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Blood of a werewolf

Chapter 5: Grawp

Night had fallen over the improvised camping-place. The werewolf-hunters were sleeping, even the one who was supposed to stand guard had finally dozed off. Tonks, however, refused to sleep. She was still tightly tied up against the tree, but now the others were all sleeping, she could finally attempt to escape.

While her captivators had been eating and laughing around a fire, she had used her time to think about a way to escape. At last, some sort of plan had formed itself in her mind.

There was something Vastatore and his gang didn't know about her, something that could maybe save her now. Tonks closed her eyes and concentrated on morphing her arms a little bit thinner.

Morphing some other part of her body besides her face was not easy and she couldn't make her arms that much thinner, but it was just enough to slip her arms out of the ropes. From there it was easy to untie herself completely. Being a metamorphmagus has its advantages. Now I only have to grab my stuff together and get away from here.

That was obviously the hardest part, she had never been good at stealth, being clumsy as she was.

Quietly, she approached the sleeping men and succeeded in grabbing her backpack, luckily, her wand was lying next to it and she put it safely in her pocket. As she straightened and turned around, however, she found the guard stirring and slowly waking up again, quickly she dashed towards the trees. I hope I can get away far enough before he wakes up completely and warns his companions that I'm gone.

Tonks stayed near the edge of the forest, not coming out of the trees out of fear of being captured again but staying close to the edge because otherwise she would never find Grawps' cave. She had been walking for several hours and was getting tired, but she didn't dare to rest, in case the Vastatore's were following her trail. The sky was getting lighter, dawn would come soon. That's not good, I'm not far enough, they will find me more easily by daylight.

When the sun had come up, Tonks discovered a small cave, hidden from prying eyes. I don't think they will find me here and I really need to rest a few hours.

Going through her backpack for her sleeping mat, she realised with horror something was missing. Damn, that bastard still has my diary, how could I have been so stupid. For a moment she thought about going back and trying to retrieve it without being captured again. That thought was quickly dismissed and Tonks decided to get some sleep, the situation she was in could wait a few hours.

000

Apparently, the situation could not wait.

Two hours after Tonks had fallen asleep in the cave, she was roughly awaken by two men pulling her up by her arms and out of the cave. It took Tonks only a moment to recognise the two youngest Vastatore-brothers.

"So, you thought you could escape us, girl," taunted the one she thought was named Graham.

"You should have known better. As a British Auror, I'm sure you have heard of us before, you should have realised we are good at tracking," continued his brother David.

They dragged her outside, where the rest of the group werewolf-hunters stood waiting. One of them quickly bound her hands again, but the brothers didn't let go of her afterwards. They don't want me to escape again, I probably won't get another chance to.

Michael Vastatore had a furious look on his face.

"How dare you defy us in such a way. If you had cooperated from the beginning, we would have spared you, but I think I will let my boys do with you whatever pleases them and when the full moon rises you can take part in a little game we like to play."

While the man was speaking, Tonks noticed at least three of the others watching her, their eyes gazing up and down over her body, she started to feel nauseous again at the thought of what they obviously were thinking.

As the word 'game' was spoken, however, they all glanced towards their boss, and Tonks followed their gaze. A maniacal grin had spread across Michael Vastatore's face. Whatever he's up to, it's definitely not good.

"Let me explain this little game to you, miss Tonks. Do you know much about ancient Roman customs?" He didn't seem to expect an answer, because he immediately continued. "The Roman emperors used to say, to keep the people happy, they only needed bread and games. I very much believe they were right, wouldn't you agree?"

Tonks had no idea where he was going to, but I certainly don't like it and I doubt I will when I find out.

"The Roman people were very happy with the games they could watch in the amphitheatre. Those games have always intrigued me a lot, unfortunately, they aren't allowed anymore now, because according to modern people, they were barbaric. I, however, think some of them are really interesting, which is why I will be organizing one in two nights and you, my dear, have the privilege to be a part of the show. I'm sorry I can't accommodate for the proper surroundings, the forest will have to do."

"Now, in Roman times, they had roughly two types of games, one was a man to man battle to death, the other was man to beast, again, to death. Man to man battle is something we have seen enough during the war a few years earlier, man to beast, however, isn't something that occurs often these days. Let me explain to you what exactly your part in the show will be. During the full moon, you can get the part of man, well, technically woman, but that doesn't really matter, no magic is allowed and you will be armed with a silver sword. Your opposite will be whichever werewolf that picks up your scent and comes after you. I'm sure we will all enjoy the show very much and of course, we hope you will win."

The other werewolf-hunters were laughing hard, together with their leader. Tonks felt like she couldn't breathe anymore, her lungs seemed cramped shut together with the rest of her body and everything inside of her ached all of a sudden. She had never in her life been this afraid, not even during the final battle against Voldemort. That's probably because I wasn't in a situation where I would have to kill an innocent person to survive. Kill or die. I wonder if this is how Harry felt. No, he didn't have to kill an innocent stranger, Harry was fighting against a mad murderer.

Tonks lifted her head and realised her capturers held very satisfied smirks on their faces. They can see I'm afraid and that's exactly what they want. I have to show them they can't break me, I have to say something.

She said the first thing that came to her mind. "You are monsters."

