Show and Tell

       "Alright, students! Class is almost over! Finish feeding and grooming the beasts and then exit the pens please! We will continue our lessons tomorrow!" Professor Howin went around to lock up the pens with her wand as the kids gathered their things to file back to the castle. April walked with Garland back to their things and were about to leave themselves, but Howin called out to them for their attention, "Ms. Windsley, may I have a word with you in private?"

       April looked at Howin and then turned to Garland. "Go on. I'll get everything", he said before trotting off to their small stack of books laying on their desk. April followed Professor Howin around the hut until they were secluded and out of everyone's sight. Curious about this sudden callout, April asked, "Is there something wrong, Professor?" Howin shook her head. "No, dear", she quietly stated. "I would like to ask if you wish to earn some extra credit tomorrow."
       April tilted her head, "Um... what would you have me do, Professor Howin?"
       Howin clasped her gloved hands and bent forward with a welcoming smile on her face, "This is entirely optional, of course, but being a gryphon animagus... how would you like to be the subject for tomorrow's classes?"

       "Classes?" April paused for a moment to churn the idea around in her head. Was she asking her to stay out here all day in her animal form around so many she doesn't know? April looked at her uncomfortably and said, "I- I am not too sure. I have not been... well, 'socialized' for lack of a better term. And I can not say I will be very calm with that many eyes on me. I already get protective around those I don't know." Howin nodded, "I heard as much from Garland and the other teachers. That's why I am asking if you would be interested. I've already arranged with the other professors to excuse both you and Garland for the entire day... should you decide on it, that is. You should be calmer with someone you know nearby."
       "Really?" April's expression seemed to gain some color, "Did he... was he the one who suggested this?"
       "No, dear. The idea came to mind after hearing about your condition. I recognize the symptoms of a bird out of her natural environment anywhere! To think your boy took care of you for so long and forgot to get you used to others!"
       "In his defense, I goaded him to groom me every other day until it became a normal part of our routine. He liked to take care of me and I liked being taken care of, so...", she sighed. "I may as well volunteer for tomorrow."
       "Excellent!" Howin said cheerfully. "Make sure to get here before sunrise and we will set everything up!"

       The next day, April made her way to Professor Howin's hut where she found Garland splayed out on a chair and asleep aside an assortment of potion supplies placed on a nearby table. It was still dark and the stars were as bright as ever. She was still a little drowsy, having yet eat breakfast. As she approached the hut, Howin walked out to greet her with a bucket in hand. The water churned and a strong smell of fish, particularly trout, wafted from it. She could hear the swishing of the water from underneath the waters surface, which could only mean one thing: Fresh fish. April felt herself starting to salivate and swallowed before it escaped her mouth. Howin placed the bucket on the ground and went around checking everything, but April couldn't take her eyes off it. It was making her hungry.

       "Good morning, Ms. Windsley!" she said happily, "Garland has told me everything I needed to know seeing as how he was your caretaker this entire time! I've got your breakfast right here: Freshly caught trout! Or if you would rather wait, I have breakfast cooking inside too. Feel free to change anytime within the next hour, preferably before the students get here." April placed her things near Garland's bag before quietly staring at her favorite passed out man in the chair. "Looove... Wake uuuup...", she said, gently shaking his shoulder. His head drooped to the side, still fast asleep. "Is there anything you wish for me to do, besides not attack anyone?" She asked, turning to the professor who was busy piling the hay. Howin kept to her task, however, and replied, "That's the jist of it, Ms. Windsley! No matter how much they infuriate you, don't harm them and everything should be fine!"

       "Well then... if they do, I'll just scream at them. Like so." April morphed into her gryphon form and held her beak near Garland's bad ear, letting out a quick and light scree. "FUCK!!!", screamed Garland, immediately jumping out of the chair away from her beak. He tripped over a rock that poked out of the ground and fell over the fencing of one of the nearby pens. Howin snickered, "Rise and shine, Mr. Stephald! Ms. Windsley is ready to start the day!" April looked over the railing and loudly chirped at him before she pulled at his collar to help him up. As she tugged the sluggish man to his feet, he rubbed his eyes and groaned, "Errrgh... the sun isn't up yet..."

       The first class of the morning arrived and sat at their tables while April and Garland sat among the pens waiting for the lesson to start. The students were buzzing with gossip as usual when Professor Howin stepped out of the hut. "Alright, students! Quiet now! We have a special lesson for you today!" she boasted. A student raised their hand. "Yes, Mr. MacForge", she said in response. The kid's raised hand fell to the side and became a finger that pointed at April, "Is that April Windsley?" Garland, boorishly sat on a stool, distracted the class with a whistle and yelled to them from across the pens, "No! Her name is Starfire and she'll peck you if you call her anything else!"

