The Prisoner of Azkaban Read online

  She stopped again, and then said, in a very matter-of-fact tone, ‘You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse me if I don’t let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in.’

  Hermione laughed. Harry felt a bit better. It was harder to feel scared of a lump of tea leaves away from the dim red light and befuddling perfume of Professor Trelawney’s classroom. Not everyone was convinced, however. Ron still looked worried, and Lavender whispered, ‘But what about Neville’s cup?’

  When the Transfiguration class had finished, they joined the crowd thundering towards the Great Hall for lunch.

  ‘Ron, cheer up,’ said Hermione, pushing a dish of stew towards him. ‘You heard what Professor McGonagall said.’

  Ron spooned stew onto his plate and picked up his fork but didn’t start.

  ‘Harry,’ he said, in a low, serious voice, ‘you haven’t seen a great black dog anywhere, have you?’

  ‘Yeah, I have,’ said Harry. ‘I saw one the night I left the Dursleys.’

  Ron let his fork fall with a clatter.

  ‘Probably a stray,’ said Hermione calmly.

  Ron looked at Hermione as though she had gone mad.

  ‘Hermione, if Harry’s seen a Grim, that’s – that’s bad,’ he said. ‘My – my Uncle Bilius saw one and – and he died twenty-four hours later!’

  ‘Coincidence,’ said Hermione airily, pouring herself some pumpkin juice.

  ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about!’ said Ron, starting to get angry. ‘Grims scare the living daylights out of most wizards!’

  ‘There you are, then,’ said Hermione in a superior tone. ‘They see the Grim and die of fright. The Grim’s not an omen, it’s the cause of death! And Harry’s still with us because he’s not stupid enough to see one and think, right, well, I’d better pop my clogs then!’

  Ron mouthed wordlessly at Hermione, who opened her bag, took out her new Arithmancy book and propped it open against the juice jug.

  ‘I think Divination seems very woolly,’ she said, searching for her page. ‘A lot of guesswork, if you ask me.’

  ‘There was nothing woolly about the Grim in that cup!’ said Ron hotly.

  ‘You didn’t seem quite so confident when you were telling Harry it was a sheep,’ said Hermione coolly.

  ‘Professor Trelawney said you didn’t have the right aura! You just don’t like being rubbish at something for a change!’

  He had touched a nerve. Hermione slammed her Arithmancy book down on the table so hard that bits of meat and carrot flew everywhere.

  ‘If being good at Divination means I have to pretend to see death omens in a lump of tea leaves, I’m not sure I’ll be studying it much longer! That lesson was absolute rubbish compared to my Arithmancy class!’

  She snatched up her bag and stalked away.

  Ron frowned after her.

  ‘What’s she talking about?’ he said to Harry. ‘She hasn’t been to an Arithmancy class yet.’

  *

  Harry was pleased to get out of the castle after lunch. Yesterday’s rain had cleared; the sky was a clear, pale grey and the grass was springy and damp underfoot as they set off for their first ever Care of Magical Creatures class.

  Ron and Hermione weren’t speaking to each other. Harry walked beside them in silence as they went down the sloping lawns to Hagrid’s hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. It was only when he spotted three only-too-familiar backs ahead of them that he realised they must be having these lessons with the Slytherins. Malfoy was talking animatedly to Crabbe and Goyle, who were chortling. Harry was quite sure he knew what they were talking about.

  Hagrid was waiting for his class at the door of his hut. He stood in his moleskin overcoat, with Fang the boarhound at his heels, looking impatient to start.

  ‘C’mon, now, get a move on!’ he called, as the class approached. ‘Got a real treat for yeh today! Great lesson comin’ up! Everyone here? Right, follow me!’

  For one nasty moment, Harry thought that Hagrid was going to lead them into the Forest; Harry had had enough unpleasant experiences in there to last him a lifetime. However, Hagrid strolled off around the edge of the trees, and five minutes later, they found themselves outside a kind of paddock. There was nothing in there.

  ‘Everyone gather round the fence here!’ he called. ‘That’s it – make sure yeh can see. Now, firs’ thing yeh’ll want ter do is open yer books –’

  ‘How?’ said the cold, drawling voice of Draco Malfoy.

  ‘Eh?’ said Hagrid.

