First Classes, First Problems
Chapter 4 : First Classes, First Problems
The train finally arrived at Hogsmade's train station and Clarke let out a breath of relief. Harry still looked a little pale from his passing out and as Hermione and Ron kept looking sideways at him, Clarke told herself they would all feel better once they'd be safe and sound into the castle. They got off the train and towards stagecoaches - which weren't driven by anything - and piled into them. Next to her, Raven groaned as they spotted who was walking towards them, a vile grin on his face.
"I've heard you fainted, Potter. Was the dementor that scary?"
It was Draco Malfoy, a student of house Slytherin, who liked to bully other students. Nonetheless, Harry seemed to be his main target; since their first school year, the Malfoy kid had built some kind of vendetta against him.
"Leave him alone" Ron hissed, always first to defend his friend.
But it was only creating openings for Draco to seize and bully him further. "Did you faint as well, Weasley? I bet you even shit your pants."
Ron almost jumped out of his seat to attack Draco but Harry and Raven were quicker; they grabbed him by his coat before he could lay a hand on Malfoy, and thus avoided trouble. Malfoy was ready to replicate, but a shadow behind him made him close his mouth instead.
"Is there a problem?" Professor Lupin, who had gotten out of the train, was looking at all of them, his eyes particularly set on Harry.
Malfoy, not dumb enough to cross heads with a teacher, nodded his head no and walked away, always flanked by Crabble and Goyle, his two idiots friends who were always following him like lost puppies.
They got to the castle without any further trouble but once they had reached the staircase, they were stopped by Professor McGonagall. "Potter, Granger. I want to see you both in my office. Now."
So Harry and Hermione followed her as the rest of the group headed for the Common Room where the Sorting Ceremony would soon begin - and the feast, as Ron reminded them with his stomach loudly growing in hunger.
"I didn't eat on the train" He explained to them. "With that dementor thing..."
They settled at Gryffindor's table after saying goodbye to Raven, who had been sorted two years ago in Ravenclaw house. Although you could think she was sad of being separated from her friends, not being in the same house had actually benefited them, as a group. Raven, Octavia and Clarke were as close as ever. It had helped them learn how to trust each other to stay. To be there no matter what, to love each other no matter the distance, no matter the trials.
The sorting ceremony started, as students were called one by one. This year, Rogue was in charge of putting the Sorting Hat on top of students' heads, and looked very happy everytime he seemed to recognise wizard children of ancient families being sorted into Slytherin, his house.
The sorting ended, and Clarke saw Hermione and Harry walk into the great hall, McGonagall a few feet behind them. Harry looked annoyed; Hermione, on the contrary, looked overjoyed.
"What was that about?" Octavia asked them once they had sat next to them.
Harry opened his mouth to answer, but was cut off by Dumbledore, Hogwarts' headmaster, getting up and getting ready to speak. The old man started with his usual welcoming speech, then switched to more serious matters.
"As some of you may have noticed, our school is presently hosting Dementors of Azkaban, here on business for the Ministry of Magic." His voice was calm but there was no question about the seriousness of what he was talking about. "They are stationed at every exit; it is, thus, clear that nobody leaves Hogwarts' grounds without permission. Dementors cannot be fouled; neither by tricks, or spells.... Or invisibility cloaks."
Clarke looked at her friends, each of them wondering if Dumbledore knew about Harry's cloak. But then again, Harry had said a couple times that it was like Dumbledore could read his mind. That man seemed to always know everything, anyways.
Dumbledore then smiled at them. "On a happier note, I'm happy to welcome two new teachers for this year. Professor Lupin, who'll be your Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher."
Clarke recognised the man that had been in their wagon, on the train. Ron then pointed at Snape, who looked very unhappy about it. "Look, he looks like he wants to hit the man."
"It's known that Snape has wanted this position for a long time" Hermione explained to them, her voice low while Dumbledore was still speaking. "Maybe he's upset he wasn't chosen this year either."
"And for our second addition, please welcome Rubeus Hagrid as your new teacher of Care of Magical Creatures."
The group stared at each other for a couple seconds, stunned by the news. But then, they were up their feet the next moment, clapping like madpeople, along with all the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables. Judging by the roaring sounds resonating in the room, students were very excited about the prospect of having Hagrid as a teacher. Only Slytherin students didn't look very happy about it; but when had they ever expressed happiness for something?
