The XXXXX-class magical creatures prepared by the Professor were arranged neatly according to size, forming an impressive lineup. Among them were two Hippogriffs, a pure-blood Kneazle, and a lively nest of Nifflers.
Hagrid, however, showed little enthusiasm for these smaller creatures. To him, the Kneazle and Nifflers were far too small and agile, making them difficult to track and manage. As for the Hippogriffs, they had been trained so thoroughly by Professor Kettleburn that they had lost most of their natural wild instincts. Compared to the untamed creatures Hagrid preferred, these seemed overly docile.
Taking the initiative, Hagrid mentioned that he had raised a group of truly wild Hippogriffs deep within the Forbidden Forest. If the students were interested, he could take them there someday to witness how these creatures hunted in their natural environment—fierce, precise, and untamed.
Unfortunately for Hagrid, the group clearly favored the gentle creatures in front of them. The idea of encountering wild Hippogriffs did not seem particularly appealing.
Still, these creatures were merely a prelude. What followed next was something entirely different—XXXXX-class magical creatures that were far more dangerous and not meant to be approached casually.
Creatures of this classification were considered highly dangerous and, under normal circumstances, could not be domesticated. Many endangered magical species were also categorized at this level, serving as a reminder to wizards to avoid interfering with them. The Demiguise was a well-known example of such a creature.
Of course, the Demiguise itself was not present today.
Instead, Professor Kettleburn had prepared an Occamy capable of growing or shrinking at will, a Kelpie that could disguise itself in various forms, and finally—something that caused the entire group to gasp in surprise.
"It's a Troll!" Harry and Ron whispered almost simultaneously as they spotted the massive figure sleeping inside a reinforced cage. Instinctively, they turned to glance at Ryze.
After all, just last month during the Halloween feast, Ryze had defeated a fully grown Troll on his own.
However, it quickly became clear that this was not the same Troll. For one thing, there were no visible scars on its body. Moreover, the difference in smell alone was enough to distinguish them.
The Troll Ryze had fought emitted a revolting stench, as if it had never bathed in its entire life. This one, on the other hand, was noticeably cleaner—if not exactly pleasant, then at least tolerable.
"Yes, it's a Troll," Professor Kettleburn confirmed, shaking his head slightly. "But it's not the one that invaded the school during the Halloween feast. When that incident occurred, several professors—including Dumbledore—immediately looked at me as if I were responsible. While I have caused my fair share of trouble in the past, I assure you, that particular Troll had nothing to do with me."
He gestured toward the sleeping creature. "This one is actually quite mild-mannered. It's only been restless recently due to the mating season. For safety reasons, I've placed it into a temporary hibernation. It will be awakened once the season passes."
Turning to Ryze, the professor added, "I've heard about your achievement, Mr. White. Defeating an adult Troll at your level is no small feat. It speaks volumes about your magical ability."
Then he addressed the rest of the students. "However, you must understand that Trolls possess immense magical resistance. Most direct offensive spells will have little to no effect on their thick hides. Unless your magic is exceptionally powerful, like Mr. White's, it is unwise to engage them using brute force."
He lightly patted the Troll's cage. "You may have learned some of this in your Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, but I'll share a few practical insights from my own experience."
"The Troll's greatest weakness lies in its brain. Therefore, the most effective strategies involve disrupting its senses. Loud noises, bright flashes of light, or other sensory interference can disorient it. Alternatively, Transfiguration offers a simpler solution—alter the terrain beneath its feet, make it slippery or unstable, and let the creature exhaust itself."
As he spoke, Professor Kettleburn demonstrated a few basic techniques. His methods were straightforward and easy to understand. After seeing them once, most of the students felt confident they could replicate the approach if necessary.
Ron, standing off to the side, muttered quietly, "If it's really that simple, maybe I could take on a Troll too…"
Ryze, meanwhile, remained calm. Having completed his objective of observing the Troll, he saw no need to rush. The reward tied to his task would not disappear, and he could claim it later at his convenience.
Next came the final two XXXXX-class creatures.
As it turned out, these last two specimens were truly extraordinary.
The first was a Wampus Cat. At first glance, it resembled an ordinary cougar. However, as the group approached, the creature suddenly stood upright and began walking on its hind legs with remarkable speed. Its glowing eyes seemed to carry an unsettling power.
Fortunately, a magical barrier surrounded the enclosure, preventing its abilities from affecting those nearby.
"This is a Wampus Cat," Professor Kettleburn explained. "It's a rare XXXXX-class creature native to North America. Its eyes possess hypnotic properties and can even perform a form of Legilimency."
He continued, "This particular one arrived in Hogsmeade earlier this year through a discarded Portkey. It caused quite a disturbance—at one point, even a high-ranking official from the Ministry of Magic was bitten and subsequently hypnotized."
"It took considerable effort to subdue and stabilize it. Currently, due to ongoing negotiations with the American wizarding authorities, the creature is being temporarily housed here at Hogwarts under Hagrid's and my supervision."
The professor sighed with a hint of regret. "If all goes well, it will likely be returned by Christmas. It's unfortunate—this is the only XXXXX-class creature I've been able to legally present to students in decades. Opportunities like this are exceedingly rare."
The emphasis on the word "legally" did not go unnoticed.
It strongly implied that the next creature fell outside that category.
Given Professor Kettleburn's reputation—having reportedly been placed on probation over sixty times—it was not difficult to imagine that he had, on occasion, bent the rules.
Sure enough, the final creature was indeed something extraordinary—and highly illegal.
It was a Chimera.
Unlike its mythological counterpart in the Muggle world, this was no mere legend. The creature before them was very real—a terrifying combination of a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.
Even Harry, upon seeing it, instinctively recognized the creature and called out its name.
Hagrid, meanwhile, seemed utterly enchanted.
Despite the thick magical barriers and reinforced cage, he stood close, gazing at the Chimera with unmistakable admiration.
"Isn't it magnificent?" he said, his voice filled with awe. "That fellow from Greece really has connections. First, he managed to get hold of a Chimera egg, and later he even found a Cerberus egg for me."
He sighed wistfully. "It's a shame I haven't heard from him lately. I was hoping he might be able to get me another Chimera egg someday."
He continued, almost absentmindedly, "You know, Dumbledore once had to choose between this creature and Fluffy for guarding purposes. In the end, he went with Fluffy since it was… gentler."
At this point, Hermione quickly realized that Hagrid was on the verge of revealing far too much. Although she found it difficult to imagine how a three-headed dog could be considered "gentle," she discreetly coughed to interrupt him.
The hint worked.
Hagrid paused, suddenly aware that he might be saying more than he should. He cleared his throat and changed the subject, avoiding further details.
The students, however, were left in awe.
From relatively harmless creatures like Nifflers to dangerous XXXXX-class beasts like the Chimera, the lesson had expanded their understanding of the magical world in ways no textbook ever could.
For many of them, it was both thrilling and unsettling.
And for a select few, like Ryze, it was simply another step forward.
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