[1] PARADIGM ↳ Harry Potter

-SIX: BUCKBEAK

CARE OF THE MAGICAL creatures had always been Raven's favorite subject, and she hoped to teach it someday. But the presence of the Slytherins soiled the whole experience, mostly because of Draco Malfoy and his minions, who amused themselves by rudely teasing Harry about the incident with the Dementors on the Hogwarts Express.

    Raven was sick and tired of them, to be honest. But she tried to ignore them and pay attention to what Hagrid had to say. Besides, this was his first ever time teaching a class and he could use all the support from the students he could get.

"Hippogriffs!" Hagrid roared happily as a dozen or so of the beautiful creatures came up to the edge of the paddock in clear view of the students. "Beau'iful, aren't they?" Raven grinned widely, mesmerized by the magnificent creatures, that looked like they were half horse, half bird. They were enormous, with gorgeous coats of fur that varied in color.

"So," Hagrid began. "If yeh wan' ter come a bit nearer---"

But no one did, except Raven, Harry, Ron and Hermione, of course. Raven wanted to be the first one to get close, to feel how smooth its hair is beneath her fingers.

She had already read Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, which served as a guide to her for any magical creature she came across. She knew the book cover to cover, and she knew that Hippogriffs were extremely proud creatures, and should she approach one, it should be with caution.

"Yeh always wait fer the Hippogriff to make the firs' move," Hagrid was explaining. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were somewhere in the back of the group of students, muttering and snickering over how ridiculous the class was. Raven tuned them out and listened to her Professor. "It's polite, see? Yeh walk towards him, and yeh bow, an' yeh wait. If he bows back, you're allowed ter touch him. If he doesn' bow, then get away from him, 'cause those talons hurt. Right -- who wants to go first?"

Most of the class shuffled back a few steps in answer, but Raven was not afraid of these animals. They were beautiful and if she treated them correctly, she predicted that they would return the favor.

"I'll do it," the words slipped from her mouth and she walked a step forward.

"Raven!" Hagrid smiled at her approvingly, and she returned it. "Righ', course you would be the firs'. Now, let's see how yeh get on with Buckbeak."

Her blue eyes followed Hagrid as he went to remove the chains that gently kept the gray Hippogriff from flying off. Raven's heart began to hammer in excitement. She has never touched a Hippogriff before.

Raven locked eyes with the creature. "Easy now, Raven," Hagrid began talking again, quietly. "Yeh've got eye contact, now try not to blink... Hippogriffs don' trust yeh if yeh blink too much..."

"I know, Hagrid," she replied under her breath. She needed complete silence, just for a few moments. The creature had orange eyes that bore into hers, and she almost forgot that she was not supposed to blink.

When she thought she was close enough, she slowly began to bow, keeping eye contact with Buckbeak until her head sunk too low to do so. Then she waited, patiently, staring at the ground.

Hagrid was quietly telling her to back away, but she couldn't. She could not move, her feet seemed glued to the ground.

But then, she glanced up at Buckbeak and his front leg was bending forward. Raven could easily identify this as a bow.

"Well done, Raven!" Hagrid cried out, and the class broke out into applause, most of which came from Harry, Hermione, and Ron. "Righ', yeh can touch him! Pat his beak, go on!"