Chapter Thirty

Harry found Neville, leaning against a pillar talking to Draco.

"I was going to head outside do you want to join me?" Harry asked.

Neville and Draco wondered out the large door with Harry and into the cool nights air. There were several couples, hidden in the bushes so have secret kisses.

Harry didn't want to disturb anyone so walked quietly through the grounds.

"Are you OK?" Neville asked him, after a few minutes of silence.

Harry nodded, "Yeah. There's just a lot going on at the moment you know? We still don't know who put my name in the Goblet of Fire."

"We should tell Hermione to work it out," Draco smirked, "I'm sure she'd love the extra homework."

Harry let out a snort before hearing voices up a head, whispering angrily. Harry put his arm out to stop Neville and Draco.

"What is it?" Neville whispered,

Harry simple put a finger to his lips, indicating they needed to be quiet. Harry crept forward a couple of steps and listened carefully. Neville and Draco did the same, they heard the voice and knew why Harry had stopped.

"I really don't see what all the fuss is about Igor-" Severus drawled.

"Severus you can not just pretend that this isn't happening! Severus!" Karkaroff hissed, he sounded anxious, "It's been getting clearer and clearer for months now, I'm becoming seriously concerned, I can't deny it..."

"Then flee." Severus snapped, "Run away and I will make your excuses. I however will be going nowhere, I will always stand by my family, and by Hogwarts."

"Severus please listen to me..." Karkaroff moaned.

"I will discuss this no further." Severus said, blasting a nearby rose bush nearby, "Ten points from Hufflepuff, Fawcett." he snarled as a girl ran past him, pulling up the sleeve of her dress, "And ten points from Ravenclaw as well Stebbins." a boy rushed off as well.

Severus blasted the bush where Harry, Draco and Neville where hiding.

"Harry?" Severus said, raising an eyebrow, "Longbottom as well as Malfoy, is it?"

Harry glared at his father and grinned, "Ha ha. We were just getting some air."

"Really?" Karkaroff said, looking very uncomfortable at them being out there, "Just so happened to be out and about?"

Severus glared at him, "We do allow our students to walk freely in the grounds here Professor Karkaroff. Run along boys."

Harry nodded and led Draco and Neville further down the path,

"Luna seems sweet." Harry said, as they wondered along.

Neville nodded, "She is. Kinda bonkers but she sees the world in a really cool way, plus Ginny Weasley kept hinting that I could 'always ask her'. Luna seemed the better option."

"Ginny is a weird one." Harry agreed, "She just doesn't really seem to know herself."

Draco nodded. They were walking back up towards the castle again, it was fairly chilly outside, even if it was beautiful all filled with fairy lights.

This time it was Neville who put his arm out to stop them, "Shh. Go back." he whispered.

Harry didn't ask why but turned to leave; only to see Karkaroff prowling up and down the path only a short way back from them.

Harry shook his head and pointed, Neville and Draco nodded, and they moved to the side of the path. Up ahead, Harry could hear voices, it seemed like a very private moment, which is probably why Neville wanted them to go back.

"What did you know, 'Agrid?" Madam Maxime asked, purring at Hagrid.

Harry didn't want to listen to this, he busied himself by looking at a leaf nearby, but no leaf could actually hold Harry's attention for every long.

"I jus' knew… knew you were like me… was it yer mother or yer father?" Hagrid asked.

Harry could have groaned out loud, that was really not a good thing to say.

"I… I don't know what you mean, 'Agrid."

"It was my mother," Hagrid said quietly, "She was one 'o the las' ones in Britain. 'Course, I can' remember her too well… she left, see. When I was abou' three. She wasn' really the maternal sort. Well… it ain't in their natures, is it? Dunno what happened to her… might be dead fer all I know..."

Madam Maxime didn't say anything. Harry watched as a small beetle flew over and landed on the leaf nearby. He could see Draco and Neville both trying to pretend they weren't listening, Hagrid rarely talked about his childhood and no one could blame them for being intrigued.

"Me dad was broken-hearted when she wen'. Tiny little bloke, my dad was. By the time I was six I could lift him on top 'o the dresser if he annoyed me. Used to make him laugh..." Hagrid's voice broke as he recalled the memory. Harry knew how much Hagrid missed his father, "Dad raised me… but he died, o' course, jus' after I started school. Sorta had ter make me own way after that. Dumbledore was a real help, mind. Very kind ter me, he was…"

Madam Maxime was still sitting rigidly looking at the silvery fountain in front of them. Harry could see Fleur further along the path, pointing to Madam Maxime and pulling Roger Davies away from where her headmistress could possibly see them.

Hagrid pulled out a large, spotted handkerchief and wiped his eyes, "So… anyway… enough abou' me. What about you? Which side you got it on?"

Madam Maxime's nostrils flared angrily, she stood up rather quickly, leaving Hagrid looking a little startled.

"It is chilly," She said, Harry thought it wasn't half as cold as her voice was, "I zink I will go indoorz now."

Hagrid shook his head, "Eh? No, don't go! I've… I've never met another one before!"

"Anuzzer what, exactly?" Madam Maxime demanded, her voice cold and hard, cutting through the air like glass.

Harry closed his eyes and prayed for Hagrid not to answer, he could see Neville and Draco thinking the same thing.

"Another half-giant o' course!" Hagrid said.

