After another classic breakfast in the Great Hall, we went with the whole year to the Ravenclaw tower; precisely there, according to Justin, was a large auditorium for lectures and practice on Charms and Spells.
The auditorium was indeed large, and tables and benches stood here in a sort of amphitheater to the left and right of the entrance. Opposite the entrance to the auditorium was a huge stained-glass window and a pile of books around the lecturer's desk. No sooner had we properly seated ourselves around than a small old man in a tailcoat and green robe appeared from an adjacent door. Another half-breed. Amusing.
Professor Filius Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw, turned out to be a quite good storyteller, and most importantly—passionate about his own business, subject, and magic. Listening to him was a pleasure, and practice came easily not only to me but also to those who succumbed to this teacher's enthusiasm.
After Charms, according to the schedule, was one of the elective subjects, and specifically in my case—Care of Magical Creatures. To be honest, I was not particularly interested in who else besides me chose this subject, but it seems there were very many such people, if not almost everyone.
In a ragged noisy crowd, our year headed first to the castle hall, and then generally outside. The weather was a little cloudy, but judging by the clouds, the sun will peek out any minute. And so it happened; as soon as we reached Hagrid's hut, the first rays of the midday sun began to warm us with their heat.
"What a stupid book!" many were indignant, but loudest of all, which is not surprising, Malfoy.
Hagrid was already waiting for us at the doors of his hut, and next to him sat an almost black overgrown Great Dane. The dog matches the owner, matches.
"Come on faster!" Hagrid shouted with his booming bass. "I prepared such a lesson for you. Everyone follow me, forward!"
It seems the bearded man came up with something extraordinary. Considering rumors, one should expect anything.
Hagrid led us along the edge of the forest, and this caused excitement in the eyes of many. I, on the contrary, liked the forest. For reasons quite explainable to me. As soon as I figure out reliable protection from Dementors, I will definitely walk there; the elf is just asking for it.
Hagrid led us to a spacious and empty paddock.
"I ask everyone to stand along the fence!" he ordered. "So that everyone, uh... can see well. And now first of all open the books..."
"What?" Malfoy's voice rang out nearby, attracting the attention of those present. "What do you mean open?"
And why did he with his whole House sneak up so close to us? To be further from Gryffindors? Those are exactly on the completely other side. Oh, Daphne.
"Hi, Greengrass."
"Granger," the brunette nodded, looking at the book with bewilderment.
"Stroke the spine," I suggested quietly so that only she heard.
Daphne looked at me quite suspiciously, but I only smiled in return.
"How will we open them?" Malfoy continued to be indignant.
At this moment Daphne opened the book. I opened the book. My comrades from Hufflepuff also opened; I told them how to do it.
"Pfft, Mr. Malfoy," I smirked, looking at the dissatisfied blond. "Picked up a book for the first time?"
With an imperceptible gesture from under the opened book, I directed the wand toward the same, but closed one, in Malfoy's hands, whispering: "Alohomora." The clasp on his book opened, and this magical miracle immediately opened in the form of a maw.
"A-a-ah!" the blond wailed when the book tried to chew his hand.
To Malfoy's credit, he immediately slammed it shut and fastened the clasp. Naturally, such an incident caused laughter from those around, and while everyone was distracted, hid the wand in the holster just as imperceptibly as I took it out. Eh, wish I could fully restore elven motor skills sooner, if that is possible at all. Skills return quickly, that's true, but I want everything already, right here and now, and better—yesterday.
"Mm-yeah, Mr. Malfoy," I smiled, looking at the dissatisfied blond. "The book almost ate the face of the House."
"Yes, children..." to Hagrid's surprise, the majority of students managed one way or another, and the reason for that is none other than word of mouth, for I told about the method. "Correct, need to stroke the spine."
"Good joke," Malfoy, under the chuckles of others, literally oozed indignation. "Recommend a textbook ready to chop off a hand!"
The arrogance of this rich kid frankly amused me, and I did not consider it necessary to be silent in such a situation.
"And you, Mr. Malfoy, are you a wizard, or a Muggle with a wand, that you are unable to cope with a magic book?"
"Think you're the smartest?" Malfoy moved forward.
"I know."
"Well, that's it, enough! Everyone calm down," Hagrid raised his voice slightly, but with his dimensions and timbre, this was more than enough. "Now you can use textbooks. But the main thing, of course, is magical creatures. I'll go bring them, wait..."
Hagrid quickly disappeared behind the trees.
"Wonderful! The school is going Mordred knows where!" Malfoy was indignant, under approving nods of some comrades from his House. "This oaf will teach us! I'll tell father; he'll have a stroke!"
Potter, Weasley, and Hermione literally broke through the crowd in our direction. Mm-yeah...
"Don't forget to finish him off with the fact that you couldn't open the book," inserting such a thing after his phrase was decidedly impossible not to do, causing a series of chuckles from those around, and another portion of indignation and contempt from Malfoy himself.
"Shut up, Malfoy," growled Potter who reached us with the support of his company.
"Hello, talking hedgehog-friend-of-my-sister," I raised my right hand like a Roman. "I come in peace."
Another round of chuckles extinguished the conflict.
"A-a-ah... Hedgehog?" Potter didn't understand immediately, but it reached him quickly, and the guy tried to smooth down unruly hair sticking out in different directions. "This... Cannot be fixed."
"Ah, you and Mr. Malfoy are obviously of one blood."
"Wha-at?" the blond showed signs of life, but I didn't listen to him, turning to Daphne. "Miss Greengrass, do you know if there are spells to bring the head in order?"
"If the facade—yes. But with contents problems may arise."
"I suppose problems may arise even without it..."
Hermione, who approached clearly as part of Potter's support group, tried to somehow get close to me and speak, but ragged stomping nearby attracted the attention of students, and when real hippogriffs ran out of the forest into the paddock, the crowd literally exploded with shock, fear, and admiration.
Large creatures resembling griffins known to me, but previously not encountered by any of the shards; read about them in the local bestiary. In size, they are comparable to thoroughbred horses, and outwardly are a cross between these very horses and an eagle; body, hind legs, and tail from a horse, while front legs, neck, head, and wings are eagle's. Color is uniform, not as chaotic as griffins'. But claws on front legs are impressive; real blades! And the beak. A very curious creature, but the elven part of me did not show special interest; after all, that elf was more of a wizard and healer than a breeder or ranger who love communicating with animals so much.