A Young Wizard's Journey - Rising Phoenix

Dogfighting

Before Y/N could even fully process what was going on, his body reacted for him. His legs locked instinctively around the Thestral, his hands on the reigns tightening as he heaved the beast to the left.

Without question, the Thestral obeyed his command, swerving left and then shooting upwards. He heard Hermione let out a scream behind him, so he forced them on. They arched over the top of the circle surrounding them and Y/N finally got a proper look.

Voldemort hadn't had this many Death Eaters before, and there was no way this was "just a few". They knew. They had to have known.

Y/N pushed the Thestral forward, and it surged away over the top of the circle. Five of the Death Eaters shot up after him and Hermione, spinning towards them and firing a barrage of spells, aiming for Y/N.

'Protego.'

The wordless shield charm enveloped the three of them, sending the barrage of spells spiralling off into the night. Then, with a scream of anger, it burst outwards, the shards like glass soaring toward the entourage of masked and hooded figures following them.

One swerved out the way, two blocked it with shield charms. Two did not. One was blasted straight off of his broom, soaring away, the other took several of these shards to the arms and torso, their movement slowing as they slumped forward, evidently still alive but injured.

Noises sounded from nearby and glancing around Y/N saw the fake Harry that was Ron and Tonks. The two of them were heading in the same direction and also had half a dozen Death Eaters on their tail.

Y/N raised his hand.

An illusionary wall sprang up between the chasing Death Eaters and the others. Several of the Death Eaters twisted, trying to weave away, over, or under it whilst others still came to a full halt. It wasn't until one accidentally soared straight through it that they realised and gave chase once more. Y/N hoped he'd bought them enough time.

Tonks, Ron and their pursuers were swallowed by the darkness, and just in time too as those chasing Y/N and Hermione began to catch up.

'You feeling on form today?' called Y/N.

'Let's find out!'

A barrage of red went soaring from the back of the Thestral toward the oncoming Death Eaters. Another one had joined their ranks now but didn't last long. They'd barely bloomed out of the darkness before Hermione's spell hit them, and they fell away.

One of the others however, blocked the incoming assault with a shield charm and then, raising their wand, slashed it toward Y/N.

Purple flame spouted from the end of it, shooting toward the Thestral.

Dolohov.

Y/N released the reigns with one hand, raising it to instead form a shield charm to block the flames. However, whether Dolohov had gotten stronger, or Y/N's loss of a hand, or potentially even both, the flames still threatened to break through.

'Think you can keep us on course?' Y/N asked the Thestral through gritted teeth. It gave a snort in response that Y/N hoped was approval. He locked his legs in tighter to ensure he wouldn't slip and twisted, raising his other hand and summoning forth more power to put into the shield charm. Slowly, it closed around the flame and then with a rear back and a throw, it flew toward Dolohov.

However, next moment, it was blasted out of the air, as two more figures joined the original.

Perhaps for dramatic effect, or simply because they believed themselves to be above it, both Snow and Maria had elected not to wear masks tonight. Snow lay low against his broom whilst Maria flew in a cloud of black smoke, both were speeding toward the Thestral and fleeing couple.