Chapter 6: The Hippogriff
I don't own Digimon or Harry Potter.
"Oi Potter, Potter, the Dementors are coming for you, Potter! Oooooh!" Pansy Parkinson shrieked with glee as Harry, Ron, Hermione, Daisuke, and the two Digimon, walked down the Great Hall during breakfast the next morning.
Harry glanced back at her, about to say something, when Daisuke grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently. "Ignore her. She's not worth it," she whispered as they quickly sat beside George with their Digimon partners jumping into their laps.
"New third-year timetables," George said, handing them to the duo. "What's wrong, Harry?" he then asked.
Harry huffed as he bit down on some toast, nudging his head, and George and Fred looked over at the Slytherin table to see some pretending to faint. "Bunch of morons," George grumbled. "Malfoy wasn't so brave last night. He ran into our compartment when the Dementor was down at our end of the train, didn't he, Fred?"
"Nearly wet himself too," his brother replied. "I wasn't too happy either. Those Dementors are horrible things. They sort of freeze your insides, don't they?"
"But you didn't faint last night," Harry muttered.
"Remember what Madam Pomfrey said, Harry. You won't be the only one to faint," Herissmon chirped with a smile, trying to reassure his partner.
"And just think about it, the first Quidditch game of the season will be Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Remember the last time we faced them?" George asked Harry, who smiled slightly and nodded.
"Yeah. We won last time, even though I broke my arm." He spoke.
"Well, this time, there won't be any rogue Bludgers controlled by a House Elf," Ron told his friend with a grin. Harry nodded and helped himself to some more breakfast while Daisuke and Hermione looked at their timetables.
"Oh good, we're starting some new subjects today," Hermione said excitedly. Daisuke smiled before she and Ron noticed something odd about their friend's timetable.
"Um, Hermione, are you sure that's right?" Ron asked, raising an eyebrow. "They've put you down for too many lessons. They've got you down for ten subjects a day. There simply isn't enough time."
"I've sorted it with Professor McGonagall. I'll manage," she said.
"He's right though. Look at today," Daisuke said, pointing to the day's lessons. "Nine o'clock, you have Divination, Muggle Studies, and Ancient Runes,"
"Hermione, I know you're good, but no one's that good. How're you supposed to be in three classes at once?" Ron asked.
"Don't be silly," Hermione told them. "Of course, I won't be in three classes at once."
"Well, then…"
"Pass the marmalade," Hermione interrupted.
"Hermione…" Daisuke said.
"Oh, Daisuke, what's it to you if my timetable is a bit full?" Hermione snapped, shocking her and Ron, but before either could continue trying to question Hermione, they spotted Hagrid entering the Great Hall in his coat and swinging a dead rodent in his hand.
"All right?" he asked as he smiled at the group. "You're my first lesson! Right after lunch! I've been up since dawn getting everything ready. I hope you enjoy it. Still can't believe it, me a teacher," he said before he walked off to the staff table.
"I wonder what he's been preparing," Ron muttered nervously.
"Something brilliant," Harry said with a smile. "I can't wait," the others nodded. Soon, the Great Hall began to empty of students as they hurried off to their first class of the day. Daisuke glanced around before she picked up Veemon in her arms.
"I'd better head off, I've got Ancient Runes now, and I've never been to that classroom before," she told her friends before noticing some of the other third years walking off already, and she spotted Daphne Greengrass and a few others among the group.
"We'd better go too, we've got Divination, and it's up at the North Tower. It'll take us ten minutes to get there," Ron told his friends. They all finished their breakfast, and Herissmon jumped onto Harry's shoulders as they headed out of the Great Hall.
Luckily for Daisuke, the students she had chosen to follow were all going to Ancient Runes just like her. "So, did you have a good summer, Daphne?" she asked the blonde Slytherin with a friendly smile.
"I did. We mostly spent it at the manor. How was your summer?" Daphne asked.
"Was okay. Harry's settled in nicely with our family," she answered.
Daphne looked at her in shock. "So, it's true, there was a rumour going around that the Ainsworth family had adopted Harry Potter," she whispered.
Daisuke giggled and nodded. "Yes. Though I'd appreciate it if you didn't spread the news further."
