Chapter 160: Hippogriffs (Patreon)

After lunch, the third-year Gryffindors and Slytherins took their textbooks, The Monster Book of Monsters, and headed outside the castle for their first Care of Magical Creatures lesson of the term.

They followed the long grassy slope toward the hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where they found Professor Rubeus Hagrid waiting outside.

“All right, come on, everyone, get a little closer. And no talking.

“I'm going to show you something that'll really open your eyes today. This lesson is going to be brilliant. Follow me.”

Hagrid eagerly led the way, taking everyone along the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

They didn't venture deep into the forest. Instead, they stopped at a small paddock.

“Stand around the fence so everyone can see, then turn your books to page forty-nine.”

“How are we supposed to open this book?” Draco asked disdainfully.

“Just stroke the spine first.”

Hagrid said it as though it were the most obvious thing in the world, though he seemed somewhat disappointed that no one had figured out how to open the book.

Weide picked up his textbook and ran a finger along its spine.

The restless book, which had been constantly trying to bite him, immediately settled down as though it had fallen asleep.

The others followed suit.

Only Neville forgot to stroke his book, and when he tried to open it, he ended up in a rather embarrassing struggle.

Once Hagrid had positioned the students around the paddock, he headed into the Forbidden Forest to retrieve the magical creature.

“This is absolutely hilarious.”

Draco placed his textbook on the fence.

“This place is going to be a disaster. If my father finds out Dumbledore has hired an idiot to teach us...”

“Young Master Malfoy.”

Weide interrupted him with an exasperated expression.

“Although I know I'm ruining the mood by saying this, I don't think Hagrid is an idiot.

“At least when it comes to raising magical creatures, he's an expert.”

“You're actually defending that half-giant?”

Pansy looked at Weide in surprise.

“I've never noticed you having much of a relationship with him.”

That's because I'm discreet enough. A gentleman's friendship is like water—quiet and unassuming.

Weide silently complained to himself before drawing his wand and firing three green sparks into the sky.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sparks exploded one after another, though they weren't particularly noticeable in broad daylight.

“What are you doing?” Hermione asked curiously.

“Obviously, I'm summoning my pet.”

A moment later, a sharp eagle-like cry rang out from the sky.

A huge golden figure came racing across the horizon.

Its platinum-white wings beat with the sound of wind and thunder, giving it an imposing and majestic appearance.

Griffin landed inside the paddock.

A trace of confusion flashed through its sharp eyes, apparently unable to understand why its master had brought so many people here.

Weide didn't know what it was wondering about.

If he had, he would have given it a simple answer.

I'm letting you make an appearance today and get everyone acquainted with you.

That way, if you ever wander around Hogwarts Castle in the future, nobody will panic.

“It's gotten this big?”

Draco stared at the more-than-two-meter-long Griffin, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.

Everyone else was equally stunned.

They had been at Hogwarts for two years. Even Muggle-born wizards had encountered a few magical creatures, but this was the first time they had seen one so beautiful and majestic.

“Isn't it normal for magical creatures to grow a little faster?”

“But not this fast!”

Draco stumbled over his words.

“This... this is actually a proper griffin, right?”

Griffin's eyes narrowed.

It suddenly spread its wings, blue arcs of electricity flashing repeatedly between its feathers.

Draco immediately stumbled several steps backward in fright.

“Stop, Griffin.”

Daphne immediately called out.

Hearing the familiar voice, Griffin reluctantly suppressed its anger and walked over to Weide, lowering its proud head.

Weide gently stroked its head before turning around and speaking helplessly.

“Young Master Malfoy, when are you going to learn to watch what you say?”

“I've always only spoken the truth.”

Draco retorted without backing down.

Crackle!

Griffin gave its wings a powerful beat.

A stream of blue electricity shot past Draco's side and blasted a section of the fence behind him to pieces.

Boom!

Draco felt the explosion behind him and instinctively swallowed.

He genuinely hadn't expected Griffin to attack even with its master standing right there.

“Then learn when to keep your mouth shut, Malfoy.”

Daphne sighed.

“Your father must have taught you when silence is appropriate.”

Draco immediately understood what she meant and reluctantly closed his mouth.

“Weide, is this your pet?”

Neville asked curiously.

“Sort of. His name is Griffin. He's a mutated griffin.”

“You keep it at Hogwarts?”

Pansy asked in astonishment.

“To be precise, I only keep it in the Forbidden Forest.

“And Dumbledore knows about it. Professor McGonagall knows, and so does Professor Snape. They've all tacitly approved.”

Pansy was left speechless.

She could afford to disregard Dumbledore and McGonagall, but she certainly wasn't going to ignore Snape.

“By the way, I have Hagrid to thank for helping raise it. Otherwise, it wouldn't have grown up so healthy. There's no way I could have raised it inside Hogwarts Castle.”

Just then, Hagrid returned.

He was leading a strange magical creature by a chain.

It had the body, hind legs, and tail of a horse, but the head, forelegs, and wings of an eagle. Its eyes were orange-yellow, and its beak was as sharp as steel.

It bore some resemblance to Griffin, but the two were completely incomparable.

“Weide.”

Hagrid greeted him with a smile.

“When I saw those three green sparks just now, I knew you'd called Griffin over too.”

“I hope I'm not disturbing your lesson.”

“Not at all.”

Hagrid waved his hand with a smile.

“I've been wanting to find an opportunity to talk to you and introduce everyone to your griffin.”

“By the way, this is Buckbeak, a Hippogriff.”

“Buckbeak?”

Ron blinked in astonishment.

He turned toward Harry, whose expression was equally awkward.

“What happened? Hagrid said it wasn't big.

“This is what he calls not big? It's taller than all of us!”

“Maybe Hagrid was comparing it to himself.”

Harry couldn't help laughing helplessly.

Buckbeak was certainly large to them, but compared with a half-giant like Hagrid, it was much smaller.

“Hagrid also said it wasn't dangerous.”

Ron's voice trembled.

“If it isn't dangerous, why is it chained up?

“I'm not being a coward, but I feel like if that thing kicked me once, I'd be meeting my grandfather.”

“Hagrid said Buckbeak is the most polite magical creature in the entire Forbidden Forest.”

Hermione said this rather unconvincingly.

“Do you believe that, Hermione?

“Think about it. Hagrid's understanding of what counts as ‘polite’ might be completely different from ours.”

Hermione fell silent.

With that size, those claws, and that razor-sharp beak, Buckbeak would be dangerous to strangers no matter how polite it was.

And they happened to be exactly that—strangers.

“Isn't he beautiful?”

Hagrid looked confidently at everyone.

The students exchanged glances, all of them looking as though they wanted to laugh but didn't dare.

First, their standards of beauty were somewhat different from Hagrid's. They didn't find Buckbeak particularly beautiful.

Second, comparisons were dangerous.

After seeing Griffin, it was extremely difficult for them to appreciate the appearance of a Hippogriff.