Chapter Text
Today was the first day of class. Lucy, Lockwood, George and Flo were walking in the woods, excited at the idea of discovering new subjects. They discussed what they thought they would see during the day - new teachers, food at lunch time - however, Lucy was strangely silent.
- Everything OK Luce ? Lockwood inquired.
- Oh, yes. Yeah I'm fine. I just... didn't sleep well, that's all, she sputtered.
The boy force out but still decided to keep an eye on his friend.
After several minutes of walking, they arrived in a narrow shaded clearing where were waiting about twenty students, all Houses confounded - indeed, few had chosen Care for Magical Creatures as elective - dressed in their brand new robes. They were chatting quietly when a man arrived, accompanied by a quite unusual animal. The wizards suddenly hushed up and spied on them. It was not so much Mr. Hope, their banal fifty-years-old professor, who interested them but rather the beast in question.
It was a strange creature, with the build of a horse but adorned with silver gray feathers and a long beak. It was very tall and impressive, dominating the space by forcing a kind of respect into everyone. If that was not enough, everyone became speechless when, their teacher having released the leash that held it, it gracefully spread its wings and moved towards the middle of the clearing.
- A hippogriff ! M. Hope declared dramatically. His name's Arif. He really is a good guy but nevertheless has a bad temper. Well, here is the first thing you're going to learn this year : do never offend a hippogriff.
A wave of whispers spread among the students. They were rightfully not so reassured by what they had just learned. While the majority expressed doubts about the safety and legality of this venture, Lockwood couldn't help imagine what head George would do if he were there, while Lucy remained seemingly frozen by the beauty of the animal. As the only witch in a large family of muggles, the marvels of the magical world often had this effect on her, more than on others. She hastened to describe the slightest of her impressions to her friend, who was happy as always to see her so amazed.
No one really knew what their teacher was waiting for until he asked, jolting all the teenagers : "Who wants to go for a ride ?". Astonished, the students - who were now much less showing off - stepped back a few steps. "Lucy, Norrie called. What are you doing !?". Poor dreamers, they were still whispering to each other and no longer even paid attention to what was happening around them. They noticed, unfortunately at the same time as their teacher, that they were now in front of their comrades, as if it was them who had steped forward. A glance cast between them : "Oh shit", they said to each other without even opening their mouths. Behind them, Flo couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
- Ah, very well then, we have two volunteers ! M. Hope exclaimed.
- Uh, no in fact we wer-
- Come on, don't be scared. The most important thing is to go carefully, like this, slowly...
The man spoke in a lower voice, as if he was now addressing children, or even animals. It was too late to turn back, Lucy and Lockwood knew it. They had to comply and so they started the parade. Following the advices of their teacher, they went forward, stopped, then forward again, neither too fast nor too slow, and, after a few moments of this careful dance, finally came into contact with Arif. Lucy sincerely hoped that their little demonstration would stop with this success but things were planned differently :
- What's your name boy ? the wizard asked.
- Anthony Lockwood, he answered calmly.
- Now, what are you waiting for Tony, get on it !
The boy obeyed and threw his long legs over the creature.
- Wait-wait-wait, Lockwood what the hell are you doing ? Lucy hissed.
- Don't worry Luce it's all safe, he assured. It's like... flying with a broom ! I got this.
From the top of his silver mount, he looked at her with amusement. "He's really too confident", she thought, "all this because he is the Slytherin’s chaser". She glaring at him now, irritated and undeterred by his behavior but at the same time relieved that it is he who started, and not the other way around. Please, may everything go well. She was so angry with Mr. Hope that she could have burnt him to ashes (if allowed of course). Instead, a curse escaped her.
It was then that she felt two large hands grasp her waist : her feet lifted off the ground and, in the the blink of an eye, she was on the back of the hippogriff, sitting behind Lockwood. By the time she understood what was happening to her, the creature received a sharp blow in the flank and immediately began to gallop. Startled by the sudden start, she gripped her friend firmly in order not to fall and couldn't hold back a sharp cry. In a few strides, the animal was already soaring into the air. Meanwhile, Flo and Norrie had enjoyed the scene well and made sure to retain all the details to tell it to their friends later.
