BUCKBEAK AND SECRETS

The four friends were a bit late to the great hall the next day. Natasha saw Pansy Parkinson laughing with Crabbe and Goyle. She did an impression of falling down unconscious and they roared with laughter. "Potter! The Dementors are coming, Potter! Woooooooooo!". She said laughing. Natasha was growing angry at Parkinson, but decided that she was not worth it. George Weasley was passing the schedules to the students who were coming.

"What happened, Natasha?", George asked while passing the schedule to Natasha.

"Parkinson.", Simran said glaring at the Slytherin table. "I have no idea who is worse. Malfoy or that pugface."

George looked up in time to see Parkinson pretending to faint with terror again.

"That little git,", Angelina who was sitting next to George said calmly. "She wasn't so cocky last night when the Dementors were down at our end of the train. She was screaming and running through the compartment."

The four of them burst out laughing at this. It made Natasha feel much better.

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

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

"But you guys did not faint, did you?", Natasha asked solemnly.

"No we didn't.", George admitted. "But forget about that, Natasha. 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 people who go there for a long time tend to go crazy."

Feeling slightly more cheerful, Natasha helped himself to sausages and fried tomatoes.

Hermione was examining her new schedule.

"Ooh, good, we're starting some new subjects today," she said happily.

Natasha also checked her timetable which put Arithmancy at nine, then they had transfiguration etc.

"Hermione," said Ron, frowning as he looked over her shoulder, "they've messed up your timetable. Look - they've got you down for about ten subjects a day."

Natasha and Simran who were looking at their schedules, suddenly turned their attention to Hermione's schedule. Natasha found that Ron was right. Hermione actually had to attend ten classes.

"I'll manage. I've fixed it all with Professor McGonagall."

"But look," said Simran, laughing, "see this morning? Nine o'clock, Divination. And underneath, nine o'clock, Muggle Studies. And -" Simran leaned closer to the timetable, disbelieving, "look - underneath that, Arithmancy, nine o'clock. I mean, I know you're good, Hermione, but no one's that good. How're you supposed to be in three classes at once?"

"Don't be silly," said Hermione shortly. "Of course I won't be in three classes at once."

"But, Hermione, are you planning to attend one class one week, and one class another. That way you will miss many important lectures!", Natasha said still looking at the schedule."

"Pass the marmalade," said Hermione.

"But -"

"I demand answers, Hermione!", Natasha said.

"Oh, guys, what's it to you if my timetable's a bit full?" Hermione snapped. "I told you, I've fixed it all with Professor McGonagall."

Before Natasha could argue more, Hagrid entered the Great Hall. He was wearing his long moleskin overcoat and was absent-mindedly swinging a dead polecat from one enormous hand.

"All righ'?",he said eagerly, pausing on his way to the staff table. "Yer in my firs' ever lesson! Right after lunch! Bin up since five getting' everthin' ready...hope it's OK...me, a teacher...hones'ly..."

He grinned broadly at them and headed off to the staff table, still swinging the polecat.

"Wonder what he's been getting ready?" said Ron, a note of anxiety in his voice.

"I am sure that, it will be exciting.", Natasha said.

"I hope it will not be like the books he had assigned to us.", Simran said. "I still have not managed to open that thing. The dog in my home got bit by that thing, and we had a hard time explaining the injury to the vet."

The Hall was starting to empty as people headed off towards their first lesson. Ron checked his schedule.

"We'd better go, look, Divination's at the top of North Tower. It'll take us ten minutes to get there..."

"I have no such problem. I only have to go to the second floor.", Natasha said with a grin.

"Well, lucky for you.", Ron said. He seemed displeased that, Natasha was not joining them.

The other three finished their breakfast fast, and ran for the class. Natasha thought that, Hermione had decided to go to divinations for today, and after she finished, she started going to the second floor. As soon as she reached in front of the Arithmancy classroom, she saw Hermione running towards the class. Natasha was totally confused by this and asked, "I thought you were going to the Divinations class."

"Let's get inside. I think we are already late.", Hermione pushed her and went inside. Natasha started to protest, but she saw that Professor Vector was already inside. She decided to ask Hermione afterwards. Hermione was looking like she was angry about something. "Did she have a fight with Ron and Simran?', Natasha thought. The Professor first took the attendance, and faced the class to start her lecture.

