Harry, Ron, and Hermione are Hagrid's good friends, and they didn't want Hagrid's first class to be awkward, so they actively stepped forward to help.
"Well done," Hagrid praised. "Remember what I just said: approach slowly and wait for it to bow first."
The trio each chose one, and Harry walked over to the most magnificent Hippogriff, bending down and trying to keep his voice as soft as possible.
Harry stared intently into its eyes, and only after it turned around, met his gaze for a few seconds, and lowered its head slightly, did Harry dare to step forward and touch the Hippogriff's head.
"Good job, Harry. Its name is Buckbeak. Bow to it, then try riding on its back."
Hagrid's sudden voice startled Harry, who then realized that Hermione and Ron had not yet succeeded.
Taking a step back and bowing solemnly, Buckbeak in front of me maintained its elegant posture, its two front paws crossed on the ground, its body lying prone.
Harry swallowed hard, glanced at the crowd staring at him from behind, mustered his courage, walked to Buckbeak's side, and laboriously climbed onto Buckbeak's body.
Hippogriff are extremely loyal animals; they treat enemies like eagles, but are as docile as horses when they are trusted. Buckbeak slowly rose, even adjusting its position to prevent Harry from falling, until Harry grabbed the fur on his neck. Only then did it let out a loud cry, flap its wings, and fly into the sky.
Harry was startled. He wrapped his legs around Buckbeak's body and lay prone on top of it. As Hagrid 'Buckbeak voice below, telling him to hold on tighter, grew fainter, Harry realized he was high in the air.
Hogwarts is built on a mountain, constructed by Ancient Magic, and is undetectable to Muggle. Harry sometimes thinks that if Muggle could see Hogwarts, they would surely designate it as a famous historical site.
It was summer, the mountains and forests were lush and green, and the water was sparkling. Harry could see the train tracks winding in from afar, disappearing behind the castle under the cover of greenery. The seven-story castle was majestic and imposing, yet it felt real and approachable under the sunlight. The conical castle roof looked like a sharpened pencil, piercing the boundless sky.
Harry slowly mustered his courage. Actually, there was nothing to be afraid of, just like the flying broomstick that automatically navigated. Harry wanted to shout out loud; magic was supposed to be a tool that brought such joy.
After Harry returned, Draco also approached Buckbeak.
Although he didn't particularly like Hagrid, Draco had played with the Suitcase Beasts and felt that these creatures did possess a stubbornness that wizards didn't understand but that was worthy of respect.
For example, House-elf, despite their superior magical skills, willingly serve wizarding families for generations, even though House-elf don't belong to the category of Fantastic Beasts. Another example is Knarl's love for horses and the elegance and loyalty of the Hippogriff. Draco doesn't understand these things, but he respects them.
He gave Buckbeak a standard wizard's salute.
But Buckbeak ignored him.
" Malfoy, even Fantastic Beasts have their own preferences. You could try other Hippogriff; there's bound to be one that suits you." Hagrid sounded just like a salesman.
" Buckbeak is still a Gryffindor, good boy, this is your job." Ron didn't take to the skies; the Hippogriff carrying him was a lazy bum, only flying to the treetops before landing again.
Draco glared at Hagrid, then went to find another Hippogriff.
The next day, Divination.
The professor in charge of the course Sybill Sybil Trelawney. She was like a cobra that had just taken a bath in a pile of jewelry—she was very thin and covered in jewels, sequins, chains, rings, and jade bracelets.
Harry and his friends even had to climb a ladder to get to this classroom, which could hardly be called a classroom; the space was as small as an attic.
Trelawney sat in front of everyone, without a podium or desks; she looked like a prisoner being interrogated.
"I'm so glad you chose my course in your third-year course selection. If you understand the wonders of Divination, you definitely won't regret it."
"You've chosen Divination, the most profound of all magical arts. I must make this clear upfront: this course demands exceptional talent. I can only offer guidance, not guarantee your comprehension—don't bother with books; that's the most useless thing."
"What?" Hermione exclaimed.
Ron was a little surprised. "When did you get here? Harry and I waited for you at the ladies' dormitory stairwell for over ten minutes but didn't see you."
"Maybe I came out early," Hermione said dismissively.
Professor Trelawney finally began her lecture, asking everyone to turn to pages five and six so they could refer to the shape of tea leaves later.
She looked at Neville: "Son, could you get me the blue teacup from the cupboard? I like pink."
Before anyone could understand what Professor Trelawney meant, Neville smashed the blue teacup he was holding onto the ground.
"Okay, honey, now you can get me that pink cup."
Ron shook Harry's arm excitedly. "Oh my god, did you see that? I want to learn this!"
Hermione, however, didn't quite like this teaching method. "If she anticipated Neville would break the cup, why didn't she have someone else get it or get it herself?"
Ron retorted, "You haven't learned it yet, Hermione. Just wait, I'll surpass you in this course."
The tea dregs Divination method involves filling a cup with tea and then using the leftover tea leaves to perform Divination.
"Use your left hand to swirl the tea leaves in the cup three times, then invert the cup onto the tray. Once the last drop of tea has seeped out, hand the cup to your partner for interpretation," Professor Trelawney said before preparing to come down for her rounds.
Ron, full of enthusiasm, stared at the tea leaves Harry had left behind, comparing them repeatedly. He frowned and said, "What is this? Harry, can you drink it properly? I can't see anything. From this angle, it looks a bit like a horseshoe."
Ron gradually changed his approach and continued his analysis, "It looks like a bird. Could it be Hippogriff? I think that's pretty accurate."
Trelawney was interpreting Hermione's tea leaves. "Darling, forgive me for saying this, but you have very little perception, so you may find it difficult to progress in this course."
Hermione laughed in exasperation. She couldn't stand the dim, dizzying red light in the classroom any longer and turned to leave.
"How could I have wasted my time here!"
Ron chuckled at Hermione's sarcastic remark and looked at Harry: "Her talent is clearly not as high as mine. I absolutely love this course."
Trelawney walked over to Parvati's group next to Harry, and with just one glance, she solemnly warned, "Be careful of a red-haired man lately."
Parvati immediately shifted his position, moving further away from Ron.
Ron stared blankly at Harry, then at the teacup in his hand, and shrugged. "I don't love this subject as much anymore."