Monday is a hard day.
So everyone says. However, other people make it hard by succumbing to laziness—that is not my style. Morning exercises, shower… In general, adherence to the schedule. And of course, a wake-up call for the roommates! But my cunning roommates adapted suspiciously quickly in the simplest way—they now have an alarm clock. As soon as I returned to the room, they were already awake and rubbing their eyes. And yet I heard in the common room about the existence of certain Silencing Charms. They could have just learned them, and that's it.
After another classic breakfast in the Great Hall, our entire year went to the Ravenclaw tower—it was there, according to Justin, that there was a large auditorium for lectures and practicals on Charms and Spells.
The auditorium was indeed large, and tables and benches stood there in a kind of amphitheater to the left and right of the entrance. Opposite the entrance to the auditorium was a huge stained-glass window and a pile of books around the lectern for the teacher. We barely had time to sit around properly when a small old man in a tailcoat and green robes appeared from the adjacent door. Another half-blood. Amusing.
Professor Filius Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw House, turned out to be quite a good storyteller, and most importantly—passionate about his own business, subject, and magic. Listening to him was a pleasure, and practice came easily not only to me but also to those who succumbed to the enthusiasm of this teacher.
After Charms, according to the timetable, was one of the elective subjects, specifically in my case—Care of Magical Creatures. Honestly, I wasn't particularly interested in who else besides me chose this subject, but it seems there were very many such people, if not almost everyone.
In a disorderly noisy crowd, our year headed first to the castle hall, and then outside altogether. The weather was a bit cloudy, but judging by the clouds, the sun would peek out any minute. And so it happened—as soon as we reached Hagrid's hut, the first rays of the midday sun began to warm us.
"What a stupid book!" many were indignant, but loudest of all, unsurprisingly, was Malfoy.
Hagrid was already waiting for us at the door of his hut, and next to him sat an almost black overgrown Great Dane. A dog to match the owner, to match.
"Come on, hurry up!" Hagrid shouted with his booming bass. "I've prepared such a lesson for you. Everyone follow me, forward!"
It seems the bearded man came up with something extraordinary. Considering the rumors, one should expect anything.
Hagrid led us along the edge of the forest, and this caused anxiety in the eyes of many. I, on the contrary, liked the forest. For reasons quite understandable to me. As soon as I figure out reliable protection against Dementors, I will definitely take a walk there—the elf is just begging for it.
Hagrid brought us to a spacious and empty paddock.
"Everyone stand along the fence!" he ordered. "So that everyone, er… can see well. And now, first of all, open your books…"
"What?" Malfoy's voice sounded nearby, attracting the attention of those present. "What do you mean, open them?"
And why did he and his whole House get so close to us? To be further away from the Gryffindors? Those are just completely on the other side. Oh, Daphne.
"Hi, Greengrass."
"Granger," the brunette nodded, looking at the book with bewilderment.
"Stroke the spine," I suggested quietly so that only she could hear.
Daphne looked at me rather suspiciously, but I just smiled back.
"How are we going to open them?" Malfoy continued to be indignant.
At that moment, Daphne opened the book. I opened the book. My Hufflepuff comrades also opened it—I told them how to do it.
"Pffft, Mr. Malfoy," I smirked, looking at the disgruntled blond. "First time holding a book in your hands?"
With an imperceptible gesture from under the open book, I pointed my wand towards the same, but closed one, in Malfoy's hands, whispering: "Alohomora." The clasp on his book opened, and this magical miracle immediately opened in the form of a maw.
"A-a-ah!" the blond yelled when the book tried to chew his hand.
To Malfoy's credit, he immediately slammed it shut and fastened the clasp. Of course, such an incident caused laughter from those around, and while everyone was distracted, I hid the wand in the holster just as imperceptibly as I took it out. Eh, I wish I could fully restore elven motor skills faster, if that's even possible. Skills return quickly, yes, but I want everything right here and now, and preferably—yesterday.
"Well, well, Mr. Malfoy," I smiled, looking at the disgruntled blond. "The book almost ate the face of the House."
"Yes, children…" to Hagrid's surprise, most of the students managed one way or another, and the reason for this is none other than word of mouth, because I told about the method. "Correct, you need to stroke the spine."
"Good joke," Malfoy, under the chuckles of the others, was literally oozing with indignation. "Recommending a textbook ready to chop off a hand!"
I was frankly amused by the arrogance of this spoiled brat, and I didn't consider it necessary to remain silent in such a situation.
"And are you, Mr. Malfoy, a wizard, or a Muggle with a wand, unable to cope with a magic book?"
