There's been a couple of recent reviews for this chapter regarding evolution, as this chapter goes into some of the views that Harry possesses regarding such things, so I thought I'd list my own so everyone knows where I stand on the particular issues expressed, should you choose to read the author's note.
I'd first like to say that this author's note only explains some things, and I'm not pushing anything on anyone. I don't claim to be an expert on anything I'm going to express below, and if you don't like what you'll read here in the author's note, simply don't read it and skip to the chapter. Again, just to clarify, I'm not pushing anything on anyone. You're perfectly free to skip this author's note, or even go read another fan fiction, whatever you like.
I'd like to state, for the record, that I believe evolution exists. Even humans have evolved. The different colors in our own skin is evidence of that. Microevolution is, I believe, an example of this. Now, that being said, what I personally don't believe, is that human beings evolved from another species, I believe this would be referred to as macroevolution. To my knowledge, there's no direct evidence to support such a thing, or consistently reproducible lab experiments that can show you that one species can, through natural selection, evolve into an entirely different species over a great deal of time. This is, as I understand it, the theory of evolution. From what I've gathered, it's mostly speculation based, perhaps in part, on consistently reproducible experiments regarding microevolution, and a question of, why couldn't it happen over sixty-million years or so, or why couldn't it have happened. There's also some fossils that attempt to provide this evidence, I believe, but I don't think there's any evidence beyond speculative evidence for the theory of evolution.
There's also the topic of a higher power that's brought up, and talk of decisions being predestined. I, personally, believe that God does exist as this higher power, and that all of our decisions are already known, which in no way detracts from our own freedom or our ability to make such choices. Simply because our choices are already known before we know them, doesn't mean that we now have no freedom in such choices. But, I won't go into the debates on the issue.
Now, on to the chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 30 Transfiguration, A Talk of Destiny, and Hippogriffs
"Good morning, class." Professor McGonagall's familiar tones greeted everyone. Harry, who was sitting next to Magic in the middle of the class, felt like everyone was glancing at him furtively, though given what had happened in Divination, he wasn't surprised.
"This year, we shall be working with more complex animal transfiguration than in our prior years, but we will not, I repeat, not, be transfiguring humans to animals and back again. Such things are quite dangerous to attempt on ones own without supervision. There is, however, one branch of human to animal transfiguration that can be quite useful. Animagi are such wizards and witches who can transfigure themselves into a particular animal at will, though this takes a great deal of work to learn and accomplish."
The words of Professor McGonagall led Harry to think about Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew, both of whom were Animagi, and he found himself wondering exactly what Sirius was doing. He curiously wondered what both Sirius and Sharen would think of him becoming an Unspeakable so early in his life because of his natural proclivity for magic, then remembered he had to keep it a secret from everyone. He felt a little twinge of regret, but felt more fascination than anything about what he might be delving into. Professor McGonagall's voice brought him back to focusing on the transfiguration class, however, and he listened.
"Because of the dangers involved, and due to the variety of animal forms one can have, Animagi are required to register with the Ministry of Magic, or pay a fine for not registering. After all, it wouldn't due to have a wizard or witch, who is a danger to others, roaming around in an unregistered form. There are currently eight known registered Animagi. I, myself, am one of them."
Harry felt the transforming magic, heard a pop from where Professor McGonagall was. He then heard a meow and smiled a little. After another pop, he realized the class was rather silent, though guessed they understood the seriousness of her lecture. To his surprise, Professor McGonagall said, "Really, what has got into you all today? Not that it matters, but that's the first time my transformations not got applause from a class."
Harry felt like everyone was staring at him again, then he heard Hermione say, "Please, Professor, we've just had our first Divination class, and we were reading the tea leaves, and..."
"Ah, of course." Professor McGonagall sounded a bit disapproving. "There is no need to say any more, Miss Granger. Tell me, which of you will be dying this year?"
"Well..." Hermione began, still sounding nervous. "She tried to say that Harry... Well that he had the Grim, but Magic told her how illogical it was and how imprecise the prediction of the future could be, and she made Harry and Magic leave."
