Playing with Fire

Chapter twenty-nine ~ The Ministry of Magic

As we reached the Great Hall, the first thing we saw was Seamus and Dean, huddling behind a statue, setting off fireworks in the direction of the Marble staircase, where, at the top, Filch stood and waved a broomstick in the air. Surrounding him stood three students from the Inquisitorial Squard, shooting spells and jinxes at the attacking fireworks.

I pulled Draco with me toward the two Gryffindor boys.

"Where's Harry?" I asked as I reached them.

"They're-" Seamus spun around and narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Draco.

"It's all right, he is with us," I said, my brain was still a bit dizzy from that kiss.

"They – eh – they just left," said Seamus, setting off another firework which sailed in the air and hit Filch in the butt, causing him to roar out in anger.

"Left? Left where?" I asked, my voice filled with panic. Draco squeezed my hand tightly.

"To the Ministry, I think," said Dean. "That's what Neville said when they rushed past us."

"Neville-?" I frowned, shaking my head then, deciding it wasn't important. "When did they leave?"

"I don't know," shrugged Dean. "Harry and Hermione walked off with Umbridge about an hour ago. But then they came back without her and flew off."

"Flew off?" I didn't realise I was screaming.

"Yeah, with Thestrals," said Seamus.

It was all finally starting to make sense to me.

"About how long ago did they leave?" Draco then asked as I couldn't find the right words to come from my mouth.

Seamus looked confused. "Er – I – er -"

"Just spill it, Finnigan!" Draco growled.

"All right, take it easy, would'a? About fifteen minutes ago," said Seamus and held his hands up in defence.

"Great, thanks," I mumbled before dragging Draco with me out from the castle, down the steps and begun sprinting over the grounds.

"Where are we going?" he yelled from behind me.

"You'll see," I said as we reached Hagrid's deserted hut. I looked around the ground, finding the one thing I needed – a piece of raw meat he'd left – picked it up and ran toward the forest.

"Whoa! I'm not going in ther-"

I took his hand with my free one.

"No time to argue," I said as I pulled him with me inside the forest.

It was pitch-black in there and we needed to use our wands in order to see anything. We reached the spot where we'd had our lesson about Thestrals and I threw the piece of meat in the middle of the open spot. Then we waited.

Draco huddled up against me, his head darting back and forth at every little sound or motion in between the trees.

"Maybe we could just take the Floo Network to the Ministry?" suggested Draco. "Or wait for one of the teachers to-"

He stopped talking as another sound of steps came from behind the trees opposite of us. Appearing out of the branches came – to my great relief – one great Thestral. It bent down and grabbed the piece of meat, swallowing it in one go.

"All right, let's go," I said and grabbed Draco's hand to pull him forward.

"You're crazy," he said with a shrill voice. His eyes kept going back and forth and I then realised he wasn't able to see them – of course. I sighed heavily as I put a careful hand on the Thestral's back, happy as it didn't seem to bother the black horse-like creature.