Chapter 20
"A Giant Problem"
There are those that would sell their very souls for a good hangover potion. Luckily for Severus, the Chief of Giants was just that sort of fellow.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. It all started when our heroes finally found the roving giants, and met one in particular named Hagrid. Well, technically Hagrid was a half giant, which was why he had been reduced to the menial task of standing guard – as if there was anyone stupid enough to want to visit a colony of blood thirsty giants.
"You know, some might think I'm stupid, but I'm anxious to see this colony of blood thirsty giants," Sirius commented, observing the hulking figures lumbering around in the distance.
"I don't think you're stupid. I know you are," Severus replied. Sirius didn't get a chance to defend himself, as Severus continued to speak, "This guard has drunk himself to sleep. He's no threat." Severus was referring to Hagrid, who was lying on the outskirts of the camp, an empty bottle in each hand.
"Well, I guess he won't be announcing our presence. What do we do now?" Ron asked, relaxing his guard slightly. Remus was just about to make a suggestion when Hagrid shot up, his eyes bloodshot, his enormous arms flailing.
"Wha'?! Who's there?! I'll rip ye limb from limb, I will! All eight of you!" Hagrid's threat fell short when he suddenly gripped his beard, pulling on it painfully as he moaned. Thinking quickly, Severus stepped forward.
"I have a cure for your aching head, giant," Severus barely got the potion out of his belt before Hagrid snatched it and chugged it down. He wiped the back of his mouth with the back of his large hand, the redness clearing from his eyes.
"Ah, a finely brewed hangover potion – that's a rare good," Hagrid commented knowledgeably. Severus merely arched a thin brow.
"I am a potions master. I brewed it myself yesterday."
"Well then, I owe you, don' I? I'm Hagrid, gate keeper," Hagrid introduced.
With a grin, Sirius whispered in Remus's ear, "What's a gate keeper without a gate? We could have come from the other direction and waltzed right into the camp." Remus smiled, and thankfully Hagrid didn't overhear.
"I'm Severus Snape, this is Captain Ronald, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin. We are travelers searching for five very important keys. It is rumored one belongs to the leader of the giants." Hagrid stood up, and despite themselves the travelers were impressed by his sheer size.
"An' what's a runt like yerself goin' to do to get this key of yours from the chief, eh?" Hagrid asked mockingly. Severus said a prayer to his lucky stars and cleared his throat.
"The rest of the giants – do they share your fondness for drink?"
"You aren't a proper giant if ye can't hold yer drink, everybody knows that," Hagrid replied gruffly, pride in his voice.
"Then, in exchange for the key, I'll brew enough hangover potion to last your chief for a long time." The group held their breath, wondering if it would actually work. Hagrid sighed, patting his large belly contemplatively.
"Well, I reckon the chief we'll want to hear yer offer. Course' if he don't like it, he'll probably eat you." Severus swallowed thickly, but nodded. "An' 'cause I owe you, I'll give you a little tip. Only one of you should go – if you go in a group the chief will think yer a coward. And you should offer a gift. Then he migh' hear what you have to say. I suppose you'll be the one to go, eh?" Hagrid asked, indicating Severus with his meaty finger. After a quick glance at the others, Severus nodded and stepped forward.
"And, if I may ask, what kind of gift would the chief desire?" Severus asked. Hagrid shrugged dismissively.
"The usual sort, 'spose. He's particularly fond of things that shine." Severus quickly racked his brain for anything they had that was shiny. With a glum look on his face, Sirius stepped forward as well. He pulled a small parcel wrapped in rough silk and tied with twine out of his tunic. He passed it to Severus wordlessly.
"You need this more than I do. Good luck, Snape." Severus started to open it, but Sirius shook his head. "Not till you're in front of the chief." Severus desperately wanted to check to make sure it was a presentable gift, but the look of sacrifice was so great in Sirius's eyes that Severus didn't want to insult him by questioning the offer. He would simply have to trust the thief. He would have his head inspected for brain damage later.
-
Hagrid had led him past all the enormous, glaring giants to a tent that stood taller than all the others. Two burly men, taller than Hagrid by seven feet, had their arms crossed over their broad chests. Severus tried not to appear frightened, but it was a close thing. Thankfully, Hagrid did the talking.
"This traveler has an' offer for the chief." One of the guards grunted, then poked his head inside the tent. He let out more grunts that vaguely resembled a language, then reappeared.
"The chief will see him," he said briskly. He pulled the flap back, then glared at Severus as he gathered his courage to walk into the huge dwelling.
The inside of the tent was decorated with highly polished beads and lavish rugs. Two torches burned just inside the entrance, illuminating the gargantuan giant sitting inside. A female giant sat by his side, a bowl of grapes in her hands. They were dressed in animal furs, and the chief had thick gold bands on each broad finger. Around his neck, on a chain of wooden beads, was a key carved from bone. Severus bowed, hoping it was the appropriate thing to do, then pulled the twine off the small bundle. However, his attention was diverted from the chief when he glimpsed what was inside the silk.
