Chapter 18 Loyalty with Wings

Ding dong, a sound echoed through the hallways.

"May I have your attention please" the voice of Professor McGonagall spoke. "There's been a mistake in the timetables. Second years, Hufflepuff, please report to the lake for Defence Against the Dark Arts. Ravenclaw sixth years, go directly to the West Wing on the fourth floor for Duel classes, together with the Hufflepuff's. Slytherin and Gryffindor, please report to Hagrid's for your Care of Magical Creatures. No exceptions!"

Many of the students grunted. Ron was one of them, having felt so relieved to get away from the Slytherins, but this would be exactly like last year, and all the years previously.

"Why, why, why, why, why, why and why do we have to end up like this every single year... Hasn't the staffs ever heard of revolution."

"Cheer up Ron, we've survived so far. Don't worry, I'll challenge Malfoy in Duel if he's behaving like that son of a bitch, he is." Harry said to cheer him up some. Though he doubted Malfoy would come to an duel with him.

"I wonder what Professor McGonagall meant with Duel classes in the west Wing."

As she spoke Parvati came by, chatting with her twin sister. She overheard Hermione and came up with the answer.

"What do you know, so the clever girl has missed the big news? Haven't you read the notice board?"

"Mmph..."

"Very well then, there's a new subject going on called Standard Duelling. You know, the usual parts. They are called F.A.R... For Aiming Right."

"What's wrong with our aim, you know I don't really have those troubles. How else would I have escaped Voldemort for all these years?!" Harry said, feeling mistaken.

"Don't ask me, how would I know" she said turning back to her sister.

"Ron, could you get the timetable, I want to know if Parvati was talling the truth."

Ron placed his hand in his bag. Suddenly he took out the parchment they were looking for. Three heads together they read, under the column that said

Wednesday...

9am Charms

10.30am Transfiguration

1 pm Herbology

2.30 pm Standard Duelling

Harry sighed. This would be a looong year.

It was blazingly hot outside and you could practically see the grass as it slowly dried out. Ron was panting beside him, sweat pouring down from his forehead. Harry looked at the lake wishing more and more to skip the lesson to take a dive, yet he couldn't do that against Hagrid. The old scar prickled with pain, but it wasn't because of Voldemort, it had something to do with the weather. Hermione was waiting for them, the intense heat didn't seam to affect her. The clever girl had cast several cool charms on herself before walking outside.

"There you are, I was thinking that you might have melted away in this heat."

She raised her wand and muttered the incantation for the cool charm she had placed on herself. The two boys felt a cool breeze and slowly the heat lifted.

"Thanks Hermione, we needed that" Ron said giving the girl a wide smile.

Soon they arrived at Hagrid's Hut where the rest of the students had arrived. All of them had managed to find one way or another to keep their heads cool, however both Crabbe and Goyle, stupid as ever, had somehow turned their own heads into big round snowmen's heads, making them look like two overlarge snowballs with robes. Draco was sitting in a corner, away from his old friends not wanting to talk to anyone, not even Pure Bloods from his own house. He was completely changed, yet here and there he could throw really rude comments, making him sound like the Malfoy we all knew.

"Hello, good to see yeh Harry, Ron and Hermione."

The half giant looked around at all the students who had managed their OWL's.

"Come on, come on now kids, great beasts await yah. They're here on the back yard."

Some of the students hesitated before following Hagrid. Knowing him 'beasts' could mean deadly creatures like Dragons, or wonderful animals like Unicorns.

In the back the students were assembled. Hagrid went right into the woods, fetching some birdlike creatures, except that they had four legs, giant wings and deep talons. Gryphons.

"They're beautiful" even Parvati managed to say, yet no one dared go near them remembering the incident at their third year.

Malfoy stood in the corner of a shadow from everyone, not daring to go near. Fright filled his eyes as he looked upon these giant monsters. He was scared, but he didn't want to show it in front of everybody else. He eyed the great talons suspiciously.

