Chapter Six
The next day Harry woke up and rubbed his eyes; he hadn't slept well and really didn't want to have to get up to go to class.
"You know, I was really hoping that your mother wouldn't let you back this year." Crabbe said standing up and yawning.
"Yeah. Yeah it's so much nicer when stinky Potter isn't here." Goyle laughed, giving Harry a shove as they left the room.
"Just leave it." Draco warned him, seeing how cross Harry was getting, "They're not worth your mum finding out and taking you home."
Harry nodded, "I know. It's not like either of them has ever actually had an original thought in their lives after all. I know it's just come from Tracy."
Draco nodded and they headed down to the great hall for breakfast. Tracy was, unsurprisingly, sitting surrounded by a small group of other Slytherins with more students slightly further away, hoping they would be asked to sit with her. She kept flicking her long, platinum blonde hair and glaring at where Daphne and Pansy were already sitting.
"Where's Astoria?" Draco asked sitting next to Pansy and giving her a peck on the cheek.
"Already out grown her poor big sister." Daphne laughed, looking to where Astoria was sat, talking and laughing with the other first year girls.
"I'm glad she's making friends." Pansy smiled, "It can be tough. Can you imagine being here stuck on your own?"
"Well I wouldn't ever be alone." Harry smirked, "Even if you guys all left I'd still have the Weasleys."
"Scraping the bottom of the barrel there Potter." Draco grinned.
Harry nodded, "Although to be fair, Fred and George aren't so bad. Percy is just so full of himself."
"And Ron and Ginny are one step away from creepy stalkers." Daphne laughed.
Harry let out a snort and covered his mouth before he sprayed the table with his mouthful of pumpkin juice.
"You are not wrong there." Draco said grinning and shaking his head.
It wasn't long before they'd finished their breakfast and were heading down into the gardens, snarling books under their arms, to Care of Magical Creatures.
Hagrid was standing there proudly, at the edge of a large field bordering the forest.
"Hi Harry." Hermione said, appearing behind them.
Harry and Draco jumped.
"Where did you come from?" Draco asked, he was sure she wasn't there a second ago.
"Umm the castle? Then I walked down here." Hermione said, shaking her head in confusion, "Where are the girls?"
"They took Arithmancy." Harry explained, "You're very good at sneaking up on people."
"Ah OK, I'll see them later." Hermione smiled, Draco and Harry looked confused at her, "Oh Ronald is here as well." she said.
Harry and Draco looked over to where Ron had spotted them, walking over and grinning.
"I'm so glad you're here." Ron beamed, "It's great to have a class together. What's your other elective? I took Divination as well, Fred and George said it was dead easy."
Harry groaned inwardly and wondered if he could change the subjects he'd chosen, "That's great; me too."
"Righ' everyone 'ere?" Hagrid said stepping forward, " 'Ow much o' your book 'ave you read?"
There was an awkward mumble around the class.
"Hargid we can't get them open." Draco spoke up, "They attack everything."
Hagrid shook his head with a laugh, "You just gotta stroke 'em. Did no one work that ou'?" he asked.
"Stroking books isn't the first thing that comes to mind." Ron grumbled, "I'd never have taken this class if I knew there wasn't going to be a proper teacher." he whispered to Harry.
Harry glared at him, "Hagrid is a proper teacher." he hissed back.
Hagrid looked rather crest fallen, "I though' they'd be cute."
"They are." Harry said, now he'd stroked his book it had flopped open for him and was purring like a very content cat.
"I think they're great and if people can't deal with a book this really isn't the class for them." Hermione pointed out.
Hagrid smiled and looked a little happier, "Righ' well now yous all got them open. Turn to page 79 and see what we'll be workin' with today."
Harry turned to page 79 as instructed and saw a beautiful water colour paining of a strange looking animal that was half horse and half eagle.
"Hippogriffs! Wonderful beasts." Hagrid beamed as he climbed over the fence and disappeared round the corner. He returned a moment later leading a large grey Hippogriff with glowing orange eyes.
"This is Buckbeak. First thing you need to know about Hippogriffs, they is very proud creatures, very easily offended but as long as you do wha' I say, you'll be all righ'." Hagrid said, slinging a dead ferret over his shoulder, "So 'ho wants ta go first?"
Harry looked around at the students. Strangely no one seemed eager to jump on something looked so dangerous. Hagrid was looking around worried at the lack of interest in his class, so with a heavy heart and a large sense of foreboding, Harry stuck his hand up; at least he'd been around Hippogriffs before.
" 'Arry! Brillian' just come over 'ere." Hagrid beamed.
Harry climbed over the fence and slowly approached the Hippogriff.