"I mean, we could have guessed that" Octavia chuckled. "Because who else would have made us buy a creepy biting book?"
Clarke agreed, because it was very Hagrid-like indeed. They knew his taste for magical and creepy creatures, and they had -unfortunately- encountered a couple of them already. They impatiently waited for the feast to be over so they could go talk to Hagrid and congratulate him on his new position. Once they had congratulated him, they all went to Gryffindor's tower, all eager to go back into their familiar bed.
The next morning, they all met into the Great Hall for breakfast before their first classes of this third year at Hogwarts. They had just received their timetables. Some Slytherin students came from time to time, to mock Harry, but when they saw he wasn't reacting, they quickly lost interest in trying to bother him.
"What did McGonagall wanted with you two yesterday, by the way?" Octavia asked them, remembering that Harry and Hermione hadn't been there for the sorting Ceremony.
"Check-up with Mme Pomfrey after the train incident" Harry rolled his eyes. "Turns out chocolate is the treatment for curing someone who faints around a Dementor."
"This is what Professor Lupin told you, on the train, is it not?" Hermione raised a brow.
"Yes" Harry exhaled. "She seemed happy about his presence; she said it was finally time to have a useful Defense Teacher." Then, he seemed to remember something. "I think Lexa might have been summoned too, Clarke. She was waiting outside of McGonagall's office when I got out."
Clarke frowned. "What does McGonagall has to do with Lexa? She's not her house Professor."
"You did say she fainted as well" Hermione shrugged. "Maybe it was so they could check her up too."
Clarke stayed pensive; she hadn't gotten to see Lexa since the train's incident and it was worrying her a little. Next to her, Ron seemed uneasy about something and was fidgeting on his bench.
"Hermione, they've messed up your timetable" He said, his head bent over Hermione's arm to try to read the paper better. "It's written that you have ten classes."
Hermione shrugged. "And..?"
"Ten classes, Hermione" Ron frowned, not understanding why Hermione didn't seem fazed by it. "There isn't enough time."
"I'll manage. I've fixed it all with McGonagall."
It was Octavia's turn to bend over the girl's timetable. "But he's right; you have Divination, Muggles Studies and Arithmancy. All three at nine !"
"You can't be in those three classes at the same time, right?" Ron pushed on.
Hermione snorted, snapping the paper from their hands and folding it into the pocket of her coat. "Don't be silly, of course I won't attend three classes at the same time."
Then, it was Clarke's turn to speak on the matter. "I think Lexa actually takes almost of all them? She told me, last year."
Clarke remembered the talk she had had with Lexa about choosing their classes for the next year.
"See?" Hermione huffed, "No need to jump on my back like this."
Then, Octavia saw that it was time to head to class.
"Alright, time to go" Octavia told them. "Clarke, we'll meet you in Transfiguration?"
Clarke confirmed with a nod. She hadn't taken Divination classes like the rest of them. Instead, Clarke had to go to her Ancient Runes class, a choice that her friend Harper from Beauxbâtons had agreed with. Most of her cousins had studied it as well, and Clarke had told herself that it was probably a good course to follow, if she was to travel the World, discover various spells and, ultimatedly, dig into her family's history.
Clarke had to be honest; the cloud of mist surrounding everything related to her Griffin family was intriguing her more and more as days were passing by. Clarke checked her timetable and saw that the classroom was situated next to the Ravenclaw tower. She quickly finished her toast and got up.
She decided to cross the courtyard to reach her classroom instead of walking down the corridors, thinking about Aska who would have to spend the majority of this year - again - stuck in dark and dusty classrooms.
She reached the classroom quickly and was surprised to spot Hermione, already seated into the room. Clarke walked up to her, setting her bag onto the table, as Hermione had an empty seat next to her.
"Hermione?" Clarke frowned, sitting on the stool, "You left with the others, before..?"
"Bathroom break." Hermione shrugged, her book already open in the desk in front of her.
Clarke nodded, accepting her explanation as to why she hadn't waited for her to walk to the class together. Behind her, Clarke saw Lexa come into the room and sit down at one of the desks in the back of the room. Clarke didn't think much of it, as Lexa was taking almost all the classes this year, like Hermione.
