Chapter 3
~ Ron x Hermione ~
Beginning.
'Chills run down my spine, as our fingers entwine'
-Owl City
His lessons hadn't even started yet, but as Ron awoke early on Monday morning, he already disliked them. He felt a thump on the side of his head – Harry had thrown a book at him from across their room. Though it had been slowed by the curtain surrounding his bed, it still hurt.
"Oi!" He shouted, muffled by his blankets. "I'm getting up!"
"Well, maybe next time you should respond when you are shouted at."
Minutes later he and Harry emerged into the common room. Hermione was waiting for them, not at all surprised that they were the last ones ready.
Breakfast for Ron consisted of bickering with Hermione, getting infuriated at Malfoy doing bad dementor impressions and copious amounts of bacon cooked to perfection. All of this left him in a bad mood as they reached their first lesson, transfiguration. After having to run to follow a crazed painting to find their way there, a full stomach no longer seemed such a good idea.
"Remind me to eat less from now on." He mumbled to the others, feeling slightly sick.
At lunch, the morning's lessons seemed a blur, mainly because Ron had not paid attention in any of them. He and Harry were discussing Hagrid and their upcoming lesson with him.
"It will be fun. Hagrid is fun, right?"
"I hope he hasn't got himself another dragon. That might not go down well with the rest of the class."
"It wouldn't go down well with me; my time with Norbert was enough dragon experience."
"Why are you talking about Norbert?" Hermione enquired as she squeezed her way onto the seat next to them.
"Hagrids lesson. We're hoping there are no dragons."
"Oh no, he wouldn't do anything like that again." She replied nervously, looking uncertain,
The trio walked towards their lesson with the rest of the third year Gryffindor's, ahead of the Slytherins with whom they shared the lesson. They could hear Malfoy shouting at them, but chose to ignore him, though Ron's ears did turn red. Hagrid stood in front of his hut as the students approached, then walked forwards to meet them.
"C'mon, now, get a move on! Got a real treat for yeh today! Great lesson comin' up! Everyone here? Right, follow me!"
"No sign of any dragons yet." Harry whispered to Ron, who sniggered a little.
They came to a small fenced area by the edge of the forest that was empty. Curiosity murmured throughout the group, wondering what Hagrid was going to be putting in there. After he stomped off to go collect his magical creatures, Malfoy began trying to irritate Harry. Ron noticed Hermione getting annoyed, but Hagrid returned too soon for anything else to develop.
On the other side of the fence Hagrid had returned, leading a group of strange creatures towards the class. Half eagle and half lion, Ron had heard stories of these beasts, they were Hippogriffs. His mother had always told stories of them, but he didn't think he would ever see one. Like the rest of the class, he was amazed. He was also wary of the animals, so stayed back from the fence. Not wanting to upset Hagrid, he nervously shuffled forward when asked to do so.
"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 ter touch him. If he doesn' bow, then get away from him sharpish, 'cause those talons hurt." Hagrid explained to Harry, who had volunteered to touch a Hippogriff, before shoving him into the pen.
Hermione inhaled sharply, terrified for her best friend. Ron clutched at the wooden fence, highly aware of the sharp beak that Harry was slowly approaching. He walked towards the creature slowly, staring into its eyes. When he was only a few steps in front of it, he stopped. For a moment they just stared at each other, and the Hippogriff did not bow. Hagrid began telling Harry to get away, sounding panicked. Hermione grabbed Ron's hand and squeezed it, hard. He squeezed back, more gently. It was a small way to comfort her, but he hoped she appreciated it. Standing there, holding hands, they were amazed when Buckbeak bent his legs and lowered his head. He had bowed, and Harry was safe.
Ron felt himself blushing as he became more aware of where his hand was. Hermione seemed embarrassed too, since she let go. They looked at each other in awkward silence, and Ron felt stupid now, being so worried seemed silly now that Harry was happily patting the hippogriffs beak. They quickly looked away from each other, and Ron took a slight step away from her.
In the pen, Hagrid roughly placed harry on the Hippogriffs back, before making it take off. Hermione looked scared once more, so Ron huddled in closer to her, hoping he was being a good friend by trying to comfort her in the best way he could.
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