  ‘How do we open our books?’ Malfoy repeated. He took out his copy of The Monster Book of Monsters, which he had bound shut with a length of rope. Other people took theirs out, too; some, like Harry, had belted their book shut; others had crammed them inside tight bags or clamped them together with bullclips.

  ‘Hasn’ – hasn’ anyone bin able ter open their books?’ said Hagrid, looking crestfallen.

  The class all shook their heads.

  ‘Yeh’ve got ter stroke ’em,’ said Hagrid, as though this was the most obvious thing in the world. ‘Look …’

  He took Hermione’s copy and ripped off the Spellotape that bound it. The book tried to bite, but Hagrid ran a giant forefinger down its spine, and the book shivered, and then fell open and lay quiet in his hand.

  ‘Oh, how silly we’ve all been!’ Malfoy sneered. ‘We should have stroked them! Why didn’t we guess!’

  ‘I … I thought they were funny,’ Hagrid said uncertainly to Hermione.

  ‘Oh, tremendously funny!’ said Malfoy. ‘Really witty, giving us books that try and rip our hands off!’

  ‘Shut up, Malfoy,’ said Harry quietly. Hagrid was looking downcast and Harry wanted Hagrid’s first lesson to be a success.

  ‘Righ’ then,’ said Hagrid, who seemed to have lost his thread, ‘so … so yeh’ve got yer books an’ … an’ … now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Yeah. So I’ll go an’ get ’em. Hang on …’

  He strode away from them into the Forest and out of sight.

  ‘God, this place is going to the dogs,’ said Malfoy loudly. ‘That oaf teaching classes, my father’ll have a fit when I tell him –’

  ‘Shut up, Malfoy,’ Harry repeated.

  ‘Careful, Potter, there’s a Dementor behind you –’

  ‘Oooooooh!’ squealed Lavender Brown, pointing towards the opposite side of the paddock.

  Trotting towards them were a dozen of the most bizarre creatures Harry had ever seen. They had the bodies, hind legs and tails of horses, but the front legs, wings and heads of what seemed to be giant eagles, with cruel, steel-coloured beaks and large, brilliantly orange eyes. The talons on their front legs were half a foot long and deadly-looking. Each of the beasts had a thick leather collar around its neck, which was attached to a long chain, and the ends of all of these were held in the vast hands of Hagrid, who came jogging into the paddock behind the creatures.

  ‘Gee up, there!’ he roared, shaking the chains and urging the creatures towards the fence where the class stood. Everyone drew back slightly as Hagrid reached them and tethered the creatures to the fence.

  ‘Hippogriffs!’ Hagrid roared happily, waving a hand at them. ‘Beau’iful, aren’ they?’

  Harry could sort of see what Hagrid meant. Once you had got over the first shock of seeing something that was half-horse, half-bird, you started to appreciate the Hippogriffs’ gleaming coats, changing smoothly from feather to hair, each of them a different colour: stormy grey, bronze, a pinkish roan, gleaming chestnut and inky black.

  ‘So,’ said Hagrid, rubbing his hands together and beaming around, ‘if yeh wan’ ter come a bit nearer …’

  No one seemed to want to. Harry, Ron and Hermione, however, approached the fence cautiously.

  ‘Now, firs’ thing yeh gotta know abou’ Hippogriffs is they’re proud,’ said Hagrid. ‘Easily offended, Hippogriffs are. Don’t never insult one, ’cause it might be the last thing yeh do.’


  Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle weren’t listening; they were talking in an undertone and Harry had a nasty feeling they were plotting how best to disrupt the lesson.

  ‘Yeh always wait fer the Hippogriff ter make the firs’ move,’ Hagrid continued. ‘It’s polite, see? Yeh walk towards him, and yeh bow, an’ yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh’re allowed ter touch him. If he doesn’ bow, then get away from him sharpish, ’cause those talons hurt.’

  ‘Right – who wants ter go first?’

  Most of the class backed further away in answer. Even Harry, Ron and Hermione had misgivings. The Hippogriffs were tossing their fierce heads and flexing their powerful wings; they didn’t seem to like being tethered like this.

  ‘No one?’ said Hagrid, with a pleading look.

  ‘I’ll do it,’ said Harry.

  There was an intake of breath from behind him and both Lavender and Parvati whispered, ‘Oooh, no, Harry, remember your tea leaves!’

  Harry ignored them. He climbed over the paddock fence.

  ‘Good man, Harry!’ roared Hagrid. ‘Right then – let’s see how yeh get on with Buckbeak.’

