Chapter 46 - Hagrid and Grawp
(A/N - Well, thanks to a few comments I received, I decided to give you a bit of a glimpse as to some of what happened between Harry and Harmony (while she was back to being "herself") on Christmas night…and then, some more plotting behind the scenes.)
"Miss Granger, may I come in?" said a familiar voice as he knocked on her bedroom door.
She looked up from her intense study of her new numerology book. "OH! Professor Dumbledore, sir! And Madam Pomfrey, too! What a pleasant surprise! I surely wasn't expecting any visitors tonight. What brings you two out to Grimmauld Place on Christmas night- are you here to visit with Sirius?" Hermione asked quietly as she invited them in to her room.
As she walked in and removed her outer cloak, Poppy said briskly, "No, Miss Granger, we are not here to see Professor Boardman…or any one else for that matter. To tell the truth, we have come here to check on you…and make sure the potion you took is working properly. First things first - do you still have some of the elixir left? I just want to check that it is of the proper potency."
Hermione pointed the healer to a small cauldron on her nightstand. "There's the last of it - Miss Puckle and I were very careful to follow your instructions, including calculating the proper dosage that I would need to last the night."
Pomfrey was unable to hide her disbelief, since she was of the opinion that she was the only one qualified to make healing potions of this nature <Well, except for possibly Severus> she grudgingly admitted, <but he's not here, is he?> so she carefully ran a series of complicated tests on the sample that remained. Finally, she looked appraisingly at Hermione and slowly nodded her head. "Well, you could have used a little less knotgrass…makes the taste a bit less harsh, I have found…but, as I said to you once, you'd make a great Healer some day, Miss Granger. You seem to have the knack for it - if this potion is any indication. But, the proof is in the pudding, as the Muggles say. How is it working? Can you feel…well, anything over the bond?
Hermione looked up with glistening eyes. "Well….no, not really…at first, I thought I could still sense him…but now, it's as if he's not there anymore…" and then, before they could say anything, Hermione let out a sob and covered her face with her shaking hands…"AND I CAN'T STAND IT!" she admitted, wailing loudly.
Poppy immediately grabbed her up in a motherly hug and talked to her soothingly. "There, there, Hermione…you did a brave and noble thing tonight, you know…sharing your soul-mate with someone else…even if that someone else is you! I can't imagine how hard this would be…wondering what's going on between them…"
Hermione interrupted, trying to talk while choking back more tears. "No, no…you've got it all wrong. I trust Harry…and myself, to not do anything that could weaken his magical powers, or else I would have never considered giving the gift I did. Besides, I already know exactly what they're doing - it's the same thing that Harry and I did in the Room of Requirement. Yes, we had a bit of a snogfest at first, I admit," she said, blushing at the memory, "but we spent most of our time there just cuddling by the fire…talking. It was the most wonderful thing - to just sit and talk to Harry about anything and everything…feeling his arms around me, feeling…well, safe… No, that's not what's bothering me!"
"Well, what is it, child?" Poppy said with surprise as she continued to pat the distraught young woman on the back. "Albus, you'd better leave - this may turn into 'girl talk about men' and I know that you'd prefer I handle that."
"No…that's okay…he can stay. It's nothing like that, either," she said as she dabbed at her eyes, "It's just …I'm just so …LONELY"
Dumbledore's mustache started to twitch. "Ah, I see, Miss Granger. You miss his presence in your mind, do you?"
"Uhhhh huhhh…" she said, sniffling loudly. "I…I've gotten so…used to feeling him there already, it's almost like he's…he's…DEAD!" and she burst into tears again.
"There, there, Miss Granger… Harry's quite all right." Albus said soothingly as he quickly glanced at his pocket watch. "My, look at the time! I do believe that if we go down to the kitchen, Sirius may have finished a batch of some of his wonderful eggnog for us. He promised me that this time he would make it with butterbeer instead of Old Ogden's, so come down and join us, Hermione. It might help you fill in that emptiness in your mind if you're around friends. Soon, it will be Boxing Day, and you'll have him back in your mind again."
*****
"WORMTAIL!"
"Y….yes, master?"
"Where is Macnair's report? Surely he has returned from his meeting with the giants? Clever idea he had to use the cover of trying to capture a Crumple-Horned Snorkack."
