REVISED.

"Wake up!"

"Go away," Kirsten Carlisle grumbled into her covers, shifting so she could get into a more comfortable spot on the bed.

"Kirsten! We're going to be late!" the black haired witch heard Hermione's raised voice in a panic.

Kirsten couldn't help but let out a muffled laugh at the thought that Hermione would think that she would run out of bed just because she was late to class. As much as she wanted to make a statement to the bushy haired witch, it was her first day and she didn't exactly want to make an awful impression on her professors. This was a new school and they haven't exactly done anything to deserve her disrespect.

It took all her will to shove herself out of bed and head over to the bathroom to get ready for class. After brushing her teeth and taking a shower, she pulled on her uniform and robes.

"You're not even going to dry your hair?"

But it seemed Hermione already knew the answer as the bushy haired witch whipped out her wand. With the flick of her wrist and an incantation, Kirsten's curly black hair was no longer dripping wet but damp. She didn't care to put any product in it to keep the frizz at bay. She just wanted to get the day over with and get back to sleep. Her time at the Leaky Cauldron had spoiled her when it came to sleeping in.

And who could blame her when she slept on such a lousy cot for the majority of her life? The beds she's been sleeping on recently were majestic.

It didn't any long for the curly headed teenager to grab her bag from her trunk and head downstairs with Hermione.

"Just in case you haven't noticed…I'm not exactly a morning person," Kirsten muttered, rubbing her eyes.

"Oh I definitely haven't noticed," Hermione replied sarcastically as they walked down the stairs of the dormitory. From the corner of her eye, however, Kirsten could see the bushy haired witch smiling slightly.

The duo spotted Harry and Ron downstairs and the four of them headed out of the portrait. As they made their way through the corridors of the castle toward the Great Hall, Kirsten couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the size of the castle and vocally made the company with her aware.

"Don't worry, we'll be with you to get to classes," Ron reassured Kirsten after glancing at her, recounting the times in his first year that he was lost. They finally reached the entrance hall and walked through the Great Hall doors.

And low and behold there was Malfoy, with a small crowd of green uniformed students, swooning with a roar of laughter that followed.

"Ignore him," Hermione said from beside Kirsten to Harry. "Just ignore him, it's not worth it…."

"Hey, Potter!" a black haired pug faced girl called out, with a smug expression on her face. "Potter! The dementors are coming, Potter! Woooooo!"

Kirsten rolled her eyes at the Slytherins lame insults and sat next to Fred Weasley. She wondered how exactly it was that Ron and Harry were bothered by the pests. Clearly the Slytherins were amateurs.

"New third-year course schedules," George said, looking over the group before his eyes landed on Harry. "What's wrong with you Harry?"

"Malfoy," Ron replied. Kirsten looked up again just in time to see Malfoy once again pretending to faint with terror.

"That little git," George said calmly. "He wasn't too 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," Fred said with a contemptuous glance at Malfoy. Kirsten raised an eyebrow at this and grinned while looking down at her timetable.

"Ooh, good, we're starting some new subjects today," Hermione said happily. Kirsten looked up to Hermione to catch Ron already looking over her shoulder with a frown on his face.

"Hermione," Ron said, his frown increasing as he read further down, "they've messed up your schedule. Look—they've got you down for about ten subjects a day. There isn't enough time."

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

"But look," Ron said laughing, "see this morning? Nine o' clock, Divination. And underneath, nine o' clock, Muggle Studies. And"—Ron leans closer with a disbelieving look on his face—"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," Hermione said shortly. "Of course I won't be in three classes at once."

"Well, then—"

"Pass the marmalade," Hermione said.

"But—"

"Oh, Ron, what's it to you if my schedules a bit full?" Hermione snapped, causing Kirsten's eyes to widen at the girl. "I told you, I've fixed it all with Professor McGonagall."

Before anyone could respond, Hagrid stopped by their table, absentmindedly swinging a dead animal in his hands.

Not quite good sanitary practice, but Kirsten guessed Hogwarts was a bit unconventional in a number of ways. They did have a giant man-eating snake hiding out in their sewage system after all.

"All righ'?" he said rather eagerly. "Yer in my firs' ever lesson! Right after lunch! Bin up since five gettin' everythin' ready…. Hope its okay…. Me, a teacher… hones'ly…" Kirsten peered closer at the dead animal.

