To be honest, I didn't like Hagrid as a professor at that time. If I had to rate his teaching work, on a scale of ten, I would give him at most six points. Five of those six points were added because of his good relationship with my mom. I heard from mom that Hagrid had even held me when I was a baby. I was completely blank - faced at that time. It wasn't until I was a few feet off the ground that I belatedly realized that the thing holding me wasn't a giant teddy bear, so I started crying and struggling to get back into mom's arms.
It's inappropriate to talk about elders (although Hagrid doesn't seem to mind this, and he has an ordinary friendship with Potter and the others. Potter and his group rarely address him as "Professor"). But even Potter and his friends have to admit that Hagrid is more fascinated by those strange things he gets from who - knows - where than by what the students learn. This can be seen from The Monster Book of Monsters, which had bitten so many people even before the start of the term.
Draco also told me that Hagrid once tried to raise a dragon. But this was so absurd that only Crabbe and Goyle would giggle and agree with him. However, he really told the story vividly and even wove Potter into it. He said that Potter and Miss Granger were caught red - handed by Professor McGonagall on the Astronomy Tower in their first year because of that Norwegian Ridgeback dragon.
Naturally, I think this was all a story he made up to cover up the fact that he violated the school rules and caused Slytherin to lose fifty points. Sometimes I think Draco might have some talent in writing novels that he himself isn't even aware of, because he described those details so vividly. Perhaps only Professor Lockhart before he lost his memory could rival him in this regard.
Recently, Draco really hasn't troubled Longbottom anymore. We both tacitly avoided bringing up the unpleasant events a few days before Christmas. I also haven't said anything to him about the card he tucked into that dress robe.
It was he who, after returning to school, asked me in a "just asking casually" tone why I gave him a broomstick care set this year instead of a book related to potions like I did last year and the year before.
"Ah, I knew you wouldn't find it useful," I scratched my head. "Well, I'll give you a potions book next year then."
He was doing his History of Magic homework at that time. His brows were furrowed because of the tediousness of the assignment. When he looked up at me, he seemed very impatient. "Iris Snape, is that what I meant by what I just said?"
"I really don't understand... You can understand those convoluted steps in potions books, but you can't understand the simplest - words." He became even more annoyed because he accidentally poked a hole in his textbook. He lowered his head and mumbled a few not - so - nice words.
I chose this gift after hearing what Miss Brown said. Before the holiday, many girls huddled together, whispering about who to give what to this year and calculating what they could receive. Looking at the Christmas shopping list recommendation in the Daily Prophet, she said to Patil that she wanted to give the broomstick care set on the list to Black.
"For Merlin's sake," Patil advised her. "Lavender, this isn't Valentine's Day." "But boys will like this kind of gift, and the price of the basic set is very reasonable -"
At that time, Draco and I weren't talking to each other because of the Longbottom incident. But I have to admit that I still cherish my few friends at Hogwarts. Although I know he hangs out with me just to copy my Potions homework and get more cold smiles from my dad.
My pocket money was only enough to buy the basic version of the care set. The moment I sent it, I remembered that Draco probably had so many of these things at home that he could play a stacking game with them. Most likely, he would mock me after the start of the term.
"However, I really don't have much use for such a basic set," he finally said, but his tone wasn't as sharp as I had expected at that time.
"I don't have any use for the things you gave me either," I shrugged. "I don't have any occasions where I need to wear a dress robe."
"There will be," he narrowed his eyes. "And soon, Iris. I just can't tell you yet."
Obviously, he still wanted to show off the sense of pride that came from "knowing something others don't". Unfortunately, we had already reached Hagrid's hut. We were a bit late, and there were already quite a few Gryffindors and Slytherins standing there.
"The first class after Christmas!" Hagrid looked extremely cheerful. Once again, he ignored the shock and confusion that lingered on the faces of all the students for a few minutes when they saw the huge creature behind him. Sometimes I even suspected that he always mistook our scared expressions for excitement and eagerness.
