按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
'What makes you think that？'
'Because； in case you hadn't noticed； you and Hermione are both covered in blood；' she said coolly； 'and we know Hagrid lures Thestrals with raw meat。 That's probably why these two turned up in the first place。'
Harry felt a soft tug on his robes at that moment and looked down to see the closest Thestral licking his sleeve； which was damp with Grawp's blood。
'OK； then；' he said； a bright idea occurring； 'Ron and I will take these two and go ahead； and Hermione can stay here with you three and she'll attract more Thestrals …'
'I'm not staying behind！' said Hermione furiously。
There's no need；' said Luna； smiling。 'Look； here e more now： you two must really smell：'
Harry turned： no fewer than six or seven Thestrals were picking their way through the trees； their great leathery wings folded tight to their bodies； their eyes gleaming through the darkness。 He had no excuse now。
'All right；' he said angrily； 'pick one and get on； then。'
… CHAPTER THIRTY…FOUR …
The Department of Mysteries
Harry wound his hand tightly into the mane of the nearest Thestral； placed a foot on a stump nearby and scrambled clumsily on to the horses silken back。 It did not object； but twisted its head around； fangs bared； and attempted to continue its eager licking of his robes。
He found there was a way of lodging his knees behind the wing joints that made him feel more secure； then looked around at the others。 Neville had heaved himself over the back of the next Thestral and was now attempting to swing one short leg over the creature's back。 Luna was already in place； sitting side…saddle and adjusting her robes as though she did this every day。 Ron； Hermione and Ginny； however； were still standing motionless on the spot； open…mouthed and staring。
'What？' he said。
'How're we supposed to get on？' said Ron faintly。 'When we can't see the things？'
'Oh； it's easy；' said Luna； sliding obligingly from her Thestral and marching over to him； Hermione and Ginny。 'e here：'
She pulled them over to the other Thestrals standing around and one by one managed to help them on to the back of their mount。 All three looked extremely nervous as she wound their hands into their horses mane and told them to grip tightly before she got back on to her own steed。
This is mad；' Ron murmured； moving his free hand gingerly up and down his horse's neck。 'Mad： if I could just see it …'
'You'd better hope it stays invisible；' said Harry darkly。 'We all ready； then？'
They all nodded and he saw five pairs of knees tighten beneath their robes。
'OK：'
He looked down at the back of his Thestral's glossy black head and swallowed。
'Ministry of Magic； visitors' entrance； London； then；' he said uncertainly。 'Er： if you know： where to go：〃
For a moment Harry's Thestral did nothing at all； then； with a sweeping movement that nearly unseated him； the wings on either side extended； the horse crouched slowly； then rocketed upwards so fast and so steeply that Harry had to clench his arms and legs tightly around the horse to avoid sliding backwards over its bony rump。 He closed his eyes and pressed his face down into the horse's silky mane as they burst through the topmost branches of the trees and soared out into a blood…red sunset。
Harry did not think he had ever moved so fast： the Thestral streaked over the castle； its wide wings hardly beating； the cooling air was slapping Harry's face； eyes screwed up against the rushing wind； he looked round and saw his five fellows soaring along behind him； each of them bent as low as possible into the neck of their Thestral to protect themselves from his slipstream。
They were over the Hogwarts grounds； they had passed Hogsmeade； Harry could see mountains and gullies below them。 As the daylight began to fail； Harry saw small collections of lights as they passed over more villages； then a winding road on which a single car was beetling its way home through the hills：
This is bizarre！' Harry barely heard Ron yell from somewhere behind him； and he imagined how it must feel to be speeding along at this height with no visible means of support。
Twilight fell： the sky was turning to a light； dusky purple littered with tiny silver stars； and soon only the lights of Muggle towns gave them any clue of how far from the ground they were； or how very fast they were travelling。 Harry's arms were wrapped tightly around his horses neck as he willed it to go even faster。 How much time had elapsed since he had seen Sirius lying on the Department of Mysteries floor？ How much longer would Sinus be able to resist Voldemort？ All Harry knew for sure was that his godfather had neither done as Voldemort wanted； nor died； for he was convinced that either oute would have caused him to feel Voldemort's jubilation or fury course through his own body； making his scar sear as painfully as it had on the night Mr Weasley was attacked。
On they flew through the gathering darkness； Harry's face felt stiff and cold； his legs numb from gripping the Thestrals sides so tightly； but he did not dare shift his position lest he slip： he was deaf from the thundering rush of air in his ears； and his mouth was dry and frozen from the cold night wind。 He had lost all sense of how far they had e； all his faith was in the beast beneath him； still streaking purposefully through the night； barely flapping its wings as it sped ever onwards。
If they were too late： He's still alive； he's still fighting； I can feel it： If Voldemort decided Sirius was not going to crack： I'd know：
Harry's stomach gave a jolt； the Thestrals head was suddenly pointing towards the ground and he actually slid forwards a few inches along its neck。 They were descending at last： he thought he heard a shriek behind him and twisted around dangerously； but could see no sign of a falling body 。'。。 presumably they had all received a shock from the change of direction； just as he had。
And now bright orange lights were growing larger and rounder on all sides； they could see the tops of buildings； streams of headlights like luminous insect eyes； squares of pale yellow that were windows。 Quite suddenly； it seemed； they were hurtling towards the pavement； Harry gripped the Thestral with every last ounce of his strength； braced for a sudden impact； but the horse touched the dark ground as lightly as a shadow and Harry slid from its back； looking around at the street where the overflowing skip still stood a short way from the vandalised telephone box； both drained of colour in the flat orange glare of the streetlights。
Ron landed a short way off and toppled immediately from his Thestral on to the pavement。
'Never again；' he said； struggling to his feet。 He made as though to stride away from his Thestral； but； unable to see it； collided with its hindquarters and almost fell over again。 'Never； ever again： that was the worst …'
Hermione and Ginny touched down on either side of him： both slid off their mounts a little more gracefully than Ron； though with similar expressions of relief at being back on firm ground； Neville jumped down； shaking； and Luna dismounted smoothly。
'Where do we go from here； then？' she asked Harry in a politely interested voice； as though this was all a rather interesting day…trip。
'Over here；' he said。 He gave his Thestral a quick； grateful pat； then led the way quickly to the battered telephone box and opened the door。 'e on！' he urged the others； as they hesitated。
Ron and Ginny marched in obediently； Hermione； Neville and Luna squashed themselves in after them； Harry took one glance back at the Thestrals； now foraging for scraps of rotten food inside the skip； then forced himself into the box after Luna。
'Whoever's nearest the receiver； dial six two four four two！' he said。
Ron did it； his arm bent bizarrely to reach the dial； as it whirred back into place the cool female voice sounded inside the box。
'Wele to the Ministry of Magic。 Please state your name and business。'
'Harry Potter； Ron Weasley Hermione Granger；' Harry said very quickly； 'Ginny Weasley； Nevil