Chapter 764: The Scabbard
In Evan’s impression, Hagrid could subdue any dangerous magical creature, and even bring a dragon into submission.
This powerful half giant being easily knocked away by Grawp, the weakest of full-blooded ones, clearly showed the gap in strength between humans and these powerful creatures.
Under the sound of Madame Maxime’s screams, Hagrid rose from the ground, bleeding from his nose and mouth.
Herbert stopped Grawp, and Fridwulfa scolded him, and the giant stood there uneasily, making incomprehensible sounds.
“Well, don’ blame him. He did nuthin’,” said Hagrid, covering his bleeding nose. “I think little Grawp was jus’ too excited to see me. He couldn’t keep it all in; I’m his brother after all!”
He opened his arms again and went over to hug the aggrieved Grawp, even though he could only reach his waist.
If it were Evan, he would’ve only reached the giant’s knee!
Fridwulfa introduced Evan and the others to Grawp, but the latter was so clumsy that he didn’t memorize Hagrid’s name until the end.
He had a roasted lamb in one hand, as the other seized the top of the pine tree not far away and was pulling it toward him, evidently for the simple pleasure of seeing how far it would spring back when he let go. Next second, the giant let go of the top of the pine tree, which swayed menacingly and deluged them with a rain of needles.
He looked down at Evan, Sirius, Hagrid and Madame Maxime, all covered in leaves, and gave a loud laugh.
Fridwulfa reprimanded him a bit more, and Grawp reined in a little, looking afraid of his mother.
It didn’t take long for the fear to dissipate, however, and he soon returned to tugging on the pinetree.
This was a giant, a “proper” giant. Giants like Herbert and Fridwulfa who could communicate with humans were the exception.
After lunch, Evan, Sirius, and Madame Maxime left the camp and Hagrid decided to stay with his mother and brother.
After hearing what Herbert said, he seemed to have decided to try to communicate further with Grawp. Hagrid probably thought it was his responsibility, as the young giant was his family.
“I can understand that those two giants are very important to Rubeus.” On the way back, Madame Maxime sighed and said, “But that young giant seems to be really cranky. I think the wisest thing to do is to keep a distance from him.”
“I believe that Hagrid knows that,” Evan followed, “but to him, this is just his little brother acting dumb!”
That afternoon, he saw two new giants fighting in the same place until the evening.
He had learned that this was the giants’ special way of communicating, which made him worry about Hagrid, who had not yet returned.
In fact, Hagrid only came back the next morning, looking very different.
His hair was matted with congealed blood, and his left eye had been reduced to a puffy slit amid a mass of purple-and-black bruises. There were many cuts on his face and hands, some of them still bleeding, and he was moving gingerly to a point that made Evan fear that he had broken ribs.
Obviously, that was the result of a night of “communication” between Hagrid and Grawp.
In the world of giants, they were only used to express physically, and their feelings were amplified through violence, more so than through words.
“Hagrid, what happened to you?” Madame Maxime was panicking.
“I’m okay… Grawp has remembered me from earlier, and we’ve had a good time,” said Hagrid, washing his face in the sink hard to wash off the blood. “When he doesn’t lose his temper, he’s actually a good lad. We just need a little patience. My mother told me that no giant wants to be with Grawp… He’s too lonely, so I want to try to teach him a little English.” Hagrid continued, shaking his wet head, “I think if he could talk to other people, he’ll understand more that we all like him. That should make him more cheerful!”
Evan, Sirius, and Madame Maxime all said nothing and looked at him in a daze.
“Well, this is my own business, and I’ll deal with it,” said Hagrid. “What are we going to give Karkus today? I think we could finally tell him about our purpose.”
“Let’s give him the imitation of the crown of fate. I think he’ll like it.” Sirius said, and began to prepare gifts.
Twenty minutes later, they saw Herbert at the foot of the mountain. He brought bad news.
Golgomath had returned all the gifts they sent, and did not want to communicate with them. No one knew why.
“It’s abnormal. Although giants hate human wizards, they usually accept gifts,” said Herbert. “He might have felt that the gifts you sent are not valuable enough, taking it as an insult.”
That was highly improbable. Those gifts had been carefully selected by Dumbledore to suit the giants’ preferences.
Perhaps, it was the other way around. Maybe Golgomath did not take the gifts because of his unwillingness to communicate!
Evan thought it might be because he had already reached an agreement with other wizards, Death Eaters, perhaps.
Regardless, their only choice now was to put all their chips on Karkus, hoping that he would agree to their request.
…..
This time around, the Gurg of the giants received them in a huge cave near the top of the mountain, a reception much more formal than last time.
He was neatly dressed, sitting on the huge throne in the cave hall, without a naked giantess beside him.
This cave was also surprising. Evan originally thought it would be primitive, but it wasn’t.
The cave was very high, even the tallest giant around looked small inside. Rows of ancient and mysterious huge stone columns were arranged on both sides, extending forward. At the front of the hall, behind the huge Gurg’s throne was a statue… a shocking statue!
It was a Cyclops whose skin was reddish, with its vital points protected by armor.
The one-eye on its head was a massive yellow gem, exuding mysterious power.
The statue’s hand was raised high, as if it was summoning lightning, and at its feet was the body of a black dragon.
Next to the dragon, a pile of petrified bones could be seen… real bones!
It was like none of the dragons one could see in the wizarding world today. Its body was much larger.
What shocked Evan, however, was something else entirely.
The Statue was cracked… The crack split it into two halves from top to bottom, taking away from its majesty.
Evan raised his head, his gaze kept looking upwards, and then he saw something deep in the eye of the Cyclops.
It was a silver scabbard, the scabbard of Gryffindor’s sword!!!
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