Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.
Chapter Fifty-Four
New Classes
Harry found the first day to be very interesting to say the least. Despite the fact that Remus was now a lot closer to him physically, he found that he actually had fewer opportunities to talk to him than he did before, seeing as Sirius still had the mirror and he couldn't go to Remus's offices to talk to him before they even had a class together. All in all, he thought it would be best not to think about Remus suddenly being at Hogwarts, and just pay attention to his classes. He was taking three new subjects, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, and Ancient Runes and he was interested in learning more about each of the subjects. However, if he was truthful with himself he was only taking Divination because Sirius had told him that he could make up most of his work if he ever got stuck … just make whatever he made up sounded believable.
However, after his first lesson in Divination, he wasn't sure if he would like the class much. The class was located so high up and impossibly far from the other classes that it would be a trek to get there, and then the room was full of fumes that seemed to make you want to sleep more than anything else. However, it was Professor Trelawney that made him the most uncomfortable, with her misty demeanor and, oh yeah, the fact that she had predicted that he was going to die. That didn't make him like her very much at all.
He didn't put much stalk into what she had predicted after she read his tea leaves. It just seemed like she was putting on a show too much for him to really believe what she was saying. The fact that he had a deadly enemy … okay she was right about that, but it's not like it was such a shocking realization. In addition, she probably was right that he would be attacked and danger was in his path, but again this was something he already knew. He was sure that he would run into danger again and probably soon, so it would make sense that this was in his future. The last thing, the one that Trelawney seemed to have been trying to really scare him with was seeing the grim in his cup. He knew of course what a grim was, but he refused to be scare of it. He didn't believe in death omens and he wasn't about to start now.
"Harry, are you okay?" Ron asked when they were walking to the transfiguration classroom; they had gotten there before most of their classmates because Hermione had already figured out the best way to get to her classes having used her map.
"Why wouldn't I be okay?" Harry asked back.
"Well … er … someone just predicted that … well …" Ron said, rubbing the back of his head and was obvious uncomfortable.
"If you ask me that was a load of rubbish," Hermione huffed.
"You would think that, this isn't a subject that you can learn from a book," Harry smirked at her. "Not to mention it's an imprecise branch of magic with so many different veritable, there is no simple answer in this subject."
"You're not worried at all that she saw a grim in your cup," Ron said and Harry looked at him in shook. Ron never gave up an opportunity to tease Hermione, but here he was harping on the grim instead of laughing at the expression Hermione had.
"No …" Harry said slowly.
"Well this is not a laughing matter, mate, my uncle Bilius saw a grim and died twenty-four hours later," Ron said. "Besides, you can't deny that the rest of what she saw in the cup is likely to happen."
"You're right about that," Harry had to agree. "But she didn't say anything that I didn't know was coming. And I'm sorry Ron, I'm not about to believe just because she saw a grim in my cup that I'm going to die."
"I'm not saying that you should," Ron groaned in annoyance. "But what if …"
"What if that dog was Sirius?" Harry interrupted him in a whisper and before Ron could say anything, he added. "Or maybe it is a grim, but that doesn't mean I'm going to have to die anytime soon … or even at all. If I have a deadly enemy after me, it just might mean that one of us is going to have to die or something like that."
"I suppose," Ron mumbled, but he didn't stop looking worried.
"Just don't worry about it," Harry said impatiently.
They walked into the classroom then and Harry's eyes immediately fell on the cat that was sitting stiffly on McGonagall's desk. He couldn't help but get excited at this, knowing that this was one of the lessons that he was must looking forward to.
"Do you think we're allowed to pet the cat?" Harry asked his friends after they all put down their things at the desk they always use.
"I'm not sure Professor McGonagall would appreciate that," Hermione said looking at the cat now.
"Er … looks like you're right," Harry chuckled as the cat gave him a stern look that he got many times from her. "Sorry Professor."
