Chapter 33 - Muggle Studies and Care of Magical Creatures.

We were herded off the train when we arrived at Hogwarts after enduring some teasing from Malfoy about the fainting spell in our compartment before we had to convince Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey that me and Harry didn't need to stay in the Hospital Wing and that we were fine before talking to 'Mione in private thus making the three of us miss the sorting. Dumbledore was starting his announcements when we got settled. He announced Uncle Moony as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Snape glowered at him as they announcement was made, what an arse, and none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid as the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher. It did make sense considering the book we had got for the new subject of ours. I'd named my book Monty. It was practically alive so I decided it deserved a name. He then went on to announce the death eaters.

"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued to the Great Hall, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises - or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly, Harry and Ron glanced at each other.

"I think he's talking about us." I murmured to the other three who nodded in agreement before the Headmaster continued.

"It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors," he said. "Now, enjoy the feast!" And the feast appeared. Me and Ron, as usual, dove in. Stuffing ourselves to our hearts content while Hermione and Harry ate slowly. What bore's! When the feast was over and Dumbledore sent his students to bed. Harry, Ron, Hermione and I used to chance to go see Hagrid.

"Congratulations, Hagrid!" Hermione squealed, unnaturally high pitched for her. It hurt my ears a bit.

"All down ter you four." Hagrid said wiping his face with a napkin. "Can' believe it... great man, Dumbledore... came straight down to me hut after Professor Kettleburn said he'd had enough... It's what I always wanted. -"

"You'll do great, Hagrid. There aint no one better for the job and Professor Dumbledore knows that." I grinned up at the half giant. Hagrid gave us another watery smile before he was overcome with emotion and we were sent away by McGonagall. We followed everyone else up to the Gryffindor common room to get some well-earned sleep.

-.-

The next morning was the start of lessons and the first we would be doing the first of our chosen lessons. For me, muggle studies and for the other three, Divination. After ignoring the pathetic Slytherin's and their attempts to grief Harry and I over our fainting spell on the Hogwarts Express we sat down with the twins to have breakfast before lessons.

"What's up with you, Harry?" George asked him.

"Malfoy," said Ron, sitting down on George's other side and glaring over at the Slytherin table. George looked up in time to see Malfoy pretending to faint with terror again.

"If they don't give over they'll be on the wrong side of one of my pranks." I grumbled. Fred and George grinned at me.

"That little git," he said calmly. "He wasn't so cocky last night when the dementors were down at our end of the train. Came running into our compartment, didn't he, Fred?"

"Nearly wet himself," said Fred, with a contemptuous glance at Malfoy.

"I wasn't too happy myself," said George. "They're horrible things, those dementors..."

"Sort of freeze your insides, don't they?" said Fred.

"You didn't pass out, though, did you?" said Harry in a low voice.

"It's not your fault you don't have as many happy memories as others. You've been through shit, that's why they got to you." I told him.

"Forget it, Harry," said George bracingly. "Dad had to go out to Azkaban one time, remember, Fred? And he said it was the worst place he'd ever been, he came back all weak and shaking... They suck the happiness out of a place, dementors. Most of the prisoners go mad in there."

"Anyway, we'll see how happy Malfoy looks after our first Quidditch match," said Fred. "Gryffindor versus Slytherin, first game of the season, remember?" "I can't wait." I said grinning at Harry who grinned back before getting some sausage and tomatoes before Seamus and Dean stopped by while I finished my toast.

"You walking up to muggle studies, Ash?" Dean asked me, smiling brightly.

"Yeah in a minute, let me just finish this and I'll catch up with you." I grinned at the two boys. They nodded and walked off.

"Hold up, Harry mate, I reckon we're being replaced." Ron said with mock hurt on his face.

"Obviously." I rolled my eyes at the boys while Hermione chuckled. "Anyway they're taking me to Alton Towers over Christmas break." Hermione looked up at me.

"Really?" Hermione asked. "Does someone have a little crush?"

"On Seamus? Sure he's Irish and the accents hot but he's just a friend." I looked at my best friend in disbelief.

"On Dean?" She asked again.

"Nah. Don't be silly 'Mione. Have fun in your silly class guys, and all those stairs. Fun, fun, fun." I grinned at them before standing and chasing after Seamus and Dean with my book bag bouncing around on my back. "Hey guys."

"Hey darlin'." Seamus grinned at me.

"Hey, is it true you fainted because of the dementors?" Dean asked looking concerned.

"Yeah. It went for Harry for some reason and I got in the way so it attacked me." I replied nonchalantly.

"I wish you wouldn't do that. I know Harry's your mate but Dementors are dangerous. I don't like it when you get hurt." Dean said passionately. I looked at him in shock. His grey eyes blazed behind his black hair.

"I... Let's get to class." I said rushed and walked forward a little faster so the boys had to catch up.

