2. And it Started Out So Well

As usual, around 6:00 A.M. Ryan's inner alarm clock woke her up and she really quickly grabbed her cloths and all the things that she would need to use in the bath rooms. When she finally reached the bathroom Ryan looked all over the place to make sure that she was alone and locked the door. Despite the fact that she was always the first one up, every now and then someone would be in there for some reason or another. After having taken a shower and gotten dressed in her school robes and black beanie, Ryan left the restroom and ran up to her room to grab her school bag before heading to the great hall.

It was around eight when the other students started to enter the hall, all of them talking about class or Sirius Black. All the noise was starting to hurt her sensitive ears and she had to repress the urge to cover her ears to block out the horrid noise. It only got harder when Malfoy and his gang came in. When McGonagall handed Ryan her schedule she couldn't think of a time when she had been happier to see the woman. Taking the sheet of paper Ryan quickly left the hall and nearly ran into Potter and his friends in her hast.

When Ryan looked at her schedule she noticed that her first class was Needle work at nine o' clock, with Professor King, on the first floor, in room ten. Looking at her watch, Ryan noticed that she had eleven minutes to get to class. So with that thought in mind she hiked her bag up on her shoulder and started to jog down the hall to her class.

Ryan had made it to the class room with three minutes to spare and only had to ask for directions once, which was a fact she was quite proud of. When she interred the classroom she was strongly reminded of a college classroom with the way it had stairs going down until it reached to where the teacher would be, and had a desk on either side of each step. There were only six tables so there would only be six girls including herself taking the class she figured. But as time passed she was surprised to see two boys come in and sit at a desk.

She didn't have much time to ponder why two boys would want to do needle work because just as the last girl sat down, Professor King walked in. Professor King was a kid looking woman with large powder blue eyes and a few freckles here and there. Her long mahogany hair that reached her hips was pulled back into a pony tail and she greeted the class with a warm smile.

"Good morning class, I'm Professor King, and I will be teaching you how to use all different types of needles." She said in a sweet voice "I know that most of you probably signed up just so you could learn a few spells to help you out in the craft department, but before we reach these spells there is something that not many people know about needle spells. With most spells all you have to know is the incantation, but with these spells, that is not enough." She said, leaving most of them confused. "To make these spells work; you have to have already done that type of needle work without magic."

The look on the boys' faces was quite funny, Ryan thought as she looked at their shocked faces.

"So to those of you, who have already sewn, you just keep in mind that you may learn something new." She told the class when she saw the sad looks on two of the girls faces I the back row. Walking over to her desk Professor King pulled out what kind of looked like a coloring book and laid it on her desk before speaking to the class again.

"Now that is not to say that there won't be magic used," Professor King said slyly "In the top drawer on your desk you will find a book that looks just like this." She held the book up for all of them to see. "Grab it and find a pattern that you want to use. We will be embroidering in class today, so when you find the one you like head to the closet and get a tea towel. When everyone is finished doing that we will continue on." She said to them as she sat down and started to flip through the book.

Opening her book, Ryan saw that most of her patterns were of animals. After looking through almost half the book she finally landed on what looked to be a picture of a chibi wolverine. Smiling to herself, Ryan laid the book face down on the table and made her way over to the cabinet that was on the far wall. Grabbing her towel she went and sat back down at her seat.

Once everyone had a towel Professor started talking again, "Now then, to put the pattern on the towel there is a simple spell. It is called the Copy spell. You simply say 'Effingo' tap the pattern and then tap the towel were you want the pattern to go. For those of you, who are visual learners, just watch me."

With that Professor King picked up her wand, muttered the spell under her breath and tapped a page of the book. When she lifted the wand there was a small ball of light at the end of it and tapped the cloth. Setting the wand down she picked up the towel and showed it to the class. In the spot that she touched with her wand was an outline of a puppy chasing a butterfly.

Placing the tea towel back on the table Professor King turned to the class."Now, you all do the same, and when you are done there is a frame on your desk, I want you to put it on the cloth when you have your patterns done."

Picking up her wand, twelve inch cherry wood with moonstone core, she did as she was told. She was quite surprised when it worked on the first try. Waiting a few minutes for everyone to finish, Ryan thought of what she was going to do with her towel when she was done with it, but came up with nothing.

When everyone successfully transferred their patterns onto the towels Professor King once again turned towards them, "Now that that is finished, we will begin. We are starting with Embroidery because there is no right or wrong way to embroidery. So with that in mind, don't panic if you if yours does not look exactly like mine." The rest of the class had gone exceedingly well. By the end of the hour, Ryan was thinking that it was going to be one of her favorites.

