Death Eaters Daughter

36

Much like the forest Mattheo had apparated us to days earlier, the forest that we stood at the edge of bustled with life. Unlike the forest Mattheo had apparated us to, however, this one harboured a large clearing that ran alongside an even larger lake. Its inky depths rippling lightly as the breeze blew across the surface. The medium-sized wooden hut billowing smoke from its chimney as a large grey dog sat beside the front steps.

One large paw draped across the other as its large head rested atop of its greying paws. The clearing in itself was surrounded by a dense barrier of oak trees. The forest floor blanketed in a dark shadow from the thick canopy above. Though Archimedes remained perched upon my arm, his restless fidgeting hadn't gone unnoticed by Mattheo's eyes as he noted the way the white owl continued to nibble my arm and ruffle its wings.

The snowy owls fidgeting went unnoticed by me however, as my own eyes locked on the dapple-grey hippogriff that sat at the edge of the forest beside the wooden hut. Its light brown eyes locked on my own as it rose from the grass. Its back legs and hind resembling that of a horse while its front legs, torso and head resembled that of an eagle. Its darker grey wings tucked close to its body as it stepped closer to where Mattheo and I stood at the edge of the forest, each feather as flawless as the last. Heavy footsteps echoed within the wooden hut and moments later, the front door was pulled open by a giant of a man. His face covered in a wild, tangled beard as his brown hair hung in long, shaggy locks down his back; stopping just above his shoulders.

"You must be Elysian." He said. "Rebus Hagrid, but everyone calls me Hagrid." He continued, gesturing to himself with a wave of his hand. A gentle smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as his dark-almost black eyes peered over my shoulder from his place upon the threshold of the wooden hut.

An easy feat for the eleven-foot-six half-giant that walked down the two steps of the hut. Those dark eyes studying Mattheo intently from where he stood beside me, seemingly unbothered by the curiosity that glinted within Hagrid's eyes.

"That'd be me." I offered with a sheepish grin.

"You're the Riddle that everyone is talking about, aren't you?" Hagrid queried, something within his dark eyes telling me that he already knew the answer to that question.

Mattheo arched a dark eyebrow as though he too noticed the knowing look within Hagrid's gaze. "Mattheo." He replied, curtly.

My slate-grey eyes turned away from the two men and toward the dapple-grey hippogriff that had crept closer, its dark grey feathers ruffling in the gentle breeze. "Beautiful, isn't he?" Hagrid uttered, gesturing to the hippogriff that came closer with each step it took.

"Something like that." I murmured, entranced by one of the creatures I'd only ever read about. Marvelling at its natural beauty and grace as the winged creature came closer. "What's its name?"

The clear love Hagrid held towards the hippogriff shone within his dark eyes as he replied. "Buckbeak. He wouldn't hurt a fly, that is if you don't disrespect him. Hippogriffs are insanely proud creatures." He chuckled to himself, "Your father wasn't one to listen to that warning however, didn't even bow to Buckbeak the first time he met him."

I tore my gaze away from the grey hippogriff long enough to meet Hagrid's eyes. "My father met Buckbeak?"

Mattheo's head tilted slightly, his interest peaked as a rather amused laugh spilled from Hagrid's mouth. "He did. I carried him to the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts while he muttered something along the lines of 'you and your bloody chicken' beneath his breath after he'd stormed up to Buckbeak."

Despite myself, a laugh left my mouth as I pictured a younger version of my father being carried away to the Hospital Wing while he muttered insults towards the hippogriff beneath his breath. Mattheo tried to hide the smile that threatened to grace his face as I turned to face him.