Chapter 5: Hippogriff Buckbeak

Many despised Karina Malfoy, but if one had to pick the person she held in the most contempt, it would undoubtedly be Rubeus Hagrid.

Malfoy loathed the unrefined. She scorned those who stagnated without effort, and harbored a near-hatred for those who, despite their failings, relied on the kindness of others.

Rubeus Hagrid fulfilled all three of these conditions.

A giant of a man, likely due to his half-giant heritage, his attire and appearance were perpetually unkempt, his actions childish, and his abilities lacking.

He lived day-to-day solely due to Dumbledore’s favor.

And such a man was entrusted with the Care of Magical Creatures class?

Even if connections were a form of skill, they merely provided opportunities. If Hagrid couldn’t prove his competence, it would ultimately reflect poorly on Dumbledore’s reputation, diminishing his authority and creating openings for others to usurp his position.

Connections and reputation were ultimately consumable resources. Those who lacked them often forgot this.

‘At least it’s Care of Magical Creatures. If it were any other subject, I would have boycotted the class.’

Of course, this didn’t mean she trusted Hagrid. Liking animals and teaching about them were entirely different matters.

This would be his last chance.

If a man who loved animals so much couldn’t even manage Care of Magical Creatures, what need would Hogwarts have for him?

“Now, the first thing we’re going to do is open our books!”

“How?”

Malfoy asked, unable to conceal her displeasure.

“I tried to read it before school started and nearly lost a finger. How irresponsible is it to force us to buy such a book? Shouldn’t there at least be a warning label?”

“Uh… you have to stroke the book to open it.”

As Hagrid stroked the monstrous book’s spine, it quivered and then quieted down. Malfoy muttered under her breath.

“Oh my. You have to pet the book to read it. How amusing.”

“I-Isn’t it? Isn’t it fun?”

“I’m being sarcastic. Do you find it amusing to torment students with your pranks? You should have graduated from tormenting others with pranks when you were a student. Oh, wait a minute.”

Malfoy fixed Hagrid with a cold stare.

“Did you perhaps…”

Fail to graduate? Just as she was about to utter the words,

Harry Potter interrupted, lifting his own book.

“Shh, Malfoy. Are you sulking because you couldn’t read the book?”

“What? Sulking?”

What nonsense.

She was offering legitimate criticism of this ridiculous textbook for this preposterous class. It was a fact that everyone in Slytherin had been troubled by the monstrous book, and judging by their expressions, Gryffindor wasn’t much different.

If Potter was taking sides because of personal friendship, it would only infuriate Malfoy further. Reputation and fame were consumable. His meager fame wouldn’t be enough to protect Hagrid.

Just as Malfoy was about to retort,

Harry Potter opened the monstrous book right in front of her.

“I figured out how to read it and read it in advance. And I read the foreword by the author, Edwardus Lima. He says he put a biting charm on the book to teach the lesson that magical creatures are also living beings and should be approached with a gentle attitude.”

Harry slammed the book shut. Malfoy groaned, realizing the implication.

There was no way Rubeus Hagrid would have chosen the book with such a thought in mind. As she had said earlier, he probably chose it for a laugh.

But now that Harry Potter had figured out how to open the book, she couldn’t refute his words.

“Whether it’s a monster book or a textbook, wasn’t figuring out how to open it a test in itself?”

“Ugh…”

Malfoy bit her lip. If no one had been able to open the book, his words would have been nothing more than empty justification. But now… this was clearly Malfoy’s defeat.

She had dismissed the textbook as a disgusting book and neglected it, so she had no right to criticize Hagrid.

Glaring at Harry, Malfoy snapped at the nervous Hagrid.

“…What are you staring at? Get on with the lesson, Hagrid ‘Professor’.”

“Oh, right! Just wait a minute! I’ll bring them over!”

Hagrid gave Harry a thumbs-up and walked into the forest. Meanwhile, Malfoy soothed her bruised ego and scratched the monster book’s spine. The book grumbled and finally yielded, allowing Malfoy access to its pages. Flipping through the book, she clicked her tongue.

‘It was this easy. I didn’t even think of touching it…’

Again. She had lost to Harry Potter again. As Malfoy stared at the book, wounded, Harry Potter spoke to her with a smirk.

“Why is your mouth sticking out like that? Do you want to kiss something?”

Malfoy stumbled. Regaining her balance, she yelled at Harry Potter.

“K-K-Kiss? Don’t be ridiculous!!”

“Why not? If you’d gently kissed the monster book, it would have opened its heart and body to you.”

“Like it would open its heart and body for something like that?!”

“I was talking about the monster book.”

“You…!”