"I…I…well…he …he hasn't delivered the report…or returned, for that matter. He hasn't been seen at the Ministry for weeks now."
"WHAT? He should have been back by now… I want a full report by tomorrow."
"Er…Master?"
"What is it now?" Voldemort said, sounding quite annoyed.
"Well, there has been…a report…" Pettigrew said; wincing as he realized what was coming.
"Where did this report come from?"
"The Ministry sent someone to investigate when Macnair failed to return. After what happened because they didn't check on the last Ministry employee to turn up missing, an Auror team is always dispatched to follow up. It was Weasley's suggestion, actually."
"First intelligent idea I've ever heard come from that family. Never mind that. Do you have anything to report, or don't you? Tell me what you know or I'll have to bring Nagini in to play with you for a while."
"Well…that's the problem, my lord. The team returned from the mountains empty-handed…except for what are thought to be the remains of Macnair's robes…and they look like they had been chewed up and spit out by a giant."
"What about the rest of the team? What happened to them?" Voldemort said, sounding more and more agitated.
"All they found was random bits of clothing…and a few bone fragments with teeth marks on them. Nothing even vaguely identifiable except for the robes. "Could have been anything," the public report said. The confidential addendum also reported that giant spoor was also noted in the area, and it looked like there had been a battle between two factions. One giant's head was recovered from the lake, but it wasn't Karkus's. From the description, it was Golgomath - remember, the one that we were trying to recruit?"
"Of COURSE I remember, you fool…why do you think I sent Macnair there in the first place!" Voldemort began to pace, deep in thought. "Someone must have known what we were planning. Either we have a spy in our ranks, or there is someone who has …shall we say, advance knowledge of things? I have been suspicious ever since that toady Umbridge was so quickly removed from Hogwarts. Even though she's not one of us yet, she would have been a useful tool in demoralizing young Mr. Potter if she had been left in her position. Once again, I sense that someone is interfering with our master plan, and Mr. Potter and his mudblood wench top the suspect list, along with that young Canadian witch that works with Flitwick…what was her name? The one that we haven't been able to find anything about?"
"Oh, you must mean Miss Puckle. Mr. Malfoy has kept us informed about her, and she seems to be just another mudblood who wants to share our magic with other mudbloods. If I may be so bold, what about the Headmaster? Wouldn't he be the more likely one?" Peter asked cautiously.
"Foolish idiot, Wormtail! I know Albus well enough to understand he would NEVER interfere with events of this nature - he's too much a believer in maintaining the status quo, even when it is obvious the status quo has been interfered with already. That is one of his weaknesses - what does he call it…that "love" (whatever that is) he says he feels for others keeps him from taking risks. He's a fool, too. The only thing that matters is power - until he learns that, we have the upper hand."
"But master, won't the loss of Macnair's team change our plans to recover the prophecy?"
"You let me worry about that, you pathetic idiot. I always have backup plans."
*****
During their "private" discussions on Christmas night, Harry and Harmony had decided (before they retired to their own rooms about midnight) that for the rest of the holiday, they would include Hermione in their evening conversations instead of having to continue to produce batches of bond-numbing potion. The next morning, as the three of them ate a private breakfast (everyone else was still sleeping in) they presented this idea to Hermione and she was happy to go along with it. <Besides, my love,> she thought to Harry, <I don't know if I could stand it without you in my mind any more.>
Harmony chimed in, <That goes for me, too, Harry…as nice as it was to have you to myself last evening, I don't know that I would be too thrilled about having to 'switch you off' every other night for the rest of the holidays. We'll just have to keep our activities limited to 'conversation only' in the kitchen…if you and one of us kept on disappearing for long periods of time each evening, someone's bound to get suspicious. Besides, I think you've had your fill of snogging for a while, wouldn't you say so, Harry?>
Harry started to protest, but then he saw both of them wink at him from across the table and he knew he was being played with. <Very funny, you two…well, if that's the way you both feel about it, how about one last kiss from each of you before anyone else comes down here? And, for a little privacy, why don't you meet me in the broom closet in a minute? One at a time, of course!>. So, first Hermione, and then Harmony, gladly took him up on his offer. Saiph was coming down the stairs soon after Harmony and Harry left the closet, and after looking at their three faces, immediately wanted to call Madam Pomfrey in to cure them of whatever fever that was making them so flushed. "Never can be too careful, you know…can't have the three of you getting sick. Hopefully there's nothing going around. We've got lots of training left before school starts."