       Professor Howin clapped to regain their attention, "Alright class, no more questions! We will be learning about, and interacting with, a gryphon today! Gryphons are very dangerous and protective creatures, which is why we have Mr. Stephald volunteer one of his family's gryphons, Starfire, to help us with the lesson. While she may be domesticated, she can still easily harm you if you offend her in any way. As such, be sure you follow Mr. Stephald's instructions so we don't end up with any casualties. Right? Let's all move to the pens and get started!"

       Garland noticed April's eyes widening and placed a hand on the side of her neck to calm her down. "Calmly, please! Don't rush or you're going to scare her!" He said before the class moved from their seats. The class jolted to a very brief stop before slowing their pace. "I would also suggest sitting on your knees for the moment and I'll explain why", he continued. Once the class sat down properly, he got up on his feet and stepped in front of April to address the class. April stood up as well, following his lead in this simple playact, and stood tall above everyone. Some students grew a little intimidated by her stature.

       "Gryphons are call the Kings of Creatures for a reason and demand respect. They are fierce fighters, very strong and majestic. Extremely protective of their territory, which can be anything from land to creatures and treasure. And if you observe them in real time, they strut like they're royalty. Even other creatures will give them their due breadth..." Garland held out his hand to her and she lifted a foot into it. He then took his free hand and bent one of the toes back to show the wicked hand-sized talon that curled from the digit, "Because one single slight against a gryphon, no matter how minor, and these will slice you in half. Which is why you must show the utmost respect to these creatures at all times. To them, you are a threat until proven otherwise. That's why I asked for you to calmly seat yourselves and sit on your knees. It is, in my opinion, a good way to initially show respect."

       In a sense, he was right. She felt that little bit of respect and it evaporated some of the stress she's been having. Her mind could wonder a bit as Garland talked on. And as it wondered it turned inward. She wanted to know how she thinks in real time.

       Garland released April's foot and patted her side. He felt the rumbles of her near quiet cooing and almost inaudibly said, "You're doing good." April kept her posture straight and scanned some of the students, catching sight of Addie who slightly jumped when her eyes fell on him. Throughout his speech, she couldn't tell if it or his presence were making her feel calm. She was too focused on playing her role, doing her best to let her thoughts flow so as not to trip up Garland, rather than worry about those that were present. So it couldn't have been him. It was... off.... more internal.

       "Now once you have shown respect, a gryphon will often return it. The only exception is when they are guarding something that isn't yours. For example..." Garland pulled a mundane goblet out from his things and handed it to April, who carefully held it in her talons. He then softly stroked her shoulder, "Starfire, guard this for me please." April chirped and held it close, bracing for the exercise she knew he was going to do. Garland turned to the class and asked, "Who wants to try to take the cup from her?"

       The class was quiet. Most seemed reluctant to get up, fearing the might very well offend her. april didn't think there was anything they could really do to her, short of a direct attack. She has fish and her mate and everything else did not matter as far as she was concerned. A Slytherin boy by the name of Kent Shamus started to look at the other classmates in disgust and said, "Oh, come on! That gryphon has to be April Windsley! She can't attack anyone without getting expelled!" Garland sighed, "This is not April-"

        Irritated, Kent grabbed for his gnarled wand and pointed it at the cup goblet, "Accio goblet!" April instinctually tightened her grip on the goblet before it tried to fly out of her claws. The spell dissipated and she pressed it up against her body as best as she could. Her feathers went on end as she feared she might actually lose the goblet. And in her mind, it wasn't a rational fear. She knew the cup Garland handed her was a knut a dozen and that this everything they were doing was just an act. But then, looking within she felt genuinely angry at the theft attempt and the disrespect Kent was displaying. In spite of her death stare, she promised to not do any harm. And it felt as though this was all that was needed to keep her emotionally grounded.

       Kent waved his wand again and yelled, "ACCIO GOBLET!" in an attempt to retrieve the cup once more. The spell tugged on the goblet hard and almost yanked her forward, but the cup remained secure. She screed at Kent in response, rattling the eardrums of the class and ultimately prompting Professor Howin to get involved. "That's enough, Mr. Shamus", she commanded, swiftly plucking the boy from his spot on the ground and dragging him away from the class. "I will not have you tempt fate while in my classroom! One more disrespectful act like that and it will be hefty points for Slytherin, understand?!" The scolding continued from behind the hut, audible enough the class couldn't help but try to listen in. Garland stood there pinching the bridge of his nose in disappointment before throwing it out to the side as to present an example for the lesson. Meanwhile, April's plumage straightened out.

