yasinovel Chapter 530 531: Mastery of Magical Beasts
Chapter 530 531: Mastery of Magical Beasts
A sound echoed from the depths of the Forbidden Forest—a steady thud-thud-thud,
like the rhythmic beating of hooves against the earth.
The students watched as a dozen creatures trotted toward them. To any young
wizard seeing them for the first time, they were an extraordinary sight. They
possessed the bodies, hind legs, and tails of horses, but their front legs,
wings, and heads were those of giant eagles. Their cruel, curved beaks were the
color of cold steel, and their large, brilliant eyes were a piercing orange. The
talons on their front paws were half a foot long and looked sharp enough to
slice through stone.
Each beast wore a thick leather collar around its neck, attached to a long
chain. All the chains were gathered in Hagrid's massive hands as he led the
creatures into the paddock.
"C'mon now! Over here!" he roared, shaking the chains to urge the beasts toward
the fence where the class stood.
"Come with me," Sean whispered.
The slate-pendant on Sean's chest drifted upward, glowing with a faint light.
Several of the "monsters" he and Will the Pukwudgie had been tending to broke
away from the group and trotted toward him. They lowered their heads in a
graceful, sweeping motion. Sean practiced the etiquette flawlessly, bowing his
head in return.
The creatures then took their places behind Sean, standing like a regal honor
guard. The other half remained with Hagrid.
"That's it—look at that! See how it's done?" Hagrid said excitedly to the class.
"See what?" Ron asked, his face a mask of confusion. "Do we actually have to...
bow to those things?"
Harry just grinned.
"Oh, you'll see," Hagrid said, scratching his head as he tethered the beasts to
the fence. "I haven't explained the trick of it yet."
As the creatures drew closer, most of the students took a collective step back.
"Hippogriffs!" Hagrid announced, waving a hand at them. "Beautiful, aren't
they?"
Sean observed the class. Once the initial fear of the half-horse, half-bird
monsters faded, the students began to admire the shimmering coats of the beasts.
The transition from feathers to fur was seamless, and every Hippogriff was a
different color: stormy grey, bronze, pinkish-roan, gleaming chestnut, and
ink-black.
Xavier, Vance, Emilia, Sienna, and Buckbeak...
Sean knew every corner of Hogwarts, and that included the temperaments of the
Hippogriffs he helped care for. He looked up as the afternoon sun bathed the
grounds in a golden glow. The soft, pale green landscape of the Highlands formed
the perfect backdrop for the castle.
Sean remembered the days spent with Professor Sprout picking citrus and jasmine
while Hagrid soared over the treeline on a Hippogriff's back. He reached out and
stroked the dark feathers on Buckbeak's head. Even these massive, powerful
beasts felt like children in his presence.
I care for the Hippogriffs, Sean thought, and in return, Hogwarts cares for me.
"Right then," Hagrid said, rubbing his hands together. "If you'd like to step a
bit closer..."
No one moved, except for Harry, Ron, Neville, and Hermione, who approached the
fence with cautious curiosity. Sean privately thought that if Justin were there,
it would feel just like a meeting at Hope Cottage.
"Now, listen in. First thing you gotta know about Hippogriffs is that they're
proud," Hagrid warned. "Deadly proud. They're easily offended. Don't go
insultin' one, or it might be the last thing you do."
Sean noticed Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle weren't listening. They were huddled
together, whispering and snickering, clearly plotting how to sabotage the
lesson.
"You always wait for the Hippogriff to make the first move," Hagrid continued.
"It's manners, see? You walk up, you give 'em a bow. If they bow back, you can
touch 'em. If they don't... well, you get out of there sharpish. Those talons
don't tickle."
"Right—who's first?"
At this, the class retreated even further. Even Harry and the others looked
hesitant. The Hippogriffs were tossing their fierce heads and stretching their
powerful wings, clearly unhappy about being tethered.
"No one?" Hagrid asked, a pleading look crossing his face.
