Hermione and Harry had joined the gathered first year Ravenclaw students on the slightly gloomy Saturday morning. An optional preparatory elective for the future elective of Care for Magical Creatures was meeting. Defense was to cover the dangerous creatures and how to handle them while Care was to deal with normal or magically normal animals and how to react and handle them in situations as well as basics of how to raise them. While people milled about they were unable to overhear the conversation between the two as it was barely as loud as whispers.

"Well things seem to be going well today," Hermione said with a sigh as she watched the professor bring over a few cages of animals. "Still I cannot shake the feeling that something is going to be odd here."

"While we get along with our companions there is the fact that even mundane animals are more aware of things than people," Harry said with a sigh as he tried to stay downwind of the cages. "Magical creatures appear to be even more in tune with their instincts even if they get a greater cognitive potential."

"You are practicing for those verbal exams already?" Hermione asked with a sigh. "Have I told you how uncertain I was about coming here before I saw you were here as well? Still I could have made mention of the name or cover name and we could have put this behind us and gotten time to compare on information coming in."

"I was unsure if they had noticed your magical potential," Harry said with a wistful look. "From my times exploring and gaining information before I had suspected you had talent, but as potions were not something that I felt you were ready to become as consumed with as our friends were there would be no proof. Despite what you may have heard there are other ways and methods of manipulating magic. Not necessarily better but different. Once we are sure that we truly have a decent grounding in this form perhaps we should investigate some other cultures information."

"Su or Parvati?" Hermione asked with a glance at the girls. "Oriental magic may differ and there may be further variety between Chinese and Indian traditions. Are you forgetting that simple potion I brewed? Still there was significant difference between that and what we are being taught here."

"I will admit that the education has not been as well in class for that subject, but it has been getting better," Harry said with a smirk. "I do have a few years of experiments in the field to give me a more practical foundation. It was rather entertaining finding how many herbs that are treated as weeds by muggles were actually quite useful."

"Considering what I read in a Thousand Herbs and Fungi that is not that shocking," Hermione said as she had wondered about some of the simple experiments that just playing with mixing plants could have caused. "Still I wish that you had actually told me more about these things. I thought you were mostly brewing herbal remedies instead of potions."

"I told you that it was useful and profitable," Harry said with a shrug. "Besides you were a good deal harder to figure out than Alice was. Still you two are scarily alike at times. Must be the mutual blood..."

"Don't get started on the nature nurture argument again," Hermione said with a huff as they waited for the professor to continue his introductory speech, "besides while I will admit to having gained a somewhat fond appreciation for blood there is no evidence that blood decides everything!"

"Blood is life," Harry said with a sage nod. "It is more than just the mixing of proteins and other organic material in a liquid suspension with iron bonding oxygen. To reduce it to the mere components shows a lack of the whole. You do recall your first taste as it flows down the tongue and down the throat to settle the stomach in a way that nothing else really does, do you not?"

"I remember," Hermione admitted with a far off look and wistful smile on her face. "It was different more sating than anything I had drunk before even if it was but a few drops. It was intoxicating as well as intense in its flavor. Still human tastes better than animal well normal animals anyways..."

"Magic flows in the blood," Harry said with a shrug. "In magical creatures the magic is more apparent and available than the mere spark that all living beings have. Well at least now he is over his introduction."

"Shh we need to pay attention now," Hermione almost whispered as the professor finally paid attention to them. "At least that explains why it was so potent that night..."

Trailing off as she had to process what the professor was saying Hermione was struck by a thought that the effects of the taste of blood might have lasting effects. Oh troll blood was not likely to have the same lasting effects of drinking even diluted Re'em blood, but there would likely be traces for a while still. A small part of her mind was analyzing new prey to get a snack on. It was likely something to indulge in at a later date. For a moment she wondered if Tonks was suffering through the side effects that seemed to plague her after that first time that she had imbibed not just human blood but Harry's as well as Alice's and Anne's blood.

"Now today we have a few simple creatures for you to see," Professor Kettleburn said as he looked the first year Ravenclaws over. "None of them are too dangerous but are not too common. Most of you grew up with puffskins and nifflers so these would not be too different. There is however a pure Kneazle here as well as a few other common as well pets such as Crups."

The students walked toward the cages to see the animals there. Common creatures that were often found near Wizarding establishments and homes were what they saw. Crups were a form of dog as well as Kneazles being a magical near housecat creature. Crups were however known for their fierce dislike of muggles and their tails were useful as potion ingredients.

"Now a few of you will be familiar with Hagrid, our groundskeeper," he said as the large man approached. "Now while I prefer to start with the simpler creatures. Hagrid here is a hand's on expert in the more unusual creatures mostly due to his time in the Forbidden Forest. Some of you may want to talk to him on the more exotic creatures..."

