A N. Only a few of these characters belong to me. The rest are the property of J. K. Rowling. Now I think we all need to make her write us an eighth book, don't you?

Author's note. And the arm twisters go to my handsome and very persuasive Mate, Martin baker. To him I say Hurrumph. Also, if you want more chapters, review me. I'll only write if I'm reviewed. Those reviews are my writer's life blood. Also. I've hidden my favorite color within this chapter. Who ca find it? That person gets to tell me what they want in the next chapter, and I have to put it in. Sound good/ Okay, here we go.

Chapter Eight. Ahead of the Pack.

When morning came, bringing with it the smells of snow and mud and Fang's loud barks of greeting, Leena and Hagrid woke snugly within the embrace of one another's arms. Neither moved for a long moment, and each smiled in a way that brought the other comfort. For Hagrid and Leena, they had reached their heaven and nothing lay above it but what they already had. For the two of them, it was a bliss they had never thought they could reach.

"I love you, Rubeus. I love you so much it used to hurt to think of it." Leena whispered into his neck, as Hagrid snuggled closer to her beneath the huge ragged blanket his father had given him.

"And I love ye too, Leena my love. Won't ye be a good lass and keep a man warm? I'm just about freezin' down in here." Hagrid told her, as Leena kissed him lightly.

"Oh, Rubeus. I'd keep you warm a thousand times a day if I could. I wouldn't like a cold Rubeus, would you?" Leena questioned good naturedly, as she hugged him close.

"Well, if I were wantin' to be a cold Rubeus, I'd have stayed on my side of the bed." Hagrid answered, rubbing Leena's head affectionately.

Outside, the snow crunched loudly beneath someone's feet as Fang barked loudly. Leena and Hagrid pulled back the covers, and were just wrapping robes around them when a loud knock came at the door. Whoever could be disturbing them at this god-awful moment, Hagrid thought as he stood up. It was only seven-thirty, and he hadn't fully enjoyed Leena yet. Whoever it was had better have a good excuse for this.

"Rubeus, might you open this door? It's important that I talk to you." Dumbledore's voice came from outside, as Hagrid pulled the strings together to close out the cold air.

"Rubeus, it's Dumbledore. I wonder what he wants this early in the morning." Leena told him, as though he couldn't hear him out there himself.

"Yes, I hear him. I'll go and see what it is he is wantin' now. Ye just be comfortable, won't ye Leena?" Hagrid asked, as he headed slowly for the door.

"Rubeus, please hurry. We haven't much time." Dumbledore told him, as Rubeus finally reached the door and pulled heavily upon it to open it.

"Well, Professor Dumbledore! Ye needn't be so urgent! Come and let me make ye some tea?" Hagrid asked, as he closed the door behind a shivering Dumbledore.

"Rubeus, there isn't time for tea now. You and Leena must leave here at once. Barty Crouch is on his way presently to take Miss Leena to Azkaban once again." Dumbledore stated in a matter of fact tone that sent shivers down Hagrid's spine.

"He couldn't be comin' here! He doesn't know I even have Leena!" Hagrid exploded in that way that sometimes frightened Leena.

"Oh, he's coming, and he'll be here soon. Young Lucius Malfoy has told him you have her. Barty Crouch could lose his job if he doesn't find Leena soon. He has to do so, and if you don't get out of here now, you'll have helped him. Do you want that, Rubeus?" Dumbledore asked sharply, the tone of his voice giving Hagrid and Leena pause as they stared into his stony face.

"I'll kill him! Let me at him!" Hagrid screamed, his voice thundering loudly around his cabin in a way that had Fang cringing in his dog bed.

"Rubeus, you most certainly cannot kill Lucius! You know how the Malfoys are, and if you're not careful the Minister of magic might have me take you off school premises. What would you have me do Rubeus? I've already saved your tail." Dumbledore informed him, as Rubeus's face reddened with anger.

