Chapter Four - Talons and Tantrums
Harry was not in a good mood, and Ron making fun of his 'mental breakdown' in Divination wasn't making things any better, in fact it was making everything worse. Haiden was trying hard to get Ron to stop, however, nothing Haiden seem to say or do would stop the boy. Ron was like a shark in the water after having smelt blood. Harry stomped down the wet, slippery grass towards Hagrid's hut for his first class of Care of Magical Creatures, his bound The Monster Book of Monsters under one arm as he drug a worried and pissed Draco with him to keep the boy from murdering Ron. Ron was close behind the two, taunting and teasing Harry with Haiden slipping and sliding behind Ron telling him to shut up. Hermione was suspiciously nowhere to be seen.
The walk to Hagrid's hut felt like forever, however when they finally made it, Harry was thankful that Hagrid was already waiting for them once they arrived. At least he wouldn't have to listen to Ron as they waited. Hagrid stood at the door of his hut in his moleskin overcoat, with Fang the boarhound at his heels. Fang began to whine when he caught sight of Harry and began to fidget as if fighting the urge to bolt over to the boy. Harry was thankful that Fang stayed by his master, he didn't know what he would do if the dog suddenly rushed at him in the state that he was in.
"C'mon, now, get a move on!" Hagrid called as the class approached him. "Got a real treat for yeh today! Yer in for a great lesson! E'eryone here? Righ', follow me!" Hagrid told them, beaming brightly as he began to lead them around his hut and towards the edge of the forest. At first Harry feared that the man was leading them into the forest, and Harry really wouldn't have put it passed the giant to do so. However, thankfully, Hagrid strolled off around the edge of the trees and five minutes later, the group of students found themselves outside a kind of paddock. There was nothing there.
"E'eryone gather 'round the fence here!" Hagrid called motioning to the paddock as he quickly entered the paddock himself. "That's it – make sure yeh can see – now, fis' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books –"
"How?" Draco asked, holding his book (which was bound shut with a length of rope) at arm's length away from him while looking at it as if it were about to bite his arm off. And had the book not been growling dangerously and glaring at Draco, Harry would have thought that he was overreacting.
"Er?" Hagrid said, the excitement of teaching his first ever class dimming slightly.
"How do we open our books?" Draco repeated slowly shooting the man an annoyed look, Harry knew it was one of Draco's pet peeves to have to repeat himself. Other people took their books out too; some, like Draco and Haiden, had bound their book shut; others had crammed them inside tight bags or clamped them together with binder clips.
"Hasn't – hasn't anyone been able ter open their books?" Hagrid asked looking crestfallen as he looked at everyone and their books. The class shook their heads. "Yeh've got ter stroke them." Hagrid said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Look –" Hagrid took Harry's book and easily ripped off the Spellotape that bound it. The book growled and tried to bite Hagrid, but the man just calmly ran a giant forefinger down its spine. And the book, who had been angry and uncompliant, shivered before falling open and lay quiet in the man's hand.
"Oh, how silly we've all been!" Draco growled, ripping Harry's book from Hagrid and handing it back to Harry. "We should have stroked them! Why didn't we guess that?!" It was clear that Draco was taking his anger and frustration with Ron out on Hagrid.
"Draco." Harry warned him, Draco opened his mouth to argue only to snap his mouth closed with one glare from Harry. Ron snickered and muttered something to Haiden who stifled a laugh before whispering at him to stop.
"Righ' then," Hagrid said, his momentum gone, "So – so yeh've got yer books and – and – now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Yeah. So, I'll go and get them. Wait here." He strode away from them into the forest and out of sight. Draco took that moment to spin around to glare at the still snickering Ron.
"Find something funny, Weasel?" Draco asked and Harry sighed.
"Only just how whipped you are." Ron said before making whipping noises. Draco launched himself at Ron only to be stopped by Harry's magic and forced back beside him as Ron was flung away from them and was barely able to stop himself from falling. The other students stared at Harry in shock, having never witnessed Harry using wordless and wandless magic.
