by: Gemin16
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter or it's themes, but I do own this plot and any new characters.
Chapter 6: A Paradoxical Victory
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"Okay, who's exactly going to ask him?" Hermione asked as they stood about ten feet in front of Hagrid's cottage, which stood at the entrance to the forbidden forest. The trio plus Kitrina were hopping they would find the next item by asking Hagrid, whom they found out was part giant from Kitrina.
Ron and Harry looked at each other. "You ask him," they said to each other in unison.
"You've known him longer," Ron said to Harry.
"You work for him," Harry told Ron. Hermione stared at the two and then looked at Kitrina, who was standing next to her. Kitrina shrugged and Hermione sighed.
"If you two don't settle this then I'll ask him," she said. The guys looked at her and then back at each other.
"I'll ask him," Harry said finally resolving it. "But if he ask then you can do the explaining," he said to Kitrina, who just nodded.
"Okay then lets get this over with so we can at least find that item." Kitrina shrank to her fairy size and retreated within Hermione's robes as Harry knocked on the door. A gruff bark and the sound of something dropping came from within as large shoes hit the floor and the enormous oak door opened and Hagrids warm black eyes greeted them. "Hullo there, wasn't expecting company today. What brings yer here?"
"Uhh we need to talk to about something," Harry said as they entered Hagrid's hut. Hermione watched with amusement as a large boarhound jumped on top of Harry, licking him to death and covering him with slober.
"Down Fang. Sit down all of yer and have some tea that I just made." They all made their way to the small table that sat in the middle of his kitchen which was basically in the same room with the rest of his things. He took a steaming kettle off the stove and placed it on a tray with tea cups on it and put some big black lumps on it also. He sat the tray down and sat with the others. He served them tea and a lump each. "Here yer go, mint tea and rock cakes, oh wait I forgot the sugar." He stood up real quick.
Hermione took a quick glance at Ron and saw that he was motioning to her not to eat the rock cakes as he tapped on one with his knuckles. It was as hard as a rock. Oh boy, she thought as she looked at hers. Hagrid came back and put the sugar on the table.
"Arn' yer hungry?"
"Umm no, actually we had a pretty decent lunch," Ron told him. It was partially true.
It seemed to satisfy Hagrid. "Oh, well then what brings you three here for a visit?"
Harry scratched the back of his head. "Well Hagrid, we were just wondering if you by any chance happen to know any Giants?"
Hagrid looked at them with a raised eyebrow. "Why?"
"Umm because we want to find something that they have." Hermione noticed that Harry was having difficulty with what he was trying to say.
She decided to stepped in. "Well you see, we're kinda in a hurry to find this item and we thought that you may have known some Giants."
Hagrid stirred his tea and looked at it. "How did yer know that I was part Giant?"
All three of them looked shocked. "How did you guess?" Ron asked sheepishly.
"Why else would yer come ask me if I knew any Giants if you didn't expect me to be one?" That made perfect sense, Hermione thought.
"Well we didn't exactly figure it out until yesterday," she said. "Hagrid, we asked you this because we know that the Giants have an item that once belonged to Merlin. You-Know-Who is after them now and it's extremely important that we find it."
Now it was Hagrid's turn to looked shocked. "So you mean yer the ones that Headfang was talkin' about?"
"Pardon?" Harry asked.
Hagrid smiled. "Headfang told me to let the others know that the quest for the items is one and that the Goblin's item was stolen."
"What was stolen?" Hermione asked.
"How should I know? We o'ny know what our own item is an' that's it." Hagrid shrugged. "I'm glad it's you three. But how did you find out?"
"Her," Ron said pointing at Hermione's robes.
" 'ermione?" Hagrid asked confused.
"No not me, he's talking about Kitrina," Hermione corrected. She reached within the collar of her robes and pulled out a five inch fox and sat it on the table.
"An' what exactly is she?" Hargrid said pointing at Kitrina. She gave a small shake of her body and turned into her human form.
"I, sir, am Kitrina Cleva Sly," she said staring at Hagrid. "I was the proud assistant to Master Merlin and am the guide to these three that are searching for his items. I'm the one who figured out that you were part Giant, I can feel it in you."
