Puppet Strings

Y/n was helping herself to some bacon and toast when Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the Great Hall the next day. As they passed, Draco did a mocking swooning impression. Y/n rolled her eyes. All morning he’d been telling the Slytherins about how Harry had fainted on the train. 

“Hey, Potter!” shrieked Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin girl with a face like a pug. “Potter! The dementors are coming, Potter! Woooooooo!” 

“Shut up, Pansy,” Y/n said, feeling her anger simmer. She doubted either Pansy or Draco had fared much better with the dementors.

Pansy continued to make fun.

Y/n pulled her wand out. “I’m warning you—”

She felt a hand slap her wand down. It clattered to the floor beneath her table. 

“What the hell—?” 

“Shut up,” Malfoy muttered. Where had he come from? “Do you want to get expelled on your first day of classes?” At that moment Professor Snape walked by.

Y/n stared at Malfoy, incredulous.

“What?” he said defensively once Snape was out of earshot.

“Why did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Help me.”

“Because unlike your brother, you actually have potential.” 

Y/n rolled her eyes. “Is it impossible to have a conversation without you insulting Harry?” Before he could reply, Y/n stood and angrily stormed off.

She found herself heading towards the Gryffindor table. The reaction to her approach was mixed. Some of the Gryffindors looked scandalized, some cold, others curious.

“Harry?”

Harry turned. “Oh. Um, hi, Y/n.”

“Can we talk?”

“Er—”

Just then, Hagrid entered the Great Hall. He was wearing his long moleskin overcoat and was absentmindedly swinging a dead polecat from one enormous hand.

“All righ’?” he said eagerly, pausing on the way to the staff table. “Yer in my firs’ ever lesson! Right after lunch! Bin up since five gettin’ everythin’ ready... Hope it’s okay... Me, a teacher... hones’ly...”

He grinned broadly at them and headed off to the staff table, still swinging the polecat.

Y/n turned back to Harry. “So—”

“We’d better go,” Ron said, not hiding his eagerness to get away from the situation. “Divination’s at the top of North Tower. It’ll take us ten minutes to get there.”

Harry looked apologetic….sort of. “Sorry, Y/n. Talk later?”

“Sure,” she muttered, annoyed.

Ron and Harry took off. Hermione hung back a moment.

“Listen,” she said. “For what it’s worth, I think those two are being idiots. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Slytherin. Well I mean, to them maybe it does, but it shouldn’t. You’re a wonderful witch and I know you’re a great sister from everything Harry’s told us.”

Y/n smiled. “Thanks, Hermione.”

Hermione nodded. “I’ve got to go. I’ve got Divination with those two and then Muggle Studies.”

Y/n frowned. “But aren’t those classes at the same time—?”

But Hermione was already walking away, following after Ron and Harry.

***

Y/n was pleased to get out of the castle after lunch. Her morning schedule consisted of Muggle Studies and History of Magic. Solene had also signed up for Muggle Studies, and while the two girls couldn’t talk to each other, Y/n was still glad for Solene’s company. She seemed very very sweet—the moment she’d spotted Y/n in Muggle Studies, she had hurried over with a big smile on her face to sit next to her.

Yesterday’s rain had cleared; the sky was a clear, pale gray, and the grass was springy and damp underfoot as Y/n set off for her first ever Care of Magical Creatures class. She was walking with Val and Solene—Emi hadn’t been feeling good that morning (“Or so she claims,” Val had told Y/n, rolling her eyes) and so it was just them three.

Y/n rolled her eyes as she heard Malfoy talking about Harry’s fainting spell again. 

“Honestly, when’s he gonna let that go?” Y/n muttered.

“He’s like a one trick pony,” Val said, shaking her head.

Solene signed something, and Val sputtered a laugh.

“What did she say?” Y/n asked, curious.

“She said, ‘looks more like a ferret to me.’”

Y/n giggled, and she heard Solene laugh too. Her laugh was a bit quieter, but it was still there. It was almost melodic.

Y/n spotted red and gold robes walking towards Hagrid’s hut, and was looking forward to having a class with Harry, even if he wasn’t speaking to her much—though to be fair, he hadn’t really gotten the chance. It seemed Ron pulled him away each time Y/n tried to talk to Harry.

Y/n wasn’t sure what to do about that. She had liked Ron when she first met him, but apparently the feelings were now not mutual. Was it really only because she’d been sorted into Slytherin? Maybe Hermione would talk some sense into him. 

Hagrid was waiting for his class at the door of his hut. He stood in his moleskin overcoat, with Fang the boarhound at his heels, looking impatient to start.

“C’mon, now, get a move on!” he called as the class approached. “Got a real treat for yeh today! Great lesson comin’ up! Everyone here? Right, follow me!”

For one moment, Y/n thought that Hagrid was going to lead them into the forest. However, Hagrid strolled off around the edge of the trees, and five minutes later, they found themselves outside a kind of paddock. There was nothing in there.