He grinned at them all and made his way up to the staff table, still swinging the dead animal.

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

"Worried?" Kirsten asked, only to receive raised eyebrows in response.

"Hagrid's well known for loving dangerous animals," George informed her.

Kirsten recalled the man did get a bit teary eyed when he recalled temporarily having a dragon as a pet and smiled to herself. His class was going to be interesting.

Ron checked his course schedule as most of the students headed off to their classes.

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

Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Kirsten all got up and left for the North Tower.

"Damn! How far is this room?" Kirsten breathed out, heaving a sigh.

"I—don't—know—but—there's—got—to—be—a—shortcut," Ron panted as they climbed up the seventh long staircase. The group of four ended up on a landing with only a large painting containing a bare stretch of grass hanging on the stone wall as their company.

"I think it's this way," Hermione said. However, Kirsten just stared at the painting as a fat, dapple-gray pony ambled onto the grass and began to eat nonchalantly. A knight, short and squat, in a suit of armor clanked into the picture.

Kirsten was mesmerized by the portraits that were hung around the school. She had thought the moving photos from the Daily Prophet were amazing, but fact that these portraits were able to move and interact in real time was truly magical.

"Aha!" he yelled finally noticing them. "What villains are these that trespass upon my private lands! Come to scorn at my fall, perchance? Draw, you knaves, you dogs!"

Kirsten's mouth dropped open as the little knight tugged his sword out of its scabbard and started brandishing it, and she started to laugh.

"You dare laugh at I? You —" he swung his sword at Kirsten wildly and he tripped and fell, causing the grey eyed witch to snort.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked moving closer to the picture.

"Get back, you scurvy braggart! Back, you rogue!" The knight picked himself up and tried to pick up his sword, but the blade was in too deep, so he dropped down on the ground, visor up, clearly exhausted.

"Hey, can you help us find North Tower?" Kirsten asked the knight, finally getting over laughing at him.

"A quest!" the knight jumped up, no longer angry that she had just laughed at him. He got to his feet, "Come follow me, dear friends, and we shall find our goal, or else shall perish bravely in the charge!" He tried to get on his horse but failed miserably.

"On foot then, good sirs and gentle ladies! On! On!" And he started running, his armor clanking loudly, and went into the left side of his frame and out of sight. The four of them hurried after him along the corridor, only knowing where he was by the sound of his armor. Sir Cadogan finally stopped at a portrait hung on a landing.

"Farewell!" the knight cried from a portrait of some sinister looking monks. "Farewell, my comrades-in-arms! If ever you have need of noble heart and steely sinew, call upon Sir Cadogan!"

"Yeah, we'll call you," Ron muttered as the knight disappeared, "if we ever need someone mental." At his comment, Kirsten lightly hit Ron lightly on his shoulder.

Kirsten ungraciously snorted at Ron's comment before heading up the remaining last set of stairs to see the rest of the class was already there. Only one issue...there was no door.

"'Sibyll Trelawney, Divination teacher,'" she heard Harry say. Kirsten followed his gaze above them to see a circular trapdoor with a brass plaque that read the words Harry read aloud. "How're we supposed to get up there?"

As if Harry said the magic words, the trapdoor suddenly and a silvery ladder descended right at boy's feet.

The chattering hushed instantly.

Harry was the first one up, then Ron. Kirsten climbed the ladder next, with Hermione right below her. The curly haired witch pulled herself up and looked around the room. All around the stuffy attic-like room, twenty small, circular tables were crammed inside with chintz armchairs and fat little poufs. Dim crimson light filled the room created by the dark red scarves draped over the lamps, and a fire burning under the mantel piece. The shelves running around the circular walls were crammed with a number of objects.

It somewhat reminded Kirsten of the movies she'd watch set in the seventies.

"Where is she?" Ron asked as the rest of the class entered the classroom.

"Welcome," Kirsten heard a soft, misty sort of voice coming from the shadows. "How nice to see you in the physical world at last." The figure moved into the firelight and she saw a woman's thin figure; large glasses magnified her eyes to several times their natural size and a gauzy spangled shawl was draped over her shoulders. Numerous chains and beads were around her spindly neck while her arms and hands were filled with bangles and rings.

"Sit, my children, sit," she said. Kirsten complied by settling down in one of the squishy armchairs; Harry, Ron, and Hermione joining her.

