It was your first Care of Magical Creatures lesson of the year, with your new teacher, the gamekeeper. He leads you to a clearing in the forest, where he brings out the most beautiful creature you’ve ever seen - a Hippogriff named Buckbeak, who is half horse and half eagle.

He calls for volunteers, and everyone steps back except you and Harry, giving your teacher the impression that you’ve both volunteered. He gives you instructions on how to bow to Buckbeak, and you both follow them.

After a few tense seconds, Buckbeak bows back, giving you and Harry permission to touch him. Then your teacher asks, “How about yeh’s go for a ride?”

Before you or Harry can protest, he picks you both up easily and puts Harry on first, then you behind him.

“Hold on!” he yells, before slapping Buckbeak’s flank, causing him to spread his wings and take off with several flaps of his wings. You instinctively cling to Harry, trying not to fall off.