       "As you can see...", Garland continued, "If you see a gryphon and it is guarding something... Do. Not. Touch. It." He turned to April and carefully reached for the goblet with another comforting hand on her shoulder, "Thank you, Starfire! Good girl!" She handed him the goblet and audibly cooed, feeling a deep sensation of accomplishment albeit a little shaken. Addie suddenly raised his hand, to which Garland pointed at him. Addie then asked, "What is the difference between gryphons and the hippogriffs... besides the hind part?"

       Garland squinted and scratched his chin trying to mull through everything he knows about them. He hasn't had as much experience with them as he did gryphons, but the ones he kept in the vivarium he figured he could get away with as a reference. "For a start, gryphons are regal, not as prideful like hippogriffs. The difference is... while there is a sense of pride there, gryphons thrive on respect. The more you respect a gryphon, the more you befriend them. This sphere of respect also extends to things and creatures the gryphon likes. Because of this you do not need to bow to gryphons to earn their respect and trust... but it does help. Those that it likes, respects and trusts will be comfortable knowing that the gryphon will protect them to its very death. Its a bit more than just gaining loyalty with a hippogriff, though a hippogriff may very well do the same thing. Meanwhile, hippogriffs will trust and protect you in basic sense of friendship to put it one way. What else...?"

       Garland paced around, mulling through the less known facts about hippogriffs in his head... "Ah food! Gryphons mostly eat raw meat and go after fish or medium sized game, perhaps a berry or two. Hippogriffs mostly eat small game and plants. A hippogriff will build nests on the ground and lay a single egg while gryphons lay upwards of six eggs and often place their nests high up on mountains. A gryphon will only ever have a single mate throughout their entire life while hippogriffs aren't as restrictive.... What... else.... Oh! There are stark differences to the feathers of hippogriffs and gryphons if you have paid attention in potions!"

       Garland excitedly sounded off the numerous differences between the two creatures until Professor Howin, well past done chastising Kent, interrupted him to move the lesson onto introducing the students to April. One by one, class after class, the students approached her. Some with fish, some without. Most with the proper respect. Addie nearly had a nervous breakdown in front of her after bowing and almost dropping the fish he was given. But at the end of the day, April was content and more comfortable around the other students.

       After school, April took Garland down to the docks where they sat on the edge watching the waves of the lake. It was closing in on dinner time but she wanted to spend some more time with him before they parted to their dorms. "Beasts Class went well. You were unrealistically tame, though", he said, playfully tilting himself. April tilted her head back and pursed her lips, "Mmmmmm, no, I think I did just fine. I may have found out why I am having problems being here." Garland turned, propping up his knee on the brick, "And what is that?"

       "When Kent was being an arse, I had a moment of introspection. I was getting angry at him for disrespecting both you and Professor Howin. Kent, the cup and the the exercise were inconsequential. I could have tossed the cup at his head and be done with it. But I got mad instead, simply because I felt it was mine to keep and he was trying to take it from me. And it was a very simpleminded anger, mind you... but the anger was real. I thought about biting him, but I also wasn't going to disrespect you and professor Howin by doing so. And that's when it came to me. Respect. If what I determine as respectful dictates how I feel at any given time, then I should redefine what it considered respectful. I have the mind of a gryphon, no genuine human thoughts, so I must think as a gryphon and then translate that into human society. "

       Garland paused for a moment and sighed, "You seem the most 'normal' around me, at least." April turned to him, "That's because you are my mate. I don't need to think much of anything when you are around because you being me makes me content enough I can think normally... Ugh, 'no genuine human thought'. I may as well be a reverse-animagus at this point. Sorry, Love..." Garland chuckled and shook his head, "I get what you mean. Just remember as you're going about being a pretty bird in a human suit that you were born April Hellen Windsley, sans your arsehole father. You were born a human... gryphonbrained or not."
       "Does that bother you at all? Your mate being more gryphon than she should be?"
       He shook his head, "I don't mind. But you still lose your snog license when you go full bird."
       "Fair enough! I'll take your word for it", she said as she pulled on his cloak sleeve before quickly kissing his cheek.