As it turned out, the other Gryffindors didn't have as good of a first class as Ryan did. She noticed this fact when she entered Transfiguration class. She unlike most of the class paid attention to the Professor, but it was kind of hard to do so when her partner was constantly trying to look over her shoulder. After nearly half the class Ryan had enough and turned to see what everyone was looking at, and saw Harry potter, sitting in the back of the class. Everyone was looking at him as though he would drop dead at any moment.

Shaking her head she turned back to the front of the class in time to see a grey tabby cat sitting on McGonagall's desk. She smiled when she saw the cat jump off the desk and change into the Professor with a pop. Ryan, along with McGonagall was shocked to see that no one even batted an eye at her display.

Looking at them like they were nuts, it was McGonagall that asked the question she dearly wanted to. "Really, what has got into you all today?" she asked looking around at them. "Not that it matters, but that's the first time my transformation's not got applause from a class."

No one really made a move to tell her what was wrong, but they all looked towards Potter again. It was Hermione who spoke first after raising her hand. "Please, Professor, we've just had our first Divination class, and we were reading the tea leaves, and —"

"Ah, of course," said Professor McGonagall, suddenly frowning. "There is no need to say any more, Miss Granger. Tell me, which of you will be dying this year?"

Everyone stared at her not really knowing what to say.

"Me," said Potter, breaking the silence that had fallen.

"I see," said Professor McGonagall, fixing her gaze on Potter. "Then you should know, Potter, that Sybill Trelawney has predicted the death of one student a year since she arrived at this school. None of them has died yet. Seeing death omens is her favorite way of greeting a new class. If it were not for the fact that I never speak ill of my colleagues —" Professor McGonagall broke off, looking as though she was trying to stop herself from saying something she desperately wanted to.

She went on, having gathered her bearings, "Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic. I shall not conceal from you that I have very little patience with it. True Seers are very rare, and Professor Trelawney…"

She stopped again, and then said, in a confident tone, "You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in."

Ryan chuckled a bit at that. From what she was hearing, this Professor Trelawney, was bat crap crazy. She was glad that she took a different class than most of the Gryffindors if that was what they did. Turning around in her seat, Ryan saw that not that many kids were as convinced as she was. Shaking her head Ryan turned her attention back to the lesson.

When the class ended Ryan walked out with the rest of the class and saw Flicker sitting near the door looking for her. Smiling fondly, she walked over to her familiar, crouched down to her level, and scratched her behind the ears. "Hey girl," She said now scratching under her chin, "How ya been?"

'Hungry' The words seemed to be spoken in her head so only she could hear. Shaking her head, Ryan stood up and made a motion with her hands for the young wolf to follow. Jumping up, Flicker trotted at her feet panting happily.

Walking into the great hall, Ryan picked a seat in an area far away from the rest of her peers and sat down with Flicker at her feet. Eating happily and passing a bit of chicken to Flicker under the table every now and then, she ignored the noise as best she could. So she was just slightly startled when something was slammed onto the table, making it shake slightly.

Looking toward were the sound came from, Ryan saw Hermione talking to her friends in a harsh voice, "If being good at Divination means I have to pretend to see death omens in a lump of tea leaves, I'm not sure I'll be studying it much longer! That lesson was absolute rubbish compared with my Arithmancy class!" With that said she grabbed her bag and walked away in a huff.

"Looks like trouble in paradise." Ryan whispered to Flicker with a slight smile when Hermione stormed past. Flicker looked her in the eye tilted her head and yipped in agreement. Looking at her schedule Ryan saw that she had Care for Magical Creatures next in a few minutes. Standing up she told Flicker to head back to the dorms and left the hall.

Stepping outside was like a breath of fresh air for Ryan. The smell of rain and damp earth made her want to grab her small pack of two and run and live in the forest like the animal she knew was inside her. Sighing sadly she continued on her way to Hagrid's hut where they would be meeting to start the lesson. When she was close enough to see each student she realized that they would be having this lesson with the Slytherins. This would be interesting.

Hearing a sound coming from inside Hagrid's hut, Ryan looked in its direction and saw Hagrid standing in the doorway. He was in his moleskin coat with his boarhound, Fang, at his feet look as though he could not wait to start. "C'mon, now, get a move on!" he called as the class approached. "Got a real treat for yeh today! Great lesson comin' up! Everyone here? Right, follow me!"

As they started to follow Hagrid towards the forest, Ryan thought that they were going to have their class there. While this may have bothered the others, Ryan had a few friends in the forest. Sadly they were only walking along the edge of the woods. Five minutes later they arrived at an empty paddock.

"Everyone gather 'round the fence here!" he called. "That's it — make sure yeh can see — now, firs' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books —"

"How?" Draco Malfoy asked in his holier than thou voice.