"What exactly are you?" Hagrid asked squinting down at her, almost an inch away from Kitrina's face.
Kitrina backed away from Hagrid's face. "In short like a chimera, three parts in one. Part Witch, part magical creature, in this case a fox, and spirit. Now that I've answered your question, answer ours. Do you know where the Giant's item is?"
"Interesting creature yer 're, 'though it you'd be a lot more 'teresting if yer had fangs or something. Course I know where the Giant item is," Hagrid said. "All of us do. My people respected Merlin and we guard his item with pride. Our leader, Hugon, has it kept hidden within his tribe located deep within the mountains on the other side on the west side of the forest."
"But there's no village on the other side of the forest," Ron stated to Hagrid.
"No but Olympe will be there," he said smiling. "She's the guardian one the other side of the forest and can take you three to the tribe where they will proceed from there."
"Hopefully Voldemort won't get there before us," Kitrina said as Hagrid, Hermione, and Ron winced.
"Then it's going to be decided that we leave for this village tomorrow?" Harry asked them. "We don't have class tomorrow and it should be easy to come up with an excuse."
"I agree," Kitrina said.
"So do I," Hermione said.
"Definitely," Ron added.
"Will you be coming along, Hagrid?" Hermione asked him. "We need someone to help get there. The forest is pretty big."
Hagrid shook his head smiling. "Can't. I've got ter much ter do 'ere, besides Ron knows the forest like the back of his hand. He should be able to get yer across safely. I wouldn't trust nobody else besides a few others to do what he does for me. Aint that right, Ron?"
Ron's ears went pink as he looked towards his tea. "Er-right," he said quietly. Hermione stared at him. She did remember how he lead her through the forest with ease on her first day and he looked like he wasn't afraid of the things in there. She didn't know why but it made her feel much better now that she thought about it..
"Now that this is settled, we have to go to make preparations for tomorrow," Harry told Hagrid as they stood up to leave. "Thanks for telling us how to get there. We'll retrieve it and keep it safe from Voldemort."
Hagrid winced but smiled. "I'm just glad its you three to do it because I knew yer going to get it and the others before You-Know-Who does. Good luck and make sure you stop 'ere before you enter."
Turning away from the book, Hermione looked at Kitrina, who was sleeping silently on the neatly made bed and tapped her between the ears. The brown fox looked up and gave her a questioning look. "They should be here soon," Hermione told her but it didn't seem to phase Kitrina one bit. She yawned and was about to go back to sleep when a light tapping was heard on the door. Hermione opened it up and found no one there. "Hullo," she called silently. All of a sudden Ron's head appeared from no where making Hermione jumped back with a loud gasp. Ron caught her arm and covered her mouth.
"Shhhh," he said to her. "Are you and Kitrina ready?"
Hermione nodded but looked at him strangely. "How? What-?" she managed to say. She was still in shock.
Ron smiled at her. "It's Harry's invisible cloak. See?" He lifted up a part of the cloak to show Harry underneath with a lantern in his hand.
"Get Kitrina and lets go," Harry said to them. The fox showed up and climbed underneath the cloak as if on cue. Hermione closed her door and stepped underneath the cloak with the others. They walked carefully down the hall and saw Ministry officials who worked there including Professor McGonagall and even Dumbledore himself. After making it down to the bottom floor, the group snuck out the main door and walked into an abandoned ally. Taking off the cloak, Harry folded it up and set it within a nap bag that he brought along.
"That went by smoothly," he said looking at the others. Hermione looked and saw that Ron had brought his bow and quiver of arrows with him, while Harry had just brought his bag with him. "I brought some sandwiches that Uncle Remus had made for us," Harry told them.
"Does he know?" Hermione asked.
"No, he and Uncle Sirius just think that I'm going into the forest with Ron but we had to sneak in to get you because we're not supposed to be in there so early in the morning. Come on let's go." With Harry leading, they walked along the deserted streets of Hogsmeade. Hermione looked at Ron's weapons, the bow was clearly made out of a strong wood material, as well as the string. The arrows were long and thick with feathered ends and were plentiful in his quiver.
