Coup de Foudre [Fred Weasley] [5]

⚡️ Chapter 43 ⚡️

"There was a new Gurg, Golgomath," Hagrid said as he sighed deeply. "Well, we hadn' bargained on a new Gurg two days after we'd made friendly contact with the firs' one, an' we had a funny feelin' Golgomath wouldn' be so keen ter listen to us, but we had ter try,"

"You went to speak to him?" Ron asked incredulously. Vega, Harry and Hermione were all staring at Hagrid with surprise and concern. "After you'd watched him rip off another giant's head?"

"'Course we did," Hagrid said. "We hadn' gone all that way ter give up after two days! We wen' down with the next present we'd meant ter give ter Karkus. I knew it was no go before I'd opened me mouth. He was sitting there wearin' Karkus's helmet, leerin' at us as we got nearer. He's massive, one o' the biggest ones there.

"Black hair an' matchin' teeth an' a necklace o' bones. Human-lookin' bones, some of 'em. Well, I gave it a go – held out a great roll o' dragon skin – an' said A gift fer the Gurg of the giants –' Nex' thing I knew, I was hangin' upside down in the air by me feet, two of his mates had grabbed me,"

Hermione clapped her hands to her mouth. Vega's jaw dropped slightly; her eyes wide as saucers.

"How did you get out of that?" Harry asked.

"Wouldn'ta done if Olympe hadn' bin there," Hagrid said. "She pulled out her wand an' did some o' the fastes' spellwork I've ever seen. Ruddy marvellous. Hit the two holdin' me right in the eyes with Conjunctivitus Curses an' they dropped me straightaway – bu' we were in trouble then, 'cause we'd used magic against 'em, an' that's what giants hate abou' wizards. We had ter leg it an' we knew there was no way we was going ter be able ter march inter camp again,"

"Blimey, Hagrid," Ron said quietly while Vega clutched at her knees to try and remain calm.

"So, how come it's taken you so long to get home if you were only there for three days?" Hermione inquired, confused at the timeline.

"We didn' leave after three days!" Hagrid responded, looking outraged at the accusation. "Dumbledore was relyin' on us!"

"But you've just said there was no way you could go back!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Not by daylight, we couldn', no," Hagrid replied. "We just had ter rethink a bit. Spent a couple o' days lyin' low up in the cave an' watchin'. An' wha' we saw wasn' good,"

"Did he rip off more heads?" Hermione asked, sounding squeamish.

"No," Hagrid said. "I wish he had,"

"What do you mean by that?" Vega asked, feeling upset at just hearing about things like that.

"I mean we soon found out he didn' object ter all wizards – just us," Hagrid replied.

"Death Eaters?" Vega shot out, all other feelings dissolving into distaste.

"Yep," Hagrid said darkly. "Couple of 'em were visitin' him ev'ry day, bringin' gifts ter the Gurg, an' he wasn' dangling them upside down,"

"How do you know they were Death Eaters?" Ron asked.

"Because I recognised one of 'em," Hagrid growled. "Macnair, remember him? Bloke they sent ter kill Buckbeak? Maniac, he is. Likes killin' as much as Golgomath, no wonder they were gettin' on so well,"

"So Macnair's persuaded the giants to join You-Know-Who?" Hermione asked desperately.

"Hold yer hippogriffs, I haven' finished me story yet!" Hagrid said indignantly, who, considering he had not wanted to tell them anything in the first place, now seemed to be rather enjoying himself. "Me an' Olympe talked it over an' we agreed, jus' 'cause the Gurg looked like favourin' You-Know-Who didn' mean all of 'em would. We had ter try an' persuade some o' the others, the ones who hadn' wanted Golgomath as Gurg,"