"Is that so, Magic?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"I did state many possible paths of the future." Magic responded. "I stated that prediction of a single, definite path was unknown. Professor Trelawney stated that I might benefit from advanced tutoring, but she wasn't predicting the future with any magic. I informed her that she was demonstrating parlor tricks, not predicting true, accurate future events. She asked me to leave, but Harry didn't wish me to leave, and I do as he wishes. She then asked us both to leave. We did."
After a moment, Professor McGonagall said, "I don't at all blame you for having little patience with, what as you stated, is an imprecise branch of magic. I, myself, feel the same, but will advise you that such disrespect of a professor is not generally tolerated here. I shall leave any appropriate punishment with her, as it was she whom you told this to. Also, you may wish to know that greeting a new class with seeing death omens is her favorite way to introduce the subject, and she has predicted the death of a single student each time. None have died yet, Mr. Potter, so I find it unlikely you will be the first."
"So do I, Professor." Harry replied, surprised that she hadn't done anything more strict, given what he'd done, or rather, what Magic had done.
"Given that you are blind, I find it odd that she would predict the Grim for you, as only by sight of it does one supposedly die." Professor McGonagall stated.
"Professor Trelawney wasn't observing closely, and Harry can be mistaken for a sighted person wearing dark glasses, should he not be using his cane, and one not observe him closely enough. Climbing the latter required that Harry fold his cane, and therefore, he didn't have it out at the time." Magic stated. "She also seems reclusive."
"Yes, she is that." Professor McGonagall stated. "Well, Mr. Potter, as you are rather unconcerned with this prediction of Professor Trelawney's, and as you look in excellent health to me, I shall not be excusing you from homework today."
"Even if I was terminally ill or some such, I'd still want to work." Harry said, smiling a bit.
"Well." Professor McGonagall said after a few moments. "Shall we, then, return to the subject at hand?"
After transfiguration ended, Harry took hold of Ron's arm as they began their trek toward the Great Hall for lunch.
"Really crazy, mate, wasn't it?" Ron asked. "I mean, the Grim? For you?" Ron laughed.
"And then she went on to say that its growl would be deadly?" Harry asked.
"That's a load of rubbish." Ron said. "It's only when you see the Grim that something actually happens to you."
"Nonsense." Hermione interjected calmly from behind them.
"Hermione, my uncle Bilius saw a Grim and he died twenty-four hours later!" Ron said.
"Coincidence." Hermione said, sounding unconcerned.
"Hermione, you don't know what you're talking about." Ron said, sounding a bit annoyed. "Grim's scare the living daylights out of most wizards."
"There you are, then." Hermione replied. "They see the Grim and die of fright. The Grim's not an omen, it's the cause of death!"
"Daphne!" Ron said. "You know what the Grim is, right?"
"I know the myth surrounding it, but Hermione's logic is sound." Daphne responded, also sounding calm. "I was, however, in Arithmancy, not divination. Perhaps you both should have taken Arithmancy."
"Which is what, exactly? Just a bunch of math." Ron said, shrugging it off.
"It's a lot more than that, actually." Hermione began. "It's all about the study of numbers and what their magical properties are, predicting the future using numerology and number charts..."
"Here we go again." Ron groaned.
"Hermione, magic's magic. How do numbers have magical properties?" Harry asked.
"Well, it's really quite simple. In the creation of spells, you have to use numbers in various forms, and some numbers are more stable or more powerful than others, like the number seven, which is reputed to be the most powerful magical number." Hermione replied.
"That's sure not what I do." Harry said. "I just manipulate magic directly, I don't need spells or incantations."
"Well, you're different than everyone else is, everyone knows that." Hermione stated.
"I suppose." Harry replied.
"I think Divination seems very woolly. A lot of guesswork, if you ask me." Hermione said as they rounded a corner.
"Guesswork?" Harry asked. "Well, from what Magic said, it was like people looking for shapes in clouds. It just doesn't make sense."
"Exactly." Hermione replied, agreeing with him. "Even Magic said she couldn't predict a single path of the future with certainty, right, Magic?"
"I can predict a single path of future with certainty, but a single path of the future that we will experience is uncertain due to the myriad variables and actions that can occur. The future is a constantly changing and complex thing to attempt to predict." Magic said.
"But is there a single, certain path, even if you can't see it?" Daphne asked.
