Hagrid’s Story; The tiny wizard and the giantess.

Chapter One.

Harry Potter was many things, an orphan, a wizard, destroyer of a basilisk just to name a few but the most important one for this story was and is that Harry Potter is a loyal friend and he can’t stomach the fact that his friend Hagrid lives in something even he would say was just a little more than a woodenshed. Hagrid had no real bathroom (they had to return to the castle when they needed to pee) and even though the friendly giant always said that it didn’t bother him and if he needed anything he went to the castle but Harry thought that Hagrid deserved a real home, with everything in it.

Harry had spoken with professor Dumbledore about the options he had and how he could arrange things. Hagrid deserved better especially now that his name had been cleared. Dumbledore had smiled at Harry and told him that he had tried to move Hagrid to something more appropriate many times but that Hagrid refused each and every time saying that the Headmaster had done more than enough for him but that Harry could try and change it if he wanted and he had his full support.

Harry knew that it was going to cost some gold and Hermione came with the idea to sell the basilisk that rightfully belonged to him and use the gold he gained from that sale to build Hagrid a new home. Harry thought it to be an amazing idea as the basilisk was the indirect reason Hagrid was expelled from Hogwarts.

During the summer holidays he went to Gringotts to talk with the goblins who were more than willing to help but even though they love gold they refused the entire basilisk as payment.

“Gringotts is proud to be a fair business. Everything has a price, but that price must be just, and it would dishonour us to accept the entire basilisk when a few scales would almost pay for what you want.”

Harry had loved to sit down with a goblin who would draw up the plans and the first thing Harry told him was that the house should be made from stone and not wood.

When the goblins truly started to build Hagrid’s new home Harry gained permission from the Headmaster to travel to Hogwarts with the Knight bus to see how it went even though it was the summer holidays. Dumbledore warded the new home so Hagrid wouldn’t stumble upon it as that would ruin the surprise.

With some help from Dobby and dozens of catalogues they managed to decorate the place with things like a bed large enough for Hagrid and bedlinnens, towels, a couch, chairs and so on. Harry and Dobby had great fun with it.

Then finally on the second day of the new school year Harry was ready to show Hagrid his new home.

“No, I’m not telling you what it is,” Harry said, laughing.

They had blindfolded the friendly giant, and he, Ron, and Hermione guided him along. Hermione and Ron had helped a lot with letters and ideas, even though they couldn’t be there in person, as Ron had taken a trip to Egypt with his family and Hermione had gone to France with her parents during the holiday.

“But ’Arry, I’m not seein’ where I’m goin’,” Hagrid laughed as he was guided by Harry and Ron.

“You’ll see soon enough,” Hermione said as she checked that the blindfold was still secure.

“It’s just a little bit further,” Ron said, tightening his grip on Hagrid’s hand.

It didn’t take long to bring Hagrid to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, beside the Black Lake, where they had built Hagrid’s new home.

“Alright, I’m going to take the blindfold off. If you could bend down a little,” Harry said. Hagrid crouched without question. “On the count of three, you can open your eyes.”

Harry’s heart hammered in his chest. He’d imagined this moment a hundred times, but it still felt unreal. Today was finally the day.

“One… two… three.”

Hagrid opened his eyes.

For a long moment, he didn’t say a word. He just stared at the large house before him, mouth slightly open, as if he couldn’t quite believe it was real. A wide banner hung above the front door, fluttering gently in the breeze.

Welcome home, Hagrid.

“Surprise!” Harry said, stepping forward.

Hagrid swayed, then dropped heavily onto his backside, still staring, his eyes wide and shining.

“What… what did yeh do?” Hagrid managed, his voice thick. “This is too much. Me old place was alright.”

“Hagrid,” Harry said softly, standing beside him with his hand on his shoulder, “you didn’t have a toilet. Or a couch where you could lie down after a long day of hard work. And you washed by sticking your head in a rain barrel.” He hesitated, then added, “You’ve spent your whole life taking care of everyone else. You deserve better. You deserve so much more.”