"It's alright," Sean added, his voice calm and reassuring. "There is no danger."
With the Void Rune active, Sean was mentally linked with Buckbeak. The beast
wouldn't fly into a blind rage even if provoked—though it might still give a
disobedient wizard a proper scare.
The students looked slightly more interested after Sean's reassurance.
"Oh, I'd be lost without you, Sean," Hagrid grinned.
As the class wavered, a voice rang out from the back.
"I'll do it."
Harry stepped forward, looking determined. Behind him, Lavender and Parvati
gasped in unison. "Don't, Harry! Remember your tea leaves!"
Harry ignored them and vaulted over the paddock fence.
"Good man, Harry!" Hagrid roared. "Right then—let's see how you get on with
Buckbeak."
He unhooked a chain and led the grey Hippogriff away from its fellows, slipping
off its leather collar. The class watched with bated breath. Malfoy narrowed his
eyes, a malicious smirk playing on his lips.
"Easy does it, Harry," Hagrid whispered. "You've got eye contact. Don't blink—if
you blink too much, he won't trust you..."
Harry's eyes began to water almost immediately, but he kept them locked on the
beast. Buckbeak tilted his sharp head, staring at Harry with a fierce,
unblinking orange eye.
"Steady, Buckbeak," Sean murmured.
The Hippogriff gave a subtle toss of its head, acknowledging Sean's voice.
"Right, now," Hagrid said. "Now... bow, Harry..."
Harry wasn't thrilled about exposing the back of his neck to the monster, but
remembering Sean's promise of safety, he followed instructions. He gave a quick,
deep bow and looked up.
Buckbeak remained perfectly still, staring at Harry with regal arrogance.
"Ah," Hagrid said, his voice tinged with worry. "Right—back away now, Harry.
Nice and slow—"
"Buckbeak."
Sean called out again, his voice like a gentle command. He could sense that
Buckbeak had already accepted Harry; the beast was simply feeling playful.
To Harry's immense relief, the Hippogriff suddenly sank onto its scaly front
knees and dipped its head in an unmistakable bow.
"Well done, Harry!" Hagrid yelled joyfully. "Right—you can pat him! Go on,
stroke his beak!"
Harry would have preferred to keep backing away, but he moved forward and
reached out. He patted the hard, cool beak, and Buckbeak closed his eyes lazily,
leaning into the touch.
The class erupted into cheers—all except Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who looked
profoundly disappointed.
"Excellent, Harry," Hagrid beamed. "I think he might let you ride him now!"
Harry hadn't signed up for this. He looked at the hybrid beast with a mix of awe
and dread. "I... you... and the horse..."
"Just climb on, right behind the wing joint," Hagrid said dismissively, too
excited to notice Harry's stammering. "And mind you don't pull any feathers; he
won't take kindly to that."
Harry stepped onto the wing, hauled himself up, and settled onto the broad back.
Buckbeak stood up. Harry looked around frantically, unsure of what to hold onto.
Everything in front of him was feathers.
"Go on then!" Hagrid roared, then looked at Sean.
Sean gave a slow, deliberate nod.
Twelve-foot wings unfurled on either side of Harry. He just managed to throw his
arms around the Hippogriff's neck before the beast took off.
It was nothing like a broomstick. Harry knew instantly which he preferred. The
flapping of the wings against his legs was jarring, making him feel as though he
were about to be bucked off at any second.
"Ah, Sean... help a fellow out?" Hagrid asked sheepishly. "You said to be
gentle, and look at 'im—Harry's shaking like a leaf..."
"Mmm," Sean nodded. "Sienna."
At his call, a magnificent Hippogriff with shimmering, chestnut-red fur stepped
forward with an elegant stride. She lowered her head and used her wing to gently
boost Sean onto her back.
"Can you do that?" Ron asked, his eyes wide as he watched Sean.
"Don't even think about it," Hagrid told him. "I've never seen the like.
Hippogriffs don't usually offer their wings like a carpet to anyone."