"Professor, ye've done wonders for me and Leena here. I thank ye kindly, and I'm sorry for my loss of temper." Hagrid apologized, as he hurried across the room toward his wardrobe.

"I'll be going now. You two get ready and be out of here. I don't want Barty finding the two of you. Goodbye and good luck to you both." Dumbledore said, hugging them both before he ran out of the cabin.

"He's a good man, Dumbledore." Hagrid told Leena, as he pulled things out of his closet and struggled into some small robes he'd gathered from Dumbledore the previous night.

"A very good man. I'll never forget what he's done for us, Hagrid." Leena stated, as she pulled on a heavy overcoat.

"Ye come along, Fang. I won't leave ye behind." Hagrid told the dog, as Fang nuzzled his hand affectionately.

"He's adorable, Rubeus. Come now, Fang." Leena called, as she hurried out the front door.

Hagrid pulled some dried oatcakes out of his cupboard and packed them into his large backpack. He wasn't sure how he'd carry it, but by the pink umbrella he always carried with him, he knew he would be able to do so soon. Snapping the umbrella open, he plunged his hand inside and pulled out the tiny red wand he had hidden there long before. That had been Tom Riddle's fault, and he'd been sure Tom and Lucius would have got along very well indeed.

Packed at last, Hagrid followed Leena out the door. His skin crawled with the cold of the winter air, and he could see his breath coming like some creation of Jack Frost's as it came out and hit the coldness that was winter. Leena's breath came as a perfect match to his, and for a moment he longed to go inside and take his lovely Leena with him. That would have to wait though, for he had to get her out of there.

With one last longing look back at the forlorn cabin, Hagrid reached across the little distance that separated himself from the lovely Leena. His gloved hand wrapped hers snugly inside and for just a fleeting moment he wished he could be his large self again. He could hardly see as well as he used to when he'd been large, and how quickly he could have picked Leena and Fang up and carried them away. He could be hidden far fro here with in the safe walls of the Forbidden Forest long before he now would. How wonderful it would be to have his old size.

"Rubeus, are you thinking something?" Leena questioned, almost whispering.

How frightened his Leena sounded, standing there beside him in the cold snow. If only he could carry her far away from here to a place where old Grouchy Crouchy would never find them. The forbidden forest was so full of places to hide, so perhaps he still had time. Anything was worth the risk, if only his Leena would be safe from that bastard. Had he just thought that? Could Hagrid have just thought that awful word? Never Hagrid, for he most certainly wasn't that kind of man, was he?

"Rubeus?" Leena questioned uncertainly, as she turned to look at him.

"Let's go, my beautiful Leena. I don't want ye to get caught over my stupidness." Hagrid told her, as he gently led the way toward the woods.

"Stop there! Rubeus Hagrid, Leena Michaels, you two stop right there or I'll kill the both of you!" A stern voice demanded, as Hagrid felt his blood grow ice cold

"Run!" Leena cried, hurrying through the snow into the forbidden forest.

Hagrid hurried up beside her, cringing slightly as spells bounced off the trees around him. Some of the branches caught fire, and some of the spells seared across his hair and flesh so that he wanted to scream. He ran faster however, taking Leena's hand in his when he thought she might slow down. He couldn't lose Leena, he'd just got her! It wasn't time to let her go, not now or ever!

"Don't let him get me, Hagrid! Please, don't let him get me? I'm so frightened!" Leena told him, as she held his hand tightly in hers.

"Never ye worry, Leena. Just keep running, and we'll get far away from him. Just don't stop for anything, all right?" Hagrid asked, as he turned quickly around one of the trees.

Leena's breath came in ragged gasps, but she ran onward. Hagrid was sure she was getting tired, but she could not be allowed to stop. He'd die before he let her get caught again. Barty would not have her, even if that meant Hagrid gave his life. He'd heard that worked somehow, but for the life of him he could not remember when or where he had heard it from.

"Stop them! Stop them now, you stupid blokes! If you don't stop those two humans, I'll burn this ever living forest to the ground!" The voice cried angrily, as another tree began to burn.

