Evan and Hermione returned to the auditorium. Ron and Lavender were conspicuously absent, Ginny and Gabrielle sat amidst a gathering of Beauxbatons girls, Neville and Luna swayed gracefully on the dance floor, and Harry and Colin occupied a table away from the festivities.
"Have you two seen Ron?" Harry inquired, directing his question to Evan and Hermione, who had just rejoined the group.
"He's occupied out there!" Hermione replied casually, surveying their surroundings cautiously to ensure no eavesdroppers lurked nearby. Lowering her voice, she continued, "I overheard it while I was with Evan…"
She proceeded to relay what she had heard from Hagrid, leaving Harry and Colin equally astounded.
"So, Hagrid is a half-blood giant?!" Colin exclaimed in amazement.
"Indeed, it's a grave matter," Evan and Hermione nodded in agreement.
"I don't comprehend. What's the issue if Hagrid is a giant? What harm could he possibly pose?!" Harry retorted, his gaze shifting to Mrs. Maxim, who sat alone at the referee's table, wearing a sullen expression. "If Hagrid's a half-blood giant, then surely she's one too, robustly built. The only individuals more robustly built than her are dinosaurs…"
"You're missing the point, Harry!" Hermione explained patiently. "The revelation of Hagrid's half-blood giant heritage is deeply concerning. The books label giants as dangerous magical creatures shunned by the wizarding community."
"Why should we care?" Harry stubbornly countered. "There's nothing wrong with Hagrid; we all adore him!"
"While that's true," Evan interjected, "usually, giants are regarded as highly aggressive humanoid magical creatures, akin to trolls in their innate desire for violence. However, they can be far more perilous than trolls. Giants average at 22 feet in height, nearly twice as tall as trolls. Their robust physique grants them formidable resistance to a significant majority of magic, rendering them near-invulnerable killing machines," he explained. "In ages past, giants struck fear into the magical world. Nowadays, there are no giants in England!"
"Why? Where did they disappear to?"
"They've likely become extinct. Many were hunted down by Aurors, while some retreated into foreign mountains. The current era is unlike the past; it's no longer a time when giants can wreak havoc," Evan continued. "However, during Voldemort's reign, numerous giants joined his ranks and caused widespread devastation."
"Even so, what does this have to do with Hagrid? He's not a threat!"
"Those who know Hagrid may believe he poses no danger, but for those unfamiliar with him…" Evan shook his head. He noticed a gathering of people, much like themselves, huddled together, discussing the matter in hushed tones.
The incident had leaked out earlier near the fountain, and many individuals were now privy to it. Concealment was not a viable long-term solution, and it was detrimental to Hagrid. The issue of his bloodline had always weighed heavily on Hagrid's heart. Suppressing it only delayed the inevitable clash.
Fully exposing the truth was the right approach, allowing Hagrid to see that he was still accepted by everyone. Evan decided to make some preparations for this matter, as he couldn't let public opinion spiral out of control.
Additionally, he was curious about Hagrid's parentage. Hagrid's father was described as an ordinary wizard, even somewhat inconspicuous. How, then, did he end up with Hagrid's mother, a pureblood giantess, and father a child? While magical creatures interbreeding with wizards was not uncommon, hybrid giants were a rarity.
Upon reflection, it was indeed a puzzling situation.
Upon their return, Ginny and Gabrielle approached Evan, Hermione, and Harry.
For the remainder of the ball, the six of them remained seated in a corner, engrossed in discussions about giants, paying little attention to the dance floor.
They declined invitations to dance, regardless of who extended them.
Harry occasionally cast a glance at Cho Chang but immediately looked away when he saw her with Cedric, his frustration evident.
Evan urged him to approach Cho, but Harry hesitated and ultimately decided against it.
As midnight approached, the Wacky Sisters concluded their performance to enthusiastic applause. They made their way towards the foyer, and Evan, Hermione, and Harry accompanied Gabrielle back to the Beauxbatons carriage.
In the carriage's doorway, they spotted Ron, holding Lavender's hand and giggling.
"Oh!" Ron paused when he saw Evan, Harry, and Hermione. Lavender giggled and dashed inside, blushing.
An awkward silence hung in the air as Ron seemed to want to explain himself but remained silent. He gazed at them with a hint of anticipation, as if bracing for their reaction.
However, none of them had anything to say to Ron. Despite Ron and Lavender's rapidly progressing relationship, it was Ron's prerogative.
After a brief moment of silence, the four of them returned to their respective common rooms, lost in their thoughts.
As for Hagrid's revelation, Harry would be the one to inform Ron.
The day after Christmas, the students slept in.
The Gryffindor common room was notably quieter than the previous day, with students conversing sleepily, punctuated by frequent yawns.
Hermione's hair was disheveled once more, and she confessed to Evan that she had used a copious amount of quick-smoothing hairspray for the ball.