Hagrid lifted a hand and scrubbed roughly at his eyes, sniffling. “Yeh shouldn’t ’ave done this,” he said, his voice breaking. “Didn’ need all this, not for me…”

But his hand trembled as he pressed it to his chest, and he didn’t look away from the house for a single second.

“Come on, let’s take a look inside,” Hermione said as she and Harry tried to help Hagrid back to his feet.

Hagrid shook his head as they entered the house. “Shouldn’t ’ave done this.”

They showed him around, starting with the living room. There was a couch large enough for Hagrid to stretch out on and comfortable chairs set in front of the hearth. Hagrid kept mumbling that he didn’t deserve any of this and that it was too much, his voice thick as tears gathered in his eyes.

The large kitchen made him stop short.

“Now I don’t ’ave to cook in the fireplace anymore,” he said quietly.

“Sir doesn’t have to cook at all,” a small house-elf squeaked. “I is taking good care of Mister Hagrid from now on, Sir.”

“A house-elf… for me?” Hagrid shook his head slowly. “I don’ need an elf to take care of me. I’ve been takin’ care of meself for years an’ years.”

“Hagrid, she volunteered,” Harry said gently. “Her previous owners weren’t kind, and she really wanted to serve someone kind. The goblins recommended her. Please don’t turn her away. She’ll be heartbroken.”

Hagrid looked down at the elf. Her long ears drooped sadly, and tears welled up in her eyes.

For a moment, Hagrid didn’t say anything. Then he sniffed hard and cleared his throat.

“What’s yer name?” he asked gruffly, though his voice was kind.

“Milly, Sir,” the elf said with a hopeful smile. “Does Sir want some tea?”

Hagrid hesitated, then gave a small nod. “Just Hagrid, Milly. An’ maybe later, after this lot’s finished showin’ me around.”

Then they led Hagrid back downstairs and out through the back door. Behind the house was a small garden and, farther back, a large barn that had been hidden from view by the house itself.

“Look, Hagrid,” Harry said, unable to keep the excitement out of his voice. “Now you can store all your equipment safely. And if you ever need to take an animal in, there are stables and a place where they can heal. And here’s a drying room, since we know you always dry your own herbs…”

“This is too much,” Hagrid said, his voice hushed with wonder. “This is too much. Never in me whole life did I think I’d live in a place like this.”

He turned to Harry, eyes shining.

“Do you like it?” Harry asked, suddenly nervous.

Hagrid broke into a wide smile. “I love it.”

He lifted Harry clean off the ground in a crushing hug, then did the same to Ron and Hermione. Hermione squeaked loudly as her feet left the floor, Ron couldn’t stop laughing.

They went back inside, where Milly had tea and cake ready. Hagrid sat down in one of his new armchairs and made himself comfortable.

“This is perfect,” Hagrid said, settling into the chair as Milly served him tea in one of his huge mugs.

“I don’t know how to thank yeh,” Hagrid continued, his voice thick. “I’ve got no words for how much I love what yeh’ve done for me.”

“You deserved it, Hagrid,” Harry said. “And tomorrow you can pick up your new wand at Ollivanders. If you want, you can also take private lessons so you can sit your exams.”

“I’m goin’ to be a proper wizard, like me dad.” Hagrid pulled out a huge handkerchief, wiped his eyes, and blew his nose loudly. “I never told yeh about me dad… or me mum.”

Harry shook his head. “No. Only that he was really small and that you could put him on top of the dresser when you were six.”

“You’ve never told us much about your parents,” Hermione said gently. “We thought it might be too painful.”

Hagrid smiled, “It was but I like to tell ya about me parents and how they met…”

Harry, Ron and Hermione made themself comfortable so they could listen to Hagrid’s story.

Chapter Two.

Rowan Rubeus Hagrid was a tiny wizard who loved adventure and animals, magical or not. He loved spending time outside. Nature, forests, trees, the beach, or the mountains, he loved it all.

After graduating from Hogwarts with Outstanding in Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology, he decided to travel the world. There was so much he wanted to see and learn, and his first destination was the French Alps. He hoped to discover new plants and wildlife hidden among the mountains.

