🖇·˚ ༘ ┊͙[ chapter nineteen ] ! ˊˎ

╰─▸ mornings, hippogriffs, and werewolves

     THERE IS SOMETHING IMMENSELY APPEALING ABOUT MORNINGS. No matter the time I go to bed, my body wills me awake with the sun, desperate to soak in the peace of the early hours.

     My morning routines vary, but one thing stays the same ─ no one is ever up at the same time I am. It's become something I can rely on, something constant. That, regardless of how hectic and crowded the day becomes as lessons begin and students flood the common room after school, I will always have the mornings. When a cup of coffee tastes especially creamy, when a day can start out grey and still be beautiful when the loudest sound in the entire castle is the birds' cadence from where they are perched on the tallest trees.

     It must have been six o'clock when I first woke this morning; Ava and Spencer sound asleep on the beds surrounding me. Today, I opted for a morning stroll around the castle grounds.

     There isn't much to go on when looking out of the windows in the dungeons to try and determine the time or the weather of the day ahead. The water from the lake is as murky as ever, but the vast pool still sleeps, the waves at the surface slow and steady. I quietly slipped from my sheets, changed into something that would combat the crisp early Spring air, and escaped through the common room.

     When I made it to the first courtyard, and out through the back onto the grassland towards the greenhouses, I got the first glimpses of the first signs of life.

     An orange sun was beginning to emerge from the greying clouds. It peaked out over the tops of the branches of the forest. Touches of blue scattered the canvas overhead, promises of sun and warmth after the colder months of the year. The plants were starting to recover from the hardships of winter, as Spring was coming to life, slowly but surely. The light hums of nature around me brought peace to my mind, a natural lullaby.

     It's times like these that keep me sane. When the stresses of life cease to exist, and for a moment ─ even just one short moment ─ everything is simple. No complications, just comforting and still, my chance to try and catch up before the day gets ahead of me and I fight the overwhelming emotions that come with it.

     Filling my lungs with the air as fresh as it comes, I perched down on the ridge of the grassy hill and pulled my knees into my chest. I stared up at the crimson sky and the horizon just below it, taking in the picturesque scene, trying my best to keep the serenity of the moment locked in my head, scared it would disappear in a second and I'll have to wait an eternity for this feeling to return.

     At the bottom of the humped grassland, Hagrid's hut sat looking as friendly as ever. Smoke rose from the cobblestone chimney, the pumpkins flourishing in the shiny light. That's when I first saw it, huddled in the same patch of giant vegetables. It was a graceful-looking bird, fitting perfectly into this untouched, magical world I had sealed in my head.

     I squinted my eyes to get a closer look. Two angelic wings were placed carefully at its sides, its body coated in a layer of creamy-coloured feathers. Without feeling any kind of anxiety ─ something I pegged down to the glory of mornings ─ I decided to approach the creature, proceeding with caution as I got closer and closer. As I did, the beast began backing away, only slightly, but indicating the nerves on its end too.

     I had always been fascinated with Magical creatures and they gave me a sense of pride and gratitude to be lucky enough to be a part of this unbelievable world. Creatures, such as the one in front of me, were a staple reminder that beauty comes from everywhere and I should never take for granted the chances I have to exist in a reality such as this one. This castle alone is a gift.

     Realisation dawned on me as I reached the edge of the pumpkin patch where it was nestled. It was a Hippogriff, a proud creature, elegant and powerful. They were very territorial creatures and felt threatened easily. Knowing that all the bird needed was a sign that it could trust me, I reached my arm out towards it, my feet shuffling forward only a few inches at a time, so that I could keep my distance.

     "It's okay," I smiled, softening the bends in my fingers, talking to the animal despite knowing it wouldn't understand me nor reply. "I'm not going to hurt you."

     At my words, the creature tilted his head, as if it did in fact understand me, its big eyes growing, the first rays of sunlight twinkling in its irises. In response, I bowed, as one should when first encountering a Hippogriff.

     After a moment of hesitation, it bowed too. Lightly sighing in relief, I let my feet carry me further until I was close enough to place a hand on its neck, stroking softly. Its feathers tickled my palm, and it didn't take long for the bird to feel comfortable enough to tuck its head under my shoulder, so much so, that I toppled to the floor, the animal eventually settling, and resting his head on my lap.

     I felt its breathing rise and fall against my arm, where I had draped it over its body. I watched as its eyes fluttered shut and I clung tight to the peace of it all, my own eyes feeling heavy with satisfaction as I watched the sun rise higher, the wind brushing my neck, the clouds parting as the day approached.

     "Beau'iful, in't he?"

     I don't know how long I was sat silently in Hagrid's back garden, a Hippogriff under my arm. It wasn't until the man himself came out of his hut, a bucket in hand, standing in his doorway when I turned to look at him that I realised I wasn't the only person in the vicinity.

     Without hesitation, I craned my neck to look up at the newly named professor, my eyes squinting against the sun, my lips tipped up at the sides. "Absolutely."

     "Ya know," Hagrid descended the steps up to his hut, flinging a cloth over his broad shoulder, "Buckbeak 'ere don't really like 'umans that much. He mus' be quite fond of ya, y/n."

     Hagrid left me with that thought before walking up towards the castle. His words floated around in my head; Buckbeak, as I learned the bird was so named, still lying undisturbed in my lap. I smiled to myself, for no one to see.

     Or so I thought.

     "That makes two of us."

     The words snapped me roughly out of my reverie until I realised who it was that had disturbed me. Cedric's words took a second to settle in my mind, but when they did, I was rattled with a warmth spreading in my chest.

