for ilvermorny, weekly, hippogriff [newt, no 'or', character hurt]

for hogwarts: assignment 2 [notable witches and wizards, task 2, character and a creature]; insane house comp [newt]; stickers [eagle]

for the house comp [gryffindor, year 7, drabble, hippogriff prompt]

402 words, by google docs

Newt's first thought: It's beautiful.

Newt's second thought: I want to touch it.

Newt shifts impatiently in his spot while Professor Victus explains how to properly pet the Hippogriff: bow first, make sure they bow, do not anger them, and back away if they attack.

"Who wants to go first?" she asks when she's finished explaining how to greet them.

Newt shoots his hand up into the air and he can tell that Professor Victus ignores him, looking for someone else; Newt was enthusiastic in Care of Magical Creatures, but he wasn't exactly good at interacting with the animals. Still, when nobody else raises their hand, Professor Victus is forced to call on Newt.

He walks up to the front, his head held high.

Before bowing, Newt takes a moment to appreciate the Hippogriff. Its eyes are big and brown and its feathers are a perfect white, ruffled slightly.

He looks into its shiny eyes and bows slowly, not breaking eye contact. He straightens up, not breathing for a count of three before the Hippogriff bows its head.

The class behind him claps, and Professor Victus tells him, "Go ahead. Pet it."

Newt, grinning, takes a step forward and pets the Hippogriff's smooth beak.

"You're very pretty," Newt whispers to it, patting the beak softly. Suddenly, all too quickly, the Hippogriff rears and strikes Newt's arm.

"Back, back!" Professor Victus is in front of him, making the Hippogriff back down as Newt stumbles back, clutching his arm. He can feel blood dripping down from it. His professor turns back to him once she's restrained the Hippogriff again. "You ought to get up to the hospital wing," she tells him with a 'tsk'.

"No, I'm fine," Newt says, trying not to moan in pain. He will become friends with this animal, even if the yellow on his robes turn slight orange from his blood. "Let me try again," he insists and, despite Professor Victus' protests, he makes eye contact with the Hippogriff and bows again.

The Hippogriff is now looking at him wearily, but it still sinks its head low.

Newt takes a deep breath and, trying to ignore the dull throbbing in his arm, takes small steps forward and pats the creature once again, trying to be soft as possible.

This time the Hippogriff leans into his hand, closing its eyes.

It's all he can do to not let out a cheer.