Chapter 45: Fly Like an Eagle

After a toasted cheese sandwich and bowl of tomato soup, Harry was revved up and ready for the afternoon outside. Lucky for him as they were introduced to Venomous Tentacula which appeared to love Harry's arms. It wasn't like Harry was poor at Herbology, he just didn't care much for it, nor was he great. Thanks to Neville Harry was kept from visiting the Hospital Wing, as they wrestled with the venomous vines that were apparently cousins with Devil's Snare.

"You doing okay, Harry?" Hermione asked as Harry fought with a particularly fierce vine.

"I'm just having flashbacks to the musical you showed me," Harry said. "I'm wondering if this plant showed up after a solar eclipse because this mean, green mother just seems out for my blood."

"You just need to know how to pacify it," Neville stroked the vine in the right place to relax it as Hermione laughed at Harry's comparison.

Washing up after their battle with the plant, Harry led the trio toward the enclosures at the back of the castle where the Care classes were held. Standing next to them was Hagrid, beaming at the trio approaching.

"Good afternoon, Professor," Harry put special weight on the title, making Hagrid beam.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Potter," Hagrid returned the greeting. Looking up, he saw the rest of the class walking up. "Everyone gather close now. I got summat special for yer today."

Harry looked around to see who else was in the class. He spotted Daphne standing with Tracey, Vinny and Greg; Susan with Hannah, Justin and Ernie and, much to Harry's displeasure, Draco Malfoy leaned on a tree, trying to look aloof while also entertaining Pansy and Theo with something amusing. He also noticed Millicent Bulstrode standing by herself. Seeing that he still had some time, he walked up to her.

"Good afternoon, Miss Bulstrode," Harry bowed. "How are you today?"

"You're talking to me?" Harry realized he had never spoken with her before. Surprisingly, he discovered she had a very sweet-sounding voice.

"Why not?" Harry recognized the signs of ostracization that Hermione once had. "You've done nothing to me and I thought you looked a little lonely."

"Most people just ignore me," Millicent said. "They can't be bothered to spend time with someone as ugly as me."

"You're not ugly," Harry said. "You've got great eyes and a wonderful voice. Would you like to join me and my friends?"

"I think I would like that," she blushed and walked back toward the group with him. "And you can call me Millie."

"Harry," his green eyes shone as she walked with him to stand with Hermione, Neville, Parvati, Lavender and the Slytherin Four.

"Welcome to Care of Magical Creatures," Hagrid said. "I am Professor Hagrid, though Hagrid will do just fine. In this class we will be studying the creatures of the magical world, many of whom live in this very forest. Now everyone listen closely because I won't say this twice: if yer not paying attention in this class, you will be putting yerself and yer classmates in danger. These are all wild animals I will be introducing you to; if you don't respect 'em, they will react as a wild animal would. Not paying attention in Charms will make it impossible ter do proper spells. Not paying attention here could lose you limbs or worse. Got it?"

The class muttered their assent.

"In this class we'll study everything from Flobberworms to… oh my," Hagrid stopped his speech as a unicorn walked out of the forest. Harry saw the creature with its pure-white coat and an ugly red scar running down its side: it was the unicorn he encountered in his first year.

"Remember this day, class" Hagrid was awed. "Unicorns are some of the rarest magical creatures you can find and they rarely ever make themselves seen."

As Hagrid talked, the unicorn trotted closer to the class. Hagrid told the class to hold their position to not spook the creature. Harry watched with wide eyes as the unicorn came to next to him, with his head between him and Hermione. Dropping its head down, the unicorn allowed Harry to reach a hand out and stroke down his side. Hermione, awed at the scene stood stock-still. Once Harry's hand made contact, Hermione moved hers up to pet the creature as well. They were so enamored, they didn't realize Hagrid using this moment to teach.

"…are very proud creatures and exceptionally skittish around males," Hagrid said. "What yer witnessing is one of the rarest moments you'll ever get."

"Glad you're doing okay," Harry patted the unicorns neck. "I've been wondering about you for some time."

As soon as it came, the unicorn stamped its hooves, let out a breath and turned back to the forest.

"10 points to Gryffindor for… whatever that was," Hagrid said. "Now if yer come over here, you'll see the creature I picked out for your first class. Here they are."

Inside the enclosure, a herd of the oddest looking birds they had ever seen. They appeared to have the body of a horse with the front legs and talons of a bird of prey with a matching eagle-like head.

