A N- ok.. I know that all the stuff that has been going on has not exactly been lexciting, but, I'm hoping to remedy that starting here.. I needed quite a bit of background stuff before I could start the good stuff...So here's where I bring in..... A new character?? That's right! I hope you like him! OK, the first chapter was a fluke... I can't seem to force any chapters that long out anymore. Here's the next installment... Things are working up to..... What? =) R/R!!!
Disclaimer:I do not own anything. Wait. I own Skalin. Jk owns the rest, and I really hope she won't sue me, because Skalin is ALL I own. So, suing me would not get her much. =)
Chapter 3 --- Hagrid's Surprise
Hermione stood in front of Dumbledore's gargoyle. She remembered the password, but still felt odd coming here. Oh well. "Butter Beer." The gargoyle hopped out of her way, and she climbed the stairs to the door at the top.
"Come in, Hermione!" She heard Dumbledore call, and she slowly pushed open the door. Putting on a smile despite the smoke pouring out of her ears, she walked in. "Hello, Proffessor. I came to ask your help." Dumbledore nodded, his beard waggling, looking grave and mischevious all at once. "No problem, but first, I don't believe you've met Skalin." Hermione jumped, just now noticing the person sitting in front of Dumbledore's desk. 'but how could I have missed him,' she thought, 'he's huge!'
The boy rose out of the chair, bowed, and reached for Hermione's hand. "'Tis a pleasure to meet ye." he murmured, his voice deep, and full. Hermione could not help but stare. Skalin was fully 7 feet tall, and yet judging from his face could not have been more than fifteen years old. Dumbledore smiled, his crinkled face making him look quite a bit like a muggle garden gnome. "Skalin, this is Hermione, our best and brightest. Hermione, allow me to introduce Skalin, our emmissary from the giants."
Hermione gasped, unable to believe her ears. "From the giants?" She stared at Skalin, "you're going to help us, then?" Skalin looked at the floor. "That is undecided as of yet, Hermione." he blushed. "Some of our kind are.... How can I put this... Not very bright?" He looked up at Hermione. "Sometimes a lack of intelligence in made up for in an over abundance of cruelty." Dumbledore nodded, saying nothing. Skalin continued. "There are those among us, myself included, who wish to help." He paused for a second. searching for words. "However, we have encountered some... Resistance." Hermione nodded, completely understanding. "I think this struggle drive my kind apart." He smiled. "Not that I have a problem with that."
The three sat talking for awhile longer before Hermione remembered why she had come. "Proffessor Dumbledore, I believe I have found what you were looking for." She said, handing the elderly man the scroll she had been working on. "I do not know where to find some of the ingredients." Dumbledore looked over the scroll. "I believe I can procure all of this for you, child. When do you need it?" She thought for a second. "The potion takes 21 hours to brew. I will need everything by.... Tomorrow morning at 7?" Dumbledore nodded. "Done. Now, Skalin, I wish you to go with Hermione." He stood, motioning that the two should do the same. "Hermione, Skalin is to meet Harry, Ron, Sirius and Lupin." He smiled. "He shall be your new Marauder. Make him feel welcome." Skalin bowed low to Dumbledore. Hermione smiled. "That, I can do, proffessor."
"Honestly, Miss granger up all hours of the night, Mssrs. Potter and Weasley running around the grouns like wild men, Severus gone, now a giant?" Mcgonnagal glared at Dumbledore. "I certainly hope you know what you're doing, Albus!" Dumbledore had been expecting this. Dinner tonight would be full of questions, he thought. "Minerva, you of all people should know that I have absolutely no idea what I do, or why I do it. I'm flying by the seat of my pants." He smiled benignly. "However, I do feel that the 'New Marauders' know exactly what they are doing. And I trust them."
Minerva Mcgonnagal sniffed, and continued eating. Hagrid kept looking up from his food, over towards the Griffyndor table, where Everyone except Ron, Harry and Hermione were putting as much space as possible between themselves and Skalin. Dumbledore noticed, and looked over. "You may speak to them as soon as the meal is done, Rubeus." Hagrid's face brightened considerably. "Thank ye, Proffessor. I really am lookin' ferwards t' it." Dumbledore nodded.
"So what's it like being a giant, Skalin?" Ron asked. hermione was quite proud of him. When he had first seen Skalin, he had threatened to curse him, thinking he was here as a spy. Skalin glanced at Ron, reading his face. "Well, I suppose it's not too bad," He whispered a slow smile spreading on his face. "the worst part is friday nights, when I have to eat a live human to keep my strength up." Ron's face turned white. "You wouldn't believe how much they scream." Ron fainted. Harry laughed, poking Skalin in the ribs with his elbow. "that wasn't very nice, Tiny." He said, spraying food, "You know Ron holds a grudge." Skalin laughed, glad he had made quick friends. "I know, I just couldn't help it." Hermione had meanwhile woken Ron, who was glarin at Skalin. After a second, he gave this up though, and joined in the laughter. "OK, OK... Ron's a big wimp. I get it.." Harry snorted pumpkin juice through his nose at this, and Hermione fell off her seat laughin. "Oh, c'mon Ron.. You know we love ya." Ron glared at Harry. "You just wait. I know where you sleep."