  He untied one of the chains, pulled the grey Hippogriff away from his fellows and slipped off his leather collar. The class on the other side of the paddock seemed to be holding its breath. Malfoy’s eyes were narrowed maliciously.

  ‘Easy, now, Harry,’ said Hagrid quietly. ‘Yeh’ve got eye contact, now try not ter blink – Hippogriffs don’ trust yeh if yeh blink too much …’

  Harry’s eyes immediately began to water, but he didn’t shut them. Buckbeak had turned his great, sharp head, and was staring at Harry with one fierce orange eye.

  ‘Tha’s it,’ said Hagrid. ‘Tha’s it, Harry … now, bow …’

  Harry didn’t feel much like exposing the back of his neck to Buckbeak, but he did as he was told. He gave a short bow and then looked up.

  The Hippogriff was still staring haughtily at him. It didn’t move.

  ‘Ah,’ said Hagrid, sounding worried. ‘Right – back away, now, Harry, easy does it –’

  But then, to Harry’s enormous surprise, the Hippogriff suddenly bent his scaly front knees, and sank into what was an unmistakeable bow.

  ‘Well done, Harry!’ said Hagrid, ecstatic. ‘Right – yeh can touch him! Pat his beak, go on!’

  Feeling that a better reward would have been to back away, Harry moved slowly towards the Hippogriff and reached out towards him. He patted the beak several times and the Hippogriff closed his eyes lazily, as though enjoying it.

  The class broke into applause, all except for Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, who were looking deeply disappointed.

  ‘Righ’ then, Harry,’ said Hagrid, ‘I reckon he migh’ let yeh ride him!’

  This was more than Harry had bargained for. He was used to a broomstick; but he wasn’t sure a Hippogriff would be quite the same.

  ‘Yeh climb up there, jus’ behind the wing joint,’ said Hagrid, ‘an’ mind yeh don’ pull any of his feathers out, he won’ like that …’

  Harry put his foot on the top of Buckbeak’s wing and hoisted himself onto his back. Buckbeak stood up. Harry wasn’t sure where to hold on; everything in front of him was covered in feathers.

  ‘Go on, then!’ roared Hagrid, slapping the Hippogriff’s hindquarters.

  Without warning, twelve-foot wings flapped open on either side of Harry; he just had time to seize the Hippogriff around the neck before he was soaring upwards. It was nothing like a broomstick, and Harry knew which one he preferred; the Hippogriff’s wings were beating uncomfortably on either side of him, catching him under his legs and making him feel he was about to be thrown off; the glossy feathers slipped under his fingers and he didn’t dare get a stronger grip; instead of the smooth action of his Nimbus Two Thousand, he now felt himself rocking backwards and forwards as the hindquarters of the Hippogriff rose and fell with his wings.

  Buckbeak flew him once around the paddock and then headed back to the ground; this was the bit Harry had been dreading; he leant back as the smooth neck lowered, feeling he was going to slip off over the beak; then he felt a heavy thud as the four ill-assorted feet hit the ground, and just managed to hold on and push himself straight again.

  ‘Good work, Harry!’ roared Hagrid, as everyone except Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle cheered. ‘OK, who else wants a go?’

  Emboldened by Harry’s success, the rest of the class climbed cautiously into the paddock. Hagrid untied the Hippogriffs one by one, and soon people were bowing nervously, all over the paddock. Neville ran repeatedly backwards from his, which didn’t seem to want to bend its knees. Ron and Hermione practised on the chestnut, while Harry watched.

  Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle had taken over Buckbeak. He had bowed to Malfoy, who was now patting his beak, looking disdainful.

  ‘This is very easy,’ Malfoy drawled, loud enough for Harry to hear him. ‘I knew it must have been, if Potter could do it … I bet you’re not dangerous at all, are you?’ he said to the Hippogriff. ‘Are you, you ugly great brute?’

  It happened in a flash of steely talons; Malfoy let out a high-pitched scream and next moment, Hagrid was wrestling Buckbeak back into his collar as he strained to get at Malfoy, who lay curled in the grass, blood blossoming over his robes.

  ‘I’m dying!’ Malfoy yelled, as the class panicked. ‘I’m dying, look at me! It’s killed me!’