"The Hippogriff!" He waved his big hand and pointed behind him. "Very beautiful, isn't it?" Only a few Gryffindors echoed him. And when he asked everyone to come closer to observe, almost everyone took a step back simultaneously - only Potter's group of three and Miss Granger remained in place. Draco let out a loud sneer not far from me. Apparently, in his eyes, this was another time for Potter to show off.
"The Hippogriff is a proud magical creature -"
"This is so stupid. The oaf with a stupid big bird." While Hagrid was trying to explain this Hippogriff named "Buckbeak" to us, Draco, as usual, chose not to listen. He turned around and started complaining to Crabbe and Goyle in an arrogant tone, from this class to Hagrid's drooling dog and then to Professor Dumbledore. In the past, it didn't really matter whether we listened to this class or not. After all, most of the time, Hagrid himself didn't quite know what he was doing.
Although this Hippogriff looked quite scary at first glance, and many girls wished they could just retreat into the nearby bushes and hide themselves completely. But after Potter stepped forward and approached it step by step according to Hagrid's instructions, it didn't seem so terrifying anymore. I even thought it looked quite gentle when it lowered its head to return the greeting.
"I think its fur should feel very soft," I heard Miss Brown mutter after Potter managed to hug Buckbeak's neck. "But I definitely won't go near it."
When Buckbeak took off with Potter, the entire Gryffindor house erupted into a cheer. When its wings were fully spread, the pale feathers reflected a holy glow in the afterglow of the setting sun, making me instantly recall the winged horses mentioned in those bedtime stories I heard when I was a child.
"Guess if Dementors come this time, will Potter be so scared that he falls straight into the lake?" Many people were waving at Potter in the air, and I heard Draco talking behind me. I thought he was talking to Crabbe and Goyle, or perhaps to Miss Parkinson. After all, during these classes where Gryffindors and Slytherins were together, he always stayed with the Slytherins.
Not being able to trouble Longbottom undoubtedly made Draco unhappy. And Draco Malfoy never intended to endure such unhappiness on his own. His way of dealing with it was to find trouble with others. Potter's group of three was undoubtedly his best target. I turned around and only then noticed that he had somehow stood behind me. He was looking at Buckbeak, which was gliding over the lake, following my gaze.
"Don't joke about such things," the mention of Dementors immediately made me think of my mom, who had gone to the Albanian Forest and hadn't had any news for several days. I felt my stomach start to twist uncomfortably again. "This isn't something to laugh about."
Draco narrowed his eyes, wearing a subtle expression as if he had smelled something unpleasant.
Potter's success dispelled the doubts of most Gryffindors. Many people started to line up eagerly under Hagrid's guidance. Some timid girls said that although they still didn't dare to ride, it seemed quite interesting to bow from a distance and watch Buckbeak return the greeting.
"Going to queue up?" I came to my senses. I had an intuition that I might have said something wrong just now. Draco might have thought I was speaking up for Potter. But when I asked the question, I realized that not far from me was only Longbottom, who still had a hint of hesitation on his face. Miss Brown and Miss Patil were doing their best to stop him from approaching Buckbeak, with the reason that his death omen had been divined again in the Divination class just now.
"I knew it. This beast isn't dangerous at all," Draco, before I knew it, swaggered past the queuing crowd and walked right up to the Hippogriff. "If Potter can do it, that means anyone can - I bet you're not dangerous at all, right, you ugly, stupid oaf?"
"If you make it angry, that might be the last thing you ever do," Hagrid's words suddenly echoed in my mind. However, just as I pushed forward a few steps, I heard Draco let out a short scream, and the crowd instantly fell into chaos.
"Back! Back!" Miss Granger's shouts were quickly drowned out by the various overlapping voices. She was pushed by the panicked others, and I grabbed her sleeve in time to keep her from falling. Hagrid stood in front of the enraged Buckbeak, shouting something at it. Through the gaps between countless people, I could see Draco curled up motionless on the grass, but I couldn't make out exactly where he was injured. It wasn't until Hagrid lifted him up from the ground as easily as picking up a chick that I could see blood continuously dripping from a deep wound on his arm onto the ground. Miss Pansy Parkinson let out a scream - for a moment, it made people think she had also been attacked by Buckbeak.