After dinner, the whole group strolled down to Hagrid's hut. He was waiting, and had tea brewing already. "C'mon, get in, get in. I got the tea goin' already." He shooed them all in, ignoring Fang, who jumped up on Harry, slobbering all over his robes. "Ack," Harry cried, turning to keep Fang away from his face. "gerrof me!" Ron laughed. "Now I know!" He yelled, jumping up and down. "I'll put fang in your bed while you're sleeping!" He laughed so hard he almost fell over. "You'll drown to death in his drool!" Skalin chuckled, and pulled the huge dog off of Harry.
Hagrid sat them all down, and then turned to look at Skalin. A tear rolled down his face, and he ran over and gave the young giant a huge bearhug. "Hagrid, put me down!" Skalin screamed, his face turning red. "It's good to see you too!" Hagrid set him down, and pulled up a chair for himself.
"So, how're ye doin', ye big ugly brute?" Hagrid asked, slamming a fist the size of a ham into Skalin's shoulder. Skalin grunted, and rubbed his shoulder. "Good, I guess. Mom says Hi."
Harry, Ron and Hermione Jumped. "Mom?!?!" three voices rang out in unison. Hagrid look at them, grinning. "Yep. Skalin didn' tell ye? he's me kid brother!"
A shocked silence filled the small cabin. Hermione broke it. "Brother?!" She gasped, looking scandalized. "All this time, you never mentioned a brother! Why didn't you tell us?!" Harry and Ron stared at Hagrid, obviously interested to hear the answer themselves. Hagrid sat back and thought for a second before answering. "I nivver knew meself." He murmured, running his fingers through his bushy beard. "I found out when I went back to see the giants." He looked over at Skalin. "Skalin here went to some fancy college over in London, so I never got to talk to him. You may have noticed he's a might smarter n' mos' giants." Skalin blushed. "Well, now.. ahem.. enough chatter. Dumbledore has told me little about our plan. I have 3 other giants to update, so, let's talk about the plan!" The others agreed, and the conversation turned to more important matters.
Dumbledore looked up from his pensieve when the know came. one, two, pause, one, two, three, four. He has been expecting this. "Come in, Severus," He said quietly. The door opened, and Severus Snape walked in. "Hello, Albus," He murmured, "So good to see you." Dumbledore nodded, motioning to the seat in front of his desk. "Have you learned much?" He asked, obviously anxious for news. Severus smiled. "I have learned of events to come one week from yesterday," Snape replied, remembering his earlier conversation with Voldemort. He leaned forward. "I have learned much, Albus." He said with a sneer, "I hope you have awhile." Dumbledore nodded, setting tea to steep. It would be a long night.
Disclaimer:I do not own anything. Wait. I own Skalin. Jk owns the rest, and I really hope she won't sue me, because Skalin is ALL I own. So, suing me would not get her much. =)
Chapter 3 --- Hagrid's Surprise
Hermione stood in front of Dumbledore's gargoyle. She remembered the password, but still felt odd coming here. Oh well. "Butter Beer." The gargoyle hopped out of her way, and she climbed the stairs to the door at the top.
"Come in, Hermione!" She heard Dumbledore call, and she slowly pushed open the door. Putting on a smile despite the smoke pouring out of her ears, she walked in. "Hello, Proffessor. I came to ask your help." Dumbledore nodded, his beard waggling, looking grave and mischevious all at once. "No problem, but first, I don't believe you've met Skalin." Hermione jumped, just now noticing the person sitting in front of Dumbledore's desk. 'but how could I have missed him,' she thought, 'he's huge!'
The boy rose out of the chair, bowed, and reached for Hermione's hand. "'Tis a pleasure to meet ye." he murmured, his voice deep, and full. Hermione could not help but stare. Skalin was fully 7 feet tall, and yet judging from his face could not have been more than fifteen years old. Dumbledore smiled, his crinkled face making him look quite a bit like a muggle garden gnome. "Skalin, this is Hermione, our best and brightest. Hermione, allow me to introduce Skalin, our emmissary from the giants."
Hermione gasped, unable to believe her ears. "From the giants?" She stared at Skalin, "you're going to help us, then?" Skalin looked at the floor. "That is undecided as of yet, Hermione." he blushed. "Some of our kind are.... How can I put this... Not very bright?" He looked up at Hermione. "Sometimes a lack of intelligence in made up for in an over abundance of cruelty." Dumbledore nodded, saying nothing. Skalin continued. "There are those among us, myself included, who wish to help." He paused for a second. searching for words. "However, we have encountered some... Resistance." Hermione nodded, completely understanding. "I think this struggle drive my kind apart." He smiled. "Not that I have a problem with that."