"Why do you have to bring those along?" Hermione asked him.
"Just in case something decides to attack us," Ron said looking at her. "It's really dangerous in the forest. You should know, that troll almost got you."
Hermione sighed to herself. He just had to remind her about that. "Well, why couldn't you just use your wand? You don't need as much energy and it's less to carry."
This time Harry answered her question. "The forbidden forest is really strange. For some odd reason unknown to us, there's a mist that travels around the forest. Whenever you're caught in a pocket, magic doesn't work, which is what makes the forest so dangerous. No one knows why the mist has this effect but it's the reason Ron carries the bow and arrows around. He's one of the few who actually dare to travel inside that forest alone."
"Oh." They kept on walking in silence as they passed by the houses and shops. Kitrina trotted in front of them, still in her fox form, ignoring their conversation. Hermione could of sworn that she heard Kitrina humming to herself. After a while, they reached Hagrid's cabin where he was sitting up front playing a flute with fang by his side. As soon as the boar hound spotted the small brown fox, he took off running after her while Kitrina ran and jumped into Harry's arms. She quickly hissed at Fang, who back away with a wine. She jumped down from Harry's arms and turned to her human form.
"Serves that dog right, chasing after me." Everyone laughed.
"On yer way now?" Hagrid asked laughing silently.
"Yeah, we should be back by night fall if we make it," Ron said looking ahead a the forest. It was dark but light shown over the tops of the trees with the sun rising. Birds were flying over head with a few owls mixed in.
"I sent Olympe an owl about yer journey to 'er house and she wrote me back saying that she'll be waiting. If all goes well yer should make it there by noon."
Harry nodded and fixed his cloak. "Thanks, Hagrid. Make up an excuse for us if Uncle Sirius or Remus come by and ask anything if we're not back in time."
"And will you please make one up for me as well," Hermione asked.
Hagrid gave them a disagreeing look. "Now you know I don't like the likes of a lie," he paused, "but since its for a good cause, I'll try."
Hermione gave him a hug. "Thank you, Hagrid."
Hagrid smiled. "Yer welcome but I'm helpless if it's Dumbledore who ask me. Can't lie to him worth me life."
"Then that's okay," Harry said. He looked at the forest, then at Ron, Hermione, and Kitrina, who had returned to her fox form. "Ready?"
"Let's go." Hagrid waved to them as they entered the dark forest. I know they'll be able to do it, he thought to himself.
As they walked the forest got lighter with every passing minute and Ron started to point out different things with his bow. "See those tracks right there, they definitely belong to a troll," he said to Harry. Hermione gave a shudder, it was obvious that she didn't like trolls at all. She was looking around the bushes when she noticed something shining on a branch. She walked up closer to it and picked it up. It was a shiny, silver hair that sparkled.
"Hey, Ron, what's this?" she asked holding it up to him. Ron looked at it and smiled at her.
"It's a strand of unicorn hair," he told her. "Your lucky, they say when you find hair of a unicorn in the wild a good omen will happen."
"That's a good sign," Harry said as they passed under a grove of trees. "We're going to need all the luck we can get." He looked around and saw Kitrina up in the trees. "What are you doing up there?" he called up to her.
"Better keep your voice low, Harry," Ron said to him. Harry nodded and continued to look up at Kitrina, who was up on a high branch looking at something.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"If we make too much noise, then we'll disturb some very nasty creatures in the forest. I know that they have a tendency to be very brash when their disturbed, especially the demon ones. I speak from personal experience on that case. The birds can get pretty nasty too." He was interrupted by Kitrina hopping down the tree and landing with a leap on Ron's head. Ron scowled at her as she hopped off and landed on the ground with an acrobatic leap.
"You know, I can see a resemblance between you and that large fur ball of Hermione's," he said with a harsh voice. Hermione gave him a hurtful look but then smiled. She knew he never meant any of the mean comments he said toward Crookshanks.