"I'll do my best, but you know how Hogwarts is. Everyone knows the smallest rumour before dinner," Daphne said.
"We know," Daisuke and Veemon said at the same time as they reached the Ancient Runes classroom and entered. As Daisuke took her seat, she saw Hermione run inside and sit at the table beside her.
"Phew made it," she muttered, adjusting her robes and taking out her books for the class.
"Did she run from the North Tower or something? She said she had Divination, right?" Veemon whispered to Daisuke, who nodded. She leaned over to question her friend, but just as she did, the teacher of the class walked out of a small office in the classroom.
"Good morning, class. I am Professor Bathsheda Babbling, and I will be your Ancient Runes teacher for however long you continue this elective course at Hogwarts." She told the students with a small smile. "Now then, let's begin with a basic explanation of Ancient Runes, and if we have time, I might have you all do a fun little exercise to see if you are all paying attention."
The class took out their parchments and quills, opened their textbooks, and the lesson began.
Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, and Herissmon caught up with the rest of their class, who would be taking Divination in the North Tower. "Thank goodness that painting was able to lead us the right way," Herissmon chirped.
"Yeah, thank goodness…." Ron muttered sarcastically. "Sir Cadogan…he's barmy."
"Well, he helped us this time, so maybe he's not as bad as you think," Harry replied, shrugging before he saw Hermione beside him, and he blinked. "Um, didn't you…." He trailed off when she looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Nevermind…" he mumbled.
Harry, Ron, Herissmon, and Hermione joined their classmates in searching for the entrance to the Divinations Classroom. "Professor Trelawney, Divinations Professor," read a small plaque on the wall beside an old statue of a centaur.
"How're we supposed to get into the classroom?" Ron asked.
As if answering his question, a trap door on the ceiling above swung open, and a rope ladder rolled down to the students.
"Does that answer your question?" Hermione asked. Ron and Harry shared a look before Harry climbed up the ladder first, Herissmon right behind his partner.
When they reached the top, they entered the strangest-looking classroom Harry had ever seen. It didn't look like a classroom; it was as if someone had crammed a teashop into someone's old attic, and the air was thick with perfume from the fireplace in the corner.
The room was stiflingly warm, packed with dozens of round tables, old armchairs or cushions, several shelves cluttered with crystal balls, stacks of playing cards, old candles, feathers, and several other items probably used for Divination.
"Welcome," a voice suddenly came out of the shadows. Herissmon jumped and stood before Harry as the rest of the class joined them. "So nice to finally see you all in the physical world." Greeted a woman as she stepped into the light of the fireplace. She wore a shawl around her hair and had large glasses that made her eyes look huge. "Sit, sit," she told the class, who all sat in the armchairs or sank into the cushions.
"Welcome to Divination. My name is Professor Trelawney. I foresaw your arrival many moons ago," she announced.
Nobody said anything. Herissmon tilted his head as he sat beside Harry on a cushion. "Now, you have all chosen to study the art of Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts. I must warn you at the outset that if you do not have the Sight, there is very little I will be able to teach you. Books can take you only so far in this field." The teacher continued.
Ron and Harry glanced at Hermione, who was shocked to hear that her love of reading books wouldn't help her much in this subject.
"Now then, where is Miss Ainsworth?" she asked, making the class look at her.
"She's not here, Professor. She didn't choose Divination," Seamus Finnigan called out.
"Ah, I see. No matter, I shall speak to her sometime this year," the professor replied.
"Obviously. There's only so much room in the castle. They're bound to bump into each other," Ron muttered to Harry.
"Now, we shall begin our time together by learning to read tea leaves. First, everyone split into pairs, and then come to me where I will pour you some tea." Professor Trelawney instructed.
After a few minutes, everyone was in pairs. Ron was with Harry, and Herissmon sat with Hermione, offering to be her partner, making the bushy-haired witch smile at the Digimon.
"Neville, my dear, one of the blue cups, if you don't mind. I am rather fond of the pink ones, so be careful not to break it," Trelawney called out without turning to look at Neville as he grabbed a teacup from a shelf.
"Um, yes, Professor…" he said, only for the cup he held to slip and shatter when it hit the floor. The poor boy blushed in embarrassment as Trelawney hurried over and cleaned up the mess with a flick of her wand.