"What the hell was that?" I heard Seamus ask him quietly.

"I dunno." He replied roughly but as quietly. I scowled to myself, the muppet was sounding a bit like my dad. A man I was completely pissed at. We arrived at the muggle studies classroom and we got settled at a table in the back, Allie joined us at our table while Professor Burbarage got the class started. Not before Hermione slipped into the classroom. I scowled slightly and look confused. She had Divination now with Harry and Ron, what on earth was she doing here? Hermione winked before sitting next to some Hufflepuff's near the front.

"Welcome third years to Muggle Studies. I see many happy faces that eager to learn about the ins and outs of the muggle world. Those who have gotten on so well without magic. We will be studying six different topics over the next year. These include Religion, Literature, Music, History, Parliament and finally Electricity's and what that does to help them. For the next two months we will be starting on Religion. Now please open your Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles by Wilhelm Wigworthy to the first chapter." Professor Burbage ordered and the room descended into chaos with rustling paper. "Now, does anyone know any of the names of British religions?" Seamus put his hand up and Burbage nodded.

"Catholic." He said.

"Yes. Anyone else?" She repeated. Hermione put up her hand.

"Judaism." Hermione smiled brightly and said.

"Yes. Now, let's read the first few paragraphs. Religion in the United Kingdom and the states that pre-dated the UK, was dominated by forms of Christianity for over 1,400 years. Although a majority of citizens still identify with Christianity in many surveys, regular church attendance has fallen dramatically since the middle of the 20th century, while immigration and demographic change have contributed to the growth of other faiths. According to the 2001 UK census, Christianity is the major religion, followed by Islam, Hinduism, Neo-Paganism, Sikhism, Judaism and Buddhism in terms of number of adherents. This, and the relatively large number of individuals with nominal or no religious affiliations has led commentators to variously describe the UK as a multi-faith, secularised, or post-Christian society. Due to the United Kingdom having been formed by the union of previously independent states from 1707, most of the largest religious groups do not have UK-wide organisational structures. While some groups have separate structures for the individual countries of the United Kingdom, others may have a single structure covering England and Wales or Great Britain. Similarly, due to the relatively recent creation of Northern Ireland in 1921, most major religious groups in Northern Ireland are organised on an all-Ireland basis. Everyone keeping up?" She paused to ask and the room generally nodded. "Good, now I want everyone to partner up and do that task on page eleven. If anyone has any problems just ask. You have half an hour. Go!" She grinned and I turned to Dean as Seamus and Allie had already got together to work. I was still a little mad at him but we got on to work. The lesson passed quickly and before I knew it the bell went and it was time for us to get to our first class with Hagrid as our teacher. I held back and waited for Hermione who was taking her time on purpose, I could tell. She finally got out and we started walking.

"Are you going to tell me what on earth is going on or am I going to have to pull it out of you?" I asked her with a raised eye brow.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Ash." 'Mione smirked.

"How about you explain to me how you were in Divination with Harry and Ron then appeared in Muggle studies with me? I assume you stayed in the class although I wouldn't blame you if you had quit it." I finished snarkily. She pulled a necklace with an hour glass pendant on it. "What's that?"
"It's a time turner. I am taking every class possible and two of those classes happen at the same time so Professor Dumbledore got me a time turner so I can't travel an hour back in time after every lesson." Hermione explained.

"That's madness. You'll have twice the homework and you're going to be knackered every night." I exclaimed.

"It'll be fine. Come on, we don't want to be late for Hagrid's first lesson." Hermione pointed out and I sighed then nodded in agreement and we raced off to our Care of Magical Creatures lesson.

-.-

"Everyone gather 'round the fence here!" Hagrid called as Hermione and I got down to the paddock near Hagrid's hut. "That's it - make sure yeh can see - now, firs' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books..."

"How?" said the 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. I looked around a little confused and got my book out.

"Hasn' - hasn' anyone bin able ter open their books?" said Hagrid, looking crestfallen. Monty my monster booked tried to snap at me.

"Bad Monty." I grumbled and stroked the spine. Pretty much all the class looked at me in shock. Uncle Moony told me how to handle the book when he saw it. Hagrid looked a little relived.

"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 Cellotape that bound it. The book tried to bite, but Hagrid ran a giant forefinger down its spine, and the book shivered, and then fell open and lay quiet in his hand.

"Oh, how silly we've all been!" Malfoy sneered. "We should have stroked them! Why didn't we guess?"

"I - I thought they were funny," Hagrid said uncertainly to Hermione.

"Oh, tremendously funny!" said Malfoy. "Really witty, giving us books that try and rip our hands off!"

"Oi, leave it. As a mighty pure-blood shouldn't you have known that, I did? And they were funny, Hagrid, like a little pet really. It's technically Flourish and Blotts fault, they should have told us. So if you want to take it up with anyone, you know who Malfoy." I spat and glowered at him.

