(A/N Tomorrow (March 2nd) is exactly six months from the day I joined this site (Unless I did my math wrong), and published my first story. Recently, I've been looking at how far I've come since then. When I started this account, I was a lot different. It's funny that spending so much time on a website has changed me. I think I'm more proud of myself now, knowing what I've accomplished on here. I want to thank every single one of my readers. You guys can't even begin to know how much I appreciate you. There are a few specific people I want to thank as well. I want to thank The Almighty Pickle Lord for pickling. (She'll understand that.) I want to thank Anastasia Diana Black, who I haven't talked to in a while and might not read this, but really inspired me, and is absolutely amazing. I want to thank Dramaqueen5611 for writing the best review/poems EVER! (I still have that first one as my IPod lock screen.) And more than anything, I want to thank Moonshroom 420, who I talk to so often, I know your username by heart. Talking to you is the highlight of every day, and though you might not know it, you can make me smile even when I don't want to. And you fangirl so often, I seem normal. *Virtual hug* Thank all of you, for putting up with me and for getting this far with me (And for reading my big speech) (And putting up with my cliffhangers) (And…) THEY GET IT! Anyway, thank you all, for helping me along. I think I've smiled more these past months than in my whole life before.)

Chapter 36: Interesting Turn of Events

Nico

"Luna… nice hat."

"Thank you." She beamed.

It was a big eagle, I guess. Why was she wearing an eagle hat?

"Are you coming to the match?"

"Match? Oh… the match. Uh… I guess."

"Come on, then."

After the Ravenclaws scored the first goal, I noticed Hagrid talking to Harry and Hermione and then the three of them slipping away.

"I'll be back." I whispered to Luna.

I shadow traveled out of the arena and watched them walk into the woods.

"Into the forest?" I heard Hermione ask.

"Yeah," Hagrid said. "C'mon now, quick, before we're spotted!"

After not hearing anything interesting, I tuned out their conversation as I followed them.

"Really easy," Hagrid said. "Very quiet, now…" And after a moment, "Sleepin',"

What was it?

Harry

"Hagrid, who is he?" Hermione asked. "Hagrid, you told us, you told us none of them wanted to come."

A giant. It was a giant.

"Well- no- he didn' want ter come. But I had ter bring him, Hermione, I had ter!"

"But why? Why- what- oh, Hagrid!"

"I knew if I jus' got him back, an'- an' taught him a few manners- I'd be able ter take him outside an' show ev'ryone he's harmless!"

"Harmless!" Hermione said shrilly. "He's been hurting you all this time, hasn't he? That's why you've had all these injuries."

"He don' know his own strength! An' he's getting' much better, he's not fightin' so much anymore-"

"So this is why it took you two months to get home! Oh Hagrid, why did you bring him back if he didn't want to come, wouldn't he have been happier with his own people?"

"They were all bullyin' him, Hermione, 'cause he's so small."

"Small? Small?"

"Hermione, I couldn' leave him. See- he's my brother!"

Hermione stared open mouthed at him.

"Hagrid, when you say 'brother,'" I said slowly, "do you mean-?"

"Well- half-brother. Turns out me mother took up with another giant when she left me dad, an' she went an' had Grawp here-"

"Grawp?"

"Yeah… well tha's what it sounds like when he says his name. He don' speak a lot of English… I've bin tryin' ter teach him… Anyway, she don' seem ter have liked him much more'n she liked me… See, with giantesses, what counts is producin' good big kids, and he's always been a bit on the runty side fer a giant- on'y sixteen foot-"

"Oh, yes tiny," Hermione started again, but then we all froze as a twig snapped.

Nico

Okay, the Care of the Magical Creatures teacher was half-giant. Nothing weird there. I mean I'm half-god.

I started to back away and stepped on a twig. It wasn't very big, but they somehow heard me over the giant's snoring.

"Who's there?" Harry asked.

I realized if I shadow traveled away, they would still suspect me. Well, Hermione would know it was me, but pretend otherwise. Harry would suspect me.

"It's just me." I stepped where they could see me.

Harry just groaned.

"Relax," I said. "I was just curious what you were up to this time."

"What I was up to?" Harry asked.

"Be quiet." Hermione said. "You'll wake him."

"I'm sorry," I said. "I should go now. Although, a giant is an interesting turn of events."

Hagrid was staring at me.

"Being half-human really stinks, doesn't it?" I asked and shadow traveled back to the arena.

Harry

"What did that comment mean?" I asked Hermione after our meeting with Grawp.

"Which one?" She asked.

"The half-human one."

"Half-wizard of course. I've heard of people who don't consider that human." She was lying.

"Hermione?"

"Harry! Hermione! We did it! We won!" Ron came running over.

"That was impressive, Weasley." Nico seemed to appear out of nowhere. "Great game."

What he was saying was obvious. 'I was never in the forest.'

"Thanks!" Ron smiled.

Nico smiled, and for once it didn't seem fake.