"Welcome students. To your first arithmancy class.", Professor Vector told. "Here we go deep into the magic of spell making and predicting the future course of events in the most logical and convincing way using mathematical equations and theories. There are many more applications to this subject, but this is the most important one. Any questions?", she asked.

The students just shook their heads, in awe and amazement. "Then we shall start the class.", the professor said with a smile.

The class was just a basic introduction about the things that were thought in Arithmancy. The professor also talked about all the famous arithmancers of the wizarding world. She also told that, this branch was started by the ancient Indian mathematicians who called it mantra ganitha meaning, maths of magic. Natasha wished that, Simran had been here for the class and decided to tell her about it after the class. When the class was over, Natasha went out with Hermione.

Natasha was distracted as she took out her schedule to find out that, it was transfiguration that they had the next hour. But when Natasha turned around to say it to Hermione, she found that she had gone. Natasha knew that, she couldn't have gone far as Natasha was not slow. But to her astonishment, she did not see Hermione anywhere. Natasha decided that Hermione must have been in a hurry to do something, and might have taken a turn somewhere. So she decided that, she will meet Hermione in class.

But when Natasha reached the transfiguration class, she saw Hermione standing with Ron and Simran. She was now totally surprised and wondered how Hermione got there really fast. It appeared as though the three of them were having an argument over something. When Ron saw Natasha coming towards them, he gave her a look that was a mix of sadness and something that Natasha didn't know. Simran looking at her with a fearful face. When she turned to Hermione, she found that she was not even looking at her.

"What in the name of Merlin happened to you three? Why are you looking at me as though, I am going to die or something?", Natasha asked in an angry tone. Then she noticed that, many in the group also had a look similar to the two friends. Before they could reply, Professor McGonagall called the students inside. The four of them went inside, with all the other students. Natasha as usual sat in the front bench. She was getting really uncomfortable as many of the class were staring at her, it felt as though they were expecting her to die. The Professor was talking about animagus'. She felt really hard to concentrate in the class because of all the stares she was getting. She just wanted answers. It was almost like last year again, where everyone would stare at her and accuse her of being the one who attacked the students.

Professor McGonagall transformed herself in front of their eyes into a tabby cat with spectacle markings around her eyes. This was met only with a few cheers. Natasha noticed that, some of them were with her in the arithmancy class and the one's she knew had taken muggle studies. 'So, something happened during Divinations.', Natasha concluded.

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

Everybody's heads turned toward Natasha again, but nobody spoke. Then Hermione raised her hand. "Please, Professor, we've just had our first Divination class, and we were reading the tea leaves, and -"

Natasha had a double take. 'Did Hermione just say that, she attended Divinations class?', Natasha thought. She saw that two others who were in Arithmancy stared at Hermione too. Natasha looked at Hermione with a confused look. But Hermione just continued to look at the Professor.

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

Natasha was again shocked at the Professor's question. "Was she joking? What did she mean!?", Natasha thought. Many of the students just remained silent at this. But then it was Simran who gave the answer, "Its Natasha, Professor. Professor Trelawney predicted that, Natasha Potter will die. She also told us tell her to watch out for a big black dog."

Natasha felt sick. 'Did a Professor just predict her death?', Natasha thought. 'That is seriously terrible, and what's the deal about a big black dog?', Natasha thought suddenly remembering what she had seen at Magnolia Crescent.

"I see," said Professor McGonagall, fixing Natasha with her beady eyes. "Then you should know, Ms. Potter, that Sibyll Trelawney has predicted the death of one student a year since she arrived at this school. None of them has died yet. Seeing death omens is her favorite way of greeting a new class. 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. 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, and Professor Trelawney-"

"I don't think I believe in such nonsense, Professor. There's a reason why I did not take this subject.", Natasha said. She did not want anyone to just stare at her for this reason. It was all just irritating for her. Most of the class just stared at her in disbelief. Hermione and Professor McGonagall looked at her proudly.

When the transfigurations class was finished. The three of them went to have lunch. "Natasha. I have to tell you something,", Ron said." Professor Trelawney said that, she saw the shadow of grim in your life."

"Grim? What is a grim? And why do you think that, I need to listen to such nonsense?", Natasha asked angrily.

