Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; not the plot, not the setting, not the characters. I'm just making a few changes. You should be able to recognize them. =D

A/N: Please keep up the reviews people, I know there's so many of you reading who aren't reviewing. Those of you who are, thank you so so so much! I love them all. There are several new people reviewing and I'm soooo grateful for that! Thanks guys, keep it up!

I also want to apologize for the long break in writing. For one, I really want to get this section of the story done right, so it'll take a while. Also, I'm preparing to go to college in just two weeks, so I'm a bit overwhelmed. I will try to update soon. Sorry for how short this chapter is!

Just so you know, I'm changing up the part with the Thestrals a little because 1) I think it makes more sense and 2) it helps me out. Enjoy!

Chapter 26

It took them longer to get to the Thestrals than any of them would have liked, and mounting them was a bit of an issue. Of the six of them, only three of them could even see the winged horses. Luna walked among them, petting them and whispering to them as though it was completely normal. Neville, though he could see the horses, was less than enthusiastic about ridding one. He'd never been good at Quidditch or flying at all, and the Thestrals were much more intimidating than a broomstick. Harry was too preoccupied with other things to be bothered by the creatures, though Ginny could sense he wasn't eager to fly on one. He'd have much rather used a broom.

While Luna mounted easily, everyone else was still too disconcerted by the fact they couldn't see them to even attempt it. Agitated, Harry hastily began pairing them off so that they'd each be with someone that could see the horses. Hermione was paired with Luna, which might not have been the best of ideas, as Hermione's fear of heights and Luna's ease with the Thestrals were such opposites, neither could appreciate the other fully. Neville and Ron were put together which also presented a problem. Neville, still less than comfortable with the creatures, had to help Ron get on the Thestral. And with Ron practically blind, it was an interesting process. Eventually, both pairs managed to mount their horses, leaving Harry and Ginny. She couldn't tell whether this was by accident or design, but she took full advantage of the momentary separation of her and Harry from the group.

"Harry," she said, coming up beside him, next to their Thestral. "Can I ask you something?" Her voice was small. She felt humbled by the power of the beast she was standing next to; she couldn't see it, but she could feel its warmth, hear its breathing. Suddenly, she wished she could see it. It didn't help that her heart was pounding, thinking of being up in the air on something she couldn't see.

Harry didn't answer her at first. "What?" he asked finally.

"Why didn't you want us along?" she said quickly, afraid that if she waited, the words wouldn't come. The question had been nagging at her ever since she'd seen the dream. She'd known, automatically, that Harry wouldn't want her, or any of the others along. But why, she didn't fully understand. And even though she could guess, she'd rather hear it from him.

He turned towards her. "Put your foot here," he said, taking her by surprise.

It took her a moment to understand that he was asking her to climb on the Thestral, so her reaction was extremely delayed. But she obeyed, placing her foot on the tree trunk Harry had indicated. Her breath caught in her throat as he came behind her, placing his hands on her waist to support her.

"Now, lift your wait and place your other foot about two feet in front of you."

She obeyed, haltingly, feeling flustered both by his touch and her reaction to it. Suddenly, her foot touched flesh and she almost pulled it back, wobbling precariously as she tried to comprehend the idea of something stable beneath her that she couldn't see.

"I've got you," Harry assured her, and she could help but blush. "Put your weight on it and let your foot slide." She did as she was told, feeling the side of the animal take shape beneath her. "Do you feel that?" he asked. She bit back a reply; her foot was now hooked near the wing, from what she could tell. "Put your weight on it and push forward until you feel the Thestral with your other foot. Got it?"

She wanted to say no, frozen in place with fear, but he gave her a push and she jumped forward, landing less than gracefully on the animal's back. For a moment, she almost panicked, her mind trying to cope with the fact that she was sitting on something she couldn't see, but Harry was already clambering on in front of her and she had to hold on to him to keep herself from falling. He settled himself completely, then, looking over his shoulder, called to the others.

"Okay, let's go!"

She closed her eyes and grabbed Harry around the waist. His muscles were tense beneath his shirt, stiffening at her touch, but she didn't care. Flying had always come naturally to her, but flying on something invisible…she kept her eyes shut tight as the animal leapt forward, running and buffeting her and Harry with its wings as it raced to take off. It seemed like an eternity before they were in the air, and it was even longer before she was brave enough to open her eyes. At first, she thought she might be sick. But then, as she calmed herself down, she realized the feeling in her stomach wasn't fear, but awe. Her breath was taken away by the sheer majesty of what was beneath her. She could see for what seemed like miles, and the world in all its glory was hers to behold, as though she were a god, looking down at it from Heaven. She allowed herself to breathe for the first time that she was aware of, though she knew she must have somehow drawn breath, despite her terror before.

It took her a moment to recognize that Harry was laughing at her.

"What?" she bellowed, feeling her face flush with embarrassment. The roar of the wind made the words she'd shouted seem lost in the air.

"Scared?" he teased.

"No," she said defensively. And it was true. At that moment, she was more awestruck than frightened.

"Good," he said, shrugging slightly.

The motion loosened her grip on him for a brief moment, and her heart stopped as she held on tighter, trying to calm herself.

"Okay, maybe a little," she admitted as Harry began to laugh at her again.

They didn't speak for a long time, until finally Ginny plucked up the courage and said, "You didn't answer my question."

"What question?" he demanded.

"I asked you why you didn't want us to come."

He was silent for so long that Ginny wondered if he'd heard her. Just as she was about to repeat the question he said, "Hermione's right. Voldemort is probably only threatening Sirius to try and get to me. If that's the case, he doesn't care who he hurts, as long as they're important to me. If any of you got hurt because I let you come along to help…"

She couldn't tell if the words were lost in the wind, or if he'd just let them trail off. Either way, she caught his meaning. She didn't know what to say.

