act one: the girl in the bubble
chapter twelve

Draco Malfoy was one teenager that Daphne wanted nothing more than to hurt or let disappear. Despite how much she loved her older cousin, the younger cousin? She couldn't help but want to strangle. He constantly belittled everyone around him just because he felt that he was superior. That he was some sort of King amongst them.

"Righ' then," said Hagrid, who seemed to have lost his thread, "so — so yeh've got yer books an'... an'... now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Yeah. So I'll go an' get 'em. Hang on..."

Hagrid seemed to have no clue about what was happening as he ventured off to find the magical creature for the lesson. Seeming caught in a happy bliss on his first day, Malfoy's words long forgotten and replaced by those spoken by Harry, Daphne, Ron, and Hermione.

It was the most absurd thing ever. Daphne didn't understand how you could get so much of an ego to put yourself on top of others. It caused Daphne so much anger knowing that he did not care about anyone that he hurt. He found it funny. To him, it was all some sort of huge joke. It made him feel better about himself. No wonder all of his friends were fake.

Daphne looked at Harry who was clearly fuming as he stood at the center of the circle of students. Everyone finally looked at him as they watched this encounter with Malfoy, waiting for something to happen. Someone to strike first. No one would get involved unless it meant it saved their asses. Because that was all anyone seemed to care about anymore.

Daphne found herself pushing into the circle as she glared at Malfoy as well despite being stopped by Hermione Granger. Hagrid had gone to grab whatever he wanted too for his lesson, leaving everyone unprotected for the moment. Daphne watched the way Draco looked at Harry and she felt sick.

Draco continued to look behind Harry before he slowly began to act scared, his body almost shaking before he pointed at the sky, "D-Dementor! Dementor!" Draco yelled out and caused Harry to turn while he laughed.

"Oooh!" The Slytherins all pulled their caps on and wiggled their fingers at Hary.

Hermione grabbed ahold of Harry and pulled him over to Ron, leaving Daphne to say something, "Didn't you run to Fred and George? In tears as soon as they appeared on the train? Poor little Malfoy, pissed yourself didn't you?" She faked a pout as laughter erupted from the group.

Hermione gave her a look while speaking to both Harry and Daphne, "Ignore him."

Meanwhile, Ron's focus seemed to be stuck on Neville who had finally gotten ahold of his book, "You're supposed to stroke it," Ron spoke taking in Neville's ripped up shape.

"Yeah," Neville's voice was high as he spoke, leaning against the rock as they all looked at each other.

"Careful, Potter, there's a Dementor behind you —" Draco of course was still trying to rile the group up despite them now ignoring him.

"Oooooooh!" squealed Lavender Brown, pointing toward the opposite side of the paddock.

Trotting toward them were a dozen of the most bizarre creatures Daphne swore she had ever seen. It looked rather... gnarly. It had the bodies, hind legs, and tails of horses, but the front legs, wings, and heads of what seemed to be giant eagles, with cruel, steel-colored beaks and large, brilliantly, orange eyes.

"Gee up, there!" he roared, shaking the chains and urging the creatures toward the fence where the class stood, everyone drew back slightly as Hagrid reached them and tethered the creatures to the fence.

The talons on their front legs were half a foot long and deadly looking. Each of the beasts had a thick leather collar around its neck, which was attached to a long chain, and the ends of all of these were held in the vast hands of Hagrid, who came jogging into the paddock behind the creatures.

Hagrid cleared his throat and looked happily at the students before turning and opening his arms as he pointed out the creature, "Da-da-da-da!" The creature made some sort of noise as Hagrid continued, "Isn't he beautiful? Say hello to Buckbeak!"

The creature ate a dead animal as Daphne ignored the bile that rose into her throat at the sight of it eating. It wasn't that the creature itself made her sick, just seeing it eat had. She swallowed thickly as she placed a hand over her mouth while putting on a smile for Hagrid.