Most of the students were unprepared as they were focused entirely on the professor and what he was saying. Now do to the wind and other things the pair did not get much warning. That did not however mean that they were ones who were easily snuck up upon. Harry heard something as well as felt a niggling sensation to their right in the direction of the forest.

Hermione turned as Harry practically growled next to her. His eyes were an intense shade of green and his entire presence screamed out to her that he was in edge. She knew that with a flicker of movement he would be able to go from sitting to standing in front of whoever was his target with his blades in hand before most could blink. It took but a moment for her to focus and try to calm him down.

'It wouldn't do to kill in front of people,' Hermione thought with a sigh as she slightly squeezed his hand reassuringly. 'I do hope that the inevitable confrontation with Dumbledore is less trying. The sense of emotion that Harry is emanating would sadly allow for him to be readily used. Still he is able to quickly control himself... sadly I have still a ways to go in that matter.'

With that Hagrid came out of the forest looking to most as intimidating. He had a very large hound following him and several large almost siege scaled crossbows on him. He looked very much like a very large mountain man with unkempt beard and rough yet very durable clothing. A few simple animals were in his hand as evidence that he had been hunting in the forest. He managed to make it a ways closer without the rest of the students noticing him.

"Ah yes students," Kettleburn said as he looked behind them. "Now this is Rubeus Hagrid, as most of you should recall from before your sorting..."

As the two were analyzing the man's sudden appearance, they tuned out the rest of the professors speech though they would be able to later go over their memories to recall what had been said. To most of the students around they looked like they were paying attention even if it was split between the two adults. Sadly they missed the very subtle changes in Harry's demeanor and posture.

'Lovely,' Harry thought with a repressed sigh. 'The one person that I despise almost as bad as the Dursleys, the Delusional Dark Twit and the Naïve Manipulator is the person most likely to be able to if he was less uneducated readily recognize things. If he wasn't such a completely even more naïve and childlike man from what I have found I would gladly see what a half-giant's sacrifice would enable...'

"Harry," Hermione whispered hotly in his ear. "Despite his faults and actions there are too many witnesses in addition to him being very easy to verbally outmaneuver."

"I guess you are right," Harry said with a sigh as he thought over the two's interaction. "He does seem to be not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Still given how close he seems to Dumbledore he may let some things slip. Any source of information should be investigated and thoroughly drained of all pertinent information."

"We wait till the class is over," Hermione said as they reluctantly approached the now open cages with the animals milling about. "I am sure that we can find some way to work a conversation in by then..."

"I guess it is a workable and flexible plan," Harry admitted barely managing not to glare at Hagrid or the already sudden mood changing animals. "Now all we have to do is get through this first."

"It won't be that bad," Hermione tried to reassure as they drew closer and the happy movements of the animals slowed down and they looked towards them with a feeling of apprehension radiating from them. "I stand corrected."

"I guess that means that you are getting further along than I had thought," Harry said with a sigh. "Animals tend to pick things up easier. They may not detest us but they know that we are dangerous. It is a bit like being confronted by a wolf or bear in the suburbs, they are not really expecting us and wonder what we are doing."

"I don't like the looks in their eyes," Hermione said as she drew close to one of the Crup puppies. "Will it always be like this?"

"We are not sheep nor do we act or smell like them," Harry said with resignation. "Our companions are different as they know we won't hurt them on an instinctive level. These are not as assured still even Kiki would likely hesitate before attacking as there is nothing to gain and far too little mean on their bones to be worth the effort to eat."

"I tend to forget that from time to time as all I have ever seen Kiki have for prey is small animals and well," Hermione said with a sigh. "I guess I don't think about what she used to eat. If I do I chalk it up to societal issues. What is strange to us is not strange to others..."

As Hermione trailed off, the pair had gotten very close to a now whimpering Crup puppy. It was not barking or even growling at them and had curled up into as little of a ball as it could. With as gentle a hand as she could Hermione reached out to the puppy and began to try to coax it out. There was an unnatural acceptance on the part of the puppy as it made no attempt to defend itself knowing that it was pointless. As soon as Hermione's hand came in contact with its fur, the puppy rolled onto its back and spread itself out in submission with his belly bared in supplication while his ears flat and tail limp behind him.

The other animals looked at the puppy in shock and understanding. Two predators were here and despite their number knew it was hopeless. Perhaps they would be appeased with the one and leave the rest of them or at least some of them alive. Still they wondered why the two legs were not doing anything as they normally drove other predators away. It was in part why they had accepted living with the two leggers in their packs for protection and they wielded fire.

'Maybe the Kneazle would know,' one of the slightly more mature puppies wondered. 'As much as we dislike them they are more able to understand the two legs.'

Sadly the Kneazle was while more than interested to investigate until it had suddenly picked up on a subtle scent marking on the two where one had more than the other and yet both were well marked. Two mates of some sort reeking of the wild with Nundu and other dangerous predators scents lingering around them. The Nundu may have been young by its scent but that did nothing to assay the uncertainty the intelligent cat had.