"Could the two of you wait at least a few weeks into the school year to get suspended?" Harry asked as Hagrid came back.
"Ooh!" Lavender Brown squealed and pointed toward the creature that Hagrid was bringing towards them. Trotting behind Hagrid was the most bizarre creature Harry had ever seen outside of a book. It had the body, hind legs, and tail of a horse but the front legs, wings, and head of what seemed to be a giant eagle. It had cruel, steel-colored beak and large, brilliantly orange eyes. The talons on its front legs were half a foot long and deadly looking. The beast had a thick leather collar around its neck, which was attached to a long chain held in the vast hands of Hagrid.
"Get up there!" The man roared, shaking the chains and urging the creature toward the fence where the class stood. Everyone drew back a few steps as Hagrid reached them and tethered the creature to the fence.
"A Hippogriff? Really Hagrid? For third years?" Harry cried out in shock? A Hippogriff really should have been set aside for the sixth and seventh years, not immature third years.
"Say 'ello ter Buckbeak. Isn't he beautiful?" Hagrid asked beaming. Harry could sort of see what Hagrid meant. Once you got over the shock of seeing something that was half horse half bird, one could start to appreciate the hippogriff's gleaming coat, changing smoothly from feather to hair.
"Firs' thing yer want ter know 'bout hippogriffs is that they're very proud creatures. Very easily offended. Yer do not want ter insult a hippogriff. It may be the last thing yer e'er do." Hagrid warned them seriously. "Now," He boomed excitedly clapping his hands, "who'd like ter come and say 'ello?" As Hagrid turned to grab Buckbeak's chain, Harry felt himself being shoved forward as Ron whispered into his ear.
"You like being around large animals that can kill you, right, Harry?" And before Harry could get back in line, Hagrid had turned back around and spotted him standing before the group of students.
"Well done, 'Arry, well done!" Hagrid praised grabbing ahold of Harry's arm, and (as the man drug him into the paddock) Harry turned and glared at Ron only to find Haiden barely holding Draco back from attacking a smirking Ron. "Come on now." Harry turned his attention back towards Hagrid to now find himself standing before the hippogriff who was watching him closely. "Now, yer have ter let him make the first move, it's only polite." Harry and the hippogriff locked eyes and Harry noticed that the creature's eyes weren't just orange, there was a ring of gold around the edge of the creature's iris.
"Give him a nice bow. Then yer wait and see if he bows back. And if he does, yer can go and touch him." Harry awkwardly bowed. "And if not … well, we'll get ter that la'er." Harry froze really hoping that later wouldn't be now. "That's it, nice and low." Harry tensed and had to force himself to not bolt away from the creature when Buckbeak squawked at him and angrily flapped his wings.
"Back off, 'Arry! Back off!" Hagrid urgently told him and Harry, still in his bow, began to back away only to freeze when he stepped on a stick and snapped it. "Keep still." Hagrid whispered and Harry could feel his heart beating wildly in his chest. Harry peeked up at Buckbeak through his bangs and locked eyes with the creature once more. Harry watched as the creature watched him, sizing him up, determining if Harry was a threat to it or not. And then Buckbeak lowered the front half of himself and bowed a deep bow back at him.
"Well done 'Arry! Well done! I knew you had it in you!" Hagrid praised and Harry rose from his bow, relieved to be allowed to live another day. "Righ'," Hagrid said just as Harry moved to leave the paddock, " now I think yer can go and pat him now." Harry whipped his head around to look at the man in alarm. Hagrid wanted him to do what now? "Go on. Don't be shy." Harry tried to back away from Buckbeak and his murder talons only to have Hagrid place a large hand on his back and push him towards the beast.
"Nice and slow." Hagrid said as he forced Harry to lift his arm up so that Harry could pet Buckbeak who snapped at either Harry or Hagrid, Harry tensed up either way. Finally, once Hagrid was sure Harry was close enough, he stopped pushing the boy and backed up, after making sure Harry wasn't going to drop his arm. "Now, just wait and let him come ter yeh."
