chosen - harry potter

Chapter 17 - Fire and Glass

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

Cassia swallowed hard, clutching her fingers into the invisible mane of the thestral. Her knees were pressed behind what she could only assume were the wing joints, watching Harry closely. 

He started to quickly rise into the air, and Cassia felt the beating wings near her legs lift her into the air. She clutched the animal closer, breathing heavily. They soared over the castle, and Cassia was reminded, only for a moment, of riding a Hippogriff with Harry in their third year.

They passed over mountains, the wind whipping Cassia's hair wildly. The sun began to set, painting the sky an array of pinks and oranges. As night began to fall, only the small lights of various buildings gave them any idea how high they were and how quickly they were traveling.

All at once, it looked and felt as though they were hurtling straight for the pavement, and Cassia quickly shut her eyes and braced for impact. Her thestral landed lightly, making Cassia slowly peel her eyes open. They were on a street near a telephone box.

She slid off of the thestral and walked to Harry.

"Where to?" she asked.

"Over here," he said to her, leading to her to the phone box, where they both stepped in. "Come on!" he said to the others.

Ron and Ginny followed quickly. Hermione, Neville, and Luna squished in after. Harry dialed two-four-four-two into the receiver, and a woman's voice rang throughout the box.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."

"Harry Potter, Cassia Bright, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood," Harry said quickly. "We're here to save someone, unless your Ministry can do it first!"

"Thank you," the voice said. "Visitors, please take the badges and attach them to the front of your robes."

Harry took them from the metal chute, his face growing quickly more impatient.

"Visitor to the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium."

"Fine!" Harry said loudly. "Now can we move?"

The floor shuddered, and they were moving down. Light began shining onto them. The Ministry came into view, and Cassia was shocked to see it completely empty. It was a vast, dark blue building with golden grates lining the walls and a great golden fountain in the center. 

They toppled out of the phone box, all looking around.

"Come on," Harry spoke.

He led them quickly, his wand held out in front of him. Cassia pulled hers from her pocket as she walked. 

Harry led them to one of the golden elevators, and they all clambered in. He pressed the ninth floor, making it move noisily upward. The grilles slid open, accompanied with the same voice from the phone box announcing, "Department of Mysteries."

"Let's go," Harry whispered.

They walked toward a black door. Harry swung it open, revealing a large, circular room with several doors. Everything was completely black and identical.

Neville shut the door behind them, and the room went nearly completely dark. The only light came from the blue flames on the walls.

Suddenly, there was a great rumbling sound, and the flames began to whirl around them quickly. The walls were spinning around them. Cassia grabbed Harry's sleeve, afraid that the floor might start spinning too. Then, as quickly as it had started, it stopped.