The smirks faded and changed into scowls. "You're wrong, girl, we hunt monsters."

Tonks spitted at him. "I'm sure any werewolf is a lot more human than you will ever be."

Michael Vastatore slapped her in the face, his face red in rage. "Gag her, we'll see tomorrow if her tongue will be equally sharp when she had time to think about this."

A few moments later, Tonks was dragged away, bound and gagged, without having any idea where they were headed to and no prospect whatsoever on escaping, as she was constantly watched by at least two hunters.

How am I ever going to find Remus now? As the thought came to her, she stiffened and her eyes widened. Remus, there is a likely chance he will be in these woods and if he catches on to my scent…She didn't dare to finish that thought and it felt as if the horror of the situation she was in struck her all over again. Oh no…Remus…

000

The hours passed slowly, as the werewolf-hunters dragged Tonks with them towards wherever their destination was. How can time pass too slowly and too fast at the same time?

Tonks had been considering her situation, repeating Vastatore's words in her mind over and over, thinking about every possible chance there could be for her to escape, but it was no use. She was constantly being watched, they had put anti-apparition spells on her, put a silencing charm on her and gagged her. Why they did that, I have no clue, probably to humiliate me more.

They had taken her wand away and she figured running wouldn't work either. Maybe I can try to escape when the full moon is out, they won't have me tied up if they won't me to swordfight.

But she realised it wouldn't matter, they would keep an eye on her at all time and she couldn't forget there were also werewolves, if she escaped from the hunters, she wouldn't have her wand with her to protect herself against them. I'll have a silver sword though…

Tonks inwardly shook her head, horrified at her own thoughts. No! That's exactly what they want, whatever happens, I'm not goingto kill any werewolf. Tonks hung her head and sighed, there was nothing she could do but hope she was killed quick. Somehow, that's not a very comforting thought. I'm sorry Harry, for not being able to save you. Thoughts of Remus pushed their way to her mind but she pushed them away, they were too painful.

Her train of thought was suddenly broken by a strange roar.

Another dragon?

The sound was heard again and her capturers were looking around them, bewildered.

That doesn't sound like a dragon, it almost sounds like a voice…

The men around her were reaching for their wands and preparing themselves for a fight. One of them, Ben Guylt, she thought, approached her and undid her gag and silencing charm. He whispered a quick 'here' and handed her her wand, before quickly turning away from her.

Suddenly an enormous figure appeared before them, blocking away the sunlight and casting a giant shadow.

Giant? It's a Giant! Tonks saw the hunters were gazing up at the giant in shock. I can understand what they are feeling. Since when are there Giants in this part of Romania, I thought they lived more in the northern regions.

She glanced up towards the Giants face and suddenly realization struck her. Grawp, of course, Hagrid said he lived here somewhere, why didn't I think of that earlier? Maybe he could help.

Tonks almost laughed at herself at that. Sure, why would he help, Giants don't save damsels in distress, he'll probably kill me together with those bastards.

By now, Grawp had already knocked out two of the men, they were lying in a crumpled heap on the ground. Michael Vastatore was dangling high above the ground, while Grawp was holding him between his thump and index finger, studying him and glancing towards the others on the ground. The three other hunters were still casting spells at the Giant, but none of their spells seemed to have much effect, they couldn't do more than cause a little bit irritation to the Giant.

Grawp did seem to get irritated indeed by the curses flying at him non-stop, he dropped Vastatore to turn towards his attackers, the man was narrowly saved by the cushioning charm cast by one of his companions.

While the commotion was going, Tonks tried to rid herself from her bonds, but didn't succeed in the least. The only effect her struggling seemed to have, was Grawp now focusing on her. His enormous hand shot towards her and picked her up of the ground, Tonks was sure this would be the end. Strange, I seem to think that a lot lately. But to her amazement, Grawp put her down carefully in the palm of his hand and studied her intently. After a few moments and to her great astonishment, he started speaking, sort of.

"F'wiend Hag'id?" Tonks stared at the Giant, whose face was hovering a little above her. Grawp repeated his question. "F'wiend Hag'id? Tonk?"

Grawp recognizes me, it's unbelievable.

"Yes, I'm Hagrid's friend Tonks, that's right. Nice to see you again, Grawp." Her voice was high and trembling. Was that really my voice?

Grawp glanced towards the men on the ground, three of them still firing curses to the Giant, Grawp directed another question to Tonks.

"Bad men hu'tin' Tonk?"

Tonks nodded, her throat constricting as relief flooded through her. He did come to rescue me.

"Yes, Grawp, those bad men did hurt me."

"G'awp help Tonk."

The next moment, Tonks felt herself carefully lifted towards the Giants shoulder, where he put her down while he focused on the hunters again, with a quick sweep of his hand, he lifted them up in the air and dropped them a little further. Without so much as a glance back, Grawp turned his back to the unconscious men and headed in the direction he had come from.

Again, I have no idea where we're headed, but for some strange reason I'm feeling much more safe with this Giant than with those werewolf-hunters. Fate can be very strange. Oh well, I'll see where I am when I get there. At least I'm sort of free again and maybe even a step closer to finding Remus, since Grawp is probably taking me to his cave.

000

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