"The Grim, Natasha, the Grim!" , said Ron, who looked shocked that Natasha hadn't understood. "The giant, spectral dog that haunts churchyards! That is the omen of death, that is!"

"Nonsense. All this is just absolute nonsense! You heard Professor McGonagall. Professor Trelawny just likes to do this every year!", Hermione argued.

"Natasha,", Ron said, in a low, serious voice, "You haven't seen a great black dog anywhere, have you?"

"You know, I will tell you the truth, just to make you feel that the Professor is wrong. Yes I did see the grim one day. The last day of Aunt Marge's visit to be precise.", Natasha said.

Ron let his fork fall with a clatter. Simran was just shaking her head. All this was making no sense to her. Though her culture had many omens like this, she did not know what to believe and what not to.

"Probably a stray," said Hermione calmly.

"Hermione's right. It was probably a stray. If it was a omen of death, I am supposed to be dead for nearly a month.", Natasha said laughing.

"Natasha, if you have seen a Grim, that's - that's bad," he said. "My - my uncle Bilius saw one and - and he died twenty-four hours later!"

"Coincidence," said Hermione airily, pouring herself some pumpkin juice.

"You don't know what you're talking about!" said Ron, starting to get angry. "Grims scare the living daylights out of most wizards!"

"There you are, then,", said Natasha. "They see the Grim and die of fright. The Grim's not an omen, it's the cause of death! And I am still alive because I am not stupid enough to see one and think, right, well, I'd better kick the bucket then!"

"Natasha, has a point you know.", Simran said.

"Not you too, Simran. Please support me in this.", Ron said.

"I have no idea what to make of this, Ron. Even my culture is full of superstitions like this, and was raised not to believe in such nonsense.", Simran said.

Ron just shook his head. Hermione, opened her bag, took out her Arithmancy book, and propped it open against the juice jug.

"I think Divination seems very woolly," she said, searching for her page. "A lot of guesswork, if you ask me." . Natasha looked over her shoulder and saw that, she was looking at the page which told about predicting the future events with logic.

"There was nothing woolly about the Grim in that cup!" said Ron hotly. "Professor Trelawney said you didn't have the right aura! You just don't like being bad at something for a change!"

Natasha was getting seriously confused. Now it was totally confirmed that, Hermione was in the Divinations class too.

It seemed as though Ron just made Hermione even more angry. Hermione slammed her Arithmancy book down on the table so hard that bits of meat and carrot flew everywhere.

"If being good at Divination means I have to pretend to see death omens in a lump of tea leaves, I'm not sure I'll be studying it much longer! That lesson was absolute rubbish compared with my Arithmancy class!", Hermione just slammed her book and left the table with.

Natasha looked at the bag that she had left behind and said to Ron, "I will just go and return the bag to her."

Ron just nodded and Natasha left the table. "What's she talking about?", Natasha heard Ron talking to Simran. "She hasn't been to an Arithmancy class yet."

"Hermione! Hermione!", Natasha said running after Hermione. Hermione turned around and stopped.

"I think you owe me an explanation.", Natasha said giving Hermione back her bag.

"W-what d-do you mean?", Hermione asked.

"I am sure that, you know Hermione. You were present in Arithmancy class with me, and the three of you made it crystal clear that, you attended even the divinations class. How is that even possible, Hermione?", Natasha asked.

Hermione looked at Natasha pleadingly and said, "Please Natasha. I am supposed to keep that a secret. I promised to Professor McGonagall that, I will keep it a secret. I just can't tell you now. Just don't tell Ron and Simran about this."

"If you are said to keep it as a secret, then I will let it be one. I promise that, I will not slip any of this to the other two.", Natasha said.

After the lunch hour, Natasha was glad to get out of the castle. Yesterday's rain had cleared; the sky was a clear, pale gray, and the grass was springy and damp underfoot as they set off for their first ever Care of Magical Creatures class.

Natasha with the three friends in silence as they went down the sloping lawns to Hagrid's hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. It looked like Ron was still thinking that, Natasha was in danger. It was only when he spotted three only-too-familiar backs ahead of them that he realized they must be having these lessons with the Slytherins.

Draco was laughing with the two cronies after telling something to them. Hagrid was waiting for his class at the 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!"

