It's me again! Haha ok well chapter time i guess

(Edited May 21st (well now it's the 27th…. Im sorry(Ohkayyyy now it's june third.)))

Percy's POV

Harry, Ron, and I emerged into the sunlight from the front door of the castle. There was still no sign of Hermione, but Ron and Harry assured me that she never missed a class, so we'd see her there. I had my doubts, but, to be honest, I didn't know Hermione that well.

Fortunately, Hermione was waiting outside Hagrid's hut, leaning on one of the wood fences. Quickly we approached her. "Hey," Ron greeted her shyly. She huffed and turned away. Ron grumbled to himself and deliberately moved so Harry and I were between them. I sighed and rested my head on my arms which were draped over the fence. Harry flops in a similar manner. The silence and quiet muttering of the students is starting to stretch in an uncomfortably long manner before the giant I saw at the train platform emerges from the hut next to the fence. I notice that I'm tapping my foot on the ground rapidly and force it to stay still. There's a pit in the bottom of my stomach, but I don't think it's from the giant. He seemed nice enough when the headmaster introduced him as the new teacher for the subject.

I haven't really seen Draco all day, other than when he was force feeding me pancakes at breakfast. Normal Pancakes. Ughhh. The thought makes me shiver.

Haha just kidding. I'm probably overreacting. Probably.

I'm considering walking over to him and saying hi, but I don't want Harry to get upset. I've come up with a plan, though! Operation 'get my brother to stop hating my new friend because that seems unhealthy and it would just be so much better for both of them and my sanity'. The man wanders out into the middle of the pen.

He twists his hands together, before looking up the students with a new confidence. "I'm Hagrid- er- Professor Hagrid, and I'll be yer new professor for magical creatures." Hagrid trails off. There is little response from the class, so I try to grin hopefully at the teacher when he sweeps the crowd with his eyes. We lock gazes, and he smiles. With renewed vigor from seeing me, Harry, and his friends, Hagrid continues. "Ok, if everyone would pull out their books and open them to page three hundred and seventy one, yer in for a treat."

Everyone gives him dubious looks as we pull out the snarling… books? The last time I tried to open this was… disastrous. I nearly had my hand taken off, and I had to spend an hour trying to catch it while Harry hid on his bed in the hotel room. Hagrid looked confused when nobody went to open them.

"Do yer not know how to open them?" he questions and no one responds, but the downcast looks are answer enough. "Oh.. well, yer just have to stroke their spines." the class obeys wearily and thankfully, the books fall open in our hands. "I'll be right back" the professor starts, before disappearing around the corner.

"Hippogriffs?" Hermione questions. I stare at the page, after I flip to it, and a drawing, somehow weirdly animated like the rest of the drawings and painting, romps around the page. It has an eagle-like head, and wings, with horse hooves on the back. My first impression? Eagles: bad, but horses: good. Hopefully this won't cause an existential crisis for either me or the poor creature.

Hagrid emerges, leading four of the creatures behind him. Wow, those are much bigger than I would have expected. The talons are at least a half foot long, and their eyes are startling orange. The image in the book does them no justice. They're majestic.

"Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud. Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Don't never insult one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh do. Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs' move. It's polite, see? Yeh walk towards him, and yeh bow, an' yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh're allowed to touch him. If he doesn' bow, then get away from him sharpish, 'cause those talons hurt." The teacher instructs. "Ok, now who wants to go first?" He questions.

I don't hesitate before throwing up my hand and then hopping over the fence when Hagrid beckons me. The Hippogriffs are so awesome, and I haven't gotten any bad vibes from them, so…

"Now this one 'here is called Buckbeak, no go on, bow to 'im" I follow the teacher's instructions and nod my head, folding at the waist. I glance up and meet Buckbeak in the eyes and slowly stand straight up again. I begin to raise my hand to reach out and pat him.

Bad idea bad idea nope nope nope nope oh gods. I barely duck out of the way as the Hippogriff lunges at me, talons outstretched.

Sea Spawn! Buckbeak squawks at me as I run. Either he didn't want to talk earlier or I wasn't close enough or something because I can hear him loud and clear now. I won't touch you just please don't hurt me I project towards him. Buckbeak rears over me and opens his talons before thumping back onto the ground in front of me. He shakes his head violently, his expression screwed up into one of pain. Hey, you okay? I prod him mentally. He seems catatonic, which is very bad. I'm worried so I keep talking to try and calm him down.