'If only the two legs would understand them,' he thought with some concern as the two acknowledged the Crup as their inferior, 'as they seemed oblivious to anything of importance as the older one and even large one are not showing any concern about these two in their midst. Humans are far too much like the ill mannered and impulsive tree rats. At least they are not doing more than seeing what is in what they feel is their territory which it most likely will be. It is to the strongest, cunning and agile that the control of the territory goes to. What mixes of scents are on them, feathers and fur of kin and rivals still the smell of food and prey taken is stronger.'

As the Kneazle analyzed the two human predators who were investigating the lesser predators in their territory, Harry was holding back from the pup while Hermione greeted the pup similar to she had Mischief after a while. This thankfully calmed the others there even if it was only slightly. They did not feel the burning gaze of hunger on them from these predators. The Crup puppies while having an instinctive hatred of muggles and had been used to hunt them were to the far too preoccupied to notice Kettleburn actually submitting to the two as they passed through.

"Hello," Hermione said as she squatted to look at the Kneazle at eye level. "Are you well fed here?"

While the Kneazle was able to understand the two legs speech that did nothing to explain what it heard when she spoke. As plain to the cat there was another sound emanating from the girl and this one wasn't the annoying gibberish it had already learned to understand. The girl had spoken and he had heard the sounds readily in the range of cats, dogs, birds and snakes.

"The two legs provide enough prey to eat," he said to the girl. "How do you speak?"

"A gift," Hermione said to the cat so quite that only Harry heard it as other than her soothing the cat. "I take it that all of you are concerned that we are hunting. We already ate and we do not hunt those who are under others protection. Just do not find yourselves in the forest as although we tend to avoid eating those that we can speak to that does not mean that if we were starving we would not indulge an available meal. Still as there is plenty of prey around we have no reason to hunt you."

"Besides," Harry said from where he had crouched with an unnatural grace. "You are far too small and scrawny to do as more than a snack."

"Why do you have the scent of the sickness breathers on you?" the Kneazle asked in interest indulging its curiosity. "This is far from their territories as it is far too cold over the short days for their habits."

"Sickness breathers?" Hermione asked as she tried to quickly sort what would that be. "Could you describe them?"

"Spotted ones, quick to move and their breath can bring sickness," he described in confusion. "How can you not know that you carry a scent of one?"

"Nundu," Hermione said in realization before turning to Harry. "Did you know that either Trick or Trouble were Nundu?"

"They were not before," Harry said as he catalogued the changes that he had noticed not just in the cats but their other companions. "It would seem that we are not the only ones who are changing. As humorous as it sounds either Trick has some new tricks or Trouble can cause more trouble so I see we will have more interesting things to explore."

"True," Hermione said with a sigh. "Still we have a human source to tap for information about the forest. Besides the rational distrust that you have of him he has been here for a long time and thus should have overheard things that he might not think is relevant."

"I have no real interest in whatever the Old Man is storing there," Harry said with a dismissing tone. "Or at least is trying to make people think he is storing something there. Most likely it is a trap for whoever he thinks is after whatever he is using for bait and the thing is secure hidden elsewhere. While he may not be as idiotic as most would be rulers, that does not mean that he wouldn't make the same mistake that is cliché in adventures."

"You never hide the source of your powers or your weakness in a desolate place," Hermione said with a frown. "Everyone readily believes that you would hide it in some secure place and thus you likely keep it close to hand in plain sight and most likely to be overlooked."

"Yes there is that," Harry said before turning to address the Kneazle. "Now is there anything in particular you care to share or ask for? Despite what some of your associates might feel we have no intention on killing and devouring any of you at this time. As Hermione has said, we prefer not to eat prey that talks back as it tends to interrupt the enjoyment of one's meal."

"You did say at this time," the Kneazle said with a sigh at the modifier. "I guess that is to be expected as I would say the same to a rat. I could never promise to never eat them ever again as that would be foolish. So what do you two wish for me to tell you as I am rather young by my kind's standards? I could spend time like one of the pups commenting on food or other such things, but the male there does take decent care of us and it is a better life than being harvested for components though I know the pups will have to regrow their tails often enough for those creations of yours."

"Well there is what you have seen on some of the humans here," Hermione said as she no longer simply knelt there but was beginning to actively pet the cat. "The big one is of interest to us. We will speak to him of course but considering how often he is around your fellow beings there might be things he has let slip."

"The short one is planning to leave in a few seasons," he said with a feline shrug. "Why you two legs do what you do is a mystery at times, still there is inclination for the big one to take over but there is some sort of... complication, yes that's the notion. Something prevents the others from granting him what his abilities allow him to do, such strange beings you two legs are..."

