A/N: I'm going to make this clear. I don't own the Harry Potter series or it's characters. That right goes to JK Rowling

If you haven't yet, read before this story:

The Son and Nephew of the Maurders: The Sorcerer's Stone
The Son and Nephew of the Maurders: The Chamber of Secrets

Also if you haven't please take part on voting for which story you want me to update next month

Harry Saves Buckbeak by Getting Injured

If there was one thing Harry hates more than Dementors, it had to be Malfoy.

The moment Harry entered the Great Hall with his friends it came to be obvious that Malfoy been making fun of Harry by saying how scared he was around the dementors.

"Hey, Potter!" shrieked a pug-like face slytherin girl name Pansy Parkinsion. "Potter! The Dementors are coming, Potter! Woooooo!"

"I'm starting to wish I can learn that spell that works against dementors now so I can shut Malfoy up sooner than later," Harry mumbled.

"You have any idea what the spell is?" Neville asked.

"Probably the same spell Professor Lupin used against the Dementors on the train," Hermione said.

Harry nodded to both of Neville's and Hermione's response. As usual, he had told his friends about him being unable to join them at Hogsmeade and Harry's private lessons. Harry had a good idea what the spell was since his dad first mentioned it. but he thought he would had to wait until he was at least a NEWT level student to learn it—which he was still four years away from being; and that's if Harry passed his OWLs test in his fifth year.

They sit at their house table next to the Weasley twins.

"New third year courses," said George, passing each of them their new schedules.

Harry looked it over and much to his relief, he started Muggles Studies first this morning, which will give him a break from Malfoy. There was no way Malfoy had signed up for Muggles studies. He also skimmed the schedule to see when was their first Defense Against the Dark Arts with his uncle and found it wasn't until Thursday after Potions. Harry was kind of disappointed as he had hopes to have one of his uncle's class earlier than that.

Harry looked over his friend's schedule and found Hermione had Arithmancy and Neville and Ron had Divination the same time he had Muggles Studies. After that, they had all their classes together, including Care for Magical Creatures together after lunch, which probably will make Hagrid happy.

"You guys better eat quick," Harry said. "It takes ten minutes at least to get here to the North Tower… not to mention the extra time it might take if you get lost."

Neville and Ron's eyes widened as if they realized that they didn't know how to get there. During their first year, they depended on Harry—who had often travel through the castle during his visits to see his dad—to help them find their classes. But now they realized they didn't had Harry's help in finding their way to the North Tower for Divination.

The two of them quickly shoveled their food down and left in a hurry that Harry only had time to yell, "If you guys do get lost! Look for a painting of a knight name Sir Cadogan!"

"I hope they find their way alright," Hermione said.

"As long as they find Sir Cadogan, they should be fine," Harry said, although he was uncertain. "Besides, I wouldn't take Divination even if it's on the first floor."

"What do you have against Divination?" Hermione asked. "I mean, I get it's about guess work, but you seem to have a deeper issue with the class."

"It's not the class I have issues with, but rather the teacher," Harry explained.

Hermione and Harry finished their food and headed their separate ways to their classes.

…

Muggles Studies was interesting to say the least—at least it was for Harry.

It was a mix class between Gryffindors Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs due to its small numbers. Ernie Macmillan of Hufflepuff House was also taking the class, so when he noticed that Harry had arrived alone, he immediately invited Harry over to his table.

Harry thought the reason was that Ernie was probably making up for last year for mistakening Harry for a dark wizard because he was a Parseltongue and for badmouthing Harry's dad, but Harry didn't complain as it was nice to sit with people he already know.

The professor of the class—professor Burbage—started the class by having each student introduce themselves and tell everyone why they signed up for Muggles Studies since not many wizards and witches are ever interested in the class.

When Harry's turn came up, Harry stood up.

"My name is Harry Potter," Harry said—a bit hesitant about his name as people normally start whispering when he says it. "And I'm taking this class because I hope that by taking this I can understand my Muggle Heritage from my mum's side by learning their life style."

"I think that's a wonderful reason, Mr. Potter," Professor Burbage said. "And I think your mother would have been proud of you for wanting to learn more about your Muggle Heritage."

After introductions, they went through this year's course schedules and started learning about how Muggles discovered electricity and made use of it without magic.

