-Mine-( Harry Potter x Reader)

Chapter 4

"Cause I don't know how it gets better than this, you take my hand and drag my head first fearless. And I don't know but with you, I'd dance in a storm in my best dress fearless"

                                                                         -Taylor Swift-

                                                                          -Fearless-

Y/n's POV

We hurried down the muddy path toward Hagrid's hut, my boots slipping slightly on the wet grass. The early morning mist clung to the air, mixing with the earthy scent of the Forbidden Forest, and the excitement in my chest made my stomach flutter. Care of Magical Creatures had always been one of my favorite classes, even if it could get a little... dangerous.

By the time we reached Hagrid's cabin, the rest of the class was already gathered, whispering and peering over the paddock fence. Hagrid himself emerged from the hut, his enormous frame clad in his familiar moleskin overcoat, hair sticking out in every direction. He smiled at us with a mixture of pride and glee that made me grin back.

"Alright class, follow me! Got a real surprise for yeh today," he boomed, his voice bouncing off the wooden walls of the hut. His boots thudded against the ground as he led us toward the paddock.

I could hear some of the Slytherins muttering behind me. Draco Malfoy was already leaning against the fence, smirking as though he could somehow ruin the day before it began. "How do we open those books without getting our fingers eaten off?" he sneered, eyeing the large, leather-bound Care of Magical Creatures textbooks.

"Yeh stroke the spine, of course," Hagrid replied without missing a beat, his eyes twinkling with humor.

I opened my book carefully, flipping through the pages, but my attention was instantly stolen by the creature in the paddock. My breath caught. It was... breathtaking. A majestic hippogriff. Its body was sleek and muscular like a horse's, but its wings were huge, feathered, and strong, the head of a proud eagle with golden eyes that glimmered in the morning light. The creature's sharp gaze swept over us, and I froze, completely captivated.

"Now, who wants to go say hi to Beaky first?" Hagrid asked, motioning toward the hippogriff.

The rest of the class began shuffling back cautiously, whispering nervously to one another, but I couldn't tear my eyes away. I felt a pull in my chest, a mix of awe and fear that made my stomach tighten. Hagrid looked at me with an approving nod.

"Good, Y/n and Harry first," he said.

Harry leaned toward me, voice low. "We'll be okay." His hand brushed mine briefly, and a spark ran through me. I nodded, trying to calm the butterflies, as we followed Hagrid into the paddock.

"Yer both gonna bow to him. If he bows back, then yeh can touch him," Hagrid instructed. My heart pounded as I crouched slightly, lowering my head toward the hippogriff. Its golden eyes locked onto mine, immense and penetrating. Then, slowly, it dipped its head in return. Relief washed over me.

"Go on, reach out," Hagrid encouraged. I hesitated, fingers trembling slightly before brushing against the feathers on its beak. They were surprisingly soft and warm. Harry followed, his hand brushing mine as he steadied himself.

"Come on, Harry! You've got to feel this!" I shouted, laughing with exhilaration.

Before I knew it, Hagrid had helped us climb onto Buckbeak's broad back. My legs trembled as I adjusted, sitting in front while Harry settled behind me. He placed his hands lightly on my waist, and my stomach flipped with nerves and excitement. Then, with a powerful leap, Buckbeak soared into the sky. The wind whipped past my face, my curls tangling as the Hogwarts grounds spread out below us like a painting.

We skimmed over the surface of the lake, the water sparkling like liquid glass in the morning sun. Harry slowly lifted his hands from my waist, grabbing mine instead, and I felt my pulse race as we reached out together, the freedom and exhilaration of flying making everything else fade away. It was... magical. Absolutely perfect.

When we finally landed, our classmates erupted into cheers. My legs felt like jelly as I slid off Buckbeak, heart still racing. Harry's grin mirrored my own. I could see the awe and envy on the other students' faces—well, everyone except the Slytherins.

Draco stepped forward, smirking, clearly itching to show off. "If Potter and Wild can do it, it must not be that hard. You're not dangerous at all, are you, you big ugly brute?"

Before I could respond, Buckbeak reared, and Draco jumped back, yelping as the hippogriff's talons swiped dangerously close. The next few seconds were chaotic—Buckbeak lashed out, and Draco let out a high-pitched scream. Blood spattered his arm, and panic rippled through the crowd. 

Draco's eyes, wide with fear and pain, flicked toward me. For a fleeting moment, it wasn't Malfoy vs. Wild—it was just... Draco. Vulnerable, caught off-guard, and oddly human.

"Get Hagrid! Now!" Hermione yelled, her face pale and tight with worry.

Hagrid swooped in immediately, muttering a string of curses under his breath while checking Draco's arm. I felt my stomach twist—this wasn't supposed to happen. None of us had expected someone to get hurt today.

"Draco! Are you okay?!" Hermione gasped, rushing forward, her usual calm composure shaken.

"It's... it's nothing... it's fine... it's killed me!" Draco whimpered, eyes wide with terror.

"You'll be okay," I said softly, almost without thinking, stepping closer. "Hagrid's going to help you."

"Hagrid's face went pale, and he barked orders to calm Buckbeak down, his hands trembling as he guided the creature away from the crowd.

"I'll take him to the hospital wing," Hermione said sharply, worry creasing her brow.

"I'll come with you," Harry added, his gaze flicking to me, and I nodded, heart still pounding from the adrenaline. I followed Hagrid and Harry, my mind a whirlwind of amazement and panic.

Even as we walked, I couldn't stop replaying the flight, the wind in my face, the way Harry's hands felt holding mine, the way the world had stretched out beneath us like it had no end. And yet, the image of Draco's terrified expression lingered, a stark reminder of how unpredictable magic—and creatures—could be.

He blinked at me, something unreadable passing through his gaze. It was the same sharp intensity he always had, but now there was a flicker of... something else. Gratitude? Or maybe relief? I didn't have time to figure it out before Hagrid lifted Draco carefully, muttering about the hospital wing, and gestured for Harry and me to come along.

As we walked, I kept sneaking glances at Draco, who was wincing but managing to keep his composure. There was tension there—between him and me—but it wasn't the usual snark or rivalry. For a second, it almost felt like we were the only two people who really understood how terrifying and exhilarating flying on Buckbeak could be.

By the time we reached the hospital wing, Madame Pomfrey was bustling around, fussing over Draco's arm with a flurry of potions and spells. I hovered nearby, unsure if I should step closer or give him space. He caught my gaze again, and this time, he offered the faintest smirk. Just a twitch at the corner of his mouth, but it made my stomach do somersaults.

"Don't go getting used to me saving you," I said under my breath, more to myself than him.

Draco just tilted his head, as if acknowledging the unspoken truce between us, though I knew better than to trust him completely. Still, the tiniest spark of... connection had ignited. And I couldn't deny it—my heart was racing in a completely different way than it had when Harry held my hand.

Hagrid clapped a heavy hand on my shoulder. "Yer a brave one, Y/n. Don' worry, Buckbeak won't be harmin' anyone again today."

I nodded, trying to calm my thoughts, but all I could think about was how the day had started normally, how we had soared through the sky, and how, in the middle of chaos, Draco Malfoy had looked... different.

And for reasons I didn't want to admit out loud, I was curious to see if that look would happen again.

(1337 Words)