SuperPotterLock- The Goblet of Fire

Rita Skeeter's Scoop

Ron and Hermione had calmed down by the next day, reaching an unspoken agreement not to talk about their argument, when Harry and Ron told the rest of them that they had overheard Hagrid telling Madame Maxime that he was half giant.

'So what?' John said. 'I thought that was fairly obvious.'

'Giants aren't known for their gentle natures,' Sherlock said.

Their fingers and legs were entangled, sitting on the sofa together. John's heart was light in his chest, and he couldn't stop smiling. Sherlock managed to resist, but John could tell he was struggling to keep a straight face.

'And? Anyone who knows Hagrid knows he isn't dangerous. It's the same sort of nonsense they spout about Muggle-borns, isn't it?'

'You've never met a giant.'

'Oh, so you have?'

Sherlock didn't say anything, and John laughed at him.

'Has anyone seen Cas?' Dean asked, only having been half listening.

'No, why?' John said.

Dean shrugged. 'I just need to talk to him, that's all.'

But he couldn't find Cas for the rest of the holidays. He wasn't in the hospital wing any of the times Dean visited, nor out in the grounds, and Dean had the sneaking suspicion that Cas was avoiding him on purpose. He was the only one not doing homework after everyone else had already settled down to do theirs, instead spending most of his time wandering around aimlessly.

On the first day back, the Gryffindors spent Herbology dreading Care of Magical Creatures. It was gloomy and cold outside, and no one felt like trying to corral angry Skrewts around. When they arrived at Hagrid's hut, however, they found an elderly witch with close-cropped, grey hair standing in front of his door.

'Who're you?' Ron asked. 'Where's Hagrid?'

'My name is Professor Grubbly-Plank,' she said briskly. 'I will be teaching Care of Magical Creatures temporarily.'

'Where's Hagrid?' Harry repeated loudly.

'He is indisposed,' she said softly.

A soft, unpleasant laughter reached their ears. Draco Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherins had arrived. They all looked gleeful, and John's heart sank when none of them looked surprised to see Professor Grubbly-Plank. Rita Skeeter's face flashed before his eyes and he groaned, stumbling slightly.

'This way, please,' Professor Grubbly-Plank said, leading them away from Hagrid's hut and past the Beauxbatons carriage. She brought them right up to the edge of the Forest, where a unicorn was tethered to a tree. It was huge, beautiful, and so brilliantly white that it made the snow around it look grey.

'It's so beautiful,' Lavender Brown whispered. 'How did she get it? They're supposed to be really hard to catch.'

It pawed the ground nervously with its golden hooves, and tossed its horned head.

'Boys keep back!' Professor Grubbly-Plank barked. 'Unicorns prefer a woman's touch. Girls to the front, and approach with care.'

She carefully walked forward with the girls.

John glanced at Malfoy while he was distracted, and saw a copy of the Daily Prophet in his hands. 'Accio,' he whispered. The paper flew out of his hands, and John caught it and hid it before Malfoy saw where it went. 'Hey,' he whispered, beckoning to Harry and Ron. They closed either side of him so no one else could see what they were doing.