"Okay, so I'll do you first," Ron told Harry, taking his friend's cup and looking at the shapes formed by the leftover dregs. He opened his textbook and muttered. "Let's see…um, it looks like a bowler hat…maybe you'll end up working for the Ministry of Magic?"
Harry snorted as Ron turned the cup. "But this looks like an acorn…um, according to the book…it means a windfall, unexpected gold. You can lend me some," he joked before turning the cup again. "And this looks like an animal. Yeah, if that was its head…it looks like a hippo…no, a sheep?"
"Let me see that, my dear," Professor Trelawney said, sweeping over and snatching the cup from Ron's hands. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to her as she turned the cup in her hands. "The falcon, you have a deadly enemy."
"But everyone knows that," Hermione said in a loud whisper, and everyone stared at her. "Well, he does. Everyone knows about Harry and You-Know-Who."
Ron and Harry stared, amazed at her; they had never seen her speak to a teacher like that before. Trelawney continued turning the cup in her hands, seeing various symbols that signified danger, first a club, then a skull, and finally, she dropped the cup with a scream and fell back into her armchair.
"My dear boy, my poor dear boy, no, I…I'm so sorry…" she whispered frantically. "You…you have the Grim." She told Harry.
"What?"
"The Grim, my dear, the Grim! The giant spectral dog that haunts churchyards! My dear boy, it is an omen, the worst omen, of death!"
Harry's stomach lurched, thinking back to the dog on the book cover he saw in Flourish and Blotts. He shuddered before feeling Herissmon jump into his lap and hug him tightly.
"Oh, don't be ridiculous," Hermione huffed, walking over and looking into the teacup. "That looks nothing like a Grim."
"You'll forgive me if I say this, my dear, but I see very little aura around you. Very little receptivity to the resonances of the future," Professor Trelawney told her. "Now, I think we should leave the lesson here for the day. So, please, pack away your things."
The class did so silently and quickly. Then, they left the Divination classroom and set off for Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration lesson.
When they reached the classroom, Harry, Ron, and Hermione spotted Daisuke rushing down the corridor with Veemon behind her. "Hermione!" they both shouted, stopping in front of their friend and catching their breath.
"Where did you go?" Veemon asked her.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, trying to play dumb as her friends looked at her.
"We left Ancient Runes together, but when we looked away for a second, you were gone," Daisuke explained. "How did you get here so fast?"
"She wasn't in Ancient Runes; she was in Divination with us," Ron told them.
"No, I'm pretty sure she was with us," Daisuke said, narrowing her eyes at Hermione.
"I think you're mistaken. How can anyone be in two places at once?" She asked before hurrying into the classroom, leaving her friends baffled.
"Okay…either we're all crazy, or something fishy is going on," Veemon said.
"Let's just go inside," Harry muttered, pushing past them as he entered the classroom. Daisuke and Veemon shared a look before they hurried into the classroom. Harry sat at the back of the class, Herissmon joining him, as did Veemon and Daisuke.
"What happened?" Daisuke whispered as Professor McGonagall went on with her lesson, explaining to the class what an Animagus was before she demonstrated by transforming herself into a tabby cat with spectacle markings around her eyes.
"Nothing…." Harry muttered. "Just some stuff from Divination…it was a bunch of nonsense anyway."
"You gonna tell me?" Daisuke asked him, raising an eyebrow.
"Miss Ainsworth, Mr Potter, I hope your conversation is far more thrilling than my lesson; otherwise, I will have to ask you both to pay attention." Professor McGonagall called out to them. She then looked at the rest of the class. "And what has gotten into you all?"
"Sorry, Professor, but we've just come from Divination," Lavender Brown answered.
"Ah, I see." Professor McGonagall replied with a thin frown. "All right, tell me then, whose death has she predicted this time?" she asked.
"Mine," Harry said, raising his hand.
"What!" Daisuke and Veemon shouted, staring at him in shock.
Professor McGonagall walked over to their table. She bent down and looked Harry in the eyes. "Well, Mr Potter, you seem healthy to me. So, I trust that you'll do the homework I give you today. But if you die, you won't need to hand it in," she told him with a slight grin that made Harry smile.
"Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic there is. I shall not hide that I have very little patience for it. True Seers are very rare. The last one I remember hearing about was Morgana Le Fay, and even then, her visions weren't 100% accurate."
Later that day, after lunch, Daisuke, Harry, Ron, and Hermione hurried out of the castle and set off for their first-ever Care of Magical Creatures class. They spotted Percival waiting for them on the grounds. His pet falcon circled above them before, with a chirp, it flew off down to Hagrid's hut.
"All right, follow me. All of you stick close!" he instructed the class.
"I still don't believe Trelawney predicted your death. What is that woman thinking doing that?" Daisuke huffed as she walked beside Harry and Ron, holding her Monster Book of Monsters in her arms.
"Well, she was probably doing it to try and impress or scare everyone," Hermione huffed. "Honestly, Divination is so wooly, nothing like Ancient Runes. Now that's fascinating." She said with a smile.
"Maybe we can swap lessons?" Harry muttered to Ron, who shrugged his shoulders.
Daisuke looked at the two and smiled. "Don't be so quick to give up, boys. Just broaden your minds, use your Inner Eyes to see the future," she said before laughing with Hermione. As they neared Hagrid's hut, Daisuke slowed as her eyes glowed gold faintly as another vision slammed into her rapidly.
It was so vivid and blurry that she could hardly make it all out. She could only discern Draco Malfoy being attacked by something, followed by him lying on the ground, blood gushing from his arm and staining the area around him.
She gasped, shook her head as the vision ended, and groaned. "Daisuke, are you okay?" she looked over at Harry, who had stopped with Herissmon and Veemon to wait for her.
"Ye…yeah. I'm good," she lied half-heartedly before smiling. "Come on, let's catch up." she jogged ahead quickly, not wanting to think more about her vision.
"All right, all of ya gather round gather round, little less talking if ya don't mind," they could hear Hagrid as he stood at the front of the class. "Now I've got a great lesson for ya all today, a real treat. Come on." He walked off, leading the class down the hill to the woods behind his hut.
Upon reaching the area, some students removed their outer robes due to the heat, and some sat down on the boulders nearby. "Right, all of ya set yourselves up over there. And open your books to page 39," Hagrid continued before walking further into the woods.
"And how are we supposed to do that?" Malfoy asked, looking at his heavily bound Monster Book of Monsters.
"You just have to stroke the spine like this," Daisuke answered, moving her hand gently down the spine of her book, which purred before flopping open, and she smirked at Malfoy, who glared before he did the same to his book.
The other students began doing the same before Neville Longbottom cried out as his book broke out of its bindings and shredded his robes, making those around him stop and laugh.
"Neville, you're supposed to stroke the spine before opening the book, mate," Ron told him.
"I'm okay, I'm okay," Neville said, sitting up only for his book to attack him again. Veemon rushed over and pried the book off him before stroking the spine to calm it.
"Here ya go," he said, returning the book to him.
"Oh, Neville," Daisuke said with a smile. "Let me help," she took out her wand and waved it. "Reparo," she pointed her wand at Neville's robes, and they magically repaired themselves.
"Thanks," he muttered shyly, and Daisuke nodded. She then turned and saw Percival standing nearby, his falcon resting on his shoulder, and he smiled at her momentarily.
She returned the smile before hearing the Slytherin students all grumbling.
"I can't believe this place; it's going to the dogs. What were they thinking, letting that fat oaf teach classes? My father will have a fit when he hears this," Malfoy grumbled to the other Slytherins, who chuckled.
"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry growled, glaring at the boy who glared back.
"What're you going to do about it, Potter?" he asked. Harry began walking towards him, clenching his fists before Malfoy paled and pointed at something behind Harry. "Dementor, Dementor!" he screamed. Everyone spun around, looking for a Dementor as Percival hurried over before they realised Malfoy had tricked them.
Malfoy and the other Slytherins began laughing. "You think this is funny!" Percival shouted, storming over and towering above Slytherins, who stopped laughing. "The Dementors are not something to laugh about, nor is it smart to pretend you're in danger. I assume you have heard the fairy tale of the Boy Who Cried Wolf, yes?"
"What's that muggle story got to do with anything?" Pansy Parkinson sneered.
