There.are.ways.of.flying.other.than.with.broomsticks,..said.Luna.serenely..
.I.s.pose.we.re.going.to.ride.on.the.back.of.the.Kacky.Snorgle.or.whatever.it.is?.
.Ron.demanded..
The.Crumple‐Horned.Snorkack.can.t.fly,..said.Luna.in.a.dignified.voice,..but.they.can,.and.Hagrid.says.they.re.very.good.at.finding.places.their.riders.are.looking.for...
Harry.whirled.round..Standing.between.two.trees,.their.white.eyes.gleaming.eerily,.were.two.Thestrals,.watching.the.whispered.conversation.as.though.they.understood.every.word,.
.Yes!..he.whispered,.moving.towards.them..They.tossed.their.reptilian.heads,
.throwing.back.long.black.manes,.and.Harry.stretched.out.his.hand.eagerly.and.patted.the.nearest.one.s.shining.neck;.how.could.he.ever.have.thought.them.ugly?.
.Is.it.those.mad.horse.things?..said.Ron.uncertainly,.staring.at.a.point.slightly.to.the.left.of.the.Thestral.Harry.was.patting..Those.ones.you.can.t.see.unless.you.ve.watched.someone.snuff.it?..
.Yeah,..said.Harry..
.How.many?..
.Just.two...
.Well,.we.need.three,..said.Hermione,.who.was.still.looking.a.little.shaken,.but.determined.just.the.same..
Tour,.Hermione,..said.Ginny,.scowling..
.I.think.there.are.six.of.us,.actually,..said.Luna.calmly,.counting..
.Don.t.be.stupid,.we.can.t.all.go!..said.Harry.angrily...Look,.you.three.‐..he.pointed.at.Neville,.Ginny.and.Luna,..you.re.not.involved.in.this,.you.re.not.‐..
They.burst.into.more.protests..His.scar.gave.another,.more.painful,.twinge.
.Every.moment.they.delayed.was.precious;.he.did.not.have.time.to.argue..
.OK,.fine,.it.s.your.choice,..he.said.curtly,..but.unless.we.can.find.more.Thestrals.you.re.not.going.to.be.able.‐..
.Oh,.more.of.them.will.come,..said.Ginny.confidently,.who.like.Ron.was.squinting.in.quite.the.wrong.direction,.apparently.under.the.impression.that.she.was.looking.at.the.horses..
.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.1.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.come.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..