Just as Malfoy was about to retort, the gorilla-like Slytherin boy, Pansy Parkinson, stepped between them.

“Don’t talk to Karina, coward Potter.”

“Oh, coward. That’s a new nickname.”

“I heard you fainted from fear of a Dementor?”

The fact that Harry Potter had fainted on the Hogwarts Express had spread throughout the school. Naturally, the students who rejoiced the most at this news were the Slytherins who had been tormented by Harry Potter.

After two years of torment, they were delighted to finally have something on Harry Potter. Malfoy didn’t agree with that sentiment, but she didn’t bother to stop them. After all, it was true that Harry Potter had fainted.

“A coward who faints at the drop of a hat managed to open the monster book? How brave of you, coward Potter?”

Parkinson taunted Harry Potter with a triumphant look, but he responded as if it were nothing.

“Wow. The rumors spread that far? Did any other rumors spread? Before the Dementor’s Kiss…”

I’ll kill you. If you say it, I’ll kill you.

Malfoy glared at Harry with that intent, and Harry, seeing it, chuckled and changed the subject.

“Yeah. I get scared the uglier something is. In that sense, you’re scarier than a Dementor, Parkinson… Ugh. You’re uglier than what’s under a Dementor’s hood.”

“W-What?”

Malfoy sighed.

It was always like this. No matter how creative the insults the Slytherins came up with, they could never match Harry Potter’s. Parkinson’s face turned crimson, and Harry, as if eager to see her explode, continued to provoke her.

“Sorry, but could you keep your mouth closed? It smells worse than a sewer… I’d rather kiss a Dementor than you. Any woman in the world would throw up before kissing you. See? Malfoy is frowning too.”

“You
!”

Unable to bear it any longer, Parkinson swung at Harry, but Harry dodged easily and held the monster book against Parkinson’s arm. The monster book bit down on his forearm.

Parkinson screamed as the monster book latched onto his arm.

“Aaaaaaaaagh!”

Hagrid, who had just arrived with the Hippogriffs, rushed over in surprise.

“What’s going on!”

“The b-book ate my arm! My arm!”

“That’s impossible! Once the book is opened, its teeth disappear!”

“Huh… huh?”

At Hagrid’s words, Parkinson stopped screaming and looked down at his arm. The monster book was chewing on his arm, but there wasn’t a single tooth mark, not even a wrinkle on his clothes.

Parkinson grabbed the book with his other hand. The book came off his arm easily.

Realizing he had been tricked, Parkinson’s face flushed red.

“Harry Potter…!”

“Yes, my name is Harry Potter. Thanks for reminding me, Gorilla Parkinson. I thought I might forget.”

He couldn’t throw a punch in front of Hagrid. Parkinson just flushed with shame.

Harry scoffed at him and walked towards Hagrid.

“Are those Hippogriffs?”

“Uh, yeah.” Huh?

“I read the book in advance, so I know how to approach a Hippogriff. Would you mind if I demonstrated?”

“Would you? Thanks, Harry!”

Harry Potter strode towards the Hippogriffs. As a Hippogriff reacted to his presence, he met its gaze and bowed elegantly.

“Hello, Hippogriff. You have a magnificent beak. Will you grant me the honor of kissing your neck?”

While Malfoy flinched at the word “kiss,” the Hippogriff slowly rose and bowed its head to Harry. Given permission, Harry leisurely approached the Hippogriff and stroked its feathers. The Hippogriff nuzzled against Harry as if enjoying the attention. It would serve him right if it bit him, Malfoy thought. Apparently, beasts had no discerning eye for people.

“May I mount you? Thank you.”

Harry Potter hopped onto the Hippogriff’s back, and the creature let out a loud cry and flapped its wings.

The sight of Harry flying on the Hippogriff was like something out of a legend. Despite it being his first time, Harry Potter expertly rode the Hippogriff, circling once in the air. After the short flight, Harry Potter landed, patted the Hippogriff’s head, and jumped down.

There wasn’t a single ounce of hesitation or fear in his actions. Harry Potter finished the flight as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Much to her chagrin, even Malfoy thought it was rather impressive.

Crabbe and Goyle even clapped involuntarily. They quickly stopped and looked away when Malfoy glared at them.

‘Tch, just because he read the book first…!’

The difference between Harry and Malfoy was simply whether or not they had read the book.

It was merely a lack of knowledge. Malfoy could do the same if she knew how.

Harry Potter, back on the ground, brought his face close to the Hippogriff’s nose. It looked like he was about to kiss it. Malfoy glared.

‘He uses his lips so carelessly?’

Half the boys in the school would never wash their hands again if they received a kiss from Malfoy!