Kitrina stared at him with a bemused looked and narrowed her eyes and ears. She quickly changed into her human form and crossed her arms. "Well if your going to be that harsh, then maybe I should point out a few things wrong about you! It's not that hard, seeing as to your poking fun at me. Let's see, for one your more stubborn than a Hippogriff in a snowstorm, your as clueless as a Gnome." During all this she was poking Ron in the chest with her finger with Hermione and Harry laughing.
"And further more, your-"
"What exactly did you see up there?" Harry asked her. Kitrina turned away from an annoyed Ron and looked toward Harry and Hermione. She rolled her eyes up and poked a finger at her mouth.
"Umm, I was actually looking for how long it was till we reached the end and I noticed that the house Hagrid was talking about is only a mile or two away from here. We on schedule."
"That's good to hear," Hermione said. "I really want to get out of here."
"Why, does the forest scare you?" Ron asked hauntingly.
"No, its just that I want to get that item and leave. I have some studying to do for a test."
Both Harry and Ron groaned when all of a sudden a rustle came from the bushes. In a flash Ron's bow was in his hands with an arrow positioned at the spot. He quickly stepped in front of Harry and Hermione, who had both their wands ready. Much to their surprise a small animal came out and looked at them with brown eyes like Kitrina's. Ron lowered his bow just a bit. "It's only a Crup, wonder who it belongs too."
Hermione raised her wand down and looked at the Crup. To her it looked just like a Jack Russell Terrier except the tail was different. It waged it tail at all three of them and gave a bark. "What do you think it wants?" she asked the others.
"She said her name is Gigi," Kitrina said. Everyone looked at her.
"You mean you can understand her?" Harry asked.
Kitrina shrugged. "Yeah, your point?"
Ron narrowed his eyes at her. "No comment." He shouldered his bow. "So what does "Gigi" want?"
Kitrina raised an eyebrow at Ron and looked towards Gigi. Gigi barked a few times and Kitrina nodded. "She says her owner sent her to come and find us. It's this time of day when the Tebos come rampaging through the forest and Olympe doesn't want trampled house-guest." Gigi barked again and ran through the bush. Kitrina looked at the others and began to follow. "You heard her. Let's go."
Ron sighed. "No we didn't." He followed her through the bush with Hermione and Harry following him. As they walked Gigi gave out a few barks and even a woof as she trotted along side Kitrina. Kitrina nodded in return and spoke to her in English.
"What's she saying?" Hermione asked.
"She's telling me that the Giant village has been in real choas lately. Every few nights there has been signs of a large bird sweeping through the air. The elder isn't sure what kind it is but it hasn't shown up since recently. Gigi says it gives off an evil smell, kinda like rotten eggs." Gigi barked. "Oh, she said more like rotten lettuce instead."
Hermione looked at Ron and Harry. "Thinks it's You-Know-Who?" Hermione asked.
Harry shrugged. "Who knows but if it was, then he would have attacked."
Ron nodded his agreement. Gigi barked a few times again and Kitrina nodded. Then she spun around, stopping making the others stop along with her. "Listen there's something important I need to tell you." She had a serious look on her face.
"What?" Ron asked her.
"When the challenge arises, Ron, you have to be the one to do it." Ron looked shocked.
"Why?"
"From what Gigi is hinting me on, you're the one for the job."
Hermione looked at Kitrina, puzzled. "What hint did she give you?"
Kitrina's fox ears stuck out of her head. "All I can say is that it's a battle between the mind and the opponent. The wrong move can cost you your men. I'm telling you this know because once we reach Olympe's house I won't be able to help you in any way. Ron, you'll do it, right?"
Ron looked confused. "I guess so but I wonder what it is?"
Suddenly Gigi barked and Kitrina's ears wiggled. The bushes shook back and forth as a tall, capacious woman came out. Dressed simply in normal clothes, her black eyes looked at the three teens and the two animals. "Gigi, 'ere yoo are." The woman spoke with a heavy accent. "I vondered 'ow long it would 'ave taken yoo to get 'ere. Vere yoo dawdling?" Gigi barked and went to go by the woman's side. She turned to Hermione and the others and smiled. " 'ullo, yoo must be 'arry, 'ermione, and Ron. My name is Olympe." The trio shook there heads. She then turned to Kitrina and gave her an odd look. "Yoo must be ze weird creature Hagrid mentioned in 'is letter.