Harry was positive that Buckbeak was able to smell the fear that he knew was just wafting off him as the beast sniffed the air. It took a step closer to Harry who was now shaking. Another step closer and Harry could feel the heat that was coming off Buckbeak, but Harry made no movement to actually touch the creature. Another step and Buckbeak was now right in front of Harry, his outstretched hand just inches from the creature. Buckbeak bent his head down so that their faces were now just a breath's away from each other as they locked eyes. With every shallow breath that Harry was taking he could smell the creatures scent of Forest and what he could only describe as pure power. Harry gasped when Buckbeak rubbed its feathered cheek against his very own, he felt the soft shock of his magic brushing against Buckbeak's own magic.
"Yes!" Hagrid cheered reminding Harry that the man (along with his fellow students) were still there. Harry dropped his outstretched arm and raised the other one up to rest against Buckbeak's other cheek as the beast continued to rub his head against Harry's cheek. Harry's heart began to slow down as Harry was finally able to catch his breath. "Once again, well done! I think he might just let yeh ride him now."
"Wait, what?" Harry asked, petting Buckbeak was one thing, but flying was off the table. He was just fine keeping his feet firmly on the ground, he would happily let Haiden and Draco be the fliers. Before Harry could get away, Hagrid had suddenly hoisted him off the ground and placed him onto Buckbeak's back. "No! No! Please don't! Put me down please! I don't want to fly! Get me down!"
"Don't pull out any of his feathers, 'cause he won't thank yeh fer that." Hagrid told him, either not hearing or ignoring Harry's please, before he slapped Buckbeak on the rear.
"Draco! Haiden! Help!" Harry cried as the beast reared back, Harry instinctively gripped onto the feathers of Buckbeak's neck and used his knees to grip Buckbeak's side as he took off at a run.
"Harry!" Haiden and Draco cried as Buckbeak opened his wings and took off over the stunned group of third year students as Harry screamed in fear.
Harry hated to fly. And it wasn't because he was scared of heights, or even scared of falling. It was because once he was in the air he had no control of himself as his instincts took over. It was almost as if someone else took over him, but not like when he was possessed. Harry felt his body shift and gently nudge Buckbeak to dodge a group of birds. He hated not being in control over his own body. There was also this faint sense of 'not quite right' whenever he flew on something, it was as if some part of him wasn't used to using a creature or broom to fly.
Buckbeak squawked happily as Harry instinctively flew them over the forest and into a group of bats. Buckbeak quickly grabbed a few before Harry's body had Buckbeak spin. Tears were falling from Harry's eyes as he wondered how long until his body would take them back. As if responding to his fear and desperation to get back to the ground, Harry's magic released itself causing Buckbeak to squawk nervously as Harry's body had the creature fly over the lake. Harry looked over and saw someone rushing from the castle towards Hagrid's hut.
With permission from Harry's body, Buckbeak quickly flew back over to the paddock. He elegantly landed in a trot before coming to a stop. Harry, with his magic still unleashed, collapsed onto Buckbeak's back as black miasma like magic flowed from Harry and onto the ground, pooling around him and Buckbeak. Hagrid tried to reach Harry, however the black miasma like magic lashed out at him, burning the man.
"What is going on here?" Severus's deep voice called out as the man rush over to the group of students around the paddock.
Weakly, Harry lifted his head off of Buckbeak. "Dad." He whimpered weakly, barely registering as Severus switched from concerned professor to concerned parent.
"Professor Hagrid, care to explain why you have my terrified son on the back of a hippogriff with his magic lashing out?" Severus asked as the students parted to allow him through and into the paddock. Hagrid was too stunned and frazzled to answer. Severus turned his glare from the man to Buckbeak who angrily squawked and flapped his wings in warning. "Oh, hush you overgrown pigeon, you have my terrified son on your back, so you are either going to give him over to me willingly or you'll become ingredients in my next potion." Severus growled out threateningly. Harry could practically feel Buckbeak deciding then and there that Severus was worthy and a second later Buckbeak was bowing to Severus who swiftly moved towards Harry (the black miasma like magic parting around the man) and gently pulled Harry off his back. "Your class is now over." Severus told Hagrid as he carried Harry away.
