Chapter-67: Care of Magical Creatures-1

Professor Bathsheda Babbling, an old witch that taught Runes in Hogwarts like Ronan, a lot. And he didnt like it. In the first class of the year, when he and his friends entered the classroom, and she came in, she immediately went to his seat.

"Ronan Johanson," she said in a raspy voice.

"Yes ma'am?" he asked.

"Nothing boy." She said, "Just happy to finally have you in my class." She said. And happy she was.

Slytherins were having that class with Ravenclaw. While teaching about the basics of the Runes, whenever the Professor would ask any questions, a number of Ravenclaw would throw their hands up. But she would always pick him to answer. Hell, he didnt even try to raise his hand, then too he would have to answer her questions. And with the precise answers he earned a lot of points for Slytherins. But at the same time, also earned a lot of animosity from Ravenclaws.

After the class was over, the Professor requested him to stay back. And then they in detail discussed his achievements in the field. Although Ronan was flattered that someone was appreciating his work, but he didnt like the animosity that it brought with it. 

After the class when he entered the great hall to have lunch, he heard some Slythering first-year whispers, "… Johanson gave professor an autograph…" He didnt hear the full context, but the words alone made him stop in his tracks.

No one in the school shared his surname. Which meant they were talking about him.

One junior saw him, standing by their group. She signaled others, and soon the whole lot froze in their place while looking at him. He could sense it, they were scared of him. He silently sat down beside them and stared into their eyes one by one, and then spoke, "Why did you stop? I want to hear what new rumor is spreading about me," he said with a very warm smile.

Juniors didnt say a word, some of them didnt even dare to breathe loudly. Ronan then continued, "Lost your appetite to talk about me?" he asked, no one said a word or moved.

"Well… Fine by me then," with that he got up and went to join his friends…

When he had rejoined his friends, he asked Pancy about the rumors, "Well I dont know," she said, "I didnt hear any recently."

"Well, I just caught a bunch of first-years talking about me. According to them, I gave Professor Babbling an autograph,"

Blaise chuckled hearing it, "Even if you didnt give none to her, she definitely sounded as if she wanted one,"

Daphne then spoke, "Forget about it. The words of first-year dont mean anything,"

"I know that it does it mean anything," he said, "It is just that.. I wanted to know what kind of rumors were being spread under my name… And how is that affecting the senior.. I want to know whether my relationship would be strained because of this,"

Pancy then said, "I will ask around… But why are you suddenly interested in what people think of you?"

Blaise as well as Daphne became interested in the topic. It was Blaise who asked him, "Yeah, why are you looking out for your image all of a sudden?" he said, "Wait… Is it because.. Are you interested in some senior?"

Daphne widened her eyes like an owl caught in front of light, even though Ronan noticed it, he didnt think much of it. He was only thinking about his image because he wanted to play for Slytherin this year. He had heard what kind of politics comes into play when it comes to quidditch, that is why he wanted to make sure that his image is cleared.

"Will you help me or not?" he just asked.

"Are you?" Pancy asked in horror, "Interested in a senior,"

"Of course not. I need to know because.."

"Because…" Daphne said.

He sighed and gave up on the attempt to keep it a secret, "I wanted to tryouts for the position of chaser, for our team,"

"What?" Blaise exclaimed, gathering the attention of every Slytherin and Gryffindor nearby.

"Keep it quiet!" he yelled softly.

"But this is big news," Pancy said, "The great Ronan Johanson.. But how did this happen? You are not even interested in the game,"

"I played some during the holidays. And I was hooked. So I wanted to see whether I am quidditch material or not…" he said.

"That is a relief," Daphne blurted out loud.

"Why" he asked. But Blaise changed the topic quickly and they started talking about the upcoming class…

As four of them were going down the hill, towards Hagrid's cabin, they spotted Longbottom and his gang walking ahead of them. Taking a class with Gryffindors usually means a chaotic class, and Ronan didnt like it at all. When they got to Hagrid's cabin, the gentle giant was waiting for the class at the door of his hut.

