Chapter 6
That next morning, Rachel, Amanda and Hermione left us to go get some breakfast, telling us that they would meet us at Divination. I wasn't exactly looking forward to having a new class that had to deal with the "inner eye" but it was a requirement, so I had no choice. The classroom was in one of the towers, so we had the unfortunate luck to climb the staircase. When we walked into the room, we saw a very séance looking room filled with tables and ups. The three of us took a table in the middle. We had just sat down when a third cup appeared in front of me. As soon as the class was finally in the room, a strange-looking woman with overlarge spectacles came to the front. "Hello class, I am Professor Trelawney," she greeted, "In this classroom, you will learn the noble art of divination."
Harry, Ron and I exchanged disgusted glances. "In this class, you will learn if you hold the sight," she continued as she ran into her table.
I laughed as she smiled. "In this room, we shall cast ourselves into the future!"
No one was excited about it like she was…well, maybe the Patil twins and Lavender, but that's about it. "Today, we will learn the art of reading tea leaves, so if would take the cup of the person sitting across from you, we shall began."
Since there were three of us, I took Harry's, Ron took mine and Harry took Ron's. "I want you to describe what you see. Open your minds and look into they beyond!" she smiled.
She had just said that when I heard Rachel's voice say, "What a load of rubbish."
I was confused. I looked around and saw Hermione, Rachel and Amanda occupying the table in front of us…that was originally abandoned. "When did you get here?" I asked.
"What are you talking about? We've always been here," replied Amanda.
I just shook my head when Proffessor Trelawney stopped and pointed at Ron, causing him to jump. "You, your aura is glowing. Are you in the beyond? I think you are!"
"Yeah, sure," he whimpered.
I laughed as she said, "Tell me what you see."
Ron opened his book and looked at the cup. "Well, that wonky cross, that means suffering…and the blot could be a sun, which means happiness."
Trelawney smiled as he turned to me and said, "So, you're going to suffer…but you'll be happy about it."
"Let me see that!" I said as I snatched it from Ron. Amazingly enough, it looked exactly like Harry's. "Guess Harry and I will be suffering together."
Trewlaney took the cups and as soon as she looked down, she threw the cups back at us, gasping. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"My dears…you have…the grim."
"The grin? What's the grin?" asked Seamus.
"Not the grin, you idiot! The grim!" shouted Amanda.
"Well, what does it mean?" asked Dean.
"The grim takes the form of a giant spectral dog. It is among the darkest omens in our world. It is an omen…of death," read Rachel.
Harry and I stared at the cup, seeing the shape of a dog howling. After the class was over, we bgan our walk down to Hagrid's hut. Hermione and Amanda walked in front while Rachel, Harry, Ron and I followed. "Can you believe that class? What a load of rubbish," stated Rachel.
"I agree. Now, Ancient Ruins, that's a fascinating subject," replied Hermione as we continued down the stairs. Suddenly, Ron stopped in front of me, causing me to run into him. "Ron, why are you stopping?"
"Because that's not possible. Ancient Ruins is at the same time as Divination. You would have to be in two classes at once."
"Honestly, Ron, how can anyone be at two places at once?" asked Amanda.
"She's got a point. Isn't Trewlaney a hoot? 'In this inner hour, you will look into the future!' What a loony," I laughed as we reached the bottom step and Hagrid's hut. A group of students gathered around hagrid, the monster books in their hands held shut by belts and other manners of clasping the mouth shut. Hagrid stood in front and shouted, "Gather around, got a real treat for ya today. Follow me."
We all were led into the Forbbiden Forest. It looked so much friendlyer in the day. Once we reached a clearing, Hagrid said, "Open yer books to page 49."
"And how exactly are we supposed to do that?" sneered Malfoy.
"You stroke the spine, o'course," stated Hagrid as if everyone should have known that.
I looked at my book and stroked its spikey spine. Sure enough, it calmed and allowed me to open it without it trying to rip off my face. Neville, on the other hand, had his book attack. I couldn't help but laugh. Once Neville approached the group, his clothes were torn and ragged and Ron laughed, "You're suppose to stroke it."
As I took off my coat and loosened my tie, I heard Malfoy shout, "Wow, this place has gone to the dogs."
I turned with an unamused look on my face to glare at him. As did everyone else. "Just wait till my father hears that Dumbledore has this oaf teaching classes."
As Rachel held me back, Harry walked forward and threatened, "Shut up, Malfoy."
Finally, I broke free of Rachel's grasp and walked to Harry's side, saying, "Maybe it's time you pulled off those diapers of yours and stop being a daddy's boy."
