Draco’s POV:

Everyone gathered around Hagrid as the class started. Remington was late and looked flustered and out of it. Me, Remington, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were standing together.

“C'mon now, get a move on! Got a real treat for yeh. Great lesson comin' up. Follow me.” Hagrid leads us toward a small paddock just this side of the Forbidden Forest. In the paddock, a freestanding iron rack hangs with dead ferrets, buzzing with flies. Nearby is a pumpkin patch. “Gather 'round. Find yerself a spot. That's it. Now, firs' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books–”

“And exactly how do we do that?” I ask as I hold my book by it’s belt with one hand and put my arm around Harry.

Hagrid looks. Belts, rope, Spellotape: any means available have been employed to bridle The Monster Book of Monsters, which quiver violently.

“Crikey. Didn' yeh know? All yeh've got ter do is stroke 'em. Look –” Hagrid takes Hermione's copy, snaps the Spellotape binding it. As it begins to bite, Hagrid calmly runs a forefinger down the book's spine and it shivers. Falls quietly open. Hagrid glances at the class, looking suddenly unsure.  “Righ' then. So... so... yeh've got yer books, an' now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Right. So... I'll... I'll go an' get 'em.”

Hagrid turns, disappears into the trees. I shake my head, speaking loudly to Crabbe and Goyle. “God, this place is going to the dogs. Wait until my father hears Dumbledore's got this oaf teaching classes.”

“Draco…” Harry mumbled as I laughed. I immediately fell silent but Goyle spoke up.

“Your father would be tearing this class apart looking for a reason to get him out of here!”

“Right!? I was just thinking of something to tell him!” I laughed, this time my arm fell from Harry and I went to join Goyle and Crabbe.

“Listen, you stupid prat –”

Eyes widening in fear, I stepped back, pointing. I knew this was going to be a shitty thing to do, he’s my boyfriend for crying out loud but I couldn’t even come to terms that I needed to play nice.

“Potter, there's a Dementor behind you.”

Harry jumped, wheels in fear, finding nothing. Instantly, we make an eerie OOH sound, then break up laughing. Harry reddens, embarrassed, then a strange beast emerges from the trees.
Harry walked up to me and snakes my arm.

“That was annoying. You’re an ass.”

“Sorry.” I mumble and look at the beast before glancing down at harry and kissing him softly and quickly. He didn’t complain any further as we saw the torso, hind legs, and tail of a horse, but the front legs, wings and head of a giant eagle.

We all step back in fear, my arms around Harry as if I was going to protect him. Then Hagrid appears, shooing the beast on. “Gee up, there! Beau'iful, isn' he?”

There seems no consensus on this, but the students stare in wary wonder nonetheless. As Hagrid coaxes the beast to the center of the paddock, Ron stares uneasily.

“Hagrid. Exactly what is that?”

“A Hippogriff, o' course. Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know is they're proud. Easily offended, Hippogriffs are. Don't never insult one, 'cause it migh' be the las' thing yeh do. Right then -- who wants ter come an' say hello?”

The entire class stepped back, leaving Harry in front. I ment to grab him but I didn’t really think about it.

“Good man, Harry!”

Harry looks around, then reluctantly approaches. I tried to cox him into coming to me but of course he follows what Hargid says.

“Tha's it. Easy now... stop! This here's Buckbeak, Harry. Yeh want ter let 'im make the firs' move. It's polite, see? Jus' take step forward, give 'im a bow, and if Buckbeak bows back, yeh're allowed ter touch him. Ready?”

Unsure, Harry nods anyway. Steps forward. And bows. Buckbeak's head cocks, eagle eyes studying Harry cannily. Harry waits. And waits.

“Back off, Harry! Back off! Harry starts to step back, when Buckbeak ducks his beak. Hagrid sighs, relieved.

“Well done, Harry! Go on. Give 'im a pat.”

Tentatively, Harry reaches out, lays his hand on Buckbeak's fierce beak. The class claps and I smile. Harry smiles and turns to me. I gave him a thumbs up and then turned to Remington. “That’s my boyfriend, can you believe it? Me, having a boyfriend and that boyfriend being Harry Potter? Aren’t I lucky.” I spoke in awe.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Super cool. Question, have you had sex before? Does it hurt?”

“What?” I stopped clapping and turned to Remington completely. “Did you-”

“No! I mean, yes? Kinda. I was just asking…he used his hands and it was just…I’m scared if we go further.”

“Wait, he knows?” As far as I’m aware, I’m the only person that Remington has told willingly that he was trans. Obviously, the school had to know and his brothers know but no one else really knows.

“Well…yeah. He’s my boyfriend overall.”

“Look at that! I reckon he migh' let yeh ride 'im!” Hagrid spoke happily. That caught my attention so I looked away from Remington.

“We’ll talk about this later.”

Harry’s smile dropped “Excuse me?”

“We'll jus' set yeh behind the wing joint. Mind yeh don' pull any feathers out. He won' like that.”

Hagrid lifts Harry high, drops him onto Buckbeak's back, and before Harry's settled, slaps Buckbeak's hindquarters. My smile dropped instantly.

“Off yeh go!”

As Buckbeak gallops forward, Harry slides scarily back, giant wings unfold, huge and powerful, and they soar into the air. Rising higher. And higher. And higher. They were gone for a little while but then Hagrid whistled, and Buckbeak wheels, beating his way back to the paddock, galloping to a halt. As Harry slides off, the class cheers-- all except for me, who narrows his eyes maliciously.

“Good work, Harry!” Under his breath, you could hear Hagrid ask, “How'm I doin' me firs' day?”

“Brilliant... Professor.”

They both grin, when I push past them roughly, strides toward Harry. 

“Potter! What is wrong with you! You could have gotten killed! It doesn’t look dangerous but that ugly brute–”

“Malfoy! No!
In a flash, Buckbeak's steely talons slash down. I freeze and look down at the blood blossoming on my robes. Instantly, Harry dashes forward. Buckbeak whips around, raises its talons and, seeing Harry, lowers them. Ducks its beak. Harry, realizing what he's done... breathes.

“Oh my god! Oh my god!”

“Calm yerself! Yer fine... jus' a scratch…”

A deep gash glistens on my limp arm.

“Hagrid. He's got to be taken to a hospital! I’ll come with you but we have to go!” Harry shouts as he holds my arm.

“No. I'm the teacher. You all... you all just... Class dismissed!”

And with that, Hagrid, looking shaken, swoops me up, flops me over his shoulder, and lumbers toward the castle.