AN:/ probably lots of mistakes, just warning you.
Batman Doesn't 'Do' Magic
Chapter Eight
By: deadlydaisy8o8
Originally Uploaded: April 5, 2013, 12:00AM
If there had been any question before, whether the Teachers at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry were subject to any sort of regulation or mandatory teaching classes, if they had ever acquired a teaching license or were instructed in how to best properly control a classroom and to teach in a way that was engaging and professional, it was now abundantly obvious that the answer was in the negative.
"Pipe down everyone! Class is 'bout to start. I promise you won' wan' ter miss this!" Once more the students had firmly segregated themselves based on the color of their robes. It was starting to become sincerely annoying, the way that the children limited their social groups, and how the faculty seemed to encourage the segregation. In response to Hagrid's bellowing the conversation of the wandering teenagers outside of the grounds keeper's hut died down to soft whispering.
"Right then. Today we are going to be learnin' about Hippogriffs!" Hagrid turned slightly and presented the already visible Hippogriffs to the class. Batman, in the back of the group caught some of the Slytherin's jabbing each other and making fun of the teacher.
"I had no clue. I'm so glad he told us or I never would have seen that one coming!" Batman narrowed his eyes but allowed the slight, as it was not disturbing anything, and it was not disruptive. Further more, discipline was not his problem at this moment. Hagrid went on, ignorant to the teasing that was going on directly in front of him.
"Now, who can tell me about Hippogriffs? Hermione!" Before the giant had even finished his question a young lady in the front had her hand up and was wiggling it around as if she had something to say of the utmost importance. It hadn't escaped Batman's notice that none of the class had even attempted to raise their hands, even if it appeared as if they knew the answer.
"Hippogriffs are creatures with the head front legs and shoulders of an eagle, and the body and hind legs of a horse. They have steely beaks, orange eyes and deadly talons. Hippogriffs are proud and should only be approached with the Hippogriff's permission. Hippogriffs are required to have a disillusion charm cast on them every day by those how own them in order to avoid detection by muggels." Batman raised his eyebrow beneath the cowl at the recitation, as that is what it was. Batman had no doubt that the girl had only memorized a text, and did not take the time to comprehend what it might mean before she filed it away in memorization. Hagrid however could not have been more pleased with the answer.
"Excellent! Five points ter Gryphindor. I couldn' have said it better myself. Now, just like Hermione said, Hippogriffs are proud creatures. You don't never want to be on the wrong side of one. Hippogriffs are easily offended, so when you do see one you'd best treat it with respect. In order to get close to one, you have ter ask it. First thing you do when he notices yeh, is ter bow, real low like, but keep eye contact cuz they don't like anything shifty. Then, if he bows back ter yeh, you can go up and touch 'im. And if he don't, then run away as fast a yeh can cuz those talons will take yur arm off! Now, who wants to go first?"
All at once, the class took a very large step backward. All except for one boy in the front.
"Harry! Well come on then don' be shy!" Before Harry could explain himself or rejoin the group he was under the weight of Hagrid's large hands and behind guided/forcibly manhandled towards the post that the Hippogriff was tethered to. Batman narrowed his eyes and shifted himself along the shadows of the hut, and over into the tree line so that he would be in a more direct position to stop anything should it go amiss. By this point it was inevitable that it would.
"Now this little buet's name is Buckbeak. Go on say hello!" There were several giggles from the group some ten feet away, though neither Hagrid nor Harry seemed to notice. Instead harry looked up to Hagrid with disbelieving eyes and upon seeing the sincerity of the request in Hagrid's face, turned back to the Hippogriff.
"H-Hello Buckbeak." The Hippogriff lazily shifted its weight and settled its gaze on where Harry was standing not three feet from its beak. Hagrid gave Harry a ruff nudge to the back that nearly sent him to the ground as he fed the boy his next instruction.
"Quick now, Harry. Bow, real low. As low as you can manage. But don't break eye contact!" As Hagrid stepped back Harry looked to the creature and gulped before he shakily bowed at the waste. His eyes open wide, obviously doing their best to stay open and resist blinking or breaking eye contact in any way.
When a long moment passed and the Hippogriff had yet to bow in return Batman moved silently to the edge of the shadows of the forest, ready to spring. It was in that moment that the Hippogriff lowered its head and bowed one knee.
"Very good Harry, you can go up and touch 'im now if you like." The boy quickly gained confidence as he slowly rose with the Hippogriff and tentatively pet tis beak. The boy turned with a beaming smile back to Hagrid.
"This isn't bad at all." Hagrid let out a laugh as he walked forward now.
"Course not. I think you're about ready to ride 'im now."
"What-" Before Harry could get out any more protest than that he was being plucked from the ground and set on top of the Hippogriff and with a very firm swat to the hindquarters the Hippogriff was sent trotting off to fly around the castle.