Hagrid stopped short, and pushed Leena onward. He'd had enough of this, and now Barty was going to pay. Nobody had the right to terrify a girl like Leena out of her wits like that. Hagrid wouldn't stand for it any longer, and now he was going to act.

"Ye stop right there, Barty Crouch. I'll not be lettin' ye get any closer to Leena." Hagrid growled loudly, as Barty came into sight.

How he longed to see this bastard's blood shed now. How he longed to shed that blood, and see that man writhing in pain. How often had he imagined poor, defenseless Leena in pain at this bloody bastard's hand? How often had he longed to get his hands on the man responsible? Now was his chance, and he meant to take it. This was not going to slip away from him this time.

"You going to kill me, Rubeus? You know I have a son who'll be glad to take my place. There are two more Bartys in the world, so you do what you will to me. They'll do away with you faster than you can say flobberworm." Barty taunted, as Hagrid's hands gripped the pink umbrella steadily in his grasp.

How he loved the color pink. It was the color he'd seen his mother wear when he was a tiny infant, though as a man he hardly remembered those times. By the time he was old, he'd probably forget that. For now, he remembered it clearly, and had picked this particular umbrella to hide the redness that was his wand.

"What's in that umbrella, Rubeus? Want to hand that over, or shall I take it from you?' Barty asked, as he extended his wand hand.

"Ye'll never get it, Barty! Ye just stay away from Leena and me, or ye'll see just what's in this here umbrella. Got that?" Hagrid growled, glaring over at the man in such a way that had beads of sweat dribbling down his neck.

"Rubeus? Come on, please?" Leena questioned from the shadows, drawing Hagrid's attention toward the trees.

With a lunge, Barty overtook Hagrid and clawed the umbrella from his hand. Hagrid's blood ran cold again, and he turned quickly to pick the umbrella from the man's hands. He couldn't let Barty Crouch see what was in that, or he was surely going right to Azkaban with Leena. He wouldn't let that happen, for he had to save his Leena. There was no other way!

"Ye give that back, or I'll take it from you." Hagrid screamed, as he lunged again for the umbrella held out of his reach.

"Why if you were tall, you could just take it from me. I'm not afraid of you any longer, Rubeus. You should just go back to your cabin before I hold you as an accessory to prison escape. Would you like that, Rubeus?" Barty questioned, as Hagrid looked over at him.

"Let him be!" Leena cried, as she threw herself across the small path toward Barty.

"Ahh, Leena! Now that's more like it! Good of you to just turn yourself in like that." Barty said, as he clutched at Leena's arm.

That little second was all Hagrid needed. With one mighty shove, Barty landed hard on the ground. The umbrella was about to fly out of his hand and hit the ground, but Leena caught it and held it over toward Hagrid as she grabbed his arm. The urgency in her expression brought Hagrid out of the temporary shock that comes from hurting another human being, and he grabbed the umbrella and held it tightly in his hand. Now he had to get Leena out of here, and he had to do it before Barty could react to the thing he'd just done.

Turning as one, the two of them ran down the path as Barty's voice called after them. If Hagrid wasn't careful with his temper this time, he'd get Leena caught again. He would not let himself be responsible for any mishaps that came to Leena. He couldn't lose her now, and he had to remember that when his temper was frayed to bits and ready to explode.

"You won't get away, Rubeus. This forest has one way in and one way out. You're cornered." Barty called, as his footsteps grew closer.

"Don't let him get me, Rubeus! He can't get me!" Leena cried, as she ran faster.

"I won't." Hagrid promised, as he held tightly the hand she'd given him.

Hagrid was only vaguely aware of Leena's ragged breathing as he hurried through the forest. They couldn't slow down, and he couldn't allow Barty to get too close. Perhaps he could carry her, if the path got too rough. He just couldn't let her get too tired.

"Rubeus!" Leena cried, as one of the spells finally found her.