For one nasty moment, Natasha thought that Hagrid was going to lead them into the forest; Natasha had had enough unpleasant experiences in there to last a lifetime.

However, Hagrid strolled off around the edge of the trees, and five minutes later, they found themselves outside a kind 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 ter do is open yer books -"

"How?" said the cold, drawling voice of Draco Malfoy.

"Eh?" said Hagrid.

"How do we open our books?" Draco 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 theirs out too; some, like Natasha, had belted their book shut; others had crammed them inside tight bags or clamped them together with binder clips.

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

The class all shook their heads.

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

He took Hermione's copy and stroked it after opening the belt.

"Oh, how silly we've all been!", Draco sneered. "We should have stroked them! Why didn't we guess!". Natasha wanted to argue with Draco, but remembered that Hagrid was a Professor and let it lie.

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

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

Hagrid was looking downcast and Natasha wanted Hagrid's first lesson to be a success.

"Righ' then," said Hagrid, who seemed to have lost his thread, "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 Draco loudly. "That oaf teaching classes, my father'll have a fit when I tell him -"

"Draco! Just stop it! Just give him a chance, won't you?", Natasha said angrily.

"Oh, come on, Potter! Don't tell me that, you thought these books were funny. I mean, did you even manage to open it before now?", Draco asked amused.

"The point is-", Natasha started.

"Oooooooh!" squealed Lavender Brown, pointing toward the opposite side of the paddock.

Trotting toward them were a dozen of the most bizarre creatures Natasha had ever seen.

They had the bodies, hind legs, and tails of horses, but the front legs, wings, and heads of what seemed to be giant eagles, with cruel, steel-colored 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. "Beau'iful, aren' they?"

Natasha could sort of see what Hagrid meant. Once you got over the first shock of seeing something that was half horse, half bird, you started to appreciate the Hippogriffs' gleaming coats, changing smoothly from feather to hair, each of them a different color: stormy gray, bronze, pinkish roan, gleaming chestnut, and inky black. Natasha then thought that, it was very beautiful. Her three friends were also looking at the creature in amazement.

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

No one seemed to want to. The four of them however, approached the fence cautiously.

"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?"

Even Natasha was not sure that, she should approach the creature. The Hippogriff was throwing fierce looks at the students.

"No one?" said Hagrid, with a pleading look.

Natasha didn't know what made her do it, but she said, "I'll do it," said Natasha.

There was an intake of breath from behind him, and both Lavender and Parvati whispered, "Oooh, no, Natasha, remember Professor Trelawny!"

Natasha frowned at this. She knew that, she had to do this just to prove them wrong. She climbed over the paddock fence.

"Good girl, Natasha!" roared Hagrid. "Right then - let's see how yeh get on with Buckbeak."

He untied one of the chains, pulled the gray Hippogriff away from its fellows, and slipped off its leather collar. The class on the other side of the paddock seemed to be holding its breath. Natasha tried to look not nervous, but she knew that this was a clearly dangerous thing.

"Easy now, Natasha," said Hagrid quietly. "Yeh've got eye contact, now try not ter blink...Hippogriffs don' trust yeh if yeh blink too much..."

Her eyes immediately began to water, but she didn't shut them. Buckbeak had turned his great, sharp head and was staring at her with one fierce orange eye. "Tha's it," said Hagrid. "Tha's it, Natasha...now, bow."

Natasha didn't feel much like exposing the back of her neck to Buckbeak, but she did as she was told. She gave a short bow and then looked up. The Hippogriff was still staring haughtily at him. It didn't move. Natasha was disappointed at this.

"Ah," said Hagrid, sounding worried. "Right - back away, now, Natasha, easy does it-" . But then, to her enormous surprise and joy, the Hippogriff suddenly bent its scaly front knees and sank into what was an unmistakable bow.

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

Feeling that a better reward would have been to back away, she moved slowly toward the Hippogriff and reached out toward it. Natasha patted the beak several times and the Hippogriff closed its eyes lazily, as though enjoying it. Natasha felt even more good, and she was actually getting more happiness as she patted the beak.

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

This was more than Natasha had bargained for. She was used to a broomstick; but she wasn't sure a Hippogriff would be quite the same.

"But Hagrid, I really don't think-", Natasha started to say.

"Nonsense. I am sure it will be fun!", Hagrid said happily.