"I – yes – of course – Class is over." Hagrid declared nervously before chasing after Severus, making sure to keep his distance from the black miasma like magic still flowing from Harry.
– Lock Me In Your Heart –
Harry buried his head in Severus's chest as the man carried him to the Hospital wing, trying to block out all the terrified screams of the students that got caught in his miasma like magic. He wished he could stop the magic from flowing from him, however he didn't know how. To his knowledge, he had never once had this type of magic flow from him, he didn't know what to do or how to stop it.
The second Severus entered the Hospital Wing he was ordering Madam Pomfrey to call Harry's Mind Healer. Seconds later Dumbledore, with Hagrid right behind him, walked into the room and made a beeline towards him and Severus who had taken a seat on one of the many beds. Madam Pomfrey, who had just gotten back from calling for his mind healer, was trying to gently ask what had happened as Dumbledore was trying to explain to Harry how none of this was Hagrid's fault "…how was Hagrid to know you were terrified…" and "…if you had only just told Hagrid you didn't wish to fly…"
Harry curled up even more to Severus as he squeezed his eyes closed and gritted his teeth. He wanted them to shut up. Wanted them to leave him alone. Wanted Dumbledore to stop trying to blame him for what Hagrid did. As if responding to him, the black miasma like magic launched itself at Dumbledore who barely dodged it causing Madam Pomfrey to let out a shocked scream.
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
The black miasma like magic continued to lash out at Dumbledore who continued to just barely dodge it.
It's not my fault! I'm not the one to blame! It's not my fault! I'm not the one to blame!
"I know damn well that you are not bothering my patient to the point he feels he has to defend himself. It is clear to anyone that he is in no mood to talk to you." Krystin said as she stepped out of the floo to see the commotion.
"I assure you, Mind Healer Krystin, that we are only here to make sure that Young Harry here is all right." Dumbledore assured her.
Lier! Lier! Lier!
Dumbledor grunted as the black miasma like magic grabbed him around his ankle, burning him. Dumbledore's magic quickly reacted and manage to break Dumbledore away from it's grip, leaving a nasty black mark that began to slowly spread up the man's leg.
"Yeah, save the bullshit for someone dumb enough to actually believe it." Krystin said as Harry felt that strange sensation in his mind before the world slowed to a stop before quickly rewinding. Harry blinked and found that not only was the black miasma like magic no longer flowing from him, but he was now back outside, standing outside the paddock. Harry glanced around taking note that almost everything was the same as before, except this time Hermione was now standing just behind Haiden, fiddling with her golden chain necklace, making sure it was tucked into her shirt.
"E'eryone gather 'round –" Hagrid was saying.
"When did you get here?" Harry asked Hermione who glanced at him in shock a second before she tried to play off her shock as concern.
"What do you mean, Harry, I've been with you the whole time. Don't you remember our conversation as we walked here from the castle?" Hermione asked and Harry narrowed his eyes at her as Haiden nodded in agreement with her.
"No, what I remember is you disappearing after our last class with the excuse of needing the loo, and me having to walk here listening to Ron bully me about my 'meltdown' in Divination." Hermione blinked as a fearful look flew across her face as her hand flew to her necklace.
"I think maybe after this lesson you should take a break, I'm sure the other professors would understand, I think the excitement of everything is catching up to you, Harry." Hermione said, a flash of guilt in her eyes as she finished, alerting Harry that she was using his mental state as an escape from this conversation.
"If you think that's what's best for me." Harry growled out, Hermione looked away from his hard eyes and nodded as she fiddled with the chain of her necklace. Harry took a shaky breath and mentally counted down from ten to calm himself down before he reacted in anger. He looked back over to Hagrid who looked unsure of what to do. "Continue." Harry snapped out to the man.
"Er, firs' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books –" Hagrid continued awkwardly only to be interrupted once more.