"Think you're the smartest?" Malfoy moved forward.
"I know it."
"Alright, that's enough! Everyone calm down," Hagrid raised his voice slightly, but with his dimensions and timbre, this was more than enough. "Now you can use the textbooks. But the main thing, of course, is magical creatures. I'll go get them, wait…"
Hagrid quickly disappeared behind the trees.
"Wonderful! The school is going Mordred knows where!" Malfoy was indignant, under the approving nods of some comrades from his House. "This oaf will teach us! I'll tell my father—he'll have a stroke!"
Potter, Weasley, and Hermione were literally breaking through the crowd towards us. Oh well…
"Don't forget to finish him off with the fact that you couldn't open a book," it was decidedly impossible not to insert such a thing after his phrase, causing a series of chuckles from those around, and another portion of indignation and contempt from Malfoy himself.
"Shut up, Malfoy," snarled Potter who reached us with the support of his company.
"Hello, talking hedgehog-friend-of-my-sister," I raised my right hand like a Roman. "I come in peace."
More chuckles extinguished the conflict.
"Uh… Hedgehog?" Potter didn't understand immediately, but it dawned on him quickly, and the guy tried to smooth down his unruly hair sticking out in different directions. "This… Can't be fixed."
"Ah, you and Mr. Malfoy are obviously of the same blood."
"Wha-at?" the blond showed signs of life, but I wasn't listening to him, turning to Daphne. "Miss Greengrass, do you know if there are spells to put a head in order?"
"If for the facade—yes. But with the contents, problems may arise."
"I suppose problems can arise even without one…"
Hermione, who approached clearly as part of Potter's support group, tried to somehow get closer to me and speak, but the disorderly stamping nearby attracted the students' attention, and when real Hippogriffs ran out of the forest into the paddock, the crowd literally exploded with shock, fear, and admiration.
Large creatures resembling griffins known to me, but previously not encountered by any of the shards—read about them in the local bestiary. In size, they are comparable to thoroughbred horses, and outwardly are a cross between these very horses and an eagle—the body, hind legs, and tail from a horse, while the front legs, neck, head, and wings are eagle-like. The colour is uniform, not as chaotic as griffins. But the claws on the front legs are impressive—real blades! And the beak. A very curious creature, but the elven part of me did not show special interest—after all, that elf was more of a wizard and healer than a breeder or ranger who loves interacting with animals so much.
I listened to Hagrid's further stories with half an ear, gleaning only important information, like, they are proud creatures, love to observe ceremony. To communicate with them, you need to approach slowly, bow, and wait for a return bow—typical tactics of behavior with a griffin, if it is not initially aggressive. If the Hippogriff bows back, you can already approach closely, stroke it there, or even ride it. And yes, it's the same with griffins. Again, if they are not hostile. I bet there are a couple more tricks in their nature and habits, and if you violate the voiced scheme, the Hippogriff will strike a preemptive blow—always a light wound. Without exceptions. At least that's what a griffin does. And if you suddenly didn't understand the slightly bloody hint and climbed again—that's where your doom will lie.
After the briefing, there were no volunteers to make contact with these animals, and I can understand the students' fears. Once, I remember, being human, I met a herd of horses. With my mind, I understood that they wouldn't attack or anything like that—village ones, used to people. But damn them—they are huge! And jaws, and teeth, and with its nose, it seemed, it could "sniff" me to the skeleton! And here is an animal even larger, with blades on its paws and a beak capable of biting off your noggin. It is not surprising that all the children recoiled from the fence.
All except the hesitant Potter—Hagrid chose him in a voluntarily-compulsory manner to get acquainted with the Hippogriff.
Potter, to his credit, carried out the acquaintance procedure correctly, and Hagrid, seating Potter on the Hippogriff, sent the latter into flight. Everyone was delighted.
"This is madness…" Justin shook his head, opening his mouth looking at the image of the huge animal flashing in the sky through the tree crowns.
"That's a Gryffindor!" Weasley grinned, you can't say otherwise, extremely smugly, as if he himself was there in the sky right now.
Already realizing the degree of tension between Gryffindor and Slytherin, and especially between Potter's and Malfoy's teams, I expected some dirty trick from the latter. Not for nothing was he, together with two big guys, Crabbe and Goyle, actively discussing something, slightly moving away from the others.