" 'Ow dare you?!" She boomed, her voice shattered the quiet evening air around them, "I 'ave nevair been more insulted in my life! 'Alf-giant? Moi?! I 'ave… I 'ave big bones!" she turned quickly away from him and swished back to the castle.

Harry felt Draco grab the back of his collar and drag him back out of the way as Madam Maxime swept past them. Harry waited, unsure of what to do. A big part of him wanted to go over to Hagrid and make sure he was all right, but that would involve telling him that they had been eavesdropping and he really didn't want to have to have that conversation.

Harry nudged Draco and Neville, "Come on, lets get back inside. We can go round this way."

Both Draco and Neville looked rather stunned at Harry,

"Did you know?" Draco hissed.

Harry couldn't blame them really for being stunned, Harry had known Hagrid for years, Lily had taken him to visit Hagrid and Hagrid had been round to theirs so Harry had never really found out Hagrid was half giant, he'd just always know. If Harry hadn't know, it would be very surprised at the information as well.

"Yeah. Mum's known for years." Harry said, "It's no big deal…" even to Harry's ears it sounded weak.

Draco and Neville looked over towards Hagrid and walked away with Harry.

"I just assumed that he'd run into an engorgement charm or something when he was little." Neville said, still speaking in barely a whisper.

Draco nodded, "Yeah, maybe a bottle of Skele-Gro… he seemed so nice."

"Draco!" Harry said, louder than he had meant to, his voice breaking through the quiet night air.

"Sorry," Draco said, meekly, "I didn't mean it like that."

They were back inside the warm Hall now, Madam Maxime was sitting proudly on her seat at the judges table, she was alone and looking rather sombre.

"If Hagrid is half giant then she really is." Draco said, "Big boned indeed."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Well look at the way you two reacted, can you blame them for wanting to keep it quiet?"

Neville shook his head, "No."

Harry felt a flush of anger run through him, "It's like with Professor Lupin. He's never hurt anyone but he's judged on some outdated, pathetic, nasty stereo-type. It's totally unfair."

Harry would have ranted for longer but they were joined by the girls, and he didn't want to ruin the night for them.

"Did you have a nice walk?" Daphne asked.

Harry nodded, "Yep. It's lovely out there."

"We saw Viktor Krum taking out Hermione just now. She really is very pretty." Luna said, in her slightly dazed voice.

"Come on Harry." Daphne smiled, pulling him towards the dance floor, "Another dance I think."

Harry groaned exaggeratedly and grinned.

The Weird Sisters stopped playing at exactly midnight, Harry wasn't exactly sure how they managed to time the end of the song so well but they did and everyone clapped politely before starting to leave the Hall.

"Thank you for taking me Harry." Daphne smiled, giving him a curtsy.

Harry grinned and bowed at her in return, "It was my pleasure."

Hermione came over quickly and gave Daphne a quick hug, "Thank you! Thank you so much for everything."

Daphne smiled, "No problem. It was great fun turning you into a princess for the night."

Hermione laughed and darted off to say a proper goodbye to Viktor. There were a lot of people around him wishing that the ball could have gone on longer, Harry however was completely ready to fall into bed and sleep.

"Harry!"

Harry turned around at the sound of his name, Cho was coming over in her pale, tight fitting, dress.

"Cho. Hi." Harry said,

"I'll meet you on the stairs." Daphne said, letting go of Harry's arm and leaving him and Cho alone in the sea of people.

"Did… did you have a good night?" Harry asked.

Cho smiled and nodded, "Yes. It was lovely."

There was an awkward silence between them for a few moments.

"I wanted to say," Cho said slowly, "I… I just wanted to say I was sorry we never got a chance to dance."

Harry felt a glow burn in his stomach, "Thank you. I mean, it would have been nice but I understand. You looked pretty busy…"

Cho blushed, "Well, good night Harry."

Harry smiled, "Night… Cho?"

Cho nodded, "Yes Harry?"

"You looked really pretty this evening." Harry said.

Cho grinned, "Thank you, Harry. You looked really nice too."

Harry stood for a few moments as people moved around him, Daphne took his arm and pulled him into moving again.

"Come on. Time for bed." Daphne said gently.

"Actually can I borrow him for a moment?" Cedric asked.

Daphne nodded and took a few steps away.

"Cho was just-" Harry started to say.

Cedric raised his hand, "It's OK. I actually wanted to ask how you were getting on with the egg?"

Harry truthfully hadn't really thought about it. The noisy, screechy, thing was tucked under his bed and hadn't been opened in weeks.

"Yeah it's a tough one." Cedric smiled, "I suggest you take it into the prefects bathroom, Fourth door to the left of that statue of Boris the Bewildered on the fifth floor. Password is Pine-Fresh. Might help to just, mull it over in the hot water you know?"

Harry looked at him in confusion, "Umm thanks?"

Cedric smiled, "Well I've got to go. I would like to say good night." Cedric gave Harry a quick wave and left him standing there very confused.

Daphne wondered back over, "What did he want?"

Harry shrugged, "Not entirely sure if I'm honest. He said to take the egg to the prefects bathroom with me. 'mull it over'."

Daphne looked confused as well, "That's a rather strange hint. The prefects bathrooms are meant to be lovely though."

Harry nodded, "Yeah Mum always said they were good. Come on, lets get to bed."