“Come in Ronan!” Hagrid invited him cheerfully. “Now, there is one thing you need to understand. You need to maintain eye contact.. And try not to blink.”

“Now let's see how you fare with Buckbeak over here,” Hagrid said. He untied one of the chains, pulled the gray hippogriff away from its fellows, and slipped off its leather collar. The class on the other side of the paddock seemed to be holding its breath, which confused him. He had read what kind of creature Hippogriffs were. Sure they were dangerous, but not if you know how to approach them.

Hagrid once again added, “Do not blink too much… Hippogriffs don’t trust you if you blink too much.”

As instructed, he didnt shut his eyes, his eyes began to water but he didnt close them. Buckbeak turned his great, sharp head and was staring at him with one fierce orange eye.

“That's it,” said Hagrid. “Thats it, Ronan… now, bow …”

While maintaining eye contact, he courteously bowed. The hippogriff didnt move from its place. “Ah,” said Hagrid, sounding worried. “Right… back away, now.. Slowly.” But then, to his surprise, the hippogriff suddenly bent its scaly front knees and sank into what was an unmistakable bow.

“Well done, Ronan!” said Hagrid, ecstatic. “Right… you can touch him! Pat his beak, go on!” Ronan moved slowly toward the hippogriff and reached out toward it. He patted the beak several times and the hippogriff closed its eyes lazily, as though enjoying it. The class also broke into applause.

“Right then,” Hagrid said. “I reckon he might let you ride him as well!”

“What?” he asked but Hagrid didnt hear him. The giant simply picked him by his waist and hoisted him and on Buckbeak’s back.

“One has to stay behind the wing joint to ride it,” said Hagrid, “And please keep in mind, do not pull any of his feathers out, he won’t like that. …”

“Hagrid.. I dont think I am…” Before he could complete the sentence, Hagrid slapped the Hippogriff’s hindquarters, and off they went.

The twelve-foot wings started flapping on either side of him. In a nick of time, he grabbed the creature around the neck before he was soaring upward. It was nothing like a broomstick, and Ronan knew which one he preferred. Although riding a beast like this is magical, it was not very comfortable.

The hippogriff’s wings beat uncomfortably on either side of him, catching him under his legs and making him feel he was about to be thrown off; the glossy feathers slipped under his fingers and he didn’t dare get a stronger grip. He had not ridden his Nimbus Two Thousand One yet, but he believed that it would provide a more smother riding experience than this thing. Because right now, he was just rocking backward and forward as the hindquarters of the hippogriff rose and fell with its wings.

Buckbeak flew him once around the paddock and then headed back to the ground. And this was the bit that Ronan had been dreading. To be safe, he leaned back as the smooth neck lowered, feeling he was going to slip off over the beak, then felt a heavy thud as the four ill-assorted feet hit the ground. He just managed to hold on and push himself straight again.

“Good work, Ronan!” roared Hagrid, “Okay, who else wants a go?”

Seeing his success, the rest of the class climbed cautiously into the paddock. Hagrid untied the hippogriffs one by one, and soon people were bowing nervously, all over the paddock. Longbottom and his gang took a hippogriff called Chestnut and started practicing with it. Harry and Hermione were able to get permission from Chestnut with ease. While Neville was very nervous to bow in front of Hippogriff. He on the other hand stood by the side and saw everything unfold.

To his surprise, Malfoy and his goons went for Buckbeak. As instructed by Hagrid, they bowed in front of it and Buckbeak bowed back as well. As Malfoy started petting the thing, Ronan noticed the disdainful look that Draco had. Seeing this, he realized that there might be some trouble brewing. There is no concrete proof about whether hippogriffs could understand the human tongue, but they could surely grasp when humans are being disrespectful towards them.

So he went to the three of them to shove some sense into them.

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“This is very easy,” Malfoy said it out loud, enough for Ronan to hear him. “I knew it must have been if Johanson could do it. … I bet you’re not dangerous at all, are you?” he said to the hippogriff. “Are you, you great ugly brute?”

Sensing danger, Ronan immediately dragged Malfoy away from the beast with all of his telekinetic strength. In a nick of time, he was able to pull Draco away, otherwise, the steely long, and sharp talons of the creature would have sliced the skin of Malfoy like butter. The next moment, Hagrid was wrestling Buckbeak back into his collar as he strained to get at Malfoy who lying in the paddock, befuddled about what happened there.

