[3] 𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐍 • Draco Malfoy

𝟕. 𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐊

CHAPTER SEVEN

BUCKBEAK

***

"ISN'T 'E BEAUTIFUL?" Hagrid asked, pointing at the magnificent creature. Hagrid tossed it a dead ferret, "Say 'ello to Buckbeak!"

"Hagrid, exactly what is that?" Ron skeptically asked.

"That's a hippogriff." I answered. I remembered seeing a similar animal like that but brown on the cover of a book at Flourish and Blotts called How to Look After Hippogriffs.

Hagrid nodded, "Yes it is Eloise, well done. One thing yeh wanna know 'bout hippogriffs they are very proud creatures, very easily offended. You do not  wanna insult a hippogriff might just be the last thing you ever do. Now!" He clapped his hands, "Who'd like to come an' say 'ello?" He cheerfully asked. "Well done Harry and Eloise! Well done!" 

The two of us whipped our heads around to see everyone had stepped back to make it look like we volunteered, "Er, no thanks." I shook my head. I was appreciating its beauty from afar.

"Come on don't be silly! The more the merrier I always say!" Hagrid insisted.

I sighed, "Come on," Harry muttered tugging me along with him.

"Now, yeh have to let him make the first move, it's only polite. So, step up, give 'im a nice bow then you wait an' see if he bows back. If he does yeh can go and touch him, if he doesn't...well we'll get to that later." 

I looked over my shoulder and everyone looked just as frightened as me and Harry, "Make your bow," Hagrid said, "Nice and slowly."

Me and Harry slowly bowed down. Buckbeak eyeballed us for what seemed like forever then flapped his wings, "We're gonna die." I whispered.

"Back off you two!" Hagrid swatted his hands to us.

We stepped back, Harry subconsciously grabbed my forearm and pulled me back too but I accidentally stepped on a twig making it snap loudly. The class fell silent and seemed like every person was holding their breaths waiting for the reaction.

"Keep still," Hagrid whispered. Buckbeak bowed down too, "Well done you two!" Hagrid praised.

Harry and I stood up straight sighing in relief, watching Buckbeak devour another ferret. 

"That was fun," I breathed.

"You can go and pat him now, go on don't be shy, pat his beak." 

"Yeah no chance," I crossed my arms, "I actually like my fingers on my hands."

"Come on Elle." Harry quietly begged.

I rolled my eyes and reluctantly held my hand out like Harry did.