Now the cat looked annoyed, but just then the rest of the Gryffindors started to file into the room and took their seats. It seemed that they were all glancing at Harry with concern, almost like they were at his funeral or something. He wanted to shout at them that he wasn't about to die any time soon, but he was sure that McGonagall wouldn't appreciate it, so he kept his mouth shut. However, after the lack luster reaction to her transformation, that Ron, Hermione and him at least showed some enthusiasm about, he thought that she might have liked him to have shout at his classmates, so they would have appreciated her more. On the other hand, he felt that the way that McGonagall dealt what the situation was probably better than how he would have handled it and hopefully it would keep everyone from staring at him too much longer.
They went to lunch after that, which they had to hurry to eat before they had to go to Ancient Ruins. The first lesson turned out to be mostly a lecture on what the importance of learning the ruins and how it could help strengthen your understanding of magic all together. Harry had to admit it sounded intriguing and he was itching to learn more about this, but the class was over before they did anything. Ron, who had only signed up for this class because Harry had, didn't seemed to find this interesting at all, and wasn't pleased about the amount of reading they now had to do.
The next class they had that day was Care of Magical Creature, which he was interested in learning about. He was also looking forward to this class because he was sure that Hagrid was going to be enthused and he wasn't disappointed. However, he was annoyed by the fact that he was going to be having these lessons with the Slytherin; he didn't really need more of Draco Malfoy in his life. After learning how to open their textbooks, by stroking the spine of the book, Hagrid brought out the first creatures that they were going to learn about.
Harry thought they were magnificent creatures with the head and front legs that of an eagle and the body and hind legs of a horse. He could tell that most of the class seemed to be timid, if not afraid, of these creatures, but he found them to be beautiful. He knew that Remus had probably influence him more than a little, having heard about magical creatures his whole life from the werewolf, but he didn't care. Okay, so, he didn't have the apparent blindness that Hagrid had, because he still found creatures like Aragog and his spider family scary and he didn't particularly want to get closer to another dragon. However, a creature like a Hippogriff, which he knew was what he was looking at, filled him with interests and excitement to learn more.
That was why as soon as Hagrid asked for a volunteered, Harry stepped forward. He had listened when Hagrid said that they were very proud, and never to say anything insulting, and he knew that he had to wait to let the Hippogriff bow to him, in a sense accept him before he could go near it. He bowed to Buckbeak confidently, not blinking his eyes because he was told not to. It seemed like no time had passed before Buckbeak was bowing to him. He smiled calmly at the Hippogriff as he walked towards him slowly, knowing instinctively that he didn't want to rush too quickly. He reached out his hand, and he could see that Buckbeak kept his eyes on him the whole time, seeming to be interested in him as much as Harry was. When Harry's hand touched Buckbeak's beak, however, the Hippogriff closed his eyes lazily and looked like he enjoyed the touch.
"Good boy," Harry smiled, continuing to pet the beak.
"I think he might let you ride him," Hagrid said excitedly and before Harry knew what was happening, he was being put on the Hippogriff and told not to pull out any of his feathers. Now, he wasn't afraid of the Hippogriff, but he wasn't excepting to be flying one just like that so he felt apprehensive at first. However, as soon as he was in the air and he could feel the wind sweeping through his hair he couldn't help but enjoy the ride.
When he got back to the ground he landed and turned back to the Hippogriff with a smile and whispered so only Buckbeak could hear him, "you were brilliant."
He wasn't sure if the Hippogriff could understand him, but he was sure that it stood taller and looked pleased with itself. Harry walked away for the Hippogriff then so Hagrid's lesson could continue, and the others could get to know all the Hippogriffs that where there. He was a bit disappointed that Ron and Hermione hadn't picked Buckbeak and even more so when the Hippogriff ended up being taken over by Draco Malfoy.
He decided to join Ron and Hermione with their Hippogriff when it happened. Draco had done the one that you should never do with a Hippogriff. He insulted Buckbeak, calling him an ugly brute.
