A/N:

A little reminder: conversations in Russian I'll write ["like this"].

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The first Days

Hogwarts – Near Groundkeeper Area – January 09th (Monday Midmorning) – Hannah's POV

The snow crunched under our boots as we went to the corrals behind Hagrid's hut. It would be the first lesson in Care of magical Beings since Winter break and I was eager to see how Hagrid had fared so far. Right after Christmas the Daily Prophet had published an article about his familiar background, his roots as an half-giant and how 'dangerous' it would be have 'on of his kind' on the ground, 'threatening' the poor poor children. As I saw the article for the first time I had to read it three times to be sure, to believe that Rita Skeeter had really written this bull. Rita Skeeter, who else would be able to construct such a story about one of the nicest and most-caring Professors at Hogwarts.

Yes, even I was not a great fan of his Blast-ended Skrewts, but the lesson had still been interesting and better to learn how to handle a dangerous creature with Hagrid around than somewhere else. And he never ever had touched a single student in all those years, never lost his temper – apart from weeping too easily. To trouble a man like him was such an awful deed. I certainly understood the anger his friends felt. Rita Skeeter should be very careful around a few persons these weeks. Especially Hermione – who had been a target of Skeeter's garbage too – was eager to throw a few hexes her way.

Hermione.

I really missed her. I understood Piotr's reasoning but I missed her nonetheless. The conversations between them had changed since Christmas: always friendly, always polite … always a bit distant. No hugging, much less smiling, no more those little teasing jokes. She hadn't been there when we spent our Friday afternoons together and she totally stopped to share her table in the library with him. But the saddest had been her expression, the grief in her eyes when she looked his way. I had tried to argue with Piotr – Merlin had I tried. But he was stubborn like a Weasley-paragon.

"She loves Ron and now with Lavender stepping back and Ron at last realizing that Hermione is a girl – and a beautiful to add – she has a chance with him. I won't endanger this, I simply can't. Irrespective …" He had stopped to speak with me, his voice breaking. He missed her dearly, I knew.

And then there was Padma Patil. She was walking at my side towards the corrals, her eyes trained on Piotr's broad back. He had been deep in thoughts this morning, unwilling to utter more than a short greeting. But he didn't seem to be angry with Padma and the Ravenclaw girl had only shrugged at my quizzical look. Since her night in the Hospital Wing their relationship had steadied itself. They had been spending time in the library together nearly every day, their striving for knowledge another stepping stone. I had invited her to our Friday afternoons but she declined.

"These afternoons convey a great deal to him. They are something very special, very personal. And not I but Hermione belongs there. He misses her very much and with me being there … it would be like replacing her. And neither can I replace her nor have I the wish to try. Instead I dearly hope that he'll come to his senses again and invite her back."

My last small doubts about her had vanished in that conversation and I hoped for Piotr that after some time there would be more between him and the beautiful Ravenclaw witch whose mind and gentleness had made such an impression on him.

Speaking about platonic friendship growing into something more … hastily I stared down as I sensed my cheeks blushing. Neville, he had kissed me. After all those months of friendship I nearly lost the hope that he would ever dare. And again it had been Piotr – this time with Luna's and Ciddy's help – who started it. After that sweet song on Christmas and Piotr 'delivering' me into Neville's hands – and his fumbling not-so-dancing feet – it had been clear that Neville felt it too, that attraction I had been feeling since the summer break. I clearly remember the end of the Christmas night. I had been hoping for a goodnight kiss. My 'signs' should have been clear enough even for him. Apart from jumping him I simply couldn't be more open about it but still …

And then came the New Year's night. With Charlie Weasley taking care of his little sister Piotr had been able to celebrate with us. Us … this had been Neville, Luna, Piotr, Ciddy, Padma and me ... no Hermione to my regret. Piotr had more or less evicted Poppy to spend the evening with her sister and agreed to throw the party in his room in the Hospital Wing. This way he would be available in case of need. Especially with the Weasley twins selling their special firework some accidents could be expected. But it had been a very nice evening and at midnight Piotr – with the help of an inconspicuous looking Ciddy – had tricked Neville and I under mistletoe – previously made Nargle-free thru Luna.

I've never been before this beet-red and Neville seemed to be near having a coronary, but in the end he had no escape and I had my first kiss with him. The kiss was way too short and careful, but he didn't argue as I continued with a second and third and in the end he grinned that broad, goofy grin I adored so much.

