Jesse nodded just as class drew to an end and Professor Sprout dismissed them. Jesse gathered up his books and ducked out the door before any other students. Yes he was excited for his next class, but he also preferred staying out of the throngs of students as much as possible. He made his way out of the green house and off towards Hagrid's hut. Perhaps later Hagrid would let him go down and see the Hippogryphs.

Rosemary gathered her things and left with the rest of the class. During class and in between classes, she found it was easier to blend into the crowd than go it alone. Breaking away from the students who were heading back to the castle, she walked down the sloping lawn towards Hagrid's hut.

Jesse reached Hagrid's hut to find the gentle, half giant waiting for him. Hagrid was beaming as saw his friend approaching and Jesse broke into a jog. The tough, lone-wolf exterior vanished and Jesse was grinning back like a child. His face softened as he embraced his big friend.

"The 'Gryphs have been missing ya," Hagrid said as the two parted from their embrace. "As has Fang." The big black dog of Hagrid's let out a woof as he gallop over to the boy, placing his giant paws on either shoulder and proceeding to wash Jesse's face with his tongue.

Approaching the hut, Rosemary saw Fang greeting Jesse enthusiastically. She smiled and jogged the last few feet, waving. "Hagrid! Good morning!" She called, a huge grin lighting up her usually sullen features. "How have you been?" She asked happily.

Jesse looked up in surprise at Rosemary's voice. He had been so busy greeting and wrestling with Fang that he had not even heard her come up. He turned away, hoping she wouldn't notice the slight blush he felt heating his cheeks. He shoved Fang off him and brushed down his Gryffindor uniform. Fang looked up at him with confused brown eyes and whined softly.

Spotting Jesse, Rosemary smiled even brighter. "Oh, Jesse, I didn't see you there. Oh! I hope I'm not interrupting!" She said, eyes widening in realization. Of course, he wanted some alone time to say hello. Why else would he be there so early? "I can leave and come back later. There's still a few minutes before class starts." She offered, feeling embarrassed. As she spoke, she reached down to give Fang a gentle pat on the head.

"No you weren't interrupting anything," Jesse answered brushing it off. He knew he would be back down here as soon as he got a chance anyway. Hagrid looked back and forth between the two, a confused look on his face, but he quickly shrugged it off.

"The 'Gryphs will be happy ta see ya," he told Jesse. "Specially that there Darkwing."

Rosemary smiled. "Okay, then. So Hagrid, what do you have in store for us this year?" She asked excitedly. She loved working with the magical creatures, and always got high marks in that class.

Hagrid grinned at Rosemary. "This year we have..." Before he could finish, the rest of the students came trickling up. Hagrid waited until the last student came to a halt in front of his hut. "I thought as a review, and since some of you had problems with them last year, that we would revisit the Hippogryphs." His words were met with groans from many of the students, though Jesse fought to hid his smile of joy. "I want each of you to find a partner, then we will go down to the corral and you can show me what you remember about caring for a Hippogryph."

Jesse looked around wondering who to pair up with. Students were quickly pairing up with their friends but that didn't help him as he was a loner.

Rosemary looked around. She didn't want to bother Jesse or seem clingy, so she didn't choose him. Unfortunately- or perhaps fortunately- everyone paired up quickly and left only the two of them standing next to each other. "I guess we're partners. I'm sorry you keep getting stuck with me."

(So sorry, I thought I had responded but was beginning to wonder when it never showed up in my control panel.)

Jesse shrugged. "Its not your fault, no one likes to hang with me." Once Hagrid saw that everyone was paired up, he lead the students down to the Hippogryph corral. The twelve Hippogryphs that called Hogwarts their home, were an array of horsey colors from chestnut and bay to a gray and a solid black one. Jesse smiled when he saw the black one rearing and clawing at the air with its bird-like front legs. He knew the rest of the students would avoid Darkwing as he was a difficult Hippogryph to work with, but he and Jesse got along just fine. "That's the 'Gryph we want," he said pointing with a jut of his chin.

((That's okay Wolfie figured you were busy or something.))

Rosemary's eyes lit up when she saw the Hippogryphs. She loved working with them. And when Jesse motioned to the one they would be working with, she smiled brightly. "Oh, Darkwing! I don't get to work with him often, but he's my favorite." She said. When she had first met Darkwing, she had been afraid of him, but it turned out he seemed to like her.

(( I have been busy with life and work, a job that took a lot out of me and sent me home tired and in pain. But I have a new job, still for the same company just a different position that won't be so rough on me.))