She was finally down, and Hagrid felt the panic draw up into his chest as he knelt down to see if she was all right. His lovely Leena had been cut on the back of the neck, and the blood was awfully bad as he tried to find some way to clot the wound. Leena would die if he didn't help her, and Hagrid was frightened. Leena was the best thing that had ever happened, and now what was he going to do? If Leena died, he'd be nothing!

Leena was the only woman who didn't make him feel like less of a man because of the giant blood. Leena made him feel special, and only two people had that ability. Leena was the only woman he knew him, and the only person who saw him for what he was. To Leena, he wasn't a giant or a freak. He was just Rubeus Hagrid, slightly solitary man in his little cabin away from the world. To Leena, he was someone. He couldn't let that die, not now or ever.

"Please help me, Rubeus? If he gets me, we're in trouble." Leena sobbed, as she clung to Hagrid's neck.

"I've got ye, Leena." Hagrid reassured her, as he lifted her into the air.

"Oh, Rubeus, I'm so frightened. Our future---he'll take that from us!" Leena sobbed hysterically, as Barty's voice drew nearer.

"For Crist's Sake! Get back, man!" Hagrid said quietly, as he staggered behind one of the trees.

"Hagrid?" A familiar voice asked, as something beside him moved.

"Aragog?" Hagrid questioned dumbly, as a humongus spider came out of the shrubs beside them.

"Gotcha!" Barty's voice said, as Leena was dragged from Hagrid's arms.

"Rubeus, no! Don't let him get me! The---the baby! You can't let him take me!" Leena screamed, struggling violently against the iron grip Barty seemed to have on her.

"Baby? What baby?" Hagrid asked, his jaw dropping.

"Never mind what baby, man!" Aragog shouted, as he inched closer to Leena.

"Our baby! If he takes me, the baby'll die! I know it will!" Leena sobbed, as Aragog's leg reached toward her.

"I've got you, Leena Michaels. Now you're coming with me, and there'll be no questions." Barty stated, as he lifted his wand hand into the air.

"No!" Hagrid screamed, throwing himself at Barty's feet.

The unseen Aragog had crept ever closer to Barty and Leena now, and now he struck with force that would have made any extremely large insect dance with happiness. Before Barty could do anything to Leena, Aragog had sent her flying from his grip and dragged him to the ground. Barty was trapped now, and Aragog didn't seem able to let go even if he'd wanted. Hagrid could do nothing but watch, as he wondered what on Earth had just happened.

"Get your Leena and get out of my forest, Hagrid! Now, before she sees something that's going to sicken her." Aragog yelled, as Hagrid felt his rubbery limbs beginning to work at long last.

Leena was lying face down on the ground, and Hagrid scooped her up into his arms as though he were built entirely of muscle. The adrenaline flowed like mad through his veins now, and he loved the sensation of it. It was like an old friend to him, and he needed it more than ever now. It was what would help him get to his destination without exhausting too much.

"I'm so tired." Leena said softly, her eyes closing softly.

"God Leena, don't go to sleep. Please stay up with me until I can get you to Madam Larone's house? I need you." Hagrid told her, on the verge of tears.

"I don't know if I can, Rubeus. Let me sleep?" Leena asked pitifully, as she snuggled her head into his shoulders.

Hagrid tried to hold her, but he could feel the strength draining quickly from his bones. He didn't have long with his strength, and he could just make out the house where Madam Larone lived. If he could reach it---if he could just cross those last fifty yards or so, he was in the clear. As he stepped into the path of the last tree, the world went completely black. Even Leena's cry of horror never reached his red ears.

A N. Here we are, at the end of the chapter. How did everyone like it? Does it make you want to review? Huh? Huh?

All right, here we go with the chapter spoilers. I'm sorry I haven't written in over five years, but I only began this novel for Martin. I got too busy to continue it, but now here I am. My readers have to thank martin though, for it was he that gave me the laptop that inspired me to write.