Uncomfortable Truths

Chapter Ninety-Three - Running

The run from the castle to Hagrid's hut took less time now that they ran every morning. Even Ernie was able to keep up with the rest of them. With Draco and Theo being the fastest with the most endurance. Harry, Greg, Ernie, and of course Mrs. Norris, were not far behind.

They were still close enough to the school to see Hagrid and Snape running after them.

"Kitssss, boyssss..." The spider hisses, as it points out the direction for them to follow.

It didn't take long to figure out that they were heading to the area Hagrid would keep creatures he was nursing back to health. They could see the pens of acromantulas he used for detentions. Teaching the spiders language was a surprisingly peaceful detention.

The paddock where an injured hippogriff and thestral could be seen. They were at the edge of their enclosure, looking towards the manger where the injured kneazle was nursing her kittens.

They could hear the fight before they were able to see what they were running into. Wands pulled, they joined Toby and the mother kneazel, along with the three acromantulas fighting off at least ten small green, dwarf-like creatures the size of house elves. A Ravenclaw girl with dark hair was turned away from them, cradling something in her lap.

"Red caps." Draco frowns, remembering facing off with them his third year in defense against the dark arts. "Petrificus Totalus." What does he remember about red caps? Dwarf like creatures that live in holes left on battlefields or in dungeons. Attracted there by the blood spilt by humans. They're easily repelled by charms or hexes, but these are standing their ground. They should be running by now, they normally only attack when people are alone. Toby and the girl should have been a deterrence even for the large number of them.

The sound of their voices has Toby looking over. He's clutching one arm with blood running from his head. His moment of inattentiveness gives the closest red cap an opportunity for another hit with his club, taking out his knee. Toby falls forward, casting a slashing hex neither Draco nor Theo have heard before, causing a large slit across his attacker's stomach.

They can hear loud maniacal laughter from the forest edge. Bright eyes watch from the underbrush. The red caps are not alone.

"Stay out of the forest." Draco yells, meeting the eyes of the laughing man.

The mother kneazle moves to stand in front of Toby, taking a club to the side of its head. An acromantula jumps from the roof of the manger, landing on the red cap's face, biting into the side of its neck. The venom taking affect before it jumps off, leaving the red cap on the ground.

Theo and Draco keep casting, Harry, Ernie and Greg join the fray. Mrs. Norris runs to the manger, standing between the outside world and the kittens left inside.

Ernie pulls Toby out of the fight, having him lean against the manger with Mrs. Norris. He looks inside, there are three kneazle kittens and an acromantula standing above them.

Toby keeps his wand out, casting from his spot on the ground whenever there is a space between combatants. Mostly, he keeps the entrance blocked with his body, protecting the cowering kneazle kits.

The girl lays two of the kneazle kittens next to Toby, the one's she was cradling before pulling her wand.

"Brachiabindo!" She shouts, binding a red cap with invisible cords. He drops his club but runs towards her, "Flipendo!" The red cap gets knocked back into a tree, slumping to the ground unconscious.

"Gloria, watch out." Harry screams as two red caps swing their clubs at her, "Expelliarmus!" He shouts, catching both in the spell, their clubs sailing at him.