     "You're up early," I said, the boy now approaching me, as if from behind Hagrid's hut. I wondered if he had spotted me, also out on a morning walk, and didn't even hesitate to follow me out here. He was obviously close enough to hear the Groundskeeper's statement about the Hippogriff being unusually fond of me.

     "I could say the same," he said, his eyes narrowing into mine as he got closer, "but I think this is a norm for you, isn't it?"

     "How could you tell?" I asked. I hardly even think Ava and Spencer are that aware of my early morning tendencies. They're always still asleep by the time I head back to the dorm to get changed into my uniform.

     "I remember you mentioning it in one of your letters," Cedric said, coming to sit cross-legged beside me, the bird now asleep on my lap. "How you're always the first one up in your household."

     "Technically, I'm the—"

     "Second. But your dad has left for work by the time you get up. And you like how quiet and still your house is when it's only you pottering about before your brother makes a racket at around eleven."

     I'm temporarily stumped by the attention Cedric has paid to my letters over the last couple of months. I think my mouth even fell slightly agape, astounded by how much he remembered. You have to care enough to remember it that effortlessly.

     When I didn't respond ─ because I don't know how ─ Cedric pointed at the Hippogriff at my feet. "I see you've made a friend."

     "See?" I grinned. "I'm not as mean as everyone says."

     Cedric's eyes bored into mine and I felt trapped under his intense gaze, fondness glossing over his eyes. The growing sunlight dances in his pupils. "I never thought you were."

' ੈ˚ ❃

     THE MUFFLED CHATTER WAS IMMEDIATELY EXTINGUISHED when Professor Snape stormed into the DADA classroom, wand in hand as he slammed the blinds shut, his long black cloak, flowing behind him as he marched down the aisle. When he reached the front, he dragged the projector screen down from the ceiling and glared at the group of bewildered students.

     "Turn to page 394," he drawled.

     It took everyone a second to gather their bearings. Still spooked by the unexpected arrival of the Potions professor, everyone began flicking to the instructed page, the room filling with the ruffling of paper.

     I did the same, slowly, watching the ink fly by before me, leaning to the side to whisper to Cedric as I did. "This is Defence Against the Dark Arts, right?" I asked. "I haven't suddenly forgotten the layout of the castle, have I?" I half-joked.

     "No, we're definitely supposed to be in Defence," Cedric replied, his voice low, his face so close to mine. His brows too were furrowed.

     At the start of the year, I had decided to take a seat near the back of this classroom, out of everyone's way, determined to keep my head down and go undisturbed all year because I needed to get a good grade. And that only happens if I study alone. The seat next to me ended up being taken by a Hufflepuff, whose name I have since forgotten, but that didn't matter anyway.

     It soon became clear to me that Professor Lupin wasn't as strict as some teachers at Hogwarts, and I knew that he didn't quite care for seating arrangements. So, when Cedric proposed that I switch seats with Malcolm, only two weeks ago, I made sure Preece was okay with it, and I agreed.

     Since then, I have come to learn that I don't always work best alone.

     Earlier, when Cedric and I's morning strolls overlapped, and we sat comfortably talking about anything and everything, all I could think about the entire time was how I usually preferred to spend my mornings alone. No one to interrupt my tranquillity, completely untouched until my solidarity must clash with the rest of the school come breakfast time.

     But, as soon as Cedric came over to me, I was grateful for the company. I no longer wanted to sit alone with nobody but a bird that couldn't talk as a companion. I no longer wanted to wait until lesson time to socialise with my peers. Because I wanted to talk to Cedric. I wanted to have conversations about things we had already talked about via letters. I wanted to discuss meaningless things just to be around him, to keep him smiling that awfully cute smile. It even felt right to get breakfast together, way earlier than I would usually retreat to the Great Hall because I had always liked to prolong my time alone in the mornings for as long as possible.

     And I didn't hate that this was happening to me.

     "Where's Professor Lupin, sir?" Adrian Pucey's question pulled me out of the trance I hadn't even realised I was in. And two guesses whose dimples I was admiring, the boy beside me scrunching his face up in concentration, as he located page 394.

     "That is none of anyone's concern," Snape said just as an illustration of a werewolf appeared on the projector screen.

     "Sorry, sir, I'm lost," I said, slowly raising my hand. "I didn't think we were supposed to start nocturnal beasts this early on in the year?"

     Professor Snape's eyes snapped over to mine. "That will be all with the questions, thank you."

     My hand slowly drooped down back onto my lap.

     "Now, why don't you tell me the difference between an Animagus and a werewolf, miss y/l/n?"

     I felt every pair of eyes fall onto mine. But that made it that much easier to notice how Cedric didn't look at me, making him the only person in the room not glued to me, not adding to the pressure I could feel pushing down on me.

     It almost felt like he knew I'd have no trouble answering it, that I didn't need any encouragement from him because I could just do it, no problem. And so that gave me the confidence to do just that.

     "An Animagus is a wizard who elects to turn into an animal. A werewolf has no choice. With each full moon, he transforms into his beast-like form and no longer remembers who he is. It then will only respond to the call of its own kind."

     Snape paused; his cold eyes locked onto mine. I held my breath. Finally, he nodded once, punctuated and said, "Correct. Five points for Slytherin."

     The professor then continued to drone on about the origins of the word werewolf, but I found myself unable to listen. Because Cedric had nudged me playfully, his eyes full of pride and congratulations. And in that moment, I vouched to always answer Professor Snape's questions if I knew it would earn me that look from Cedric Diggory.