"Me?"
Hagrid called his name, and Harry froze for a moment.
He looked at the Hippogriff tied to the tree, hesitation creeping into his expression.
This looked
a little dangerous.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine. Come on."
Like Klein, Hagrid wanted to make sure nothing went wrong during the initial lesson.
He knew Harry and Buckbeak. It should, probably, maybe, be safe.
"All right."
With everyone watching, Harry couldn't very well back out. He steeled himself and stepped forward.
Draco and the others snickered, looking forward to the show.
Ron, Hermione, and the other Gryffindor first-years quietly cheered their classmate on.
As for Klein,
he was watching the Hippogriff's wings.
Come to think of it, it had been ages since he'd had Fiendfyre-roasted wings~
"Hm?"
Sensing a gaze that wasn't exactly friendly, the Hippogriff tilted its head in puzzlement.
But before it could find the source of that gaze, a little fellow wearing glasses stepped in front of it.
"Slowly, Harry. Don't rush."
Hagrid lowered his voice and guided him step by step. The scene gave Klein the distinct impression that he was watching someone tame a Pokémon.
If the twelve-foot-tall "Dr. Hagrid" had pulled a Poké Ball out of his coat pocket, Klein wouldn't have been surprised at all.
"All right."
Harry took a deep breath and followed his instructions.
He approached the Hippogriff nervously, very, very slowly, like a snail, each step taking ages.
"Buckbeak isn't showing any signs of rejecting him. Class, remember what Harry is doing now.
"All right, bow. Remember, don't look it in the eye."
Don't look it in the eye. Bow in greeting.
Harry memorized Hagrid's instructions.
He stopped a short distance from the Hippogriff and dutifully bowed.
Time ticked by.
His heart pounded fiercely. Harry swallowed quietly, feeling as though several centuries