"So..." Hagrid began but he was interrupted by Pansy Parkinson.

"Excuse me, but why do you seriously want to kill us, I mean deep talons and beaks. You crazy giant, I bet Dumbledore forbade you to do this,"

"Now, now Miss Parkinson" Hagrid said. "There's no need to be frightened. These Gryphons are well trained by experts and won't harm you. Unlike Hippogriffs they are very loyal to their masters, as soon as you just show them respect. I'm going to demonstrate how you can get near them safely, unless anyone volunteers..."

At his words everyone except Harry, Ron and stepped back.

"Ah! It seems that we have volunteers. Very well then, ladies first."

Hermione looked uneasy, trembling she went forward. But as soon as she could remember the things she had read about Gryphons she calmed down and took a deep breath.

"Now Hermione, do you know what to do?" Hagrid asked her gently, guessing her thoughts.

"Of course!" she said and seated herself down on the grass, waiting for the Gryphon to make the first move. Gryphons were the great masters of the sky, and if you didn't show them respect, they could most likely attack you. And that was the last thing anyone wanted.

Nothing happened, and Hermione wondered how in the world she was supposed to escape, but suddenly the great winged beast went forward. Its beak touched her hair as it was sniffing her sent. Hermione bowed, as did the Gryphon. The class, well the Gryffindors clapped. The rest of the Slytherins growled furiously.

After the bow, Hermione stood up. The beast walked round her in circles, deciding if she was worthy or not. The class held their breath. The moment was intense with nerves and curiosity.

After some minutes the Gryphon stopped in front of her, allowing her to stroke him. Loud cheers came from the class, like "Way to go Hermione!" or "You rock girl!"

Now, that the Gryphon had both respected her, and let her stroke him he suddenly bend down, allowing her to climb up on his back. This was the moment she'd been dreading. She hated flying of all sorts, even airplanes. She had never forgotten that horrible feeling when she was 9, when her father took her out on a parachute jump.

Strong wings flew upright. Hermione clinging on for her life, not daring to look down. She hadn't told anyone, not even Ron or Harry, she was, as well as her experiences, afraid of heights.

Slowly, the Gryphon took her down. When her feet touched the ground she swore she'd never do this ever again. Before she left the Gryphon she bowed deeply. If the Gryphon would have been able to, it would've given her a smile. Instead, it shrieked, a sound like thousand of different birds at the time.

"Wow Hermione! That was so cool. Never thought you had it in you." Ron said grinning.

"You're the best, Clever" Parvati said hugging her.

"Great flight, couldn't have done it better!" Harry said.

Hermione looked at him.

"Oh yes you could" she said. "At least you manage to stay in the air. Bet you could."

"Great Hermione, ten points for Gryffindor" Hagrid said.

Now, that even the person, with less ability to make a flight again had done the task all the Gryffindors, and some of the bravest Slytherin came forward, eager to try it on their own. Hermione seated herself some paces away, not daring to try that ever again. She saw that Harry managed the task beautifully, Ron had some problems because his Gryphon didn't want to come forward firstly, but he too managed. She saw the new student Cassandra make the task in a couple of minutes, sending a kiss from the air, to the very jealous Slytherins. Neville had real problems and remained sitting on the ground until the Gryphon slowly walked away. Poor him!

She wasn't the only one, sitting and watching her classmates as most of them bowed, flew or failed. Suddenly she noticed Draco Malfoy sitting beside her, watching her.

"What are you looking at Malfoy?" she said not liking his gaze upon her.

"Just thinking," he answered.

"Of what?"

"Tell me, are all of you Mud... ehm... Muggleborn this lucky, or is it I who are dreaming."

"Call me a bookworm, or very naïve, but I believe every person, Muggleborn, Pure blood, Halfblood... Witch or Wizard. I believe we are very equal in our way of magic, not how we think or use it, but... I mean were an equal race... ah, never mind. I don't even manage to get my words right."

