Chapter 6 – Detention with a Giant
When morning came and Aiden awoke, it was with a slightly happier prospect for the day than he should have had. Slowly, he climbed out of bed, trying to hold on to the last remnants of sleep. He sluggishly pulled on his clothes, wandering into the boys' shared bathroom to brush his teeth. Once the cold water from the sink hit his face, all hope of holding onto sleep faded, and Aiden admitted, finally, that a new day had arrived. A new day with detention waiting.
Aiden made his way slowly into the Common Room, noticing how everyone else was still asleep. It was early Saturday morning, and few actually promised to be awake. The boy's stomach grumbled and he grabbed it in an attempt to make it shut up. Well, breakfast it is.
After finally making it to the Great Hall, having made several stops to navigate around students who had curled up on the stairs to attempt to get some more sleep before breakfast but who were too lazy to walk all the way back to their beds, Aiden sat down at the near empty Gryffindor table. He piled food onto his plate, suddenly realizing just how hungry he really was. Across from him sat a very grumpy looking Kaylee, who had herself just crawled out of bed and followed Aiden to the food. Neither one spoke as they ate, the lazy morning more than enough to keep students quiet and asleep (for the most part).
Aiden's attention was set for the late morning; he was to meet Hagrid outside of the half-giant's hut. Since the seeker had finished his breakfast and more students were filing into the Great Hall, the raven-haired boy assumed it would be time to head out for his rather long afternoon.
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Approaching the hut, Aiden realized Hagrid wasn't the only one standing there, waiting for him. Looking very, very small beside the giant stood the Slytherin seeker, arms crossed and head looking out over the lake. Aiden sighed, knowing the day would be made just so much longer with the other boy present. Mat was the one who got him into this mess in the first place, leading him back at a time when Professor McGonagall was waiting for him. The Gryffindor was beginning to hate the Syltherin more and more each day.
Approaching the half-giant and glaring at his enemy, Aiden gave a brief, quiet greeting.
"Ah, no need ta be afraid, Aiden. You're the splittin' image of your da', you know. Right down to tha' 'air." He let out a large laugh, the smile on his face glowing. "This way, then. We'll be 'elpin' someone learn English. He ain't too good yet, ya know, but your da' used to 'elp, as did 'Ermione and Ron." The half-giant continued to talk well into the forest, leading the way through the dense trees.
Aiden marveled at the forest, frightful in all of its beauty. The trees swayed gently in the wind, leaves rustling together. Small crunching noises could be heard across the way, the animals making them hidden behind thick bushes and brush. The youth couldn't help but look around, wondering why this forest was, after all, forbidden. As far as he could see, it was just a beautiful place, a normal forest beside a large castle.
Hagrid held out his hand, his arm successfully stopping the boys trailing behind him. Aiden glanced to his right, surprised to find the Slytherin uninterested in the forest around him. Loud footsteps got even louder in front of them, and the Gryffindor quickly turned his head forward again.
In front of them ran three centaurs, armor-less and carrying their bows. Two of them looked young, as similar in face as brothers, and the other looked much older. On his face you could still see the once youthful features that were now portrayed on the young centaurs' faces. They nodded to Hagrid in greeting, glancing behind him at the relatively small boys. One of the younger ones laughed, nudging the other young one until he laughed as well. The older one smiled, nodding once again as his ears picked up a sound deeper in the forest. With a quick wave to his boys, the older centaur took off again, pulling an arrow free with his empty hand. The two younger creatures took off after the older centaur, smiling widely at the first years. Their laughter echoed in the tree tops as their hoof beats faded away.
"I'm glad ta see Rowen out with 'is kids. They could use some trainin', still. Well, come on. We've still go' a way ta go." The half-giant flashed another wide smile, waving to the boys to follow once again. Aiden quickly obeyed, tripping over a thick root the other first year easily stepped over.
They walked for another half hour or so before Hagrid stopped them again. This time, however, he turned around to face the boys. "Now, I know I can trust you, Aiden, ya won't say anythin' to anyone outside tha castle. But Riddle, ya got ta promise meh ya won't say nuttin'. I was unsure if ah wanted ta bring ya, at first, but McGonagall told me you were good ta have around if trouble arose. Ya can't tell anyone outside of 'ogwarts, alright?"
The Slytherin nodded, still rather bored. He'd been in the forest before, just a few days ago. That's why he had detention, after all. He'd been caught in the forbidden forest with one of the library's restricted section books, carefully "borrowed" from the library. The Slytherin sighed, wondering just what kind of creature they'd be trying to teach English to.
Hagrid stepped through the trees, parting the little bush that blocked the way. He waited for the boys to follow before calling out to someone. The name he used wasn't a normal, human name.
