Kassandra Bauer and the Deathly Hallows. (Book 7)

Chapter 35: Fight to the Death.

In the middle of nowhere. (Kassandra P.O.V)

There was no means of steering; the dragon couldn't see where it was going, and I knew that if it turned sharply or rolled in mid air, it would be impossible for us to hold on. Nevertheless, as we climbed higher and higher, London unfurled below us like a grey and green map. I just hoped my brothers were winning the Siege. Crouching low over the beast's neck, I clinged tightly to the metallic scales, and the cool breeze was able to soothe my burned and blistered skin, the Dragon's wing's beating like the sails of a windmill. Behind me, Ron kept swearing at the top of his lungs, and Hermione seemed to be sobbing. 

After five or so minutes, I lost some of my immediate dread that the Dragon was going to throw us off, for it seemed nothing but getting as far away from its underground prison as far as possible. Still, we had to figure out how we were going to dismount.

"You don't have a way of landing, do you?" Harry asked me.

"I wasn't thinking that far ahead!" I answered. 

"You know... it's only going to be a matter of time before You Know Who finds out we broke into Gringotts. And also realize that London was attacked. And he'll find out we're hunting Horcruxes." Harry replied.

"He was bound to find out sooner or later." I pointed out. "Honestly, I'm surprised it's taken this long."  

The Dragon seemed to craver cooler and fresher air: it climbed steadily upwards; we were flying through wisps of chilly cloud, and I could no longer make out the little colored dots which were cars pouring in and out of the Capital. On and on, we flew, over countryside parceled out in patches of green and brown, over roads and rivers winding through the landscape like strops of matte and glossy ribbon.

"What do you reckon it's looking for?" Ron yelled as we flew further and further north. 

"Who cares?" I asked. My hands may have been numb with the cold, but I didn't shift my grip. I was wondering if this Dragon was heading for the open sea. I was already cold and numb, and not to mention hungry and thirsty. I had these feelings before when I was trapped in Japan. When was the last time the Dragon ate too? And... also... when would it suddenly decide to have grilled humans on its back? 

The sun slipped lower in the sky, which was turning indigo; and still the dragon flew, cities and towns gliding out of sight beneath us, its enormous shadow sliding over the earth like a great, dark cloud. 

"Is it my imagination?" Ron shouted, after a considerable stretch of silence. "Or are we losing height?"

I looked down and saw deep green mountains and lakes, coppery in the sunset. The Landscape seemed to grow larger and more detailed as I saw the presence of freshwater by the flashes of reflected sunlight. 

"We gotta jump!" Harry called out. "When it gets low enough! Straight into the water!" 

We all agreed, Hermione a little faintly; and now I could see the Dragon's broad, yellow underbelly rippling in the surface of the water. I waited anxiously for Harry's queue.

"NOW!"

"But we have no idea of deep it iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-" Hermione tried to scream as I gripped Hermione and let go into the water. 

"-iiiisssssssss!" There was a large splash. I kicked towards the surface and emerged with Hermione right behind me. And gasping for air. Enormous ripples from where Ron and Harry fell also surfaced right in front of me. The Dragon didn't seem to notice. It was already fifty feet away, swooping so low over the lake to scoop up water in its scarred snout. 

"We do now." I told Hermione as the others emerged from spluttering and gasping, the dragon flew on, wings beating hard, and landed at last on a distant bank.