"You mean, as an equal race we shouldn't put the ones who aren't born with this blood into a fact to be the wrong bloods."

Hermione looked upon him, she couldn't believe those words came from the mouth of a Malfoy, a muggle hater, a person who swore to torture those he thought weren't worthy.

"Confusing you, aren't I? I know what you are thinking, 'he hates me, he hates Muggles. He hates my friends, this school, Dumbledore.' Then I ask you Clever. Why am I sitting beside you then if I would hate you. The answer is very simple even if either you, the Weezly or Potter doesn't take me for my words. Clever, maybe you can't believe me, but I have changed. I'm not the stuck up kid I used to be. Ever since my fathers death I have been thinking, reorganized my thoughts and I soon discovered the truth. I'm nothing more worthy than the earth on the ground, believing what I believed. Believe it Clever, I've joined your side, at least until my fathers been revenged."

"Wise words from the mouth of a Malfoy" Hermione said grinning. "Want to take an advise from one of your arch-enemies, the one who slapped you on your face three years ago?!"

"Sure, as long as you hold that hand inside your pocket when we speak" He said remembering the pain on his cheek, that he had felt.

Class continued, but soon the fun was over. At the end, almost everyone believed this to be one of the most exciting Care of Magical Creatures class they've ever had. Well, everyone except the Slytherins.

"Homework..." Hagrid began, but he was over drowned by the moans from the students. In the day they had already received a three-foot long essay from History of Magic, about boring Dragon enslavements. A four-foot long essay from Snape about the properties of truth potions and their breathing. To closely foresee the weather for the upcoming month, from Professor Trelawney. And as they would tomorrow have Astronomy, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and a full list over the upcoming week they tried at least to get Hagrid to skip homework in his class. Even the Slytherins agreed in this.

"As I was saying" Hagrid roared... "There will be no homework set on this class for today, however, I'd want you to remember the things you did today as it's means great importance to the upcoming lessons. Now, class dismissed!"

"Hurray for Hagrid" Ron cheered as they went back to the great castle. But when they neared the great doors, professor McGonagall met them...

"Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, Miss Granger. You better follow me, Professor Dumbledore wants to see you."

"What is it Professor?" Hermione asked.

"There's a Muggle who awaits you. She wants to speak with you immediately."

Bewildered, confused they followed Professor McGonagall towards the entrance to the headmaster's office.

(Number Four, Private Drive)

Hidden in the shadows, her coat hold tight around her. She didn't want anyone to see her escape.

-Flashback-

"Petunia, you slimy bitch, what is the meaning of this" her husband roared holding a silver box in his hands.

Her heart seamed to stop pounding for a second. Her gaze blacked.

"You're meeting those filthy scums. You are one of them, filthy rags. You're just like your goo-for-nothing-sister."

"Vernon, give me that" she demanded but to her surprise he said.

"Why, so that you could turn me into a pig." He laughed. "I'm not stupid."

He slowly opened the box.

"Hocus Pocus!

She closed her eyes, a strange song filled her and even if her eyes were closed she could see the images in front of her. The eagle, the lion, the serpent, the badger and the little white flower. She screamed wishing that the images could've disappear.

Vernon backed, frightened and confused by what he saw.

-End Flashback-

And then...

-Flashback-

Thereby she had fled, she didn't know were to go, but she had to get out of there. She was alone. Alone in a cold world of terrible power. Suddenly she bumped in to someone, not knowing who she tried to flee. The tiny silver box, lay wrapped in a piece of fabrics in her arms.

"You're Petunia Evans, aren't you?" The stranger asked.

"How did you know my name?" she asked the greasy hair, filthy dressed wizard she had almost knocked over.

The stranger suddenly saw a glimpse of the silver from the box.

"We can't discuss that here. Hold on to me, I'll take you to a safer place. I'll take you to..."

His words were cut of by green sparks. It missed them by inches, but suddenly they were both gone. They had disapparated to...

-End Flashback-

TBC