"How?" Draco asked, holding his book (which was bound shut with a length of rope) at arm's length away from him while looking at it as if it were about to bite his arm off.
"Stroke it." Harry told him, annoyed, as he pulled out is own bound book and pulled off the Spellotape before stroking the spine of the book before it could attack him. The book shivered and fell open. Draco cautiously copied what Harry did, followed by Haiden and Hermione and soon the rest of the students were able to get their books open.
"Righ' then," Hagrid said with a loud clap of his hands, "So yeh've got yer books and now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Yeah. So, I'll go and get them." He strode away from them (much happier than the first time) into the forest and out of sight. Harry, knowing that Hagrid was going to get Buckbeak, mentally got ready to stop Ron from pushing him out of the group of students.
"Are you all right, Harry? I'm sure Hagrid wouldn't mind if you left to go get checked in the Hospital Wing." Draco told him softly.
"I'm fine." Harry growled out.
"Are you sure?" Draco asked.
"Draco. Drop it. I said I was fine." Harry snapped.
"Sorry." Draco told him causing Ron to snort out a laugh. "Find something funny, Weasel?" Draco asked spinning around to glare at the red head.
"Only just how whipped you are." Ron said before making whipping noises. Draco launched himself at Ron only to be stopped by Harry's magic and forced back beside him as Ron was flung away from them (causing Hermione to let out a shocked cry) and was barely able to stop himself from falling. The other students stared at Harry in shock, having never witnessed Harry using wordless and wandless magic.
"Could the two of you wait at least a few weeks into the school year to get suspended?" Harry asked as Hagrid came back.
"Ooh!" Lavender Brown squealed and pointed toward the creature that Hagrid was bringing towards them. Harry glanced up and saw Hagrid leading Buckbeak into the paddock. The second him and Buckbeak locked eyes the creature squawked happily before bounding around Hagrid, ripping the chain from the man's hands, and over towards Harry. The crowd of students screamed and tried to back up.
"No!" Harry screamed bolting from his place, Buckbeak followed him. "Stay away!" Harry quickly dodged away from the creature who now believed they were playing tag. "Leave me alone! Hagrid get your damn pet away from me!" Buckbeak landed in front of Harry causing him to slide to a stop and fall to the ground. Buckbeak quickly began to rub his face against Harry's cheek like he did last time. "Do you recognize me?" Harry whispered to the creature who gave him a soft squawk in return.
"Get away from him you great, ugly, brute!" Draco yelled running over, his wand ready to attack the creature who the boy believed was attacking his friend. Harry heard Buckbeak squawk angrily a second before he raised up on his hind legs, it didn't take a genius to realize what was about to happen.
"Watch out!" Harry cried, a wave of magic flowing from him as Buckbeak's sharp talons came down. What happened next happen both too fast to react and in slow motion. Harry's wave of magic hit Draco, shoving him just as Buckbeak's talons tore through the flesh of Draco's arm. However, thanks to Draco being shoved by Harry's magic, Draco's wound wasn't as deep nor as life threatening as it would have been had Harry's magic not shoved him. Draco fell to the ground with a high pitched scream as Hagrid tackled Buckbeak and began to wrestle with the creature who was straining to get at Draco while squawking and cawing angrily. Harry rushed over to Draco, blood was blossoming over his robes and Harry rushed apply pressure to Draco's wound, trying to slow the blood loss.
"It's killed me!" Draco cried, fear in his eyes. Harry ran a calming hand through the boy's hair, while still keeping pressure on the wound.
"It's okay, it's only a scratch." Harry told him calmly as Hermione rushed over.
"Hagrid!" She called once she got a good look at the wound. "He has to be taken to the hospital wing!" Her panicked voice caused Draco to grip onto Harry's hand with his free hand.
"I'm the teacher. I'll do it." Hagrid grunted as he quickly pushed off Buckbeak and rushed over to Draco. Harry, knowing that now Buckbeak was free of Hagrid would be after Draco, allowed his mind to race to figure out how to help keep Buckbeak from continually attacking Draco. It didn't take him long to know what he had to do, with one last look at Draco (who realized what Harry was about to do) was silently begging him to not go.