"Hey buddy… It's OK. I- um, I won't try to ride you I promise. Umm. Are you okay?" He seems a little more responsive, so I reach out to touch him again. He startles a little when my hand reaches his face, but stills when I start rubbing my thumb across the feathers on his forehead. His pupils dilate slightly, and he relaxes. I smile.

Hesitantly, other students crowd into the pen at Hagrid's insistence, and the group of fellow Slytherins gather around Buckbeak, keeping quite a bit of distance. "Oh, come on, guys. He's not going to hurt you".

Draco deadpanned me right in the eyes. "Really?" He drawls.

"Oh yeah. He's totally fine. He just thought I wanted to ride him, which I don't" I say. I can feel the mirth rolling off of Buckbeak at their fear. Yes, cower, mortals. Fear us. Haha. I'm a comedian. I grab his wrist and pull him closer to the large hippogriff. "Buckbeak" I start, waving my arm in his direction. "Draco," I point to my new friend. I vaguely note a strong flapping noise from behind me and turn to see Harry on the back of another Hippogriff, taking off into the sky. I wave at him and he grins and waves back. I turn back to my previous conversation.

"Draco," I gesture, "Buckbeak. Now you two play nice" I joke. All parties stand there awkwardly. "This is when you would bow to him" I hiss into Draco's ear. He grumbles, although it seems more scared than angry, but bends at the waist towards the hippogriff. Buckbeak nodded at him in return, and I leave to say hi to my brother, because now there are two semi competent individuals here.

I half jog towards Harry and quickly bend at the waist when I see his hippogriff. I swear I won't ride you, just please don't kill me. She (the hippogriff that is) nods. If you even think about pulling one of my feathers or climbing onto my back, I will eat your intestines like spaghetti She says. I smile nervously, but agree to her terms. I turn to Harry, whose so happy he might just be glowing. "Hey" I say.

Ron and Hermione both respond at the same time "Hi". They turn and stare at one another, before both turning away quickly. Still awkward. Ugh.

"So… How was flying?" I question Harry. He smiles.

"It was really cool- but I think I like flying on a broomstick better, more control, you know. But at the same time, it was really kinda different and nice to feel the wingbeats and have something so substantial to hang onto" he laughs. "It was really nice. I would suggest that you do it, but you keep giving them side glances like they're gonna attempt to murder you or something".

I smile. "Yeah, something like-" I cut off and whipped my head around when I heard a loud scream. Draco is trembling as Buckbeak rears over him. Faster than what's probably humanly possible I do the only logical thing; run in his direction, jump in front of him and push him to the side. (this is not logical and might have been a bad idea)

Ow. ow ow ow ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ooowwwwwwwww. I'm on the ground now, I guess. I'm hardly aware of anything happening around me, and there's a high pitched keening whine coming from my throat. I feel something bump my shoulder and see Buckbeak's jarring orange eyes, blurred by my tears. I've had worse, I remind myself. This is fine, I'll be fine. Draco is fine. It's okay. I try to comfort myself, repeating this mantra in my head as I'm partially aware of someone grabbing me with large hands.

"I'm fiinee" I slur, pushing at the man carrying me. Hagrid. "I can walk." a sense of dizziness overcomes me "or maybe not…. Mmhmm blood loss. Oh. ow. This hurts." I slump a little, and recognise Harry's worried voice over the pounding in my ears "Hey Harry?" I start. "Is- is Draco alright? Are you okay?" Black fuzz creeps into the edges of my vision. Aw this really hurts. Usually I can withstand more than this. Is it because I'm smaller or because Buckbeaks magical or… I'm distracted by the darkness reaching the middle of my vision. I can't see anymore. That might be a problem. Hmm. It's getting kinda fuzzy. I feel fuzzy. And cold. My bones are dripping. Oh no they're probably all over everything…

HAHA ok this is REALLY late, buttt…. School was ending so I have an excuse. Fight me I dare you. Hmmkay. Hopefully I'll update soon but who knows?

byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee