[4] Buckbeak

Chapter 4

I lean over Hermione to grab some bread and hear Ron say “Hermione if Harry’s seen a Grim that’s- that’s bad, M-my Uncle Billius saw one and he-he died 24 hours later!” “Didn’t Uncle Billius accidentally blow himself up?” I ask as I turn around going back to the Slytherin table laughing. Ron just splutters then closes his mouth. The three of them get up then start heading out the doors Ron and Hermione still arguing. ••• Finally, Draco decides to finish his lunch and I practically drag him out the doors and towards the forest, “Not still scared after that time you went into the forest in first year” I tease, He just scoffs and keeps walking. I have my book tucked under my arm, belted shut, after it nearly took Ginny’s hand off in the Holidays. I see Harry Ron and Hermione huddled around each other, I nudge Draco to let him know I’m leaving and walk over to them. I open my mouth to ask if Ron and Hermione had sorted out their quarrel “so, Dad told you, Sirius Black escaped to come after you and Madi?!” I hear Ron say a little too loudly, “I’m sorry WHAT!” I say standing in between Harry and Hermione, “and when were did Dad tell you this,” I say, turning on Harry “I-” he starts off then get interrupted by Hagrid, “Mornin Class, glad you all found this place ok,” he says turning to me and the others, to which we give encouraging nods. “Now if yer would just open yeh books to-” “How exactly are we meant to do that… open our books I mean” Draco interrupts rather rudely pulling out his book which was roped shut. “Have none of yer been able to open yer books?” Hagrid asks his face falling, no one replies, but many students guiltily pull out their books which have been roped, belted or spelled shut, “Well, ya gotta stroke em of course” “Ah yes why didn’t I think of that!” Draco drawls making me kick him in the back of the leg. “I-I thought they were funny,” Hagrid says uncertainly to Hermione “Oh yes, terribly funny, really witty,” Draco says facing his two ‘sidekicks’ “ah- never mind tha then let’s go straigh inta the practical part of the lesson then” Hagrid says, now flustered. He leads us around the side of the forest, to a large shady paddock like clearing. “Righ’ Imma go get the creatures then,” Hagrid says before disappearing through the trees to go get the said creatures. “god this place has gone to the dogs, having that oaf as a teacher,” Malfoy says to Crabbe and Goyle, “Shut up Malfoy” Harry hisses “What you gonna do about it, Potter?” Draco asks before stopping and pointing above harry a look of terror on his face “DEMENTOR, DEMENTOR!” he shouts, me and Harry whip our heads around to see nothing, we turn around to hear Pansy give off a high fake girlish laugh, Draco looks at me, looking guilty for a second before an emotionless mask seems to cloud his face and he turns away. Harry opens his mouth to say something back when Lavender gives off a loud “Ooooh!” pointing to the back of the paddock. Hagrid leads over about a dozen creatures that seemed to be horses, with the front legs, wings, and heads of a giant eagle. The talons on their front legs seemed to be half a foot long, and deadly looking. They all had a thick leather collar around their necks connected to a long chain which Hagrid was clutching. Hagrid urges them towards the fence we were all leaning on causing us to all move back. Hagrid turns to us “Hippogriffs! Beau’iful, aren’ they?” he asks “Now don’ be afrai’ to come a bit closer now” Hagrid urges, only me Harry, Ron, and Hermione creep closer to the fence. “Now, firs’ thing yer gotta know abou’ Hippogriffs, is they’re proud” Hagrid explains, “Easily offended, Hippogriffs are. Don’t never insult one, cause it migh’ be the last thing yeh do’. I turn and glare at Malfoy and his goons who were whispering to each other at the back of the group. “Yer always wait fer the Hippogriff ter make the firs’ move,” Hagrid continues “It’s polite, see? Yer walk towards him, and yer bow, an’ yer wait. If he bows back, yeh’re allowed ter touch him. If he doesn’ bow, then get away from him sharpish, cause those talons hurt.” Hagrid looks around smiling at the class “Righ- who wants ter go firs’?” I watch as Harry steps forwards and Hagrid beams, “Let’s see how yer get on with Buckbeak.” Hagrid grabs one of the chains and pulls one of the Hippogriffs away from the others and pulls off the leather collar. The whole class watches holding their breath” “Easy now Harry,” Hagrid says quietly, “Yeh’ve got eye contact, now try not ter blink too much- Hippogriffs don’ trust yer if yer blink too much…” I watch nervously and the large beast turned its head and was now fiercely staring at Harry with its orange eyes “Tha’s it,” Hagrid says in an encouraging tone. “Tha’s it Harry… now, bow…” Harry gives a small short bow then looks back up, I look on worriedly as the Hippogriff doesn’t bow back, “Ah,” Hagrid says, now sounding worried. “Right- back away now Harry, easy does it-” but then to the classes surprise the Hippogriff bends its front knees into an obvious bow. “Well done, Harry!” Hagrid says “Right now yer can touch him! Pat his beak, go on!” Harry slowly moves closer towards Buckbeak, reaching a shaking hand out and cautiously strokes him on the beak several times. The whole class then breaks into a loud applause except for Malfoy, Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle who were looking at the ground seemingly disappointed. I walk over towards them to tell them off but before I can, I hear a large whoosh of wings and watch as the Hippogriff soars above my head with Harry on it’s back! I along with everyone else (excluding Malfoy and his friends again) cheer and clap for Harry. The rest of the class who have newfound confidence from Harry’s success, excitedly climb over the fence as Hagrid slips the collar off the rest of the Hippogriffs. ••• I stand next to Harry as he watches Ron and Hermione practice on a Chestnut one, “I thought it was gonna take off your head when it didn’t bow back,” I say to him grinning “Honestly, so did I” Harry replies with an unreadable expression on his face. Suddenly Malfoy lets out a high-pitched scream, I whip my head around to see his white shirt stained with bright red blood. “I’m dying, I’m dying, look at me! It’s killed me!” Draco yells I look at him in panic “Hagrid! You’ve got to take him up to the hospital wing” I yell. Hagrid scoops Draco up in his arms and Hermione pushes open the gate. I run able to keep pace with Hagrid, thanks to the many hours I spent training for quidditch. I push the doors open for him as we reach the castle, then run ahead and hammer on the door to the infirmary “Now really I thought I told you no coming here to skip out on class” Madam Pomphrey sighs when she sees me. I open my mouth to explain but thankfully am saved as Hagrid comes rushing around the corner with a bleeding Malfoy in his arms.