By the end the class Harry headed out to meet up with his friends before going to transfigurations.

"Harry!"

Harry turned to see Hermione catching up.

"Hey Hermione!" Harry greeted.

"I was hoping to catch up with you," Hermione said. "How was Muggles Studies?"

"Good. We went around introducing ourselves and why we were taking the class, then went over the course schedule before talking about Muggle Discovery of electricity and how they used it," Harry said. "How was Arithmancy."

That basically got Hermione started on how she learned how numbers and the impact it had on Magic such as the number 7—which even Harry knew was the most magical number.

They didn't see Ron or Neville until they reached the corridor to Transfigurations, where they were moving slowly as if something spooked them.

"Ron, Neville!" Hermione yelled causing them to jump.

They turned to Hermione and Harry and immediately focus on only Harry.

"Harry!" Ron cheered.

"Thank goodness you are alive," Neville cried.

"What are you guys talking about?" Harry asked. "Why would I not be alive?"

Ron and Neville went into explaining how their Divination class went, and how their Professor Trelawney started making predictions while going through the course schedules. Then they started tea leaves predictions and while Ron was guessing Neville's prediction, Trelawney decided to take a peek and started freaking out.

Oh no, Harry thought adding it all together.

"Harry, she said a close friend of ours with a lightning shape scar will die a horrible death," Ron said.

"Ron, no offense, but it sounds like a foolish guess," Hermione said.

"But—" Neville argued.

"Hermione is right, guys. This is why I didn't want to take Divination," Harry said. "Ever since I started visiting Hogwarts and met Professor Trelawney, she been predicting my death. Heck, according to her, I should have died before I came to Hogwarts. But I didn't and I'm still here! Now, let's go to Transfigurations before we're late."

-They headed to class where Harry took his usual seat. Unfortunately, Ron and Neville weren't the only ones who took Trelawney seriously as every Gryffindor that was in Divination class that entered the room gave Harry furtive glances, as if they expected him to be dead, which really got on Harry's nerve. Harry never did like getting so much attention from a group of people, and yet Trelawney seemed to make him the center of attention.

Harry even had a hard time paying attention to what Professor McGonagall was telling them about wizards that transforms into wild animals called Animagi because of all of the stares—which really got on Harry's nerve as he was really interested in it since his dad and one of his uncles were ones themselves.

Fortunately, McGonagall came to his rescue when she notice no one else was paying attention even after turning into a tabby cat with spectacle markings around her eyes.

"Really, what has got into you all today?" said Professor McGonagall, turning back into herself with a faint pop, and staring around them all. "Not that it matters, but that's the first time my transformation's not got applaused from a class.

And of course everyone heads turned to Harry.

Neville spoke up. "Professor, we've just had Divination class, and we were reading the tea leaves and—"

"Ah, of course," said Professor McGonagall, suddenly frowning. "There is no need to say any more, Mr. Longbottom. Tell me , which of you will be dying this year?"

Everyone stared at her.

Harry spoke up. "Me, Professor. Despite the fact that I wasn't even taking the elective, she made a prediction to my friends that I would die."

Professor McGonagall sighed. "Of course it be you, Mr. Potter." Then she turned to the rest of the class. "You all should know that Sybill Trelawney has predicted the death of a student every year since she arrived at this school. She even made predictions about Mr. Potter's so-call death during his visits since he was a little boy and yet, as you can see for yourselves, he's well and alive. Seeing death omens is her favorite way of greeting a new class and for some reason she loves targeting Mr. Potter. If it were not for the fact that I never speak ill of my colleagues—"

Professor McGonagall broke off, and they saw that her nostrils had gone white—indicating she had some ill thoughts about Trelawney. She went on, more calmly, "Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic. I shall not conceal from you that I have very little patience with it. True Seers are very rare—more common among centaurs than on wizards and witches in fact—and Professor Trelawney—"

She stopped again, and then said, in a very-matter-of-fact tone, "You look to be in excellent health, Potter, so you will excuse me if I don't let you off homework today."

"Go ahead," Harry said. "If I cared about my death omen, I would have signed up for the class."

Hermione laughed, although she was the only person who did.

"Good," Professor McGonagall continued the class.

