Grindelwald's Burden (Books 1-7)

94. The Department of Mysteries

"Do you want to ride in front or behind me?" Y/n asked Hermione.

"Behind." Hermione said. Y/n could see that she still looked slightly shaken up from their encounter with Grawp and the centaurs in the forest.

"Here, I will help you up since you cannot see them." Y/n said offering out his hands to her.

Hermione took his hands and Y/n pulled her to stand close to him and they looked at one another. "This has been a difficult year, but I could not be any prouder of you then I already am Hermione. I do not say it as often as I should, but I love you. Promise me you will keep yourself safe tonight."

Hermione just wrapped her arms around him as he did the same to her and they held one another. Y/n was scared, not for what could possibly happen to him but for what could happen to Hermione.

"How're we supposed to get on?" Ron's voice could be heard faintly grumbling and they pulled away now. "When we can't see the things?"

"Oh, it's easy." said Luna sliding obligingly from her Thestral and marching over to him and Ginny. "Come here..."

"Give me your hands again." Y/n said to Hermione and when she did so he placed them on the Thestral's back and helped lift her onto it. Hermione did not look comfortable at all being sat upon a creature she could not see. Y/n pulled himself up upon it now sitting in front of Hermione, He felt her arms slink around his waist though he was sure it was not just for affection but also for reassurance of something to hold onto during their flight.

"If you are a give us a smooth journey I shall be sure to come and visit with some lovely cuts of meat should I survive this." Y/n whispered to the Thestral and it turned its face to him.

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. 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. Luna was already in place, sitting side-saddle and adjusting her robes as though she did this every day. Harry was sat rather like he was but Ron and Ginny were both looking a uncomfortable on their Thestrals as Hermione was.

"This is mad." Ron murmured, moving his free hand gingerly up and down his horse's neck. "Mad...if I could just see it..."

"You'd better hope it stays invisible." said Harry darkly. "We all ready, then?"

They all nodded and Harry looked down at the back of his Thestral's glossy black head and swallowed. "Ministry of Magic, visitors' entrance, London, then." he said uncertainly. "Er...if you know...where to go..."

Y/n watched as Harry's Thestral shot up to the sky and then, with a sweeping movement that nearly unseated him, the wings on either side of his and Hermione's own extended, the Thestral 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. Hermione gave out a loud shriek and Y/n did not think it was possible for her grasp on his waist to get as tight as it did as they burst through the topmost branches of the trees and soared out into a blood-red sunset.

"Are you alright?" Y/n called back to Hermione.

"I really hate flying!" Hermione shouted with her eyes closed tightly.

Y/n did not think he had ever moved so fast, the Thestral streaked over the castle, they were over the Hogwarts grounds, they had passed Hogsmeade, Y/n could see mountains and gullies below them. As the daylight began to fail, Y/n saw small collections of lights as they passed over more villages, then a winding road on which a single car was beetling its way home through the hills.