Hagrid had led the boys to a small clearing within the forest. It looked to be able to fit maybe two or three of Hagrid's huts, the trees and bushes lining the edges having been crushed. The ground beneath them was also crushed, the grass no longer growing upright.
Aiden stared at the ground as it began to shake, realizing the loud crashes in the forest were getting closer to them. He looked up as a deep cry was made; falling backwards as he saw what was coming out at them. The crashing sounds had been footsteps, and in front of Hagrid stood a fully grown giant whom he called Grawp.
Mat stared at the giant, his eyes narrowed. "Figured he'd have a giant in this forest." He smirked.
"Grawppie! I brought you some new friends!"
Hagrid's smile was unmistakable. He really cared for the giant trying to crush him in a hug. Not to say he wouldn't care for any rare creature trying to kill him, but this one seemed to give Hagrid a genuine, family-only smile.
"Kaykay?" The giant's expression was confused. He looked around his half brother, furrowing his brow at the two boys who stood there. "Not Kaykay!" he yelled rather loudly. His face screwed up in anger at the missing girl.
"No, not Kaykay. Kaylee couldn't come today, Grawppie. But you have two new friends! Aiden and Riddle. Aiden's 'Arry's son, Grawp. Do you remember 'Arry?" Hagrid had finally been let down, even happier now than he was before. He was glad Grawp had come to expect Kaylee at their little lessons; he learned well from her, and she was patient enough to teach him.
Aiden's eyes went wide as the giant picked him up. The grip around his waist was tight, and he barely had room to move. "Too…tight…"
"Hmrgph?" Grawp let out as a loud grunt, inspecting the boy he held onto. He lifted him up, moving the slender seeker closer to the giant's face. More confusion jumped around before being replaced with a giant smile. "'Arry! 'Arry, 'Arry!" He was more than excited at the prospect of an old friend. He looked about to jump up and down, boy in his arms included.
"No, Ah told ya Grawp, it's not 'Arry, it's 'is son! Aiden!" Hagrid looked up at Aiden, a helpless expression on his face. "Sorry Aiden. 'Ard time teachin' 'im anythin' new."
"It's alright…professor." Aiden wiggled around a little, trying to find a more comfortable position. Grawp giggled, finding the wriggling thing very, very amusing. His giggle turned into a laugh and the trees nearby swayed at the sound waves attacking them. The Gryffindor stopped moving, having realized there was no "more comfortable" spot. He sighed, looking at the giant whose attention had moved elsewhere. The grip did not lesson.
"Pwetty kitty!" This time the other seeker was being dragged closer for inspection, Grawp moving the Slytherin within inches of his nose to get a better view. "'Arry's wifey, 'Agrid?" The Slytherin scoffed.
"Did he just call me a girl?" Mat's expression was one of disgust, disliking the giant already. "And please don't tell me he just called me Potter's wife."
"'E 'as problems differentiatin' when it comes ta ones like you. 'E's used to males lookin' one way an' females lookin' another." Hagrid tried to explain, at a loss for words. His half-brother had never called another guy a girl before, nor had he ever had an idea that those who'd come to visit were married. "'E's a 'e, Grawppie! Male! Not wifey!"
Grawp let out a grunt, not paying attention to his half-brother's words. He started shaking his arm up and down, trying to gauge the pretty boy's actions. His eyes were keenly set on the toy he had in his firm grip.
"Get him to…stop! Professor!" Mat yelled, getting slightly sick. The sensation of quickly rising and dropping over and over again was a lot worse than any broom ride he'd had, and he badly wanted to get down. "Stop it, Grawp!"
The giant stopped, listening to the 'toy'. His eyes screwed together in confusion, and he gripped harder to make the boy shut up. "'Arry and wifey kiss kiss! Grawp want you kiss kiss!"
Grawp brought his two hands together, shoving the two boys at each other. Aiden leaned as far back as he could, maintaining no desire whatsoever to "kiss kiss" his "wifey". The Slytherin had no options of leaning back; the giant had him gripped around the torso in a crushing hold. It was quickly becoming difficult to breathe.
"Grawppie, stop! Let them down now! Grawp!" Hagrid tried calling in vain; his half-brother wasn't listening to anyone anymore. Hagrid attempted everything he knew would normally get his brother's attention, and found none of it to work, and his brother just continued on doing what he was doing.
The clearing they were in was full of childish grunts and squeals, giant laughter and giggles. Grawp keep trying to get the boys to kiss, only to fail when he brought them too close or ended up banging them together. His laughter slowly subsided, and his smile faded away as the toys he had wouldn't do as he asked them to. He began getting angrier at them, not aware that the part of the problem laid with him and his coordination skills.