*
After completing their rigorous three-week training course over the holidays, the six students were quite excited for the chance to return to Hogwarts and pass on their knowledge to the rest of the DA. Harry was also glad that this time, at least, he wouldn't have to face Occlumency lesson. <I sure don't want to go through that again!> he thought. Instead, Albus agreed to help fine-tune his control skills, this time with a less confrontational teaching method than Severus had used on him.
Even though Harry and Harmony had warned Albus of the impending breakout from Azkaban, they decided that there was not much that could be done - the dementors had already agreed to look the other way so the Death Eaters could escape, and any warnings would be unheeded. When the breakout was finally announced in the Daily Prophet, there was quite an uproar at Hogwarts, with students of all houses and years spreading rumors and speculation about how Azkaban could have been compromised. The most noticeable effect, however, was at the first DA meeting of the new term - the line of students from all four houses that wished to join went around the Entrance hall and out the front doors onto the grounds a full hour before the meeting was scheduled to start
Harry and Hermione took a quick peek through the doors to the Great Hall at the ever-growing crowd and shook their heads in astonishment. "What are we going to do now, Hermione?" Harry said worriedly. "There is no way we can get that many students into here and do much more than feed them. We need a bigger place for training…and there is no way I can teach all these people by myself."
Hermione smiled at her boyfriend as she shook her head. "Harry, there you go, thinking like a man! You're trying to solve everyone's problems all by yourself. Who says YOU have to teach everyone all the time? Weren't there six of us taking the training over the holidays? As to where, well, why don't we see just HOW accommodating the Room of Requirement can be? We can keep a group here with Harmony, and send the rest upstairs with Professor Boardman. Then the six of us in pairs will work both rooms, focusing on our areas of specialty as we work with individuals and groups."
Harry nodded in amazement as he realized how obvious her solution was. The two of them called a quick meeting of the six students and the two teachers, at which they gladly accepted Hermione's plan. "Neville, why don't you and Ginny take the younger students in the Great Hall this time," "while Harry and I can take the more advanced class upstairs. Ron, how about you and Luna serving as "rovers" today - you can help out in both sections as needed. Then, next week, we rotate assignments."
Harry gave his girlfriend a hug and said "Thanks, 'Mione…I'm glad one of us is thinking, anyway! How come a smart girl like you is hanging out with someone like me?"
"Oh, I don't know, Harry…I always thought that was the smartest thing I've done here," she said, winking at him cheekily, before she opened the doors to the Hall. "Okay, people, Second, Third, and Fourth year students come in here, and Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Years, follow Harry. Come on, move it, everyone!"
*******
The new training schedule worked amazingly well over the remainder of the school year. From time to time, Harry would just sit back and reflect on how much happier he was as he repeated his fifth year with no major incidents or blow-ups. Of course, he realized, there were a number of good reasons why this was so, with no Umbridge to bother him, no Snape to antagonize him, and no Voldemort invading his thoughts with dreams of the Department of Mysteries. About the only concern he had was for Hagrid. Soon after he had told them about what had happened with Golgomath in the mountains, he disappeared without warning for a fortnight. When he returned, he looked like he had been run over by a (very large) truck, but he seemed to be quite happy about it. Harry and Harmony, of course, knew exactly what was going on; but agreed to keep his secret for now until he was willing to share it with Hermione. She was quite concerned whenever she would see her giant friend with a fresh injury from time to time; but, as a good healer should, she kept her probing questions to a minimum as she would help him apply a fresh dragon steak to his eye or make up another batch of healing draught.
There was one other incident that was both the same, and different, than his memories of the earlier fifth year. He had been wondering if he would meet up with Firenze this year, because without Umbridge around, Trelawney's position was safe. So, he was quite pleasantly surprised to see his friend the centaur show up on March 8th, right on schedule; this time being introduced as an assistant divination professor, whose courses would focus on the "grand scale" predictions common to his people in contrast to Sibyll's "local scale" work. As he thought about this, he was saddened to realize that this meant the rift among the centaurs was still in play this time around.
