-CHAPTER FIVE-
Amy Elddir and the Aitruses
Harry was happy to get out of Potions class and out into the fresh air. The grey clouds were beginning to pass finally, as the sun peaked through. The ground was surprisingly hard, and the grass was still covered in a frosty dew as Harry, Hermoine and Ron all made their way to their first Care of Magical Creatures Lesson of the year.
Hermoine was grumbling, something about "Potions and that blond show off," while Ron dodgily tried to calm his copy of The Monster Book of Monster that was trying to bite his fingers off.
Hagrid was waiting for the class in front of the outside paddock, where the lesson took place. His boarhound, Fang sat lazily at his feat barely looking as they approached. He jumped up suddenly, and rushed towards them excitedly...and then right past them!
"Hey Fang. Have you been a good boy lately?" Asked Skye as she crouched down to scratch behind the giant, black dog's ear. The boarhound gave her hand an affectionate drool covered lick and both Alexa and Amy seemed disgusted by it.
"Good ter see yer Skye," Said Hagrid. "Harry, Ron, Hermoine,"
"Another Gyrffindor infested class," Commented the cold drawing voice of Malfoy. Skye rose to her feet to meet him, while Alexa and Amy re-enforced her. Harry watched keenly as Malfoy and Skye shared a moment of what could only be pure hatred.
"C'mon now!" Called Hagrid, trying to draw attention away from the standoff. "Firs' day of class! Got a real treat fer yeh!"
Most of the students obeyed, Gryffindor gather to one edge, while Slytherin on the other. Only Skye and Malfoy remained, glaringly at each other. It was not until Amy called to her, that she retreated.
"She must hate Malfoy too," Commented Ron as leaned up against the fence. Alexa, who had apparently been listening, nodded.
"It's only fitting. I mean, he is a Malfoy. And she's a Dumbledore,"
Harry nodded as well, it was true Malfoy's father Lucius Malfoy hated Professor Dumbledore. And while Dumbledore might not hate Lucius, it seemed to be very close to. It was as if the tradition had been passed on.
"Welcome to Care of Magical Creatures. If yer in the wrong place, I reckon yeh leave now. Now...Open yer books... an'.... an'...I'll go get the creatures," Hagrid said happily, and then rushed off into the Forbidden Forest.
"I hope its not something too dangerous," Said Alexa looking around nervously.
"Oh you know Hagrid. It'll probably be something big and dangerous," Said Skye as she adjusted her red and yellow scarf.
"And stupid," Malfoy sneered loudly. "Just like him,"
"Shut up Malfoy," Said Harry warningly.
Malfoy's dark blue eyes cut to him, "Whatch your words Potter. There's-"
"Oh, Wow!" Said a Slytherin by Malfoy almost squealing. Harry was fairly sure her name was Jin Chang.
Trotting (more like being pulled by Hagrid) towards the class slowly were a dozen of the most amazing creatures Harry had ever seen. They were small compared to Hagrid (what was not?) but they seemed to be a fair bit larger than Fang. Their bodies were like that of a panther, but each had two giant eagle wings, much like a Hippogriff.
"Those aren't..." Hermoine's gasped trailed off.
"Aitruses," Skye breathed in disbelief.
Their furs coats shined like silk, the colours ranging from pale grey to pure asphalt black. Harry noted the paws were slightly muddy from walking around in the moist dirt. He watched as their sharp pointy claws pierced the firm ground on contact and he began to feel a bit nervous. Each creature had a thick, leather collar around the neck, which was attached to an even thicker metal chain held in Hagrid's massive hands.
"C'mon. Gee in here!" Hagrid commanded, pulling the chains forward.
One raised its head and let out a screeching roar (causing everyone to take a few steps back) as Hagrid yanked it forward and tied it to the fence.
"Aitruses..es!" Hagrid said proudly, although unsure of the plural form.
Amy, who stood nest to Harry tucked her brown hair behind her ear. "Amazing,"
Harry had to agree. Once you got past the giant, gleaming claws and razor sharp teeth you could really appreciate the colour blends in their fur and the mysterious colours in their eyes. Of course, no one wanted to get close enough to examine their eyes. That would involve getting close to their shiny teeth.
"Right then. Firs' things firs. You've gotta move slow around em'. Move to fast an' they'll take a swipe at yeh. Anyone know why people think they're so dangerous? Yeh Skye?"
"Because once their claws are inserted into its prey it releases a venom. It's a lot like a snake when it bites,"
"Right. Take five points to Gryffindor. Oh yeah, and be careful. They're tempermental," Hagrid slowly put his hand on the back of a chestnut brown Aitruse.
As usual Malfoy, Goyle and Crabbe were not even pretending to pay attention. They were talking quietly and snickering to themselves. Harry glared to them, then looked to Hagrid as he said,
"Who wants ter go?"
Those who were still close to the fence backed away now. Even Harry was not too sure. The Aitruses' were letting out howls as they tossed their heads and spread their giant wings. Obviously, being tied up was not a favourite past time of theirs.
Hagrid looked to the class expenctantly and almost pleadingly. "No one?"
Harry was about to volunteer when Amy said, "I'll do it," The class stared at her stunned for a moment as they watched her climbed over the fence. Hagrid unclipped one of the chains and pulled out a pure black Aitruse from the pack. It was by far the biggest one of them all, and Harry felt a shiver run down his spine as it's dark red eyes stared fiercly at him, then Amy.
It stood for a moment, as if thinking and then to everyones' surprise it sauntered over to her, purring loudly.
"Good on yeh Amy!" Said Hagrid positively beaming. "And with Hades n' all! You can pet him now," Amy nodded, took a shallow breath and then ran her hand from the back of its head to mid back.
After a few minutes of watching Amy, the rest of the class gathered up the courage and climbed over the paddock. Harry approached a beige coloured one carefully, greeting its unimpressed gaze. And for a moment, Harry had the nasty feeling it was planning on making Harry its next meal, rather than friend. Slowly, it walked over to him, and lifting its head under his hands so that Harry would pet him.
Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle each stood petting their own Aitruses. Malfoy was ran his hand over the black Aitruse from earlier, although it appeared more irritated than anything else.
"This is easy," Malfoy sneered loudly enough for Harry and the others to hear. "I knew it had to be. If that mudblood, Elddir could do it-"
And then it happened in a flash of light. Blue and red sparks shot out of Amy's wand as she called out loudly, "Stupefy!" He let out a scream and the class turned to see what had happened.
The black Aitruse stood stopped in its track. One paw raised only a few inches away from Malfoy's body. Its lips were curled up in a snear, revealing its rows and rows of sharp, white teeth, as if it had been growling. But no sound came out.
"Good job Amy!" Said Hagrid, who had gone paler. "Er, five points to yer house, Gryffindor," Hagrid quickly locked the Aitruse back up before it was unfrozen. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle all backed away nervously. Malfoy huffed at Amy as he walked by, and she replied placidly. "Careful now, Malfoy," She glared at him. "Wouldn't want that to happen again,"
Gryffindor students laughed as Malfoy's pale face turned a shade of pink. And to Harry's surprise he found himself laughing and smiling too.
Chapter 6: Quidditch
