Our first lesson the next morning was Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid. Harry couldn't seem to meet my gaze all morning, and Hermione had insisted on changing the bandages on our arms. Luckily, it looked like they'd stopped bleeding, but since we still had no idea why they were there in the first place, I kept expecting to look down and see my sleeve dripping in blood again.
"So, Care of Magical Creatures first?" I questioned awkwardly as the four of us stood up from breakfast, slinging our bags over our shoulders. Ron and Hermione exchanged an awkward look, but Harry cleared his throat and kept his gaze straight ahead.
"It's Hagrid's first lesson with us," he commented in monotone. "I hope he isn't doing anything dangerous."
Ron let out a nervous laugh. "Dangerous? It's like you don't know him at all." Hermione scowled at him as we stepped out of the castle, starting down the grass and toward Hagrid's hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
Before we'd even got halfway, a shrilly cackle made me flinch violently.
I glared across the grounds at Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson, who hadn't seen us coming yet. Parkinson was, of course, practically drooling over Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle, Malfoy's bodyguards, were stood at either side of him, looking at Parkinson with a mixture of curiosity and disgust.
"Get a room, would you?" I cringed as we walked by. "I'd like to keep my breakfast down this morning."
Parkinson gave me a look of disgust, but Malfoy smirked. "Finished running from Boggarts Williams?" he sneered.
"Finished running from your shadow Malfoy?" Harry snarled, coming to a halt beside the Gryffindors already waiting.
Malfoy's smirk faltered, but not for long. "How you two are still alive is beyond me," he said through his nose, holding his head high. "One scared of a Boggart and one scared of the Dementors. Bet they're dead by the time they get to fourteen."
In the same second, Harry and I had taken out our wands and held them at Malfoy. Parkinson squealed and ran to hide with her friends as Crabbe and Goyle took out their wands too, their faces contorted with anger. Ron and Hermione tensed, but I waved them away smirking.
"They don't know which end of the wand is which," I sneered.
"Who wants to bet the likelihood that you survive the day?" Harry spat at Malfoy, who was slowly turning white. My eyes narrowed and flicked to his hand, which was slowly moving to his back pocket.
"Expelliarmus!" I exclaimed and Malfoy's wand flew into the air. With his Seeker skills, Harry caught it easily before I could even consider it.
"Stupefy!" Crabbe and Goyle shouted, wands pointed at me.
"Protego!" The spells hit the shield and I stumbled back a few inches. "Bombarda!"
The three Slytherins were blown off their feet and slammed into the ground. I took a step forward but Harry grabbed my arm and pulled me back to his side, scowling down at Malfoy and his bodyguards. I had to grit my teeth to stop myself wincing as his fingers tightened around my bandage.
"I think you got them Arty," he said quietly.
I frowned down at them, watching as they struggled to stand up. "Little advice for the future Malfoy," I sighed. "Before you start having a go, remember that you can't fight your way out of a wet paper bag. Next time, you might not wake up for a few days." I turned and reluctantly went to meet Harry, Ron and Hermione. Hermione gave me a disapproving look, but said nothing.
Right on cue, Hagrid burst out of his cabin, beaming at everyone. "Well, follow me everyone!"
Harry cast me an anxious glance, but I was still scowling at the Slytherins, who were now getting to their feet slowly. Harry pushed me a little and I followed Hermione to the outskirts of the Forest. Hagrid led us around it for a while, before coming to a large paddock.
"Line up around the gate please," Hagrid called gruffly. I leaned heavily against the fence, resting my chin on my arms. "Oh, and you'll need your books too?"
"How are you supposed to open it?" Malfoy called rudely, taking out his book which he tied with rope. I bit my lip, scowling again. The boy never learned.
"You haven't opened them?" Hagrid asked slowly, his nerves showing. I gulped as he looked towards us. We shook our heads slowly and I grimaced. "Well, you stroke them!"
I took out my own copy of The Monster Book of Monsters, bound with my belt and tilted it on its side. Slowly, I undid the belt and, before it could bite me, ran a hand down its bind. It quivered in my hand and opened obediently. It lay still in my hand.
"Different," I murmured, flicking through the pages without any actual interest. I could still feel Hagrid's eyes on us.
