After noticing Augustus had discovered the trick, Hagrid seemed to regain some confidence. Demonstrating to the group, who were standing idly by, he said, "You have to stroke these books." Hagrid made it sound like the most obvious thing in the world. "Watch this..." He grabbed Hermione's book and ripped off the tape binding it shut. The book tried to snap at him, but Hagrid ran his finger along its spine from top to bottom. Instantly, the book quivered, then fell still and opened up, lying quietly in his hand.
"Oh, how clever of us!" Draco Malfoy sneered sarcastically. "We should've known to stroke the books! Why didn't that occur to us?"
"Alright, shut it, Draco. We don't need another Hagrid around here," Lillian said, glancing disdainfully at Malfoy as he smirked triumphantly.
Hagrid, looking somewhat deflated, muttered, "Well, she's right... Anyway, now that you've got your books sorted... uh... now you'll need some magical creatures. Yes. I'll go fetch them. Wait here." He shuffled off toward the forest and soon disappeared from sight.
"What on earth is he planning to do?" Malfoy exclaimed, clearly eager to cause a scene. "I bet that oaf's going to bring out a werewolf or something. A class this dangerous—if I tell my father, he'll be furious!"
"Oh, Draco, are you still on your mother's milk?" Lillian teased, raising an amused eyebrow. "Every time something happens, your first instinct is to run to daddy. I'm not sure how you even got into Slytherin."
Harry and his friends chuckled, making Malfoy's face flush red with anger.
"Why are you laughing, Potter?" Malfoy snapped. "Didn't the Dementor on the train teach you a lesson you won't forget? Maybe we should let Hagrid bring a few Dementors here to give you a goodnight kiss. That might calm your nerves!"
"Bold words," Harry retorted calmly, adjusting his glasses. "Funny, though—wasn't it you who ran to Fred and George's compartment and hid there until they left? And now you're here spouting off nonsense. Truly shameless."
Malfoy flushed even deeper, pulling out his wand in fury, but Hagrid suddenly returned, causing him to begrudgingly lower it.
"Oh! Oh!" Lavender Brown screamed, pointing toward the paddock.
Twelve of the strangest creatures Harry had ever seen were approaching. They had the bodies, hind legs, and tails of horses, but their front legs, heads, and wings resembled those of giant eagles. Their steel-colored beaks gleamed in the sunlight, and their large, orange eyes seemed to pierce through everything they saw. Their talons, half a foot long, looked lethally sharp. Each creature wore a thick feathered collar around its neck, with long chains held in Hagrid's massive hands. He trailed behind them as they trotted into the paddock.
"Come on now, over here!" Hagrid called, tugging the chains to guide the creatures toward the fence where the students were gathered. As he tied them to the railing, the students instinctively stepped back. "Hippogriffs!" Hagrid bellowed excitedly, waving one hand toward the creatures. "Aren't they beautiful?"
Augustus, intrigued by the sleek, streamlined creatures, studied them with his keen silver eyes. Activating his magical analysis, a flood of data about the Hippogriffs flowed into his mind. His gaze sparkled with interest.
"The first thing you need to know is they're proud creatures," Hagrid explained. "It's real easy to offend them. Never insult a Hippogriff. That's the last thing you want to do."
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, however, weren't paying attention, whispering among themselves instead. Harry had a sinking feeling they were plotting to disrupt the lesson.
"You've got to let them make the first move," Hagrid continued. "It's polite, see? Walk toward it, bow, and wait. If it bows back, you can touch it. If not, back away—those claws can hurt."
"Right then... Who wants to go first?"
The Slytherin students instinctively turned toward Augustus. It had become a routine—Augustus always handled class challenges with ease, and they were more than happy to let him lead.
"I'll do it," Augustus said calmly, stepping forward. His silver eyes gleamed with curiosity as he approached the creatures.
"Good on you!" Hagrid cheered. "Alright, let's see how you get on with Buckbeak here."
Hagrid unclipped one of the chains, leading a silvery-gray Hippogriff named Buckbeak forward and removing its collar. The students collectively held their breath as Augustus stepped closer.
"You've got to look it in the eye—don't blink too much. It won't trust you if you do," Hagrid murmured, watching nervously.
Ignoring Hagrid's advice, Augustus approached Buckbeak with steady steps, his gaze filled with a commanding yet calm intensity.
"Stop! Don't go any closer! Bow! Bow!" Hagrid shouted anxiously.
But Augustus didn't bow. Instead, he released a wave of subdued yet authoritative energy. His experience with majestic beasts in his past life had taught him that such creatures respected power. Buckbeak froze, its fiery orange eyes locked on Augustus. Then, surprisingly, it stepped back, as though overwhelmed by his presence.
Augustus softened his aura, letting it emanate warmth instead of pressure. Buckbeak tilted its head in confusion before slowly stepping forward again. Lowering its massive head, it bowed to Augustus.
A ripple of astonishment ran through the crowd as Augustus reached out and gently stroked Buckbeak's feathered head.
Hagrid stood dumbfounded. He knew better than anyone how proud Hippogriffs were, and seeing one bow first to a human was unheard of.
The Slytherin students erupted into cheers, their voices carrying over the gently swaying grass. Augustus met Buckbeak's bright orange gaze with a warm smile, stroking the creature's head as the wind swept through the paddock.
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