Chapter 191
Chapter 191
That settled it. Suer walked back towards the castle, feeling utterly helpless.
The whole situation left him exhausted and resigned.
Hagrid’s understanding of cuteness and harmlessness was evidently different from that of ordinary people. Of course, one could hardly expect a giant and a normal person to view such things in quite the same way.
To Hagrid, harmless probably meant that a creature would not hurt a wizard as long as it was approached correctly.
Riding a hippogriff was quite an enjoyable experience, apart from the unfortunate chafing between the legs. It offered a new way to fly without relying on a broomstick or another tool.
There was, however, one crucial condition: one had to approach the creatures properly.
“Adorable little fellows, aren’t they?” Hagrid pulled gloves from the apparently bottomless pockets of his coat and handed a pair to Suer.
Hagrid called creatures whose legs were only half a head shorter than Suer adorable little fellows?
Suer gave Hagrid a speechless glare and accepted the gloves. He did not object to befriending magical creatures.
Truthfully, these animals, part horse and part eagle, did look frightening at first glance. They possessed all the fierce, piercing intensity of an eagle’s gaze.
But once one overcame the fear of seeing a monster that was half horse and half eagle for the first time, they were rather beautiful. Their coats gleamed, feathers gradually giving way to hair beneath their necks, and every creature had a different colour: grey, bronze, the pink of flower petals, sparkling red-brown or black as ink.
“Come on.” Hagrid casually tried to lead Suer closer to the beasts. “It’s easy to get along with these little fellows. Once you’ve earned their approval, they’re as gentle as house cats and as loyal as dogs.”
Suer touched the wand inside his robes and considered whether he could dodge and escape immediately if the creatures attacked.
Yes, he probably could. Besides, Hagrid was there if all else failed.
Hagrid might generally be loud and reckless, but he could be trusted when it truly mattered.
“Watch carefully.” As their keeper, Hagrid did not need to earn the hippogriffs’ approval again. Suer, however, was meeting them for the first time, so the necessary steps still had to be followed.
Hagrid vigorously rubbed the head of the hippogriff nuzzling affectionately against him. “His name is Buckbeak. I rescued him myself during a storm.”
It was a grey hippogriff.
“If you want to get along with them as well as I do, follow my instructions.” Hagrid turned the good-tempered Buckbeak’s head until the creature was looking directly at him.
“Hippogriffs usually have quick tempers. Never insult them, or you could be killed. See their claws and beaks? They can peck straight through a steel plate.”
“But once you know the proper method, they will become your most loyal companions.”
Hagrid was plainly rehearsing his lesson. His explanation was lucid and his words clear. If this had been a classroom, he would have made a very good professor. He had prepared thoroughly.
“First, choose the one you like best,” Hagrid said.
Suer looked at the gathered hippogriffs. “The red-brown one, then.”
“Shyvana?” Hagrid clicked his tongue. “She’s a good girl with a fine temper.”
The next second, the hippogriff Hagrid had named Shyvana gave a bronze hippogriff approaching her a vicious smack and uttered a threatening screech.
The moment became exceedingly awkward.
“Oh, that’s perfectly normal.” It took Hagrid a long while to speak. He gave an embarrassed laugh. “Shyvana may be in a bad mood lately. Would you like to choose another?”
Very well. Suer would take the one that had just been slapped.
Hagrid stole a glance at Suer. Reassured that the small accident had not ruined his rehearsal, he sighed with relief and cleared his throat.
“Right. Approach him now.”
Suer did as instructed.
“Yes, just like that. You’ve made eye contact. Don’t blink. They regard blinking as impolite, and you’ll lose their trust.”
Only at close range could Suer truly feel how intimidating the creatures were. Their eyes were as fierce as those of eagles preparing to seize their prey.
“Now bow to him, Suer.”
Exposing the back of one’s neck to a potentially dangerous animal was extremely unwise, but there was no turning back now.
Suer bowed quickly and raised his head.
The rejected hippogriff that had failed to impress the female continued staring fixedly at him. Then something marvellous happened: it bent its scaly front knees and returned Suer’s bow.
“Brilliant!” Hagrid’s voice overflowed with delight. “He’s accepted you. You can go up and pat his beak now. Tapping beaks is one of the ways hippogriffs greet their friends.”
“Oh, and he has a name too. He’s called Buckbeak, a splendid young fellow who’s only just come of age.”
“Hello, Buckbeak.” Suer stepped forwards and patted Buckbeak’s sharp beak. Buckbeak answered with a low cry. Like eagles, these half-horse, half-eagle creatures had an eagle’s call.
“If you’d like to fly on him, you can climb aboard now.” Hagrid walked forwards happily. “Get up there, just in front of the wing joints.”
Suer reached up several times, trying to climb onto the creature. Buckbeak obligingly tilted his body, making it easier.
“Oh, wonderful!” Hagrid watched Suer with delight. “Give the lad a taste of it, good fellow. Up you go–off with you!”
Hagrid gave Buckbeak’s hind leg a forceful slap. Before Suer could react, the hippogriff had spread wings nearly twelve feet across. One powerful downward beat sent them soaring into the sky.
Buckbeak carried him on only one low circuit before landing upon the grass.
As Suer climbed down, he rubbed his aching inner thighs. Hagrid was already approaching with the bucket.
“Here, feed him. It’ll strengthen your bond.”
The bucket’s powerful smell of blood drew the surrounding hippogriffs closer. Buckbeak had almost thrust his entire head inside.
“Oh, don’t rush. There’s enough for everyone.” Hagrid shoved a piece of meat about as thick as Suer’s thigh into Suer’s hand, looking satisfied.
Suer hurled the meat into the air, and Buckbeak caught it with ease.
Only after Hagrid had distributed all the meat did Suer approach him.
“Well? What did you think?” Hagrid could scarcely wait for Suer’s opinion. “These are the creatures I’ll teach tomorrow. It took me ages to choose them.”
Truthfully, Hagrid’s lesson would be a spectacular success if nothing went wrong. But that was the difficulty–
“Are you certain these hippogriffs won’t hurt the students? I mean, accidents happen. You know some people do the wrong thing when they’re emotional and might anger…”
“Oh, that does need to be considered.” Hagrid nodded thoughtfully. “Don’t worry, I’ll prepare everything. Chains–yes, I could…”
“Would you truly not consider another magical creature? Perhaps something with a lower classification? If I remember correctly, hippogriffs are dangerous creatures rated XXX.” Suer interrupted Hagrid’s thoughts and asked tentatively.
Hagrid froze, reluctance appearing upon his face. “Was my demonstration no good?”
“No, no, Hagrid, that’s not what I mean. I mean you could begin with creatures that look less threatening. You know how girls adore anything cute.”
“Hippogriffs are certainly excellent creatures, but they look rather fierce… Perhaps you could teach them later, once the students are prepared?”
Hagrid considered this for a long while before nodding. He thought Suer’s words had some merit.
“But my first lesson is tomorrow. I can’t prepare different creatures at such short notice.” Hagrid’s voice was filled with difficulty.
My fault. I should have come here as soon as term began. Suer sighed helplessly.
“Then carry on with these. Don’t worry, Hagrid. Put proper safeguards in place and give them no opportunity to hurt a student. If possible, wrapping something around their claws would be essential.”
“I understand.” Hagrid nodded gravely.