A gold band, designed for a man, rested in his open palm. The gold positively glimmered in the semi-dark tent, but it was the breathtaking diamond in the center that made Severus catch his breath. It sparkled with its own light, captivating anyone who looked at it with its brilliance. It was very obviously a wedding band fit for a king.
"Do you bring a gift, traveler?" The ruler asked excitedly, his beady eyes glued to the glittering band. Severus felt his heart swell with gratitude for the roguish thief.
"Yes, honorable Chief, I present this ring to you as a sign of my respect and good will," Severus walked further into the tent, the gold in his hand seemingly lighting his path to the fat chieftain. He dropped it into the chief's palm. Beside him, the female grunted in an impressed sort of way.
"Your gift pleases me. What do you want, traveler?" The chief asked, a satisfied look on his flat face. Severus resisted the urge to sigh in relief and plunged forward.
"I am interested in a trade. I will brew you a large supply of hangover potion for the key that hangs around your neck." The chief grunted, stroking his thick beard in thought. It didn't take long.
"It's a deal."
-
It wasn't until two days later that Hagrid escorted Severus back out of the camp. His appearance suggested he hadn't slept or bathed. His hands were stained with potion ingredients again, and his hair was thick with fumes. He looked like he hadn't been fed, either. Still, upon seeing them, he managed a triumphant smirk. From out of his tunic, he pulled the key carved of bone.
-
Despite Severus's exhaustion, he insisted they leave immediately. There was a determination in his dark eyes that even Ron couldn't rival. They were only one key short, and there was a very good chance they'd find it around the neck of the King of Slytherin.
They traveled through the desert all night until they came to an oasis the next morning.
"I'm just as eager to find the last key as you are, Severus, but this is ridiculous. You can't match wits with the King of Slytherin in your shape. You need rest," Remus chided gently. Severus nodded in resignation, telling them to unpack the tents and let the horses water at the sparkling pond. Ron kept watch as Severus slept through the day in his tent. Remus and Sirius splashed around in the pond and practiced with their weapons. Remus couldn't help but notice that Sirius seemed slightly withdrawn, as if whatever he had given to Severus had been something he had truly treasured. Remus questioned him about it several times, but Sirius always shrugged it off or changed the topic.
The next morning, Severus awoke feeling much more refreshed. He bathed and dressed, ate a hardy meal, and was ready to begin the journey into the Slytherin village where the king lived.
It was a difficult trail. The desert they had traveled through was behind a great mountain range. Because all the rain landed on the other side of the mountains, the land beyond it had become barren. The mountains were cold, and the travelers quickly resorted to bundling up in the pelts of animals they had hunted. Though it had been early autumn when Severus had left Hogsmede, it was now nearly winter, and the winds grew frostier with each day they traveled.
Soon, even Sirius's efforts to cheer them failed. They were supposed to have come across another village in the valley, but they had lost the trail and missed it completely. They were freezing, running low on supplies, and had spent weeks hiking through the mountains. They longed for the heat of the desert and the pleasantly cool nights while they plowed forward through heavy snow. Remus's horse caught cold and died. Sadly, they were so desperate for a meal they had to resort to eating it. It was hard to get even a small fire going for warmth at night, and moral was at an all time low.
They had taken refuge for the night in a shallow cave, the wind howling outside and their teeth chattering.
"I hate this godforsaken place. I don't want to die here. I want to go home," Ron said weakly, his face slightly blue. Severus sighed, knowing the brave knight was really suffering if he wished to give up.
"I hate to say it, but I agree with Ron. I say we double back and try to find the village. We're not going to make it out here. It's practically a fucking blizzard out there!" Sirius hissed tiredly. Remus chose not to comment, merely clutched Sirius tighter and closed his eyes in a vain attempt to rest.
Severus was torn. On one hand, he wanted to press forward no matter what and rescue the prince. On the other hand, he didn't want to be responsible for the death of one of his friends. What if they had wandered so far off the trail that they were nowhere near the king's village? With such heavy snow, how where they to know if they were really still on the path? Their food was nearly gone. While they might have enough to sustain them long enough to make it back to the village, if they plowed forward there would be no guarantee that they wouldn't starve. It had been pure luck that none of them had suffered from frostbite yet.
Severus was just about to admit defeat when a ray of light illuminated the cave. A lantern was held up, lighting up their icy breath and bundled forms.
"Come with me. You'll die out here tonight. Blizzard is coming through," the stranger barked loudly in a disused voice. Grateful, the travelers quickly packed their things and followed the gnarled old man up a steep path to a warmly lit cabin, tucked away in a fold of the mountains.
-
A/N: So it's only been a few months that they've been gone. Seems a lot longer, huh? Well, I covered a lot of time in this chapter. Originally the scene with the giants was MUCH longer, but I cut out most of it for brevity's sake. This story is getting to be ridiculously long. The end, however, is near! I'm going to make an uneducated guess and say it's going to take…err…five more chapters. Don't hold me to that.