the_debt_of_time

"I'm Professor Silvanus Kettleburn," the old wizard grumbled. "Welcome to Care
of Magical Creatures. Not that you'll actually be caring for anything of any real interest. As
the Ministry has seen fit to remind me that if one's leg is eaten by a dragon, one shouldn't
then try to introduce said dragon to students."
His left leg was missing just below the knee. Unlike Mad-Eye Moody, who wore a
wooden prosthetic, Professor Kettleburn appeared content to just hop around.
"It wasn't even really a dragon," he added with a pout as though it made all the
difference.
"Merlin, this is where Hagrid gets it," Mia whispered to herself as the professor, with
his one remaining hand, scratched at the stump where his forearm used to be.
"Oh, this?" He gestured to the elbow as the students stared. "Chimaera. Cuddly
little things. They've got quite the appetite, though." He smiled wistfully as if he were
remembering an old pet. "Right then, come on over and take a peek at the pens. We've got
nifflers right there, a few puffskeins, some nogtails, and a knarl. Thought I'd show you lot
a handful of little things to start with."
James pouted, his shoulders slumping as he made eye contact with a nogtail that
purred at him. "These fluffy things are pets. Where're the dragons?"
"I want to see the chimaera that chewed his bloody arm off," Sirius whispered.
"I want to be in Arithmancy," Mia complained.
Remus chuckled softly and patted her shoulder consolingly.
"Professor?" James asked. "Are we going to see anything, I don't know, bigger than
this? I heard we've just got a herd of hippogriffs brought in. And there are unicorns in the
Forbidden Forest, aren't there?"
Professor Kettleburn shook his head. "Not for you lad. Unicorns don't take much
of a liking to young men. They wouldn't like you much."
"Evans must be a unicorn." Sirius chuckled, and Remus joined in, while James
glared at them both.
"As for the hippogriffs, they're being evaluated before students are allowed near
them. Temperamental, if you aren't respectful of them." He dipped his chin, and Mia
quietly smirked; the thought of watching either of the Carrow twins getting mauled by a
hippogriff—as Malfoy had been—made her happy inside.
"So nothing interesting, then?" Sirius complained.