"Oooooh!" The students pointed across the paddock and cried out.
Hagrid held a dozen or so long chains in his hands. Each ran from his grip to a thick iron collar fastened around a bizarre-looking animal.
Most of the students had never seen such strange creatures before.
They had the bodies, hind legs, and tails of horses, but their forelegs, wings, and heads resembled those of eagles. Their menacing, sharp beaks gleamed like steel, and their large, bright eyes were a silvery yellow.
"Come on, kids, over here!"
Hagrid walked toward the fence where the students stood, rattling the chains, and tethered the animals to it.
All the students backed away a little nervously.
"Hippogriffs!" Hagrid waved at them and bellowed cheerfully. "Look how beautiful they are, eh?"
The students gazed at the Hippogriffs from a distance.
Once they got used to the animals' peculiar appearance, they quickly grew excited.
Hippogriffs were magical creatures with an XXX rating.
Their coats and feathers shone, and each was a different color: gray like the sky on a stormy night, the tough sheen of aged bronze, or a lovely pink roan.
As XXX-rated magical creatures, Hippogriffs could legally be kept by wizards, but the law required them to be placed under a Disillusionment Charm to prevent Muggles from seeing them.
Traveling by Hippogriff, however, violated the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy.
"Remember, Hippogriffs are very proud magical creatures," Hagrid explained, rubbing his hands together. "They're easily offended, so never insult one, or it could cost you your life."
"Now watch me."
Hagrid held out a hand toward the class, then slowly turned to one of the Hippogriffs. "This lad's called Buckbeak. Remember, everyone, you must be polite."
"When you walk up to him, bow first." Hagrid bent at the waist before Buckbeak. "If