For a man of his stature, Hagrid was quite calm. He didn't even notice me sneaking at the back of the class if he did, he never reacted. The whole lesson was quite uneventful. It was made even worse by the fact that Hermione was right in the front row and had effectively cut our telepathic communication. maybe she had even dumped the coin.

it deeply pained me to see how insignificant I had suddenly grown. a bust of electric energy mixed with anger and loathing surged through me as I watched Ron take something from her hair so casually. I see, they were getting lovey dovey with the flame boy.

I tore my eyes from the disturbing scene.

hagrid was reprimanding aster for referring to his hippogriff as an "ugly pony that even a beggar would ride".from the way the giant was talking, one would think that Aster had just messed with the giant babies

knowing my sister and her stubbornness, I knew this situation was going to pan out quite ugly.

hagrid having grown furious at her insulting comment untied the hippogriff and invited her to ride it

and to my utter shock, the stupid girl accepted. I pushed my way through the rows of students until I was in the front next to Aster

I hastily pulled her back as she made her way to where the hippogriff was calmly waiting. biding its time!

"drop it Aster, he is baiting you" I begged trying to instill some fear in the stubborn girl

"ooh comma boy to the rescue huh?"Ron chuckled amidst the laughter of several students.

I turned and looked at the girl standing next to him. she was not laughing but a satisfactory smug was plastered on her face. so she found it funny huh?

Ron's demeaning comment only served to boost Aster's stubbornness. her face was now firm with determination.

"Stay out of this Draco," she pushed me and tore her hand out of my grasp. I was gonna go after her but the giant booming voice froze me in place.

"This is my class boy, you better behave or you get a detention"

that successfully halted my progress. The last thing I wanted was to be dished detention, with my quest unaccomplished.

with a smooth swing of her legs, Aster was calmly sitting on the hippogriff's back with a majestic poise. a contemptuous smile lighting her face.

"Easy as that, right piggy?" aster stated while gently slapping the creature back as if it were a plough horse.

At one moment everything was calm. Then everyone started to take a step back. Aster couldn't see what the rest were seeing. The bird-like face of the hippogriff was contorted in fury. its previously calm eyes were now a burning sea of sapphire

With one mighty swoosh of its eagle wings, the creature took flight and just when it was almost six meters high, it tilted to one side and the screaming figure of Aster came tumbling down like an avalanche.

She hit the ground with a thud as the crowd of Gryffindor students cheered and jeered. immediately the giant rushed to her side and I could see the shock on his face.; maybe even he hadn't expected things to escalate this far.

One of the bones was protruding from her arms. The hippogriff had landed on Hagrid's roof calmly watching the carnage scene of its making.

The giant said the injury was nothing serious that madam Pomfrey couldn't fix and of course blamed Aster for provoking the animal.

I couldn't help wondering if this was even permitted in the school. what if she had broken her neck instead. could madam Pomfrey have fixed that as well?

I looked at where Hermione was and there was no remorse in her eyes. was it even possible to hate someone that much for childish squabbles.

Aster was sobbing uncontrollably.

The giant dismissed the class and effortlessly lifted her, heading towards the castle

God help Hagrid when father found out that he had broken a bone of her favorite child. It would have been better had it been me.

Even with Dumbledore's protection, I hated to think of the strings and favors he would pull just to get back at him. We were now in the first-floor hallway leading to the hospital wing,when I spotted the twins heading to the defense against the dark arts classroom.

my concerns for aster wavered. she was in good hands after all. I gave them a head start and then I left Hagrid just as he was entering the hospital.

from a distance, I watched as Fred took a parchment from his pocket and both entered a dark corridor. I hastened my pace and was just in time to hear Fred shout

"it works, I have finally figured it out"

both of them were too engrossed to notice I had crept through the dark room and was right behind them

Fred spread the parchment and pointing his wand towards it. he silently whispered

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good."