- I should have brought pop-corn, the first one joked.
- Yup.
They were now flying and Lockwood felt so good, so free. Twirling above the trees, strutting in front of the castle, he felt like he belonged here. He had always loved flying, ever since the first time he got on a broom, a few years ago. Behind him, Lucy was squeezing him tightly, completely girding him with her arms, he then tried to reassure her :
- It's alright Luce, look how it's beautiful ! he needed to scream to cover the sound of the wind. What is it, you're scared ?
- Yes I am ! It's not funny Lockwood I want to get down. she yelled even louder than him, fright clearly present in her voice.
All this was greatly unsetteling for him. His friend was not the fearful type, she was very courageous and threw herself without thinking into all the adventures that came their way. He admired her for that. Strangely, what he was only discovering now filled him with even more foundness towards her.Then guilt started consumming him and he desperately sought to reassure her, his heart burning urgently with concern.
- I'm sorry Lucy... but I really don't know how to get down from here.
- I didn't say It was your fault, she murmured with her face nestled in his back, eyes closed.
- I've got you, now look...
Lockwood reached for the little hand that was anchored somewhere around his belly. Once found, began to unhook the fingers that grasped his robe so tightly, one by one. He handled them as carefully as possible, releasing each one in turn, slowly, gently, until the hand found itself entirely in his. At the other end of this hand, Lucy forced herself to relax and open her eyes.
She was struck by the beauty of the landscape. They were above everything, but also dominated by the immensity of the hills and the sky and the castle. So tiny, it was as if they were lost in these colors, were part of the painting that others only look at from afar. She felt such freedom, like breathing for the first time. It was neither hot nor cold. Everything was just in the right place, as it should be.
- Feeling better ?
- Yeah, thank you Lockwood.
As they came closer to the surface of the lakes, in a burst of lightness of soul the boy began to scream. Shout for joy, with all his lungs, producing a wonderful echo in the space. His friend laughed at first but she quite quickly did the same, drawn into the euphoria that surrounded them. Arif even joined them. No one wanted this moment to end. Of course, he didn’t admit it but Lockwood felt so good with up there, with Lucy, that he would have preferred to stay perched, away from others, forever. However, Mr. Hope had called back the hippogriff and it was already heading towards the clearing.
While only a few meters separated them from the ground, Lucy thought that time had passed much too quickly. She was already missing the sensation of the wind on her face and of Lockwood’s hand in hers. She did not therefore deny herself to buckle him once again for the landing, griping him even a little tighter than previously. The boy, on the other hand, pretended not to notice, he did not try to remove his hand either. Many whispers greeted them once they were on the ground, and the look that Norrie and Flo gave them made Lucy blush instantly. She was - fortunately, she thought - the only one to see it. Lockwood, true English gentleman that he was, helped his friend to go down from the high creature, grabbing her by the arms. Hands lingering longer than necessary on each other, glances exchanged for a little too long, smiles just enough to not be ignored; filled the time and space that separated them from each other.
- So, how was this first date ?
- Ah ah, rather talk about the wedding already ! Flo teased.
The two girls laughed playfully and suddenly threw themselves on the two doves who were now blushing like poppies. They each led their prey to one side and, the class being over, returned respectively to the common rooms of their House. On the wooden path, Lockwood began to think. Or rather to consider. About Lucy... Yes, he had indeed felt something up there, but what ? Freedom, friendship, all that stuff... Yes that's it. But, but, "friendship," really ? Plus, why did he blush so much at their jokes, they were just jokes! For fun. Well, although something still seemed confused in his mind, he decided not to think about it anymore. He would deal with this another time, voilà. For her part, Lucy remained even more impervious to all this, blocking her thoughts almost unconsciously, simply preventing them from existing, from germinating. Anyhow, Norrie and Flo, and George and Holly, and - everyone actually - were not blind : something needed to be done for these two this year. They knew that.