"Welcome to Divination," Professor Trelawney said, seating herself in a winged armchair in front of the fire. "My name is Professor Trelawney. You may not have seen me before. I find that descending too often into the hustle and bustle of things of the main school clouds my Inner Eye."

Kirsten could only stare at her skeptically.

"So you have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts. I must warn you at the outset that if you do not have the Sight, there is very little I will be able to teach you. Books can take you only so far in this field..."

The grey eyed witch made the mistake of looking at Hermione, who had a rather startled expression cross her face.

"Many witches and wizards, talented though they are in the area of loud bangs and smells and sudden disappearings, are yet unable to penetrate the veiled mysteries of the future," Professor Trelawney went on, her gleaming eyes moving to each of her students. "It is a Gift granted to few. You, boy," she said suddenly to Neville. "Is your grandmother well?"

"I think so," Neville said tremulously.

"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, dear," Professor Trelawney said, the firelight glinting on her long emerald earrings. She began to tell the class the curriculum, dropping little bits of foresight to several of the students. The group of four split into two pairs; Ron with Harry, and Kirsten with Hermione. They filled their teacups and drank the scalding tea to use the remains to predict their futures.

"This class is so pointless," Hermione whispered to Kirsten, whose lips to twitch upward into a smile.

"I think it is too, but as long as she doesn't come near me and start doing any of that Inner Eye nonsense, then I'm fine," the black haired witch told her, grabbing her cup to try and see what it was.

"Just looks like someone took a shit in here," Kirsten stated, causing Hermione to snort. Unfortunately for her, Kirsten could feel Professor Trelawney's gaze on her back and caught sight of the woman heading toward them.

Fortunately enough for Kirsten, Professor Trelawney came and grabbed the cup from Ron.

"The falcon…my dear, you have a deadly enemy."

"But everyone knows that," Hermione said in a loud whisper. Professor Trelawney stared at her.

"Well, they do," Hermione said. "Everyone knows about Harry and You-Know-Who." Professor Trelawney once again stared at Hermione, and Kirsten turned to look at her too. Professor Trelawney ignored Hermione, and lowered her eyes to Harry's cup again and continued to turn it.

"The club…an attack. Dear, dear, this is not a happy cup…."

"I thought that was a bowler hat," Ron said sheepishly.

"The skull…danger in your path, my dear…." The grey eyed witch stared at Professor Trelawney as she turned the cup the last time, gasped, and then screamed.

Kirsten flinched at the sudden shriek emitted from the dramatic woman. She heard another tinkle of breaking china, and Professor Trelawney sunk into a vacant armchair, her glittering hand at her heart, her eyes closed. If Trelawney wasn't a professor, she could see her being an excellent actress in one of the soap operas DuPont would watch.

"My dear boy…my poor, dear boy…no…it is kinder not to say…no…don't ask me…"

"What is it?" Dean Thomas asked at once. It soon became crowded around their table, the rest of the students wanting to get a better look at the cup.

"My dear," Professor Trelawney's huge eyes opened dramatically, "you have the Grim."

"The what?" Harry asked.

"The Grim Reaper?" Kirsten asked.

"The Grim, my dears, the Grim!" Professor Trelawney cried out, looking between Kirsten then Harry. "The giant, spectral dog that haunts churchyards! My dear boy, it is an omen—the worst omen—of death!" Kirsten raised an eyebrow at the professor.

Kirsten looked momentarily confused as she stared at Professor Trelawney.

Weren't all omens bad? Why treat one worse than the other?

Hermione got out of her seat and moved around to the back of Professor Trelawney's chair.

"I don't think it looks like a Grim," she said flatly. Kirsten's lips curved up slightly at the sight of Professor Trelawney staring down Hermione.

"You'll forgive me for saying so, my dear, but I perceive very little aura around you. Very little receptivity to the resonance of the future."

Kirsten looked back and forth between Hermione and the professor and saw the sour look creep onto the bushy haired witch's face.

"It looks like a Grim if you do this," Seamus Finnigan said, squinting his eyes so much it looks like their shut, "but it looks more like a donkey from here," he added, leaning to the left.

"When you've all finished deciding whether I'm going to die or not!" Harry stated out.