"It's lovely," She tried to be as nice as possible, not wanting to hurt the man's feelings.

"Hagrid, what exactly is that?" Ron found himself asking as he tried not to seem afraid of the creature.

"That, Ron, is a hippogriff. Beau'iful, aren' they? First thing you want to know about Hippogriffs, is that they're very proud creatures. Very easily offended. You do not want to insult a hippogriff," Hagrid moved closer to the group of students as he spoke.

"Oh, so kinda like a nicer Malfoy?" Daphne found herself muttering causing a few stiffles of laughter around her.

Daphne in a way sees what Hagrid meant by calling the Hippogriff beautiful. Once you got over the first shock of seeing something that was half horse, half bird, you started to appreciate the Hippogriffs' gleaming coats, changing smoothly from feather to hair, each of them a different color: stormy gray, bronze, pinkish roan, gleaming chestnut, and inky black. Daphne could almost understand, in a way she was a halfbreed just like the creature.

Hagrid nodded before looking back at Malfoy in particular as he spoke, "It may just be the last thing you ever do. Now! Who'd like to come and say hello?" Hagrid spoke as he clapped his hands happily, "So," said Hagrid, rubbing his hands together and beaming around, "if yeh wan' ter come a bit nearer..."

The crowd began to murmur and Daphne walked forward. Deciding that it would be fun and she didn't want Hagrid to feel as if no one was interested in the lesson. She had a soft smile on her face before realizing that Harry had been shoved forward by the crowd, making her laugh a little as he panicked.

"Right — who wants ter go first?"

Most of the class backed farther away in answer. Even Ron, and Hermione had misgivings. The Hippogriffs were tossing their fierce heads and flexing their powerful wings; they didn't seem to like being tethered like this.

"I will, I stepped forward," Daphne shrugged her shoulders but Hagrid didn't seem to hear her.

"No one?" said Hagrid, with a pleading look before his eyes landed on Daphne, seeming to understand that she had said something, "Daphne," He seemed to be happy about it.

"You can always count on me, Hagrid," Daphne now made her voice louder so that he'd hear her and finally he did.

"I'll do it," Harry didn't have much of a choice as everyone had practically volunteered the two and he did not want Hagrid to be upset over his lack of wanting to do something.

"Well done, Daphne, Harry, well done," Hagrid gleamed while Harry looked back around before sighing trying to be brave, "Come on, now... you have to let him make the first move. It's only polite."

There was an intake of breath from behind him, and both Lavender and Parvati whispered, "Oooh, no, Daphne, Harry, remember your tea leaves!"

"Oh, I'd rather him make the first move," Daphne couldn't help but crack jokes as she tried to ease Harry's concern.

"Now step up! And give him a nice bow," Hagrid informed the two of what to do, "Then you wait and see if he bows back. If he does, you can touch him.And if not... Well, we will get to that later."

Daphne was the first one to get close enough, so she slowly made her bow. A soft smile going onto her features as she did so. Harry was a few steps behind her, seemingly waiting for her to finish before he followed her actions.

"You first, Daphne," Hagrid gleamed as he looked at the young girl, "Bow nice and low."

Daphne hummed as she slowly bowed down, a few strands of her hair falling in her face yet she seemed unbothered. Slowly her bow became lower as she ever so slightly lifted her head to meet the gaze of the Hippogriff who seemed to be checking her out.

"Slow, Daphne," Hagrid's words became gentle as everyone watched in awe of this occurrence.

Slowly, the Hippogriff bowed its head before Daphne, causing the girl to slowly lift up and place her hand gently on its beak. Ignoring the quick flash of something in her brain, a vision that seemed to want to be seen as it came on soon.

"Well done, Daphne!" Hagrid seemed happy as he watched the girl, "I'm so proud of you."

Daphne seemed happy as she continued to pet the Hippogriff as he began to nuzzle close to her. Daphne looked over at Harry who watched in awe of what she was doing. She smiled before walking off to go to Hagrid's side so that Harry could take his turn.

