majestic {{jace

[grace]

The fenced in area was completely empty spare for the hippogriffs, that was why Grace found herself there on a Sunday morning. Really, it was beautiful outside, only a few white, puffy clouds in the sky, permitting the ten o'clock sun to make the damp grass sparkle. Grace, in celebration of spring, had even donned a floor-length skirt and a brown t-shirt. Of course, she didn't want to show the scars on her arms, so she had pulled a cardigan on over it. Delicately, she climbed over the waist-high fence, wondering why it was even there. It certainly didn't keep her from getting in, neither would it keep the hippogriffs from getting out if they desired.

Her bag made a gross squelching noise as she accidentally dropped it on the ground. She had been to visit the house elves before now, and had gotten the meat scraps leftover from lunch that was being prepared to feed to the majestic creatures. Grace picked up her bag before approaching the first one, a brilliantly silver male called Ludwig. She knew it was customary to approach the more dominant one first, this wasn't her first solo visit to see the hippogriffs. Grace bowed before him, and after a moment Ludwig bowed forward on his scaly knees, permitting her to come closer.

Grace gently stroked his beak and the side of his feathery face, his bright orange eyes half-closing in delight. Some might say she had a way with animals, but to her she felt they knew she had seen such horrific abuse- and knew she wouldn't inflict it on them. Grace reached into her bag and pulled out a herring. Uncharacteristically for the might beast, Ludwig took it gently from her hand rather than eagerly seizing it. Even the dominant male knew. Grace resumed petting Ludwig, aware that the other hippogriffs were watching, as if waiting their turn.

It wasn't long however, until she felt that the animals weren't the only ones watching her, she had a keen sense for knowing when there were people nearby. It made her feel tense. Grace, still stroking Ludwig, looked over her shoulder only to see...

[jace]

It was spring, and Jace couldn't be more happy. He had been in the forest, along with the Thestrals. It wasn't a tragic accident or some terrifying event, watching someone die. He'd seen a lot of death. He would spend winters helping the local Healer, who sometimes was too late. He was on the ground, legs crossed as he finished a sketch of a new-born Thestral, nurturing mother nudging him gently in urge to walk. A wide grin was set on his face as he finished, stroking one gently as he stood. Slinging his pack over his back, he began back towards the Hippogriffs, a ferret in his pack for the mothers to be. Spring brought fresh life, in both the forest and the creatures. Rebirth. It was a magical feeling.

He paused. He recognized the girl immediately who stood boldly in the Hippogriff pen. She bowed respectfully, Ludwig, the somewhat arrogant alpha doing the same. He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. The young Hufflepuff had caught his attention this year. It had taken him a month to realize she was indeed mute, rather than just shy. But her compassion was real. She was one of those that made teaching and facing people with their harsh convictions easier. Some people did care about what mattered.

He did not want to disturb the scene as he silently set his bag on the ground, pulling his journal out, quill at the ready. Perching on top of the fence, he stretched a leg out along the beam which was merely for show. No Hippogriff was going to just stay in that pen if they wanted to leave. However, these Hippogriffs were spoiled and well fed, with constant attention from admiring students. Bringing the other knee to his chest he braced his journal against his knee, sketching with wide strokes, eyes trained on the noble creature, head bowed, looking affectionately at the young Hufflepuff.

He looked down at the sketch, before up again to see her looking at him. He had to grin broadly. "You have a way with animal, lass," he swung his legs over, sitting on the fence as he watched her. "Ludwig isn't quite so kind to everyone. He has quite the ego," he figured she would know that. She evidently knew how to handle herself around the creatures, and must have been there during the past year, before he was here.

[grace]

Grace was glad she had felt the presence of someone else when she did, she had been inches away from speaking with Ludwig, telling him what beautiful plumage he had and such. But she only did that when she was certain that she was alone. Grace didn't know what she would do if someone she didn't trust heard her voice, she would be mortified. For whatever reason she had gotten it in her head that anyone who heard her speak would be able to hurt her. The more distant she was, the safer she would be. Though there was a part of her, no matter how small, that wanted to be normal.

