him, the wings on either side extended the horse crouched slowly, then rocketed upwards so fast and so steeply that Harry had to clench his arms and legs tightly around the horse to avoid sliding backwards over its bony rump. 'Ministry of Magic, visitors' entrance, London, then,' he said uncertainly. He looked down at the back of his Thestral's glossy black head and swallowed.

They all nodded and he saw live pairs of knees tighten beneath their robes. 'You'd better hope it stays invisible,' said Harry darkly. 'This is mad,' Ron murmured, moving his free hand gingerly up and down his horse's neck. All three looked extremely nervous as she wound their hands into their horses mane and told them to grip tightly before she got back on to her own steed. She pulled them over to the other Thestrals standing around and one by one managed to help them on to the back of their mount. 'Oh, it's easy,' said Luna, sliding obligingly from her Thestral and marching over to him, Hermione and Ginny. 'How're we supposed to get on?' said Ron faintly. Ron, Hermione and Ginny, however, were still standing motionless on the spot, open-mouthed and staring. Luna was already in place, sitting side-saddle and adjusting her robes as though she did this every day. Neville had heaved himself over the back of the next Thestral and was now attempting to swing one short leg over the creature's back. He found there was a way of lodging his knees behind the wing joints that made him feel more secure, then looked around at the others. It did not object, but twisted its head around, fangs bared, and attempted to continue its eager licking of his robes. Harry wound his hand tightly into the mane of the nearest Thestral, placed a foot on a stump nearby and scrambled clumsily on to the horse's silken back.

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