Harry Potter and the Order Of the Phoenix [65]
“So, are there more?” asked Hermione, looking around. She still seemed a little shaken form her very close encounter with the giant.
“Here? Yeah, there’s about two more in th’ forest,” said Hagrid.
“Three Hagrid,” said Fridwulfa. “Olympe jus’ brought in another yesterday.”
“Olympe?” asked Harry. “You mean… Madame Maxime?”
“Yup,” said Hagrid, not sounding the least bit embarrassed. “She was the one who found my mum, and is off gettin’ some more now while I teach here.”
“But, doesn’t she have an entire school to run?” asked Harry.
“Well, yes and no. She’s still th’ official ‘eadmaster, but someone else took over for ‘er for a while. Since most of the giants are around her area, we thought she’d be the bes’ to do it, been doin’ a good job of it I guess!”
“But why are you keeping them in the Forbidden Forest?” asked Harry. “There’s got to be better places to hide them!”
“Not really Harry,” said Hagrid. “Giants like this kind of place, and since it’s near Hogwarts, it’s pretty safe.”
“Do you think you’re going to get all the giants to join us, Hagrid?” asked Hermione. Fridwulfa spoke,
“I doubt it Hermione,” she said.
“You mean, they’re joining forces with You-Know-Who?” Ron asked quietly, as though terrified to say even ‘You-Know-Who’.
“No Ron,” said Hagrid. “Most of th’ giants perfer ter stay where they are, in their mountain home, or where ever they’re livin’. A few of ’em will join us, but most won’t, they probably won’t even join You-Know-Who.” Harry gave a shudder at the thought of what Voldemort’s army would be like if he had hundreds of giants on his side.
“So, why are you keeping them here? Why not have an all out attack on You-Know-Who right now?” asked Ron. “Or are you waiting for a special time?” Hagrid frowned.
“Oh! Look at th’ time!” he said, trying to change the subject. “You guys better get back to the castle or you’ll be late fer yer classes! See ya mum!” Hagrid started walking away, dragging Ron and Harry with him.
“See you later Harry!” yelled Fridwulfa as she stood up, and waved good bye.
“So, is this like what all the other teachers were sent out to do last Summer Hagrid? Did they have to recruit giants? Or did they have to do other things? I bet Snape had to-” Ron’s babbling was stopped by a shout from Hagrid who let go of them.
“NO!” he yelled, making all three of them feel like they were blown backwards. “You should not even know abou’ this! You cannot talk abou’ this with other students, do yer understand me!?” The three of them nodded in agreement, far to scared to even think about disagreeing.
“Good,” said Hagrid, much more softly. “Dumbledore would skin me alive if he knew yer three saw ’er!” As they were walking back to the edge of the forest, the whole reason that the three of them had come out finally came to Harry.
“Hagrid,” he asked, “do you know where we can find a gryffin, an chameleon, and a unicorn?” Hagrid immediately tuned around, staring at Harry.
“Uh… depends why, Harry,” he said suspiciously.
“They’re um… for… uh… Professor McGonagall!” he said, trying to come up with a good story.
“Now what would she need those for?” asked Hagrid.
“To… um… uh… grade students on their accuracy! One of her classes had to change some stuff into those animals, and she just wanted something to compare their transfigurations to, something besides pictures in a book,” said Harry. Ron and Hermione looked at him, amazed that he could come up with such a good story.
“Oh!” said Hagrid, looking much happier. “Well, in that case, sure! I can get the chameleon and unicorn easily enough… but the gryffin… that might be a little difficult… I’ll see what I can do. You tell her that, okay Harry?”
“Okay Hagrid,” said Harry. He waved good bye to Hagrid, and then ran back to the castle with Ron and Hermione. When they finally arrived at the front gates, Ron smiled at Harry.
“Excellent story there Harry! I thought you were going to tell him we were becoming Animagi!” he said. “Hey Harry,