After the class, everyone headed to the Great Hall for lunch. Hermione tried to calm Ron and Neville down as they were still skeptical. Ron even started asking Harry if he had seen a grim—a large dog that normally was a death omen.

"No Ron!" Harry said. "I have never seen the Grim."

"Whoa, what happened here?"

Everyone turned to see it was James.

"Neville and Ron got a prediction from Trelawney of Harry's so-call death," Hermione said. "And now Ron is asking Harry if he had ever seen the Grim."

James sighed in a similar manner as Professor McGonagall. "Sybill again… Ron, Neville, listen to me, and listen closely. Sybill is unpredictable when it comes to seeing into the future. Yeah, sometimes some of the stuff she predicted may come true, but there are predictions I don't think even she is fully aware of when or how it will happen. Death Omens are among one of those predictions. So, yeah, maybe Harry will die, but I pray that, it won't happen after I die, because as a parent, I rather not see my son die before I do."

James patted Ron and Neville on the back and headed to the teacher's table.

"Well, that was different from what Professor McGonagall said," Hermione said.

"Dad always had a unique way to say things," Harry said.

…

After lunch they headed out of the castle for Care of Magical Creatures with the full intentions to be as supportive for Hagrid as they can.

Fortunately, yesterday's rain cleared up leaving the sky gray and the grass springy and damp.

Unfortunately, on the way to Hagrid's hut at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where the class was taking place, they noticed Malfoy and his goons Crabbe and Goyle there and realized they were having the class with Slytherin House.

"You got to be kidding me," Harry groaned. "Of all the extracurricular he could have taken, he picked this one."

Hagrid was waiting for his class at the front door of his hut. He stood in his moleskin overcoat, with Fang the boarhound at his heels, looking impatient to start.

"C'mon, now, get a move on!" he called as the class approached. "Got a real treat for yeh today! Great lesson comin' up! Everyone here? Right, follow me!"

Hagrid strolled off around the edge of the trees, and five minutes later the class found themselves outside a kid of paddock. There was nothing in there.

"Everyone gather 'round the fence here!" he called. "That's it—make sure yeh can see—now, firs' thing yeh'll want to do is open yer books—"

"How?" asked a cold, drawling voice of Draco Malfoy.

"Eh?" said Hagrid.

"How do we open our books?" Malfoy repeated. He took out his copy of The Monster Book of Monsters, which he had bound shut with a length of rope. Other people took out theirs' too; some bind with belts, others crammed inside tight bags or clamped them together with binder clips. Even Hermione had taped hers shut with Spellotape like Harry did.

"Hasn'—hasn' anyone bin able ter open their books?" said Hagrid, looking crestfallen.

The class shook their heads. Even Hermione, who never seized for the moment to read a new book the moment she gets her hands on it, shook her head no shamefully.

"Yeh've got ter stroke 'em," said Hagrid, as though this was the most obvious thing in the world. "Look—"

He took Hermione's copy and ripped off the Spellotape that bound it. The book tried to bite, but Hagrid ran a giant forefinger down its spine, and the book shivered, and then fall open and lay quiet in his hand.

"Oh, how silly we've all been!" Malfoy sneered. "We should have stroke them! Why didn't we guess! Probably because it would bite our hands off if we do!"

"Shut up Malfoy!" Harry snapped.

"Righ' then," said Hagrid, who seemed to have lost his thread by Malfoy's comment, "so—so yeh've got yer books an'—an—now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Yeah. So I'll go an' get 'em. Hang on…"

He strode away from them into the forest and out of sight.

"God, this place is going to the dogs," said Malfoy loudly. "That oaf teaching the classes, my father'll have a fit when I tell him—"

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry repeated.

"Careful, Potter, there's a dementor behind you—"

"Nice try Malfoy, but I'm not stupid enough to fall for that!" Harry snarled. "I don't even see why—"

"Ooooooh!" Lavender brown interrupt them, pointing toward the opposite side of the paddock.

Trotting toward them were a dozen bizzare creatures. They had the bodies, hind legs, and tails of horses, but the front legs, wings, and heads of a giant eagles, with cruel, steel color beaks and large, brilliantly orange eyes. The talons on their front legs were half a foot long and deadly looking. Each of the beasts had a thick leather collar around its neck, which was attached to a long chain, and the ends of all of these were held in the vast hands of Hagrid, who came jogging into the paddock behind the creatures.

