Butterbeer Corks

As Hagrid took away the Hippogriffs, Draco Malfoy rounded on Chris.

"Just wait till my father hears about this. He'll don't like a stupid animal attacking me." He spat.

Almost every Gryffindor glared at him, specially Harry, Ron and Hermione. 

Chris gave him a smile and spoke calmly, "Listen, Malfoy, you know very well that it was your fault that the Hippogriff attacked you. But, you can see, no harm is done. So..." suddenly her expression changed, "If anything happens to Hagrid's job or the Hippogriffs, then without thinking I'll beat you until you are incapable of writing letters to your father anymore. Got it?" 

Draco Malfoy shivered under Chris's cold stare. Crabbe and Goyle, two friends of Draco, stepped forward hearing this. They both were big enough to shadow Chris completely. 

Chris smiled again, "Don't even try boys. You don't know me." 

A Slytherin girl who was mostly seen with Draco, Pansy Parkinson shouted, "How dare you to treat him like that? Don't you know who is he?" 

"Oh. Trust me I know." Chris smirked. "See Malfoy, last year when I insulted you, your team captain literally hit me with a curse, and now you insulted a Hippogriff, so he became violent as well. In short, no matter who you are, you'll get angry if someone insults you. So if you want respect then try to give respect first... because.. every time your father will be not around for you, and your family name will not work every time as well. So... Be smart." 

Chris clapped on Draco's shoulder and left. She heard the Gryffindors cheering after her. When she gets back to the countryard, she saw the class had ended. Only Professor Lupin was standing there alone. Chris realized while saving Draco, she had lost the bird and now she had no idea where was it? She slowly approached Lupin. 

"... er... Professor Lupin." 

"Yes?" Lupin turned around to face her. "Umm... Actually, I lost the bird... sorry." 

"It's alright, You did well in class. Though I expected you to catch it, using the spell, no problem. It's just the first day." He said with a smile. 

"I did actually." 

"What?" Lupin asked confused. 

"I cast the spell on it while it was flying... I even caught it then—" 

"Then—?" 

" — Something happened at Hagrid's — I mean Professor Hagrid's class." 

"What happened?" Professor Lupin asked curiously. So Chris told him everything except the part where she threatened Draco. 

"Well. You did a good thing. You should be happy, Christina." 

"I know Professor, but—" Chris looked around if anyone else was there, but there was no one. "I don't know how I did it — I mean how I controlled that hippogriff. Harry told me, how he had to bow first then had to wait for the Hippogriff's response. I mean they're very proud creatures. Then how? How just by looking at me, it obeyed me?" 

Chris was confused. 

"Maybe it understood that you respected it. It felt connected to you. It happens, Christina. Some creatures feel connected to us." 

"Then what about the Dementor on the train? They don't obey orders from a random person. Something is wrong with me Professor. I know." She looked down. 

"There is nothing wrong with you Christina." Professor Lupin said patting her shoulder. "But if you still feel wrong then I'll see what can I find about these things." 

Chris looked up surprised and excited.

"You will Professor?" 

"Yes. I can't watch my students in distress, can I?" He smiled. "Now go. No need to worry."

Chris felt completely assured, as she felt around Dumbledore. She smiled and left. At the Gryffindor tower, Ginny and Colin were waiting for her in the common room. As soon as she entered, they both ran towards her. 

"Are you ok Chris?" Ginny asked urgently. 

"Yes! Are you alright? We heard from Dean and Neville about the Hippogriff incident." Colin said next. Dean Thomas and Neville Longbottom were both in Harry's year. Obviously, they were in Hagrid's class but Chris didn't think that the news will spread this fast. 

"Everything is alright guys. I'm fine." Chris said calmly. 

"Did you really saved Malfoy?" Ginny asked surprised. 

"Yes." 

"Did you threatened him too?" Colin asked excitedly. 

"Yes." 

"You shouldn't have. Who knows what will he do next." Ginny said worriedly. 

"I don't care, Ginny. I do what I feel right. I can't work according to others." She said and flopped down on an armchair. 

Ginny and Colin sat on her either sides. 

"I wish, I was there. I could have taken a lot of pictures." Colin said sadly. 

"So? What happened in the class after I left?" Chris asked. 

"Nothing much. We practiced a little. Then you didn't come back for a long time, so Professor Lupin was worried," Colin answered. 

"So was a Slytherin boy," Ginny said. 

"A Slytherin boy?" Chris asked surprised. 

"Yeah. Don't know why, but he asked Professor Lupin if he can go and check?" Ginny answered. 

"But Professor Lupin asked us not to worry.  He'll wait and then he dismissed the class." Colin finished. 

"Wait — It can't be Jason?" Chris said loudly. "Jason?" Ginny and Colin said together. 

"Did I say that aloud?" Chris asked. 

"Yes. Now tell me who's this Jason?" Ginny said giggling. 

"Oh! Nothing much to say. He is a Slytherin boy, and once I stole a recipe from his potion notebook last year." Chris answered coolly. "What?" 

"Why?" 

"Not so important. Relax. Let's go for dinner. I'm starving." Chris said and got up. 

At Great Hall, they entered and Hagrid approached them. 

"Chris!" He called and Chris stopped. 

"Yes. Hagrid — er — Professor?" 

"O! Don'. I'll nev'r forgo'. You sav'd me today. I don' know what would've happen'd if somet'hing had happen'd to Malfoy. Thank you."

"It's alright Hagrid. I did that for myself." Chris smiled. "I'm planning to take Care of Magical Creatures next year. And don't want to learn it from anyone else. You're a great animal lover Hagrid. You'll be natural in this job. Don't let this kind of small things drag you down." 

Hagrid smiled confidently and nodded. 

They moved on to the Gryffindor table. 

"How do you know the perfect thing to say every time?" Ginny asked sitting beside her. 

"I don't know. It's just... I feel life is very short, so I want to make a difference in people's lives as much as I can." Chris answered while filling her plate with roasted chickens. 

"That's so thoughtful of you Chris. I believe that too." Luna said sitting opposite to them, besides Colin. "Everyone is here for a reason. Your reason is so honourable. I'll add it with my search of Crumpled Horn Snorkack." 

"Yeah. I was about to ask, any luck finding them?" Chris asked. 

"No. Still not. But we discovered many new things. Oh, wait. I made something for you two." Luna searched her bag and took out two necklaces made of butterbeer corks. "I made these for you both." 

Chris had noticed them before, Luna usually wore a butterbeer necklace and cherish handmade earrings. She always liked to wear unique things. Specially self-made things. Chris and Ginny both took the necklace. Chris put it on with a smile and Ginny said she'll wear it later.