Hufflepuff boy - Cedric Diggory x male oc x Viktor Krum

14

Students gather around Hagrid as Harry, Ron and Hermione arrive. Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle stand with the Slytherins. Cayden is standing with the Hufflepuffs, huffing when they keep glancing at him. He moves on his feet and stands next to Harry, not even catching his twin off-guard at his presence.

"C'mon now, get a move on! Got a real treat for yeh. Great lesson comin' up. Follow me." Hagrid said, leading them towards a small paddock just the side of the Forbidden Forest.

In the paddock, a freestanding iron rack hangs with dead ferrets, buzzing with flies. Nearby is a pumpkin patch.

"Gather 'round. Find herself a spot. That's it. Now, firs' thing yeh'll want ter do is open her books--" Hagrid's words were cut off by Draco.

"And exactly how do we do that?" Draco said, sneering at the half-giant man.

"You stroke its spine." Cayden answered instead of Hagrid, unbinding his book and as it began to bite at him. He calmly runs an index and middle finger down the book's spine and it shivers, falling quietly open.

"That's right, Cayden." Hagrid said, smiling proudly at the Hufflepuff who returns the smile. He tells them about needing to get the magical creature for today's class and disappears into the trees.

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

"Listen, you stupid prat--"

Eyes widening in fear, Draco steps back, pointing behind the four.

"Potter, there's a Dementor behind you." Draco said.

"Enough, Draco." Cayden said, wrapping his arm around Harry, telling him that there's no Dementor approaching them.

"Let him do whatever he wants, Potter." Pansy said, glaring at Cayden.

"I'll let him do anything he wants when he gets a taste of a Dementor himself." Cayden said, smiling at them. "Or maybe you should too, Parkinson." He said. "Maybe it'll get your head set straight that Draco doesn't like you like that." He said, grinning when Pansy's smile changed into a frown.

Cayden turns his head away when he notices a Hippogriff emerging from the trees. He cocked his head, ignoring the students who stepped back in fear, then he noticed Hagrid standing next to the Hippogriff.

"Gee up, there!" Hagrid exclaimed, grinning. "Beau'iful, isn't he?"

"He looks breathtaking." Cayden answered when no one said a word, watching as Hagrid's face lit up at his words.

"Hagrid. Exactly what is that?" Ron questioned.

"A Hippogriff, o' course. Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know is they're proud. Easily offended, Hippogriffs are. Don't never insult one, 'cause it migh' be the las' thing yeh do. Right then -- who wants ter come an' say hello?" Hagrid said, looking at the students.

The entire class steps back, leaving Cayden and Harry in front. Harry noticed this and stepped back. Cayden noticed this and looked over his shoulder at Harry, smiling at his twin brother who returns the smile nervously.

"Good man, Cayden!" Hagrid said, grinning, secretly happy that Cayden was the one who stepped up. Even though every students stepped back, not wanting to get close to the Hippogriff.

Cayden approached Hagrid, looking up at Hagrid with full trust on the half-giant. He's nervous to meet a Hippogriff, but an excited feeling swirl inside his chest.

"That's it. Easy now... stop!" Hagrid stopped Cayden from walking. "This here's Buckbeak, Cayden. Yeh want ter let 'im make the firs' move. It's polite, see? Jus' take step forward, give 'im a bow, and if Buckbeak bows back, yeh're allowed ter touch him. Ready?"

Cayden nods, stepping forward and slowly bows. Buckbeak's head cocks, eagle eyes studying Cayden for a few seconds before Buckbeak ducks his beak, bowing back to the Hufflepuff.

Hagrid sighs, relieved. "Well done, Cayden! Go on. Give 'im a pat."

Cayden reaches out, laying his hand on Buckbeak's fierce beak. The class claps, even Draco has a smile on his face as Cayden smiles up at Buckbeak.

"Look at that! I reckon he migh' let yeh ride 'im!" Hagrid said.

Cayden snapped his head to look at Hagrid, his eyes lighting up. "Really!"

Hagrid nods, chuckling softly. "We'll jus' set yeh behind the wing joint. Mind yeh don' pull any feathers out. He won't like that." He said, lifting Cayden up high and drops him into Buckbeak's back, and before Cayden could get settled, Hagrid slaps Buckbeak's hindquarters. "Off yeh go!"

As Buckbeak gallops forward, Cayden slides scarily back, giant wings unfold, huge and powerful, and they soar into the air. Rising higher, and higher, until they're up on the sky.

Gradually, Cayden loosens his hold on Buckbeak's neck. Losing himself in the joy of flying. He smiles at the sight of his and Buckbeak's shadow racing across the grass below. They circles over the Whomping Willow, past Hogwarts castle, and then swooping, with heart-stopping speed, over the Black Lake, Buckbeak's talons tickled the smooth glass of the water, summoning the Giant Squid to the surface briefly.

Hagrid whistles then, and Buckbeak wheels, beating his way back to the paddock, galloping to a halt. As Cayden slides off, the class cheers. Draco couldn't hold back a smile at the sight of Cayden's bright smile.

"Good work, Cayden!" Hagrid exclaimed, grinning, before talking under his breath. "How'm I doin' me firs' day?"

"Brilliant, Professor." Cayden said, both him and Hagrid were grinning.

Their moment was broken when Draco pushes past the students roughly, striding towards Buckbeak.

"Give me a go at that thing. If Cayden can do it, it must be easy. You're not dangerous at all, are you, you great ugly brute--"

"Malfoy! No!" Hagrid exclaimed, trying to stop the blond.

In a flash, Buckbeak's steely talons slash down. Cayden pushes Draco away from Buckbeak, taking the hit. He looks down at the blood blossoming on his robes, behind him he can hear his twin and friends gasping.

Instantly, Hagrid dashes forward. Buckbeak whips around, raises its talons and-- seeing Hagrid-- lowers them and ducks its beak.

Cayden turned and looked at Draco with furrowed eyebrows as he stood beside Buckbeak.

"Cayden..." Hagrid trailed off, looking at the deep gash glistening on Cayden's arm. How the Hufflepuff is not freaking out is a wonder.

"Hagrid. He's got to be taken to a hospital. I'll go with you, if you like--" Hermione said but was cut off by Hagrid.

"No. I'm the teacher. You all... you all just... Class dismissed!" Hagrid places his hand on Cayden's shoulder and lumbers towards the castle.