"Yes." Magic responded.
"So, then is the future already known?" Ron asked. "So for example, are our actions predetermined or something?"
"Unknown, but if they were, it would make no difference, because our limitations won't allow us to see the future that may or may not be predetermined. However, it's logical to believe that our future is predetermined due to the data I collected about Harry's experiment with time travel." Magic stated.
"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked.
"Harry and I both felt a power greater than ourselves during the time travel. While we would have the choice to go against the warnings and feelings we received, doing so would end our existence and cause a paradox. The power greater than ourselves is the universe itself, which is too complex to have come into being without an external intelligence." Magic stated.
"External intelligence, like what, exactly?" Hermione asked. "A higher power? I find that unlikely."
"Explain the existence of the universe without such a being." Magic stated.
"Well, there's the big bang theory." Hermione said. "It's a thing Muggle scientists came up with."
"Which doesn't work." Harry said. "Because even then, it's just saying that the universe was made by something that exploded, or whatever. I never really got into the theory, but that's basically what I understand of it. I mean, think about it. What happened before that?"
"Nobody knows." Hermione replied.
"Exactly." Harry said. "People just don't want to believe that there might be a higher power out there, who already knows our decisions, so in that sense they're predetermined. People like to think they're in control of their lives because that's what they're more comfortable with."
"But we are in control of our lives." Ron said. "Otherwise, we don't have our own destinies, but we do."
"How do you know that someone out there, the creator of the universe maybe, didn't know you'd say that, and know I'd say what I said, Ron?" Harry asked. "Just because someone might know exactly what we do, and our actions are predetermined already, doesn't mean that we can't freely choose. It just means that what we choose is already known."
"You've lost me, mate." Ron said.
"And I agree with Hermione." Daphne responded. "There's no evidence for the creator of the universe, or any higher power."
"Oh yes there is." Harry said with a grin. "I lean more toward that than the alternative, which basically just says that the universe came into existence by itself, on accident, and everything we're going through is just random chance. Ever seen order come from an explosion? I haven't."
"So what name do you give this higher power that supposedly exists?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know, really, I haven't really thought too much beyond that." Harry responded.
"Maybe you should." Hermione replied. "It sounds like you might be interested in religion, that's where it seemed to be going anyway. I could lend you some books for a little light reading if you wanted, I've got some."
"I'm more interested in what's true, not some man made stuff." Harry said.
"Well that's all it is, man made to say that there's a higher power out there." Hermione stated.
"No, it's logic." Harry responded.
"Logic? Yeah right!" Hermione sounded indignant.
"Further proof." Magic stated. "Atoms would rip themselves apart, if not held together by something. That something is unknown and invisible to us, and impossible to measure at the current time."
"It's just a mystery of the universe, but it doesn't mean that some greater power's holding it all together." Hermione said.
"Well, you're just proving that you're not comfortable with a greater power having predetermined everything, just like I said." Harry said.
"Just when did you think about all this anyway, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"When I was eight, nine. Talked about it with Magic, too, and she's a lot more logical than me." Harry said. "She was the one who convinced me that it was possible, and how illogical it was to believe in something like the theory of evolution which there's no real evidence for."
"You're just not thinking." Hermione huffed.
"You're unwilling to examine the possibility." Magic stated. "You believe all your answers lie in books, the material, physical world."
"And what's wrong with that?" Hermione asked.
"It closes your mind." Magic stated.
"Perhaps we should change the subject." Daphne said as they entered the Great Hall. "This kind of conjecture will only serve to cause rifts and arguments. I already see that happening."
"Yeah, Harry, let's talk about something else." Hermione said.
"Okay, then." Harry said. "What's Hagrid going to teach in his Care of Magical Creature's class today?"
"He's been keeping it pretty secret." Ron said. "I don't think even Hermione, the endless fountain of knowledge will know."
"I'm not an endless fountain of knowledge, Ron, I just read and..." Hermione began.
"And memorize all the books!" Ron cried. "When you answer questions you make it sound like you're regurgitating the text book!"
"At least that's better than, oh, Ron, can I please copy your history essay because I was too busy playing chess with Magic?" Hermione responded, trying to make her voice lower to sound closer to Ron's. Harry laughed, and as he did so, realized just how low his own voice was getting.