Harry reacted without thinking; he had just been walking pass Malfoy at this point so he was able to reach the blonde idiot and push him out of the way just as Buckbeak claws tried to rip him to shreds. Harry felt a claw rip into his upper arm put the pain didn't really hit him until Hagrid had pushed the Hippogriff back.
"Harry!" several voices said but of course, the loudest were Ron and Hermione's.
"I'm okay," Harry said automatically, putting his uninjured hand over the cuts he now had. He could feel the blood flowing freely from the wound and he was starting to feel lightheaded.
"You need to go to the hospital wing!" Hermione insisted and he wasn't about to argue with her.
"I'll take him," Hagrid said, his face was a pasty pale white as he leaned over and picked up Harry. As Harry left he looked over at Buckbeak, who seemed to be bowing its head, before his attention was brought back to Hagrid who seemed to be almost whimpering now. "I'm Sorry, Harry … I didn't …"
"I'm okay," Harry insisted, hating that he couldn't hide the pain in his voice, for he was hurting a considerable amount. "It's not your fault."
"But I …" Hagrid started to say, and Harry felt the tear that fell off the giant man's cheek. He seemed to be caught up in so many emotions that he couldn't say any more and Harry couldn't seem to be able to say anything right now either. They made great time, which wasn't surprising because Hagrid was practically running, and before he knew it, he was being place on one of the beds in the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey was hovering over him.
"What have you done this time, Potter," she said almost annoyed when she noticed it was him, but her remark didn't stall her a second as she looked at his upper arm. Hagrid explained in a shaking and depressed voice what had happened.
"I see," was all Pomfrey had to say to that before putting something on the cuts and they started to heal immediately, she then summoned another potion that Harry had to drink this time, telling him that it was a blood-relishing potion. After he was finished with that, she cast a spell over the cuts that were now healed and the scar that seemed to have been left behind vanished as she trance them. In fact, he was all healed by the time Ron and Hermione burst into the hospital, looking worried about him.
"I'm fine," Harry said as soon as they got closer to him and he waved his now perfectly normal arm at them. They seemed to relax at that, but Hagrid was still looking miserable.
"Potter, don't move your arm around!" Pomfrey said angrily.
"Why … I feel prefect?" Harry asked.
"It is best not to over tack your arm so soon after an injury like this," Pomfrey said sternly. "I would like it if you stay …"
"No," Harry said shaking his head, "honestly, I feel much better."
Pomfrey pressed her mouth together, "very well Potter, but make sure not to do anything too strenuous for the rest of the day." She then added as if it were an afterthought, "and please try to stay out of my hospital this year."
"I always try for that," Harry chuckled. "It just never seems to work well for me."
Pomfrey gave him another stern look before getting up and going back to her office. Harry then turned to Hagrid and sighed.
"Hagrid I'm fine, don't worry about it," Harry said exasperated. "It's not your fault that Malfoy's a git."
"I shouldn't have started with Hippogriffs," Hagrid muttered in a defeated tone.
"I think they were brilliant, Hagrid!" Harry said and Hagrid looked at him, his eyes searching for something. "I really enjoyed your lesson today and I can't wait to see what you're going to show us next time."
Before Hagrid could say anything to that, the hospital wing opened and a student with boils all over his arm walked in and they all left. Harry wasn't sure if he got his point across to Hagrid yet, and was going to try to talk to him more, but Hagrid seemed to almost vanish once they were out in the halls, again using his giant like strides to get through the hall quickly.
"Do you think he's going to be okay?" Harry asked concerned.
"I don't know," Hermione frowned, "the Slytherins where going spare after he left … talking about how bad things had gone. They didn't seem to care at all that Malfoy was the one that caused all the problems, in fact they seemed to think you should get in trouble because you pushed him down …"
"I don't know why you didn't let the git get scratched up, he deserves it," Ron grumbled.
"I reacted before I could think," Harry shrugged. "Besides, I don't know what Malfoy would have done if he was the one that was hurt, but it's got to be a lot worse than what he can do now."
