Chapter 107
Hagrid clapped loudly, his booming laugh echoing across the paddock.
Hagrid: "Well done, Harry! Well done, ha ha ha!"
The other students soon joined in, cheering and applauding Harry's courage. Unlike them, Harry hadn't flinched from the creature, and now he had earned Buckbeak's trust.
Hagrid strode over with an excited grin.
Hagrid: "Right then! Now yeh can try ridin' him."
Harry froze, eyes widening in alarm.
Harry: "W-what? No, no, I don't want to, Hagrid!"
Before Harry could resist, Hagrid lifted him with surprising ease and set him onto Buckbeak's back. Harry clung to the creature's feathers, panic written all over his face.
Harry: "I don't want to! I'll fall!"
Hagrid gave him a reassuring slap on the shoulder.
Hagrid: "Hold tight now, an' don't pull at his feathers. He won't forgive yeh fer that, might even throw yeh off!"
Without hesitation, Hagrid smacked Buckbeak's flank to signal takeoff.
The hippogriff reared, its talons digging into the ground, then sprinted forward before spreading its mighty wings. With a powerful thrust, Buckbeak soared into the air, Harry's terrified screams ringing across the grounds.
The students ducked behind the large boulder, peeking out with wide eyes as the massive creature carried Harry higher and higher.
At first, Harry thought his heart would stop. He gripped Buckbeak's feathers for dear life. But as they circled Hogwarts Castle, the wind rushing in his face, fear began to melt into exhilaration. It was breathtaking, flying freely above the school, the grounds spread out below like a painted map.
After a few minutes, Hagrid gave a sharp whistle. Obediently, Buckbeak banked back toward the Forbidden Forest's paddock. The students watched, spellbound, as the hippogriff glided gracefully through the trees before touching down.
Hagrid: "Good lad, Harry! Well done!"
He hurried forward, lifting Harry off Buckbeak's back and setting him down. Harry was flushed and grinning, his earlier fear replaced by pure joy.
As Hagrid dusted dirt from Harry's robes, kicked up during the landing, neither of them noticed Draco Malfoy pushing through the crowd, his face sour with jealousy.
Draco couldn't stand it. If Harry Potter, the boy he mocked as weak, could tame Buckbeak and ride him, then surely he could do better. But just as he made up his mind, he saw Albert stepping forward first.
Draco clenched his fists in rage but dared not act. After his humiliating defeat against Albert earlier, he knew any confrontation would only end with more laughter at his expense.
The students murmured in surprise as Albert calmly approached Buckbeak. Despite his confidence, Albert remembered to do exactly what Harry had done. He bowed deeply.
Buckbeak regarded him, then bent its great head in return, acknowledging Albert's respect.
Ron leaned toward Hermione, whispering:
Ron: "Next time, I'll do it too! I won't let Harry and Albert beat me at this."
In truth, Albert hadn't intended to bond with Buckbeak. But he knew that if no one else stepped forward, Draco might foolishly try. If Buckbeak were offended, he could injure Draco, and the Ministry would almost certainly order the creature's execution. Albert didn't want that.
He liked Hagrid, whose kindness and simplicity had earned his respect. Albert couldn't stand the thought of making Hagrid suffer such a loss.
Hearing unexpected applause, Hagrid turned in surprise and found Albert already seated on Buckbeak's back. His expression shifted to stern concern.
Hagrid: "Well done, Albert, but yeh put yerself in real danger! Never approach a hippogriff without a teacher's say-so. What if he'd attacked yeh without warnin'? Ah, well, yeh're up there now. Just a short ride, then back down, yeh hear?"
Albert nodded, acknowledging Hagrid was right. Then he leaned forward and gently urged Buckbeak on with a pat to the flank.
With a flap of wings, the hippogriff lifted off again, this time carrying Albert high above the Forbidden Forest. The students cheered as they saw their classmate soaring, silhouetted against the treetops.
Albert spotted his friends waving at him from below. A rare smile touched his lips.
Moments later, Hagrid's whistle cut through the air once more, and Buckbeak obediently circled back to the paddock.
Hagrid helped Albert dismount safely.
Gathering the students, Hagrid announced:
Hagrid: "Tha's all fer today's lesson, folks. Same time next week, we'll be meetin' again fer somethin' new."
The group began to disperse. Ron looked particularly downcast. He hadn't had the chance to ride Buckbeak like Harry and Albert.
But Hagrid gave him an encouraging pat.
Hagrid: "Don' yeh worry, Ron. Next lesson, yeh'll get yer turn."
To be continued…