CHAPTER FIVE: TALE OF A GIANT
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling does. This is just one of the billions of Harry Potter fan fiction around the globe.
A/N: In this chapter, you'll find out what the riddle means (if you don't already know). I know that I'm not good at making riddles but... I gave it a try.
Dedications: NONE. Because no one reviewed the last one. Maybe they still will, but I'd have already written the chapter so... sorry!
"Why is the 'inn' spelled with two n's?" Ron asked, looking over Harry's shoulder. "This guy must be stupid!"
"No…" Malfoy mused. "I think the two n's are clues."
"Why'd you think that?" Ron sneered.
"Because..." Harry started.
Ron looked startled that Harry had responded. He had indeed believed that what Malfoy was saying was a pile of rubbish.
"...Because it could mean that Hermione's being kept in an inn." Harry said. "You know, like a hotel... a place to sleep."
"The only problem is," Malfoy said, thoughtfully. "We don't know which inn she's being held in."
"I think that was pretty obvious already, Malfoy." Ron said, still glaring at him.
Meanwhile, Harry was staring at the clue, piecing together the different and unfamiliar phrases. "'Inn here leaks with potions dire...' Ron? Have you had anything besides butterbeer at the Leaky Cauldron."
"Well, a few times. But they all tasted nasty!" Ron replied. "Why?"
"Because I think Hermione's being held at the Leaky Cauldron." Harry stated.
"How?" Malfoy asked.
"Well, the 'inn' part was the first clue, of course." Harry explained. "Then 'leaks with potions dire.' Ron said that the other drinks were nasty, so I guess that's the explanation."
"Then the 'cauldron' part is the next clue." Malfoy realized. "Piece them together and you get..."
"Leaky Cauldron Inn." Ron finished.
Malfoy and Ron glared at each other.
"Oh stop it, you two." Harry said. "Now let's get going."
The trio was about to exit the cave when they suddenly heard heavy footsteps behind them. Not just heavy, gargantuan.
The three turned around, wands at the ready. But at the sight they saw, they knew their wands were useless, no matter how many they were.
For what they saw was Grawp.
"Grawp..." Harry said, backing away from the giant that Hagrid claimed to be his brother. Harry motioned for the other two to back away slowly.
"Harry? Isn't that the giant you said Hagrid introduced you to?" Ron whispered. "Why doesn't he seem to recognize you?"
Grawp slowly stomped toward them, glaring angrily.
"I don't think he remembers me." Harry said. "It's been a very long time, and when I promised I take care of him, and uh... teach him stuff... well... I didn't."
"Talk about holding a grudge." Malfoy muttered.
"So what do we do?" Ron asked.
"Well... Malfoy? You have any suggestions?" Harry asked.
Malfoy looked bewildered. "Why the hell ask me, Potter?"
"Because you know a lot of Dark Arts!"
Malfoy shook his head, his thoughts rushing through various spells and incantations. He was losing time, Grawp was moving slowly toward their fearful line of three.
Suddenly a thought struck him. Maybe a curse won't be enough... Malfoy thought. But maybe an extreme spell would. Malfoy aimed his wand at the giant, and hoped against hope that it would work. They had not learned how to do extreme curses yet, but extreme spells were covered.
"T-Transformi aseu maxima."
Grawp stopped abruptly in his tracks and started to sway. He began to pitch forward.
"Oh, great, Malfoy!" Ron yelled as they scattered to get out of the way. "Instead of being eaten, we'll be crushed instead!"
But before Grawp hit the ground, he froze in mid air and soon, Harry, Ron and Malfoy were staring fearfully at a gray, wide-eyed... kitten.
Instantly their fear evaporated and they relaxed.
"Let's go..." Harry said, leading the two outside the Dark Forest. "We shouldn't be delayed. We've already wasted much time. And thanks, Malfoy."
Malfoy didn't answer; he just followed Harry and Ron out of the forest.
"What's a matter, Malfoy?" Ron taunted. "Cat got your tongue?"
Harry and Ron laughed, but Malfoy still took on that blank stare.
But it wasn't blank. There was a sort of... sadness to it.