Miss Parkinson was crying really hard. The Slytherins were now split into two groups. The boys were arguing with the Gryffindors about whether it was Hagrid's fault or Draco's. The girls gathered around Miss Parkinson, handing her handkerchiefs and tissues. It wasn't until Miss Parkinson stamped her foot and said she was going to the hospital wing to check on Draco's condition that they joined the boys' group.
"Will - will he be okay?" I heard Longbottom ask hesitantly. He was still staring at the blood - stained patch of grass on the ground, and his face was a bit pale.
"Madam Pomfrey will definitely be able to heal him." "Madam Pomfrey can heal it in a flash."
I looked up at Potter, who had spoken at the same time as me. He glanced at me too, and then started describing to Longbottom several kinds of wounds he had seen in the hospital wing that were much more serious than the one on Draco's arm. He wasn't wrong. It was really strange, though. He wasn't at the front line, arguing fiercely with the Slytherins. It was even hard to tell whose face looked worse between him and Longbottom.
"They won't expel Hagrid, will they?" Miss Granger looked very anxious. She kept twisting her fingers. "This is completely Malfoy's fault -"
"Who knows how Malfoy will exaggerate and confuse the facts to the school governors," Ron Weasley said sharply. "Those people better not just listen to his one - sided story. We can all testify that he was the one who provoked Buckbeak first."
It wasn't yet the scheduled end of class time, but the gathered crowd still started to disperse in twos and threes. Gryffindor and Slytherin never lacked arguments, and they always thought they were the absolute winners in every argument.
When I looked at the Slytherin table during dinner, I didn't see Draco. Only Crabbe and Goyle were earnestly telling others the story of his injury. Each time, the version was different, and the accompanying gestures were more exaggerated than the last. I didn't have much of an appetite. I took a few bites of toast and felt full.
"Miss Snape."
Just as I walked out of the Great Hall and was wondering whether to go back to the Gryffindor common room or the library, I heard Crabbe's voice. He and Goyle had apparently finally finished their show. Now they were lumbering towards me.
It's quite a struggle to understand what Crabbe and Goyle are saying. After all, most of the time, they just need to nod and giggle in agreement with every punctuation mark Draco utters.
Potter's group of three also came out of the Great Hall. Black shot us three an undisguised look of disgust. They seemed to be discussing something, whispering as they walked towards the direction of the Gryffindor common room.
"He needs to stay in the hospital wing overnight?" I frowned in confusion and asked Crabbe. "Is his injury that serious? Do the claws of a Hippogriff have poison? Even if they do, Madam Pomfrey would ask Professor Snape or Professor Sprout for help. But I saw them during dinner. It didn't seem like Draco's situation required their intervention."
"We just think," these two could only repeat one sentence over and over. "As a friend, you should go and visit him."
I didn't want to go. Miss Parkinson wasn't at the Slytherin table either. She must still be in the hospital wing. And I didn't really want to be in the same room as Miss Parkinson when it wasn't necessary. Maybe it's because every time Draco talked to her and then turned around to greet me, her expression made me feel like a thief. If one day Draco really had a sign around his neck saying "Property of Pansy Parkinson", I would stay far away. Merlin's beard, her expression was really unpleasant.
"If I don't go, are you two going to keep blocking my way?" After a few minutes of stalemate, I became a bit impatient.
Surprisingly, Goyle actually nodded at me.
"Did he send you two to find me?" I folded my arms and sized up these two big guys.
Crabbe nodded at me. Goyle elbowed him hard, and then they both shook their heads at me.
"I see. I just remembered that we have Potions homework due tomorrow. I'll go back to the common room to get it and then head over," I nodded to them. "I'll go. Just let me go back to get the homework he wants to see, okay?"