Finally, the last weekend in May was here - the day of the final Quidditch match of the year. Gryffindor was fielding a much improved Ron at Keeper, with Ginny as Seeker and Fred and George as Beaters. Harry smiled as he saw them take to the air against Ravenclaw, the four redheads flying together in a diamond attack formation. Ginny, flying his Firebolt as a special favor, was in the lead; the twins were next, followed by Ron on his Cleansweep, leading the three chasers out of the locker room. <Another reason I'm glad the Hag was banished this time! Gave the twins a chance to participate in one more season before they move on to their joke shop business. Although, I sometimes wish I could have seen a repeat of their masterful escape last time!>, he thought to Harmony wistfully. She responded immediately from her seat in the staff tower, <Well, that IS one of the memories that I placed in the Pensieve…you could probably ask Albus if you can review that day's events from my viewpoint. Tell him it is fine with me - I'm quite used to having you share my thoughts, you know!>
He and Hermione were just settling in to watch the match when he heard a familiar, but very happy, voice. "Harry…Hermione…Listen, can yeh come with me? Now? While ev'ryone's watchin' the match?"
Although he already knew the answer, Harry was still a bit exasperated as he knew he was going to miss the match again… "Er…can't it wait, Hagrid?" he asked over his shoulder, continuing to watch the team warm up. "Till the match is over?"
"No," said Hagrid. "No, Harry, it's gotta be now…while ev'ryone's lookin' the other way…Please?"
Harry turned around and was surprised to see that Hagrid was not injured in the least this time - no bloody nose, no black eyes, and no scars. Harry had not seen him in this good of a mood for months; he looked quite pleased with himself.
"Course," said Harry at once, "'course we'll come…" He didn't have to even check with his girlfriend as he stood up - he knew without a doubt she was right behind him.
He and Hermione edged back along their row of seats, causing much grumbling among the students who had to stand up for them. The people in Hagrid's row were not complaining, merely attempting to make themselves as small as possible.
"I 'ppreciate this, you two, I really do," said Hagrid as they reached the stairs. He was beaming as they descended toward the lawn below. "I jus' hope you'll like my surprise."
"What is it, Hagrid?" said Hermione, looking up at him with a curious expression on her face as they hurried across the lawn toward the edge of the forest.
"Yeh - yeh'll see in a mo'," said Hagrid, looking over his shoulder as a great roar rose from the stands behind them. "Hey - did someone jus' score?"
"Sounds like it…wonder how Ron's doing?" Harry said. <Wait…I know how to find out. Harmony, what just happened?>
<Oh…it was amazing - Ron just had a wicked save…score's still tied. By the way, Harry - say hi to Grawp for me. I saw you leaving with Hagrid just now. Take care of my younger self for me, okay? Remember what happened last time! Do you want me to keep you up to date on the match while you're traveling? Or would it be too much of a distraction?>
Harry was definitely conflicted for a moment, but finally he said, <Better not…it would be too hard to explain when we got back if I already knew the details. But make sure you are keeping a good memory of this. I'll want to see a replay of THIS match in the Pensieve for sure.>
They had to jog to keep up with Hagrid as he strode across the lawn…
*****
"Hagrid, would it be all right if we lit our wands?" said Hermione quietly as they drove deeper into the dark forest.
"Er…all righ'," Hagrid whispered back. "In fact…"
He stopped suddenly and turned around; Hermione walked right into him and was knocked over backward. Harry, already expecting this to happen, caught her well before she hit the ground. While they continued to walk, she followed up through their private link. <Thanks, Harry…how'd you know that he was going to do that? Do you know what's going on here?>
<Patience, my love…you'll see soon. Just promise me you won't sit on any large mossy boulders until I give you the okay!>
<Mossy …what? Harry, you're not making any sense.> she chided, but she realized that Harry was not going to say any more on the subject and resignedly kept walking.
Finally, they reached a small clearing, in which they faced a large, smooth mound of earth nearly as tall as Hagrid.
"Okay, Hagrid…why have you brought us here?" Hermione said as she immediately recognized what she was looking at.
"Well…Albus has asked me to do some work for the Order that means I won't be around the rest of the term, and…I need someone t' look ou' for my half-brother. He's sleepin' now…but he's not too bad onc't you get to know 'im. At firs' he was a bi' of a han'ful, but he's calmed down a lot lately."