"Eh?" said Hagrid.

"How do we open our books?" Malfoy asked again.

As Malfoy pulled out his book that was putting up a great fight against its binds, Ryan reached into her bag and grabbed her book. Her book, unlike the others' books that were fighting them, was rather docile. It wasn't tied down trying to bite her, but it still refused to open.

"Hasn' — hasn' anyone bin able ter open their books?" said Hagrid, looking dejected.

Everyone shook their head no.

"Yeh've got ter stroke 'em," said Hagrid, as though this was the most obvious thing in the world. "Look —"

Hagrid grabbed Hermione's book and ripped off the Spellotape holding it shut. Once it was released from its binds it tried to bite Hagrid but he just ran a finger down the spine of the book. The book shivered a little in his hands before falling open and laying calmly in his hand.

"Oh, how silly we've all been!" Malfoy sneered. "We should have stroked them! Why didn't we guess!"

"I — I thought they were funny," Hagrid said uncertainly to Hermione.

"Oh, tremendously funny!" said Malfoy. "Really witty, giving us books that try and rip our hands off!"

"Shut up, Malfoy," said Potter quietly.

Looking at Hagrid, Ryan wanted to say something similar. He looked as though he had lost all his earlier confidence, and this was only his first class.

"Righ' then," said Hagrid, who seemed to have lost his thread, "so — so yeh've got yer books an'… an'… now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Yeah. So I'll go an' get 'em. Hang on…"

He strode away from them into the forest and out of sight.

"God, this place is going to the dogs," said Malfoy loudly. "That oaf teaching classes, my father'll have a fit when I tell him —"

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry repeated.

"Careful, Potter, there's a Dementor behind you —"

"Oooooooh!" squealed Lavender Brown, pointing toward the opposite side of the paddock.

When Ryan looked at where Lavender was pointing, she saw what had to be the strangest thing she had seen so far. The back end, hoofs and tails were that of a horse, but the front looked like a large eagle with their beaks and bright, beady, orange eyes. Their beaks and talons looked sharp and deadly. They each had on a thick leather collars around their necks attached to long chains that were held in Hagrid's large hands, who was jogging behind the creatures. He looked as if he was commanding a dog sled.

"Gee up, there!" he roared, shaking the chains and urging the creatures toward the fence where the class stood. While everyone backed away from the fence Ryan was leaning closer, as Hagrid tethered the creatures to the fence.

"Hippogriffs!" Hagrid roared happily, waving a hand at them. "Beau'iful, aren' they?"

As she looked them over once more, Ryan knew what Hagrid meant. After you got over the shock of the first glance, you could truly appreciate the hippogriffs gleaming coats going from feathers to fur in different colors; Stormy grey, bronze, pinkish roan, gleaming chestnut, and inky black.

"So," said Hagrid, rubbing his hands together and beaming around, "if yeh wan' ter come a bit nearer…"

Ryan had already climbed the fence and was sitting at the top waiting for further instructions. Hearing others approaching the fence she turned and saw Potter and his friends cautiously making their way towards the fence.

"Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' Hippogriffs is, they're proud," said Hagrid. "Easily offended, Hippogriffs are. Don't never insult one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh do."

Hearing some quiet whispers Ryan turned her head in its direction and saw that Malfoy and his little gang were not paying attention.

"Yeh always wait fer the Hippogriff ter make the firs' move," Hagrid continued. "It's polite, see? Yeh walk toward him, and yeh bow, an' yeh 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."

"Right — who wants ter go first?"

Looking back at the class Ryan saw everyone take an even further step away from the fence. When she looked at the hippogriffs she saw that they weren't all too happy about being tied up.

Shaking her head sadly at their fear, Ryan hopped off the fence saying "Ah'll do it." At the exact same time potter did. Sadly it was potter Hagrid asked to go first. Muttering to herself under her breath, Ryan climbed back up on the fence.

"Oooh, no, Harry, remember your tea leaves!" squeaked Lavender in fear. But potter seemed to be trying to ignore her as he climbed the fence and walked towards Hagrid.

"Good man, Harry!" roared Hagrid. "Right then — let's see how yeh get on with Buckbeak."

Untying the grey hippogriff Hagrid walked it to the center of the paddock and pulled the leather collar over its head. Every one outside of the fence seemed to be holding their breath.

"Easy now, Harry," said Hagrid quietly. "Yeh've got eye contact, now try not ter blink… Hippogriffs don' trust yeh if yeh blink too much…"

From her spot on the fence, Ryan couldn't see too much of what potter was doing, but from the look on Buckbeak's face he was doing it right.