What he didn’t expect was to be attacked by a Graphorn. The large, grayish creature with a humped back didn’t take kindly to him stumbling into its territory, where she had her young hidden.

Rowan had just bent down to examine some flowers and scribble notes in his notebook when the Graphorn charged from behind, launching him several feet through the air like a raggdol. He screamed as one of the horns pierced his leg while the other tore through his side. There was little he could do against the angry animal; its hide was thicker than a dragon’s, and his spells barely scratched it.

Rowan feared for his life. He thought his last moments had come, that he would die alone in the mountains of France… when he heard a loud roar.

He opened his eyes to see a giant swinging a massive club toward the Graphorn. With a thunderous crash, the club struck the beast. The Graphorn roared in fury but, deciding it wiser to retreat, scooped up its young and fled.

The giant turned toward Rowan, and just before the tiny wizard lost consciousness, he realized the giant was a woman, a giantess.

Fridwulfa was one of the largest and strongest giantesses in her clan. She was a fierce hunter, and no one could strike harder with a club than she could. So when she saw the tiny wizard under attack, she reacted on instinct rather than rational thought, swinging her club with devastating force at the Graphorn.

Once the beast retreated, she crouched down and poked the tiny man with a finger. She felt the magic radiating from him and knew immediately that he was a wizard. She poked him again, and this time her finger came away bloodied. She looked around, unsure what to do, the little man seemed on the brink of death.

Fridwulfa shrugged and began to stand, ready to return to her hunt. She needed deer for supper. But just a few steps in, the strange, strong magic of the tiny wizard made her freeze. Slowly, she turned back. How could someone so small wield such power?

Fridwulfa grumbled in confusion. What was she supposed to do? If she brought him back to her clan, he would be killed immediately. The Gurg would love to skin this little wizard and wear his skin as a hat.

She took a step to walk away again, but the wizard groaned in pain, and something in her softened. With a resigned sigh, she decided to carry him to a small cave hidden nearby, a cave she had used before, when she was too exhausted from hunting to make the entire trip back to her clan.

Fridwulfa had never walked so fast in her life as she did now. The tiny wizard weighed next to nothing, so he wasn’t slowing her down. No, the reason she moved so quickly was the trail of blood they left behind.

As she hurried toward the cave, she gathered herbs and leaves she would need to patch him up. She wasn’t sure if she could heal him completely, and she hoped his magic would do most of the work.

By the time they arrived, darkness was settling over the mountains. Fridwulfa laid one of the furs that kept her clothed on the ground and gently placed the tiny man on top. She had no choice but to tear his clothing into pieces so she could examine his wounds.

The worst was the gash on his leg, she could almost see straight through it. She pulled some soft leather from her bag and tore it into broad strips to bandage the leg tightly, layering the healing herbs on top. She could only hope it would be enough. The wound at his side had mostly stopped bleeding and didn’t look as bad, but she still applied herbs and wrapped it carefully in the leather.

Fridwulfa stepped back and looked at her work. She allowed herself a small, quiet sense of pride. She wasn’t a trained healer; what she knew had been passed down from her mother, and her mother’s mother before her. But for now, it seemed to be enough.

She built a small campfire and waited for it to burn enough before she took some meat that was wrapped in leaves out of her satchel and put it above the fire. Fridwulfa had no clue when the tiny wizard would wake; she hoped that it wouldn’t take too long as she couldn’t stay away from her clan for too long.

Fridwulfa didn’t have to wait long before the tiny wizard stirred, letting out a soft moan.

“Water,” he mumbled, eyes still closed.

Fridwulfa stared down at him, unsure how to give him any. Her own flask was far too large for him to hold or drink from. Thinking quickly, she dripped a little water into her hand and held it carefully in front of his lips, letting him drink from her massive palm.

“Thank you,” he mumbled again, though she didn’t understand a word of it, it was a small miracle she had understood the word ‘water’.

When Rowan woke, slowly and in pain, he wasn’t sure where he was. All he knew was that he hurt and was terribly thirsty.

