Chapter II
Urania began her first day far earlier than most students, she was roaming the halls and school yard. In one of those walks she came across Hagrid's house, smoke out of the chimney indicated the presence of someone. She knocked one time and a very large man opened the door. His beard and wild hair covered most of his face, leaving only his kind eyes at sight.
"Hello" he smiled under his large nose.
"Mmm Hello I'm Urania…" She extended her hand
"Yes, I've seen ya in the great hall, I'm Hagrid…" He interrupted "Care to come inside? it's freezing here." She followed him inside, the fire roared in his chimney and beside of it a big black dog lied.
"I never imagined you live here or I wasn't paying enough attention Professor." He puffed his chest proudly. "You're in charge of magical creature's right?" He gave her a big cup full of steaming tea.
"Lavender… and yes. Today it's my first day teaching the third grade students." he started fumbling his hands and she took a glance of his aura, it looked like subtle smoke around him like an embrace of steam guarding him.
"You seem like a really committed person, you'll do great." She took a sip of the tea
"Thank you… I'm…" He was sweating under the mass of hair "It's on second period and I'm really nervous."
She sent a wave of calming energy that brushed his aura slightly "I'm free on second period and I know a lot about magical creatures, I'll be your assistant if you want." The large man relaxed and let out the breath he was holding.
"That'd be very much appreciated." he puffed his cheeks and exhale again trying to relax but still looked visibly conflicted.
"In my school students learn to deal with magical creatures from a young age, especially reptiles, salamanders and dragons, they're beautiful creatures." He beamed with excitement almost spilling his tea.
"That's what I say everybody, they're just misunderstood creatures!" His cheeks flushed in pink and his eyes glimmered in the subtle light of the chimney.
"I can communicate with them, they're wise creatures but sometimes humans think they can rule over them and forced them to do anything they want." She finished her tea in one gulp. "Well I better go back to the castle, everyone seems worried with Sirius Black."
Hagrid expression darkened. "That coward…" he muffled.
"Is he really coming here?" she put on her outer robe
"He's a sly rat, he'd do anything to get his hands on Harry… I shouldn't have said that." he stared at an empty spot on top of her head and kept his gaze there.
"I read a little about him and the story sounds ridiculous to me… why would he do such a thing?" Hagrid came back to the present and suppressed a smile
"When cowards like him sell their souls to you-probably-know-who there's no turning back." She was more intrigued than before, it seems like people lose all reasoning when they join Voldemort. This man sounded like an expert in brainwashing or a skilled orator.
Her robes swished against the stairs out of Hagrid's porch "See you later then Professor and thanks for the tea." She waved back at him on the way to the castle and headed for the great hall for breakfast.
In her way back was intercepted by Filch but was promptly rescued by Remus. "With dementors around it's not safe for you to wander alone." She looked at the prophet in his hand, it kept insisting that the ministry was close to capture Black. "I want to learn to do what you did on the train, that powerful charm to cast away the dementors." She followed his steps closely until they reached the doors to the great hall. "The ministry is far from catching him and I want to know how to defend myself from those things."
He wrapped the paper more tightly and gave her a reprimanding look. "No one escapes Azkaban and lives to tell, next thing we'll hear is he's been found and... condemned." His aura changed and the little dots that clouded it expanded like breathing. "You mean they'll kill him…" She went to stand in front of him and looked directly into his pupils. "You knew this man professor…" He clenched his jaw and kept walking trying to ignore her. "Your aura can't lie…" He turned quickly with raised finger in her direction. "That's enough…"
"No, it's not, I deserve to know if I'm supposed to protect Harry… Who's Sirius Black?"
Remus pursed his lips and exhale trough his nose. "He was a good friend of mine, God… he was my best friend and he went and sold the Potters to you-know-who and got them killed… and after that he killed another friend when he confronted him, along with twelve muggles who were passing by."
She covered her mouth.
"Happy now? Oh and he also happens to be Harry's godfather, now you have an idea why we want to protect everyone from him, he's capable of anything."
The rest of their walk to the great hall was in silence and Urania felt the sadness and discomfort invade her body, Remus aura glowed shyly around his form but she couldn't come up to cheer him up, she felt extremely sad too.
During second period she kept her promise to assist Hagrid with his first class. She found the trio chatting happily with Hagrid but noted Harry's sad demeanor.
"What's wrong with you?" He looked up surprised to see her there.
"Oh, it's nothing… you're taking this class too?"