“Everyone gather ’round the fence here!” he called. “That’s it—make sure yeh can see—now, firs’ thing yeh’ll want ter do is open yer books—”

“How?” said the cold, drawling voice of Draco Malfoy.

“Eh?” said Hagrid.

“How do we open our books?” Malfoy repeated. He took out his copy of The Monster Book of Monsters, which he had bound shut with a length of rope. Other people took theirs out too; some, like Y/n, had belted their book shut; others had crammed them inside tight bags or clamped them together with binder clips.

“Hasn’—hasn’ anyone bin able ter open their books?” said Hagrid, looking crestfallen.

The class all shook their heads.

“Yeh’ve got ter stroke ’em,” said Hagrid, as though this was the most obvious thing in the world. “Look—”

He took Hermione’s copy and ripped off the Spellotape that bound it. The book tried to bite, but Hagrid ran a giant forefinger down its spine, and the book shivered, and then fell open and lay quiet in his hand.

“Oh, how silly we’ve all been!” Malfoy sneered. “We should have stroked them! Why didn’t we guess!”

“I—I thought they were funny,” Hagrid said uncertainly to Hermione.

“Oh, tremendously funny!” said Malfoy. “Really witty, giving us books that try and rip our hands off!”

“Shut up, Malfoy,” Y/n heard Harry say quietly. Hagrid was looking downcast.

“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...”

He strode away from them into the forest and out of sight.

“God, this place is going to the dogs,” said Malfoy loudly. “That oaf teaching classes, my father’ll have a fit when I tell him—”

“Shut up, Malfoy,” Harry repeated.

“Careful, Potter, there’s a dementor behind you!” Malfoy laughed.

Y/n stepped forward, about to intervene—

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

Trotting toward them were a dozen of the most bizarre creatures Y/n had ever seen. They 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. 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.

“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.

“Hippogriffs!” Hagrid roared happily, waving a hand at them. “Beau’iful, aren’ they?”

Y/n could see what Hagrid meant. 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.

“So,” said Hagrid, rubbing his hands together and beaming around, “if yeh wan’ ter come a bit nearer—”

Harry, Ron, and Hermione, however, approached the fence cautiously. Y/n found herself drifting forward as well, fascinated, though she kept back a few paces behind the trio.

“Now, firs’ thing yeh gotta know abou’ hippogriffs is, they’re proud,” said Hagrid. As he explained, Y/n could see Val signing his words for Solene. “Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Don’t never insult one, ’cause it might be the last thing yeh do.”

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle weren’t listening; they were talking in an undertone and Y/n had a nasty feeling they were plotting how best to disrupt the lesson.

“Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs’ move,” Hagrid continued. “It’s polite, see? Yeh walk toward him, and yeh bow, an’ yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh’re allowed ter touch him. If he doesn’ bow, then get away from him sharpish, ’cause those talons hurt.

“Right—who wants ter go first?”

Most of the class backed farther away in answer. The hippogriffs were tossing their fierce heads and flexing their powerful wings; they didn’t seem to like being tethered like this.

“No one?” said Hagrid, with a pleading look.

“I’ll do it,” said Harry.

Of course, Y/n thought. Gee I wonder why he’s almost died a load of times. What a mystery it is.

Harry climbed over the paddock fence.

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

He untied one of the chains, pulled the gray hippogriff away from its fellows, and slipped off its leather collar. 

“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...”

Buckbeak had turned his great, sharp head and was staring at Harry with one fierce orange eye.

“Tha’s it,” said Hagrid. “Tha’s it, Harry... now, bow...”

Y/n held her breath as Harry did what he was told, exposing his neck. One swipe from those talons…

Harry straightened again. The hippogriff was still staring haughtily at him. It didn’t move.

“Ah,” said Hagrid, sounding worried. “Right—back away, now, Harry, easy does it—”

But then, the hippogriff suddenly bent its scaly front knees and sank into what was an unmistakable bow.

“Well done, Harry!” said Hagrid, ecstatic. “Right—yeh can touch him! Pat his beak, go on!”

Harry moved slowly toward the hippogriff and reached out toward it. He patted the beak several times and the hippogriff closed its eyes lazily, as though enjoying it.

The class broke into applause, all except for Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were looking deeply disappointed.

“Righ’ then, Harry,” said Hagrid. “I reckon he might’ let yeh ride him!”

Y/n watched, fascinated, as Hagrid helped Harry up onto the beast. 

“Go on, then!” roared Hagrid, slapping the hippogriff’s hindquarters.

Without warning, twelve-foot wings flapped open on either side of Harry; he just had time to seize the hippogriff around the neck before he was soaring upward. Buckbeak flew him once around the paddock and then headed back to the ground, where he landed. 