"Err right, thanks Ash. 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 classes, my father'll have a fit when I tell him

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry sneered. Malfoy swaggered towards Harry so I went to stand beside him. He stood not far in front of us then looked behind us and looked shocked and scared.

"Dementor! Dementor!" He called pointing behind us. Most of the class span around to look in the direction he was pointing. There was nothing and the Slytherin were pissing themselves laughing. The put there hoods up to look like dementors and went 'Oooh!' Ron grabbed me before I went for them while Hermione pulled Harry away while glowering at Malfoy while I planned my prank revenge in my head. I looked ahead in shock as Hagrid brought around a creature. Lavendar Brown squealed like a little girl. What I saw before me was a Hippogriff, a Hippogriff is a magical creature that has the front legs, wings, and head of a giant eagle and the body, hind legs and tail of a horse.

"Hippogriffs! Meet Buckbeak!" Hagrid roared happily, waving a hand at the beast inside the paddock. "Beau'iful, aren' 'e? So, if yeh wan' ter come a bit nearer..." No one seemed to want to but Hermione and Harry approached them a little bit. Me and Ron looked at eachother with the same thought. We can't let them seem braver than us and also approached. No one else did. "Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud," said Hagrid. "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," 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 him sharpish, 'cause those talons hurt. "Right - who wants ter go first?" Everyone took a step back. Everyone but Harry. Harry looked behind him and noticed then glowered playfully at the three of us. "Harry, excellent."

"Oooh, no, Harry, remember your tea leaves!" Pavarti Patil whispered to him. I had no idea what she was taking about but they sound stupid. Harry approached Buckbeak slowly and bowed down to it. The Buckbeak puffed at Harry a bit and I held my breath

"Easy now, Harry," said Hagrid quietly. "Yeh've got eye contact, now try not ter blink... Hippogriffs don' trust yeh if yeh blink too much... And bow a bit lower." Harry did as he was told but Buckbeak stamped his foot. I squeezed Ron's hand next to me worrying for Harry. "Back off, Harry. Back off." Harry moved back quickly but bravely looked Buckbeak in the eye. He waited then bowed back to Harry. Most of the class including Hagrid breathed a sigh of relief. I let go of Ron's hand then looked up and saw that I had been crushing the life out of Dean Thomas's hand not Ron's. He was smirking at me making me blush a little bit.

"Sorry." I whispered.

"It's all right. I don't think you quite broke anything." He grinned at me whispering in my ear and made me chuckle.

"Well done, Harry. Well done." Hagrid said applauding then the class joined him in applause. "I reckon he'll let you ride him now."
"What?" Harry exclaimed in shock.

"You can go back to squeezing my hand if you want while Harry rides it. You might break it this time." Dean whispered to me as Hagrid lifted Harry onto Buckbeak.

"Oh god." I muttered shaking my head as Dean grabbed my hand. "I might try to break it if you don't watch." I whispered back to him as Buckbeak ran off and flew into the skies. "Oh my God where has that bloody bird gone?"

"Calm down, Ash. Harry will be fine." He whispered, tickling me ear. Hermione caught my eye and grinned at me, I rolled my eyes at him. Harry flew around a bit then came back, he told us it was a rush. That it was brilliant, just like flying a broom. I was going to ask for a go much to the disdain of Dean for some reason but disaster struck in the way of Draco Malfoy. Big man couldn't handle Harry getting all the attention so he approached Buckbeak the Hippogriff ignoring Hagrid's lesson so Buckbeak attacked. Good Buckbeak, I thought. Hagrid saved him of course and dismissed the class to take Malfoy to the Hospital Wing while the ungrateful brat vowed revenge. I couldn't stop laughing at the big baby. It was just so funny, he barely had a scratch and there wasn't even any blood. Harry took one look at me before bursting out too followed by Ron who sneered at the downcast Slytherin's, their beloved prince injured. Hermione and Dean sighed at our antics while Seamus and Allie chuckled standing together. I planned to ask her about that later. When I regained sanity, I carefully approached Buckbeak and mimicked Harry's earlier actions. It took a little longer for Buckbeak to bow back so I could approach him carefully but I really wanted to fly on him. I looked behind me to see Dean bowing at Buckbeak also. I walked away a little bit until Dean was allowed to approach which, I'm not going to lie, impressed me a little. I carefully climbed onto Buckbeak then helped Dean behind me and then we flew. It was magical! I had to agree with Harry, it was better than flying. The views were spectacular. And Buckbeak was beautiful, his feathers blew in the wind and they were so soft. It was like flying on a cloud. And the company wasn't so bad either. Dean was loving it, I could tell. He wasn't good on a broom as far as I knew but I think he liked the heights and the adrenalin rush. Unfortunately, we had another lesson so before too long, it was time for us to go back to the ground and back to the day. But the ride on Buckbeak really was beautiful.