THIRD YEAR

HOGWARTS GROUNDS

Peter Pettigrew had been Weasley's pet rat 'Scabbers'. The chances were so astronomical that Draco had almost wanted to laugh. Instead, he'd torn his newspaper apart and wadded it up, in a brief fit of unfettered rage. Why had he thought, for even one minute, that Harry would be safe in the Black Family's heavily fortified ancestral home? Harry was simultaneously the most lucky and unlucky person in the world. His bad luck got him into danger and then his good luck saved him.

Draco intended to take out his frustration on the Weasel. He was going to relentlessly bully the redhead for having kept a traitorous murderer as a pet. Weasley would pet that rat and carry it in his pocket and he had probably even let it sleep in his bed. For years.

Someone had to be sure Weasley wouldn't forget it and that someone was Draco.

Draco's father had told him that Pettigrew's cause of death was inconclusive. Draco figured that meant Black himself had probably killed Pettigrew rather than detaining him. Draco certainly couldn't fault him if he had.

He assumed the Aurors were just covering things up and sweeping it all under the rug so that there would be no need for further investigation. After all, it could have easily been written off as self defense, even if it hadn't been. Pettigrew was considered to be an extremely dangerous criminal and law-abiding citizens had a right to protect themselves.

Oddly enough, Draco's father hadn't agreed with Draco's theory that Black had enacted vengeance on Pettigrew. Actually, he'd seemed oddly concerned about the cause of death. Apparently he'd gotten his hands on the official report and the cause of death was a mystery. Everyone's wands had been tested and no one present had been responsible. Further testing showed that it had not been any sort of physical damage that killed Pettigrew. It was as if the life had been sucked out of him.

Draco didn't know what that meant. He did know though that Harry was a magnet for danger and it would probably come out later that Pettigrew was killed by some sort of demonic spirit haunting the House of Black. Possibly something even worse. Draco's father was pressuring the investigators to determine the exact cause. He wouldn't let them close the case until he had answers and could be certain of Harry's safety.

This year was supposed to be quiet and uneventful now that Black was a free man and Harry had his godfather and Pettigrew was dead. Draco was still on edge. He was determined not to be taken by surprise when something inevitably went wrong.

Something was definitely going to go wrong this year involving Harry and this time Draco was going to be ready for it.

Draco wasn't sure why he'd decided to take Care for Magical Creatures. It was a new class and he'd thought it would be interesting but not overly rigorous - a welcome reprieve from his other classes.

Okay, his decision might have beeninfluenced in some small way because Hagrid was a friend of Harry's. Draco had assumed it was a safe bet that Harry would be taking the class too. He'd been right.

Draco placed himself and his subordinate friends near Harry, Granger and Weasley. He made a depreciating comment about the wild state of Harry's hair but it wasn't the most creative insult, really. Crabbe and Goyle chortled meanly, just like always. They were dependable in that way. They always backed him up, no matter what.

Weasley and Granger glared at Draco. They were pretty dependable too. Draco was glad Harry had them, even though he was jealous that they got to be Harry's friends publicly. It just wasn't fair.

Harry glanced his way with something like a smile pulling at the corner of his lips, but then he scowled and replied, "Shut it, Malfoy."

Draco almost smiled back but he managed to turn it into a sneer instead. He was about to deliver one of the insults he'd prepared for Weasley but then he was distracted by the strange creature Hagrid brought out. Draco didn't recognize the creature and that meant he was actually going to need to spend some time studying his textbook. Hagrid called the creature a Hippogriff and apparently it was named Buckbeak.

Hagrid explained that Buckbeak was a proud and discerning beast who was particular about adhering to proper formalities. One had to bow and wait for the creature to bow back before making an approach. Or risk getting mauled, Draco guessed, based on how wickedly sharp Buckbeak's talons and beak were.

Buckbeak and Draco's father were actually quite similar, Draco thought, with great amusement. He wished he had someone to share that particular joke with, but a Malfoy did not poke fun at other Malfoys with anyone outside of the family.

