Chapter 6

Disclaimer: Only in my imagination do I own Harry Potter.

A/N: I feel like such a horrible person for not updating sooner! I have been really busy with school and the holidays and I just haven't had time. I feel awful!

"Fifth years over here," croaked Argus Filch from the entrance hall.

The open doors let in a crisp, cool breeze. Harry stood on his toes just in time to see the wind give a toss to Ginny's flaming hair. She smiled at one of her friends and followed Hagrid out onto the grounds.

"How do you think we're getting there?" Ron asked, snapping Harry out of his reverie.

"I dunno, maybe we'll use a portkey or something" Harry replied.

"Of course we won't use a portkey. Those, well-"Hermione stammered.

Harry didn't need to hear her finish her sentence to know of the incident she was speaking of. He didn't much fancy portkeys after his fourth year.

"Alright, sixth years, come one" Filch called.

"I guess we'll find out soon enough," Ron sighed.

Harry heaved his bag onto his shoulder, firebolt in hand, and followed the other sixth years onto the dewy ground.

Ron worked his way ahead of the crowd to report their means of transportation.

"So, what's this brilliant idea you have?" Hermione hissed in his ear.

Harry smiled.

"Well-er-its not exactly an idea, it's sort of a, sort of, hopeful, er"

"Er has no meaning" Hermione snapped.

"Alright, fine, it's a thought. It's what I want to happen" Harry said, steadily making his way toward the entrance gate.

Hermione gave a huff of impatience. "Well?"

"I'm not telling you" he yelped. "It'll jinx it"

"Oh, sure Harry" she said sarcastically.

In her hast to interrogate Harry, Hermione bumped into Parvati Patil.

"It's those things" Parvati said, disgusted.

Harry craned his neck. Threstals.

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

Parvati pointed ahead. There in the middle of the walk were hundreds of threstals, used to pull the school carriages.

"Alright," a gruff voice called.

Hagrid, worked his way through the crowd, knocking several children over in the process.

"If you could all find a seat in one of the carriages we'll be off" he said, patting one on the head.

Ron weaved his way back to Harry and Hermione. His face looked crestfallen. "I thought it'd be something different"

Harry nodded. "Come on or we won't get a seat to ourselves"

The trio trudged there way to a vacant threstal. The inside of the carriage looked to Harry as he had seen it so many times before. This time, the carriages were more accommodating to a longer journey. A small oil lantern was fastened to the wall of the carriage.

Hermione worked her way in and shut the door behind her. Whether or not she knew, the Slytherins were just outside making rude gestures at Ron.

Luckily, Ron was too busy chatting away about the match. "Do you reckon it will be the Cannons or the Tornadoes? I think the Cannons will win its just so-"

"Ron," Hermione said. "If you're going to talk like this the whole way to the pitch, I'm just going to read"

"Well, it looks like your going to have to read because I don't think we'll be stopping anytime soon" Harry said pointedly.

Hermione huffed and pulled out A Dummies Guide to Ancient Runes.

Harry felt a jolt under is stomach and the steady flapping of wings outside the door. They were moving!

The carriage steadily left the ground, the back tilting slightly.

Ron went into a rant. Harry reckoned that if they didn't get there soon, Ron was going to wet himself from excitement.

The morning went speeding by. Aside from the occasional shift in direction from the threstals, the adventure went smoothly.

Harry and Ron played Exploding snap, after a while joined by Hermione, who could no longer stand the racket.

"I think were almost there," she said, unfogging the window. The outside was growing darker, several stars in the sky.

The ground was growing momentarily closer. The carriage looked like it would land right in the middle of the woods. As far as the darkness would allow him to see, Harry saw no signs of the Qudditch pitch.

The next moment, Harry felt as the wind was being sucked out of him. The threstals seemed to be going into a deep dive. He could distantly hear a few high pitched screams behind him.

If he hadn't already had prior experience with threstals, their behavior would have come as a shock.

At the last minute, the threstal pulled itself out the dive to land perfectly in a small clearing.

They were there.

A/N: Alright, once again, I AM SO SORRY FOR LACK OF UPDATES! I feel horrible. I should get quite a few in over the holidays, but if I don't, I hope you all have a nice one.

I tried to make this a little longer, although I'm not 100 satisfied with it. There are a few confusing parts and I'm sorry for that. I tried to find a new inventive creature but my imagination just wasn't working. Sorry. If you don't hate me for not updating, leave a review. I love it when I get one, so please, tell me your thoughts! Ideas are still welcome.