A Potter Secret

Buckbeak Emerges

The trio emerge from the bridge and make their way toward Hagrid's hut. The Whomping Willow looms in the distance. "Death omens. Honestly. If you ask me, Divination's a very wooly discipline. Now Ancient Runes. That's a fascinating subject," Hermione says.

"Ancient Runes? Exactly how many classes are you taking this term?" Ron asks.

"A fair few," Hermione replies.

"Hang on. Ancient Runes is the same time as Divination. You'd have to be in two classes at once."

"Don't be silly. How could anyone be in two classes at once? Broaden your minds."

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Students gather around Hagrid as Harry, Ron and Hermione arrive. Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle stand with the Slytherins. "C'mon now, get a move on! Got a real treat for yeh. Great lesson comin' up. Follow me," Hagrid smiles.

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Hagrid leads them toward a small paddock just this 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 yerself a spot. That's it. Now, firs' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books-" Hagrid instructs.

"And exactly how do we do that?" Draco demands.

Hagrid looks. Belts, rope, Spellotape: any means available have been employed to bridle The Monster Book of Monsters, which quiver violently. "Crikey. Didn' yeh know? All yeh've got ter do is stroke 'em. Look-" Hagrid takes Hermione's copy, snapes the Spellotape binding it. As it begins to bite, Hagrid calmly runs a forefinger down the book's spine and it shivers. Falls quietly open. Hagrid glances at the class, looking suddenly unsure. "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."

Hagrid turns, disappears into the trees. Draco shakes his head, speaks 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," Draco calls.

"Listen, you stupid prat," Harry starts.

Eyes widening in fear, Malfoy steps back, points. "Dementor! Dementor!" Draco cries.

Harry jumps, wheels in fear, finds nothing. Instantly, the Slytherins make an eerie ooh and ooh sound, then break up laughing. Harry reddens, embarrassed, then a strange beast, Buckbeak, emerges from the trees. Isabella pads up in her cat form, rubbing against his leg. The Beast has the torso, hind legs, and tail of a horse, but the front legs, wings and head of a giant eagle. The students step back in fear, then Hagrid appears, shooing the beast on. "Gee up, there! Beau'iful, isn' he?" Hagrid grins.

There seems no consensus on this, but the students stare in wary wonder nonetheless. As Hagrid coaxes the beast to the center of the paddock, Ron stares uneasily. "Hagrid. Exactly what is that?" Ron asks.

"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 asks. The entire class steps back, leaving Harry in front. Hermione grabs Isabella before she can interfere. "Good man, Harry!" Harry looks around, then, reluctantly, approaches. "Tha's it. Easy now stop! This here's Buckbeak, Harry. 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?" Unsure, Harry nods anyway. Steps forward. And bows. Buckbeak's head cocks, eagle eyes studying Harry cannily. Harry waits. And waits. "Back off, Harry! Back off!" Hagrid instructs. Harry starts to step back, when Buckbeak ducks his beak. Hagrid sighs, relieved. "Well done, Harry! Go on. Give 'im a pat." Tentatively, Harry reaches out, lays his hand on Buckbeak's fierce beak. The class claps. Harry smiles. "Look at that! I reckon he migh' let yeh ride 'im!"

"What?" Harry says, losing his smile. Isabella snickers from her place in Hermione's arms.

"We'll jus' set yeh behind the wing joint. Mind yeh don' pull any feathers out. He won' like that," Hagrid replies. Hagrid lifts Harry high, drops him onto Buckbeak's back, and before Harry's settled, slaps Buckbeak's hindquarters. "Off yeh go!"

As Buckbeak gallops forward, Harry slides scarily back, giant wings unfold, huge and powerful, and, Whoosh!, they soar into the air. Rising higher. And higher. And higher. Gradually, Harry loosens his hold on Buckbeak's neck. Losing himself in the joy of flying. Smiling at the sight of his and Buckbeak's shadow racing across the grass below. Circling over the Whomping Willow, past Hogwarts castle, and then swooping, with heart-stopping speed, over the Black Lake, Buckbeak's talons tickling 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 Harry slides off, the class cheers, all except Draco, who narrows his eyes maliciously. "Good work, Harry!" Hagrid cheers before whispering, "How'm I doin' me firs' day?"

"Brilliant Professor," Harry smiles.

They both grin, when Draco pushes past them roughly, strides toward Buckbeak. "Give me a go at that thing. If Potter can do it, it must be easy. You're not dangerous at all, are you, you great ugly brute-" Draco insults.

"Malfoy! No!" Hagrid cries.

In a flash, Buckbeak's steely talons slash down. Malfoy freezes. Looks down at the blood blossoming on his robes. Shrieks. Instantly, Harry dashes forward. Buckbeak whips around, raises its talons and, seeing Harry, lowers them. Ducks its beak. Harry realizing what he's done breathes. "It's killed me! It's killed me!" Draco cries.

"Calm yerself! Yer fine jus' a scratch," Hagrid says. Hagrid looks: a deep gash glistens on Draco's limp arm.

"Hagrid. He's got to be taken to a hospital. I'll go with you, if you like-" Hermione reminds.

"No. I'm the teacher. You all you all just Class dismissed!" Hagrid calls. And with that, Hagrid – looking shaken, swoops up Malfoy, flops him over his shoulder, and lumbers toward the castle.

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As Lavender and Parvati huddle over a dozen teacups, avidly interpreting patterns in hushed voices, Draco, arm bound in a sling, holds court before a clot of Slytherins. "Does it hurt terribly, Draco?" Pansy asks.

"It comes and goes. Still I consider myself lucky. According to Madam Pomfrey, another minute or two and I could've lost the arm," Draco replies.

Harry, Ron and Hermione watch from the Gryffindor table. "The little git. He's really laying it on thick, isn't he?" Ron mutters.

"At least Hagrid didn't get sacked," Harry reminds.

"Yes. But I hear Draco's father's furious. I don't think we've heard the end of this," Hermione says.

"He's been sighted!" Seamus cries. They turn. Seamus and the other Gryffindors are huddled over a copy of The Daily Prophet.

"Who?" Ron asks.

But the Photograph on the Prophet's front page provides a chilling answer: Sirius Black. Hermione reads over the shoulders of others. Hermione whispers half to herself, "Achintee? That's not far from here."

"You don't think he'd come to Hogwarts, do you?" Neville asks.

"With the Dementors at every entrance?" Lavender reminds.

"Dementors? He's already slipped by them once, hasn't he? Who's to say he can't do it again?" Seamus reminds.

As a flicker of fear passes through Harry's face, Bem, a Nigerian boy, stares grimly at the grainy image of Black. "That's right. Black could be anywhere. It's like trying to catch smoke. Like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands," Bem says. Isabella walks away in annoyance at the false accusations being thrown about.

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