Malfoy fumed, watching to see if their lips would touch.

Then her eyes met Harry’s. Harry grinned, barely touching his nose to the Hippogriff before pulling away. Feeling like she’d been toyed with, Malfoy turned her head away in annoyance.

Hagrid clapped and shouted.

“Good! Ten points to Gryffindor! Now! Did everyone see that? Hippogriffs are proud creatures, so never be rude to them. Always wait for them to make the first move, and then greet them back! Everyone try!”

Emboldened by Harry’s success, the other students began approaching the Hippogriffs.

Neville’s Hippogriff wouldn’t lower its head, forcing him to retreat several times. Ron and Hermione were trying to approach a chestnut Hippogriff.

And Malfoy, along with Crabbe and Goyle, was assigned the Hippogriff Harry Potter had ridden.

“Buckbeak? What a ridiculous name.”

Malfoy muttered as she looked at the Hippogriff. She couldn’t bring herself to bow her head to a mere beast, so she settled for a slight curtsy, holding her skirt, even though it grated on her pride.

It still hurt her pride.

At least Buckbeak, after staring at Malfoy for a while, returned the greeting. If it hadn’t, her pride would have been severely wounded.

‘Well, a beast that allowed Harry Potter on its back wouldn’t refuse me.’

Malfoy haughtily approached Buckbeak.

From the outside, it was quite an elegant creature. Its glossy feathers flowed smoothly from its head to its hooves, and its sharp beak and eagle-like eyes looked very strong. Malfoy reached out to stroke its neck and then her eyes fell on the bridge of its nose. The very spot where Harry Potter had pretended to kiss it.

Suddenly feeling annoyed, Malfoy said to Buckbeak.

“Tch. You fawned over Potter like a dog, but I guess a lowly beast can’t help itself, can it?”

It happened in the blink of an eye. Before Malfoy could react, something flashed.

A hooked talon grazed her arm. The wound was on her arm, but suddenly her legs gave way, and she collapsed. The pain arrived a moment later. A burning, searing sensation spread from her arm.

“Ah, uh?”

Blood. Blood was gushing from her arm, enough to soak her robes. Her arm wouldn’t move. It was the biggest injury she had ever experienced.

A childhood fall had been her most serious injury. Being slashed by a hooked talon was an unimaginable, excruciating pain.

“Ow, ow.”

Malfoy couldn’t even scream, only whimpering in agony. Tears flowed, and unrefined sobs escaped her lips. Normally, she would have stifled her cries, but now, numb with pain, she couldn’t.

She hated everything.

She hated the beast that had hurt her, herself for crying on the ground because of it, and Hagrid, who had brought the beast in the first place.

Hagrid struggled to restrain Buckbeak, who was now lunging at Malfoy. Everyone else stood frozen, gaping, unsure of what to do.

“Clench your teeth.”

Malfoy, sobbing in pain and misery, clenched her teeth as the voice instructed. Without a thought for the blood, a robe was tightly wrapped around Malfoy’s arm, and the remaining fabric covered her face.

There was a Muggle-like scent. A blatant, almost overwhelming scent, yet not entirely unpleasant, as if perfume had been directly infused into the fabric.

With the robe covering her face, no one could see Malfoy. Hidden beneath the fabric softener-scented robe, Malfoy contorted her face and wept without fear of being seen.

Someone lifted Malfoy gently and ran towards Hogwarts at full speed.

Gasping as if on the verge of collapse, Harry Potter finally reached the hospital wing with Malfoy in his arms. He burst through the doors, shouting.

“Madam Pomfrey, emergency! She’s been slashed by a Hippogriff’s talon!”

Madam Pomfrey rushed out, aghast.

Even after the first aid was administered and the bleeding stopped, Malfoy’s sobs didn’t cease. With her arm bandaged, Malfoy hiccuped.

“That, beast, k-kill, kill it! A lowly beast like that, h-how dare it hurt me? I’ve never shed a drop of blood in my life….!”

“Whoa, calm down. Calm down and wipe your face with this.”

“Do I look calm?!”

Harry quickly shut his mouth. Malfoy wiped her tear and dirt-streaked face, muttering.

“I’ll contact my father, and have it executed, executed! Magical creatures that attack wizards are executed!”

“Isn’t that a bit much? Execution just for a scratch?”

“Is my injury less important than that beast?!”

“No, that’s not it.”

There was no good answer. Harry sighed softly and wet the towel.

“Okay. Let’s think about it after you’re all healed. You need to cool down.”

Harry murmured as he wiped Malfoy’s arm. Malfoy silently accepted his ministrations.