Valley of Giants
August 4, a secluded valley in the Ural Mountains, eastern Russia.
The north wind howled, swirling the snowflakes covering the mountaintops into a blizzard. Hagrid, Madame Maxime, and Phoebe crossed one mountain peak after another, the terrain gradually rising higher and higher. This place was sparsely populated and covered in ice and snow. Their thick, furry boots were covered with fine ice crystals. The red blush on Hagrid's face, caused by the wind, never faded.
"Phoebe— " Madame Maxime turned and handed Phoebe a piece of chocolate. She walked ahead, her large size providing shelter from the cold wind. "Have some, child—it will warm you up."
They carried backpacks enchanted with the Undetectable Extension Charm, filled with food and water in addition to their tents for setting up camp. Searching for Giant in these mountains without water and food, no one could guarantee what would happen. Hagrid had even tried to hunt a rabbit with a bow and arrow yesterday, and of course he succeeded, but such silly rabbits weren't seen every day here.
"Thanks..."
Phoebe took the chocolate, took a bite, and the sweet taste melted in her mouth. A warm current spread to her fingers and toes, and her body gained energy to resist the cold. The thick ice and snow under her feet seemed to no longer emit cold air. Phoebe quickly rubbed her arms with both hands, and the friction gradually warmed her body.
The three had been away from Great Britain territory for a month. They crossed Poland, where they encountered two mad Troll and struggled to shake them off; then they crossed Belarus, where Hagrid had a minor argument with a Vampire in Minsk bar; along the way, they had climbed many rocks and slept in caves. While the rugged Hagrid endured it all, Maxime, a very particular lady, and Phoebe, a delicate young woman, found the journey incredibly difficult.
However, to Hagrid's great surprise, the two of them didn't complain once during the entire journey.
Before setting off, Dumbledore had warned Hagrid to be careful of the Death Eaters, and the three of them were extremely cautious throughout their journey, which may be one of the reasons why their trip was slow.
Finally, yesterday evening, Hagrid was able to confirm that they had successfully found the last remaining Giant Tribe in the world, and spent the night in a hidden cave nearby, planning to meet the Giant first thing tomorrow morning.
Upon hearing this good news, both Maxime and Phoebe were greatly encouraged. However, unbeknownst to them, after Hagrid and Maxime fell asleep, Phoebe secretly sent a message through the Two-Way Mirror from under the covers...
Let's return to the present.
The three ate something, rested for a while, and walked for a short distance before they saw a group of huge shadows below.
There were seventy or eighty people, each as big as a small mountain. Even looking down from the distant mountain, they were still awe-inspiring. Phoebe squinted at the Giant who were almost 25 feet tall and suddenly felt that even Hagrid or Maxime were like children compared to them.
"These are them..." Hagrid pointed to the seventy or eighty small peaks, his face tightening. Even Hagrid would unconsciously feel nervous when facing so many Giants, especially knowing how fierce and warlike they were.
It was a depression nestled between four high mountains. Hagrid and his group slowly walked down the slope. The closer they got, the larger the mountain-like Giant appeared in their eyes. Beside the depression was a lake, and an ugly and tall Giant lay lazily beside it, with several uneaten dead sheep hanging on a shelf in front of him.
When Hagrid and the others arrived at the foot of the mountain, they heard him roaring at the others, his voice so loud it was almost deafening.
The Giant patrolling the outermost circle spotted Hagrid and his companions immediately. He roared loudly, like a thunderclap in the sky, startling all the Giant. The rumbling sound echoed across the depression, and small hills seemed to leap up and collapse.
"Don't be afraid, we're here to deliver a gift. That guy lying there waiting to be fed is Gurg. Let's go!" Hagrid said to the other two with a forced calm. Then he walked in front, holding the "Gubraithian Fire" that Dumbledore had entrusted to him high, his eyes fixed on Gurg, ignoring the other Giant.
Gurg lay by the lake. He was twenty-two or twenty-three feet tall, weighed about the same as two male elephants, and had skin like a rhinoceros. He watched with great interest the torch that Hagrid held above his head.
"A gift from Albus Dumbledore to the Giant Gurg, as a sign of respect," Hagrid announced loudly.
The Giant Gurg couldn't understand Hagrid's words, so he summoned two Giants who understood English to translate for them. After learning what the Gubraithian Fire was, the camp erupted in excitement, and the Giant's faces showed great enthusiasm.
"Albus Dumbledore sent word that when the messenger brings gifts again tomorrow, please Gurg speak with him," Hagrid said again.
Gurg seemed very pleased with their gifts and was about to have the translator answer for him when the Giant started making a rumbling noise again. Another very burly Giant strode over, shaking the ground.
He had black hair and big black teeth, wore a bone necklace around his neck, some of which looked like human bones, and had a very unfriendly expression.
He spoke loudly in the language of Giant to Gurg, which sounded somewhat like a roar.
Then they started fighting.
The battle between the Giant was incredibly fierce, like a series of moving hills colliding with each other, the sound was unbelievably loud. Hagrid and his companions, sensing the danger and not wanting to be caught in the crossfire of these behemoths, were about to leave when they suddenly found themselves surrounded by a group of black-robed wizards with hoods covering their faces.
Above the snow-capped mountain, in the cave where Hagrid and his two companions spent the night.
Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, all in one look!
One after another, swirling vortexes of color appeared Silencio, and one figure after another slowly stepped out from the vortexes.
"Is everyone present?" Before he could finish speaking, Mr. Delacour's expression suddenly changed, for he had already heard a tremendous sound coming from the valley below—
"Quick, go check it out—" Skylar vaguely guessed what had happened and ran towards the cave entrance. The closer he got, the louder the sound became, deafening and making people worry that it could trigger an avalanche at any moment. It was a mix of shouts, roars, howls, and the clanging of weapons. Dozens of Giant were fighting in the valley, and the earth seemed to be trembling.
"Phoebe may be in danger!" Mr. Delacour said anxiously.
"Look over there!" One of the Silver Spear's scout adventurers pointed in a direction where four figures in black cloaks were circling back and forth, waving their wands triumphantly. The one in the center appeared to be Phoebe Delacour.
"Sarf, you and Latifa stay here. The rest of you, follow me!" Skylar took the lead, disappearing from the spot in Apparition. The others followed in Apparition as well, except for Sarf, who looked displeased. However, she understood the importance of protecting Latifa. With Latifa around, the survival rate of everyone on this mission could be greatly guaranteed.