Disclaimer: I am not George Lucas or J.K. Rowling.

Enter Hermione, awaking on the Felix Felicis, sensing Harry's call.

Hermione. Harry?

Hermione looks around, but sees no one.

Enter Hagrid, as the Felix Felicis approaches Minsk.

As they fly through, Hermione analyzes the towering trees.

Is that size typical for wroshyr trees?

Hagrid. No. The ones visible above the clouds are probably half a kilometer taller than the average.

Hermione. They're the ones you put nursery rings on, then.

Hagrid glances at Hermione, shocked.

Don't look so shocked. Some of us humans know a little about half-giant culture. We aren't all ignorant savages, you know.

Hagrid laughs.

Hagrid lands the Felix Felicis in Minsk's capital city.

Deboarding the Felix Felicis, Hermione stares at the half-giant village in shock. Hagrid watches her, amused.

Hagrid. Raarrghh-arroo?

Hermione. No, I've never even seen photos of a half-giant village. My loss, obviously.

Enter Grawp and Fang, two half-giants.

Grawp bows to Hermione.

Grawp. I to you, Hermione Granger Weasley, bring greetings. I to Minsk welcome you.

Hermione. [surprised] Ah . . . thank you. I'm . . . honored to be here.

Grawp. As we by your presence are honored. I am Grawp.

Hermione. I'm honored to meet you. [smiles at Hagrid] Let me guess. You've had a speech impediment all these years and never thought to mention it to me?

Hagrid laughs.

Grawp. Rubeus speaks most excellently. It is I who has a speech impediment. Strangely, it is the kind of trouble that humans find easier to understand.

Hermione. I see. Were you an ambassador, then?

Grawp. I was a slave to the Ministry, as was Rubeus also before Ron Weasley freed him. My captors found me useful . . . to speak with the other half-giant slaves.

Hermione. I'm sorry.

Grawp. You must not be. My role gave me much information about the Ministry's forces, information that proved useful when your Army freed us.

Hagrid and Fang wrestle.

Shocked, Hermione reaches for her rifle.

Hermione. Hagrid . . .

Grawp. [shakes his head] Do not disturb them. Rubeus and Fang have been friends since childhood and have not seen each other in many years. Their greeting must not be interrupted.

Hermione. Sorry.

Hermione puts away her rifle.

Grawp. Rubeus said in his message that you requirre sanctuary. Come. I will show you the preparations we have made.

Hermione glances at Hagrid and Fang.

Hermione. Perhaps we should wait for the others.

Grawp. There will be no danger. Hermione Granger Weasley, you must understand. Without you and your people, many of us would still be slaves to the Ministry . . . slaves or dead at their hand. To you and your Council, we owe a life debt.

Hermione. Thank you.

Grawp. Come. We will go to the village.

Hermione. Certainly. That reminds me . . . I was going to ask how you keep the village in place. Do you use repulsorlifts?

Grawp. Come. I will show you.

Grawp leads Hermione away and shows her that the village is, in fact, held up by branches.

It was a great task, a village of this size, to build. Many of the branches at the level desired were removed. Those which remained then grew strongerr and faster.

Hermione. It looks almost like a giant spiderweb. How did you mesh them together like that?

Grawp. We did not. Through their own growth, they are a unity.

Hermione. Excuse me?

Grawp. They have grown together. When two Minsk branches meet, they grow into one. Together then they sprout new branches in all directions. It is a living reminder of the unity and strength of the half-giants.

Hermione nods.

Grawp indicates the clabberts which navigate through the trees.

They arre called clabberts.

Hermione. [frowns] Those creatures?

Grawp. Yes. Once they were a prize food to the half-giants. Now even the poor may eat them.

Grawp indicates nearby lights.

Clabberts will come to those lights. Hunters there await them.

Hermione nods.

Hermione. Don't all those clouds interfere with their effectiveness, though?

Grawp. Through the clouds they work best. The clouds spread the light. A clabbert will see it from great distances and come. Even so, you see. Tonight we shall perhaps dine on one of them.

Hermione. I'd like that. I remember Hagrid's saying once that they were delicious.

Grawp. Then we must return to the village. We had hoped to shelter you in one of the more luxurious homes. But Rubeus would not allow it.

Hermione. Rubeus understands my preferences. I was wondering why the liftcar went this far down past the village proper.

Grawp. The liftcar is used mainly for cargo transportation or the ill. Most half-giants prefer to climb the trees naturally.

Grawp holds out his hand, revealing his sharp claws.

Hermione. [surprised] I didn't realize half-giants had claws like those. Though I suppose I should have. You are arboreal, after all.

Grawp. To live among trees without them would be impossible. Even vine travel would be difficult without them.

Hermione. Vines?

Hermione notices the liftcar they have been navigating in is run by vines.

That cable? That's a vine?

Grawp. It a half-giant vine is. Do not worry about its strength. It is stronger than composite cable material and cannot even by rifles be cut. Too, it is self-repairing.

Hermione. [uncomfortable] I see. Have the vines ever broken?

Grawp. In the past, it sometimes happened. Various parasites and fungi, if unchecked, can erode them. Now, we employ safeguards which our ancestors did not have. Liftcars such as this one contain emergency repulsorlift systems.

Hermione. Ah.

Hermione and Grawp return to the village, where they discover Hagrid and Fang waiting for them.

Grawp. We have made arrangements for you and Rubeus to stay at Fang's home. It is not far. There are transports available, if you wish.

Hermione. A transport would probably be best.

Hagrid. Rarrrgh?

Grawp. She wished to see the village's structure. We are now ready to go.

Hermione and the half-giants mount a broom, which takes them toward Fang's home. As they move onward, Hermione notices the face of a vampire assassin out of the corner of her eye.

Hermione. Hagrid.

Hagrid comes to Hermione's side, crossbow in hand.

One of those creatures who attacked us in Nottingham is in there . . . at the window. He was right there.

Hagrid. [to Grawp and Fang] Rrrarrghh.

As secured with his broom, he, Hagrid, and Grawp depart and gather a search party of half-giants. Eventually, they return, having not discovered the vampire.

Hermione. He was there. I saw him.

Grawp. That may be true. But we found no trace of anyone.

Hermione glances around.

Hermione. He went over the edge. He must have . . . either worked his way under the village with climbing gear or else met a craft hovering down below.

Grawp. That is unlikely. But possible. I will go down the liftcar, to try and discover him.

Hagrid restrains Grawp with his hand.

Hagrid. No, it is the Princess's safety that matters the most.

Grawp. [reluctant] You are right. Your safety, Hermione Granger Weasley, is the most important thing at this point. We will take you to safety first and then make inquiries about this creature.

The half-giants lead Hermione into Fang's home, securing her safely inside.

Exit all.