"I thought it was funny," Hagrid mumbled.
Malfoy scoffed. "Yes, hilarious," he sneered. My hands tightened on the fence and I was sure I heard the wood crack slightly. My knuckled were pure white. I was waiting for Hermione to tell me to calm down, but she was scowling at Malfoy with just as much anger as I had.
"I'll just be a second," Hagrid called nervously. "No one move." He strode to the far end of the paddock and out of sight. Malfoy snorted loudly, strutting his way to the fence beside the other Slytherins. I frowned and shifted slightly. There was a clear divide between the Gryffindors and Slytherins. Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Blaise Zabini stood nearest to the Gryffindors, me, Harry, Ron and Hermione closest to them.
"This place has gone to the dogs," Malfoy snarled. I had to purse my lips to stop myself laughing. Why the hell was that funny?
"Go to hell," Hermione spat. I raised an eyebrow at her, but she didn't even look at me. I also noticed she was clutching her wand tightly. I couldn't help smirking.
"Don't speak to us like that Mudblood," Zabini growled.
Not a second had passed before I had Zabini at wand point, but he wasn't as stupid as Malfoy. The tips of our wands dug into the others throat uncomfortably and I heard movement behind me.
"Never call her that again," I snarled with narrowed eyes. Zabini snorted, digging his wand further into my throat. I imitated him.
"Hey, hey!" I didn't turn as Hagrid hurried toward us, holding multiple reins. "Wands away! No need for that."
"Yes there is," Zabini and I spat, not moving. The blood in my veins boiled as I looked at him. If looks could kill, he'd have been dead a while ago.
"Arty, wand away. You too, Zabini," Hagrid said, sounding more like a teacher than I thought possible. I took a small step back, wand still. Zabini narrowed his eyes, slowly lowering his. I felt someone pull me back and I stuffed my wand in my pocket again. Slytherins today just seemed to be asking for it.
"Leave it," Hermione said sternly, moving to stand between me and the Slytherins. I grunted once and rested my chin on my arms again. I wasn't in a good mood today anyway, the last thing I needed was problems with the Slytherins.
"Well!" Hagrid started. I looked up and raised my eyebrows. Four huge creatures were tied up beside him. They seemed to be half horse, half bird. But, after the shock had faded, they looked kind of cool. Gorgeous really.
"Hippogriffs!" Lavender gasped. "But aren't they dangerous?" she whimpered. I groaned quietly, banging my forehead into my arms. Beside me, Harry mumbled something dark under his breath.
"Of course not!" Hagrid chuckled. "But, first thing you should know is they're proud creatures. Easily offended. So don't ever insult one because it might be the last thing you do."
"Brilliant," Ron grumbled with a knowing look at me, Harry and Hermione.
"Always wait for the Hippogriff to make the first move, 'cause it's polite see? You walk toward him and bow. If he bows back, you can touch him. If not, move before he hurts you 'cause those talons are sharp. So, who wants to go first?"
The entire group took a step back, all apart from me, Harry, Ron and Hermione. I straightened out immediately, glaring back at the group. "Wimps," I frowned.
"I'll do it," Harry volunteered.
"Ooh, Harry!" Lavender gasped, clamping her hands over her mouth with wide shining eyes. "Remember your tea leaves!"
"Tea leaves?" I snapped, scowling at Harry. He shrugged at me and leapt over the fence. I caught myself before I could say anything else. Slowly, I turned to face Hermione, eyebrows raised questioningly.
"It's nothing," she dismissed quickly. "Professor Trelawney is a fraud. She doesn't know what she's talking about."
"Hermione," I growled, clutching the fence tightly. Her eyes widened a fraction. "What did she say?"
Hermione took a small step away, shaking her head stubbornly. "You'll just go off on one! Harry can look after himself you know."
"I know," I frowned, glancing at Ron. He gulped, shaking his head. "Ron."
"She said he's going to die," he said hurriedly. "She's saw the Grim in his tea leaves." Hermione whipped around and scowled at him as I gawped.
"Die?" I exclaimed. A few people turned to gaze at me. Harry faltered on his way to one of the Hippogriffs. He glared back at Ron for a few seconds, before shaking himself and continuing toward one of the creatures. "Die?" I repeated weakly.