"Come on now, get a move on!" The giant called as the class approached. "Got a real treat for you today! Great lesson coming up! Everyone here? Right, follow me!"

"I highly doubt that this is going to be a great lesson," Daphne commented, and kind of agreed with her.

Hagrid started walking towards the Dark Forest. Ronan thought that they were going to enter the forest, but instead, the gentle giant strolled off around the edge of the trees, and five minutes later, they found themselves outside a kind of paddock. There was nothing in there.

"Everyone gather around the fence here!" he called. "That's it… now, the first thing you will want to do is open your books…"

"How?" said the cold, drawling voice of Draco Malfoy. Hearing his cold voice, Ronan mumbled, "Oh yeah.. He is also here," Blaise and Pancy heard it, which made them snigger a little.

Ronan was also interested in knowing how to open the damn book. He had read the books that were recommended by Professor Kettleburn. And he had been reading up his recommendation only for the past two years. But Hagrid recommended this gigantic, alive, and squirmy book. Even the store from his Nymphadora brought it, and packed the books with thick ropes. And since then he had not dared to open it, ever since he had seen what Harry's book could do.

"You gotta stroke them," Hagrid said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. He took Hermione's copy and ripped off the Spellotape that bound it. The book tried to bite, but Hagrid ran a giant forefinger down its spine, and the book shivered and then fell open and lay quiet in his hand.

"Oh, how silly we've all been!" Malfoy sneered. "We should have stroked them! Why didn't we guess!"

Hagrid looked downtrodden at Malfoy's remarks. Still, he got his confidence back in a second and went inside the forest. While Malfoy started passing comments, "God, this place is going to the dogs," said Malfoy loudly. "That oaf teaching classes, my father will have a fit when I tell him…"

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry yelled.

"Careful now, Potter, there's a dementor behind you…" before Malfoy could complete his words, the whole class started exclaiming. Ronan turned around to see Hagrid being accompanied by some creatures.

Trotting toward them were a dozen of the most bizarre creatures Ronan had ever seen. They had the bodies, hind legs, and tails of horses, but the front legs, wings, and heads of what seemed to be giant eagles, with cruel, steel-colored beaks and large, brilliantly orange eyes. The talons on their front legs were half a foot long and deadly-looking. Each of the beasts had a thick leather collar around its neck, which was attached to a long chain, and the ends of all of these were held in the vast hands of Hagrid, who came jogging into the paddock behind the creatures.

"Hippogriffs!" Hagrid roared happily, waving a hand at them. "Beautiful, aren't they?"

And like some of the students, Ronan nodded his head, "They are certainly," he mumbled.

It was then the thoughts of Hagrid being a bad teacher vanished from his mind. Because if that giant would be teaching them stuff by making them meet with real live beasts, then there would be a ton of things that they would be actually learning. And this was far better than Kettleburn's class. He had heard that the old professor didnt even show live beast to the class and chose to teach by only texts. But if this was the case with Hagrid's class, then he could count him in.

 "So," said Hagrid, rubbing his hands together and beaming around, "Come on now.. Come a little bit closer to the fence…" Ronan approached the fence at once, closely followed by Longbottom and his gang who were very cautious while approaching the fence. 

"Now, the first thing you gotta know about hippogriffs is that they are very proud beings," said Hagrid. "Easily offended. Don't ever insult one, as it might be the last thing you do."

"One should always wait for the hippogriff to make the first move," Hagrid continued. "It's polite, see? You walk toward him, and you bow, and you wait. If he bows back, you are allowed to touch him. If he doesn't bow, then get away as slowly as you can. Dont make any sudden movements, because those sharp talons would tear flesh out of your body,"

"Right… who wants to go first?" Hagrid said. Seeing this Ronan raised his hand, "Oh can I try?"

"I can go as well," Harry added. But then Ronan heard Lavender and Parwati saying something Grim. He didnt know what that meant. But as he had raised his hands first, Hagrid invited him into the paddock…

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