"The moral of the story is, don't pretend you're in danger too many times; otherwise, when you are finally in danger, no help will come to you. So now, all of you, behave, or I will report you!" he warned as his falcon screeched in agreement.
"Percival, everything all right?" Hagrid shouted as he returned to the class. Trotting behind him was a bizarre creature. It had a horse's body, hind legs, and tail, but the front legs, wings, and head resembled a giant eagle. It had a steel-coloured beak and large, bright orange eyes.
The class stared at the creature in amazement. "Everyone, say hello to Buckbeak!" Hagrid said, tossing a dead rodent to the creature who caught it in its beak and began to eat it.
"What the bloody hell is that?" Ron asked.
"That's a Hippogriff, Ron," Daisuke answered with a smile.
"Correct, Daisuke, five points to Gryffindor," Hagrid said proudly. "Now, the first thing you should know about Hippogriffs is that they are very proud creatures. Easily offended, so you had best not insult them because it may be the last thing you ever do." He warned the class, giving a few of the students pointed looks. "Now, who'd like to come and say hello?" he asked.
The entire class started backing away except Harry and Daisuke before Hermione grabbed Daisuke's hand and pulled her back. "Hey!" She yelped in surprise, trying to hold Harry's hand but could not.
Hagrid looked at Harry and smiled. "Well then, come here, Harry," he instructed gently. "Now, be sure to make eye contact the entire time. Hippogriffs don't trust you if you blink too much or avoid their eyes."
Harry nodded and tried not to blink as Buckbeak turned his head and looked at the human. "Now, bow," Hagrid told him, and he did so, bowing slowly while keeping eye contact.
Buckbeak tilted his head before someone accidentally stepped on a twig, breaking it, and he clacked his beak and let out a screech.
"Back off, Harry, back off!" Hagrid ordered, and Harry did so as Buckbeak took a step forward.
Daisuke gasped, covering her eyes while Hermione and Ron gripped each other's hands. Both slowly looked down at their hands, pulled back, and avoided eye contact, though their faces were light pink.
Harry gulped, looking at Buckbeak nervously before the creature settled down. So, he tried again, bowing slowly to the Hippogriff, who watched him inquisitively before slowly, he bowed in return.
"Oh, well done. Well done," Hagrid praised, clapping his hands, relieved as Daisuke sighed.
"Thank goodness."
Harry stood up and moved closer to Buckbeak, who looked at him before leaning in, allowing Harry to begin petting his beak and feathers. "I think he'll let you ride him now," Hagrid said.
"What?" Harry asked, turning to Hagrid, who picked him up quickly. "Whoa, hey, Hagrid!" he shouted.
"Hagrid, what're you doing!" Daisuke shouted as Hagrid set Harry on Buckbeak's back.
"Now, don't pull out his feathers. He won't thank you for that," Hagrid advised before he smacked Buckbeak's hindquarters, and the creature screeched and took a running start. Then, with a few strong flaps of his wings, Buckbeak took flight into the air.
Harry yelped, wrapping his arms tightly around the Hippogriff's neck to avoid falling off. The rest of the class looked up, trying to keep them in sight before Buckbeak vanished behind some clouds.
Harry slowly loosened his grip when he felt Buckbeak settle. He looked around and saw they were high above the castle grounds. Buckbeak trilled happily as he gently changed course and flew towards the Black Lake.
He flew low, his talons gently scraping across the water's surface, and Harry could feel the wind blowing through his hair and clothes. He held out his arms and smiled brightly. "Ha! Wahoo!" he cheered. "Wahoo!" he cheered at the top of his lungs as Buckbeak flew higher and towards the castle. He weaved in and out of the towers and turrets, under walkways, and over courtyards.
Soon, Buckbeak heard Hagrid blow a whistle and returned to the class. Harry held on tight as Buckbeak descended and finally landed, trotting around the clearing as most of the class and Hagrid applauded.
"Well done Harry, and well done, Buckbeak!" Hagrid said before helping Harry off Buckbeak. "So, how am I doing for my first lesson?" Hagrid asked softly.
"Brilliant, Professor," Harry replied with a grin, making the half-giant smile.
"Oh please," Malfoy huffed, fed up with everyone gushing about how amazing Harry was with Buckbeak. He pushed past some students, and Daisuke's eyes widened. "You think you're so great, you big dingy bird," he sneered at the Hippogriff, walking towards it.
