Unlucky Draco

All the students present were eager to try, except Eli and his friends, who showed little enthusiasm.

It wasn't hard to see why: they knew what Hagrid was offering as a prize.

At Eli and his friends' suggestion, Hagrid would be handing out Rock Cakes he had made himself.

How could their school years be complete if they never tried Hagrid's Rock Cakes?

The young wizards, unaware of what awaited them, had already lined up.

Everyone was holding their breath. Hagrid had just warned them that, timid as the little creatures were, they could gouge out your eyes if provoked!

So the young wizards were extremely careful.

Hagrid had been right: show the Bowtruckles a little kindness, and they were fairly easy to win over.

The students' encounters with the Bowtruckles went smoothly. Few received a gift, but nearly everyone managed to put the little creatures somewhat at ease.

Soon it was Eli and his friends' turn. They were among the last in line.

Eli stepped forward, took a few woodlice from the jar Hagrid had brought, and held them out toward the tree.

He wasn't sure the Bowtruckles would come out again. They had eaten so much today that they would surely remember it.

To Eli's surprise, little heads soon poked out from behind the leaves.

They didn't seem quite so timid. They came gently to his hand and took the woodlice from him.

A few even sat down on his palm, looking thoroughly at home.

"Oh, Eli, they really like you!" Hagrid's little eyes widened. He had never seen the shy creatures so attached to anyone.

When the little creatures refused to leave his hand, Eli had no choice but to grab another handful of woodlice and offer it to them.

Once they had eaten their fill, they