Then, a woman entered the room, arms full of worn-out books and glasses worn so low on her nose which looked like they were going to fall down at the next second.
"I am Bathsheda Babbling" The woman introduced herself, "Your teacher for this course."
She lowered the books on her desk, sneezing with all the dust she had stirred up from them. "I am very glad to see there is quite a number of you who wished to attend my class this year" She told them. "It's a hard one. One does not master Ancient Runes over night. I am glad the lot of you was brave enough."
"Yay, yet another class I will probably fail" Clarke chuckled with sarcasm, in a low voice so only Hermione would hear.
"You won't fail, Clarke" Hermione gently answered. "You told me all your cousins took this class. They'll help you study."
Clarke hummed, not very convinced. Without thinking about it, her fingers closed upon the bracelet Lexa had gifted her the year before. It meant something, Clarke knew that; but what, she had yet to understand. Lexa wouldn't have gifted it to her if it hadn't held some kind of meaning.
She took her attention back to the class as Ms Babbling was telling them about their course program for this year. Learning the rules, understand their meaning, their hidden senses, the power behind them and the way to lace them with magic... After an hour, Clarke's head was already about to explode with all the new stuff. All students had covered at least two parchements with runes, some succeeding in drawing them much better than others... Hermione's runes, of course, were flawless and as perfect as the teacher's. Clarke's, on the other hand... Well, let's just say they needed some work done.
The bell announced the end of the class and Clarke closed her book with a huff, ready to move on to another class. She turned around to talk to Hermione, but surprise! The girl was already gone.
"the fuck?" Clarke muttered through her teeth, looking around in search of the girl. "Aska, did you see her leave?"
Aska didn't answer, and just looked at her.
"Alright" Clarke sighed, getting up. "Let's go."
She followed the other students out of the classroom, only to be stopped by a hand on her arm.
"Clarke."
The girl turned around, seeing that it was Lexa that had stopped her, her green eyes not as bright as they usually were.
"Hi, Lexa" Clarke greeted her, searching the girl's face for indications on her well-being. "Are you ok?"
Lexa's eyelashes fluttered, but so quickly that Clarke wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't been so focused on scrutinizing Lexa's features. She could have sworn she saw a shadow pass in Lexa's eyes, but quickly covered by the other girl.
"I'm fine."
Clarke raised a brow, a silent challenge for Lexa's lie. On the other hand, Clarke remembered well their conversation on the train, before the Dementors attack, where Lexa had seemed reticent to explain why she hadn't written a single letter to Clarke for the whole summer, and Clarke's question about Lexa wanting to be friends had been left unanswered. With all that, Clarke didn't want to push Lexa into talking.
"I see you've taken Ancient Runes, then" Lexa changed the subject.
"Yeah" Clarke answered.
Lexa's eyes briefly looked down at Clarke's wrist, where the bracelet was. "What did your cousins have to say about it?"
"About me taking this class?"
"Yes."
"Nothing" Clarke frowned, "I mean, they don't decide for me. But they did take this class themselves."
Lexa hummed. Then, she looked to the clock on the wall.
"You took Transfiguration as well, right?" Lexa asked.
"I did" Clarke hummed. "We'll meet with the others, there."
The girls walked together to their next class; Clarke was happy to know that their Transfiguration teacher was McGonagall. At least, she knew what to expect of the woman and the kind of homework she'll have them do. Ms Babbling had already given them a paper to return for the next week and Clarke was already anxious about the ton of study she'll have to do to pass all of her classes. And she hadn't even talked to Lexa about where they might go - or not go - during their vacation, this year. Clarke wondered if they would travel to Beauxbâtons again or not. But then again, her unfinished discussion with Lexa on the train was still sitting at the back of her mind, refraining her from asking too much of Lexa. If the girl wanted nothing to do with Clarke, she would certainly not push it.
They reached the classroom before most of the students, so Clarke chose to remain by Lexa's side and sat down next to the girl, as the classroom began to be filled with students arriving. Clarke frowned as Octavia and Hermione came to sit behind them, both looking a bit upset. Clarke wondered where Hermione had disappeared after the Runes class, to arrive this late. She then spotted Harry and Ron as the boys sat at the back of the room.