She wanted to have friends to laugh with, talk to, dote on. But she couldn't, in a way she was trapped within the confines of her own head. Though of all people to show up she was glad that it was Professor Kaper, and not one of the annoying students that only visited the animals on weekends to say they did- while not really caring for them at all. The Professor was the newest one Hogwarts had (unless Professor Truelove was considered, though she didn't think his course was to start until the following term). He had long hair, which Grace found interesting for a man of his position, though she respected him greatly.

Grace could see the passion in his eyes when he worked with the creatures most in her class only did for the grade. It was good to see someone who genuinely loved at least one aspect of their job, cared about it in some way other than paying the bills. She blushed furiously when he spoke in a positive manner about her, she didn't get that sort of attention. Because of her muteness she found that she would simply get lost in the shuffle. After all, who would want to spend time talking to someone who would say nothing in return?

She did, however, manage a smile, to show that what he said did mean something to her. Ludwig gently pulled his head away from her hand to attempt to fit his beak into her bag to get to the meat. Were she alone, Grace would have laughed, but instead she delicately moved his head out of the way and reached in herself to get him a piece. Grace nodded to Professor Kaper, she had seen Ludwig's ego in action. Though really, as the dominant male she felt he was allowed to have at least some- it would help him to keep his position.

[jace]

Jace kept his distance, glad to see a smile on the young girl's face. He, himself, had been a Hufflepuff. They were gentle creatures, which few seemed to understand. He himself had struggled greatly in school with speaking to people, and figured it best not to mention anything of the muteness, which he had just recently figured out. He watched as she fed Ludwig, and how gently he treated the young girl. As if he knew. Jace grinned back, stepping off of the fence.

"Kids come in here on dares to see who could approach the lead male," he explained, approaching both Ludwig and Grace in slight caution. He bowed traditionally, before stroking the large Hippogriff, patting his neck. "He doesn't like just anyone," he looked at Grace as he spoke. "Guess you're special, lass," he said, giving a conspiratory wink. As if sharing a secret between them. "I guess I wouldn't be much of a professor if I didn't ask how your classes are going?" He looked at her, waiting for any facial signal. He wasn't going to ask her to go to the trouble of writing everything. Staying as silent and observatory as he had been his whole life, reading behavior was a talent of his. Although humans seemed to complicate everything.

[grace]

Grace continued to stroke Ludwig, wondering how much attention he was going to demand from her before she was permitted to greet the others who were still watching- and looking quite impatient. But they knew their manners, they were an important thing to hippogriffs, which Grace found amazing. Most humans it seem didn't care about being polite, most people didn't hold doors, apologize for running into someone, or even stop to say hello to people they recognized. There was no such thing as rudeness when a hippogriff was involved, unless of course you had a death wish. Grace tensed slightly as Professor Kaper approached, needless to say sometimes adult males made her uneasy.

Well, most people did, but men in particular did. Though her tenseness didn't register physically, Ludwig of course sensed it, and in response lightly rubbed his head against her shoulder as if to say it were all right, that the man wasn't going to hurt her. Grace nodded when Professor Kaper mentioned the students daring each other. Though normally a compassionate soul, she felt the people who got hurt doing that got what they deserved for messing with the hippogriffs. Her blush deepened from pink to a deep magenta when he said that she was special, though smiled all the same. Grace partially shrugged her left shoulder in response, hoping it would translate to "okay," or "fine."

[jace]

Jace took a slight step back as he watched Grace tense. Ludwig nudged her as if speaking for him. He continued to stroke his feathers, glancing at the young Hufflepuff. He recognized the brushing off of the compliment. He probably would have done the same thing. Wouldn't have even given a shrug. He focused on the Hippogriff for a good three minutes, patting him, before glancing at Grace again, wondering if she was any less threatened. That would be a lot to expect, he knew. But he could hope. Hope she was better at handling social situations than he had been.