Natasha thought that, if Hagrid said it was safe and fun it will be at least something worth trying. Natasha nodded to say Ok.

"Yeh climb up there, jus' behind the wing joint," said Hagrid, "an' mind yeh don' pull any of his feathers out, he won' like that..."

Natasha put her foot on the top of Buckbeak's wing and hoisted herself onto its back. Buckbeak stood up. Natasha wasn't sure where to hold on; everything in front of her was covered with feathers.

"Go on, then!" roared Hagrid, slapping the Hippogriffs hindquarters.

Without warning, twelve-foot wings flapped open on either side of Natasha, she just had time to seize the Hippogriff around the neck before she was soaring upward. It was nothing like a broomstick, and Natasha knew which one she preferred; the Hippogriff's wings beat uncomfortably on either side of him, catching him under her legs and making him feel she was about to be thrown off; the glossy feathers slipped under her fingers and she didn't dare get a stronger grip; instead of the smooth action of her Nimbus Two Thousand, she now felt himself rocking backward and forward as the hindquarters of the Hippogriff rose and fell with its wings.

Buckbeak flew him once around the paddock and then headed back to the ground; this was the bit Natasha had been dreading; she leaned back as the smooth neck lowered, feeling she was going to slip off over the beak, then felt a heavy thud as the four ill-assorted feet hit the ground. She just managed to hold on and push herself straight again. Natasha actually enjoyed the ride, but she knew that she still preferred brooms.

"See, Parvati. I am perfectly safe now!", Natasha said to Parvati with a grin. Natasha saw that, Hermione and Simran were giggling and Ron was just standing there with an expression of awe.

"Good work, Natasha!" roared Hagrid as almost all of them cheered. "Okay, who else wants a go?"

Emboldened by Natasha's success, the rest of the class climbed cautiously into the paddock. Hagrid untied the Hippogriffs 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. Hermione and Simran tried next, but Ron only got chance after two more people. Ron also got it in his try much to the disappointment of Draco and his goons. But then Draco went to the Hippogriff to have his chance. To Natasha's surprise, Buckbeak bowed to Draco.

"This is very easy," Draco drawled, loud enough for Ron to, hear him. "I knew it must have been, if Weasel could do it...I bet you're not dangerous at all, are you?" he said to the Hippogriff. "Are you, you great ugly brute?"

Natasha knew that, Draco made a big mistake. Hagrid had clearly told that, they should behave with the hippogriffs properly as they were easily angered. It happened in a flash of steely talons; Draco let out a high pitched scream and next moment, Hagrid was wrestling Buckbeak back into his collar as he strained to get at Draco, who lay curled in the grass, blood blossoming over his robes.

"I'm dying!" Draco yelled as the class panicked. "I'm dying, look at me! It's killed me!"

"Yer not dyin'!", said Hagrid. Natasha wanted to run and get Draco to the hospital wing. But Hagrid took him in his arms and rushed him to the hospital wing.

Very shaken, the Care of Magical Creatures class followed at a walk. The Slytherins were all shouting about Hagrid.

"They should sack him straight away!" said Pansy Parkinson, who was in tears.

"You know, I think the Professor Trelawney just got her prediction wrong. She just messed up the Names of Natasha and Malfoy.", Simran said to try and cheer her friends.

"It was his own fault for not paying attention!" Sirius snapped.

"It was Malfoy's fault!" snapped Dean Thomas. Crabbe and Goyle flexed their muscles threateningly. They all climbed the stone steps into the deserted entrance hall.

"I'm going to see if he's okay!" said Pansy, and they all watched her run up the marble staircase. The Slytherins, still muttering about Hagrid, headed away in the direction of their dungeon common room; Natasha, Ron, Simran and Hermione proceeded upstairs to Gryffindor Tower.

"You think he'll be all right?" said Hermione nervously.

"I am sure that he will. Madam Pomfrey can mend cuts in about a second," said Natasha who had had far worse injuries mended magically by the nurse. But she was worried for Draco a little.

"That was a really bad thing to happen in Hagrid's first class, though, wasn't it?" said Simran, looking worried. "Trust Malfoy to mess things up for him...". They were among the first to reach the Great Hall at dinnertime, hoping to see Hagrid, but he wasn't there.