The air was fresh, Harry noted as he breathed through his nose and walked along next to Daphne, following the footsteps of his classmates as they headed toward Hagrid's hut after lunch. The rain last week must have cleared the air, Harry thought, though wondered what it would have been like had he been able to enjoy the outside air the day after he'd come to Hogwarts, which led him to remember that he actually had enjoyed it when he walked up to the school a week ago. As he turned his head left and right to hear sounds from different directions, he realized he could hear Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle talking with one another. Their class was with the Slytherins, then, Harry realized.
"C'mon, now, get a move on!" Hagrid's familiar booming voice said, and Harry smiled, having missed talking with him, and feeling a little guilty that he'd not come to speak with him earlier. "Got a real treat for yeh today! Great lesson comin' up! Everyone here? Right, follow me!"
Hagrid's footsteps, heavy as they were, were quite easy to follow. In addition to the rest of the class also walking, Harry felt fairly confident that he wouldn't get lost. He occasionally bumped into someone, even accidentally brushed hands with Magic, which made him want to feel her hand firmly gripping his own. Magic, of course, responded by grasping his hand in her larger, hotter one, and he blushed at the feel of her rather firm grip. For a moment, he tried to pull his hand from her unyielding strength, then stopped, redirecting his thoughts and trying to think of something else, anything other than her smooth skin against his, her long, strong, slender fingers grasping his hand. Not helping, he thought as he stopped walking with the rest of the class.
"Everyone gather 'round the fence here!" Hagrid said, and Harry focused on wanting Magic to let go so he could get closer to the fence without her. She responded immediately, and relieved but also feeling a bit of loss, Harry headed closer.
"That's it, make sure yeh can see, now, firs' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books..." Hagrid continued to speak. Harry stopped walking as he reached the approximate front of where the class was, and Hagrid trailed off as Malfoy interrupted.
"How?" His voice was its familiar cold drawl.
"Eh?" Hagrid asked.
"How do we open our books?" Malfoy asked, his question a bit slower as if he thought Hagrid was stupid. Harry found this a bit more irritating than he remembered, though wasn't too surprised about that, given the emotional changes he would likely experience as he grew older.
"Hasn'... Hasn' anyone bin able ter open their books?" Hagrid sounded disappointed.
"I discovered it by luck." Harry said, deciding to speak up and detail his experience. "I was feeling its spine with a finger, and it went still."
"Well done, Harry, well done." Hagrid said, clapping his hands a bit. "See? This is what yeh do." Harry heard Hagrid take one of the books, which he could hear attempting to move. It wasn't long until it opened.
"Oh, of course." Malfoy drawled. "We should have known to stroke them. How obvious. Or ask Potter, who seems to be able to do everything right!"
"I'm just as fallible as you are." Harry said a bit coolly. "I'm not perfect, Malfoy."
"Maybe you should prove it, then, Potter." Malfoy stated.
"All righ', all righ', settle down." Hagrid stated. "So, now yeh've got yer books, an' I'll jus' get the magical creatures. So, be righ' back."
After Hagrid stomped off, at least, it sounded as if he did, Malfoy stated, "This place is really going to the dogs. That oaf teaching classes? My father'll have a fit when I tell him."
"Undoubtedly, as you're probably both spoiled brats." Harry stated without thinking.
"How dare you, Potter!" Malfoy shouted angrily.
"What, going to tell your father?" Harry asked.
"Ooooooooh!" Harry heard one of the girls in the class squeal as he heard the sound of what seemed to be horses walking.
"Gee up, there!" Hagrid roared as Harry heard the clinking of the chains being shaken. Moments later, he heard them being clipped to the fence in front of him.
"Hippogriffs!" Hagrid happily announced. "Beau'iful, aren' they? So." Hagrid was rubbing his giant hands together. "If yeh wan' ter come a bit nearer..."
Harry, heart pounding, stepped closer to the fence, hearing a couple others on either side of him doing the same, and Magic's steady footsteps as she remained loyally with him. Though he wasn't too comfortable, Care of Magical Creatures was all about caring for magical creatures, and he couldn't very well do that if he was standing back and doing nothing at all. He never liked coming up to an animal that he wasn't at all familiar with, as he had no idea what they were going to do, not unless he was using Magic's knowledge, which he didn't feel was necessary at the moment.
"Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud." Hagrid said, his loud voice carrying. "Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Don't never insult one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh do."
Harry could hear some people muttering to themselves, and from the sound, could guess it was Malfoy and his friends. He found himself dreading what they might do, as he didn't want Hagrid's lesson to turn into something terrible.
"Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs' move." Hagrid continued, apparently either oblivious or not caring that Malfoy wasn't paying attention. "It's polite, see? Yeh walk toward 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. Right, who wants ter go first?"
Harry heard most of the class backing away, and stepped back a bit himself, hearing the animals flapping what sounded like large wings, pawing at the ground. He felt they probably didn't like being tethered to the fence.
"No one?" Hagrid asked in an almost pleading voice.
Harry's heart thumped in his ears as he got ready to do what he felt was probably the stupidest thing in his life. Trembling a bit, he stepped forward and said, "I'll do it."
"Don't fear." Magic stated as Harry climbed over the fence.
He felt Magic's thoughts, realized she was calculating the best way to keep him safe if anything happened. Hagrid sounded delighted, though, and said, "Good man, Harry! Right then, let's see how yeh get on with Buckbeak."
Harry heard one of the hippogriff's being moved away from the rest, and nervously turned toward it.
"Easy, now, Harry." Hagrid said. "Yeh'll wan' ter take off yer glasses. Tha's righ." Hagrid's voice was low and calm, Harry noted, which helped keep him a bit calmer. "Now, I reckon he'll know tha' yer blind, bu' try not ter blink. Hippogriffs don' trust yeh if yeh blink too much. ..."
Harry could feel his eyes starting to tear up a bit, but consciously struggled to keep them wide open, though wondered what good it would actually do.
"Tha's it, tha's it, Harry. Now, bow." Hagrid said in the same low, calm voice of before.
Harry bent down in a long bow, trying to be respectful, just as Hagrid had said. He then straightened up, hearing the hippogriff struggling a bit.
"Buckbeak?" Hagrid said in a warning tone. "Jus' calm down, now. Yeh know, actually, Harry, I think he's wantin' ter come toward yeh."
Harry felt a bit of fear shoot through him, his heart beating quicker, almost sure this was a bad idea. He stood his ground, though, hearing the clopping feet as the animal came closer and closer to him, and quite gently, bumped him with his beak. Very slowly, Harry reached forward, not wanting to intimidate the animal.
"Can I touch you, is that okay?" Harry asked quietly.
He felt the feel of its beak bump against his hand, and lightly patted it, touching it and realizing it felt quite dangerous. Buckbeak wasn't making any aggressive moves, though, and he heard Hagrid clapping.
"Well done, Harry, great work!" Hagrid said, sounding rather cheerful.
"You're very nice, Buckbeak." Harry said. He wanted to make certain that the animal didn't think he was insulting, as Hagrid had mentioned that insulting a hippogriff might be the last thing you could do. Harry felt Buckbeak move a bit, leaning against him a little. The class broke into applause along with Hagrid.
"Great job, Harry, I knew yeh could do it!" Hagrid said. "I bet he'd let yeh ride him, Harry, go on."
Harry felt he'd already done much more than he'd wanted, but he wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing. IN fact, he was feeling calmer in terms of his fear, though more nervous now at what the experience would be like. He'd never ridden anything but his broomstick before, and if they actually had wings, he wasn't sure exactly how steady the flight would be.
"Can I ride you, then, Buckbeak?" Harry asked. He did so more for Hagrid's sake than his own, as what he really wanted to do was leave.
Buckbeak, however, lowered himself to the ground and allowed Harry to touch him, feeling his way along his back. Harry climbed on, feeling Hagrid's giant hands help reposition him a bit.
"Tha's good, Harry. Now, jus' hold on ter somethin', but don' pull out his feathers, he won' like tha'." Hagrid said, then roared, "Go on!"