"Gee up, there!" he roared, shaking the chains and urging the creatures toward the fence where the class stood. Everyone drew back slightly as Hagrid reached them and tethered the creatures to the fence.

"Hippogriffs!" Hagrid roared happily, waving a hand at them. "Beautiful, aren' they?"

Harry had to admit Hagrid was right. The creatures were beautiful once you gotten over the shock.

"So," said Hagrid, rubbing his hands together and beaming around, "if yeh wan' ter come a bit nearer—"

Naturally, Harry was the first one to step forward, not seeing any possible threat so far. These creatures were nothing like Hagrid's previous pets someone might consider dangerous: a giant three headed dog Fluffy, a fast growing baby dragon Norbert, and definitely not like the giant spider Arogog.

At least, not as long as they're provoked, Harry guessed.

Neville Hermione and Ron took their time doing the same as Harry, but not as close to the fence.

"Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud," said Hagrid. "Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Don't ever insult one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh do."

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were talking in an undertone instead of listening, and Harry guess it was to find a way to disrupt the class or worse do something that will result to Hagrid getting fired.

"Yeh, always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs' move," Hagrid continued. "It's polite, see? Yeh walk toward him, and yeh bow, an' yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh're allowed ter touch him. If he doesn' bow, then get away from his sharpish, 'cause those talons hurt. Right—who wants ter go first?"

Most of the class backed farther away in answer. Even Hermione, Ron, and Neville had misgivings. But not Harry.

"I'll do it!" said Harry.

There was an intake of breath from behind him. Harry even heard both Lavender and Parvati whispering about Trelawney's prediction of Harry's death, but that just encourage Harry even more to do this. He's going to make it clear that Trelawney's prediction means nothing to him to his classmates once and for all.

Harry climbed over the paddock fence and straighten himself up. He did take notice of the possible dangers of doing this, but compared to the Basilisk he fought last year in the Chamber of Secrets, these hippogriffs were no less dangerous than a centaur—which he knows centaurs can be deadly if they want to be as he met a few.

"Good man, Harry!" roared Hagrid. "Right then—let's see how yeh get on with Buckbeak."

He untied one of the chains and pulled a gray hippogriff away from its fellows, and slip off its leather collar. The class on the other side of the paddock seemed to be holding its breath. Malfoy's eyes were narrowed maliciously.

This is Care of Magical Creatures, one of the most potentially dangerous classes in Hogwarts along with Transfiguration and Potions, Harry reminded himself. I knew what I was getting myself into when I signed up for this class.

Without hearing what Hagrid was saying (which Hagrid felt bad for not paying attention later) and bowed politely while keeping eye contact as if he was greeting an important wizard or witch during a wizardly dinner party, which Harry had plenty experience in as he and his dad had been invited to many of them.

The hippogriff had already turned to Harry and was staring right at him. At first it didn't do a thing, but just as Harry thought he did something wrong, Buckbeak suddenly bent its scaly front knees and sank into what was an unmistakable bow.

"Well done, Harry," said Hagrid, ecstatic. "Right—yeh can touch him! Pat his beak, go on!"

Harry did as he was told as he moved slowly closer to Buckbeak and reached out toward it. He patted the beak several times and the hippogriff closed its eyes lazily, as though enjoying it.

Most of the class broke into applause, all except for Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle who were looking deeply disappointed.

"Righ' then, Harry," said Hagrid. "I reckon he might' let yeh ride him!"

This was more than Harry had bargain for, but he found himself trusting Buckbeak and Hagrid, so Harry nodded.

"Yeh climb up there, jus' behind the wing joint," said Hagrid, "an' mind yeh don' pull any of his feathers out, he won't like that…"

Harry put his foot on the top of Buckbeak's wing and hoisted himself onto its back. Buckbeak stood up. Harry climbed onto Buckbeak's neck careful not to pull any feathers.

"Go on, then!" roared Hagrid, slapping the hippogriff's hindquarters.