"They wouldn't fire him, would they?" said Hermione anxiously, not touching her steak-and-kidney pudding.

"Well, you can't say it wasn't an interesting first day back," said Ron gloomily. They went up to the crowded Gryffindor common room after dinner and tried to do the homework Professor McGonagall had given them, but all three of them kept breaking off and glancing out of the tower window.

"There's a light on in Hagrid's window," Natasha said suddenly.

Ron looked at his watch. "If we hurried, we could go down and see him. It's still quite early..."

"I really want to go. Just to make sure that, Hagrid will not do anything stupid.", Simran said and looked at Hermione and Natasha.

"I don't know," Hermione said slowly, and Natasha saw her glance at her.

"I'm allowed to walk across the grounds,", Natasha said pointedly. "Sirius Black hasn't got past the Dementors yet, has he? Though I like this idea only a little, I really want to see Hagrid."

So they put their things away and headed out of the portrait hole, glad to meet nobody on their way to the front doors, as they weren't entirely sure they were supposed to be out.

The grass was still wet and looked almost black in the twilight. When they reached Hagrid's hut, they knocked, and a voice growled, "C'min."

Hagrid was sitting in his shirtsleeves at his scrubbed wooden table; his boarhound, Fang, had his head in Hagrid's lap. One look told them that Hagrid had been drinking a lot; there was a pewter tankard almost as big as a bucket in front of him, and he seemed to be having difficulty getting them into focus.

"'Spect it's a record," he said thickly, when he recognized them. "Don' reckon they've ever had a teacher who lasted on'y a day before."

"You haven't been fired, Hagrid!" gasped Natasha.

"Not yet," said Hagrid miserably, taking a huge gulp of whatever was in the tankard. "But's only a matter o' time, I'n't, after Malfoy..."

"How is he?", said Simran as they all sat down. "It wasn't serious, was it?"

"I am sure that, he was faking most of his pain.", Simran said.

"Madam Pomfrey fixed him best she could," said Hagrid dully, "but he's sayin' it's still agony...covered in bandages...moanin'..."

"He's faking it," said Ron at once. "Madam Pomfrey can mend anything. She regrew half my bones last year. Trust Malfoy to milk it for all it's worth."

"School gov'nors have bin told, o' course," said Hagrid miserably. "They reckon I started too big. Shoulda left Hippogriffs fer later...one flobberworms or summat...Jus' thought it'd make a good firs' lesson's all my fault..."

"It's all Malfoy's fault, Hagrid!" said Hermione earnestly.

"We're witnesses," said Natasha. "You said Hippogriffs attack if you insult them. It's Draco's problem that he wasn't listening. We'll tell Dumbledore what really happened."

"Yeah, don't worry, Hagrid, we'll back you up," said Ron.

Tears leaked out of the crinkled corners of Hagrid's beetle-black eyes. He grabbed both Natasha and Ron and pulled them into a bone-breaking hug.

"I think you've had enough to drink, Hagrid," said Hermione firmly. She took the tankard from the table and went outside to empty it.

"Ah, maybe she's right," said Hagrid, letting go of Natasha and Ron, who both staggered away, Ron was rubbing his ribs and Natasha had a small pain in her chest. Hagrid heaved himself out of his chair and followed Hermione unsteadily outside. They heard a loud splash.

"What's he done?" said Simran nervously as Hermione came back in with the empty tankard.

"Stuck his head in the water barrel," said Hermione, putting the tankard away.

Hagrid came back, his long hair and beard sopping wet, wiping the water out of his eyes. "That's better," he said, shaking his head like a dog and drenching them all.

"Listen, it was good of yeh ter come an' see me, I really -". Hagrid stopped dead, staring at Natasha as though he'd only just realized she was there.

"WHAT D'YEH THINK YOU'RE DOIN', EH?" he roared, so suddenly that they jumped a foot in the air. "YEH'RE NOT TO GO WANDERIN' AROUND AFTER DARK, NATASHA! AN, YOU TWO! LETTIN' HIM!"

Hagrid strode over to Natasha, grabbed her arm, and pulled her to the door.

"C'mon!" Hagrid said angrily. "I'm takin' yer all back up ter school an' don' let me catch yeh walkin' down ter see me after dark again. I'm not worth that!"