My head snapped to the stage and I watched as Remus stood up and bowed his head. Almost instantly Remus set back down and I felt sick to my stomach. I turned to look back at the table and stared at my empty plate, trying to push all my thoughts away.

"As some of you may know, Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher for many years, has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be filled by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid!" Dumbledore said clapping his hands.

Everyone cheered and I rubbed the bridge of my nose, a headache starting to form.

"Finally, on a more disquieting note, Hogwarts, at the request of the Ministry of Magic, will, until further notice, play host to the Dementors of Azkaban." Dumbledore said softly.

Everyone started to talk and mumble about the dementors while I continued to be quiet and keep to myself.

"The Dementors will be stationed at the entrances to the grounds. While they are under strict orders not to enter the castle itself, you will on occasion see them as you go about your daily activities. Under no circumstances are you to approach them. It is not in the nature of a Dementor to be forgiving."

When he finally finished I was relieved and I bit tired. I decided that I was hungry so I just snacked on some bread.

"Okay, Potter?" Draco asked nudging me.

"Perfectly." I mumbled as I picked at the piece of bread.

"I would have thought that you would be happy to see Lupin." He said with a laugh.

"Leave me alone." I grumbled as I closed my eyes.

"Oh right didn't he kick you out. Probably saw how useless you are." A Slytherin's said from beside Malfoy.

Before I realized it my hand had instantly reached out and I had hit the unnamed Slytherin as hard as possible. He fell out of his seat and held his nose with a groan. I felt a hand grab a hold of me and I turned to see Professor Snape behind me.

"My office, now." He ordered as he dragged me out of the room.

He forced me to sit down and stared down at me.

"What were you thinking?" Snape asked angrily.

"He had it coming! He is nothing but a prat!"

"Even so, you do not punch another student. You broke his nose!"

"Why do you care?" I asked angrily.

"Because I am a teacher! I can't have my students going around punching other students." He said angrily.

"And? If Draco had done it to Potter you would have given him points! But I do it and I get yelled at! That guy is a spoiled brat and needed to be knocked down a few pegs!"

"Detention." He growled out glaring down at me.

"Can I ask to be placed under someone else?" I asked looking away from him.

"No, you can not."

"Then I won't be there." I said turning to look up at him.

"Would you like to be expelled, Potter?"

"Go ahead, dad! I'd love to be expelled because it would get me the hell away from you!" I yelled angrily.

His eyes went wide and he looked at me shocked. I felt tears stream down my face as I turned and ran out of the room, rushing to my dormitory.

In the end I was given detention with McGonagall instead. Snape said nothing to me after the incident, he actually did everything he could to ignore me.

Even going as far as canceling my extra potion classes. But that didn't matter because I was able to go to Hagrid's class.

"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?" Draco asked angrily cutting off Hagrid.

"Crikey. Didn' yeh know? All yeh've got ter do is stroke 'em. Look-" Hagrid explained as he took my book.

He opened it up and as it began to fry and bite him, Hagrid calmly ran a finger down the book's spine and it opened.

"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 said as he walked away from us.

"God, this place is going to the dogs. Wait until my father hears Dumbledore's got this oaf teaching classes." Draco said with a laugh.

"Listen, you stupid prat-"

"Potter, there's a Dementor behind you." Draco said pointing behind Harry and cutting him off.

Harry instantly turned around, along with half of the class. Draco let out a laugh as he saw nothing.

"Draco, please give me a reason to punch you too." I said as I shot him a glare.

Draco took a step back and I sent him a smirk.

"Gee up, there! Beau'iful, isn' he?" Hagrid asked as a Hippegriff followed close behind him.

"Hagrid. Exactly what is that?" Ron asked in fear.

"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 and say hello?" Hagrid asked happily.

Everyone took a step back besides Harry, who must not have realized.

"Good man, Harry!"

Harry looked at us and then back to Hagrid. Ron quickly pushed him forward and he shot Ron a glare.

"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?" Hagrid asked with a smile.

"If he kills you, can I have Hedwig!" I called making a Harry shoot me a glare.

"No, you can't."

I shrugged my shoulders and he looked back at Buckbeak. Hardy took a couple steps forward and bowed to Buckbeak. I watched as Buckbeak cocked his head and watched Harry.

"Back off, Harry! Back off!" Hagrid ordered.

Harry started to step back, but before he could, Buckbeak bowed to him.

"Well done, Harry! Go on. Give 'im a pat." Hagrid said happily.

Harry walked up to him and gently petted him.

"Look at that! I reckon he migh' let yeh ride 'im!"

"Excuse me?" Harry asked as Hagrid picked him up and set him on Buckbeak.

I laughed as Hagrid smacked Buckbeak on the back and he took off, flying away with Harry.

"Goodbye! I'll keep your owl safe!" I yelled playfully.

It wasn't long before Harry returned and Hagrid helped him off.

"Good work, Harry!" Hagrid's said happily.

"Brilliant... Professor."

Draco pushed through the crowd with a frown on his face.

"Give me a go at that thing. If Potter can do it, it must be easy. You're not dangerous at all, are you, you great ugly brute-"

"Malfoy! No!" Hagrid yelled, but it was to late.

In a flash, Buckbeak's had slashed Draco's arm. Draco fell to the ground and before I knew I was in front of Draco, standing between him and a posses off Buckbeak.

"Easy! Easy! I know he is an idiot, but please if you could not kill him." I said as I held my hands up.

Buckbeak took a step back and cocked his head at me. I gave him a small bow and he seemed to calm down. Within seconds he bowed to me and then walked over to Hagrid.

"It's killed me! It's killed me!" Draco yelled in pain.

I crouched down and finally could get a flood look at his arm.

"It's just a scratch, you will live you moron." I said shaking my head.

With Hagrid carrying him, we made it to the hospital wing were I waited in a chair beside Draco.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were falling for me, Potter." Draco said with a giant smirk.

"More like I'm here to make sure you don't lose your hand, you idiot. What were you thinking? You could have been killed." I said as I shot him a glare.

"I was trying to impress someone." He explained with a sigh.

"Who?"

"You! Okay, I was trying to impress you." He said angrily.

"Why?"

"Because I like you, have for awhile. But you never see me unless I'm bullying someone." He said slumping in his seat.

"Draco, you're an idiot. Had you been nice and not insulted Hermione or other Muggle borns I might have actually liked you back. You're not a bad guy and I know that, but you are an idiot who thinks that he can get his father to always have his back. If you want me to notice you, then maybe stop hurting people and yourself." I said as I stood up and left the room.

"So you're saying I have a chance?" Draco yelled from the hospital wing.

"Maybe." I said as I turned and walked away from him.