The Giant Inferi Legion

"That's how I brought Grawp back. To avoid being discovered, we could only travel at night and rest during the day..."

After Harry and Ron left, Hagrid quickly confessed that he had brought his Giant brother, Grawp, back with him.

They dared not refuse to confess, for both William and Hermione's eyes were gleaming with sternness.

It must have been that little girl named Phoebe who told on me.

It was indeed what Phoebe wrote in her letter; she had already given Hagrid meat, how could she not have noticed that he was with a Giant?

Hagrid is also quite formidable.

When we left, we traveled by water, which was indeed convenient.

But on the way back, we traveled all the way from Switzerland, crossing mountains and passing through many countries.

How could someone carrying a Giant remain undetected?

"How did you cross the English Channel?" William asked curiously.

Hagrid can't Apparition, and he can't swim across, since it's not a small ditch, but a strait.

The narrowest point is 34 kilometers wide.

Sirius was able to swim from Azkaban not only because he could doggy paddle, but also because he was quite lucky.

"I bought one of those smuggled Portkey," Hagrid said, looking down. "One day I was wandering along the beach when I met a wizard..."

William was utterly speechless.

Illegal Portkey in France... no, in several Europe countries, many Portkey smugglers have connections to the France government.

Just to harvest their wealth once every four years, they send all the wizards who want to sneak into the Quidditch World Cup to the Ministry of Magic... and collect a hefty toll.

Look at France now, all they do is steal and cheat!

The fact that they were able to actively seek out Hagrid's smugglers means it was undoubtedly at Cregan's behest.

He clearly felt that a Giant and Half-blood Giant posed a significant security risk within France... and deliberately sent them back to the United Kingdom.

Hagrid was William's friend, so he could give him some face.

Hermione also thought of this challenge, and she exchanged a helpless glance with William.

"Hagrid, no matter how you got here, you can't bring Giant here," Hermione said sternly.

"Grawp doesn't want to come," Hagrid said desperately, "But I have to bring him, Hermione, I have to!"

"They all bully him because he's too short!" Hagrid said. "You met William in the cave."

Hermione sighed softly.

She had indeed seen Hagrid's brother, Grawp, being beaten up by other Giant.

Giant dislike short people, and Hagrid's brother was underdeveloped and a dwarf, only four or five meters tall.

Hagrid's mother, Fridwulfa, also disliked her youngest son.

The Giant believed that giving birth to a healthy, large child was the best thing, somewhat like the human preference for sons over daughters.

Fridwulfa not only abandoned Hagrid, but also completely disregarded the fate of his youngest son, even though he was doing quite well himself.

If she had the technology, she probably would have wanted to have an abortion or give the child away.

Hagrid's tears streamed down his bruised face and onto his beard.

"You know—he's my brother! I can't stand by and watch him get bullied!"

He's still a child!

Hermione opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Having said all that, what else could she say... tell Hagrid to leave Grawp alone and let him fend for himself?

William also sighed and said:

"But we can't put it in the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid. You know it's right next to Hogwarts School; it's too dangerous for the students."

Hagrid wiped away his tears. "So, I'm teaching him some manners and English."

He's already learned quite a few words!

Soon everyone will see that he is harmless!

"Harmless!" Hermione repeated, exasperated.

"Hagrid, William and I have both been to the Jungfrau and seen many Giant. Do you really think they were harmless?!"

They are so violent and cold-blooded, there's no way to communicate with them!

"Grawp is much better now, he's not so belligerent anymore..." Hagrid looked at Hermione pleadingly.

"I'll train him properly, make him as docile as tea."

Okay... **Tea has become a cute and docile unit of measurement.

"Much better, but you were beaten up like this?" Hermione said reproachfully.

"He can even beat you. There are quite a few students at the school who secretly sneak into the Forbidden Forest."

You don't want to see Anne, Cho, Cedric, and the others encounter Giant in the Forbidden Forest someday, do you?

"I've tied Grawp up with rope..." Hagrid cried like an eight-year-old child.

He's practically immobile.

Hermione wanted to say something more, but William tugged at her hand, signaling her to stop.

Hagrid won't listen to anything I say now.

We need to find a new place to settle Hagrid's brother; the Forbidden Forest isn't a long-term solution!

"What about Ygritte? Did she go to Beauxbatons with Madame Maxime?" William changed the subject.

As a Half-blood- Giant woman, Ygritte has always lived in the Alps and has never learned magic.

William wanted her to experience a different kind of life.

It's not good for Phoebe to be the headmistress of Beauxbatons anymore; she's managing the France branch of Akali's Mystery Shop.

Ygritte might be able to.

"She's already gone, and I guess she's enrolled now. Before she left, she said she'd come to Hogwarts to see you for Christmas." Hagrid wiped away his tears.

Let's forget about it... William still remembers her trying to knock him unconscious and drag him into the room.

"Did you separate in France?" Hermione asked.

"No, we separated halfway there," Hagrid stammered again.

"Olympe... she understands me," he said, wringing his large hands, "But—but soon after, she got a little tired of Grawp and took Ygritte back to school first."

Hagrid clearly used euphemisms.

It's probably not just a matter of "somewhat" annoyed; it's more like utter disgust.

It seems Hagrid is the real "brother-supporting demon"... He and Madame Maxime are definitely out of the running.

The atmosphere became much more lively once Hagrid's brother was no longer mentioned.

Hermione asked, "What's been going on with the Death Eaters lately?"

William also looked at Hagrid; this was the issue that both of them cared about most.

Voldemort was undoubtedly developing his power in secret, and Giant were one of his targets.

But William killed the Golgomath, the Jungfrau collapsed, and many more Giant were crushed to death.

This directly thwarted the Death Eaters ' plan.

Thanks to Hagrid and Maxime's recent efforts, many Giant Tribe have sided with the Order of the Phoenix.

But under these circumstances, why would Voldemort still send Death Eaters towards the Alps...? What was his purpose?

"Those Death Eaters are still sending gifts everywhere and stirring up conflict between Giant tribes. Many more Giant have died recently," Hagrid said angrily.

William tapped his fingers together, lost in thought.

Such provocations will only drive more Giant to our side.

Or has he already decided that the Giant tribes are no longer tractable and is trying to reduce their numbers as much as possible?

After all, there aren't many Giant left; every one less is a loss.

Hermione seemed to remember something; she suddenly looked up and hurriedly asked:

"Where are the Giant ' corpses?!"

"I didn't notice, it seems to be gone," Hagrid said vaguely.

Hermione's eyes were filled with fear. She took a soft breath and said urgently:

"William, I know what Voldemort is up to!"

Looking into her eyes, William suddenly understood.

Hermione is really smart; she can always spot details that are easily overlooked!

Those Giant corpses!

Now that the Giant tribes have sided with the Order of the Phoenix, it would be best to recruit some more obedient Giant.

Which ones are obedient?

Of course, people are dead!

After all, the dead are sometimes more useful than the living.

And Voldemort was creating... an army of Giant Inferi!

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