Thank you to the beta of this chapter, Willofhounds.
A little note before we begin. I set up a Tumblr page for my fan fiction where I hope to post small snippets of my fan fiction along with fan art. It's the same username as on here so feel free to look me up.
Chapter Sixteen - The Big Surprise Part One
Severus got Harry ready this morning and got him to use the bathroom successfully. He was still having some accidents then success but Severus still saw it as a big improvement to what it was. The only problem he found that he was having was that he couldn't get Harry to tell him when he needed to go. Harry waited until the last minute.
He talked to Poppy about it in hopes he could get some help but all she did was tell him that it was normal when children are learning to use the bathroom. It was kind of like Harry was regrowing up in a way. Harry even started to put everything in his mouth and chewed on it which Poppy told him was normal too. Children tend to put stuff in their mouth when they grow up, as they explore the world.
"Do you want to pick out your clothes today?" Severus proposed, setting Harry down at his dresser.
"We are going down to Hagrid's today for a big surprise," Severus added as he got Harry to pick out some clothes he wanted to wear today.
"…..Buckbeak?" Harry questioned, picking out a long sleeve shirt that was red with gold sleeves along with a pair of overalls, passing them to Severus.
"Yes, Buckbeak will be there along with Minerva and Poppy," Severus replied, getting Harry dressed for the day, making sure that his leg braces fit comfortably around his legs before pulling the pants legs down.
"Buckbeak fly?" Harry asked, pointing to himself.
Severus who wasn't looking up at Harry let out a small smile as he replied, "Yes, Buckbeak can fly."
Severus started to pack some extra pull-ups along with some clothing just in case when Harry asked him another question.
"Harry fly?"
Severus let out a small laugh, "No Harry can't fly," Severus replied, " Come let's go get your shoes on."
Severus said taking Harry by the hand and taking him out of the room.
"Why?" Harry muttered, "Buckbeak don't want to?"
Harry frowned at the thought that his friend didn't want to fly with him anymore.
Severus who still wasn't paying attention answered, "Because people can't fly, only animals can."
Severus knew it wasn't true, there were so many ways that a wizard could get around. There wasn't anyway Harry could understand that so Severus decided to go with a more simple answer.
"But why?" Harry whined not understanding any of what Severus just told him. He could fly, with his friend.
"Hagrid lets me….Buckbeak lets me," Harry whined as a few tears escaped and rolled down his cheek.
Severus paused for a second before he looked up at Harry.
"What?" Severus asks not sure he heard correctly.
"…..Hagrid lets me….fly….buckbeak," Harry replied, able to get the sentence in the right order.
"Are you telling me that you fly on Buckbeak…in the sky?" Severus questioned.
Harry smiled, nodding his head.
Severus' fault like he was about to burst into flames. He didn't want Harry on a broom, nevertheless a hippogriff. Anything could happen, Harry could fall off or worse the creature could attack. Severus didn't care how close the two seemed to be, the hippogriff was still a wild animal.
Severus gave a small nod, not trusting himself to talk at the moment as he put Harry's shoes on.
"Ready to go?" Severus asked as calmly as he could. In his head, he was thinking up a hundred different ways that he could kill Hagrid and use him for his potions.
Harry gave a small nod, taking Severus' hand as he was led out the door and down to Hagrid's.
Throughout the walk Severus kept thinking about what he was going to say, or most likely would yell when he saw the half-giant. He felt like he was about to lose control over his magic.
Harry started to speed up when he saw the three, letting go of Severus' hand and quickly made his way down.
"Hey, Harry." Minerva welcomed.
"Today is a very special day it's…." But Minerva was cut off by Severus.
"Why in Merlin's beard is Harry flying Buckbeak?" Severus demanded once he made his way down.
Hagrid's mouth fell open, doing his best to think of a response or more likely thinking of a lie he could tell that would be believable. Believable enough for Severus to believe.
"Harry…Let's go and see Buckbeak" Poppy spoke quickly knowing that there was going to be a blowout and she didn't want Harry to witness it.
"On the ground," Severus yelled as the two made their way behind the hut.
"Listen…I can explain," Hagrid started.
"How can you explain that you let Harry fly Buckbeak. Anything could have happened? What would you have done if he got hurt or worse fallen off that damn bird of yours," Severus yelled.
"Severus" Minerva calmly spoke, stepping in the middle of the two, trying to play referee of the situation.
"Harry wasn't in any danger. You know Hagrid would never allow Harry to fly Buckbeak if there was a chance that he could have gotten hurt," Minerva tried to explain.
"You knew about this?" Severus questioned, turning his attention to Minerva.
"…..Yes I knew," Minerva sigh, "….But you should see Harry when he's on Buckbeak, he does so well and he's so happy to be flying and Buckbeak is so protective over Harry, nothing was going to happen."
"You have no way of knowing that," Severus argued.
"Yes, I do. Do you really think I would allow it if I thought there was any danger in it? Children younger than Harry fly brooms," Minerva pointed out.
Severus let out a long breath, running his hands through his hair, there was no way he could fight three people on this, he was outnumbered.
"….Fine but Harry is no longer to fly Buckbeak... unless I am there and the moment he gets hurt in any way it is over," Severus stated.
Minerva couldn't help but smile along with Hagrid.
"Thank you, Severus," Minerva said softly knowing how much Harry loved flying and how much it would break the child's heart if he was forced to stay on the ground.
"Let go a give Arry his surprise" Hagrid spoke up, calling Poppy to bring Harry back over as all four of them walked to the hut with Severus opening the door to show balloons of many colors and streamers along with a table field with presents.
"Happy Birthday Harry," the two women yelled out from behind them.
