The Raven's Call

Buckbeak the Hippogriff

"I think they're funny." I hear Hermione speak. "Oh, yeah. Terribly funny." Draco responds from behind the group. "Really witty. God, this place has gone to the dogs." He scoffs. "Wait until my father hears Dumbledore's got this oaf teaching classes." He, Crabbe, and Goyle laugh loudly to themselves. "Shut up, Malfoy." Harry speaks up, earning a bunch of 'oohs' from the Slytherin boys. Draco hands his, rather heavy, bookbag to Crabbe before taking a few steps towards Harry. He looks past Harry for a moment, his expression changing. "D-d.. Dementor dementor!" He shouts, pointing behind the group, causing us all to turn in fear. Then. Laughter. The boys and Pansy pull their hoods up, all making spooky ghostly sounds, grinning widely to themselves. Proud of their prank. Hermione frowns, pulling Harry away from the tormentors.

Hagrid clears his throat. "Da da da daaaa!" He vocalizes, opening his arms wide to show the creature standing regally beside him. "Isn't he beautiful." He smiles widely. "Say hello to Buckbeak!" He calls, throwing a dead ferret up to the large beast. I frown, feeling Bandit wriggle around in my pocket, and breathe a sigh of relief. "Hagrid.. exactly what is that?" Ron asks in bewilderment. "That, Ron, is a hippogriff. First thing you wanna know about hippogriffs, is that they're very proud creatures. Very easily offended. You do not want to insult a hippogriff. It may just be the last thing you ever do." Hagrid speaks darkly. "Now!" He claps, now. "Who'd like to come say hello?" He asks, turning back to the beast. Us as an entire class all take a step back, all except Neville, who hides behind the large rock, and for Harry, who had no idea we'd even moved. "Well done, Harry! Well done." Hagrid exclaims, turning back to us. Harry looks around, confused. "Come on now." Hagrid beckons as Ron pushes Harry forward a bit, causing me to chuckle softly. 

"You have to let him make the first move. It's only polite." Hagrid instructs. "So, step up. Give him a nice bow. Then you wait and see if he bows back. If he does, you can go and touch him." He tells Harry, as Harry makes his way closer to Buckbeak. "If not, well, we'll get to that later." Hagrid adds. We all watch in suspense as the interaction unfolds. "Just make your bow." Hagrid instructs. Harry hesitates for a moment, but slowly bows. "Nice and low." For a moment, Buckbeak squawks and bats his feathers. "Back off, Harry. Back off!" Hagrid exclaims. Harry takes a few steps back, stepping on a branch, snapping it. I hear a group of gasps. "Keep still.. keep still.." Hagrid speaks softly and calmly as the hippogriff seems to calm itself. It then bows to Harry. It was now that I realise I had been holding my breath. I finally let go. "Well done Harry. Well done." Hagrid praises him before throwing another ferret to the creature. "Here, you big brute, you."

"Right. I think you can go and pat him now." Hagrid says with a smile. "Go on, don't be shy." Harry walks closer to Buckbeak, but from beside me, I feel a nudge in my side as the Slytherin boys push past me to get a closer look. "Ouch..!" I mutter. "Nice and slow." I hear Hagrid say to Harry once more. Harry holds out his hand, walking a little too fast for the creature's liking. "Not so fast, Harry.." Hagrid frets as Buckbeak rears up like he had before. Harry walks slowly closer and closer until Buckbeak returns his advances, leaning closer to Harry. Then as flesh touches beak, all was well. Harry pet the beast like it was a common horse. "Yes!" Hagrid exclaims. "Well done! Well done, Harry!" He applauds. I forgot to breathe again.. I exhale as the rest of us applaud. "Does he get to fly?" Alex asks, eagerly. 

"I think he may let you ride him now." Hagrid says with a grin as he walks over and picks up Harry like he weighs nothing. "Hey hey hey!" Harry protests as he's lowered onto the hippogriff. "Don't pull out any of his feathers, cause he won't thank you for that!" Hagrid grins, slapping the beasts behind to rile him up. Buckbeak neighs as Harry holds on for dear life. 

Buckbeak's powerful wings unfurl, and with a single powerful beat, he soared into the sky. We watch in awe as Harry and Buckbeak become tiny figures against the backdrop of the castle. We can hear Harry's laughter carried on the wind, a joyful sound that seemed to fill the entire forest. From the ground, it's a breathtaking sight. Harry and Buckbeak circle above, higher and higher, tracing patterns in the sky. The sun's rays dance off their forms, making them seem almost ethereal. I and some other students can't help but cheer and applaud, our worries and schoolwork momentarily forgotten. Asteria leans in from behind me, I've gotten a little taller since last year it seems. "Hope Bandit didn't see that." She whispers, and I let out a soft chuckle. "He's safe in my pocket." I whisper back. She pulls a handful of licorice wands from her own pocket. "Do you want a licorice wand?" She asks. I smile and take one. "Thanks." I hear Hagrid whistle, calling Buckbeak back to him. The creature lands on the dirt, coming to a stop beside him a few moments later. "Well done, Harry. And well done, Buckbeak!" He exclaims, helping Harry back down. We all cheer. 

"Oh, please." Draco berates, pushing past the crowd. "Yes, you're not dangerous at all, are you? You great ugly brute!" He growls, strutting up to the beast. "Draco!" Asteria calls out to her brother, distressed. Buckbeak rears up on his hind legs, squawking loudly as he claws through Draco's arm, forcing him to the ground. The boy yelps in pain. Hagrid stands between the two, talking sternly to the beast before throwing another ferret to him, away from the boys. "It's killed me! It's killed me!" Draco cries as Asteria runs towards him. "Calm down. It's just a scratch." She tells him. "Hagrid!" Hermione speaks up. "He has to be taken to the hospital." She tells him, sounding concerned. "I'm the teacher, I'll do it." Hagrid says heroically as he puts his arms under the boy, lifting him up as Draco continues to moan and groan. "Class dismissed!" He announces. "You're gonna regret this.. You and your bloody chicken." He cries as Asteria follows after them, hers and Draco's bags over her shoulder. I sigh softly. 

Never a boring day at Hogwarts, is there?