"You'll be okay, remember, it's just a scratch." Harry told him before he shot up from his spot next to Draco, and ran towards Buckbeak, passing Hagrid on the way.
"Harry!" Hermione cried after realizing what he was doing. Harry stopped in front of Buckbeak, arms spread out causing the creature to stop, his fiery eyes dancing between Harry and Draco, as if trying to decide what to do: Stay with his new friend or continue to attack the perceived threat to him.
"Shh. It okay." Harry whispered gaining the creature's full attention. Harry reached out a hand and was relieved when Buckbeak bent his head and began to rub his face against Harry's again. "See, I'm fine, you're fine. Nothing to worry about. Draco is no danger to either one of us, I know you were scared, it's all right now." Harry soothed.
"Just wait until my father hears about this." He heard Draco and glanced over to find the boy in Hagrid's arms. "You're going to regret this." He threatened glaring at the creature that (in Draco's mind) Harry had chosen over him. Once everything had settled Harry knew he would have to explain to Draco why he did what he did.
"Class is dismissed." Hagrid called over his shoulder and Harry sighed and he stood petting Buckbeak who was just happily rubbing his face against Harry's cheek.
"Harry?" Hermione called to him softly, he glanced over at the girl who was standing a respectable distance away.
"She is my friend; she is of no danger." Harry told Buckbeak who he could feel was watching the poor girl. After a long moment, Buckbeak bowed to Hermione who cautiously moved closer.
"How are you doing?" Hermione asked as she nervously reached out to pet Buckbeak.
"I'm not crazy." Harry told her.
"I –" Hermione started only to stop and shake her head. "I never meant to insinuate that you were. I'm sorry. I was just worried, you haven't been out of the hospital very long, and it hasn't been that long since your last attack. I just don't want you to stress or push yourself too far too soon." The girl explained, fiddling with her chain necklace. Harry took a few moments to think about what she said.
"Maybe you're right, maybe I'll take the rest of the day off and rest." Harry muttered and Hermione smiled sadly at him.
"I'm sure Draco wouldn't say no to you visiting him." Hermione told him and Harry gave her a tight smile and a nod as an answer. "You know he's going to be all right, right?"
"Yeah." Harry said before pointing at her necklace. "Is that new? I've never seen you wear it before." Hermione blinked in surprise before looking down at the necklace.
"Uh, yeah, I got it just before the start of the new year, a, uh, a gift." Hermione stuttered and Harry got this foreboding feeling that Hermione was keeping a huge secret about that necklace from everyone.
"From who?" Harry asked.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"Who gifted you the necklace? Your parents?" Harry asked.
"No." Hermione said.
"Haiden?" Harry asked.
"Why do you want to know who I got it from?" Hermione asked.
"Just curious." Harry quickly stepped away from Buckbeak and over to Hermione and gently took the golden chain in his hand, feeling it.
"Wha–" Hermione cried, one hand automatically covering the top of her shirt, as if to block him from staring down her shirt. Harry raised an eyebrow at that as the two of them locked eyes.
"Feels very expensive, real gold? Must have come from someone who cares quite a bit for you." Harry told her and Hermione's eyes widened slightly before she pushed him away and glared at him.
"I'm not cheating on your brother! How could you even think that?" Hermione growled at him angrily.
"I never said you where, nor did you verbally say it, however, your actions are what is telling me you are. I know you, or I hope I know you, and I know you're not one to betray my brother's trust like that. So, if he didn't give you that necklace, and your parents didn't give you that necklace, then who did?" Harry asked her catching sight of Haiden rushing over to them, a worried look in his eyes. The two stared at each other in silence before Hermione cracked.
"McGonagall gave it to me." Hermione told him angrily before she turned and rushed over to Haiden, grabbed his hand and drug him towards the school, leaving a confused Harry behind with Buckbeak.
"McGonagall?" He asked no one. Why would Professor McGonagall give Hermione an expensive necklace?
