Voldermort's Grand-Daughter: Fates' Wager

Chapter 7: Buckbeak

"C'mon now, get a move on! Got a real treat for yeh. Great lesson comin' up. Follow me".  

Hagrid gathers all the students into a group, ready to start his very first lesson in Care of Magical Creatures. He leads them to a small paddock next to the Forbidden Forest and Hagrid's pumpkin patch.

"Gather 'round. Find yourself a spot".

Lilith and Draco hang in the back of the group and lean against a tree, with Crabbe and Goyle standing with them. Pansy and Blaise stand a little in front of them.  

"That's it. Now firs' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books-".

Draco interrupts him, "And exactly how do we do that?".

Some of the students were having trouble keeping hold of The Monster Book of Monsters, the required textbook for this class, as it was violently quivering in their grasp.  

Hagrid laughs, "Crikey. Didn' yeh know? All yeh've got ter do is stroke 'em. Look...".

He takes Hermione's copy of the book and snaps open the Spellotape that binds it together. As it begins to bite, Hagrid calmly strokes the book's spine and it...shivers, and quietly falls open to show the pages.

He hands Hermione back the book and the others attempt to follow his actions, many being unsuccessful. Lilith helps Crabbe and Goyle with theirs; Draco, Pansy and Blaise manage by themselves.

Hagrid nods at the class, "Righ' then. So...so...yeh've got yer books, an' now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Right. So...I'll...I'll go an' get 'em".  

He disappears into the trees and leaves the class to talk amongst themselves.

Draco shakes his head and turns to Lilith, "God, this place is going to the dogs. Wait until my father hears Dumbledore's got this oaf teaching classes".

Harry pipes up in defence, "Listen, you stupid prat-".  

Lilith walks forward, "Watch your mouth, Potter. I would be careful if I were...". She looks behind him and steps back, pointing, "Dementor, Dementor".  

Harry the others jump back in fear, turn around and see...nothing. The Slytherins laugh and the Gryffindors stare back in anger and embarrassment. Suddenly, a strange beast emerges from the trees. It has the torso, hind legs and tail of a horse, but the front legs, wings and head of a giant eagle. Everyone steps back in fear and the beast lands in front of them. Hagrid appears and stands next to the beast.  

"Gee up, there!". He grins proudly, "Beautiful, isn' he?".

The students stare at wonder at the magnificent beast in front of them. Hagrid coaxes the beast to the centre of the paddock.

Ron asks wearily, "Hagrid. Exactly what is that?".

He asks the group, "Well, would any of yeh want to give it a go?".

Lilith stares at the beast, "That's a Hippogriff".  

He nods, "Well done, Miss. Snape. Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know is they're proud".

Lilith smirks at Draco, who hits her arm as he feels her stare, "Shut up".

Hagrid continues, "Easily offended, Hippogriffs are. Don't ever insult one, 'cause it migh' be the las' thing yeh do. Right then...who wants ter come an' say hello?".

The entire class steps back, leaving Harry in the front.  

Lilith smirks, "Well this should be interesting".