The class watched as the two wizards soared into the sky.
Flying on a broom was one thing; riding a massive magical beast was a visceral
experience. Sean had ridden in a dragon-drawn carriage before, but only by being
physically pressed against the creature could he feel the heat of its heartbeat.
Even the freezing wind of the high altitudes felt warmer.
[You have gained the favor of the magical creature: Hippogriff (Sienna).
Affinity +300] [Hippogriff Buckbeak: Friendly (2800/3000)] [Advancement: Possess
seven 'Trusted' (Expert Level) magical creature companions to unlock the
'Master' title in the Magical Creatures field.]
Sean noted the system pings. His title in Magical Creatures was nearing the
Expert level, which would grant him his second complete Epic-level talent.
He gripped the smooth feathers beneath his fingers. Unlike a broom, which moved
with artificial smoothness, the Hippogriff's hindquarters rose and fell with
every wingbeat, sending Sean on a thrilling, rhythmic jolt.
"SEAN!" Harry yelled. He had spotted Sean flying alongside him. His voice was
muffled by the wind, and his mouth was stretched wide as the air rushed in.
"Don't worry, Harry!" Sean called back.
The ground and the towering spires of Hogwarts shrunk away until they vanished.
Within seconds, the entire island was laid out beneath them, shimmering through
a light shroud of mist.
It was a different world. The giant wings sliced through the soft sea of clouds.
Under the brilliant daylight, the sky was an endless, vibrant blue.
"AMAZING!" Harry roared with pure, unfettered joy.
Sean leaned into Sienna's soft neck feathers and opened his status panel with a
small smile.
[Name: Sean Green] [Potions Talent: Blue] [Herbology Talent: Blue] [Magical
Creatures Talent: Light Purple] [Charms Talent: Light Purple] [Transfiguration
Talent: Purple] [Dark Arts Talent: Gold] [Alchemy Talent: Gold]
He was close. Very close. Perhaps by the end of the day, his title would
upgrade. But more than that, Sean was thinking about Trelawney's prophecies.
His Inner Eye is about to open... What did that really mean?
Time passed in a blur of wind and sky. The wizards on the ground eventually
heard a heavy THUD as the beasts landed.
Harry and Sean slid down from the fur and feathers, looking like returning
conquerors. Harry was glowing with excitement, his fear completely forgotten.
Sean remained calm, patting Sienna's neck as the system finally chimed with his
new title.
"Brilliant, Harry! And thank you, Assistant Professor Green!" Hagrid bellowed.
The class cheered—except for the Slytherin trio. "Right, who's next?"
Emboldened by Harry's success and Sean's presence, the rest of the class began
climbing into the paddock. Hagrid untethered the Hippogriffs one by one. Soon,
the enclosure was filled with students bowing nervously to the beasts.
Neville was having a hard time; his Hippogriff refused to bend its knees and
kept snapping at him. Sean walked over, and with a quiet word, the beast finally
bowed, giving Neville his first magical companion.
Sean then noticed Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle approaching Buckbeak. The beast had
already bowed to Malfoy, and the blonde boy was currently patting its beak with
an air of supreme arrogance.
"This is easy," Malfoy drawled, making sure his voice carried to Harry. "I knew
it would be. If Potter can do it, anyone can... I bet you aren't dangerous at
all, are you?"
He looked the Hippogriff in the eye and sneered, "Are you, you great, ugly
brute?"
In a flash of steel-colored talons, Malfoy let out a piercing scream. Buckbeak
lunged, his beak snapping toward Malfoy's shoulder.
Hagrid scrambled forward, struggling to pull the collar back. Malfoy was curled
in a ball on the grass, howling in pain.
"I'm dying!" Malfoy wailed as the class panicked. "I'm dying! Look at me! It's
killed me!"
"What happened?" Hagrid cried, rushing to his side.
As Hagrid examined the "wound," his expression began to turn very strange. He
looked from Malfoy to Sean, and then back to the boy on the ground.
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