I could hear Amanda laugh behind me. Malfoy's goons whistled as Malfoy slipped his bag off, handing it to Goyle, and stepped forward to attack. Harry and I braced ourselves as Malfoy's ugly face turned from threatening to frightened. He stumbled back pointing ans shouting like a baby, "DEMENTOR! DEMENTOR!"
Everyone turned and looked in horror, but I jumped clear out of my skin in shock. But there was nothing there. The Slytherin's laughed as we turned to see Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle put their hoods up like Dementors and wiggle their fingers, trying to be scary. I was about to jump him when Hagrid whistled. We all turned to see Hagrid put out his arms in show and shouted, "Dah-dah-dah-dah!"
Suddenly, a huge beast emerged from the bushes. As it came closer into the lgith, Hagrid said, "Isn't he beautiful? Say hello to Buckbeak!"
The creature looked like a cross between a griffin and an eagle. It had silver and blue feathers and large talons. "Hagrid, what exactly is that?" Ron asked.
"That, Ron, is a Hippogriff. Now, the first thing that ye need to know about Hippogriffs are that they are very proud creatures. You do not want to insult a Hippogriff, because it might be the last thing you do. Now, who would like to come say hello?"
Now, for those of you who know me, I am rather brave. So you would think that if I can stand up to Voldemort and kill a Basilisk that I should be able to say hello to Buckbeak. I don't know why, but instead of being brave, I backed up with everyone else, leaving harry by himself in the front. I felt a tad bit sorry for harry, but…better him than me. Hagrid turned around and smiled, "Well done, Harry."
I watched as Harry realized we had left him. His face was priceless, ha ha…sorry. Anyway, Harry wasn't moving, so Ron stepped forward and knudged Harry. Harry took a step forward and Hagrid instructed, "Now, walk towards him and givehim a nice, low bow. If he bows back, you can go and touch him. If he doesn't…well, we'll get to that later."
Harry took a few steps and bowed really low. Once he stopped, Buckbeak began flapping his wings. "Get back, Harry," ordered Hagrid.
When Harry took a step back, he stepped on a twig and stopped in his tracks. My hand flew up and grabbed the sleeve of the person standing next to me. "Don't move, Harry," ordered Hagrid.
As Harry stayed rooted to the spot, still bowing, we watched as Buckbeak bowed back. I sighed as Harry stood up. "Well done. Now you can go and touch him."
Harry slowly outstretched his hand and walked forward. As he stepped forward inch by inch, Buckbeak snapped at him. My hand went from the person's shirt down to their wrist. I looked over to see that it was Ron's wrist and his eyes were wide with shock. I immediately let go and turned away from him as Harry's hand slowly patted Buckbeak's head. "WELL DONE HARRY!" clapped Hagrid.
Everyone clapped with him, sighing with relief. Harry survived the encounter with a Hippogriff! I think that's a good thing. Suddenly, Hagrid stopped clapping and said, "I think he'll let you ride him now."
I watched as Harry turned his eyes to Hagrid's and asked with a sound of shock, "What?"
Hagrid suddenly lifted Harry off the ground and set him on Buckbeak's back. Harry had barely any time to react when Hagrid hit the butt of Buckbeak and sent them on their way. We watched as Harry flew off the ground and away from us. "Oh, I hope he's alright," I muttered as I watched them fly away.
We all looked around, trying to find where they had flown off to when Hagrid whistled and Buckbeak came flying back down. Everyone clapped as Harry hopped off. They began to mutter something when Malfoy burst through the crowd and towards Buckbeak. "You're not dangerous at all, are you, you great brute!"
Buckbeak looked angry as Hagrid saw what Malfoy was doing. I didn't dare say anything…Malfoy deserved what he was going to get. Buckbeak went onto his hind legs and everyone backed off as his talons came down on Malfoy's arm, creating a scratch. Malfoy whimpered on the ground as Hagrid sent Buckbeak off. Hagrid then rushed to Malfoy's side and said, "It's alright…it's just a scratch."
"HAGRID! He has to go to the Hospital Wing!" shouted Hermione.
"I'm the teacher, I'll take him. CLASS DISMISSED!" he shouted as he carried Hagrid off in his arms. I stood by Harry when Buckbeak came over and knudged Harry in his shoulder. I jumped sideways as Harry petted him. As we walked away, I asked Harry, "What was it like to fly on his back?"
"AMAZING! I mean, it's different from being on a broom…and I prefer brooms, but just being up there on a live thing was amazing!"
We all laughed as we headed to the Great Hall for lunch. However, I had a feeling that something was going to happen to Hagrid because of Malfoy…if only I could strangle Draco Malfoy myself…
TBC…
Please R&R