"I think we will leave the lesson here for today," Professor Trelawney said in her misty voice. "Yes…please pack away your things…." The whole class silently took their teacups back to Professor Trelawney. Kirsten handed hers to Ron who took hers back up with his and Harry's. The black haired witch looked back at Harry to see him looking nervous.

"Oh come on, Harry, don't listen to what she's saying. It's clear she's just trying to start something," Kirsten reassured him.

"Kirsten's right," Hermione agreed, picking up her bag. Harry and Ron looked at her in shock, but they said nothing.

"I have no idea why you said Hermione was a respectful model student," Kirsten whispered to Harry, Ron listening in as well. "I'm really liking her."

Kirsten grabbed her bag and made her way towards the trapdoor.

"Until we meet again," Professor Trelawney said faintly, "fair fortune be yours. Oh, and dear"—she pointed at Neville—"you'll be late next time, so mind you work extra-hard to catch up." Kirsten already went down the ladder and waited for Hermione, Ron, and Harry, and they headed to their next class Transfiguration.

Instead of a highly decorated room like she witnessed for her first lesson, Kirsten entered a room that actually looked like a real classroom and took a seat right next to Hermione at a table beside Harry and Ron at the back of the room. The curly haired witch noticed the other students in the class started shooting furtive glances at Harry every now and then.

But the curly haired witch's eyes were on a woman at the front of the room. Her tight bun secured her hair in place and Kirsten practically felt the strict aura protruding from this woman. So this was her Head of House.

Professor McGonagall.

The older woman began their lesson withe the topic of Animagi when suddenly, the body of the professor began to shift into one that was much smaller and furrier. Soon a tabby cat with spectacle markings around its eyes took Professor McGonagall's place.

Kirsten's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Now that is cool," the grey eyed witch stated as Professor McGonagall turned back into her regular self again with a faint pop. She looked at Kirsten with appreciation before looking at the rest of her class.

"Really, what has got into you all today?" Professor McGonagall asked, staring all around. "Not that it matters, but that's the first time my transformation's not got applause from a class." Everybody turned to look at Harry not saying a word, but Kirsten just kept her face forward while Hermione raised her hand.

"Please, Professor, we've just had our first Divination class, and we were reading the tea leaves, and—"

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

At McGonagall's words, Kirsten's lips twitched in amusement.

"Me," Harry admitted, breaking the stretch of silence that followed McGonagall's question.

"I see," Professor McGonagall said, fixing her beady eyes on Harry. "Then you should know, Potter, that Sibyll Trelawney has predicted the death of one student a year since she arrived at this school. None of them died yet. Seeing death omens is her favorite way of greeting a new class. If it were not for the fact that I will never speak ill of my colleagues—"

Professor McGonagall suddenly broke off her nostrils white. "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—" Professor McGonagall went on more calmly but stopped again.

"You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in," she said in a more matter-of-fact tone. Kirsten burst out laughing along with Hermione. She looked over at Harry, to see him feeling a bit better, but Ron still looked worried.

As the lesson progressed with the explanation of Animagi, the topic jogged a very recent memory of Kirsten's. The night she ran away from her home and ran into Sirius Black.

"Okay then… did you see where that dog went?" she asked him.

"You're looking at him."

She had thought he was crazy when he said it. That it couldn't be possible, but here was this woman who transformed into a cat and back to a human again in a matter of seconds.

Kirsten may have thought he was absolutely mad when he said it, but now that she had witnessed it...

Sirius Black was an animagus.

The lesson carried on but Kirsten was practically in a daze. Her mind back on the night she ran away and her encounter with Sirius Black. The Ministry was in search of the man who brutally murdered a dozen people, and here was Kirsten harboring that information to herself. But did it matter if she came forward and divulged the night she ran away in full? What would they gain from her even mentioning it? The man was likely long gone from Surrey.

"Miss Carlisle, if you could come forward so I can have a word with you," Professor McGonagall called out. Kirsten blinked, her eyes focusing on the stern looking woman, and noticed that most of the class were packing up.

The lesson was over.

"I'll meet up with you in a little bit," she told the trio over her shoulder, making her way to McGonagall.

"Now since you have started late in your magical education, it is only appropriate for you to receive extra assignments to catch you up with your year," she said tersely. "Professor Dumbledore assumed that you will be more than capable of extra lessons."