"Now just make your bow," Hagrid ordered Harry as Daphne took a few steps away from Buckbeak, "Nice and low."

"Good man, Harry!" roared Hagrid. "Right then — let's see how yeh get on with Buckbeak."

He untied the final of the chain, one having been previously unhooked for Daphne, and pulled the gray Hippogriff away from its fellows, and slipped off its leather collar. The class on the other side of the paddock seemed to be holding its breath.

"Easy now, Harry," said Hagrid quietly. "Yeh've got eye contact, now try not ter blink... Hippogriffs don' trust yeh if yeh blink too much..."

Harry made eye contact with the creature as he bowed. Daphne watched him carefully trying to make sure that he was doing everything right so that he wouldn't get hurt. It took a moment before the Hippogriff started to make a bleating noise as it squawked and flapped its wings. A branch snapped and Ron and Hermione grabbed one another.

"Back off, Harry, back off," Hagrid ordered and Daphne was quick to go to Harry's side before pulling him back and bowing.

"Keep still," Hagrid ordered, "Keep still."

The creature slowly moved close to the two before it bowed its head in return. Copying their actions as it let out a low noise causing Daphne to sigh in relief. She hadn't even realized the fact that Harry had grabbed her hand, his fingers laced with hers in the moment as he squeezed her hand in fear.

"Well done, Harry! Well done," Hagrid seemed proud as Buckbeak finally bowed and fed him one of the creatures.

Daphne let out a breath as the two slowly lifted from their bows, Daphne's eyes falling onto their hands before meeting Harry's gaze, "Are you okay? I got scared for a minute..."

"Never better," Harry couldn't help but mimic the girl as he smiled at her, before going madly red and letting go of her hand.

"Eh, you big brute, you," Hagrid insulted the hippogriff as he smiled, "Right. Now I think you can go and pat him now. Go on. Don't be shy," Hagrid nodded in head in the direction of the Hippogriff and Daphne grinned.

Daphne slowly laced her arm with Harry's as she gave the worried boy a reassuring smile, "Come on."

Harry slowly nodded before taking a few steps forward as he held onto Daphne. Both stayed close to each other as they slowly approached the hippogriff. The crunch of the leaves under their feet filing their ears.

"Nice and slow there," Hagrid watched Buckbeak stand to his full height while watching the two teens, "Nice and slow," Hagrid repeated, causing the two to go even slower as the creature backed away.

Harry tried to put his hand out for the creature to walk over to and it snapped at him causing Daphne's arm to slip down as she grabbed his hand this time, pulling him back slightly. She decided it was best to let the creature come to them. She heard the gasps from behind.

"Slow down Harry, nice and slow. Now let him come to you. That's it. Slowly. Slowly," Hagrid continued to repeat a few phrases as the creature now began to walk to the two teenagers and allowed Harry to pet him.

"Yes!" Harry seemed proud as the Hippogriff rubbed its snout against Harry's hand while Daphne slowly pet its face as well.

"See? Not so bad," Daphne couldn't help but gleam as she squeezed his hand while looking at the hippogriff.

Hagrid began to clap, "Well done! Oh, well done! Harry! Daphne! Well done," everyone else began to clap before Hagrid walked over to the two, "I think he may let you ride him now!"

"What?!" Harry seemed caught off guard as Daphne moved back and Hagrid lifted Harry up and placed him on the creature, "Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!"

Daphne was wheezing with how hard she was laughing while watching this as she continued to pet Buckbeak, "This is great."

"Put you over here," Hagrid got Harry fully placed on the hippogriff as he then moved to get to Daphne, "Just behind the wing joint!"

"Ha-Hagrid!" Harry's voice was extremely high pitch as he refused to hold on yet.