The only sour point was that Piotr hadn't followed up the same despite Padma's eyes clearly telling – clearly at least for me if not for him I fear – that she hadn't objected.

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As we reached the corrals at last it wasn't the well-known large frame of Hagrid that was greeting us but that of an unknown woman.

"Good morning, I'm Professor Grubbly-Plank and I'll step in for Professor Hagrid for a while." She seemed to be around Hagrid's age and tall for a woman but very slim. Her short grey hair, the jutting chin and the stare of her eyes told us immediately 'I'm a no-nonsense-teacher'.

The first impression improved within the next half an hour as she started to speak about unicorns, their specialties and habits. She really seemed to know something about those creatures and slowly I felt the tension rising in me, the eagerness to see a unicorn. What a kind of girl wouldn't dream about really seeing, touching such a divine creature? But not everyone shared my joy. Piotr's first and very low growl startled me and soon I realized that he had problems to hide his anger, anger about what I wasn't sure.

"Now we'll enter the corral. Please remember, that the boys have to stay back. Only the girls may near and even you please hold a distance of at least three steps. Normally male unicorns allow young girls to even touch them but this is a bit … vivacious."

'Young girls' … I suppressed a snigger. I assumed she meant virgins and shortly pondered about which girls in my year wouldn't succeed in fulfilling that condition.

But the sight was marvelous, heart-inspiring and terrific: a large stallion of the purest white with a large and dangerous looking spiral horn. A magical rope around the neck bound it to a ring imbedded to a pole in the center of the corral, allowing it to move freely within. With the boys staying near the entrance us girls stepped nearer. An angry neigh stopped us and with a mix of fear and adore we stared at the unicorn.

Professor Grubbly-Plank continued to speak about it and only as she stopped confused I noticed that someone had entered the circle of girls. "Mister … please step back to the other boys. I thought I made myself clear …"

While she rambled on I noticed another thing. Piotr – who else – had left his boots and wand behind, his bare feet leaving traces in the snow. A hasty look back showed that Ernie was holding them and watching interestedly what Piotr had in mind. Without reacting to our Professor he slowly stepped nearer and stopped only a single step away from the stallion who stared at the boy. I hold my breath. As far as I knew the unicorn wouldn't agree with this nearness. Perhaps he would even attack him. His hooves and horn were dangerous weapons and …

["Athanasios"] He bowed slightly and waited. I sensed the urge of Professor Grubbly-Plank to intervene but like us she was surprised to see the unicorn's reaction. It relaxed visibly and bowed its horn two handbreadth, showing his willingness to tolerate Piotr. ["It is good to see you again, my friend. I hope your family is well?"]

I had no idea what Piotr was saying and I wasn't sure the Unicorn would understand him really but obviously the voice had a calming effect on the stallion.

["I'm sorry about this."] Piotr pointed to the corral and the pole and the tune of his voice showed clearly enough what he was speaking about. ["Allow me to free you. But please stay a while, so I may explain to the others."]

The stallion seemed to nod and our Professor got paler by every sentence, now increasing as Piotr stepped at the stallion's side and grabbed for the rope, the stallion lowering its head to allow him to reach its neck.

"Wait … you can't …"

Stepping back with the now useless rope Piotr turned around. "I can and I will. What kind of Professor are you to capture such a creature and cage him? Do you have any idea what you're doing to him to handle him this way? Do you know how his wife and children feel about this?"

Professor Grubbly-Plank made some uncertain gestures and stuttered a bit helplessly: "It is necessary for the lessons. I can't teach you about Unicorns without showing one. It is simple as this, isn't it?"

Piotr shook his head: "You could have asked. They don't understand words but the emotions behind. You could have explained what you had in mind and asked them to help you. This naturally would require that you really care for them, that you really appreciate their help as you should. But clearly you're not Hagrid."

Much softer he ordered Padma and me to step nearer and a bit trembling but trusting him we complied. ["Athanasios, may I introduce to you my very good friends Hannah and Padma."]

The eyes, I'll never forget those eyes looking at me, looking into my mind and heart. Calmness overcome me as I realized that this creature would never harm me as long as I stayed true myself. I crossed the last distance and on a sign of Piotr I placed my hand on its neck. The fur was soft as silk, even subtler than expected. Gently I caressed the neck and even dared to fondle him behind the ear. Somehow it was like an apology for jailing him.

To be near him, to experience this … it was like a dream and the emotion stayed for hours, long after the stallion left the corral, long after we walked away, Piotr not a single time apologizing to the Professor for his behavior.