That was the problem produced by her change in height. She cursed herself for a moment before seeking around by feel and finding another handhold, though perhaps not as firm. She then slipped her other hand down and then sent her feet down, one at a time, and repeated the procedure.
She had expected a brief climb down, maybe lasting two minutes. Instead it had taken her ten, though she did make good time by the end, and the path was in her mind now. Her python, whispering in her ear, made similar (somewhat worried comments).
"Now, now, Shirousagi," Kodachi said. The python was neither white, nor a rabbit...but Kodachi naming system rarely made much sense to people. "I am a seasoned expert, this shall not be a difficulty for long."
At any rate, this left her with precious little time to explore the grounds as she had planned. Only an hour or so. The best she could do was to give the grounds a cursory look and maybe plot a rather basic idea of the best routes to take.
She did some basic stretches and looked back up the wall with more than a hint of pride. Then she was walking through the grounds of Hogwarts.
It wasn't long before a curious sound aroused her interest. It sound something like a bird of prey, but it had to be a very large one. And the voice was slightly off.
Her curiousity piqued, Kodachi soon found herself coming to a fenced pen full of magnificent winged creatures looking something like a cross between a horse and an eagle.
With a squeal of excitement Kodachi vaulted the fence and approached one of the proud creatures. She paused before the creature, entranced by its wonderous and strange form, staring into its eyes until it bowed its head.
"Oooh, what a magnificent creature!" Kodachi said in a delighted high-pitched squeal. It sounded very like a little girl being given a cute kitten or puppy to play with as she scratched at its head, giggling in response to its obvious enjoyment.
"Yah." a voice said behind her. "Righ' beautiful beasties they are. Hippogryphs." Kodachi turned around and boggled at the sight of the huge man before.
****
"Did you hear the rumor?" Ron asked as they walked toward Hagrid's hut for a bit of a welcome back breakfast with their old friend.
"What rumor is that?" Hermione asked. "I don't try to listen to much too rumor. And isn't a bit early in the year for their to be rumors flying about already?"
"Its never too early," Harry said ruefully, remembering his early school years being chased about by his cousins minions. "But she is right about specifying what rumor you mean, Ron."
"About Draco's thugs," Ron said with a laugh. "Somebody said they got left hanging from a chandelier over the stairwell. Some of the Slytherins were sniggering about it behind Malfoy's back."
"I'd love to have seen..." Harry paused as they reached Hagrid's cabin and heard voices already inside.
"I do so wish that I could have my Midorigame brought here," a girl's voice sighed.
"What's a medorry gahmay?" Ron asked, confused.
"That's mi do ri ga me," Hermione corrected. "It means green turtle."
"Well why not?" Hagrid asked. "We do have a lake an' all."
"Why would you need a lake for a turtle?" Harry asked.
"But I couldn't send for him," the girl answered.
"If'n its a question of money," Hagrid said.
"It is not," the girl returned, then there was a pause. "Well, perhaps I have not the funds I am used to...but then my brother...I shall just have to be happy with my little beauty here."
"Well, let's not just stand out here," Harry said as he listened to that. He knocked on the door to Hagrid's cabin and was immediately rewarded with an answer.
"One moment," Hagrid called out, then the door was opened to reveal Hagrid's large and cheerful face. "Ahh Harry, Ron, Hermione! Been expecting you three. Come in!"
"Who are you talking to Hagrid?" Ron asked and then sighed upon seeing one of the newest Slytherins sitting on one of Hagrid's massive chairs with a python draped about her as she smiled in a rather excited way.
"Ah, Potter-san!" Kodachi said cheerfully. "Have you seen the wonderful creatures that Hagrid-san is going to be teaching you about? They simply are magnificent!"
"Is it a three-headed dog?" Harry asked nervously.
"Three-headed dog?' Kodachi blinked. "There are such things?"
"Right'o," Hagrid said. "I keep ol' Fluffy in a bit of a dungeon off school grounds. But maybe I can bring him to show you some time."
"Oooo!" Kodachi said excitedly.
"You wouldn't be excited if you knew what fluffy was like," Ron said, not certain about the Slytherin who apparently had made friends with Hagrid. "He must be twentyfeet tall!"
"Oh...is that all?" Kodachi asked. "My Midorigame is at least thirty feet snout to tail."
"Your turtle is thirty feet long?" Hermione asked.
"Oh no, that would be silly," Kodachi said. "Midorigame is my pet alligator."
"Now there's two of them," Ron said.
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(Posted Sun, 17 Nov 2002 22:57)
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