"Righ' now make a low bow and walk forwar'. It's very importan' that you don't blink, keep eye contact, tha's it!" Hagrid instructed.
Harry stared into Buckbeaks brilliant orange eyes and tried not to blink. As soon as Hargid had told him not to blink; his eyes had begun to water. Buckbeak glared back at him and stomped it's front leg angrily.
"Stay still 'Arry." Hagrid said quickly.
Harry hardly dared to breath, staring back at Buckbeak and then slowly Buckbeak bent his front leg forward in an unmistakable bow.
Harry could hear clapping from the class behind him and let out a big breath.
"Now you can come stroke 'im!" Hagrid smiled.
Harry thought that it this point it really should be someone else's turn to risk life and limb but made his way forward so he could touch Buckbeak's neck. He was soft, covered with thick feathers and a layer of down underneath.
"He's beautiful." Harry grinned.
"Aye. I think 'e likes yea. Wan' a ride?" Hagrid asked.
Harry didn't have a chance to answer before Hagrid had picked him up and plopped him down on Buckbeak's back. Buckbeak ruffled his wings and flicked his tail briefly.
"Don't be pullin' out any o' his feathers, 'E won't thank yea for that." Hagrid said.
Harry wondered where he was supposed to hold on if the feathers were off limits, Buckbeaks smooth neck didn't leave many options. Harry awkwardly leant forward until he could loosely hold on around Buckbeak's neck as Hagrid gave Buckbeak a sharp smack on the rear.
Buckbeak took two, unamused steps forwards before launching himself into the air. Harry had thankfully been horse riding a couple of times when he was younger which was good because this was nothing like ridding a broom.
He felt himself rise up and down with ever flap of Buckbeak's huge wings. They flew around the lake, Harry looking down could see their reflection in the water, he was starting to love this feeling.
Cautiously he let go, gripping on with just his legs. Buckbeak didn't seem to want to throw him off and was flying steadily thankfully. After about ten minutes they landed, safely back in the field; Buckbeak landing exactly where he had taken off.
Hagrid helped Harry down and threw the dead ferret to Buckbeak who caught it and ate it gratefully.
"Well tha's it then, everyone come in, come in." Hagrid told the watching class, "Well done 'Arry, really proud o' yea."
Harry grinned and took several deep breaths. Now he was in the field, and sure he wasn't about to be mauled by an angry Hippogriff, he could see a large herd of them slowly approaching Hagrid and Buckbeak.
"Now pick a Hippogriff, they all got names so just come ask if yea wanta know. Remember wha' I said and just back away if you's unsure." Hagrid told them.
Harry wanted to go flying again but Buckbeak was now being bowed at by Parvati Patil, who was blinking rather furiously with nerves.
Harry stood in the field watching. Draco was bowing and a large black Hippogriff who bowed back quickly and allowed him to stroke her soft feathers.
"I like this one." Draco smirked.
" 'Er names Ebony. Lovely girl." Hagrid beamed, so far the class was going better than he had dared to hope. Parvati had given up with Buckbeak, who was starting to look rather bored at being surrounded by students, and moved on to a smaller and younger Hippogriff towards the back of the field.
Ron took her place and bowed low.
"You 'aving fun?" Hagrid asked Harry.
Harry nodded, "Oh yeah. This has been brilliant. Hippogriffs are brilliant."
"Harry, Harry look at this!" Ron shouted out.
Harry turned to see Buckbeak beginning to bow to Ron, but Ron ignoring him to talk to Harry was far too much of an insult for Buckbeak to bare. He reared up on his back legs and slashed down violently at Ron.
Several students screamed as Ron fell to the ground and began to scream in pain. Hagrid rushed over and calmed Buckbeak down, sending him away before turning to Ron.
"You all righ'?" He asked anxiously.
Ron didn't answer but clutched at his bleeding shoulder and moaned.
"He has to go to the hospital wing Hagrid." Harry said, he'd taken his outer robes off and was pushing it against Ron's shoulder making him moan and cry out even louder, "Madam Pomfrey will be able to help."
Hagrid nodded and pushed his shaggy hair out his eyes and picked Ron up, "Every one out the field, lesson over." he hurried off towards the castle carrying Ron in his arms still.
Draco walked over to where Harry was standing, staring at the blood on the ground in shock.
"This is not going to end well." Draco said, shaking his head, "What happened exactly?"
"Ron tried to talk to me rather than pay attention to what he was meant to be doing." Harry grumbled, "I hope he's OK but he really should have been more careful, Hagrid told us how proud Hippogriffs are."
"We've still got about ten minutes of class." Draco said, checking his watch, "Where should we go?"
Harry watched as the other students began to climb out the field, "We might as well get an early lunch. I think that the Divination classroom is pretty difficult to get to."