6. The Hippogriff

I stirred slowly awake as I felt the sun on my face and covers covering me. I looked round to see Hermione just waking up and Ginny nowhere to be seen, then it came to me that I was back in my bed, leaving me to guess that Fred must have brought me back here to sleep. I smiled slightly and blushed at the thought, until I realised I was looking like an idiot and slipped out of bed.

Opening the door, I walked out carrying my uniform and make-up bag to the bathroom. I reached the door and was about to knock to make sure if anyone was in there when Ginny opened the door, dressed yet looking a bit tired. However, when she saw me a sly and secretive smile crept along her lips and winking at me. "So...How was last night with Fred?" She asked quietly yet casually.

I looked at her and asked back, "How did you know I was with him?"

She shrugged and replied, "Boys aren't allowed near the girl's dormitory, so he called me and thankfully I'm a light sleeper, woke up and brought you back to bed."

I blushed at her explanation and finally answered her question. "We talked. When I saw him...my anger for him...just disappeared. Then I laid my head down on his lap and I just fell asleep."

Her smile grew wider at my reply. "He so likes you."

I scoffed and leaned against the doorway with her opposite me. "Shut up he doesn't. He was just being kind. Anyway move so I can get ready. Oh, wait for me?"

She chuckled as she leaned against the wall next to the door and nodded. "You have half an hour."

Twenty eight minutes and seventeen seconds later, I was ready after showering, brushing my teeth, changing, hair styling and doing my make-up and placed my wand in my right ankle boot. Ginny and I stepped out of the common room and walked down many stair cases - waiting as some moved - to the Great Hall. When we reached it, I walked past Malfoy who gave me a wink which I just returned a glare and reached the Gryffindor table.

I sat down between Fred and Harry. Ginny sat opposite me and sent me a secret smile, making me giggle as I grabbed a piece of toast.

George, who was next to Fred, started to ask me as I was spreading marmalade over my toast. "Care to share-"

Fred finished the question, "-The secret joke?"

I stopped mid-chew, looked at Ginny who was smiling at her food, making me smile and shake my head. I sighed my laugher and replied. "Don't worry." The twins gave us confused looks, but I looked up to Professor McGonagall who said my name. She handed me a piece of paper and I saw it was my timetable. I looked at my timetable for today as she carried down the table.

Scylla Marina Avalon

Gryffindor - 6th Year

Monday

9.00 - Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid

10.00 - Study of Ancient Runes with Professor Babbling

11.15 - Astronomy with Professor Sinistra

12.15 - Defence against the Dark Arts with Mad-Eye Moody

Lunch

13.00 - Free

14.00 - Potions with Professor Snape

I looked up in satisfaction. "What do you have Fred?" He showed me his. I saw that we were together apart from Study of Ancient Runes. He was even with me when I had a free period. "What about you Georgie?" I asked as I grabbed an apple. He handed me his and saw I was with him apart from Astronomy. He also had the same free period. "Alright! We nearly always together!" I exclaimed and after letting the boys see my timetable, they slowly dropped the paper to reveal huge grins.

As we made our way to a hut and was told by the twins that was were Hagrid lived, I sighed and looked up at the sky to see the sun out, shine brightly and making the day hot. "Fred. Hold." I demanded and didn't wait for a reply as I put my bag around his neck and draped my cloak over his shoulder. I then took my jumper off and rolled it up, stuffing it into my bag along with my cloak and took my bag back, feeling happy that I charmed my bag to be bigger on the inside.

Fred chuckled beside me and asked, "Better now?"

I smirked and shrugged my shoulders. "I would be if you carried my bag for me like a gentleman." Fred's cheeks blushed a bit but I had no idea why and let him take my bag for me. I saw George smiling slightly and nudged his twin.

They then started having a nudging war and I looked at my other side to see a brown skinned girl with black skin, also in Gryffindor come up beside me. "Hey, my names Angelina."

I smiled and nodded my head, "Scylla. So, what do you have planned for the new school year?"

She blushed slightly and whispered, the twins also trying to listen in, "I want Lee to notice me."

I squealed. "Ohh Lee! How romantic, how amazing...who's Lee?" Angelina chuckled at me and looked round a bit, then pointed at a brown skinned boy who had dreadlocks.