"I'm impressed," he said after a while. "Your essay on the Blast-Ended Skrewts was very thorough," he turned his attention to one of the pregnant hippogriffs, rubbing her stomach as he felt for the heartbeat in her rounded belly. He smiled as she nudged her head insistently against his shoulder, asking for the food she was smelling on him. "Thought everyone was falling asleep in that class," he didn't look up from checking over Isis. She would be delivering any day now. "What would you name a baby Hippogriff?" He asked, allowing a questioning glance, although he was careful to keep his posture non-threatening.

[grace]

Grace felt a tiny bit guilty when Professor Kaper stepped back, she hadn't thought that her anxiety would show so clearly. Though she did suppose that part of his job was to pick up on subtle cues so he knew whether or not to proceed with an animal. Some of them had very subtle warning signs that they did not wish to be disturbed. She relaxed slightly on the outside, though still felt tense. There was no reason to be afraid, but she couldn't help herself, not when someone who was so close to her had hurt her so badly. Beat her when he was supposed to love her.

Grace smiled and nodded her thanks when Professor Kaper complimented her on her essay, she had put quite the extensive amount of research and effort into it. She did that with all her schoolwork actually. Most didn't suspect it, but she was fairly intelligent. Ludwig chose that moment to decide she was allowed to approach the others, and pushed her forward by placing his head in the small of her back. To her surprise she had steered him toward an elderly female, one who was too old to produce a foal that spring. Grace bowed before the tawny female before stepping forward to give her the attention she was likely neglected. She tilted her head to the side with a shrug, she had never really thought of that before.

She took out a piece of paper from her bag and quickly wrote- Definitely something regal, just like they are. I'm sure you could find something suitable in a history textbook. She prodded the paper with her wand, using a fun little charm that folded the paper into an airplane and it flew over to Professor Kaper. Grace then returned her hands to the hippogriff, able to see the warmth and wisdom in the female's seasoned amber eyes.

[jace]

Jace smiled, amazed by the interactions with the elegant creatures. He was frankly quite impressed. She was so young, and yet she seemed to have seen something far too tragic. Even the animals could sense it. He shook his head slightly, his heart bleeding for the girl. He kept his hands running over Isis, now just calming the pregnant hippogriff. They, as did many women, grew restless as they neared delivery date, and the stress would cause a troubled pregnancy. Planting a light kiss on her round stomach, he smiled as she trotted off happily with Ludwig.

Jace was pleased with himself for drawing a smile out of the shy fourth year. He loved the feeling of smiling. It was lifting in so many ways. He laughed as she charmed the parchment, catching it in his hands. He opened it, nodding. Of course, she was obviously close with the Hippogriffs. He looked up at her. "Well, Grace, I was never one for history," he admitted. He patted the beak of a young stallion who nipped at his pockets hungrily, although he had no food to offer. "That's why I'm here. With animals who live for the now, not for the then," he pushed the insistent head away gently. "But I imagine you're pretty clever," he continued, still not looking up. When he was younger he hated the feeling of people looking at him as they spoke. Pressure to act properly. Something that had never made sense to him. "So why don't you come on out here in a few days, help me name the foal?"

[grace]

Grace smoothed the tawny feathers beneath her fingers, even the elderly hippogriff's plumage radiated a sense of age. Each feather seemed much more delicate, though it lent her a very gentle nature. She needed to act gingerly as not to put stress on her old bones. Grace didn't know the name of the tawny, though she imagined something soft, though still elegant, perhaps something of Elven descent. Eowyn or something like that- a name that would flow easily off the tongue, nothing that would be awkward or choppy to say. Grace reached into her bag and provided the female with a more tender piece of meat, something that would be easy for her to ingest.

Grace nodded along as Professor Kaper spoke, though noticed he wasn't looking directly at her, and might not see the gesture. Though she felt it would be rude of her to simply stand there and not do anything. It wasn't like she could say anything in reply, no, she likely never would. She smiled and blushed all over again when he said she was clever, and felt honoured when he asked her to come back in a few days to help in naming the foal. Most people didn't care about her opinion of anything. Grace nodded again, she would do just that.