"Beautiful aren't they?" Hagrid beamed. "Hippogriffs. A magnificent horse, with the brain of a bird. Now pay attention, the first thing you have ter know about Hippogriffs is they are very proud creatures, especially the alpha."

Harry looked over his shoulder to see Malfoy pantomiming Hagrid's actions to mock Hagrid while also ignoring what he was saying.

"Now in order for the herd to accept ya, the alpha must first accept ya. His name is Buckbeak but I just call him Beaky," Hagrid said. "Who will be first?"

The entire class stepped back except for Harry and, because he was standing behind her, Hermione. She tried to move back yet only succeeded in falling backward into Harry.

"Knew it would be the two of yer!" Hagrid's smile grew wider. "Now enter the enclosure and step up until Beaky notices you. Once he notices you, bow deeply while keeping eye contact. Be sure not ter blink too much, nor should you challenge him. Let him accept you."

Hermione fell a half step behind Harry as they slowly trudged toward the majestic bird. Suddenly its head snapped to one side and regarded them with one yellow eye. Harry took the lead and bowed his head, Hermione following a second later. Buckbeak turned his entire body to face them.

"Easy now," worry creeped into Hagrid's voice for the first time. "Back off slowly."

Before they could move, Buckbeak bent his knobby knees to allow the duo to approach.

"There you go," Hagrid tried to keep the relief from his voice. "Nothing to it."

Harry smiled as he felt the bird's surprisingly soft feathers under his fingers. He was apparently doing something right because Buckbeak leaned his head into Harry's shoulder and let its eyes relax as Hermione stroked the feathers along his neck.

"Alrigh' I think he'll let you ride him now," Hagrid said. Hermione's eyes widened as she whipped her head back around.

"Ride?" Hermione tried to stake a hasty retreat but soon had no way to run as Hagrid hefted her up onto Buckbeaks back. Harry was plopped behind her a second later. "This is not quite what I had in miiiiiind."

Hermione's remonstration was lost as Hagrid slapped Buckbeak on the hindquarters. The birdhorse hybrid broke into a full gallop, its wings extending and soon Harry felt the similar thrill of flight overtake him. Buckbeak climbed to the height of the astronomy tower, taking them on an aerial tour of the castle and its grounds. Harry could feel Hermione shaking in fear, much like she was on the Eifel Tower.

"It's okay," Harry said, securing her in a tight hug. "I'm here. We're safe."

"I really don't like heights…." Hermione's squeaky reply came.

"I know," Harry soothed. "I've got you and Buckbeak isn't going to let you fall, are you Beaky?"

Buckbeak screeched in reply, banking down toward the lake.

"But you'll never get a view like that, I'm sure," Harry pointed to the sun starting to slip beyond the mountains, its golden light reflecting on the lake.

"It is beautiful," Hermione admitted.

"Still not as beautiful as you," Harry grinned cheekily.

"Keep that up…" Hermione turned her head toward him.

"And what?" Harry cocked an eyebrow.

"And I'll just have to reward you," She giggled impishly before leaning back, turning her head to kiss him. Buckbeak took one more lap around the grounds before coming in for a landing. They were greeted to cheers, though Harry's seeker eyes still spotted Malfoy scoffing from his position.

"Well done the both of you!" Hagrid applauded to which the class joined in. "25 points to the both of you for an exceptional demonstration.

"How am I doing?" Hagrid asked the pair after he helped them dismount.

"Interesting first class," Harry said but his eyes were drawn to motion over Hagrid's shoulder. "Watch out, Malfoy!"

Hagrid whipped around as the blonde jerk advanced quickly on Buckbeak.

"Yeah you're not so terrifying are you?" Draco smirked. "Though I didn't think I'd see any creature with a larger front tooth than you, Granger.

Hermione flushed in anger as both Hagrid and Harry of them sprinted toward Buckbeak. Hagrid reached out with his gargantuan hand to pull Malfoy back from the suddenly-irate Buckbeak. Malfoy's eyes widened as Buckbeak's talons missed him by inches. Harry stepped up to Buckbeak and locked eyes with him.

"Easy, Beaky," Harry stood resolute in front of the thrashing bird. "Easy, boy. It's okay, I know he's an idiot but the only one you'll harm is you. I'm sure he'd love nothing more than to have his father put you down."

Buckbeak screeched again and scraped his razor sharp talons along the dirt. Behind him, the rest of the herd approached at their alpha's distress.

"Hey!" Harry shouted, thrusting his arms wide and advancing on the herd. "Back! Back now!"