Kitrina growled and looked at Olympe. "Weird creature! You know back then when master was alive, people were never as rude!" Her ears were all the way up and her tale was sticking out. Hermione tried not to laugh but stiffled a giggle instead.
Olympe ignored Kitrina and turned back to the others. "Hugon is waiting for you in ze village. Pleaze follow me. Fox-girl-"
"It's Kitrina."
"Kitrina. You will have to wait with Gigi in my cottage."
Kitrina gave a humph. "Fine." She turned to the others. "Ron, remembered what I told you. Good luck." With her bright smile, Kitrina turned into her fox form and followed Gigi into a direction of a small cottage in the background.
"I vould take you to my 'ouse but Hugon wants you to come to the village in a 'urry, ze sooner ze better."
"Why what's wrong?" Harry asked.
Olympe lead them onto a worn through trail. "Ve have been 'aving strange things happen at night. Wolves will roam around howling and growling at doors. Birds come and go pounding on our windows, we think it is the work of You-Know-Who."
"Birds and wolves?" Hermione said. She thought for a moment and looked ahead. The giant village looked like a normal city filled with large buildings to fit the size of the Giants. "I don't see why the giants can't live in peace with the humans in Hogsmeade."
"Zats vat I would like to know," Olympe said.
Harry and Ron had sheepish looks on there faces. "Well, I guess it's because the people in town think that the Giants are in the same league with You-Know-Who," Ron said. "I remember hearing stories from others about how Giants will crush the bones of small children and eat them with their supper."
"Rubbish," Olympe stated. "We 'ave never done such a zing. As far as I'm concerned ze humans so called Ministry 'as done nothing to confirm whezer we are friendly wiz zem or not."
"Well are you?" Harry asked.
"I am speaking wiz you know, correct?" Harry kept his mouth shut. After a few minutes they finally reached the edge of the village. Everything was colossal. Even Ron's tall figure was dwarfed compared to the shortest door or entrance.
"Olympe, there you are with our expected guest," a loud voice boomed from a building. Everyone turned to see a huge face with a beard and black eyes stick out. Hermione guessed that it was about the size of half her body. The face looked at her with a warm, smile and it went back inside. A few seconds later a door opened and out stepped a vast man no shorter than twenty feet. Hermione stood there shocked as he went to go greet Olympe with a hug. "Are these the one's Rubeues was telling us about?"
Olympe nodded. "Yes Hugon, zis is 'arry, 'ermione, and Ron. They brought ze symbol that Merlin mentioned and she is waiting wiz Gigi as we speak."
Hugon smiled and looked down upon Hermione and the guys. "I see, well then lets get this over with. Who will be the one to do the task."
Hermione and Harry looked at Ron, who shrugged. "I guess that would be me." Hugon stretched his hand out to shake Ron's but instead it was like shaking Ron's entire arm.
"Pleased to meet ya, Ron. Now if you enter the house with me, yer friends can wait out here for you. You won't be needing your arrows there." Ron nodded as he handed his bow and quiver to Harry. Hermione looked at him. Why had Kitrina asked him to do it?
"Don't worry about it, Ron," Harry said. "You can do it."
"Yeah," Hermione said comfortingly. "If Kitrina thinks you can do it then you can."
"Uhh thanks, I guess," Ron said as he followed Hugon inside. "See you later," he said as the door closed behind him.
"What are we going to do know?" Harry asked Olympe.
"We wait until you're friend is finished. Whether you get the item or not is up to him.
"A battle between the mind and the opponent?" Hermione whispered to herself. "One wrong move and it can cost you your men? What did she mean by that clue?" Olympe looked at Harry and Hermione.
"Come, we will wait while we 'ave some tea." She lead them to a house across from Hugon's and knocked on the door. The door opened and another giant's head came out. "Oh hello, Olympe. What can I do for you?"