"Now look who won't survive the day," Malfoy's sneer came. Again, I snapped. I flew around, but before I could grab my wand, Ron and Hermione had taken me by the arms and pulled me back. Parkinson cackled as Malfoy and his cronies smirked at me triumphantly.
"Good Harry!" Hagrid's voice came. I gazed into the paddock and saw Harry stood beside the Hippogriff, eyes narrowed at me. I pulled myself out of Ron and Hermione's grasp moodily and straightened out again. "He might even let you ride him." The look on Harry's face clearly displayed his reluctance. Hagrid, however, seemed not to realise because he picked Harry up easily and put him on the Hippogriff's back. He smacked its hind and it reared up. Harry just had time to hang on before the creature had taken off.
"Bloody tea leaves," I mumbled angrily, resting again on the fence. Harry only flew around the paddock once before the Hippogriff landed again. It didn't take long and wasn't really interesting to watch. Hagrid helped Harry off the creature and turned back to us as Harry jumped back over the fence.
"You really need to calm down," he frowned at me.
I snorted. "So I'm having a bad day, sue me." He groaned and leant on the fence.
"So who's next?" Hagrid beamed. The class still seemed reluctant to move. I glanced at Harry, then turned to Ron and Hermione. Ron shrugged and Hermione sighed. Harry laughed.
"They'll do it," he said. I scowled at him, but leapt over the fence anyway. Hermione and Ron followed me without hesitating.
"Great!" Hagrid grinned. "Artemis, you go to Buckbeak over there. Hermione, Ron over here."
"Oh goodie," I mumbled, extremely quietly as I headed for the Hippogriff. Buckbeak stiffened as I moved nearer. I got as close as I dared, eyes locked on the creature. I bowed as low as I could, still staring at it. Almost instantly, Buckbeak knelt down on one knobbly knee. I straightened out, smiling a little. Buckbeak snapped his beak loudly and the class gasped. But he was only being playful as far as I could see, as he trotted closer and nudged me with his head. He snapped his beak again and I noticed Hagrid's worried look. My eyes widened but I raised a hand and stroked Buckbeak gently. He calmed, leaning down and resting the side of his head on my shoulder. I lifted my other hand so that I was holding his head carefully and stroked his neck. He was amazing.
"Good job Artemis!" Hagrid's amazed voice came. I chuckled, eyes on Buckbeak. If it were legal to keep this as pets, I'd have one. Maybe it was because he was half horse.
The rest of the class was climbing over the fence cautiously and Hagrid was splitting them between the Hippogriffs.
"Artemis, over the fence please," Hagrid called. Reluctantly, I slipped away from Buckbeak and jumped over the fence.
"Wow," Harry smirked. "Good with animals I take it."
"All but Hermione's stupid cat," I said. I rolled a sleeve back and showed him the latest cut Crookshanks had given me. He winced. I gazed up at Buckbeak, who was now kneeling to Malfoy. Poor thing.
"I don't know what all the fuss is about," Malfoy said dramatically. "You're not dangerous are you, you ugly brute?"
He didn't have chance to breath before Buckbeak snapped and reared onto its hooves. He swiped out at Malfoy. The class fell silent and some quickly moved away from their Hippogriffs. I watched as Hagrid wrestled with Buckbeak and slipped his collar back on. Slytherins shielded Malfoy from view, but Hagrid was panicking.
After a quick glance at Harry, we'd both jumped the fence. I raced toward Buckbeak, who refused to be restrained. He halted at the sight of me and I bowed again. And, again, Buckbeak bowed patiently before jumping to his feet and snapping playfully. I chuckled as I leaned against his feathery neck and stroked his head.
"Artemis, maybe you should leave him for a while," Hagrid said quietly.
I sighed. "Hagrid, Malfoy was just being stupid. Buckbeak is fine now and he's calming down." Hagrid gave me an uncertain look before Parkinson squealed. He turned and hurried to Malfoy, leaving me with Buckbeak.
"Well, at least you know the right people to attack," I said, smiling at Buckbeak. He leant away from me and snapped his beak again a few times. It looked like he was laughing.