"Tha's it," said Hagrid. "Tha's it, Harry… now, bow." Ever so slowly potter bowed but then went up a little faster, without every exposing his neck. Buckbeak didn't seem to like that and didn't make any move to bow.

"Ah," said Hagrid, sounding worried. "Right — back away, now, Harry, easy does it —"

But to everyone's surprise, Buckbeak slowly bent his scaly legs in a distinct bow.

"All right Harry!"

"Well done, Harry!" said Hagrid, ecstatic. "Right — yeh can touch him! Pat his beak, go on!"

Looking more than a little nerve, potter walked timidly over to the hippogriff and stretched his arm out. Potter patted Buckbeak a few times on the beak and he looked as though he was enjoying it. Ryan could hear a faint crooning coming from the hippogriff that the others couldn't.

Seeing his accomplishment, the class broke out into applause with Ryan hesitantly doing the same.

"Righ' then, Harry," said Hagrid. "I reckon he migh' let yeh ride him!"

This seemed to be too much for Potter, as Ryan could smell the fear and nerves in his scent.

"Yeh climb up there, jus' behind the wing joint," said Hagrid, "an' mind yeh don' pull any of his feathers out, he won' like that…"

Looking as though he would rather be elsewhere, Potter did as he was told and put his foot at the wing joint and climbed on. As he sat down he looked quite confused as he looked at the neck.

"Go on, then!" roared Hagrid, slapping the Hippogriffs hindquarters.

Startled, Potter quickly threw his arms around Buckbeak's neck as the twelve foot wing flew open and they shot off into the air. The whole class watched in awe as he flew around the pen with ease. They cheered when they saw them come in for a landing and looked more welcoming to the idea of going near.

"Good work, Harry!" roared Hagrid in excitement. "Okay, who else wants a go?"

Ryan practically flew off the fence and was directed towards the black one named Blackberry. When she had gained eye contact she bowed low and tilted her head to the sided and exposing her throat, she slowly came back up. When she looked again she saw her hippogriff bow to her and instead of waiting for Ryan to come forward Blackberry walked over to her.

"Hey there," Ryan said softly as she ran her hand over Blackberry's beak and under her chin. As she started racking her fingers threw the feathers on her neck, Ryan felt something pulling on her beanie. Looking up she saw Blackberry smelling her hat and biting at it.

"Yer a smart girl, aren't ya." Ryan giggled at the prideful look as she soaked in the praise.

Looking around at the class Ryan's eyes landed on Neville, who was having problems with his Hippogriff. Since he wasn't bowing long enough and radiating fear, his simply refused to bow. Turning her gaze elsewhere, and saw Malfoy walk calmly towards Buckbeak.

"This is very easy," Malfoy drawled out. "I knew it must have been, if Potter could do it… I bet you're not dangerous at all, are you?" he said to the Hippogriff. "Are you, you great ugly brute?"

That was all it took. One moment Malfoy was standing and the next he was on the ground bawling like a baby. Hagrid had a hold of Buckbeak who was trying his hardest to get to Malfoy. On the ground, Malfoy was clutching his arm as blood started to spread on his robes.

"I'm dying!" Malfoy yelled as the class panicked. "I'm dying, look at me! It's killed me!"

"Yer not dyin'!" said Hagrid, who had gone very white. "Someone help me — gotta get him outta here —"

Quickly Hagrid lifted Malfoy into his arms and Hermione ran and opened the gate for him. As he passed, Ryan saw a long fairly deep gash on his arm. Yet she felt no sympathy for him, at all, even as his arm started bleeding profoundly.

As Hagrid nearly ran to the castle, the class followed at a slower pace looking lost. Ryan was trying her hardest to ignore the Slytherins that were saying pretty harsh things about Hagrid, but Pansy Parkinson's voice kept getting through.

"They should sack him straight away!" said Pansy Parkinson, her unusually high voice leaving Ryan's ears ringing.

"It was Malfoy's fault!" snapped Dean Thomas.

When she could finally see the castle Ryan lengthened her stride and left the others behind as she made her way to the Gryffindor common rooms.

'And ta think,' Ryan thought to herself. 'The day had started out so well.' She shook her head in mock sadness and then a huge grin made its way onto her face. 'at least ah got ta hear Malfoy scream like a girl.'
-

Ok, I am sooooooooooo unbelievably sorry about how late this story is! So please, don't hurt me. I warned you before.

Now then this is my first time righting an accent so go easy on me. And if there is anything that you would like to see in here or a suggestion of any sort, feel free to tell me. I will accept them with open arms.

Also be for I go I would like to thank DeFeBiGoRiTy, for the comment. You inspired me to continue.