Batman watched the boy go as he listened to the gasps of awe coming from the class. Hagrid beamed with pride at the seeming approval coming from his class. Harry's shouts of elation were audible as the Hippogriff floated over the lake and came back around to land with the sound of the solid impact of its hoofs and talons on the ground. The Hippogriff trotted to a halt before the class and Hagrid clapped, and plucked Harry off of the creatures back. He pulled a slab of steak from within his coat and threw it up in the air for the Hippogriff to catch.
"Good boy Buckbeak. Magnificent show Harry. You're a natural! Now does anyone else want to have a go?" This time the entire class looked egger to participate. They raised their hands and waved them around shouting 'please!' and 'me next!'
"I'll go. If Potter can do it, it can't be that hard." Draco Malfoy pushed to the front of the group but didn't stop there; instead he continued to march forward. He spoke to the Hippogriff.
"You're just a trained animal. You probably can't even understand what I'm saying. A big stupid pet for the oaf. You don't scare me."
"Get back!" Before Hagrid could even shift his weight to think about pushing Draco out of the way, Buckbeak had reared up on its hind legs its talons extended as it let itself fall towards Draco's terrified face and his raised arm.
Like a phantom Batman shot out of his resting place and stood in front of Draco, causing him to stumble back and fall on his rear with an umph. Now directly underneath the rearing front limbs Batman caught the ankles of Buckbeak's peddling claws as they came down.
In anticipation of the immense weight of the animal Batman allowed his body to coil and bend at the waist arms and knees as he allowed the creatures downward momentum. Just as Batman was about to be crushed he slid out from underneath the animal and abruptly stood up, maintain his grasp on the creatures feet.
Buckbeak's front half was abruptly twisted to the side and his fall was broken by his left shoulder, his hind quarters naturally followed. Batman let go and leapt away to a safe range. Draco had scrambled backwards as soon as he had fallen and was out of the way.
Hagrid was standing in front of all of the students his arms extended as a human shield. Batman did not move from his spot, still in the Hippogriff's line of sight, but away from the group of children. There were short screams as the Hippogriff huffed and started to move. It rocked back and forth to swing itself back upright before it stood. It immediately turned towards Batman. It let out a screech before it walked, not trotted or cantered, but walked over towards Batman's position. The creature never broke eye contact with him and Batman never did either. As the Hippogriff approached Batman rose out of his combat ready position of a low crouch, but kept his knees unlocked and his muscles coiled. The pace of the animal indicated that it did not want to fight. Batman had no desire to either so he communicated that with his body language, just as the Hippogriff was with his pace.
The Hippogriff slowed, as it got nearer from a walk to a slow shuffle Batman made no other move, as the creature got close. His kept his muscles tight, and still, a completely motionless black pillar. The Hippogriff huffed before it stopped directly in front of him. The creature slowly extended its head and gently bumped Batman's chest with its beak, breathing in deeply through its nose before he withdrew. The creature then took two steps backward before it lowered itself to its knees and bowed its head to the ground, its eyes locked on Batman's.
Ignoring the class of whispers and exasperated noises Batman thoroughly examined the Hippogriff, assessing its intent. The tension in the creature as Batman continued to ignore its bow was visibly building. It was not poised to attack, however, but flee if it met Batman's rejection as evidenced by its weight shifting back and away, rather than forward as time stretched on. Now certain of Buckbeak's intentions and anxieties, Batman bent neatly at the waste, just enough to be recognized as a bow.
Buckbeak gave one last dip of its head before it rose and walked the two steps towards Batman, now playfully nudging Batman's shoulders and attempting to get underneath Batman's cape. It was that moment that Batman was sure that Buckbeak had been spending time with the thestrals he'd met the night before. Unlike last night, however, he now had an audience and did not want to risk the reputation he was building. He gave the Hippogriff a low growl in his throat and a glare. That was all that was needed to get the creature to back off. It dipped its head before it walked back over to the post it had been tethered to before.
With Buckbeak under control Batman turned back to the rest of the class to be met with a crowd of open mouths and wide eyes, including Hagrid. Batman searched the group of students before he found the one he was looking for. Batman walked up to the group of students and stood in front of Hagrid, staring down at a blonde teenager who was hiding behind the giant's massive legs. Batman looked from Hagrid to Draco to make sure that it was clear he was addressing the both of them. Before he spoke alternating his gaze between the two.
"Where I come from, do you know what we call people who ignore danger?" Both Hagrid and Draco shook their heads. Batman waited a moment and glared at the two before he turned his back to them.
"Dead." With that Batman walked calmly back up to the castle, leaving a silent group of third years and a grounds keeper behind him.