“Good work, Harry!” roared Hagrid as everyone except Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle cheered. “Okay, who else wants a go?”

Emboldened by Harry’s success, the rest of the class climbed cautiously into the paddock. Hagrid untied the hippogriffs one by one, and soon people were bowing nervously, all over the paddock. Neville ran repeatedly backward from his, which didn’t seem to want to bend its knees. Ron and Hermione practiced on the chestnut, while Harry watched.

Y/n approached the inky black one cautiously. She was just about to bow, but her jaw dropped when the hippogriff dropped to its knees first.

Y/n spun to look at Hagrid, utterly taken aback. “Hagrid?”

“Hm—yeh?” He turned to look at Y/n and grinned. “Righ’ then! Inkshot returned your bow, you can pet ‘im!”

“But—no, he bowed first.”

Hagrid chuckled, shaking his head. “No, no, you’re mistaken. Tha’s not the sorta thing they do.”

“But—”

Hagrid had already moved on, helping a small Slytherin girl with her hippogriff.

Y/n turned back to Inkshot, who was standing again. She gave a bow in return, just to be respectful. Inkshot approached and cocked its head, staring down at her as if fascinated.

Y/n probably had the same expression on her face as she reached up to pet his glossy feathers. His eyes were emerald green. 

“Why would you bow to me first?” she whispered to herself, confused. The Hippogriff let out a small trill, nuzzling into her hand.

“This is very easy,” Malfoy drawled, loud enough for Y/n to hear him. He was before Buckbeak. “I knew it must have been, if Potter could do it... I bet you’re not dangerous at all, are you?” he said to the hippogriff. “Are you, you great ugly brute?”

It happened in a flash of steely talons; Malfoy let out a high-pitched scream and next moment, Hagrid was wrestling Buckbeak back into his collar as he strained to get at Malfoy, who lay curled in the grass, blood blossoming over his robes.

“I’m dying!” Malfoy yelled as the class panicked. “I’m dying, look at me! It’s killed me!”

“Yer not dyin’!” said Hagrid, who had gone very white. “Someone help me—gotta get him outta here—”

Hermione ran to hold open the gate as Hagrid lifted Malfoy easily. As they passed, Y/n saw that there was a long, deep gash on Malfoy’s arm; blood splattered the grass and Hagrid ran with him, up the slope toward the castle.

Very shaken, the Care of Magical Creatures class followed at a walk. Y/n bid goodbye to Inkshot, then hurried after them to catch up with Val and Solene.

A group of Slytherins were all shouting about Hagrid.

“They should fire him straight away!” said Pansy Parkinson, who was in tears.

“It was Malfoy’s fault!” snapped Dean Thomas. Crabbe and Goyle flexed their muscles threateningly.

“Oh, poor Draco…” Pansy lamented. “I bet he’s so terrified, all alone….”

“Pull yourself together,” Val snapped. “You’re acting as if he died.” As they climbed the stone steps into the deserted entrance hall, Val muttered, “Ese chico se lo merecía, el puto hurón.”

“I’m going to see if he’s okay!” said Pansy, and they all watched her run up the marble staircase. 

The rest of the Slytherin’s headed back down to the common room. As they walked, Y/n asked, “Do you think he’ll be alright?”

“’Course he will. Madam Pomfrey can mend cuts in about a second,” said Val.

Solene signed something.

“She asked why you care,” Val translated.

“I care about Hagrid,” Y/n corrected. “If a student was hurt on his watch, even if it was Malfoy’s fault, it’s still not a great look for him.”

“Solene had detention with Hagrid in the forest once,” Val said, translating. “He was very kind.” 

“And of course Malfoy’s now messed this up for him,” Y/n said, worried. 

“Don’t worry,” Val said. “We saw what actually happened, and everyone knows Malfoy is like water for hot coffee.”

Y/n frowned. “Huh?”

Val paused, confused, then rolled her eyes. “Sorry. Spanish idiom. I mean, everyone knows Malfoy gets overly angry and emotional.”

“You’re from Spain, then?” Y/n asked.

“Born and raised,” Val said proudly. 

“Sorry if this is rude, but…well how come you aren’t going to a closer school, like Beauxbatons?”

“Don’t know. Never got a letter from them, just Hogwarts.”

“Huh.”

“I’m not complaining,” Val said. “I wouldn’t have ever met Sol if I didn’t come here.” She signed the last part as she spoke, and Solene smiled.

The rest of the day passed rather quickly with just a long Charms class. Emi joined Val, Sol, and Y/n for dinner. Emi was a bit closed off, but it wasn’t in a rude way. More like….she just got lost in thought a lot. Her eyes always had a sort of dreamy look in them, as if she never was quite there.

Malfoy was still in the hospital wing, and Pansy was whispering with Crabbe and Goyle, no doubt cooking up their own version of how Malfoy had been injured.

Hagrid wasn’t at the teacher’s table either.