Huge Problems

Harry, Dan, Colby, and Ron are waiting by Hagrid's hut, underneath Harry's invisibility cloak, scanning the area for Johnny.  Ron sighs heavily.  "She's not coming.  We can't waste our time here."

"She'll be here," Colby says.  "Didn't Ginny say so?"

"Yeah… but we do have to get things done in a timely fashion.  Hermione won't be able to cover for us being gone long," Harry says reluctantly.  "Let's go."

"Harry?" Johnny whispers into the dark.  She obviously can't see them, since they're under the invisibility cloak.  "Come on… where are you?  Ginny?"

"Sh!" Dan hisses, stepping out from under the cloak.  "We're right here.  We couldn't bring Ginny along, sorry."

Johnny actually smiles.  "Good.  I don't want her getting hurt.  Let's make this quick, okay?"

The group sneaks into the woods, Harry and Dan in the lead with their wand tips glowing.  Johnny and Colby take the rear with Ron keeping an eye out in the middle.  No one speaks.  Ron keeps jumping at the thought of giant spiders leaping out at them.  Harry glares at him.  "Calm down…"

"Sorry," Ron takes a deep breath.  "How far do we have to go?"

"Not much farther," Harry says.  After another mile, they make it to the clearing.  Johnny takes a deep breath and steps back, clutching her head.  "What's the matter?"

"I don't want to go any further…" Johnny hisses.  "Let's go back."

"We can't go back now," Dan says.  "Come on.  You'll be okay.  We're here."

Johnny shakes her head.  "This is wrong.  Something's horribly wrong.  We have to get out of here right now."

Johnny turns to run when a Giant steps out in front of her.  He glares down at her, sneering.  Johnny backs up, horrified.  She rejoins the others, who are noticing that they're surrounded by Giants.  "What now?" Ron whimpers.

"You vill join me for a midnight snack," Zimmermann says suddenly.  "Follow me."

The group has no choice but to follow Zimmermann deeper into the forest.  The Giants follow them, making sure they behave.  Johnny is practically shaking to death.  She stays close to Colby, refusing to let him comfort her but just needing his nearness.

"Vhat are you doing vandering around ze Dark Forest vith no supervision?" Zimmermann asks.

"Couldn't sleep," Dan says harshly.  "Figured the cool air would make us sleepy…"

Zimmermann turns and wraps a hand around Dan's collar.  "Insolence vill not be tolerated, Herr Harper.  You vould do vell to remember zat as we near our destination."

Colby launches himself at Zimmermann.  They both tumble to the ground.  A Giant grabs Colby and launches him across the path into a tree.  The boy is knocked unconscious.  "Leave him.  Ze beasts of zis vood vill take care of him…"

"No!" Johnny cries.  She tries to move toward him but is blocked by one of the Giants.

Harry recognizes the Giantess as Hagrid's mother.  He scoffs.  "I see that Hagrid must have gotten his big heart from his father.  There isn't an evil bone in that man's body, yet his mother serves the Dark Lord.  Funny how things turn out.  I wonder, though, would you be able to do this if it were Hagrid you were fighting against?  Would you be able to face your son if he knew that you were doing this to his friends?"

"Silence, Potter!  We approach our destination…" Zimmermann snaps.

A long, piercing howl breaks the quiet of the night.  Barking immediately follows the sound.  Before anyone can do anything, a heavy fog suddenly shrouds the group.  The Giants start to fan out to find the people responsible.  "No!  Come back.  Keep zose children in line.  I vill take care of things!  No!"

Harry and the gang are already on the run.  Dan finds Colby and starts to pull him along, unable to wake the boy.  Johnny and Ron lead the way while Harry stays on the alert.  Suddenly, a large hand clamps down on his shoulder.  He looks up and sees the silhouette of Hagrid's mother staring down at him.  He's about to cry out when she puts her hand over his mouth.  She points away from them before taking her hands off of him.  In the distance, Harry can see the shadows of two people.  He is about to thank the Giantess but she is gone.

"Come on, guys.  This way!" Harry gasps.  He leads the group to the two men standing nearby.  "Professor Lupin!  Sirius!"

The two men nod their acknowledgment but don't speak.  They turn to lead the group further into the woods.  Sirius Black grabs Colby and hoists him over his shoulder for faster movement as Remus Lupin leads the way.

Suddenly, they all can see again and they're near Hogwarts.  Harry breathes a sigh of relief.  "What're you doing here?" he whispers.

"That's not your concern.  Just be glad we arrived when we did," Lupin says.

Black glares at them.  "What were you thinking, running into the woods tonight?  You could've been killed or worse!"

"Worse?" Ron gulps.  An image of Neville's parents floods his mind and he faints.

Harry shakes his head.  "We had to.  We have to prove that Johnny's innocent."

"And stop Zimmermann from whatever he's planning…" Johnny murmurs, though unable to speak very loudly.  She's never been more scared of anything in her life.

"Get safely into Hogwarts.  All will be explained in due time…" Black says ominously.  "We'll make sure Dumbledore is made well aware of the situation…"

There is no room for argument as everyone is rushed into the castle.  Before he knows it, Harry is tucked into bed, his mind heavy with the events that have just occurred.  Though he is sure he'd never sleep after this, he finds himself dreaming of Quidditch matches and a certain Ravenclaw girl, a large grin on his face.