Harry noticed the change and approached Malfoy apprehensively. Malfoy's stare hardened, but there was still distraught hidden behind his eyes.
Harry's face betrayed nothing bet concern. "Malfoy, what's wrong?"
"Nothing!" Malfoy spat. "Just stay out of my business! Shouldn't we be getting those brooms?"
"Ron can get them." Harry said. "Couldn't you, Ron?"
"But--" Ron looked indignant.
"Go, Ron." Harry insisted. He knew that it might help for Ron not to be there so that Malfoy could tell him what was going on.
Ron cursed, but finally walked the long way toward the broomstick shed.
Malfoy was about to follow with the same blank expression on his face, but Harry lay one hand on his chest, and said. "No. You stay here and tell me what is going on!"
"No freaking way, Potter." Malfoy said. "Just because were working together doesn't mean we have to be friends."
"Well we're gonna have to get along..." Harry said. "Or should we just have one of Ron's siblings come along?"
Harry's hand was still on Malfoy's chest. He felt Malfoy's heartbeat quicken.
Harry was really worried now; he could see Malfoy's despair clearly now. Given the fact the he and Malfoy were enemies didn't harden the heart that beat inside of him. "Mal--Draco. Will you tell me what's wrong?"
Malfoy's eyes were shifty. His eyes darted anywhere but Harry's face.
"Please..." Harry said. "Tell me."
Malfoy gave in. Finally.
--Flashback--
Draco was sitting by the lake inside the Forest of Despair at Malfoy Manor.
Arielle, Draco's younger sister was sitting in his lap, staring in wonder at the lake. It was her first time going in here, being only five years old.
Draco, being ten, had been going here for half a decade. It was his most favorite place at the manor.
"Can we go for a swim, Draco?" Arielle asked. "Could you teach me?"
Draco nodded. "I'll go get your swimming stuff, okay? I'll be right back."
Arielle nodded and smiled at him. He smiled back.
As Draco was nearing the edge of the forest, he heard heaving thumping sounds followed by a shrill scream.
The thought of his sister flashed through his mind and he rushed back to the clearing where the lake could be found. He looked around and couldn't spot Arielle anywhere.
That was when he noticed the legs; the grayish-green legs with a diameter of about six feet.
Draco looked up and took in the sight of his sister dangling by her torso while the giant holding her slowly squeezed the life out of her...
Draco panicked. He could see his Arielle's face. Sheer terror was etched across it, sheer terror mixed with the agony of not being able to breathe.
The giant hadn't noticed Draco. But still, Draco was defenseless, having only had a few lessons of Dark Arts with his father. Draco whipped out his training wand (a wand younger wizards, outside of magic school used before they were properly trained) and racked his brain for a spell.
Being desperate, Draco pointed his wand at the giant and tried to Stupefy him. But he was too large for such a weak wand.
But the flash of red certainly caught its attention. The giant dropped Arielle almost thirty feet from the air, head first. When she hit the ground, blood poured profusely from her head, and Draco knew that she was either dead, or dying.
Draco ran toward his sister: his only sibling. The one who had rescued him from five years filled with Dark Arts and loneliness.
Before he could reach her, the giant pulled back his hand and swung it forward, flinging Draco hard against a tree. The force was enough to knock him out of his senses, but he was still slightly conscious.
Conscious enough to see his father run into the clearing and sweep his dead daughter up into his arm—conscious enough to hear his father scream at him, blaming him for his sister's death; conscious enough to feel his father shake him hard against the tree, and see his enraged and livid face glaring two inches away from his; conscious enough to see his father leave with his sister in his arms, limbs swinging lifelessly.
Conscious enough to discover that his father cared for his beloved sister more than he cared for him.
His father hadn't seen what Draco had tried to do. He didn't know that Draco was helpless. He was not a skilled enough wizard yet.
Sadness washed over Draco as he lay there, in a bleeding heap under the tree. Leaves began to fall, but still he lay there. Too tired to move, to depressed to care.
A/N: Oh... poor, poor Draco. I really feel for the guy. Even if that little flashback isn't in the real story. How'd you all like it? I absolutely love this chapter! Please read and review! Or else I won't waste my precious time on this story! Just kidding. You know I love it.