  ‘Yer not dyin’!’ said Hagrid, who had gone very white. ‘Someone help me – gotta get him outta here –’

  Hermione ran to open the gate while Hagrid lifted Malfoy easily. As they passed, Harry saw that there was a long, deep gash in Malfoy’s arm; blood splattered the grass and Hagrid ran with him, up the slope towards the castle.

  Very shaken, the Care of Magical Creatures class followed at a walk. The Slytherins were all shouting about Hagrid.

  ‘They should sack him straight away!’ said Pansy Parkinson, who was in tears.

  ‘It was Malfoy’s fault!’ snapped Dean Thomas. Crabbe and Goyle flexed their muscles threateningly.

  They all climbed the stone steps into the deserted Entrance Hall.

  ‘I’m going to see if he’s OK!’ said Pansy, and they all watched her run up the marble staircase. The Slytherins, still muttering about Hagrid, headed away in the direction of their dungeon common room; Harry, Ron and Hermione proceeded upstairs to Gryffindor Tower.

  ‘D’you think he’ll be all right?’ said Hermione nervously.

  ‘’Course he will, Madam Pomfrey can mend cuts in about a second,’ said Harry, who had had far worse injuries mended magically by the matron.

  ‘That was a really bad thing to happen in Hagrid’s first class, though, wasn’t it?’ said Ron, looking worried. ‘Trust Malfoy to mess things up for him …’

  They were among the first to reach the Great Hall at dinner-time, hoping to see Hagrid, but he wasn’t there.

  ‘They wouldn’t sack him, would they?’ said Hermione anxiously, not touching her steak-and-kidney pudding.

  ‘They’d better not,’ said Ron, who wasn’t eating either.

  Harry was watching the Slytherin table. A large group including Crabbe and Goyle were huddled together, deep in conversation. Harry was sure they were cooking up their own version of how Malfoy had got injured.

  ‘Well, you can’t say it wasn’t an interesting first day back,’ said Ron gloomily.

  They went up to the crowded Gryffindor common room after dinner and tried to do the homework Professor McGonagall had set them, but all three of them kept breaking off and glancing out of the tower window.

  ‘There’s a light on in Hagrid’s window,’ Harry said suddenly.

  Ron looked at his watch.

  ‘If we hurried, we could go down and see him, it’s still quite early …’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Hermione said slowly, and Harry saw her glance at him.

  ‘I’m allowed to walk across the grounds,’ he said pointedly. ‘Sirius Black hasn’t got past the Dementors here, has he?�
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  So they put their things away and headed out of the portrait hole, glad not to meet anybody on their way to the front doors, as they weren’t entirely sure they were supposed to be out.

  The grass was still wet and looked almost black in the twilight. When they reached Hagrid’s hut, they knocked, and a voice growled, ‘C’min.’

  Hagrid was sitting in his shirt-sleeves at his scrubbed wooden table; his boarhound, Fang, had his head in Hagrid’s lap. One look told them that Hagrid had been drinking a lot; there was a pewter tankard almost as big as a bucket in front of him, and he seemed to be having difficulty in getting them into focus.

  ‘’Spect it’s a record,’ he said thickly, when he recognised them. ‘Don’ reckon they’ve ever had a teacher who on’y lasted a day before.’

  ‘You haven’t been sacked, Hagrid!’ gasped Hermione.

  ‘Not yet,’ said Hagrid miserably, taking a huge gulp of whatever was in the tankard. ‘But ’s only a matter o’ time, i’n’t it, after Malfoy …’

  ‘How is he?’ said Ron, as they all sat down. ‘It wasn’t serious, was it?’

  ‘Madam Pomfrey fixed him best she could,’ said Hagrid dully, ‘but he’s sayin’ it’s still agony … covered in bandages … moanin’ …’

  ‘He’s faking it,’ said Harry at once. ‘Madam Pomfrey can mend anything. She regrew half my bones last year. Trust Malfoy to milk it for all it’s worth.’

  ‘School gov’nors have bin told, o’ course,’ said Hagrid miserably. ‘They reckon I started too big. Shoulda left Hippogriffs fer later … done Flobberworms or summat … jus’ thought it’d make a good firs’ lesson … ’s all my fault …’

  ‘It’s all Malfoy’s fault, Hagrid!’ said Hermione earnestly.

  ‘We’re witnesses,’ said Harry. ‘You said Hippogriffs attack if you insult them. It’s Malfoy’s problem he wasn’t listening. We’ll tell Dumbledore what really happened.’