"What happened?" Clarke asked in a whisper to the girls behind her, "Why does everyone keeps looking at Harry sideways?"
Hermione huffed, getting her feather and some parchment out of her bag. "We'll explain later."
McGonagall started the class right after that, so Clarke tried to focus on what she was telling them. It was actually super interesting as she was telling them about Animagi; witches and wizards who could turn into animals at will. Becoming an animagus was very complicated achievment with a ten-steps process, including holding a mandrake leaf in your mouth for a full month, then putting it into a flask at moonlight... Clarke liked that you couldn't choose in which animal you'd transform; your animal form would reflect your personality. Then, McGonagall suddenly turned into a cat. Clarke gasped, but realised that at least half the classroom hadn't even reacted to the metamorphosis.
McGonagall noticed as well. "What has gotten into you all today?" She asked, turning herself back from her cat-form. "Not that it matters, but but that's the first time my transformation's got not a clap from a class."
No one answered, but Clarke saw how students were looking at Harry again.
Then, Hermione raised her hand to speak. "We've just had our first Divination class, and we were reading the tea leaves, and -"
"Ah, of course" McGonagall cut her, "So which one of you will be dying this year?"
Everyone stared at her; Clarke looked at Lexa, who had a small frown on her face.
"Me" Harry finally spoke. Clarke suddenly understood why they had all appeared weird entering the classroom earlier.
"I see" McGonagall hummed. "You should know, Potter, that Sybil Trelawney has been predicting a dead-student a-year since she arrived at this school and that no one has died yet." She paused, and Clarke thought she looked midly annoyed. "Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic. I shall not conceal from you that I have very little patience with it. True seers are very rare, and Professor Trelawney..."
She paused again, and Clarke saw that Hermione looked a bit happier than she had before after hearing McGonagall's words. The teacher looked at Harry again.
"You look in perfect health to me, Potter, so you'll excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. Of course, if you die, you won't have to hand it in."
Clarke actually laughed; that was one of the reason why McGonagall was probably her favorite teacher. She saw a grin on Harry's face, who looked a bit better too. Clarke wondered what could have happened in her friends' class to cause this much tourmoil in her classmates. The ringbell echoed in the room and Clarke joined her friends to head to the Great Hall for lunch. Lexa had left the room quickly, and hadn't talked to Clarke at all.
Once they were all sitting at their table, Harry filled Clarke in about what had happened in Divination.
"Well Nathalia thinks we seem to be coming close to death at least once a year so of course, of all students, she chose you" Clarke chuckled, trying to raise her friends' spirits.
"Not untrue" Octavia hummed, her mouth full of toast. "Speaking of that, it's been a while since we've gotten ourselves into some kind of danger and -"
"Stop it!" Ron hissed, "You're going to bring bad luck on us!"
"Cheer up" Hermione rolled her eyes at him, "you hear what Professor McGonagall said."
Ron grumbled, toying with his food instead of eating it. "You haven't seen a great black dog anywhere, have you?"
"A black dog?" Clarke wondered.
"The grim we told you about" Hermione explained.
Harry exchanged a look with a Clarke. He had indeed; he'd told so to Clarke, in Diagon Alley, after having seen that book of Death Omens. Then, he exhaled. "I saw one, when I left home."
Ron let his fork fall in his plate, his eyes bulging.
"The fuck?" Octavia exclaimed.
"Probably a stray" Hermione answered calmy.
"Hermione!" Octavia said as Ron was looking at her like she had gone mad.
"Hermione, if Harry's seen the Grim, it's bad! My uncle saw one and died twenty-four hours after!" Ron argued.
"It's all coincidence, if you ask me."
"You don't know what you're talking about" Ron said, starting to get angry, "Grims scare most wizards!"
"Well they die of fright then, because they're afraid!" Hermione said in a superior tone which showed she was, too, getting angry. "But Harry will be fine because he isn't afraid."
Ron stared at the girl, his mouth open but silent. Hermione took out her Ancient Runes book out of her bag and dropped it onto the table.
"I think Divination seems very woolly" Hermione said then. "A lot of guesswork."
"There was nothing woolly about the Grim in that cup!" Ron exclaimed. "Professor Trelawney said you didn't have the right aura! You just don't like being bad at something for a change!"