Daphne let out a squeal as Hagrid lifted her off of her feet, "Don't pull out any of his feathers," Hagrid then lifted her up to Harry who grabbed her arms as she was placed down, "Cause he won't thank you for that."

Harry was quick to grab onto Buckbeak as Hagrid hit him to make him move. Daphne practically grabbed Harry like there was no tomorrow as the creature roared and stood on its hind legs causing her to squeal.

"Whoa!" Harry yelled out in fear.

"Bloody hell!" Daphne squealed as she tightened her grip on Harry.

The hippogriff began to take off. Running at a speed that made Daphne feel as if everything she wore was about to come off of her and fly away due to the sheer force of the wind. She dodged Harry's hair in her face as she buried her head in his back while they took off.

The bird let its wings go as it flew over the crowd, "Whoa!" Harry yelled.

Daphne watched as they flew around Hogwarts before going down towards the water. The views were amazing and Daphne found herself grinning and loosening her grip on the boy as they flew around. Buckbeak lowered to the water and let its talons touch the water and Daphne let go of Harry as she leaned up.

"It's so beautiful!" Daphne yelled through the wind as she smiled while looking around.

"It is!" Harry yelled back as he copied her actions, spreading his arms in the air while Daphne laughed, "I was scared at first!"

"I know!" Daphne yelled before nearly getting thrown off, reattaching herself to Harry, "But you did good! With a little help from me of course!"

Daphne felt as her mind slipped momentarily as the vision came on. Holding tightly on Harry as she saw them riding on Buckbeak through the night with a man she couldn't identify. The moon again, the claws. Daphne tried to blink it away before she caught the glimpse of something gold.

"What would I ever do without you-!" Harry grabbed ahold of Buckbeak once more as he began to fly upward.

Daphne and Harry looked down and listened as Hagrid whistled for them. They continued to fly around before slowly lowering to the ground. Buckbeak flew them once around the paddock and then headed back to the ground; this was the bit Harry had been dreading; he leaned back as the smooth neck lowered after making sure Daphne was okay, feeling he was going to slip off over the beak, then felt a heavy thud as the four ill-assorted feet hit the ground. They had just managed to hold on and push himself straight again.

Everyone began to cheer as they reached the ground, "Well done Daphne, Harry! Well done Buckbeak!" Hagrid cheered, helping Harry down first before grabbing Daphne and lowering her into Harry's grasp as the two blushed but it went unnoticed due to their wind-kissed cheeks.

"Please," Malfoy snickered.

"Well done, well done," Hagrid repeated as he looked at the two teenagers, "How am I doing me first day?" Hagrid asked as he awaited their answers.

Harry and Daphne shared a look while Harry grinned brilliantly, "Brilliant, Professor."

Hagrid made a face while looking proud, Daphne gave him a hug before she laughed, "I absolutely loved the lesson."

She then noticed how Draco shoved a group as he began to walk over, "Yeah. You're not dangerous at all, are you? You great ugly brute," Draco sneered and Buckbeak began to go wild.

Hagrid turned and Harry was quick to pull Daphne behind him as he held onto her, "Malfoy! No! Buckbeak!"

Buckbeak got alarmed as Draco neared him. Feeling offended as he rose to his hind legs before swiping his talons at Malfoy. The boy fell onto his back on the ground as he cried out in pain.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Hagrid held his hands in the air as he calmed down Buckbeak.

"He's not even bleeding! What a waste!" Daphne couldn't help but yell before shushing herself.

"Buckbeak! Away you silly brute!" Hagrid dismissed the creature while Draco repeated his words.

"Hagrid! He needs to be taken to the hospital wing!" Hermione called out as she watched in horror, worried for the new Professor already.

Oh bloody hell.  Of course this brute who had managed to get himself hurt needed to go to the hospital wing. Daphne couldn't help but huff as she leaned further into her best friend. She believed that this was his fault so he should have to sit in the pain and not ruin everyone else's fun as he always did.

This was well deserved and well given. Good job, Buckbeak.