Professor McGonagall pulled out a piece of parchment and handed it over to the third year. "This timetable consists of the subject, day, and time you are to meet with a certain professor in addition to your current course load. As your Head of House, I'll be checking in routinely to see how you are doing."

"Thanks, Professor," Kirsten said, eyes on the paper McGonagall just handed her; however, the subjects and days scrawled on the paper weren't exactly on her mind.

"Well Miss Carlisle run along then, you have another class after lunch and its best you get something to eat. You have a long day ahead," the woman said, dismissing the young witch.

"Alright, see you Professor," Kirsten said, smiling at the stern witch. Her eyes roamed the paper once again, this time reading it, and she couldn't help but sigh in contempt. Essays would have to be written on what she's been learning in these additional lessens on a monthly basis. As much as she's been looking forward to advancing her knowledge on magic, she didn't exactly enjoy writing essays.

Following a crowd of students to the Great Hall, Kirsten finally entered through the doors and sat down next to Ron.

"Blimey, Kirsten, it's not like you skipped breakfast," Ron said, staring as she stuffed spaghetti in her mouth. Once she swallowed a large bite, she glanced at the redhead.

"Did you forget how exhausted we were just trying to get to our Divination class?"

Ron nodded his head, understanding where she was going with her train of thought, and dropped the topic.

"So, Kirsten, what did Professor McGonagall want to talk about with you?" Hermione asked.

"The extra lessons to catch me up with you all."

"If you need any help, you can always ask me," Hermione said, while searching for a page in her book Arithmancy book. "I think Divination seems very woolly. A lot of guesswork, if you ask me."

"There was nothing woolly about the Grim in that cup!" Ron said hotly.

"You didn't seem so confident when you were telling Harry it was a sheep," Hermione replied coolly.

"Professor Trelawney said you didn't have the right aura! You just don't like being bad at something for a change!"

Hermione slammed her Arithmancy book on the table, making bits of meat and carrot fly everywhere. Kirsten shared a look with Harry before settling her eyes on Hermione. She hadn't even known these two for more than a couple days and it was disturbing at how she was getting used to their ridiculous arguments.

"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!" She snatched her bag up and stalked out of the Great Hall.

"What's she talking about?" Ron asked both Kirsten and Harry. "She hasn't been to an Arithmancy class yet."

Finishing her food quickly, Kirsten got up from her seat wondering the same thing Ron was thinking. However, she felt more there were more pressing issues at hand at the moment.

Like her bladder.

"Well, I'm going to run to the bathroom. See you two in class," she told them, walking out of the hall.

Kirsten was walking along the corridor and mentally cursed at herself. She really should've forced Harry and Ron to come along with her to the lavatory and wait on her, because as fate would have it she was lost. Her eyes raked over several canvases on the wall as she continued walking, hoping to spot someone in a portrait who could help like Sir Cadogan did.

She spotted several monks seated amongst each other and was ready to call out to them, when something hard collided into her sending her to the floor.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

A pale hand shot out at her and Kirsten grabbed a hold of it as the owner hoisted her up. Getting to her feet, Kirsten came face-to-face with one of the more handsome boys she's ever come across. He was definitely older than her, and actually looked to be the same age as Aaric. His dark grey eyes seemed to smile at her as his lips spread into a grin.

He bent down to grab bag onto the floor.

She blinked, realizing that she didn't even notice it missing from her shoulder.

"It's alright," she told him, a small grin forming on her face. She grabbed her bag from his hands with a, "thanks."

"Name's Cedric Diggory," the older boy said. He held out his hand in greeting and Kirsten grasped it into a handshake.

"Kirsten Carlisle."

All she could do was stare at him. It was funny how much he reminded her of Aaric, yet the two looked nothing alike. They were both very handsome, that was for certain. But that was it in the physical department.

Maybe it was friendly demeanor they both held?

She suddenly realized that she needed to head to her class. "Well, I need to head to class..."

Kirsten turned around and stopped in her tracks, remembering that she didn't even know her way.

"Are you lost?" his voice called out from behind her. Kirsten turned around to see him still smiling at her.

"I was just about to ask you actually," the curly haired witch admitted. "Do you know where the Care of Magical Creatures class is?"

"Yeah," he said, nodding his head in the opposite direction she was headed. "I could take you. I'm on my free period."

"You're a lifesaver," she told him, grateful for his help. "The school is massive."