Harry heard a slapping sound, then Buckbeak rose onto his four legs before he heard the large wings flap open completely on either side of him. He grabbed Buckbeak around the neck as he began to rise into the air, and immediately realized how uncomfortable the situation with this flight was. It wasn't nearly as steady as a broom, the flapping of the wings made him feel like he was going to fall off, made the flight unsteady, moving up and down, and his grip kept slipping on Buckbeak's neck. His heart pounded in terror and all he wanted to do was leave, go somewhere safe. He gasped and struggled to hold on as the wings flapped and he flew higher. The only thing stopping him from doing anything was that he didn't want to insult Buckbeak in any way, otherwise, he was sure Magic would have teleported him to her side by now. He felt the feeling of his magic soothingly moving throughout his body, the warm, steady flame wrapping around him in its embrace, as if to calm him, tell him everything was okay. It was gentle and constantly seemed to move throughout him in a very caring sort of way, and he focused on the feel of the flame rather than the feel of the flight as he felt himself turning.
Harry was flown around for a bit before he felt Buckbeak heading down, and tensed, bracing himself. The flight was already rough enough, he could only imagine what the landing was going to be like. His heart thumped hard in his chest and he was almost panting with the fear of the experience that was totally out of his control and completely unknown. He leaned back as Buckbeak headed down, and barely was able to hold on as his feet hit the ground and he walked a bit, slowing to a stop.
"Good work, Harry!" Hagrid roared, helping his shaking form off Buckbeak. "Who else wants a go?"
Apparently, if Harry could do it, so could everyone else, as Harry heard everyone else starting to climb over the fence. He, on the other hand, climbed back to the safe side of it, his heart thumping in his chest as he stepped back. Magic's right arm wrapped around him very gently and she said, "I'm here."
"I know." He responded. "Thanks." His trembling was calming as he took deep breaths, not wanting to ever do anything like that again. Magic tucked him close to her and Harry leaned against her tall form as he took deep breaths, calming from the feel of his magic within him, and Magic's physical presence next to him. About a minute or so later, he heard Malfoy's familiar drawl, and from his tone, it didn't mean anything good.
"This is very easy. I knew it must have been if blind Potter could do it. I bet you're not dangerous at all, are you? Are you, you great ugly brute?" Malfoy's tone was arrogant, as if he could do no wrong, but if the hippogriff understood him, he was about to be in for a world of trouble. Without a second thought, Harry acted, knew he had to keep him safe, didn't want Buckbeak to kill Malfoy, even though he was a bully.
Magic responded to Harry's thoughts. She manipulated the magic within both she and Harry to form an invisible shield around Malfoy, which would prevent any physical attack without harming the attacker. Magic stared as Buckbeak's talons flashed, Malfoy letting out a high scream of fear. Hagrid was wrestling Buckbeak back into his collar quite quickly, and Malfoy stood, eyes wide and face pale in an expression Magic recognized as sheer terror. He was still standing, though, and uninjured.
"I'm dying!" Malfoy screamed as he stumbled wildly, falling to the ground. Harry, knowing that Malfoy was okay, felt furious, but didn't trust himself to say or do anything. Magic acted on Harry's wishes, however, and in the next instant, Malfoy was at her feet and she was gripping his shirt in a hand, pulling him up effortlessly.
"You aren't injured. Grow up." Magic stated placidly as Malfoy stared up at her with wide eyes. Magic stared down at him, noticing his expression was starting to change to that of anger.
"How... How dare you interfere with what I was doing!" Malfoy shouted, and Harry realized his anger was growing greater. "How dare you... Let me go!" Magic released him.
"What were you trying to do, Malfoy?" Harry asked angrily. His heart pounded for another reason now, for that of anger, that Malfoy had been paying no attention, and due to his inattentiveness, had almost been injured. "You could have been killed!"
"I told yeh!" Hagrid roared as he hurried over to Malfoy. "You're lucky Harry was here to save yer life! I told yeh, don' insult a hippogriff!"
"It's not over, Potter!" Malfoy shouted, then Harry heard a slap.
"Don't hit Harry." Magic stated calmly.
"Righ', Malfoy, detention!" Hagrid roared. "And twenty points from Slytherin!"
"You can't do that!" Malfoy shouted back.