Clarke winced, knowing that Ron had probably struck a nerve. Hermione got up in a second, slamming her book down on the table in the process.
"If being good at Divination means I have to pretend to see death omens in a lump of tea leaves, I'm not sure I'll be studying it much longer! this lesson was absolutely rubbish anyways compared to my Ancient Runes class!"
She grabbed her bag and quickly walked away.
Ron frowned. "What? She hasn't gone to an Ancient Runes class yet."
It was Clarke's time to be confused. "What does she mean, the lesson was rubbish? She was with me earlier, during Ancient Runes' class."
"Has everyone gone mad? What is happening?" Octavia asked.
Their questions were left unanswered because the bell rang again, telling them it was time to go back to class again.
It wasn't raining anymore; and Clarke could say they all were happy to go outside and clear their minds of the broody mood reigning in the castle. Aska was lightly running a couple steps ahead of them as they were walking the muddy path down to the edge of the forest, where they were supposed to meet Hagrid for their first ever Care of the Magical Creatures class.
Clarke noticed that Hermione and Ron weren't talking to each other. To distract them, she nudged Hermione with her sleeve, seeing that the girl had the Care of the Magical Creatures' book in her arms.
"Have you read it yet?"
Hermione shook her head. "I couldn't get it to open without it wanting to bite my hand off. I was kind of hoping we'd learn about Aska's species in it, but..." She frowned, seemingly thinking about something. "I actually wonder why Hagrid never said anything about him; or has he?"
Clarke pondered for a second, searching in her memories. She vaguely remembered Hagrid voutching for Aska to stay by her side, the first time Clarke got on the train. But nothing else. She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't think so, no."
The rest of the walk was spent mostly silent.
"Great" Harry muttered as they reached Hagrid's hut, "We're with Slytherins for this."
Clarke looked up and saw that indeed, Malfoy, Crabbe et Goyle were animatedly talking. Clarke had a feeling they were still making fun of Harry for what had happened in the train. Clarke let her eyes wander on the rest of the student group dressed in green colors, looking for Lexa. When she found her, Clarke thought that she looked a bit less pale than this morning; but still, there was something gloomy about her whole silhouette that was unsettling to Clarke.
"Alright, gather around, you all!" Hagrid's voice interrupted Clarke's trail of thoughts. "And open your books!"
"And how are we supposed to do that?" Malfoy sniggered.
Clarke got her copy of The Monster Book of Monsters out of her bag, looking at it sideways - who could say when the thing would try and jump at you?
Hagrid looked at them with a surprised expression on his face. "Hasn't anyone been able to open their book?"
The students all shook their heads.
"Well I thought it's be rather easy, I mean" He interrupted himself, grabbing Clarke's book from her arms, "You just stroke it."
He took off the spellotape and quickly enough the book tried to bite; but Hagrid ran a giant finger down its spine. The book shook a bit, and then opened in Hagrid's hand, not moving anymore.
"Oh yes rather easy, we just had to stroke it" Malfoy sneered, "Why didn't we think of that?"
"Shut up Malfoy" Harry hissed.
Malfoy opened his mouth to say something probably stupid but was interrupted as Hagrid was gesturing towards something behind them.
"Oh" Hermione exhaled.
They were now coming face to face with a dozen of the strangest animal Clarke had ever seen; their body and back legs looked like horse's ones, but their front legs, their heads and wings on each side made them look like eagles. Glowing orange eyes and beaks that looked like they could snap you in half in a second, leather collars around their necks, Clarke wondered how the hell Hagrid had managed to get such deadly-looking creatures in the school's ground. She took a look at Aska, sitting at her feet; he didn't seem very threatened by them or fear for Clarke's security, so it managed to settle Clarke's nerves a little.
"Hippogriffs!" Hagrid joyfully exclaimed, looking pretty proud of himself for the surprise he had pulled up. "Beautiful, right?"
Clarke had to admit that once you had recovered from the shock of looking at those creatures for the first time, you could see the majestic beauty that they were emanating.
"So, if any of you want to come closer..." Hagrid suggested, his big hand stroking the hair of one of the Hippogriffs.