Jesse was surprised that someone else liked and seemed to have a bond with his beloved Darkwing. "He's uh my favorite too," he mumbled. Darkwing's front feet touched down on the grassy corral floor and he suddenly whirled as if just now picking up Jesse's scent. With the strange, bird-like cry of a Hippogryph, Darkwing clawed at the ground with the talon of one of his front feet. He shook his glossy black bird head from side to side as Jesse made his way across the corral.

The students, Hagrid, Hogwarts had all faded away. All that Jesse saw was the large black creature before him. At the moment he felt inside was right, he halted and bowed, watching Darkwing with eyes so light a blue that they nearly looked white. Darkwing watched him for a moment before bowing back and then moving happily to great his friend.

((Wolfie is happy that you won't be hurt anymore.))

Keeping calm, Rosemary waited for Jesse to finish greeting the hippogryph. Once Darkwing finished with that and approached Rosemary, she smiled lightly and bowed, keeping her gaze locked with that of the magical creature. As she stood back up, Darkwing bowed back. "Hello again, Darkwing. It's nice to see you again."

(Sorry, I am here again.)

Jesse watched Darkwing and Rosemary interact. He felt surprise and a hint of jealousy to see that there was someone else that could handle the black Hippogryph so well. Guess you aren't that special after all Jesse boy, he thought to himself. He grabbed a soft brush and once, the Hippogryph was done greeting Rosemary, he started brushing the black coat into an even glossier shine.

"You're so familiar with him, Jesse. I'm a bit jealous. Darkwing tolerates me, but only so much. I've never been able to groom him so easily." Rosemary said, watching the boy casually groom the hippogryph, as if they'd been friends for years. Maybe they have. She thought.

Jesse looked up, surprised by Rosemary's words. He had never thought about that. He looked around them and saw all the other students, even some of the others who were good with the animals, tentetively grooming their Hippogryphs. He shrugged. "Guess Darkwing and I just understand each other." Much to Jesse's surprise, Hagrid called out the end of class.

Rosemary smiled a little. "It's nice to have that kind of understanding with someone. It helps, when there's someone who can listen to you." She said. Just then, Hagrid called for the end of class. "Oh, that went quickly. It was nice to see you again, Darkwing." She said, bowing politely to the hippogryph. "So Jesse, what class do you have next?" She asked, helping to put away the grooming supplies. "I've got defense against the dark arts."

"I have potions next," Jesse said giving Darkwing a final rub. He walked with Rosemary towards the corral gate, where Hagrid stood giving each student pointers or accolades as they passed.

"Yeh did good," Hagrid said as the two reached the gate. "I see yeh still have yer way with the 'Gryphs Jesse."

Rosemary nodded. "Well, have a good class, then." She said cheerfully. Then they passed Hagrid, who commented on Jesse's talent with the hippogryphs. "He's pretty amazing, to have Darkwing's respect like he does." Rosemary agreed with the half giant.

Hagrid nodded his agreement with Rosemary and winked at Jesse as he passed. "See yeh later," he called after Jesse.

Jesse hurried away, his cheeks heating a bit at all the praise. He made his way up the path and through the castle to the potions classroom. He slipped into the room and an empty seat moments before Professor Slughorn walked into the room.

Rosemary giggled and headed quickly towards her next class. She just made it to her seat in the Defense classroom when the teacher walked in and asked them all to settle down.

Jesse managed to pay attention through the rest of his classes. It being the first day there wasn't a ton of homework and that was fine with him. He dropped his books off at Gryffindor tower and then hurried out of the castle, making his way down to Hagrid's little hut. He knew the half-giant would be waiting to hear about how his summer went and just to catch up.

Rosemary made it through the rest of the day rather easily. Classes were never that hard for her, except Potions class, maybe. Once the day was through, she went to drop her things off at her bed down in the dungeons, when she found something rather upsetting. Her bed sheets were slashed, her cat, Frisco, was stunned and tied up on her pillow, and floating above her bed were glowing, bright letters that spelled out MUDBLOOD. Crying out, Rosemary rushed forward to help Frisco. Once he was untied and unfrozen, she scooped him up and ran out of the dorm, out of the castle, and down towards Hagrid's hut. Hagrid was the only teacher she could go to for comfort.

((Sorry for that, Wolfie just thought we could use a bit of drama.))

(That is perfectly fine. It was getting a little mundane. Feel free to also end the day whenever you feel the need too.)

Jesse and Hagrid were talking and laughing when they heard the rattling of stones rolling down the hill. Jesse's eyes snapped towards the door as he rose and moved towards the window. "There is a student rushing towards your house Hagrid, its....its Rosemary," he said in surprise. He hurried toward the door.