Without warning, twelve-foot wings flapped open on either side of Harry; and they soared forward. Buckbeak's wings beat uncomfortably on either side of Harry, making it hard for him to stay on.

Buckbeak flew him once around the paddock and then headed back to the ground; and Harry felt a heavy thud as the four ill-assorted feet hit the ground. Harry manage to get off as majority of the class cheered.

"Good work, Harry!" Hagrid roared. "Okay, who else wants to go?"

Emboldened by Harry's success, the rest of the class climbed cautiously into the paddock. Hagrid untied the hipogriphs one by one, and soon people were bowing nervously, all over the paddock. Neville ran repeatedly backward from his, which didn't seem to want to bend its knees. Ron and Hermione practiced on the chestnut. Harry stayed by Buckbeak though when Malfoy and his goons approached him as Harry didn't trust Malfoy enough to leave him alone with Buckbeak without someone getting hurt. And if that happened, Harry knew unless someone intervenes, Buckbeak and Hagrid both would be in trouble.

At first, nothing bad happened. Buckbeak had bowed to Malfoy, allowing him to pat his beak.

"This is easy," Malfoy drawled knowing Harry was there. "I knew it must have been, if you could do it, Potter. I bet this thing isn't dangerous at all, are you?"

"Don't get too comfortable, Malfoy," Harry said. "Hagrid's predecessor lost most of his limbs saving arrogant students like you from magical creatures like Buckbeak here."

"Ha! Don't try to scare me, Potter," Malfoy said. "There's nothing scary about this ugly brute."

When Malfoy said that, Buckbeak reacted in anger and dishonored so fast Harry had only enough time to push Malfoy out of the way before being slashed by the Hippogriph himself in the arm.

Hagrid ran toward them and wrestled with Buckbeak to calm him down. Harry hissed in pain as blood covered his robes. Once Buckbeak was calm, Hagrid picked Harry up.

"Class dismissed! Neville, Ron, Hermione, come with me!" Hagrid ordered.

Hermione opened the gate as Hagrid lumbered through with Harry.

…

"I still can't believe you did that for Malfoy," Ron said after Harry drank the potion served to him at the Hospital Wing.

"I didn't," Harry said after drinking his potion. "I did it for Hagrid and Buckbeak. If I didn't intervene you know Malfoy would of got hurt, then use it as an excuse to get Hagrid sacked and Buckbeak killed."

"That sounds more like you," Neville said.

"You think your dad will try something?" Hermione asked.

"I doubt it," Harry said. "Dad knows how dangerous Care of Magical Creatures could get. If anything, he would try to get Hagrid to enforce some rules around Malfoy and be more strict to make sure none of this happens again."

Madam Pomphrey shoed them away, but only after Harry told them to check on Hagrid.

Madam Pomphrey didn't released Harry until after dinner, making sure there were no complications from the potion and the scratch—which had healed remarkably. James did come by to find out what happened to Harry. When he found out it was Malfoy's fault, James said some incoherent words under his breath.

After he was released, Harry went up to the Gryffindor common room to get a head start on his homework. Fortunately Hermione Ron and Neville were already there and got a start on it.

"Hagrid is miserable," Hermione said. "He thinks he'll be fired."

"No he won't," Harry said. "It was an accident caused by student's ignorance. A teacher can't be fired for that. If they could, Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall would have been fired a long time ago."

"That's not how Malfoy put it," Ron said. "At dinner he was making a dramatic scene saying how close he came to death by a dangerous creature."

"It don't matter." Harry said. "I'm the real victim. Not him. As long as I don't make a complaint he can't do anything to Hagrid or Buckbeak."

A/N: Well I was hoping for a miracle over night but no such luck. Last month's poll ended in a three way tie between 'The Legacy of Athena and Hermes: The Battle of the Labyrinth' 'The Son and Nephew of the Maurders: The Prisoner of Azkaban' and 'Rave Master Naruto'. Normally I act as a tie breaker in ties, but unfortunately I couldn't decide on which of the three to work on. So I decided to try my best to update all three this month.

Thanks for reading and PLEASE check out this month's new poll. The Theme is Heroes that are normally the criminals or bad guys. Every story on the poll has one or more main character that is a criminal or was a bad guy in the original or started off that way before turning good, or is seen as such by other characters (such as Pirates).