"So, this is why you were so beat up earlier in the year." Hermione said. "I assume you found him when you were on your expedition with Madame Maxime?"
"Yeah…tha's righ'…took him a while to make it here, though…not too easy to sneak around Europe wi' someone Grawp's size. I had to leave him for a while in a safe place when I came to repor' to Dumbledore abou' wha' had 'appened wi' Macnair that day you talked to me, then I wen' back for him the next day. Anyway, here he is."
"Grawp?" said Hermione.
"Yeah …well, tha's what it sounds like when he says his name," said Hagrid anxiously. "He's gettin' to know a fair amount of English now that he's calmed down. At firs' he didn't take to his lessons too well, but I got through t' him. Jus' had to have a bit of a firm hand wi' him. When he saw I was serious, he gave in. Well, better now than never - mus' be time to wake him up an' introduce you."
"Wha - no!" said Hermione, jumping up, "Hagrid, no, don't wake him, really, we don't need - "
But Hagrid had already stepped over the great trunk in front of them and was proceeding toward Grawp. When he was
around ten feet away, he lifted a long, broken bough from the ground, smiled reassuringly over his shoulder at Harry
and Hermione, and then poked Grawp hard in the middle of the back with the end of the bough.
The giant gave a roar that echoed around the silent forest. Birds in the treetops overhead rose twittering from their perches and soared away. In front of Harry and Hermione, meanwhile, the gigantic Grawp was rising from the ground, which shuddered as he placed an enormous hand upon it to push himself onto his knees and turned his head to see who and what had disturbed him.
"All righ', Grawpy?" said Hagrid in an honestly cheery voice. "Had a nice sleep, eh?"
"Hagger…zat u?" the young giant said. "Who them?" he grunted, pointing at Harry and Hermione.
"Grawp, this is Harry…and his friend Hermione. They're the ones I told you abou'…he's the one tha' warned me about Golgomath, remember?"
"Oooh…Golgomath bad giant…hit me lots. Beat me up. Cal'd me names…don' like Golgomath!" Grawp said, shaking his head ruefully. " 'arry warn Hagger? Golgomath dead now! 'arry Grawp's fren…save Grawp life!"
If Harry hadn't been there, he never would have believed what happened next. Grawp, all sixteen feet of him, bowed politely and smiled, showing his huge yellow teeth. "Grawp help 'arry…and pretty Hermy…all time."
"Well, I reckon tha's enough fer one day," said Hagrid, a huge smile on his face. We'll go back now, shall we? Don' wan' to press our luck, y' know."
Harry and Hermione nodded. Hagrid shouldered his crossbow again and led the way back into the trees.
*****
"HARRY! HERMIONE!" yelled Ron, waving the silver Quidditch Cup in the air and looking quite beside himself. "WE DID IT! WE WON!
They beamed up at him as he passed; there was a scrum at the door of the castle and Ron's head got rather badly bumped on the lintel, but nobody seemed to want to put him down. Still singing, the crowd squeezed itself into the entrance hall and out of sight. Harry and Hermione watched them go, beaming, until the last echoing strains of "Weasley is Our King" died away. Then they turned to each other, their smiles fading.
"We'll save our news till tomorrow, shall we?" said Harry.
"Yes, all right," said Hermione wearily. "I'm not in any hurry…"
*****
(A/N - First, a shameless plug -please read my daughter's story, The Wish List. I think it is a great story.
Fair warning #1 - If you haven't read it already, be prepared - some scenes in TWL made me cry. Happy tears, but tears nonetheless, and I'm not embarrassed at all to say that! She is really making me proud…I am amazed with what she comes up with sometimes. Also, check out her other stories while you're there.
I normally don't do this, but I have TWO more shameless plugs that I have to add. I would recommend checking out Journey to Solace. Luna has a different style of writing, but I like it - at the time of this final posting, she had not updated it for a while, so leave a review and maybe she will feel inspired to finish it off. And, finally, for those of you who are musicians, music lovers, or you just want an emotional experience when it comes to H/Hr "moments", PLEASE go immediately to read this story - Finding the Muse -and leave a review.
Fair warning number # 2 - Remember at the beginning of Chapter 45 I said something about "the calm before the storm"? Well, that storm is coming in the next chapter. Don't say I didn't warn you!)