"Um… can't someone else try?" Victor said, not sounding particularly interested. "I don't like heights."
It wasn't entirely a lie. The idea of getting thrown off something that size and landing wrong didn't appeal to him in the slightest.
Rubeus Hagrid didn't entertain it.
"No, go on," Hagrid said, waving him forward again, already committed to the idea. "Yeh'll be fine. Jus' do exactly what I said."
Victor exhaled lightly, more out of acceptance than agreement, and took a step forward.
The reaction was immediate.
Buckbeak lifted its head sharply, its gaze locking onto him, alert and watchful. The creature shifted its weight, feathers tightening slightly as it studied him with clear attention.
Hagrid lowered his voice slightly, though it still carried.
"Now, bow," he said. "Proper. Don' rush it."
Victor didn't argue further.
He stopped at a measured distance, then inclined his head in a controlled bow, keeping his movements steady and deliberate. He didn't break eye contact too quickly, just enough to show respect without challenging.
Then he waited.
Buckbeak watched him.
The pause stretched just long enough to make the class hold its breath again, no one moving, no one speaking.
Then the Hippogriff bent its front legs.
It returned the bow.
Hagrid let out a satisfied breath.
"That's it," he said quickly. "Go on, yeh can approach now. Nice an' slow."
Victor stepped forward, closing the distance. His hand lifted and came to rest against the side of Buckbeak's beak, firm but controlled.
The creature didn't react.
It stayed still, accepting it.
Hagrid grinned.
"See? Told yeh," he said. "Now, if yeh want, yeh can try ridin' him."
Before Victor could answer, Rubeus Hagrid acted on his own decision. He stepped in, caught Victor by the arm and lifted him with ease, setting him onto Buckbeak's back in one smooth motion.
"Don' grab 'im too tight," Hagrid said quickly, adjusting his footing. "Let 'im do the work."
Victor barely had time to respond before Hagrid gave Buckbeak a firm tap.
The Hippogriff reacted instantly.
It broke into a run, powerful strides kicking up dirt, wings spreading wide as it gained speed. The next second, it leapt.
Air rushed past as Buckbeak soared upward, the ground dropping away beneath them in a clean, sudden ascent.
From below, Hermione's voice carried up, sharp with concern.
"Victor, be careful!"
Victor adjusted his balance slightly, steadying himself without gripping too tightly.
"Now you worry?" he called back, his tone dry as the wind cut past him.
Buckbeak climbed higher, circling once above the grounds, the castle stretching out in the distance while the rest of the class shrank below into scattered figures looking up.
Victor felt the difference right away. A broom listened. This didn't.
The movement wasn't his.
The wings drove forward in a steady rhythm, strong and clean, and all he could do was match it. He adjusted his balance instead of trying to control anything, letting the motion carry through him rather than fighting it.
The wind hit harder up here, pulling at his robes, but it didn't throw him. He settled into it, steady, not gripping too tight like Hagrid said.
This wasn't flying.
This was being carried.
He looked down.
The grounds were already far below, the castle off to the side, the forest stretching dark at the edges. Everything felt smaller from up here, distant enough to not matter for a moment.
Victor watched it, quiet for a second.
"…wow," he said under his breath.
After a full circle over the grounds and the edge of the forest, Buckbeak began to descend. The wings slowed, the motion shifting from lift to glide before the creature dropped the last few feet and landed cleanly.
Victor slid down without trouble, boots hitting the ground as he stepped back.
"It's great," he said, still looking at the Hippogriff, more certain now than surprised.
Rubeus Hagrid beamed, clearly relieved everything had gone right. He stepped forward and gave Buckbeak a firm pat.
"See?" Hagrid said, turning toward the class. "Not all magical creatures are dangerous. Yeh just have ter approach 'em properly."
He ran a hand along Buckbeak again.
"Treat 'em with respect, they'll give it back," he added. "Rush in, act like yeh own the place, an' yeh'll get hurt. Simple as that."
Victor turned back toward them, brushing a bit of dirt from his sleeve, his expression settling into something more familiar.
"You lot could've at least tried," he said, looking between Ron, Harry, and Hermione. "Or at the very least dragged me back with you when you all decided to disappear."
Ron looked mildly offended.
"We didn't disappear," he said. "We made a smart decision."
Hermione crossed her arms slightly, though her attention was still on Buckbeak.
"It was a Hippogriff," she said. "That's not something you just walk up to without thinking."
"Exactly," Ron added quickly. "We were thinking."
Before Victor could reply, Draco Malfoy stepped in, taking the opportunity without hesitation.
"Honestly," Draco said, looking toward the Gryffindors, "how can you call yourselves his friends? Just leaving him there like that."
Victor didn't even look at him at first.
Then he reached out and caught Draco lightly by the ear, pulling just enough to make the point clear.
"Do you think I didn't see you?" Victor said flatly. "You were halfway across the field before anyone else moved."
Draco winced slightly, trying to pull back.
"I didn't run," he said quickly. "I just… stepped back."
Victor's grip didn't tighten, but it didn't let go either.
"You stepped back and stayed there," he said. "And if I remember correctly, you didn't look like you were planning to come forward."
Draco straightened, trying to recover what was left of his composure.
"I'm your brother," he said, as if that explained everything. "I assumed you knew what you were doing. Maybe you wanted to ride it."
Victor gave him a look.
"Right," he said. "That must be it."
He let go of Draco's ear, brushing it off like the conversation was already finished.
Behind them, Ron was trying not to laugh.
Hermione didn't comment, but the slight look on her face said she had noticed exactly what had happened.
Draco adjusted himself, clearly not pleased, though he didn't push it further.
*****
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