The three sat talking for awhile longer before Hermione remembered why she had come. "Proffessor Dumbledore, I believe I have found what you were looking for." She said, handing the elderly man the scroll she had been working on. "I do not know where to find some of the ingredients." Dumbledore looked over the scroll. "I believe I can procure all of this for you, child. When do you need it?" She thought for a second. "The potion takes 21 hours to brew. I will need everything by.... Tomorrow morning at 7?" Dumbledore nodded. "Done. Now, Skalin, I wish you to go with Hermione." He stood, motioning that the two should do the same. "Hermione, Skalin is to meet Harry, Ron, Sirius and Lupin." He smiled. "He shall be your new Marauder. Make him feel welcome." Skalin bowed low to Dumbledore. Hermione smiled. "That, I can do, proffessor."
"Honestly, Miss granger up all hours of the night, Mssrs. Potter and Weasley running around the grouns like wild men, Severus gone, now a giant?" Mcgonnagal glared at Dumbledore. "I certainly hope you know what you're doing, Albus!" Dumbledore had been expecting this. Dinner tonight would be full of questions, he thought. "Minerva, you of all people should know that I have absolutely no idea what I do, or why I do it. I'm flying by the seat of my pants." He smiled benignly. "However, I do feel that the 'New Marauders' know exactly what they are doing. And I trust them."
Minerva Mcgonnagal sniffed, and continued eating. Hagrid kept looking up from his food, over towards the Griffyndor table, where Everyone except Ron, Harry and Hermione were putting as much space as possible between themselves and Skalin. Dumbledore noticed, and looked over. "You may speak to them as soon as the meal is done, Rubeus." Hagrid's face brightened considerably. "Thank ye, Proffessor. I really am lookin' ferwards t' it." Dumbledore nodded.
"So what's it like being a giant, Skalin?" Ron asked. hermione was quite proud of him. When he had first seen Skalin, he had threatened to curse him, thinking he was here as a spy. Skalin glanced at Ron, reading his face. "Well, I suppose it's not too bad," He whispered a slow smile spreading on his face. "the worst part is friday nights, when I have to eat a live human to keep my strength up." Ron's face turned white. "You wouldn't believe how much they scream." Ron fainted. Harry laughed, poking Skalin in the ribs with his elbow. "that wasn't very nice, Tiny." He said, spraying food, "You know Ron holds a grudge." Skalin laughed, glad he had made quick friends. "I know, I just couldn't help it." Hermione had meanwhile woken Ron, who was glarin at Skalin. After a second, he gave this up though, and joined in the laughter. "OK, OK... Ron's a big wimp. I get it.." Harry snorted pumpkin juice through his nose at this, and Hermione fell off her seat laughin. "Oh, c'mon Ron.. You know we love ya." Ron glared at Harry. "You just wait. I know where you sleep."
After dinner, the whole group strolled down to Hagrid's hut. He was waiting, and had tea brewing already. "C'mon, get in, get in. I got the tea goin' already." He shooed them all in, ignoring Fang, who jumped up on Harry, slobbering all over his robes. "Ack," Harry cried, turning to keep Fang away from his face. "gerrof me!" Ron laughed. "Now I know!" He yelled, jumping up and down. "I'll put fang in your bed while you're sleeping!" He laughed so hard he almost fell over. "You'll drown to death in his drool!" Skalin chuckled, and pulled the huge dog off of Harry.
Hagrid sat them all down, and then turned to look at Skalin. A tear rolled down his face, and he ran over and gave the young giant a huge bearhug. "Hagrid, put me down!" Skalin screamed, his face turning red. "It's good to see you too!" Hagrid set him down, and pulled up a chair for himself.
"So, how're ye doin', ye big ugly brute?" Hagrid asked, slamming a fist the size of a ham into Skalin's shoulder. Skalin grunted, and rubbed his shoulder. "Good, I guess. Mom says Hi."
Harry, Ron and Hermione Jumped. "Mom?!?!" three voices rang out in unison. Hagrid look at them, grinning. "Yep. Skalin didn' tell ye? he's me kid brother!"
A shocked silence filled the small cabin. Hermione broke it. "Brother?!" She gasped, looking scandalized. "All this time, you never mentioned a brother! Why didn't you tell us?!" Harry and Ron stared at Hagrid, obviously interested to hear the answer themselves. Hagrid sat back and thought for a second before answering. "I nivver knew meself." He murmured, running his fingers through his bushy beard. "I found out when I went back to see the giants." He looked over at Skalin. "Skalin here went to some fancy college over in London, so I never got to talk to him. You may have noticed he's a might smarter n' mos' giants." Skalin blushed. "Well, now.. ahem.. enough chatter. Dumbledore has told me little about our plan. I have 3 other giants to update, so, let's talk about the plan!" The others agreed, and the conversation turned to more important matters.
Dumbledore looked up from his pensieve when the know came. one, two, pause, one, two, three, four. He has been expecting this. "Come in, Severus," He said quietly. The door opened, and Severus Snape walked in. "Hello, Albus," He murmured, "So good to see you." Dumbledore nodded, motioning to the seat in front of his desk. "Have you learned much?" He asked, obviously anxious for news. Severus smiled. "I have learned of events to come one week from yesterday," Snape replied, remembering his earlier conversation with Voldemort. He leaned forward. "I have learned much, Albus." He said with a sneer, "I hope you have awhile." Dumbledore nodded, setting tea to steep. It would be a long night.