[jace]

Jace kept Grace in his peripheral vision. He wasn't expecting her to speak. But it seemed rude to constantly watch her, when one didn't do that with others. He could see her nod, and grinned, glancing all the way up at her. "Great," he nodded, "Oh, go get your own food," he playfully pushed the young Alexander as he kept pushing at Jace's empty pockets. The hippogriff turned his amber gaze on Grace, before trotting over to her. Unlike how demanding he had been of Jace, he merely looked at her. "Trickly little boogar," he laughed, running a hand through his exceptionally long hair.

Several of his elder co-workers had insisted he ought to have it cut. Look more professional. The only reason he was here was because it was the only job where he could do what he loved and still earn money. He was certain that once Bella was up on her feet, he was going to return to his hermit life of traveling. There was nothing really tying him anywhere. Bella knew she could snap her fingers and he would be there. He hadn't expected to enjoy teaching much, but there were those students who truly loved the creatures that made him realize it wasn't so awful, speaking to people. He might even keep at it an extra year after his nephew was born. Might. He certainly wanted to come back, see how Grace came out. She seemed to almost be a mirror of his younger self. He'd almost fallen and not come up. He was rooting for the young Hufflepuff.

[grace]

Grace smiled at Professor Kaper, wondering what she had been so afraid of in the first place. Certain people did that to her, surprised her with gentleness and kindness she hadn't known that normal people could have. She bowed as Alexander, the young buck, approached her- an expectant look in his eyes, though he had adopted a sudden, much more patient attitude about him. He bent forward on his scaly knees, though straightened quickly. There was the stallion impatience again. Grace smiled, reaching again into her bag for a morsel for Alexander. He took it perhaps a bit more eagerly than the others, though gently all the same.

Grace patted the side of his neck, she was seemingly able to feel his youth beneath her hands- at least in contrast to the elderly female. He was strong, and would likely be in competition for the alpha roll with Ludwig if given a year or two. His vividly amber eyes closed in delight at her touch, the expression he made suddenly reminding her of her cat, Bo. The beautiful Siamese was likely stalking through the castle, in pursuit of mice, spiders, or some other small creature that Hogwarts harboured. And if she were lucky she might see the half-eaten remains on her pillow that evening. Grace smiled again in the professor's direction, nonverbally agreeing with his description of the stallion.

[jace]

Jace was quite happy to see her smiling and acknowledging what he was saying. She didn't seem quite as distant as she was. He still wanted to see the young Hufflepuff out of her protective shell. Other professors had warned him that she had had a traumatic past, giving her that shell. He really hadn't had much of a traumatic past, merely a closer bond with animals and creatures. There had been no need for humans and their complex behaviours. But he was almost afraid to know what had put the innocent child in her shell.

Alexander was reveling in the attention of the girl who was spoiling him even more. He had to laugh at how wonderfully diverse the noble creatures could be. That sense of honor they had about them. Yet so forgiving. "You have a pet of your own, Miss. Forest?" He asked, determined to keep it to yes or no questions. It was easier for both of them that way, in a sense. He ran a hand through his long hair, leaning on the fence post as he watched the Hippogriffs bond with the young Hufflepuff, as if they knew her secret. For all he knew, maybe they did. Creatures were ever full of surprises.

[grace]

Grace took a cautious half step back as Alexander adjusted his position, though this proved unnecessary as he stretched out his wing and shook it slightly, holding its mighty span aloft. It didn't exactly take a genius to figure out what he wanted. She began scratching slightly at the joint of his wing- his eyes becoming narrow slits in response. Grace only smiled, though if she were alone she would have laughed. Animals had a unique way of surprising her in how human-like they could be at times with how they expressed what they were feeling. Deciding he had had enough of that, Alexander put his wing back down and began gently nudging at her bag.

Grace fed him another slab of leftover meat, turning her pale blonde head when Professor Kaper spoke, inquiring if she had a pet. She nodded, she had her beautiful Siamese cat Bo, he had silvery white fur with chocolate brown markings, and the bluest eyes she had ever seen. She also had a rabbit at home, a fat white one with floppy ears. Grace smiled slightly at the thought of them. They were fairly unextraordinary as far as the standards went for pets of witches and wizards, though she loved them just the same.