"Ginny, promise me something," he said, so firmly she dare not argue.

She nodded, and though he couldn't see her, she knew he understood.

"Don't let him hurt you. If you think you can get out, then get out. Take whoever you can with you. This isn't your fight."

"Yes it is." The words left her mouth before she could stop them. "Harry, this fight is everyone's fight. It's not just you and You-Know-Who. It's everyone who doesn't want him in power fighting to make sure that doesn't happen. Why do you think there's an Order of the Phoenix?"

He didn't answer.

"You can't do everything yourself."

"You know," he said almost too quietly for her to hear, "for someone so hell-bent on doing things yourself, you tend to give a lot of advice about trusting your friends."

She bit her tongue to keep from retorting.

They were almost over London then, and soon the city came into sight. It was impressive to see all the lights strung out beneath them, and Ginny could have watched for hours the night life of the city from above, but they were approaching the Ministry fast. Before long, they had dismounted the Thestrals, some more eagerly than others, and they all stood hesitantly outside of the Ministry telephone booth. Finally, giving Harry a very serious glance, Ginny stepped inside. There was a pause as they others watched her, then Ron followed her example and, eventually, they all crammed into the telephone booth that was the entrance to the Ministry.

As soon as they were inside, they rushed over to the lift and filled in. Harry rammed his thumb into the right button, and as they hurdled downwards, a lady's voice calmly said, "Department of Mysteries" in time for the doors to open onto a corridor of doors.

"This is it," Harry declared firmly.

He walked, determined, down the hall, and everyone followed. Despite how many possible doors there were, Harry seemed to know exactly which one to take. He hesitated only for a moment, then pushed it open. Ginny's heart sank as she saw more and more doors extending in every direction. It was a circular chamber, a door every way you looked. With no time to waist, they started opening one at a time, with little success. One room held a tank full of brains, which kept Ron fascinated for a moment; another was full of clocks, watches, and every means of telling time Ginny had ever heard of.

This room, for some reason, bothered her far more than the one with the brains. There was something about it, something mysterious and uncertain. As they walked, single file, through the room, something caught her eye. In a bubble-shaped glass container, was the most beautiful swan she'd ever seen. A gasp of pleased surprise left her lips and she wandered over to examine it for a moment, falling behind the rest of the group.

"Hey guys," she said softly, spellbound by the swan. "Look at this."

The others turned, and in the time that it took for them to see what she was staring at, the swan had begun to molt, looking more and more disheveled and worn. Suddenly, it began to sway and finally, it fell over, seemingly dead.

"Oh no!" Hermione sighed sadly. Ginny's mouth had fallen open.

"I…" she didn't have time to say more before the bird had completely decomposed, leaving in its place a pure white egg. "What's happening? She said it more to herself than to the others. Her eyes were trained on the bubble, watching in awe as the egg began to crack.

Within seconds, a baby swan had emerged. It stretched its wings and neck, which were steadily becoming much, much larger and whiter. Soon, it was a baby no more. In its place was an adult swan identical to the one that she'd watched die no more than a minute before.

Stumbling backwards, Ginny managed to say, "That's horrible! How could they do that to it?" before Hermione laid a hand on her shoulder, pulling her away. Despite her disgust at the torture this poor creature was undergoing, she could not take her eyes off of the now dying swan.

Once again, they were searching through rooms that were just as strange, but completely different, from the ones they'd been in before. They opened one door that held nothing more than a large archway, a long, tattered tapestry covering it and flapping gently in some nonexistent breeze. Hermione insisted they move on, but Harry stood rooted to the spot, his eyes fixed on the arch.

"Do you hear that?" he asked softly. Then louder, "There are voices coming from behind that arch!"

The rest of the group was silent for a moment, listening. Then, almost tentatively, Hermione stepped forward.

"Harry, there's no one there, it's just an empty archway."

"I hear them too," Luna said dreamily.

Neville, though silent, was also drawn towards the arch. The three of them were walking slowly forward, dazed expressions on their faces, and Ginny could feel her heart beat faster, half curious, half terrified of what it was that they could hear. Softly, as though it were a whisper in the back of her mind, a voice entered her thoughts.

"Help us…please, please help us."

She shuddered. She wasn't even sure she'd actually heard the voice, but to her horror it sounded somehow familiar.

"You guys, there's nothing there," she was vaguely aware of hearing Hermione say.

"I died by your hands…"

"Free us!"

"…in a bathroom. There was a snake…"

Ginny's heart felt cold. She did know those voices. She'd heard them in her dreams, many, many times.

"I tried to stop you."

"My wife and son…"

She began to tremble. The voices were so distant, she had to strain to hear them. It was like they weren't even speaking to her, but to someone else. The thought brought her no comfort because despite it all she could hear them, and she knew who they were speaking to. She knew why they were familiar.

"Please, Harry, let's get out of here!" Hermione was pleading now, sounding genuinely worried.

To her surprise, Ginny realized she had been walking towards the archway. The voices were growing distant though, overwhelmed by a sense of urgency that she couldn't explain, that she knew was not her own. Shuddering and shivering uncontrollably, she knew she needed to turn around. But turning her back on the arch was much harder than she planned. Despite her indescribable desire to get away—far away—from those voices, they were calling to her, holding her captive almost. It took all her will to turn and face Hermione and the others. Slowly, Luna, Neville, and Harry did the same. Without another word, the group raced from the room, slamming the door behind them. Ginny's heart was pounding in her ears and that sense of urgency mounted, feeling alien inside of her.