She waved a hand in front of her face "Oh, no I'm just here to assist Professor Hagrid with the class".
Ron went to stand next to Harry. "That's cool, now if only we wouldn't be sharing this class with Slytherin".
Then the platinum haired boy she saw on the train appeared followed by his two large companions. "You're worried we might be studying dementors for this class Potter?"
"Back off Malfoy" said Ron grinding his teeth
"Oh I remember you! You're the little coward who asked me to leave on the train, I'm glad to see you are indeed a sucker so I can hate you freely" Urania paced around him with hand under the chin.
He tried to retort but was silenced by Hagrid who was about to start his lessons on Hippogriffs. The boy kept staring at them with heavy eyes and Urania swore she felt something menacing in his aura. Hagrid went on to explain how these elegant creatures were a proud kind who'd get offended by almost everything.
"It's alright Harry… just have to bow" She almost missed Harry's approach to the hippogriff named Buckbeak, the animal was reluctant and faced the young wizard with an apprehensive look, the boy did as told but Buckbeak came forward menacingly, Urania then send a calming wave towards the animal and it visibly relaxed bowing back to the boy.
"Well done Harry!" Hagrid clapped proudly with his large hands and a broad smile underneath his beard.
Malfoy mutter something under his breath and his Slytherin fellows laughed, then to everyone's surprise Hagrid took it to the next level and made Harry ride on the hippogriff.
"I'm supposed to keep an eye on him, you're not making my work here any easier professor" She joked heartily and was glad to see the giant man aura flare in delight. Everyone, except for Malfoy acquaintances, were clapping and encouraging Harry who was drawing small circles on the sky.
"You're doing great by the way" she tiptoed trying to reach his ear, making the large man flush. When Harry reached land she rushed towards him to take hold of the hippogriff who glared at her. "It's alright Buckbeak, I'm your friend" the animal looked at her with a surprised expression and let her reach for him.
Hagrid assigned everyone a hippogriff and told them to simply befriend them just like Harry did, not before warning them about the animal's character, they were easily offended creatures who think high of themselves. "They must be treated like royalty in other words". Said Urania while she helped Ron with his hippogriff, then she saw on the corner of her eye Malfoy approach Buckbeak with an arrogant expression.
"Can you actually talk to them Rania?" Ron asked while he touched the animal's neck
"Yeah… " Urania rushed to Malfoy just in time to save him from Buckbeak's rage, she landed on top of him effectively throwing him to the ground.
"Are you crazy?" she stood to calm the animal. "Shhh it's okay…" The boy made a grimace " That beast almost killed me!" Urania rolled her eyes and let go of the animal so Hagrid could take hold of him.
"You almost got us ALL killed by making him angry! Why didn't you follow the recommendations?" he tried to retort like he always did but she placed a finger on his mouth. " No, I don't want to hear that and I think you owe the professor and all of us an apology boy…"
"How dare you speak to me like this… My father will hear about…" She pushed him lightly on the chest making him take a few steps back.
"And you're going to tell your dad about that too? welcome to the real world… we don't care about whiny boys". His aura flared full of anger and embarrassment while everyone laughed loudly. Draco ran to the castle in a fury ball of black robes swishing its way through the grounds, followed closely by his comrades.
"Well I think that's all for today then… class is dismissed" Hagrid began carrying the hippogriffs together with the help of Urania.
"I'm sorry about that… I just can't stand the boy, he attacked me back on the train and it seems to be something he likes to do often." Hagrid nodded.
"No, ya did well, that boy belongs to a family of well known racists… It's a shame he can't tell good from bad now that he's of age." He smiled kindly in her direction. "They're a wealthy family who was associated to ya know-who even though they'll deny it… they're probably happy that their friend Black escaped!" Hagrid looked perplexed to an empty spot on her head and she laughed at the recurrent habit.
"you shouldn't have said that?" Urania was now laughing frantically
"Exactly… anyway… thanks for helping me, it wouldn't have been the same without you."
"there's nothing to thank professor" He placed his palm in front of her face to stop her.
"Call me Hagrid as a friend would"
She jogged happily after the eventful class, the sun shone on top of her head making the grass look greener while the fresh air reached her lungs as they expanded from the running.
"Rania wait!" Hermione's voice called from behind. "That was amazing, thanks for putting him in his place…" Ron and Harry struggled a bit to reach them. "There's nothing to thank really, I would gladly show that prick his place"
Harry smiled brightly at her for the first time. "Just let me know if he gets in your way again."
