Two weeks had passed since Hermione and Malfoy's conversation. Malfoy had become considerably nicer towards Hermione, Ron and Harry. Malfoy has also become somewhat protective of Hermione always checking on her and making sure she was doing alright. He was free to do this partly due to the fact that Crabbe and Goyle had ditched him after learning the truth of his situation.
They were in their Care of Magical Creatures Class, Hagrid had said that they were going to work with something fascinating today. The first thought to enter everyone's mind was if this fascinating creature was dangerous.
Harry and Hermione stood together.
"Harry, where's Ron?" Hermione asked.
Harry looked back at the castle.
"Oh, he left his book in the common room again." Harry replied.
"Oh, did he not remember that Hagrid said we won't need them today?" Hermione said.
Harry shrugged.
"Where's Hagrid." he asked
Hermione looked around.
"Don't know." she replied.
Harry and Hermione looked back at the castle, Ron was hurrying towards them out of breath. They greeted each other and waited for Hagrid. As Hermione looked around she saw Malfoy who was smiling and waving to her. She returned a smile and waved back to him.
Then Harry said,
"Here comes Hagrid."
Hagrid was indeed on his way, he was pulling 9 or 10 boxed crates behind him.
"Good day class!" He said smiling. He slid a boxed crate in front of him.
"I 'spose you want to know what's in here." He took the lid off of the box. Inside was a creature with the body of a lion and a the head of an eagle. It had a leather collar with a chain leash, it was the size of a large squirrel.
"This is a griffin. They're mostly harmless as babies. I want everyone to get into groups of two. We're going to raise 'em. Today I want you to just bond with your griffin. Alright, lets get started."
Ron and Harry had picked each other as partners. All the students paired off, except for Hermione… and Malfoy. They got together and took a crate.
"Alright, lets see what we've got here." Malfoy said removing the lid. Their griffin was fuzzier than the rest and it's ears were larger than the others'. Malfoy lifted it out of the box. Hagrid came by.
"That one's a boy. His name's Fuzzy." He said proudly.
"Uh… He's very cute Hagrid." Malfoy said, not sure how to respond.
Hermione took Fuzzy's leash and led him around for a while. Then she let Malfoy have a turn. When there was about 10 minutes left of class Malfoy and Hermione were sitting on the ground petting their griffin. Malfoy noticed Pansy Parkison over Hermione's shoulder.
Pansy picked up a rock an threw it at Hermione.
"Lookout!" Malfoy warned.
Instinctively Hermione ducked and the stone hit Fuzzy instead. Fuzzy launched himself in the direction of which the stone came from. He was on top of Hermione pecking and clawing. Hermione was shielding her face and screaming.
Malfoy grabbed the griffin's chain and pulled, he pulled until his hands could reach the collar then he slipped his fingers under the collar an stuffed the lion-bird back in the crate, putting the lid on tight. Then ran to Hermione's side. Hagrid was now coming over.
"Are you alright?" Malfoy asked her. Pansy was laughing behind them.
"Yeah." she said sitting up and breathing hard. "Fuzzy's not so cute anymore, is he?" She asked Malfoy.
"Quick thinking Malfoy. That was a very brave thing to do." Hagrid said.
Malfoy smiled still looking at Hermione.
"It was no Problem."
Hermione couldn't helpbut wonderwhy Malfoy would have helped her.
DDR