"Ah but to most two legs you are the same way," Hermione replied with a slight smile before turning to Harry. "So how do you want to handle this then?"

"As much as I would prefer not to interact with the man I see as the one secondly or maybe thirdly being sent to those people," Harry said with a sigh, "I guess we go with a standard meet and greet. Though we will have to admit to a shared fascination..."

"Considering the topic I would go with creatures," Hermione said before turning to the Kneazle and saying, "No offense meant."

"None taken," he said as he yawned and stretched some. "Now if you are done there is a nice patch of sun I wouldn't mind relaxing in..."

Turning away from the now curled up and sleeping Kneazle, the pair made their way towards Hagrid. Hermione noticed that Harry was visibly trying to force his face into an appropriate smile. It wouldn't fool most people but she hoped that the man was as innocent as he seemed. Part of her hadn't cared and been more than indifferent to doing anything than to just slit his throat and let his spilled blood make amends for the blood his actions had caused to be spilt from her Harry.

"Hello," Hermione said as the two drew closer to him as the other Ravenclaws had wandered back to the professor. "My name is Hermione Granger and you would be Rubeus Hagrid am I right?"

"Yep," Hagrid said in a happy gruff, "Rubeus Hagrid, Gamekeeper and Keeper of Keys at your service. So what can I do fer ya?"

"Well we were wondering what you knew about some of the more fascinating creatures," Hermione said as she gestured to Harry. "The professor said you were an expert with them."

"Well now what creatures were you interested in?" Hagrid asked with a very wide smile. "There are a lot of interesting creatures to tell the truth..."

"Well maybe you could start with some of the ones you think are interesting?" Hermione asked with a smile. "Oh this is Harry..."

"Why I haven't really seen you since you were a babe before you got in the boat!" Hagrid said with a very obviously happy look on his face. "It's good to see you again Harry."

Harry nodded his head in greetings before saying, "Yes well I wouldn't know much about that. Still if you have an interest in the more interesting beings then I guess that you cannot be all that bad even if some of the older years come up with stories."

"So what can you tell me about this pup here, Fang was it?" Hermione asked as Harry stood next to Fang and started to pet him getting whimpers of pleasure from the dog. "Huh seems that Harry learned a bit from Mischief than."

"Mischief?" Hagrid asked with interest. "Oh Fang is a boarhound shame that he is such a coward though for all he barks."

"Ah Mischief is a friend's dog bit small at the moment but will grow to be rather comfortably sized with time," Hermione said as she watched with a slight twitch to her eyes as the dog which had originally had its tail between its legs whimpering at his approach was now eagerly having his belly rubbed and not slobbering on him. "Well he was named that because he just kept getting into mischief. Still he wasn't a bad puppy though a bit trying at times to keep from wandering about too much."

"Ah reminds me of Fang when he was younger," Hagrid said with a nod. "He seemed to always like to wander off than one day he didna want to na more."

"You must have a lot of experience in raising animals," Hermione said trying to play shy and get more information. "Was there anyone that seemed to need a gentle hand or a bit of extra coaxing?"

"Aye," Hagrid said eyes shining in reminiscing. "Fluffy seemed to be a right blighter to calm down unless you play some music..."

'Hmm Fluffy does seem to be a name he would pick for that dog,' Hermione thought as she went back to what she had heard from the chitterling of Kiki and her complaints that dog was off limits as that would have been a large meal. 'So it seems that Hagrid is easy enough to trick information from and Harry is relaxing and being unserious again so this has been worth it.'

"So what is Fluffy like besides that?" Hermione asked as she watched the dread fill the man at what he had revealed. "It would be funny if he was a Cerberus like that Greek myth with that similarity..."

"I shouldna mentioned that," Hagrid flustered and bent a bit closer to her. "Wouldda mind not a mentioning tha? Most donna know about tha..."

"Sure," Hermione conceded with a barely hid smirk. "So what can you tell me about the forest here? It looks like there would be a large number of beings that would love to call it home? I wouldn't mind a chance to explore when I was older. Might be an interesting job travel the world and find new creatures..."

"Aye," Hagrid said with a shine to his eyes. "Well the forest here may seem a bit intimidating but I wouldna recommend going in there at your age. I have to keep chasin those Weasley Twins out. They just canna get that it is a bit dangerous until they know a bit more..."

Hermione nodded along and listened patiently as Hagrid let the far more useful information about the forest slip. Do to the more pressing information that she was gaining; Hermione put the topic of Fluffy to the side as it was not a priority at that point in time. So as the discussion seemed to be a rather long one Hermione settled down and sat patiently while Harry turned Fang into a puddle of willing cooperation. Any questions he was really asking him would be mistaken for the common murmuring one does with animals and no one would really suspect that Harry was grilling the easily cowed dog for information that Hagrid was intentionally leaving out of the story.