There had long been a widespread legend in Europe that a giant's coming-of-age rite was to hunt down a flying dragon alone.
Although this legend was not particularly reliable, the fact that it had spread so widely was enough to attest to the giants' fighting prowess.
To say that every giant had to kill a fire dragon to reach adulthood was certainly an exaggeration.
But it was indeed true that some giants could kill fire dragons. At the very least, even a fire dragon would not dare provoke two giants traveling together.
Giants over six meters tall possessed strength beyond most people's imagination.
With throwing weapons, they could easily strike targets two or three hundred meters away. Flying dragons generally did not fly above that range.
Just moments ago, a log spear hurled by an especially tall giant, nearly seven meters in height, had almost struck Norberta in the air.
There was no doubt that, had it hit, even a fire dragon's tough scales would most likely have been pierced clean through.
"Norberta!" Hagrid cried out. "Careful, be careful!"
In fact, Norberta needed no warning from Hagrid. When she saw the giant pull another log spear from the vine-woven bag on his back-a mere short spear to him, but several sizes larger than a lance to an ordinary person-she immediately beat her wings and put some distance between them.
A giant's short spear could strike several hundred meters away, but hitting a fast-flying fire dragon once she was a hundred meters away was no easy task.
The giant who had been aiming at Norberta seemed to feel that she was too difficult a target and turned his attention toward the wizards instead.
In particular, toward Hagrid, who had just called out a warning.
Harry, who happened to be watching the