"Yeh I can, I'm a professor! You goin' ter listen or are we talkin' ter Professor Dumbledore?" Hagrid asked, still talking loudly to him. Needless to say, Malfoy was rather miffed, but Harry took his furious shout to him seriously. He wasn't concerned, though, but decided to get ready for an attack, just in case one came. None had yet this year, but he never knew with Malfoy.
"I can't believe what Malfoy did!" Ron's voice sounded angry as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Daphne walked back up to Hogwarts, Magic walking behind Harry, Ron on his left, Hermione on his right, and Daphne in front of him.
"You ought to." Harry said. "What gets me is that I think he was purposefully trying to screw up the lesson." He felt another wave of anger at the thought, his heart beating a little faster.
"He doesn't want Hagrid to teach." Daphne said calmly. "So, it wouldn't surprise me if you're right. Malfoy has always cried the father card with everything, and it seems he'll do anything he can to try and get his way."
"Well, if he keeps it up, he's going to get himself killed." Hermione stated smartly.
"Harry, perhaps next time you shouldn't do anything." Daphne said.
"What?" Harry asked in shocked surprise. "Are you serious, not do anything?"
"How will people ever learn if you don't let them experience the consequences of their actions, Harry?" Daphne asked, her voice firm. "Are you going to save everyone from everything all the time?"
"No, but..." Harry began.
"Well, then, if Malfoy wants to get himself hurt, let him. Don't protect everyone." Daphne said.
"But..." Harry began. Hermione interrupted, sounding irate.
"How can you even say that!" She shouted. "Harry did a good thing saving Malfoy! And you want him to just let it happen next time? How cold are you, Daphne? How dare you!"
Despite Hermione's attitude, he knew Daphne was right. He wanted to save people, to keep them safe, but at the same time, Malfoy didn't really understand the consequence of the action he'd taken. He might do it again when Harry was around, just because he thought he could get away with it, because he thought Harry would protect him again.
"Harry, I know you want to help, but people can use that against you." Daphne said, her voice still firm, but a bit cool, perhaps because Hermione had shouted at her. "People could use that caring nature of yours against you, just so you'll save them from stupid things. So don't do that next time, just let him learn, let them learn."
"And what if someone were to die because Harry let them learn?" Hermione asked furiously.
"That's not Harry's problem that the person decided to do whatever they did. Is it, Hermione?" Daphne asked.
"No, but he'd be responsible for their death for not doing something to stop it!" Hermione shouted back.
"And I thought you were so logical." Daphne said, sounding calmer than Hermione, but still angry in her own way. "So I guess Harry's responsible for the individual's actions, then, because he's controlling what they did? Sounds to me like you're trying to make Harry responsible for anyone he saves, and laying the blame for what they do on him, because it begins with what the person does. And unless Harry's possessing someone or controlling them, and we don't know about it, he's sure not responsible for their actions."
Hermione huffed.
"Is Harry responsible for Malfoy insulting Buckbeak, then, Hermione?" Daphne asked.
"No, of course not." Hermione replied.
"Of course he isn't, because he saved him. But what if he hadn't? Did Harry speak Malfoy's words for him, or what? Did Harry come up with that plan?" Daphne asked.
"No, but..." Hermione began.
"There you go then." Daphne responded.
"But you can't say Harry's not responsible for failing to save a life." Hermione huffed, irritated.
"Did your parents ever warn you not to do something, which you did anyway, that ended up hurting you? And they eventually got around to asking you if you now knew why they asked you not to do whatever this action was?" Daphne asked.
"Of course, so I can learn." Hermione responded.
"There you go." Daphne said. "Discussion closed."
"But if..." Hermione began.
"No, discussion closed, that's it!" Daphne called loudly.
Harry supposed he could understand where Daphne was coming from, but he also knew there were times when he could, and should save lives, If the person who was hurting themselves had deliberately planned such a thing, though, or as Malfoy had done, got hurt due to inattentiveness as Harry wasn't fully convinced Malfoy hadn't planned to get himself hurt, he knew it was best not to intervene. As he headed up the stairs into the entrance hall, he found himself thinking briefly about some scenarios of such things, trying to determine who he should help, and in what situations he should help them. That soon left his mind, though, and he found himself wondering what would be in store for him at his first lesson with Rose Landry, the Ministry Unspeakable.