Double Trouble || Draco Malfoy x Reader

the department of mysteries|| chapter seventy

I closed my eyes and put my face down into the silky mane of what Luna called a Thestral as the eight of us burst through the topmost branches of the trees and soared out into a bloodred sunset.

It was a strange sensation— streaking over the castle and feeling a slipstream of wind from beating wings which I could not see. Harry, Ron and Luna were up ahead, whereas Draco and the others were right behind me.

The air was cool and whipped the hair back out of my face, though my eyes were screwed ip against the wind. I clutched the Thestral's mane tighter, terrified of slipping off the creature I could not see. I even bent as low as possible into the neck of the thestral as a bit of extra protection.

We had well passed both Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. There were mountains and gullies below, in which rivers rippled and rocks crumbled. The sky grew darker and Ron yelled up ahead; "This is bizarre!"

Bizarre was an understatement.

I risked a glance over the thestral and saw collections of lights as we passed over English villages. We were moving so fast that the lights blurred, and looked almost identical to the tiny silver stars up above.

"Draco?" I called, peering over my shoulder. He too was ducked as low as possible on the back of his Thestral, his pale blond hair swept back in the rush of cold night air. A nearby cloud lit up; lightning crackling within.

"What?" He shouted up to me.

"N-nothing." I smiled guiltily. "Just chec— AAAH!" An almost inhumane scream escaped my lips as my stomach gave a jolt. I hadn't noticed the others up ahead had all ducked into a dive as the thestrals descended into the city below. I slip a few inches along the neck of the thestral which I could not see; so my thighs pressed into its sides hard and I cowered into its neck with every bit of strength I had.

Warm, glowing lights started to grow larger on all sides. Tops of buildings became visible, as well as streams of headlights from passing traffic, and squares of pale yellow belonging to the Muggle-dominated city below.

Suddenly, the invisible creature touched the pavement as light as a feather. I slowly straightened, the others coming into landing around me. My mouth was so dry, the air was so cold— I couldn't.

"Are you alright?" Draco asked, quickly approaching me. I hadn't budged. I still sat on the back of the Thestral, shaken up from the sudden dive. "I'm okay..." I whispered breathlessly.

"Come on..." Draco eased an arm around my waist and helped me slide off the mount of the horse-like creature. I had never felt more relieved to feel solid ground under my feet than I had in this very moment.

Eventually, we all squeezed into the visitors entrance and toppled out of it. The Atrium was desolate. The sleek, black walls reflected each of us; but no one care to notice. There was a golden fountain up ahead, where jets from the wands of the witch and wizard, the point of the centaur's arrow, the tip of the goblin's hat, and the house-elf's ears continued to gush water into the surrounding pool.

"Come on," Harry whispered quietly.

The eight of us jogged down the hall, past the fountain, nearing the desk where security was supposed to be stationed. This observation made a haze of dread fog my mind. Harry took us to a row of lifts and chose the nearest one.