"Malfoy!" Hagrid shouted, seeing the boy getting too close for his liking. Buckbeak screeched and reared up on his hind legs, angry at Malfoy's insults.
The boy stared at the creature in fear, but as Buckbeak swung his talons down, Daisuke ran over and pushed him out of the way. However, because of this, Buckbeak's talons slashed across her back, and she let out a shriek of pain and fell to the ground.
"Daisuke!" Percival shouted, rushing over as Hagrid stood before Buckbeak and began ushering the creature away. Malfoy stared at Daisuke, lying on her front, whimpering softly in pain, and his eyes locked on the bloody claw marks covering much of her back.
"I…it hurts…." Daisuke whimpered as Percival knelt beside her.
"I know it does, sweetie. Don't worry, let's get you back to the castle," he said, slowly and carefully picking her up in his arms.
"Class dismissed!" Hagrid bellowed to the rest of the class, who were staring as Daisuke was carried off back to the castle.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione shared a look and quickly grabbed their and Daisuke's things before rushing off after Percival, with Veemon and Herissmon running after them.
They caught up to Percival just as they reached the steps to the castle, Elyan was there, and she rushed down the steps. "Percival, what happened?" She asked, looking at Daisuke in worry.
"An incident during Care of Magical Creatures, Mr Malfoy angered the Hippogriff, and Daisuke pushed him out of the way and was injured in the process," Percival said. "Send a message to Alexander, Miss Natsumi, Professor Dumbledore, and Professor McGonagall. I'll be taking Daisuke to the Hospital Wing."
Elyan nodded before looking at the rest of the class. "While I'm sure you all want to make sure Daisuke is all right, I must ask that you all please go to the Great Hall and wait there." She instructed. "Yes, even you three." She said to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who she saw were about to protest.
With little choice left, the class walked into the Great Hall. Percival carried Daisuke off to the Hospital Wing, and Elyan waved her wand and conjured a small orb of light. She whispered into it briefly before it flew off and broke into four smaller orbs that shot off in separate directions.
Half an hour later, Daisuke was lying on her front in the Hospital Wing as Madam Pomfrey carefully worked on healing the injuries. "How much longer…" she asked the nurse.
"If you keep asking me, I'll take as long as I want, and then you'll be stuck here longer." The nurse replied. "At least you're not as fidgety as my other patients."
Daisuke chuckled softly before looking at her parents, who were conversing with Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore.
"I'm going to strangle Malfoy when I see him," Alexander growled.
"Alexander," Natsumi said softly.
"If he didn't have such a bright idea to insult a bloody Hippogriff, then Daisuke wouldn't have been injured!" he shouted. "What was Hagrid thinking, having that be the first lesson? He should have known someone was going to get hurt!"
"He probably wanted his first lesson to be one the students would remember. And don't worry about Malfoy. I will be having a word with him later," Natsumi said. "And he will serve detention with me for endangering a student's life and disrupting a class. I assume that is fair with you, Professor," she said, looking at Dumbledore.
"It is. I will speak with Hagrid this evening." He said softly.
"You won't sack him, will you, Professor?" Daisuke asked softly, making the four turn to see her on her side and looking at them. "It wasn't his fault I got hurt. I should have gotten out of the way before Buckbeak hit me, but I was too slow."
Professor Dumbledore smiled gently at her. "No, I won't sack him. Though I suspect word will reach the Board of Governors by tomorrow of this incident."
"No doubt Malfoy's gone and written a letter to his father trying to make this situation all about him," Alexander grumbled before he checked his watch. "I had best be off. I'm set to patrol with Lancelot soon." He walked over to Daisuke and gently kissed her forehead. "Rest up, sweetie. I'll come to check on you later," he promised his daughter before he left the Hospital Wing without another word.
"Let us know how she's doing, Madam Pomfrey. We'll be back later," Natsumi told the nurse before she and the other two Professors left the Hospital Wing.
"Try to get some rest, my dear. I'll be back in a while to change your bandages," Madam Pomfrey told Daisuke.
"Sure," She said with a smile before slowing her eyes, trying to get some sleep.
The end of the chapter
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