"Mind if I bring some guest inside for lunch?"
After about an hour later, Kitrina was awakened by loud barking form Gigi. She opened an eye to see the small white and brown Crup barking at something in the window. Kitrina stood up and stretched making her way to the large window sill. Sitting herself calmly next to Gigi, Kitrina looked at saw a small white animal looking dead at her. It was a huge rat! Jumping back in shock Kitrina almost fell off the sill but managed to catch herself. She looked again at the window and noticed the rat was gone. She looked at Gigi, who looked straight back at her. She yelped a few times at her and received a bark in returned. Kitrina barked back and listened as Gigi filled her in.
Kitrina's fox eyebrows narrowed. I know for a fact that you don't see a rat like that in this forest everyday. What was that thing? Kitrina sniffed around the window and smelled the scent of the rat. Only to her it didn't smell fully like a wood rat. It had a very weird almost lurking smell to it. One that made Kitrina shutter. She looked out another window that faced the village. Ron, please win.
Harry covered his mouth as he burped. "No thank you , Ms. Grandas. I think three servings of your soup is fine enough for me."
"Well if you feel that you need more than don't hesitate to ask." Tona Grandas smiled as she sat down across from Olympe. "Knowinh Hugon, your friend should be done by know." Hermione looked at the clock above the stove. It had been almost an hour and a half since Ron had left with Hugon. And in all that time, Hermione was still trying to figure out what Kitrina meant with the clue. She had ask Grandas and Olympe but they refused to say anything.
All of a sudden, the door swung open and in stepped Hugon with a bug smile on his face. Everyone looked at him with a hopeful look. Hugon stepped to the side to reveal a normal looking Ron. "Well?" Harry asked him with suspense in his voice.
"Well what?" Ron asked them with a shrug.
Hermione looked at him with an enraged look. "Well nothing?! Did you get it or not?"
"Well, "Ron paused and looked at his companions. "What do you call this?" Ron held up a small pendant attached to a string. Hermione smiled and jumped up to hug him, giving Ron a very pink face.
"You did it!" Harry shook his head.
"So what was your task?"
Ron smiled. "You won't believe this but that little pup was right. I was the right person for the job."
"So what was it?" Hermione asked, letting go of him.
"Oh about three games of Wizard's Chess."
Hermione and Harry looked at him. "Wizard's Chess?"
"My favorite game in the whole wide world," Hugon said.
"He's a master at the game," Olympe said. "Never been beaten."
"Well Ron is the better chess player of us both," Harry said to Hermione, who nodded.
"And Ron is rarely beaten," a voice said from the window. Everyone turned to see Kitrina sitting on the large window sill with a large smile on her face. She hoped down and looked at the pendant in Ron's hand. "It's Master's multiplying pendant."
"Multiplying pendant?" Hermione asked.
Kitrina nodded. "Yep, it enables the bearer to use more than one spell at one time. Without pointing his wand even." Ron eyed the pendant with interest. Kitrina noticed and smiled at him clevery. "Unfortunately the downside to this talisman is that it takes a wizard of immense strength to work it. More in ways of an adult wizard." Ron frowned.
"I win against a champion and you have to ruin it."
Kitrina laughed. "Just protect it, buddy, and everything will be okay."
Hermione shook her head and looked at the clock. It read three o'clock. "We should be going know," she said.
Harry looked and saw the time. "Yeah we should. Here, Ron." He tossed Ron his quiver and bows. Ron shouldered them and hung the pendant around his neck, under his robes. Hermione grabbed the backpack filled with everything they need and put it on. All three of them turned and shook hands with all three of the giants. "Thank you for everything," Hermione said with Harry and Ron nodding there thanks too.
"Your welcome," Hugon said. "I'm, glad it's kids like you who are collecting the items. You seem capable of handling yourselves. Keep that pendant safe son," he said to Ron, "and don't forget to comeback for a rematch."
Ron smiled. "Sure, as long as you don't mind getting beaten again."
"Bye." Kitrina said as they headed out the door and back towards the forest.
"So that's what you meant by a battle between the mind and the opponent," Hermione said to Kitrina as they entered the forest.