Clarke noticed that - of course - no one seemed to really want to move forward, but she took a cautious step forwards, bravely followed by Ron, Hermione, Harry and Octavia. Clarke noticed that Lexa had stepped closer to the fence as well.
"First thing you gotta know about those beautiful creatures is that they're very proud" Hagrid then told them. "They're easily offended; so don't, or it'll be the last thing you do."
"Great." Malfoy grumbled as he didn't seem to really listen, speaking in hushed tones with Crabble and Goyle. Clarke looked at Harry, who seemed as concerned as her about them, certain they were plotting something to turn things sour.
"Always wait for the Hippogriff to make the first move" Hagrid started again - who really looked in his element as a teacher -. "It's about politeness. You walk towards him and you bow. you wait form him to bow back. If he does, you can touch it."
"And if not ?" Octavia asked at loud, a bit unsure about the whole thing.
"You get away fast" Hagrid shrugged as if it was a normal answer to give to twelve years old. "Those heels hurt."
Clarke refrained herself from chuckling; she didn't doubt that they would be safe, but Hagrid could sometimes show it badly.
"Someone wants to try?" Hagrid suggested.
No one moved; even Harry and Hermione, the bravest of them, weren't really putting their hands up. Hagrid looked a bit sad; so Clarke was almost ready to volunteer.
"Me."
They all turned around to the person who had spoken up; Lexa. She closed off the distance between her and the fence, standing a few feet away from Hagrid. Seeing Lexa so close to the Hippogriff, standing with her head held so high, as the hippogriff was staring her in the eyes, Clarke told herself that they looked alike. Lexa could as well have been an Hippogriff, in another life; proudness and all.
"This is Hesperos, Lexa" Hagrid said, gesturing to the creature next to him. The creature had grey feathers, almost blue in some spots, almost silver in others. "Gentle, now. Don't blink too much at him."
Clarke thought that Lexa would excel at that; because the girl excelled in staring down people.
"Now, you bow." Hagrid told her, his voice a bit lower now.
But then he frowned, as Hesperos didn't wait for Lexa to bow; instead, he was the one to lower his head first, his beak touching the ground as he dropped a knee down. Lexa didn't move; and Clarke could feel the electricity in the air. As if they were witnesses of something more.
Hesperos got up, his glowy eyes still focused on Lexa; and then, Lexa bowed, only just slightly bending on one knee. The hippogriff then turned his neck to Lexa, as if offering it so she could touch him. With a slow hand, Lexa put her hand flat on his hair, her touch drawing out a little noise out of the creature.
Hagrid looked at the girl with an unreadable expression on his face; Lexa removed her hand and then, Hagrid gently patted the hippogriff's hair and sent him away. Clarke hadn't tear her eyes off Lexa for a second; would there be something, some time, where Lexa wouldn't surprise her?
"Alright, herm, good job, Lexa" He said. "Next?"
Harry raised his hand. Hagrid had a smile back on his lips, probably now reassured that his class wasn't a total failure. He gestured Harry to come forwards as Lexa was stepping back, and then clicked his tongue, drawing another hippogriff forward.
"Let's see how you'll do with Buckhead here" Hagrid said. "Remember, don't blink too much. Right, like this. Bow now Harry."
Harry looked unsure about exposing his own neck to the enormous beak but did so anyways. He then raised his head back, a fearful expression when Buckhead hadn't move. But then, the hippogriff bend his forefront knees in a bow.
"Good job Harry!" Hagrid exclaimed, Now come pet him!"
Harry patted the beak a couple times, the hippogriff seemingly enjoying it as it wasn't trying to remove himself from Harry's reach.
"He might like you I think" Hagrid said, overjoyed. "He might let you ride him!"
"Oh god" Hermione exhaled; making them touch dangerous creatures was one thing, but making them ride them? Harry was used to brooms; not hippogriffs.
Hagrid grabbed Harry under the armpits and threw him on the back of the creature, giving it a gentle slap on the rump. "Have fun!"
The next second, Harry was off flying, carried by the hippogriff and out of sight.
"I mean..." Ron trailed off, "I like Hagrid, but I'm not sure if all this is really fit for us...?"
"Oh don't worry" Octavia said with a wicked expression, "It'll just give Clarke's cousins more reasons to think accidents will - again - happen this year."
