Chapter Ten- Giants and Thestrals

The trio reached Hagrid's front door and knocked which set off Fang's booming barks. "Hagrid, it's us," Harry called.

"What took yeh so long?" came the reply. "Been waitin' since last night."

The three of them exchanged grins as the door opened and Hermione exclaimed, "Hagrid!"

"Come on, come on get in," Hagrid said, gesturing with one large hand.

"Hagrid, what happened to you?" Hermione asked once the door closed behind them. Harry agreed with Hermione's question. Hagrid's face was a swollen mass of bruises and cuts and Harry wondered how he got those injuries.

Hagrid waved a hand in a dismissive motion. "It's nothin'. I'm fine. Oh, it's great to see you three, er you two." He blinked at the black and silver fox before looking at Hermione and Ron. "Er, where's Harry?"

Harry exposed his scar. "Right here."

Hagrid gaped. "Blimey, Harry. What happened to yeh?"

"I had a long-term Glamour Charm on me that broke over the summer. I'm a magical fox on my father's side."

"A fox? You mean like Professor Snape?"

"Exactly like Professor Snape. He's been teaching me fox magic for the last three months."

"Harry, show Hagrid and Hermione that one you showed me on our first night," Ron said.

"What one?" Hermione asked.

Harry grinned before changing into a fox. Hermione's mouth formed an O-shape. Hagrid stared for a moment before lifting Harry from his seat.

"Harry, this is amazing," he said with a smile. He laid Harry over one arm and ran his free hand gently down Harry's back. "So soft and silky," he murmured.

Harry squirmed slightly before leaping out of Hagrid's arms and onto his seat before changing forms. "Hagrid," he said in a surprised tone. He hadn't expected Hagrid to act like that; he usually like dangerous creatures.

"Ah, sorry about that. I never seen a magical fox. Professor Snape never drops his Glamour and he would refuse to be a lesson for me classes. I've asked a few times during me first year as well as last year."

"I'm not interested in being a lesson, either," Harry stated gently.

"Not to worry. I got some great lessons for yeh not that I'm back. Been savin' some interestin' creatures for yer O.W.L. year."

"How'd you get those injuries?" Ron asked, gesturing at his face.

"I told yeh, it's nothin'."

"Did the giants beat you up?" Harry asked quietly.

Hagrid looked astonished. "Who said anythin' about giants?"

"Professor Snape told me. He explained the Order's effort against Voldemort."

Hagrid winced at the name as did Ron and Hermione. "Don't think he should be tellin' yeh about that, but yeah I went to talk to giants about joining our side."

"And?" Hermione prompted.

"Found them. Long way from here, up in some mountains. Olympe, Madam Maxine to yeh, went with me. We made friendly contact with the chief before he was killed. The new chief didn't want to listen to us, but he was talkin' to someone else."

"Death Eaters," Harry said.

Hagrid nodded. "We tried to persuade giants who didn't like the chief but the Death Eaters were aware of our presence and threatened them. They didn't want to have anythin' to do with us after that."

"So, no giants," Ron said.

"Hagrid, what kind of lessons are you planning to do with us?" Hermione asked after a moment.

"Ah, I don't want to spoil the surprise. It'll impress that inspector, I'll tell yeh that."

"Umbridge was here?" Harry asked.

"Last night. Strange woman. Talkin' loud and slow to me."

"It's because she hates half-breeds," Harry growled. "She's mistaken me for a half-breed but I haven't done or said anything to her."

"You're not a half-breed," Hagrid protested. "I would know just lookin' at yeh."

"Anyway, careful with your lessons. She's already put Trelawney on probation and she'll do the same to you. She wants to get rid of teachers who seem too close to Dumbledore."

"Please," Hermione begged. "Teach us something boring like Knarls or Crups. Something that'll come up in our O.W.L. exams."

"Why show yeh somethin' like that? You just wait. These creatures are special."

"I can't believe he won't listen to us," Hermione said as they walked back to the castle. "He had to know we're worried about him."

"I'm sure he did, but he's not the sort to teach boring creatures," Harry said. Once they entered the Entrance Hall, Ron and Hermione dragged Harry into an empty classroom and closed the door.

"What else did Snape tell you about the Order?" Ron asked. "Hermione and me were at headquarters all summer, but we weren't allowed at meetings and no one would tell us anything. They just made us clean the house along with the twins and Ginny."

"He didn't tell me everything. He mentioned that recruiting members wasn't going well. He said that Voldemort wants an army of Dark Creatures and that the Death Eaters would get people to join them by using the Imperius Curse. Oh, and Snape's spying on Voldemort and reporting what he hears to Dumbledore."

"So, Snape's really on our side?" Ron asked.

"Yes, he is." Harry felt a surge of love for his mate and looked forward to next week's lesson.

Hagrid's reappearance at the Staff Table Monday morning was received with mixed results. Fred, George, and Lee charged up to shake hands with Hagrid, roaring with delight. Lavender and Parvati exchanged gloomy looks and Harry knew that they preferred Grubbly-Planck's lessons something a part of him understood. Yet, he had missed Hagrid and hoped that the "special creatures" weren't dangerous to the point that it would put Hagrid on probation though Umbridge would likely put him on probation simply because he was half-giant. It was with this view that weighed on Harry's mind as he and his classmates headed down to Hagrid's house on Tuesday morning.