"Maybe," Ron shrugged indifferently. "Did it hurt?"
"Yeah … I don't recommend insulting a Hippogriff," Harry said, "not fun at all."
They walked to the Great Hall then, seeing as it was dinner time and Harry noticed that his fellow third years Gryffindor were all looking at him more warily than ever and he was sure that what had happened to him had caused their early apprehension about his tea leaves, only that much stronger. After dinner, they had decided to visit Hagrid because Harry wanted to make sure that he wasn't still beating himself up about what had happened. He was surprised, however, when he found that Hagrid was not alone, but Remus was already there talking to him.
"Ah, there you are," Remus said as soon as they walked in, "I knew you would come."
"Hey Remus," Harry smiled at him.
"It seems that you've gotten yourself into trouble earlier than usually this year," Remus noted, with his own smile this time and Harry made his own face at that.
"Maybe that means you need to keep a closer eye on me," Harry shrugged.
"Maybe," Remus agreed looking amused. "Why don't I make us all a cup of tea … I'm make sure that yours doesn't have any leaves in it, shall I, Harry."
"Argh, you heard about that too!" Harry made a face.
"McGonagall told me," Remus said. "Are you worried?"
"As if," Harry rolled his eyes, but Ron shifted in his seat uncomfortable.
"Good," Remus said and then went to the kitchen area and started making the tea, and Harry looked at Hagrid, who looked to be in better spirits then the last time he had saw him.
"You feeling better, Hagrid?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, I talked with Dumbledore and he told me some stuff," Hagrid said, "and then I ran into Remus and he's been talking me around, telling me that accidents happen in all classes …"
"Yes, they do," Remus said, handing Hagrid a mug of tea, "and you should remember that all subjects can be dangerous if someone isn't paying attention properly. Care of Magical Creature especially is a subject that can be dangerous because you're not only dealing with your students' reaction, but also with the creatures you're dealing with, who have a temperament of their own."
Hagrid nodded his head at this, taking in Remus's comments.
"And remember Hagrid, you're the professor now, you can dock points if someone isn't listening to you or is trying to disrupt your teaching," Remus said.
"Yeah, you can dock all the Slytherins if they even tried to open their mouths," Ron suggested with a grin.
Hagrid's lips twitched in amusement at that thought but he shook his head, "I don't think I feel comfortable with that."
"I know, I don't think I will either," Remus chuckled. "I'm more about positive reinforcement than negative … but it's always an option."
"Thanks Remus, you've really helped me," Hagrid smiled at him and then he looked at Harry. "I know you might not want to, but I was wondering if you wanted to see Buckbeak?"
"Sure, that's okay. How's Buckbeak doing?" Harry asked suddenly, remembering the last time he saw the hippogriff, its head was bowed.
"Hm … he's pretty upset," Hagrid sighed, "he never wanted to hurt you, Harry."
"I know," Harry, said, "I don't blame him at all, I would probably have wanted to attack Malfoy if I was him."
They all got up and followed Hagrid to the padlock where Buckbeak was, his head lowered and he just looked so sad. When they got closer however, the Hippogriff looked up at them, its eyes traveling over each of them. Harry looked at Hagrid for a second, who gave him a reassuring nod before he stepped towards Buckbeak. He approached slowly, keeping his eyes connected with Buckbeak, who seemed to be watching him closely. When he got within a few feet, Harry bowed his head, and when he rose, the Hippogriff was bowing his head too.
"Hey, Beaky," Harry said, having picked up the name that Hagrid had used. "Don't worry about earlier, I understand."
Harry wasn't sure if he was imagining it or not, but he thought the Hippogriff looked relieved by his words. Still, there was no missing the raise of the eyebrow that seemed to suggest that Buckbeak was a little annoyed at Harry for getting in his way when he was going after Malfoy. Now he could have been completely wrong about his interpretations of Buckbeak's mood, but as he scratched the Hippogriff's beak, he whispered, "sorry Beaky, I just didn't want you to get into any trouble."