"Him. He's also in Gryffindor and our year. I want him to be able to notice me."

I looked from his figure that was in front of us back at Angelina. "Want me to step in? I could talk to him and try and pull a few heart strings of his so he got to know you."

Angelina looked at me with a huge grin, "Would you really?" I nodded and she lunged into a huge hug. "Thank you! Thank you! I owe you big time." I smiled and looked at her and she detached herself from me,

"Well...there is one thing you can do."

She tilted her head a bit, "What's that?"

"Let me be on the quidditch team. I'm good at any position you put me in."

She nodded with a smirk on her face. "I guess I could let you. Come to the practice starting next week. The twins are already on the team so just let them show you the way." I nodded my thanks and then she jogged on ahead to catch up with a girl who was waiting for her at the edge of the forest.

"What are you then when you're not learning and scheming? Cupid?" George inquired.

I laughed and latched onto his arm, "Why need assistance in love and girls."

He laughed and replied, "Nah, not me, but someone near does." I chuckled, mostly out of confusion but let it drop as I went back to stand next to Fred when we reached a clearing in the forest and saw a huge man already there.

"Hello everyone. I'm Hagrid and today, I will be showing you...a hippogriff." He stepped aside and there, was a beautiful beast, body of a horse, huge, beautiful wings and head of a bird. "So...who would like to meet her?" Everyone instantly stepped back and I looked round to see people like Harry, Ron, Hermione, the twins, Malfoy, Angelina and so on and back apart from me.

Typical.

"Scylla is it?" Hagrid asked and I slowly nodded. He smiled and motioned with his hand to step forward. I stepped round the huge boulder I was behind and stood opposite the hippogriff. "Now, take a few gentle steps forward while bowing, slowly though. She has to see that you're not a threat." I looked from Hagrid and then looked behind me to see my friends smile in support. Fred and Angelina however looked scared for my safety.

I looked back at the hippogriff and then bowed slightly and started taking a few steps forward. I stepped on a stick on my fifth step and heard a loud crack. A heard a few screeches and Hagrid urgently saying, "Back, back!" I did as I was told and the screeching stopped. I then looked through my eyelashes to see the Hippogriff approaching me, stopped near me and...

...bowed before me. It accepted me. I stood straight as everyone clapped and cheered, Hagrid threw it some dead animal and it caught it with its beak then ate it in one. "Now, next step, riding it." Hagrid spoke and grabbed me, "What?!" I screeched as I was hoisted onto the hippogriff.

"Careful now. Don't rip any feathers off." I gasped and clutched the neck as Hagrid tapped the hippogriff, jerking it response and running and then taking off. I clutched on as the Hippogriff flew and I slowly opened my eyes to see the view flying past. The hippogriff squawked quietly as its feet dipped into the river. I chuckled slightly and then held on firmly but not ripping any feathers out as the Hippogriff flew up high and then back to the forest.

We landed smoothly and I chuckled while Hagrid helped me down. I was then swept up by strong arms and saw it was Fred.

"That was amazing!"

"Bloody hell!"

"That was awesome!" I heard multiple voices say. I was slowly detached from Fred's arms and saw him smiling, "How do you feel?" He asked.

I laughed while shaking my head, "I have so much adrenaline right now I have no idea how to get rid of it!"

Everyone laughed but quietened down as Malfoy approached. "Please, anyone can ride a stupid and disgusting Hippogriff."

I scoffed and replied, "Please, you're too self-centred to even try."

He chuckled and shot back, "Careful what you say from now on Avalon. I happen to know a few secrets about you." I grew wide-eyed. "I know so many things about you. Your parents. Your new crush." I flinched and noticed everyone was listening.

"Shut up!" I lashed out. It was a bad idea as one of Malfoy's goons slapped me.

Everyone started forward but a Hippogriff stepped in and lashed out at Malfoy and his goons, making them scream and run. Hagrid stepped forward to tame the Hippogriff. Fred, Ginny and Hermione and some others all crouched down and saw that I was crying.

"You ok Scy?" Ginny asked. I looked up and looked at Fred and then stood and ran from the group, leaving everyone and my bag, just wanting everything to leave me alone.