Cedric led her down the correct corridor and the two began talking as they walked to her class. The conversation moved from how she was adjusting to the school to her dislike of Slytherins as a whole.

"Malfoy's more of an annoying pet ferret than a bully," she said, causing the Hufflepuff to chuckle. They were already outside of the school and heading towards the forest. "I mean if you're going to insult someone, tell it like it is with class and grace."

The tall boy chuckled at her comment in agreement and he divulged to her of his run-ins with few older Slytherins.

They truly were spineless cowards.

"I guess Hagrid's teaching your class over there," Cedric said. He pointed his finger towards a group of students huddled together toward the outskirts of the huge forest. It didn't take long for the pair to get closer to the pack of students congregating around the edge of the forest.

"So I'll see you around?" Cedric asked the black haired witch. Looking up into his dark grey eyes, Kirsten couldn't help the smile on her lips.

"Maybe if I get lost."

"I guess that'll be tomorrow then," he remarked. Kirsten grinned at his reply and waved.

"See you, Cedric," she called, before heading towards the group of students now eyeing her. Waving at Hagrid, the giant of a man waved back in greeting and she hurriedly strode over to Hermione's side.

"So — er — Ki, you stroke the binding of the book —"

"Oh, thanks Hagrid," Kirsten said, pulling out her book that was closed shut with a belt. She did as instructed and the book no longer tried to break free of the belt's hold.

"Why are you late?" Ron asked. The redhead's eyes shifted from Cedric's retreating form to Kirsten in a suspicious manner, Harry doing throwing her the same look.

"Snogging takes a while, Ron," she whispered jokingly. However, Ron or Harry for that matter didn't realize that she was joking as both their mouths dropped open. The only sensible one was Hermione, who looked on with a mild disapproval but amused all the same.

"You and - "

"It's a joke, Ron," Kirsten interjected.

"Righ' then," Hagrid said, "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 went into the forest and out of sight.

"God, this place is going to the dogs," Malfoy complained loudly. "That oaf is teaching classes, my father'll have a fit when I tell him —"

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry said.

"Careful, Potter, there's a dementor behind you –"

"Shut up!" Kirsten said exasperated. "One more crack at Hagrid, and that lump's head is going up your ass," she said, nodding in Goyle's direction. Malfoy opened his mouth to most likely insult her but was interrupted by Lavendar Brown's squealing.

"Ooooooh!" The fellow Gryffindor was pointing towards the opposite side of the paddock. Kirsten looked over to see bizarre looking creatures trotting towards them. The bodies, hind legs, and tails resembled horses, but their front legs, wings, and heads resembled that of a giant eagle.

Kirsten's eyes caught sight of the half a foot long talons and raised her brow.

Of course Hagrid would show them something beautiful and dangerous.

"Gee up, there!" Hagrid roared, shaking the chains, urging the creatures to come closer to them. The class scooted back slightly, but Kirsten stayed put.

"Hippogriffs!" Hagrid roared happily. "Beau'iful, aren't they?"

"So," Hagrid said, rubbing his hands together and beaming around, "if yeh wan' ter come a bit nearer —" No one seemed like they wanted to that so Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Kirsten approached the fence. Hagrid continued on his lesson, teaching them how to approach a hippogriff. "Right—who wants ter go first?" The whole class backed away as those words left Hagrids mouth besides the group of four.

"I'll do it," Kirsten volunteered, but she heard another voice say the same exact words as her. Kirsten glanced at Harry who was beside her.

At least she wouldn't be alone.

"Come on, then, both of yer!" Hagrid said excitedly. The two friends climbed over the paddock fence.

"Right then—let's see how yer both get along with Buckbeak." He untied one of the chains and pulled the gray hippogriff away from the rest, slipping the leather collar off.

"Gentleman first, Harry," Kirsten whispered, nudging the green eyed boy. He shot her a look but turned around to face the hippogriff. Slowly, Harry finally got the hippogriff to bow to him.

"Great job, Harry!" Hagrid cheered. "Now, Kia, its yer turn." Kirsten looked right at Buckbeak, not breaking contact, when all of a sudden it bowed and began to come towards her.

"Will yer look at that!" Hagrid boomed out, ecstatic. "Now both of yeh can touch him! Pat his beak, go on!" Both Kirsten and Harry reached out and began to pet Buckbeak, who closed his eyes lazily at the touch.