Draco caught Harry's gaze unintentionally. Everyone was looking at Buckbeak but Harry was watching Draco from the corner of his eye. Draco thought Harry looked almost amused, but that couldn't be right. Could it? Maybe they'd had the same thought? No, that was unlikely. Harry didn't know Draco's father that well yet.

Harry actually winked at Draco then looked away. Draco was rather flummoxed for a moment but also thrilled. It made him feel better about being Harry's secret friend, if Harry wasn't going to ignore him all the time. It could even be fun!

Then Draco realized Hagrid wanted someone to actually try approaching the Hippogriff. Draco really needed to stop mooning over his new friend and focus on what was going on in class. He would look like an idiot if he got caught off guard.

"Harry? Come on over, don't be shy!"

Draco looked at Harry again, just like everyone else. He saw something strange in Harry's expression. He'd expected Harry would be eager to do it, yet the boy seemed oddly reluctant.

"Don't be scared, Potter!" Draco jeered at him, encouragingly.

Harry glared at him and clenched his jaw but Draco was worried now. Harry really didn't want to do it for some reason and Draco couldn't guess why. Weasley snapped, "How about you step up and give it a try, Malfoy? I bet you won't!"

Malfoy fixed his best glower on Weasley, muttering darkly, "It's an ugly horse, Weasel. Why would anyone be scared?"

He strode forward as if to prove it. Hagrid cautioned him to slow down and Draco obeyed then gave the creature his best and lowest bow, complete with a dramatic flourish. He waited for a few seconds and was delighted when the Hippogriff bowed back. What a polite creature! Draco's confidence soared - he could do this and he might actually be good at it!

"You can pet him now, if you like, Malfoy," Hagrid said cheerfully. Draco was reluctant to show it but he actually liked the quarter-giant.

He nodded and stepped forward slowly, lifting his hand and waiting. The Hippogriff placed its beak against his hand. Draco relaxed and stroked the soft feathers of the creature's neck. His back was to the other students so he smiled at the creature and murmured, very quietly, "You're not scary at all, are you? It's just an act for you too, right?"

Buckbeak turned his head a bit to fix Draco with one lovely golden eye. Based on that look alone Draco could tell the Hippogriff was intelligent enough to understand what he was saying. He was glad he'd been the first to volunteer.

Hagrid managed to sneak up behind him - something that should have been impossible considering Hagrid's massive size. Draco didn't even notice until Hagrid suddenly grabbed him by the waist and lifted him all the ease of a loaf of bread. Hagrid plopped Draco unceremoniously on Buckbeak's back, "Seems he likes you! I reckon he'll let you fly with him!"

"What?" Draco demanded incredulously, with sudden panic.

Buckbeak rushed forward and Draco had to grab on or be thrown off. Buckbeak leapt into the air and Draco's gaze met Harry's briefly. All of the other students were watching with varying degrees of shock. Harry's vibrant green eyes were alert and concerned. He was standing at the back of the class now - as far away from Buckbeak as he could get without being too obvious about it.

Then Buckbeak was climbing in the air and Draco was flying. Buckbeak took Draco in a large circle across the grounds and Draco let himself grin openly now. He flew all the time on his broom but the feeling of being in the air never got old.

This was different from riding on a broom. He was riding on the back of this powerful and amazing creature. It was a breathtaking experience and one he wouldn't soon forget.

When Buckbeak eventually made his way back to the clearing, Draco had to compose himself quickly. He assumed a more dignified expression - smug satisfaction rather than open joy. Buckbeak approached the clearing from the opposite direction and flew in a path right over the heads of the students.

Everyone was staring at Draco in awe and it went straight to Draco's head. He was so proud of himself he was feeling borderline cocky. He raised a hand to smooth back his pale hair, practically preening.

What a great start to the year!

As they passed over the students, Buckbeak gave a horrible, frightened shriek and banked abruptly, altering his coarse much too sharply for Draco to maintain his hold. Draco fell and he hit the ground hard. His arm got caught awkwardly underneath him and broke his fall, but only slightly. There was half a second of acute pain, more intense than anything Draco had ever felt. Immediately after, his head struck one of the exposed rocks and everything went black.