PoA Chapter Summary: Chapter 6

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No: HPFGUIDX 18742

Chapter 6  "Talons and Tea Leaves"

As Harry and Company enter the Great Hall for breakfast the next day, 
Malfoy does an impersonation of a swooning fit and Pansy Parkinson 
calls out that the Dementors are coming.  When they sit down next to 
Fred and George, Fred tells Harry that Malfoy nearly wet himself when 
the Dementors were down at their end of the train.  They see 
Hermione's schedule and she passes the fullness of it off lightly.  
They see Hagrid, who tells them that he's been up since 5.30 
preparing for his first class.  Ron seems a bit apprehensive about 
this. 
On their way to their first class, Divination, they run across Sir 
Cadogan, who sees it as a quest and helps them find their way.  
The classroom is close and the fire is heavily perfumed.  Professor 
Trelawny looks like an overgrown insect in her glasses, green robes, 
and many beads and bangles.  She tells the class that book learning 
can only take one so far.  Hermione looks startled at this news.  
They read tea leaves for their first lesson and Professor Trelawny 
sees the Grim in Harry's cup.  
In Transfiguration, the whole class is still thinking about what 
Professor Trelawny said to Harry that they fail to be impressed when 
Professor McGonagall turns into a cat and back.  She is not amused.  
She informs the class that Trelawny has predicted the death of one 
student a year ever since she came to teach at Hogwarts (no one has 
died yet)and informs Harry that if he dies he needn't turn in his 
homework.  
At lunch, Ron asks Harry if he *has* seen a large black dog.  Harry 
replies that he has.  Ron isn't too happy about this.  Hermione 
counters with logic and Ron tells her that she doesn't like being 
rubbish at something for a change, which strikes a nerve (not a good 
one). 
After lunch, they go to their first Care of Magical Creatures class, 
which they discover they have with the Slytherins.  None of them have 
been able to open their books, so Hagrid demonstrates--'Ye've got ter 
*stroke* 'em.'  Malfoy comments, in his usual charming way, about how 
silly they've all been. 
Hagrid gets the magical creatures, which turn out to be Hippogriffs.  
He tells the class how to treat them, which Malfoy ignores.  Harry 
volunteers to be the first to handle the hippogriff, names Buckbeak.  
He does well; Buckbeak bows and allows Harry to pat him.  Hagrid says 
that Harry's ready to ride him.  (Not really what Harry had in mind, 
but...)  They fly once around the paddock and land.  The rest of the 
class then is allowed to approach the Hippogriffs.  Malfoy, Crabbe, 
and Goyle take over Buckbeak. He has just bowed to Malfoy, who then 
violates the Hippogriff code of ethics (never insult them) and is 
injured.  Hagrid rushes Malfoy to the hospital wing.  
After supper Harry, Hermione, and Ron decide to go see Hagrid, who is 
rather in his cups when they arrive.  He is rather morose and the 
troika reassure him that they'll talk to Dumbledore and tell him that 
Malfoy wasn't paying attention.  Hagrid sticks his head in the water 
barrel after Hermione tells him he's had enough to drink.  He sobers 
up and seems to see Harry for the first time.  He pulls him to the 
door by his arm and takes the three back up to the castle.