He was waiting by his house with what looked like half a dead cow on his shoulder. His face was still covered in bruises, a fact that didn't go unnoticed. "We're workin' in here today," Hagrid announced, pointing toward the forest. "We're gonna observe them in their natural habitat. Anyways, they like the dark and quiet."

Harry heard Malfoy whispering in a panic to Crabbe and Goyle and felt satisfaction at the fact that Malfoy hadn't gotten any braver since his first and last trip into the forest. He confidently followed Hagrid into the forest with the rest of the class behind him.

"Hagrid, have you been inspected yet?" Harry asked softly as he drew alongside him.

"It'll be this class today."

"Well, just don't let her get to you and it'll be fine."

"Yeh mean 'cause of her dislike of half-breeds?" Hagrid nodded. "I'll be careful, Harry."

Their surroundings grew darker as they traveled deeper into the forest. Harry saw the darkness close in on them and then it lightened so it didn't seem so dark. I knew foxes have night vision and that seems to include magical foxes. Cool!

Hagrid soon stopped in what seemed to be the heart of the forest and laid the dead cow on the ground in front of him before turning around. Harry also turned to see his classmates darting from tree to tree, looking around nervously. "Gather round, everyone. Nothin' to be afraid of, they're well-trained."

"You're sure they're trained?" Malfoy challenged, his voice trembling slightly with fear. "But then it wouldn't be the first time you brought dangerous stuff to class, would it?"

Hagrid ignored him. "Now, I'll call them. They like to know it's me." He turned to the darkness and let out a high-pitched bird shriek. It sounded especially high to Harry's fox ears. Hagrid shrieked again and after a few seconds of silence, Harry heard the sound of something approaching.

Harry inhaled sharply. It was a black skeletal horse with leathery bat wings and blank white eyes. He had seen this horse and others like it pulling the carriages this year. But, what were they and why were they pulling carriages that can move by themselves?

The horse approached the carcass and began to rip strips of meat off it. It was soon joined by a second and as Harry watched, Ron whispered, "Why doesn't Hagrid call again?"

Harry looked at Ron. "You don't see them?" he asked softly.

"See what?"

"Now, then," Hagrid said turning back to the class. "Who can see them?"

Harry put up his hand as did a Slytherin and Neville. Hagrid looked at him. "Yeah, I figured you'd be able to. And you, Neville?"

"Excuse me?" Malfoy drawled. "But what are we supposed to be seeing?"

Hagrid pointed at the meat for an answer. Pansy gave a shriek as a horse tore off another strip. "What's doing that?" she squeaked, darting behind a tree.

"Thestrals," Hagrid announced and Harry heard Hermione give an "Oh!" of comprehension. "So, there is loads to know about Thestrals."

"But they're really, really unlucky!" Pansy exclaimed.

"No, no. That's just superstition. They're actually quite useful," Hagrid protested.

"Hem, hem."

Hagrid, not having heard Umbridge's fake cough, looked at the closest Thestral thinking it made the noise.

"Hem, hem."

"Oh, good morning, Professor," Hagrid greeted after looking around and spotting her.

"You received the note I sent to your cabin this morning?" Umbridge said slowly and loudly. "Telling you I would be inspecting your lesson?"

"Yes, I did. Glad you found the place. I don't know if you can see- we're doing Thestrals today."

"I'm sorry?" Umbridge cupped her ear. "What did you say?"

Harry saw a look of annoyance flash across Hagrid's face before the gameskeeper answered. "Thestrals. Black horses with wings." He turned his attention to the students. "Now, as I was sayin', does anyone know why some people can see them and others can't?" He pointed at Hermione who had her hand up.

"Thestrals can only be seen by people who have seen death," she answered promptly.

"Right you are. Ten points to Gryffindor. Now, Thestrals can be domesticated and Hogwarts have a herd that started out with one male and five females."

"Are you aware," Umbridge interrupted. "that the Ministry of Magic has classified Thestrals as dangerous?"

"Well, yes, but I have already stated that this herd is domesticated and well-trained. They are no more dangerous than dogs."

Umbridge made a few notes before stating loudly and slowly that she was going to question students. She even threw in some sign language.

Hagrid shook his head before saying. "As I was sayin' before, there are lots of things to know about Thestrals. They understand human speech and are an alternative to broomsticks and other modes of transportation. They have an amazin' sense of direction so you'll never be lost again."

Harry drifted to the back where Umbridge was questioning Pansy. He stood quite a ways away, yet his ears easily picked up Pansy's response. He scowled at what he was hearing. Hagrid was going to end up on probation based on Pansy's response, Hagrid's choice of creature, and Umbridge's hatred of half-breeds.

"Ah, Mr. Potter," Umbridge said softly as she came up to him. "You can see the Thestrals, yes?"

"I do," Harry said neutrally.

"What do you think of them?"

"They're interesting. Hagrid's quite knowledgably about them and about magical creatures overall."

Umbridge made a note which Harry doubted was good, then addressed Hagrid loudly and slowly again with sign language saying that he'll get the results of his inspection in ten days. Then she turned and bustled out of the forest.