Soon the Hippogriff landed, and rider-Harry safely dismounted. He looked dashing and foolish. The guy looked happy and dishevelled worse than before. After that, many showed a desire to communicate with animals—the guys enthusiastically, but without much courage, entered the paddock, bowed to the Hippogriffs, and they bowed back. True, not all. Neville had to run from a dissatisfied Hippogriff—the animal, being unleashed by Hagrid, clicked its beak at Longbottom as if at an unlucky cub. It is not surprising, because the approach voiced by Hagrid implies exactly such a position of the wizard before the Hippogriff—a cub. True, if you still are rude or insult it, it's not a sin to scratch the impudent one.
I didn't take my eyes off Malfoy. When such people plan nastiness, this desire literally hangs around them—so it was now. And therefore, when the Hippogriff, which the blond finally reached and even stroked, suddenly reared up, the wand slipped into my hand, and I pronounced one of the school spells.
"Accio, Draco Malfoy."
The guys standing next to me, who decided to spend the lesson in safety, looked at me like an idiot. But they bestowed an even more shocked look on Malfoy, who literally rolled to my feet. He spat out dust and grass. Hagrid had already rushed to the insulted Hippogriff and instantly subdued it in a simple and effective way—a powerful collar. Well, this huge bearded man had no problems holding such a beast.
"It seems, Mr. Malfoy," in the best elven traditions, I turned on maximum condescension and grandeur. "I saved your life."
He jumped up from the ground and looked at me with indignation. The other students quickly gathered around us and listened attentively. And I waited. Waited for what Malfoy would say, because now he is between two fires.
"I knew perfectly well what I was doing!" he issued one of the possible lines, smoothing his hair with his hand.
"Oh, did you purposefully provoke the Hippogriff to a preemptive strike?" clasping my hands behind my back, I slowly walked around the blond. "To discredit Mr. Hagrid, get a minor injury? Were you so afraid to perform with the team at the upcoming Quidditch match? Perform, in the sky with Dementors?"
Malfoy twitched sharply, and silently headed away, taking his friends, Crabbe and Goyle, with him.
On this wonderful note, Hagrid decided to end the lesson, and we all headed back to the castle. Justin, walking next to me, couldn't help but start a conversation about what happened.
"Did I mention I don't like Malfoy?"
"Yes."
"So. I certainly don't like him, but aren't you going too far?"
"I'm just amused by this simpleton. All his intrigues aren't worth a broken Knut. And his arrogance and contempt for others just beg for a response. Think, my dear friend. The Malfoys, among other things, are breeders of Hippogriffs, and their pets have repeatedly taken first places at the European exhibition of riding magical animals."
"Come to think of it!" Ernie, walking on the other side, was surprised. "I read about this in the Prophet when I was ten."
"Precisely," I nodded.
When we entered the hall, the students began to wander off.
"And it is also worth understanding," out of the corner of my eye I noted Hermione and Potter joining us, clearly wanting to start a conversation but waiting for the end of my speech. "Malfoy plotted something wrong as soon as he saw the Hippogriffs. If his plan had succeeded, he would have not only sabotaged the Quidditch match but also Hagrid's lesson."
"And what does the match have to do with it?" Justin didn't understand the essence.
"Malfoy is the only Seeker of the House. There is no replacement for him. Or is the information known to me unreliable?"
"Seems right."
"And about Hagrid… Someone said that Potter is friends with him. Only the deaf in this castle haven't heard about the conflict between Malfoy and Potter. Ruining Hagrid's life is ruining Potter's life. An injury at a novice professor's lesson, and a half-blood at that, is a reason to inflate such a scandal that Hogwarts will be in a fever for a year, and the chair under Dumbledore will shake. I am sure that such a wizard must have enemies."
"How complicated everything is…" Justin scratched his head. "Are you sure Malfoy thought all this through?"
"Oh, no. He is dumb as a cork."
Those walking nearby chuckled.
"Most likely, he came up with this plan on the go. It is worth remembering how negatively he spoke about the very fact that the Professor is Hagrid."
The conversation died down by itself, and Hermione chose this very moment to speak.
"Hector, hi."
"Hi."
"We need to talk."
"This isn't for two minutes, is it?"
"Of course not!"
"I have Runes now, and after—we have lunch. Sit at our table, we'll talk."
"Um… Okay, I'll do that."
Hermione quickly ran away in a direction known only to her, and Potter trailed after her. My comrades had no idea where the Runes classroom was, and they had to go to their own classes too. So I ended up alone in the middle of the corridor. All that remained was to hang the robe on the crook of my elbow and start looking around in bewilderment.
It seems there will be the first truancy. Oh, I wish it were lunch already…
---------------
Read advance +60 chapters on my Patreon
Patreon(.)com/TheRedSpell