The entire class was encouraged by Harry's success and cautiously entered the paddock. Hagrid untied the chains one by one, and soon the paddock was filled with students nervously bowing. Neville retreated several times from his creature, as the hippogriff seemed unwilling to bend its knees. Ron and Hermione bowed to a chestnut-colored creature that appeared relatively docile, while Harry watched from the side.
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle chose Buckbeak. It bowed to Malfoy, who was patting its beak with a look of disgust. Meanwhile, Orli quietly moved to stand beside him.
# Malfoy: "This is easy,"
Malfoy drawled loudly enough for Harry to hear.
# Malfoy: "If Potter can do it, then it must be ridiculously simple..."
## Orli: "Shut up, Malfoy!"
Orli interrupted him sharply, but Malfoy, as if deliberately provoking her, turned his head and spoke even louder to Buckbeak:
# Malfoy: "I bet you're not dangerous at all, are you? You ugly brute!"
A flash of silver suddenly streaked before their eyes. Orli barely managed to shove Malfoy aside before the steel-gray talons struck her back. She could almost hear the sound of claws slicing through the air and her clothes being torn. Her back first felt a chill, followed by a searing pain that swept through her entire body. She collapsed onto the ground, warm blood seeping through her robes and trickling onto the green grass.
# Hermione: "Orli!"
Hermione exclaimed, rushing forward to check Orli's injuries, with Harry and Ron close behind. Orli managed a weak smile at them.
Malfoy stood pale-faced, staring at the scene. He twitched his lips, seemingly wanting to mock her, but ultimately said nothing, standing frozen in fear.
Hagrid quickly secured Buckbeak's collar and began pacing frantically.
# Hagrid: "Someone help me..."
Hagrid muttered, his voice trembling.
# Hermione: "Quick! Take Orli to the hospital wing!"
Hermione ran to open the paddock gate. Hagrid removed his massive mole-skin coat, wrapping Orli in it, and strode toward the castle. Blood dripped steadily onto the ground along the way, and Orli felt too weak to speak.
# Hagrid: "Hold on, Orli!"
Hagrid sobbed as he ran, tears and snot streaming through his thick beard.
# Hagrid: "It's all my fault. I thought hippogriffs were fun and beautiful. It's all my fault!"
He sprinted into the hospital wing, even knocking over a few students along the way. When he finally placed the frail Orli onto a hospital bed, Madam Pomfrey gasped.
# Madam Pomfrey: "Oh my heavens, her entire back is slashed open!"
Hagrid was crying so hard he couldn't speak. Orli, half-conscious, felt Madam Pomfrey shooing Hagrid out of the room, stitching her wounds, and applying cool ointments. She was almost completely wrapped in bandages, like a half-made mummy, and was given a bottle of bitter potion. The fiery pain turned into a tingling ache that spread from her shoulders down to her waist. The potion seemed to have a sedative effect, as she soon fell asleep lying on her stomach.
---
When she opened her eyes again, the sky was completely dark. Hermione was sitting by her bedside, and as soon as she saw Orli's fingers move, she softly called Madam Pomfrey.
# Madam Pomfrey: "You've suffered severe external injuries, child."
Madam Pomfrey said sternly.
# Madam Pomfrey: "It is highly unwise to provoke magical creatures."
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