"Righ' then, I reckon he might let yeh both ride him," Hagrid said. Harry got on top of Buckbeak first and looked down at Kirsten. The girl just stared up at Harry with dread. She wanted to smack the green eyed boy as he smiled down knowingly at her, holding his hand out. She grabbed a hold of his hand and paused. She had half a mind to pull him of the hippogriff and have him land in a heap on the floor, but decided against it and instead pulled herself up onto the hippogriff's back. Her arms wrapped around Harry's waist and she held on tight, immediately regretting her action. Her heart was hammering in her chest and she felt as if it were going to burst. One of her greatest fears was about to happen in a matter of seconds.

She scooted closer to Harry and held onto his waist in a deathlike grip, shoving her head against his back.

"I swear Harry, if you let go —" she warned.

"Go on, then!" Hagrid roared slapping the hippogriff's rear. Without warning the large twelve foot wings flapped open and the hippogriff flew into the air. She could feel rush of the wind the wings were producing as her hair whipped around her head. Kirsten peeked her head from the back of Harry's neck and exhaled when she realized that they were not that high off the ground. The hippogriff continued to fly around the paddock and Kirsten kept her head up, looking at her surroundings. If she weren't afraid of falling, she would've admired how free she felt on the hippogriff, the wind whipping her hair around her face.

Even with that feeling, Kirsten still got off the hippogriff's back as quickly as she could once Buckbeak landed back on the ground. Harry laughing at her in the process.

"Good work, Harry and Kia!" Hagrid roared. "Okay, who else wants a go?"

The rest of the class climbed cautiously over into the paddock.

"See, flying's not that bad," Harry muttered to the grey eyed witch. "So will you learn how to ride a broom?"

The death glare sent his way caused him to laugh again.

Kirsten watched the other students in her class bow down to their respective hippogriffs and couldn't help the chuckle that left her lips when she spotted Neville running away from his. Ron and Hermione practiced on a chestnut one, Harry heading towards them, while Kirsten just stayed near Buckbeak, petting him.

"Move, Carlisle. I want a go with it," Malfoy sneered. Kirsten smirked at the pompous git, allowing the Slytherin some room to get to the hippogriff.

"By all means, go ahead," Kirsten told him, crossing her arms.

After seconds of Malfoy staring the hippogriff down, and Kirsten's silent pleading for Buckbeak to attack him, he bowed back to Malfoy. Buckbeak moved closer to the two of them, which made both Crabbe and Goyle back away.

"This is very easy," Malfoy drawled, loud enough for Harry to hear him as well. "I knew it must have been, if you and Potter could do it…I bet you're not dangerous at all, are you?" he said to Buckbeak. Kirsten narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you, you great ugly brute?"

It was at precise moment that Kirsten Carlisle wished she stood with Harry instead of letting her minor attachment to Buckbeak keep her where she was.

As the hippogriff got on its hind legs, Kirsten felt something push her away. However, when she fell to the floor a searing sharp pain swept across her back.

Kirsten pushed her head off the ground to see Malfoy right next to her. Her vision was a bit blurry, but the fuzziness faded as she blinked several times in a row.

Unfortunately, the sharp pain was still there.

"I'm dying!" Malfoy yelled and Kirsten could hear people panicking. Her breathing was shallow as she tried to steadily pick herself up. She grunted in pain as she steadily pushed herself off the ground. The sharp pain in her back wouldn't allow her to stand up straight and she blinked back black dots forming in her vision as she swayed dangerously. Almost falling to the ground, Kirsten felt a sturdy pair of arms keep her still.

"I'm dying, look at me! It's killed me!"

Kirsten sucked in the pain for only several seconds as she glared at blond writhing on the floor and kicked the whining boy.

The platinum blond wizard moaned in pain and began to whine once more, making Kirsten kick him once again after shrugging off the pair of arms holding her up. The sound the fool was making was reduced to mere whimpering after the last kick. As she turned slightly, the pain she felt almost sent her tumbling to the ground but she could feel another pair of arms around her.

"Thanks, 'Mione."

"Yer not dyin'!" Hagrid said, his face very white. "Kia! Yer—"

"I'm fine, Hagrid. I'll live, just pick the bastard up and I'll be right behind you," she told him. The giant man looked unsure but went ahead and picked Malfoy up, leading the Kirsten and Hermione towards the castle.