"And one wrong move can make you loose all your men," Harry said.
Kitrina nodded and smiled. She was back in her fox form and was hanging on Harry's shoulder.
"Was it very difficult to beat Hugon, Ron?" Hermione asked.
Ron debated between a shrug and a hand gesture. "Well it started off with me matching off with his two sons. They're good but it only took me a good fifteen minutes with each of them. Hugon was the better one and he took a good hour and five to beat."
Hermione smiled. "Well I'm glad it was you than me. You're really good at chess."
Ron smiled triumphantly. "Well if you lay off the studying maybe I can teach you."
Hermione frowned. "You know I bet you could make better marks if you only took the time to study."
"Please-"
"Well you could!"
"I'm doing fine on my own thank you."
"Listen if you-"
Ron covered his ears. "I can't hear you!"
Hermione growled. "Why you-!"
Harry and Kitrina watched from the side as their two friends fought.
"Think those two will ever stop?" Harry asked Kitrina. The fox yawned in response and laid her head on his chest. Harry nodded. "I agree."
A few hours later the quartet found themselves halfway there. Hermione and Ron had finished their argument and were now walking with Harry between them. Kitrina was one the ground trotting in front when all of a sudden she noticed something.
"Kitrina?" Hermione said quietly. That's when Hermione saw a long pink tail disappear into the brush. A few seconds later, Kitrina's ears started to move rapidly back and forth. Ron also paused and listened. Loud squawking could be heard from above and finally a large swarm of black birds came into view.
"Everyone down!" Ron yelled as the swarm came closer. Hermione ducked immediately and watched as the swarm flew over head. All of a sudden she heard a whoosh sound pass by her and saw tiny black feathers land on the ground. She looked overhead and saw the birds circle around the group and continue to fire their feathers. Kitrina was trying her best to avoid being hit and ducked under a bush.
Ron and Harry were near her when a larger bird came flying by. "Hermione, look out!" Harry said. Ron, who was closer to her, shoved her down as the large black dart hit the ground with alarming speed. "Stay down," Ron said to her.
"What are they?"
Ron's eyes narrowed. "They're dart birds. Something must have disturbed their nest and they came after is instead." After a few more minutes the birds finally fled off leaving the group behind. Everyone stood up dusting themselves off. "Was anyone hit?" Ron asked.
"I don't think so," Harry said. Hermione and Kitrina shook their heads.
"Good then lets go before they come back."
About an hour later they were right in front of the Forbidden Forest edge. Hermione was grateful that they were back at Hogsmeade and with an item. She wanted a nice warm bath and some dinner. Ron seemed glad too and wiped the sweat off his brow. "It's good to be home after this long day," he said. "Isn't that right, Harry?" Ron turned to his friend. "Harry?"
Hermione looked and saw as Harry leaned over breathing heavily. His face was red and he was dripping sweat. "Harry, what's the matter?" she asked him frantically. Harry looked over at them.
"Guys, I-," He dubbed over in unconsciousness. Ron caught him before he reached the ground.
"Harry?!"
"Harry?!"
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OOOOOOOOOOOOOO, a cliffhanger! I just love cliff hangers, don't you? (Author tries to ignore all the large rocks that are being thrown at her) Yeesh, don't kill me okay. First off I'm sorry for taking so long but yet against he problem is school related and I only have three more weeks till it's all over. (Author is know doing a victory dance).
Now I will take the time to thank:
erika, Bored Sick Little Genius, shadowcat, Mizzy-Izumi, Adnap Nottap, serinity, and Lee Velviet.
For those of you who are wondering what a Crup and a Tebos is, well I got these things from J.K. Rowling's charity book Fantastic Beast and Where To Find Them. It's really interesting so I suggest you read.
As for my usual shameless promoting, I just want to say that I have a new fic out called Saint RedTail, which is a parody fic between Harry Potter and my favorite anime, Saint Tail. It's a Ginny x Harry fic.
Ummmmm, let's see Fred, George, Lee and Love is a good fic to read.
That's really all for now.
Adios,
Gemin16