"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Quasimodo carefully but lovingly pet the hippogriff's light grey feathers as the creature stared at the stranger thoughtfully.
A few of her feathers were already starting to molt at his touch. "She's an old girl," he admitted, "but don't let that fool you. She's still stronger than most of the bucks." As if to prove his words, she let out a loud, proud caw right into the stranger's face.
"Hagrid lets me help take care of them. You ca-can't get this close to them, but, um, Ironclaw took a liking to me, I guess. I'm not sure why." She turned around and pressed her beak against his palm, calmly and assured, as if a touch could dispell his insecurities.
"Sorry, I rambled, I --" he said, embarrassed. "Anyway -- I ca-can help with any questions you have for, you know, class."