"But it's too much trouble to do this every day," she remarked practically, scratching the base of Crookshanks' ear as the cat purred contentedly.
As impressive as Hermione had been the previous night, Evan found her equally endearing in her natural state. At least, he thought so. This was the authentic, unvarnished Hermione.
Regarding Ron and Lavender's situation, everyone tacitly pretended not to notice.
The couple exhibited greater restraint, their affections less overt.
Harry eventually shared Hagrid's secret with Ron.
Ron's reaction was one of greater surprise than expected. He recounted numerous alarming rumors about giants to emphasize the gravity of the situation.
On the other hand, Hermione gradually regained her composure after delving into a few books.
"I've long suspected that Hagrid is a half-blood giant!" she declared to the group, raising her spellbook. "I've been perusing the history of giants, and I don't think we need to be so apprehensive about them. Not all giants are as fearsome as the stereotypes suggest. It's prejudice, much like society's biases against werewolves—it's a preconceived notion, isn't it?!"
Hermione staunchly believed that the unjust treatment of half-blood giants and werewolves was a prejudice that needed to be eradicated. She likened it to the way wizards treated house-elves, asserting that this concept was fundamentally flawed.
Ron, on the other hand, shook his head in disbelief at Hermione's perspective. Evan, however, saw merit in her idea. If more wizards possessed Hermione's awareness, many issues could be resolved. Unfortunately, the reality was far grimmer than anticipated.
The day following the ball, tension gripped the castle. Gossip and rumors about Hagrid's true nature spread rapidly through the ancient halls, revealing his status as a half-blood giant.
Many students had gathered around the fountain that day, and Hagrid's booming voice had been unmistakable. There was no way to conceal the truth, especially after Mrs. Maxim's enthusiastic exclamations had echoed even from a distance.
Not only did she insist she was just "big-boned," but she also broadcasted the news about Hagrid being a half-blood giant to everyone. As Evan had predicted, the information was now widespread, giving rise to various opinions.
Some believed it wholeheartedly, while others remained skeptical.
However, when the Christmas issue of the Daily Prophet arrived via owl mail, it confirmed all the rumors.
Rita Skeeter and the Daily Prophet had seized upon the story, replacing the front page's expected Christmas content with a massive picture of Hagrid, appearing furtive.
The headline read "Dumbledore's Big Mistake," accompanied by an article written by Rita Skeeter herself.
The article began by chastising Dumbledore for his habit of hiring controversial faculty members, including Moody, a former Auror known for his violent tendencies, and other creatures like werewolves, vampires, and goblins. But the most shocking revelation, according to Skeeter, was the true identity of the current Protection of Magical Creatures professor.
Rube Hagrid, who had been expelled from Hogwarts in his third year, had been working as the gatekeeper. However, he had somehow secured the position of Magical Creatures professor, despite being less qualified than other candidates.
The article criticized Hagrid for subjecting students to terrifying creatures, resulting in injuries and disfigurements. Some students claimed to fear him but dared not speak out.
Hagrid's conduct grew increasingly erratic, including breeding a dangerous hybrid creature he called the "Fried Tail Snail." He seemed to flout regulations that typically monitored the cultivation of magical creatures.
The article then unveiled Hagrid's true lineage, revealing that his mother was the giantess Fridwulfa, known for her brutality. The giants, a savage and dwindling race, had been responsible for Muggle massacres during the White Terror of the Mysterons' rule. Fridwulfa had likely escaped to a giant village abroad.
The article insinuated that Hagrid had inherited his mother's cruel nature, making him unsuitable to teach students about magical creatures.
The Daily Prophet concluded with a plea for Hogwarts to address the situation promptly, echoing concerns of parents.
"I can't believe this!" Harry exclaimed, his anger evident after reading the article. "I need to confront Malfoy about this. How can he claim we all hate Hagrid? And to say I was attacked by some hawk-headed, horse-bodied winged beast! Buckbeak saved his life last year; how could he forget that?"
Surprisingly, Malfoy had been relatively kind to Buckbeak over the past year, occasionally bringing him food. However, his attitude towards Hagrid remained hostile, just not towards the unique creature mentioned.
"And for the record, Crabbe was bitten by a Flobberworm, which doesn't even have teeth!" Harry added.
Hermione was less concerned about Malfoy's claims and more focused on how Rita Skeeter had learned about Hagrid's background.
"How did Rita Skeeter find out?" she pondered aloud.
"What's so surprising about it?" Harry responded. "Hagrid wouldn't say anything negative about us to her. She went after him relentlessly, and he unwittingly gave her material to work with."
"After last night, nearly half the castle was aware of it," Evan pointed out.
"Yeah, even those of you who were hiding in the bushes on your secret date knew about it. So it's no surprise that Skeeter got wind of it!" Ron exclaimed incredulously. "Hagrid is quite the character; he talks about his mother being a giant as if no one else can hear him!"