Chapter 394: The Thestral Carriage

After the lavish dinner, the group dispersed, heading back to their respective common rooms. As Kyle was leaving the Great Hall, he was unexpectedly stopped.

"Ah, just in time."

Professor Dumbledore stood at the entrance, his eyes twinkling as he gestured for Kyle to join him. Leading him aside, Dumbledore continued, "Do you remember the letter you asked me to send a few days ago?"

Kyle nodded.

"I received a reply from Nicolas this afternoon. He asked me to pass it along to you during the holidays." Dumbledore paused, smiling slightly. "So, you wish to borrow Fawkes? If it's you, I don't think he'd mind at all."

Kyle sensed a faint hint of something—almost as if Dumbledore sounded a touch reluctant—but he couldn't be sure if he'd imagined it. He shook his head, saying, "...Is there any other way?"

If possible, Kyle preferred not to travel by Phoenix, even though it was undoubtedly the fastest option. He found the experience rather unnerving and difficult to embrace.

Dumbledore considered this. "Of course, there's another way—it'll just take a bit longer."

"That's fine," Kyle replied quickly, "I'm in no hurry."

"Very well, then…"

They chatted for a few more minutes before Kyle headed back to the Hufflepuff common room. With the holiday break beginning the next day, the atmosphere was lively. Students were buzzing with excitement, gathered in small groups as they discussed their plans for the upcoming two weeks.

Kyle, however, didn't linger with the others. Instead, he slipped away and went straight back to his dormitory.

...

The next morning, Kyle woke up at his usual time. The dormitory was already empty, so he packed his belongings and opened the door to the common room. It was mostly deserted, except for Kanna, who was sitting by the fireplace, working on some homework.

At the sound of the door, she looked up absently and greeted, "Hello, Winsty… Wait, Kyle?"

Surprised, Kanna quickly jumped up, grabbed Kyle's hand, and pulled him toward the exit. "Hurry, hurry… I hope the train hasn't left yet!" she said anxiously. "Why didn't you wake up earlier? If I'd known, I would have woken you!"

"Relax, it's fine," Kyle replied, gently taking her arm to slow her down. "The train left about ten minutes ago. I have other arrangements, so I don't need the train."

"Other arrangements?" Kanna looked at him curiously. "So you're staying at school too?"

"No," Kyle shook his head. "I just don't have to take the train. Remember, Professor Dumbledore mentioned it to me yesterday?"

Kanna relaxed, sighing with relief as she returned to her chair. "Where's Cedric, by the way?" Kyle asked.

"He left early this morning," Kanna replied. "Didn't say where he was going."

"So it's just you here?"

"No, Winsty's around too—she's a fifth-year," she added.

Kyle nodded and headed off to the kitchen for breakfast. Around ten o'clock, Cedric finally returned, just as a brown owl flew in through the window and dropped a note into Kyle's hands. Reading it, Kyle got to his feet.

"I have to go," he announced, smiling. "Have a great holiday, and Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas!" Kanna called back, waving.

Kyle left the common room and made his way through the castle, but he didn't head to Hogsmeade Station. Instead, he took a side path leading to a secluded spot near the platform where they'd taken the carriages at the beginning of the school year. It was a quiet, rarely used area, but today it was anything but deserted.

"Kyle, over here!" Hagrid called, waving him over with an excited urgency. It seemed he'd been waiting for Kyle for some time.

Beside Hagrid stood a carriage, but unlike the ones used earlier in the school year, this one was hitched to three Thestrals, their dark, skeletal forms standing ready.

"The Headmaster told me you might be needing this," said Hagrid, grinning as he patted one of the Thestrals' slender wings. "Heading home, are yeh? I'll say, you made a fine choice. The Hogwarts Express is all well and good, but a Thestral carriage—that's the best way to travel."

Hagrid leaned in conspiratorially, "When you get home, take care of them, all right? I put a stash of food in the carriage, enough to last the little guys two weeks."

"Thanks, Hagrid," Kyle replied, stepping forward with a grateful smile. "But I didn't borrow the Thestrals just to skip the train ride… Besides, I doubt Professor Dumbledore would approve of that. It's just that the place I'm headed to is a bit out of the way, and neither the train nor the Knight Bus can get there. So I've got to rely on this more… ancient method."

"Ah, that explains it." Hagrid nodded, accepting this without further questions. "You ever ridden in one of these?"

"No," Kyle admitted with a shake of his head. He thought back—Newt's suitcase might have held a Thestral somewhere in its depths, but he'd never seen one up close, much less ridden in a Thestral-drawn carriage. After all, he'd only recently gained the ability to even see these magical creatures.

Once Kyle climbed into the carriage, Hagrid handed him the reins. "Don't worry, they're clever creatures. The carriage is steady as can be; all you need to do is trust them."

Kyle took hold of the reins. The middle Thestral turned its head back, letting out a small chirp, as if to ask if they were ready to set off.

"Anytime," Kyle said confidently. "You know where we're headed, right?"

The Thestrals nodded, their wings stretching out. Fallen leaves scattered as the carriage took off with a rush, and after a short, swift ride on the ground, it rose smoothly into the sky. Kyle leaned out the window, watching as Hagrid stood below, waving. He waved back until Hagrid's figure faded, growing smaller and finally vanishing around a bend.

The carriage soared through the clouds, gliding over mountains, rivers, villages, and even bustling towns below, but no one on the ground seemed to notice its passage. Kyle noted the faint glow of hidden runes within the carriage, which he recognized as symbols for "concealment."

About two hours later, Kyle caught sight of the Hogwarts Express far below. From this altitude, it looked like a toy, chugging along the tracks. The Thestrals sped up, closing in from behind and soon outpacing the train until it vanished far behind them. No wonder Hagrid had spoken so highly of the Thestral carriage—the speed alone put the Hogwarts Express to shame, and the ride was surprisingly smooth. Despite the rapid pace, there was no jostling; it felt as steady as if he were seated in the Great Hall.

Once the train was out of view, Kyle returned his attention to the inside of the carriage. The clouds ahead were thickening, and he knew that sticking his head out again would mean a faceful of cold, damp air—an experience he wasn't eager to repeat.