Buckbeak stopped thrashing and scrutinized Harry with another harsh stare. The rest of the class watched with bated breath, none more than Hermione who chewed her nails, afraid of what would happen next. Silence reigned for entirely too long before Buckbeak relaxed and let out a little trill. The rest of the herd surrounded Harry to greet the boy whom their alpha accepted.

"Hermione…" Harry looked around him as the birdhorses danced and rubbed their heads along his body. "Neville? Susan? Anyone have any suggestions?"

"I think they like you, Potter," a voice Harry recognized as Vinny said. "Just let the females down easy, would you? They'll be disappointed when they find you can't mate with them."

That did it. Hermione fell to her knees in hysterical laughter. Her boyfriend was almost obscured from view by the Hippogriffs. The rest of the class joined in with one exception.

"What did I just tell yer!" Hagrid shouted. Everyone was used to the kind-hearted gentle giant. This was a new side. "I said not ter offend them as Hippogriffs are very proud. 50 points from Slytherin and a detention with me, cleaning these creatures stables. If you do anything like this again, you will dismissed from class and not welcome back, yer hear?"

Draco nodded dumbly, allowing Hagrid to turn back. The Hippogriff herd parted to reveal a thoroughly disheveled Harry with feathers of every color sticking to his robes, his hair messier than anyone had ever seen it.

"In all my life…" Hagrid marveled. "Nobody bar me has been able ter stand up ter Buckbeak and get him to back down. Well done, Harry."

"Just a simple territorial display," Harry said. Trapped in the cupboard all those years, he absorbed a lot of the nature documentaries Petunia favored. "I knew if I backed down, the rest of the class wouldn't be accepted. Now it looks like the herd is ready to greet the rest of the class."

True to his word, the herd of Hippogriffs now stood at the fence of the enclosure, ready for the class to greet them.

Harry walked away, plucking the feathers from his robes, paying special attention to the grey ones which came from Buckbeak. He was so focused on the feathers; he didn't notice the bushy-haired missile headed his way.

"Oof" Harry felt the air leave his lungs.

"Harry. James. Potter," Harry tried to escape; he knew the use of his middle name didn't purport good things on the horizon. "Why did you charge an angry hippogriff!?"

"I thought if I didn't, the class would be in danger," he admitted. "Sorry to worry you."

"At least it wasn't all a loss," Hermione admitted. "You should have seen the look on Malfoy's face. I'll remember that as long as I live."

"Well done, Harry!" Ron clapped him on the shoulder. "You showed the filthy snake what for!"

Harry pried his hand off him and returned a forced smile.

"That was amazing," Lavender said as she pet Buckbeak. "You two got to actually fly on this majestic beauty."

Buckbeak gave a quick chirp and rubbed his head along Lavenders.

"I think you've made a friend, Lav," Parvati said from the other side of Buckbeak. "I'm surprised at how soft they are. I must say once you get over the initial shock, they are quite gorgeous."

"Thank you for getting them to accept us, Potter," Daphne said. She, Tracey, Vinny and Greg were at the next Hippogriff, its chestnut coloring standing in stark in its difference to Buckbeak. "I was nervous that we started with Hippogriffs, thought it was a little early to introduce as potentially dangerous but I'm glad. They're fascinating animals."

Class went along smoothly thereafter with the class learning about hippogriff coloring and behavior while Malfoy sulked far away from the creatures under the watchful gaze of Hagrid. Class was dismissed and the assembled students talked animatedly about their exciting first lesson.

"Did you have fun?" Neville asked. "I thought they were great, very beautiful creatures."

"Yes I did," Harry admitted. "But right now, I'm just hungry. Again."

"Onward!" Neville slapped him on the shoulder and frog marched him up to the castle. "To Lamb Stew! To Steak-and-Kidney Pie!"

"To Treacle Tart!" Harry joined in. Together, as brothers, Harry and Neville marched toward the epic meal that was promised as Hermione and the girls rolled their eyes.

Hell of a first day, eh Potter? Hermione thought with a smile, following them back into the castle.

(A/N: A shorter chapter following some long ones. I know there was recently a debate on KitKatPotter's Harmony Reimagined fiction regarding Hagrid and I've got to say, I come out on the side of the author. As he was written, Hagrid was a pretty poor teacher. He never seemed to have a plan for classes. Skrewts were a debacle and while Hippogriffs weren't especially dangerous but he lost track of what his class was doing. As such, I wanted a Hagrid who embraces his role of professor more than he ever did in canon.)