Lyla quickly and professionally climbed onto the Thestral, hooking her legs underneath the wing joints for better grip. She looked to the others to see, Harry and Luna both on their Thestrals, while Neville was having a bit of trouble trying to hook his leg over the Thestral, having gotten as far as lying down flat on its back. But Ron, Hermione and Ginny…hadn't moved a muscle. Instead staring at the others, mouths a gape.
"What?" Harry said, noticing their expressions.
"How're we supposed to get on?" said Ron faintly. "When we can't see the things?"
"Oh, it's easy," Luna said sliding off her Thestral and heading to him, Ginny and Hermione. "Come here…"
She guided each in turn, getting them on their own Thestrals, then got on her own. They all looked extremely nervous having not been able see what they were actually riding on. Lyla thought she would be nervous too.
"This is mad," Ron mumbled, moving his free hand up and down the horse's mane. "Mad…if I could just see it…"
"You better hope it stays invisible," said Harry darkly. "We all ready, then?"
Everybody nodded, all tightening their knees against the Thestrals.
Lyla watched Harry look down at his Thestral, nervously saying,
"Ministry of Magic, visitors entrance, London, then…Er…if you know…where to go…"
There was a brief pause as nothing happened, then the great black creature extended it bat-like wings and took a running leap into the orange lit sky.
Lyla laughed, as Hermione screamed. The joy of the wind rushing past her: pulling at her hair and sending goose bumps running up and down her arms and legs, a chill descending as they rose higher. The Thestral's wings moving effortlessly through the air, beating up and down…Lyla was reminded of flying on Buckbeak, the same joy running through as then. She looked over to everyone else. Luna looked just as comfortable as Lyla, even managing to look bored as if she did it every day. Neville didn't know whether to be scared or to be determined; he seemed to dip in and out of the two. Ron was still looked freaked out to be riding on technically nothingness and Hermione looked worse. Harry seemed to be concentrating on some else, his eyebrows frowned, a scared expression filling his face. Lyla knew he feared they would be too late.
Hours seemed to go by and Lyla's legs became stiff, gripping tightly against the Thestral, her fingers were numb and cold. The wind, that had been welcoming, was known the least thing Lyla wanted. It seemed to nib at her, sending chills down her body. Lyla squinted into the darkness, trying to see any inclination as to where they might be. Then she saw a dim orange glow, which gradually got bigger and Lyla knew it would be long until it fill their sights.
Then suddenly, the Thestrals dived down, the wind rushing in to their faces, getting faster and faster. If anybody was screaming, Lyla couldn't hear them.
The lights were now getting larger on all sides, but shrunk into individual lights, like a balloon slowly having its air taking out. And through those lights, the shadows of tall majestic buildings swamped their view, getting more detail as they dropped lower. Headlights appeared drenching the streets, people going their own ways. As Lyla squinted more, it suddenly looked like they were going to hit the pavement. But the Thestral only landed lightly, skimming the ground before halting to a stop.
Lyla slid off, knowing this was a experience she was never going to forget...and probably never go though again.
She watched the others toppled and fall off their own steads, trying to regain their balance. Only Luna seeming in her element. But none as uncoordinated as Ron.
"Never again," he said, struggling to his feet, having practicably fallen off. "Never, ever again...that was the worst-"
Luna interpreted him asking Harry a question, "Where do we go from here, then?" she said polity.
"Over here," Harry said. Giving his Thestral a grateful pat.
They followed him to an old, dull red phone box. Harry opened the door, stepping inside. Lyla stepped in after, wondering if there was enough room for them all. Everybody else piled in after, the room becoming squishy and crowed as bodies merged together.
"Whoever's closest to the receiver, dial six two four four two!" Harry said.
Ron did it, reaching over, bending his arm an awkward angle. When Ron had finished a cool female voice filled the space.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."
Harry said as very quickly as possible, "Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood and Lyla... we're here to save someone, unless your Ministry can do it first!"
"Thank you," the female voice said, "Visitors, please take the badges and attach them to the front of your robes."
Seven badges tumbled out of a small chute where returned coins normally appear. Hermione mutely scooped them up, before passing them to Harry. Lyla could just see what was written on the top one, Harry Potter, Rescue Mission.
"Visitors to the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wands for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium."
What if you don't have a wand? Lyla wondered to herself.
"Fine!" Harry said rather loudly, sounding slightly in pain. "Now can we move?"
Slowly, they descended into the depths of the Ministry. Darkness rose, and before long they could not see a thing, drenched in the darkness. Then, a soft glow of light appeared below them, rising, until the whole carriage stopped.
"The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant evening." the woman said, as they the doors opened, letting them out.
What Lyla presumed was usually bustling with people, doing this and that, right now was eerily silent. It was just them walking out into a very dormant room. A room, big enough to fit hundreds of people. Right now, it seemed infinity larger.
"Come on!" Harry said sprinting off into a direction. They all followed in pursuit.
Harry lead the way, passing a giant fountain, nothing like anything Lyla had seen. If they weren't running for a rescue mission, she would of stopped to gaze at each individual statue, posed on it. Probably spending hours.
Their feet, tapped against the marble floor, as they ran Harry weaving his way towards lifts. They rushed in, Harry pressing a button, and the lift gave a jolt before moving in its set direction.
It wasn't long before the lift stopped, another female voice saying, "Department of Mysterious."
Lyla could sense everyone's agitation, and relief as the doors opened. What Lyla was wondering was where the security were?
They stepped out into a long corridor, Harry turning to look at a black door, gazing at it in amazement. It was on the far end of corridor. Lyla presumed that was where they were going.
"Let's go," Harry whispered, wondering down the corridor. Everybody taking in the details of the blazing torches, lighting their way.
Harry suddenly stopped six feet from the door.
"Okay, listen." Harry said. "Maybe...maybe a couple of people should stay here as a-as a look out and-"
"And how're we going to let you know something's coming?" Ginny said, eyebrows raised. "You could be miles away."
"As if we don't know what your playing at," Lyla said sighing.
"We're coming with you Harry," Nevile said.
"Let's get on with it," Ron said firmly.
Harry looked at them, showing his worry for taking them with him. Then, accepting, he opened the door...
I know, it's a cliffhanger, but I didn't want to drive this chapter too long and it seemed right anyway.
Okay, I've had no internet for three months, so I couldn't update.
Because I'm on summer holidays, I will be updating more often. More time now, with school out of the way.
So tell me what you think about this chapter?