"Kiss kiss wifey! Kiss KISS!" He yelled the last word, tightening his grip further. Aiden struggled, attempting to pull himself from the giant's hold. He was being crushed. The Gryffindor screamed in pain, knowing that much longer under this pressure and his hips would probably break. Aiden couldn't get to his wand, having left it in his pant's pocket. He squirmed, attempting to break free. If Aiden had listened closely instead of struggling, he would have heard a nearly whispered spell coming from the giant's other hand.
Suddenly Grawp dropped both boys, screaming and clutching the hand that had held the Slytherin. It appeared to have been burned, the skin a deep red color. The giant stuck the offended skin into his mouth, glaring daggers at the students and receding back into the forest, out of the clearing. Slowly he disappeared, and Hagrid went after his half-brother.
Aiden clutched his hips, dropping to the ground and landing heavily on his knees. He pulled his wand out, making sure it wasn't broken in the giant's grip. The pain was already leaving him, though he knew the skin would be bruised for weeks. When the seeker heard a grunt, he looked up, startled.
"Potter…Epis…key….cast…" The Slytherin had difficulty getting the words out. He had landed on his knees as well, one arm clutching his ribs, the other supporting him from the ground. He lifted himself up, making sure his chest was in line with Aiden's wand. He wasn't breathing well and blood was trickling down from his nose. "Potter…Episkey…" His voice was quiet, barely audible.
"But…I've never…" Aiden protested. He'd never heard of the spell, let alone performed it. How was he supposed to get it right? The youth had seen what happened when spells went wrong in charms class, feathers blowing up and lizards turning inside out. Aiden faltered, and did not raise his wand. Not even a jerk like Riddle deserved to be turned inside out by a badly cast spell.
"Potter!" The Slytherin's tone was commanding, even as quiet as it was. He coughed, covering his mouth with his free hand. When he pulled the hand away, it was covered in blood.
"Aiden, it's alright. Episkey is a 'ealing spell. Cast it." Hagrid had given up on following his brother, and now stood near Mat, unable to do anything without a wand. If the boy died now, it would be his fault, not Grawp's.
Aiden raised his wand, pointing it at the other seeker. He closed his eyes, trying to imagine how healing spells were performed. He'd only seen Hermione cast one once, and it defiantly wasn't this one. Mimicking her wand movements, he attempted his first healing spell. "Episkey!"
There was a crunching noise, and another grunt from the long haired youth. Mat let himself fall to the ground, breathing. He rolled onto his back, lying full out on the ground beneath him. Aiden slowly opened his eyes, afraid he'd killed the other. Once he'd spotted breathing, he let out a breath he didn't know he held. Hagrid stood over the Slytherin, concern masking his face.
"Are you alright, Riddle? I'm sorry, Grawppie gets outta control sometimes." Hagrid offered his hand to the boy on the ground. Mat took it, and slowly stood.
"I don't think I'll be coming back out here, professor." The thin seeker wiped away the blood that had flown from his nose, still a little shaky on his legs. "Good thing you're a natural, Potter. Though casting spells with your eyes closed will get someone killed one day."
"Hey! I just saved your life, Riddle! Don't you think I deserve some gratitude, or something?" Aiden stood up, glaring at the long haired Slytherin. The Slytherin glared back.
"I don't do thanks, Potter. Just be glad you didn't kill me." The Slytherin walked back towards the small place they entered the clearing from, staggering slightly as he walked. Once he'd reached the bush that Hagrid had pushed away, he turned back to face the teacher. "Professor, I'm assuming detention is over today." With Hagrid's nod, he walked out of the clearing, heading back to school.
Aiden shook his head, stretching his legs. They ached, as they probably would all week. The boy dreaded Quidditch practice later that week. Sitting on a broom for three hours while your entire lower body is covered in bruises didn't sound like a lot of fun.
"Well, we best get 'eadin' back, then." And the two headed back towards the castle with Hagrid leading, running into nothing bigger than a bunny rabbit on the way.
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Sometime after dinner, while Aiden was telling Jayden about his detention, Professor McGonagall approached the two Gryffindors with a small paper bag in her hands. She handed it to Aiden with a nod, and walked off, back out of the Gryffindor Common Room. The Gryffindor peered inside the bag, pulling out a small potion vile. It was labeled as a salve for bruises, the handwriting most likely the school nurse's. Apparently, Hagrid had told the Professor what had happened at detention that day. The seeker had told Hagrid he would visit Grawp again, but defiantly not anytime soon.
When Aiden had re-accounted the day's events for Jayden, the other Gryffindor was way too excited for his own good. He had insisted on the two going off and getting detention together, his mind set on visiting the giant in the forest. After an hour of debate with the weary seeker, the other Gryffindor had stood up, and promptly left the Common Room. Aiden hoped he wasn't looking for detention. That boy always got the opposite of what he was looking for.