“Ronan!” Daphne yelled. She came rushing to him, and wiping his face. It was then did he realized that his nose was bleeding. “Are you alright?” she asked.

“Yeah yeah..” He simply said, “I am fine. This happens sometimes.”

After locking Buckbeak up, Hagrid also came rushing towards them, “How did your nose bleed? What happened?”

While wiping his nose, he waved his hand, “It is alright… It happens when I use to much of my powers… It is alright.. Professor.” Hagrid's face became red, he started blushing.

After grasping the situation, Hagrid asked once again “But what happened?” He asked, “Why did Buckbeak attack Malfoy?” And it was then everyone in the area started staring at Draco, who was fuming for some reason. It was then the bell sounded in the distance and the period came to an end.

Hagrid then ended the class, thanked him profusely for helping out and the whole class started heading towards the castle. Malfoy on the other hand was fuming, didnt say anything to anyone, and went straight to the castle…

***

Ronan saved Draco from the Hippogriff out of pure reflex. But what he did not expect was the kind of response that he would get from it. By the end of the day, the whole school had learned what had transpired. The Slytherins who knew Malfoy and his fight when heard about it, they started commending him for his efforts. They started respecting him more. While Malfoy on the other hand could only rue in silence.

But the best thing that happened to him during that time, happened on Wednesday. That day, he was sitting with his friends by the fire when he noticed that the Slytherin Captain was sitting all alone, writing something. He figured that this might be the best chance to talk to him about the quidditch…

“… And Marcello has left the previous year, along with Betty. I will need to find a good beater and a chaser this year.” Flint said. Ronan had made the mistake of asking how his captainship was going. “This captain thing sounds good and all, but it is really stressful.”

“Well, now that we are talking about it… I wanted to mention, that I am going be trying out for Chaser’s position this year,” Ronan said.

“Really? Are you any good?” Marco asked,

“Dont know. But I think I might be the best choice for chaser. I am fast, I have a Nimbus Two Thousand One just like the rest of you. I just need some practice.”

“Well, we will see…” Marco hesitated, “Listen, Ronan, you are a good friend of mine.. But I won't be able to show you any…”

“Nepotism?” he asked, “Dont worry about it. I won't need any. Also, I would rather be on the team because of my skills, then from some sort of shortcut,”

“Phew,” Marco sighed, “That is good. I like that you are not like Malfoy.. I saw what kind of criticism Marcello had to face when he decided to make Draco the chaser, without a proper tryout. I would rather not have to deal with that kind of thing,”

“Dont worry about it, you won't face any criticism because of me,”

“I hope so.. It is better to achieve something on your merit, rather than doing something.. Bad.” Ronan nodded at the nonsensical quote. It didnt make sense, but he understood the thoughts behind the quote.

With that Ronan was about to head towards his friends, when he stopped midway. He thought about the quote that Flint spoke. And somehow his quote started making a lot of sense to him.

Till now, Ronan had been planning to find a way to get the trace out of his way, illegally. But, there could be some legal way to get rid of it, but he never bothered to check the legal way. And when he changed his attitude about the matter, he started seeing a glimpse of hope. The trace was cast on underage wizards and witches because they dont have the necessary control of their powers. It is believed that after a wizard or witch had completed their seven years of study, they became proficient in magic that trace could be lifted.

But, if he were to suppose to prove that he has mastered his magic, then there might be a possibility to get rid of a trace once and for all, legally. With that thought, he straight away started walking toward Professor Snape’s office. He figured that he should be the best person to talk to, about the matter.

As usual, the dungeon with Snape’s office was empty, devoid of any noise. He stood by his office and knocked on the door. “Come in,” he heard from inside.

Ronan entered to see Snape going through some papers, “Out with it Johanson, what do you want?”

“Sir, I wanted to know whether there was any possibility that I can take my OWLs this year,” Snape stopped working and looked up.

“You want to take your OWLs? This year?” he asked again.

“Yes sir,”

“I will have to see for myself first, whether you are really eligible to take your OWLs. But yes, if you could impress me and your other teachers, there is a strong possibility that you can take your OWLs..” Snape said while leaning back, “But keep in mind Johanson.. Waste my time, and you will rue the day you sat foot in my office.”

Ronan smiled Snape a smile, “Have I ever let you down, professor?”

“So.. Let's start then,” Snape said with a cruel smile on his face…