Magic? || Years 5-7

The Veil: Year 5

Amisty climbed shakily onto one of the many thestrals, winding her fingers gently through its hair and petting its neck. Thankfully, it stayed still and calm, barely reacting to the added weight on its back.

Harry had already gotten on, so had Luna, and Neville was still hoisting himself up on another. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were all standing off to the side, looking a bit hopeless and clueless.

"What?" Harry asked from his perch, knees placed securely behind his thestrals wings.

"How're we supposed to get on?" Ron asked quietly. "We can't see the things?"

"Oh it's easy," Luna replied, sliding off her thestral with ease and walking over to the three of them. "Come here..."

She guided them on to the rest of them, standing next to them as they mounted the horses and then helping them wind their hands through their manes as well so they were secure.

"This is mad," Ron whispered, staring down with abject fear as he petted the horse. "Mad... if I could just see it -- "

"You'd better hope it stays invisible," Harry cut him off quietly and then turned to the rest of them before Ron could apologize. "We all ready, then?"

Amisty nodded hesitantly, squeezing her knees so she felt at least slightly more secure on the back of the thestral.

"Okay..." Harry leaned down and cleared his throat nervously. "Ministry of Magic, visitor's entrance, London, then. Er... if you know... where to go..."

Amisty squeaked in surprise as Harry's thestral blinked and then leaped up into the air so steeply she was certain Harry was going to fall off. And then her's did it and she bit back a scream, clutching the mane and holding on for dear life as they soared up into the air, following Harry's lead.

She immediately started to shiver, the thestral streaking through the air faster than any broom Amisty had never seen. The Hogwarts grounds were a blur beneath them, blending into the golden lights of Hogsmeade, and then mountains and gullies, and then the faint collection of lights as they passed tiny little villages nestled in the countryside, and then a single care with warm headlights inching along a winding road.

"This is bizarre!" Ron shouted from behind her, and Amisty felt her lip twitch up in amusement. How strange it must've felt to be clinging to what appeared to be thin air this far up in the sky.

Amisty gave a tiny whoop once her fear had faded into a rush of adrenaline, raising her head to take in the sight. It had darkened considerably now, the cool, inky tones of twilight seeping into their surroundings. Stars started to twinkle into existence, and more and more orangey lights from Muggle towns blurred past. The moon was rising steadily, reflecting off the thestrals' glossy black manes in silver streaks. It was only the adrenaline, she believed, that was keeping her from freezing. Not to mention the faint wisps of mist and stars that kept taking shape in front of her and bounding along beside her before disappearing in tiny puffs. She was quite sure no one else could see them, considering they were her ancestors paying a visit. One of them seemed to be her age, which was a tad upsetting, but however old he was he seemed incredibly pleased to be running along with her. He stayed the longest, running up and nuzzling her cheek before her thestral suddenly rocketed down to the ground.

When they landed in an abandoned alleyway with an overflowing dumpster and a graffiti-covered telephone box, it wasn't the harsh impact Amisty had been expecting. The thestrals landed so lightly it was almost like they were still flying, just without the wind cutting through their clothes. Amisty slipped down, petting her thestral gently as she watched the rest of them touch down.

Ron rolled off his horse immediately, "Never again," he muttered, rubbing his forehead and colliding with his thestral yet again. "Never, ever again... that was the worst -- "