Chapter 295 Flight On Buckbeak
On the Quidditch field, Harry and the other players were lifted onto the shoulders of the crowd.
They were all taken to the platform. Beyond the crowd, Hagrid waved the enormous scarlet ribbon that Evan had specially prepared for him, shouting: "You beat them, Harry, you beat them! Wait until I tell this to Buckbeak!"
Beside him, Percy, excited, was jumping around like a madman.
Everyone was so excited that the common etiquette didn't even cross their minds.
Unlike Sirius, who was dryly wiping away tears, Professor McGonagall sobbed more than anyone, dabbing at her eyes with a large Gryffindor flag.
Dumbledore, who hadn't appeared before the conclusion of the match, was smiling and holding the huge Quidditch Cup in his hand, with no one knowing when or how he had arrived on the Quidditch field.
Wood was crying as he took the Cup, and after raising it in the air, he passed it to Harry.
The Cup was passed among each team member and then to all the students of Gryffindor House.
Colin held the camera by his side and frantically clicked the shutter. When the Cup reached him, he was so excited that he almost fainted. He asked other people to help him take a photo, but not only that, he asked Evan to stand by his side.
Colin had been recounting stories about Evan, who had become his brother's new idol. This photo was going to be sent straight to him as a gift.
After that, Evan also asked Colin to take some photos of him, Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
Although Evan wasn't too concerned about such things, Colin's words simply reminded him that these photos could be used as gifts.
Ever since only Evan captured Peter Pettigrew and his experience saving Sirius was published by the Daily Prophet, he had many admirers, the vast majority of whom were young wizards like Colin's younger brother, who had not yet reached school age.
Many people started writing to him regularly, sending him Christmas cards. However, most of them were just caught up in the moment, and children are the most forgetful. After a few months, Evan didn't respond to any of the letters, and gradually they stopped sending him letters.
The only exception was a ten-year-old girl from France, Gabrielle Delacour, who wrote to him twice a week, regardless of whether Evan replied or not. In addition to the three very detailed letter pages written on it, there were also photos, images, and some small gifts for Evan. This perseverance made Evan feel embarrassed.
So when Colin said he would send the photo to his brother as a gift, Evan thought of Gabrielle.
Although today's match had nothing to do with him, he decided to introduce his friends to her.
The celebration of Gryffindor's victory in the Quidditch Cup lasted a long time. In addition to Professor McGonagall, Sirius, and Hagrid, many students from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff came to Gryffindor Common Room to join them.
Evan saw Cedric and Cho, but didn't see Luna.
According to others, she didn't even go to watch the match but was searching for nonexistent Wrackspurts in the castle.
Evan recalled that this morning, Luna also invited him to accompany her in searching for Wrackspurts, although he was not interested, it was a good excuse.
He didn't linger at the party for long. He left the Common Room pretending to look for Luna. Evan went straight to the field outside the castle. He had just asked Hagrid, and Buckbeak was tethered outside the cabin.
Evan didn't intend to go far. He was just going to try it out today to see if it was possible to take a ride on Buckbeak and sneak into the territory of the Acromantulas.
If doable, a detailed plan needed to be devised. At the very least, Sirius had to be informed and asked for his assistance.
It didn't take long before the end of the semester was looming near. Time was swiftly running out. If events unfolded as in the books, Voldemort would regain his strength by this same time next year and return. Despite Evan altering the storyline, no one could predict what would come to pass.
Even without the aid of Peter Pettigrew, Voldemort wasn't going to linger alone in the shadows of the Albanian forest, inactive. The new predictions from Professor Trelawney were deeply troubling.
With this in mind, Evan had to quicken his pace.
Lost in thought, he hurried towards Hagrid's cabin.
Buckbeak was tethered to a fruit tree behind the pumpkin patch, his enormous wings pressed against his sides.
As Evan approached, Buckbeak was enjoying a dish of deceased ferrets before him, his favorite meal.
Upon hearing footsteps, Buckbeak raised his gaze, and his fierce orange eyes locked onto Evan.
After recognizing the familiar figure, Buckbeak refocused on the food before him. He clicked, clacked, and spat out several ferret bones onto the ground.
Evan untied Buckbeak and approached him. Although he had never ridden a hippogriff before, he knew how to interact with one. He had heard Hagrid, Harry, and Hermione discuss it countless times.
First and foremost, he had to gaze directly into the creature's eyes to earn its trust.
The trick was not to blink or shut his eyes frequently; otherwise, the hippogriff would grow wary and deem him dishonest.
After gaining basic trust, he had to show respect.
The simplest way was to bow and use Hagrid's words to be courteous. If the hippogriff returned the greeting, then he could touch and mount it.
It didn't seem too challenging, especially since Evan and Buckbeak were already quite familiar with each other, making the whole process much smoother.
Evan stood near Buckbeak, observing his ominous orange eyes.
He straightened up, gently shook his large, furry, pointed head, and curiously eyed Evan, uncertain of what was to come.
Evan slightly bowed, and Buckbeak observed him. After a few seconds of stiffness, the hippogriff suddenly bent his scaly front knees and bowed in a sign of respect.
Calmy, Evan approached and placed his foot on Buckbeak's wing, hoisted himself onto his back, and settled behind his wings.
All around Evan were draped in long, beautiful burgundy feathers, feeling as warm and comfortable as sitting on a soft sofa.
Buckbeak rose to his feet and looked back at Evan inquisitively.
"Listen, my friend!" Evan gently stroked Buckbeak's head. "I wish to venture to the Acromantula territory, deep within the Forbidden Forest. Do you understand what I'm conveying to you?"
Buckbeak continued to regard Evan and then lowered his head, swallowing a dead ferret. When Evan thought he didn't comprehend what was being communicated, unexpectedly, he unfurled his twelve-foot wings on both sides of Evan and ascended.
Evan barely had time to grab onto the hippogriff's neck before soaring upwards.
He realized he was getting farther and farther from the ground and soon ascended into the sky.
The cold air whistled as Hagrid's Hut and the trees grew smaller beneath Evan's feet.