An Unexpected Sidequest

(One-Shot)

Disclaimers: I don't own anything apart from some DVD's/books for this series.

AN: This is a short drabble prompt for 'The Houses Competition" based on the first two movies/script books of Fantastic Beasts (the third one along with any subsequent ones will not be included for one obvious reason: TeamDepp!)

House: Gryffindor

Class: Herbology

Category: Drabble

Prompt(s): [Creature] Hippogryff

Word count: 995 according to AO3 draft (2 pages)

Summary: Jacob has to help a hippogryff.

Jacob lay back in an armchair at long last while Queenie made hot chocolate for the both of them. She handed him a full mug. "I think you did well," she said.

"Y-yeah ..." Jacob half-heartedly sighed before having a sip.

A few hours earlier that day, Jacob had gone for a stroll alone. He attempted to cut across some woods to get home faster, only to come across a hippogryff that seemed to be hurt. Looking around, Jacob had realized there was no one else nearby to help. He looked back at the animal lying on its side before slowly approaching it.

"What happened to you?" Jacob asked softly, knowing the animal wouldn't understand but hopefully; the tone of voice would help to calm the creature. "I'm just going to take a look, alright?" He continued gently. "Just to—oh!" Jacob stopped as the animal got up quickly.

It glared at him before screeching loudly. Jacob stepped back several paces just as it charged past him, up the trail. Within a moment, it disappeared into the thicket. Looking down, Jacob saw some blood on the ground. Checking where the animal had gone, he found a few more red drops leading up to where the hippogryff had vanished.

Jacob wasn't about to abandon a suffering animal, so he hurried along the bloodstained path towards a secluded place. The hippogryff was boxed in by large boulders on three sides with Jacob standing in the only exit on the ground. It turned to screech at him again as Jacob tried to get closer. He didn't know anything about how to treat these kinds of animals. He only knew that the animal needed help but no one else was around.

"I'm all you got," Jacob said as he tried to get closer.

The animal charged at him again, but it seemed to change its mind halfway through. It blinked its long eyelashes before turning away. Jacob watched as it lay down again. Suddenly, he realized what was going on. Jacob gasped.

"Oh! Mom's dog had eight puppies. I had to pull a couple out. This shouldn't be too hard." He walked around to the animal's tail to find a beak sticking out.

The hippogryff turned her head to glare at him with one big golden eye. With one back hoof, it kicked Jacob away. He flipped head over heels along the ground. He slowly sat up while the hippogryff went back to trying to give birth. Jacob decided to stay where he was to watch over her in case he was needed.

After almost an hour, the mother-to-be got up to waddle around. As she passed him, Jacob noticed that the foal was half stuck. The mother paused to look at him.

Jacob stood up to help. Next moment, he was flat on the ground once more. She had batted him down with a wing. She looked him over, as if considering him as Jacob picked himself up again. The mother blinked her big eyes before turning around. Jacob reached for the tiny talons.

"I'm just going to wiggle it a bit," Jacob said before pulling gently.

There was an explosion of red. Jacob was once more on the ground. Something moved in his lap. But the most concerning thing at the moment was that the mother was screeching at him.

"I'm just going to put this over there," Jacob whispered, pushing the foal sideways just as a large talon-ed foot pinned him down. The mother pushed her beak into his face. "Shh!" Jacob tried to calm her. "Over there," he pointed. The mother turned her head to watch the foal try to stand up. Her big eagle-foot held Jacob down.

Jacob saw someone coming up the trail. He almost yelled but just in time, he decided to do it in his head. Yelling would scare the animal which was the last thing he wanted. QUEENIE! The figure on the trail stopped to look around. QUEENIE! BIG BIRD HORSE THING!

Queenie raced over frantically to find Jacob still pinned down in a puddle of blood. The foal was now standing. Queenie bowed to the mother, earning a bow back, before moving towards Jacob. "Did you bow to her?" Queenie asked.

"Bow?"

"Hippogryffs won't like you unless you bow first," Queenie explained.

"Great," Jacob nodded quickly as he gasped for air, "That's ... great. Help?"

"We need to lift her foot," Queenie said. She gently eased the large foot off Jacob befire it squashed him. The mother barely lifted her foot high enough to allow Jacob to wiggle free.

As Jacob got up, Queenie raised a hand to pet the feathery black neck. "She's mad because you didn't bow. If you bow, she might let you pet her." Jacob moved over to stand near Queenie. He tried to bow. Another screech. "Move back a bit," Queenie ordered. "Then try again."

Jacob did so. The mother looked him over one last time before finally bowing back. He moved in to try petting it as he asked, "Why are you out here?"

"Starlight belongs to someone in town," Queenie answered. "She went missing, so a few of us are out to find her." Queenie put a halter over the beaked head before leading the way back down the trail. Queenie brought Starlight back to her owner while Jacob had gone for a bath to wash the birthing fluids off, along with a substantial amount of mud. By the time he had finished, Queenie was back, making hot chocolate.

Jacob finished his drink. Putting the mug aside, he noticed Starlight looking in the window. Going to the front porch, he found the foal standing near her.

Jacob smiled, stretching a hand out to the foal. Next moment, he was once more lying on the ground with the foal standing over him. It was already demanding bows. Jacob stood up, bowed, then was allowed to pet the foal while Starlight watched in approval.

~the end