Clarke playfully shoved her by the shoulder. "Stop it; they'd lock me in a room if they knew about this."
A couple minutes later, Harry and Buckhead were back. Hagrid helped the boy down and reassured by Harry and Lexa's successes, the rest of the class shyly started to get closer to the other hippogriffs, bowing and showing respect to the creatures. Ron and Hermione tried on the same one as Harry watched them. Clarke noticed that Hesperos, the one that had trained with Lexa, hadn't let anyone near him and was keeping close to the other side of the paddock.
Lexa walked towards her, her leather satch hanging loosely by her shoulder.
"Don't you want to try?"
Clarke shrugged. "I'll wait my turn."
Lexa hummed, then looked around searching. Clarke saw that she spotted Hesperos. Lexa clicked her tongue, the exact same way Hagrid had done earlier, and it sent the hippogriff coming towards them. She put down her satch on the ground, then took off her Slytherin robe, leaving her in a black pants and a white blouse with Slytherin's coat of arms on it. With half her hair braided back, Lexa was really beautiful and fitted well with Hesperos' silhouette. There was something majestic about the two of them, facing each other at the edge of the forest. Like they could share thoughts; like they could feel each other share the same air. Lexa had never looked more at ease than right now, in this place, in this moment; like she belonged. Like they were living on the same wavelength, shared by none other than them.
"Clarke. Come."
Lexa's voice got Clarke out of her thoughts. Clarke looked down at Aska, who hadn't moved from sitting at her feet. He looked fine with Clarke being near the hippogriff so Clarke took a step forwards Hesperos.
"Hesperos, this is Clarke" Lexa murmured, her hand gently patting his beak. Clarke then said as Hagrid had told them; she bowed.
Hesperos seemed to be looking at Lexa; as if he was asking for permission. Lexa subtly nodded; and Clarke would have missed it if she hadn't known how to read Lexa so well. Then, he bowed his head back.
"You can touch him now" Lexa murmured, gently taking Clarke's hand and putting it on the creature's neck.
His feathers weren't what Clarke was expecting; she had expected them to be a bit raspy but they were as smooth as Aska's fur.
"How did you do it?" Clarke wondered in a quiet voice.
"We understand each other" Lexa only answered, her hand still patting Hesperos' beak.
Clarke opened her mouth to speak, but she was interrupted by a big scream. It scared Hesperos who ran back to the end of the paddock, the rest of the following Hippogriffs quickly following her. Clarke turned around to the commotion; Malfoy was laying in the ground, clenching at his arm, screaming that he was hit and dying.
"What happened?!" Clarke rushed to her friends as Hagrid was looking very pale.
"He provoked it" Dean Thomas, a Gryffindor student, said.
Hermione helped open the paddock's door as Hagrid had lifted Malfoy in his arms without a sweat and they rushed towards the castle.
"It can't be good for Hagrid's first class, can it...?" Ron winced as they were picking up their bags and starting to walk back towards the school. "Leave it to Malfoy to mess things up..."
"Will he die?" A Slytherin girl wailed.
Harry rolled his eyes. "He'll be fine. Mrs Pomfrey will mend him."
Clarke chuckled; Harry and herself had already been healed from worse by the woman.
They headed to Gryffindor Tower to change clothes and drop their schoolbags, and then met back in the Great Hall for dinner. There was - once again - a weird atmosphere at the Gryffindor Tables, as they all were concerned about Hagrid being sacked from the school. They headed back to their dorms to try and work on McGonagall homework but none of them really had their minds into it.
"There's a light at Hagrid's window" Harry then said, breaking the heavy silence. He had been staring at the window's tower for an hour now.
Ron looked at his watch. "It's still early, maybe we could go and see him?"
Hermione looked unsure; Harry noticed, and rolled his eyes.
"I'm allowed to walk the school grounds. Sirius Black hasn't past the Dementors yet, has he?" Harry pointedly asked.
Hermione huffed, but got up and gathered her things anyways.
"I'm coming too" Octavia declared. "Clarke?"
Clarke pondered for a second. "I'll try and see Lexa. Catch up later?"
They nodded, and they got out of the tower through the hole behind the portrait.
"Come on Aska" Clarke told her companion, "Let's see if we can find her."