“Water,” he mumbled.

He heard movement, and suddenly something was held in front of him. Cool water touched his lips, and he drank slowly.

“Thank you,” he mumbled again.

Rowan began to open his eyes, and he wasn’t sure he could believe what he saw. In front of him sat a giantess, next to a small fire at least, by her standards. He looked down and saw that his wounds were bandaged and taken care of.

“You healed me,” Rowan said with a weak smile.

Fridwulfa frowned, not understanding a word of what the tiny wizard said, and grumbled something back, shaking her head.

“Oh… you don’t understand me,” Rowan said, a little disappointed that he couldn’t speak with the one who had saved him. “My name is Rowan.” He pointed at himself. “Rowan.”

The giantess studied him, frowning, before she hesitantly smiled and pointed at herself. “Fridwulfa,” she said.

Rowan’s smile widened. “It’s very nice to meet you, Fridwulfa. And even though you don’t understand me, I want to thank you for saving me.”

Fridwulfa frowned again, a gesture she seemed to make often and let out a small growl. “Rowan,” she said.

Rowan, who might not have been sorted into Ravenclaw, understood her meaning: she was annoyed that she didn’t understand him.

“I’m sorry,” he said apologetically. He always rambled when he was nervous, and who wouldn’t be nervous waking up in a cave with a giantess?

Fridwulfa took the meat from the fire and held it in front of him. She said something in a language Rowan couldn’t understand, but her gesture said enough. Rowan pointed at the meat. “Meat,” he said. Then he mimicked her eating motion and added, “Eat.”

It took Rowan longer than usual to finish the piece of meat Fridwulfa had prepared, and once he had, he fell asleep almost immediately.

Over the next few days, Fridwulfa took care of him. She learned a few words from him, though he could never quite pronounce her language the way she did, no matter how hard he tried.

On the third day in the cave, Fridwulfa let him know that she had to leave. She needed to return to her clan before they began searching for her. She promised she would come back as soon as she could.

The silence that settled over the cave cut deeper than Rowan expected. It was a kind of silence he had never felt before. He had never had trouble being alone, but this was different. He went to sleep early that night, still healing, the quiet weighing on him more than he wanted to admit.

When he woke the next morning, he made a decision.

If Fridwulfa returned, he wanted to be able to speak to her, understand her and learn from her.

Digging through his backpack, Rowan gathered what he needed to bring his idea to life. He chose aquamarines, gemstones often used to improve communication and help words flow. With a tiny drill, he carefully made a hole through each stone so they could be worn; one around his neck, and one around Fridwulfa’s wrist as he didn’t have enough unicorn hair for a string long enough for the giantess. For the binding, he braided the unicorn hair and charmed it to be unbreakable.

He carved runes into the stones and let them simmer slowly in a potion, watching the magic seep into the gems. It took him two whole days to finish, but when he finally held the aquamarines in his hands, he could feel their magic thrumming softly.

He knew it would work.

All he had to do now was wait for Fridwulfa to return to the cave. Time always seemed to move more slowly when you were waiting, but it truly felt like ages had passed since she had left him. As the days went by and his leg started to feel better, Rowan made himself a crutch so he could walk around more and learn about the surroundings near the cave.

After five days, Fridwulfa returned, and Rowan had never been happier.

“You’ve come back!” he almost shouted, unable to hide his enthusiasm. “Look what I made. If you wear it against your skin, we should be able to understand each other.”

He held the gemstones out toward Fridwulfa, who had barely stepped into the cave before Rowan practically ambushed her.

“Not understand,” Fridwulfa grumbled, confused.

Rowan smiled. “This will help, I promise.” He carefully tied the aquamarine bracelet around her wrist. “Do you understand me?” he asked hopefully.

Fridwulfa’s eyes widened. Then she smiled.

“I understand.”

Rowan laughed, pure joy bubbling up inside him. He loved seeing her smile. He would soon learn that the language of the giants was made up of short sentences, with much of their communication relying on grunts and facial expressions. It was simpler and more instinctive than human speech, but no less meaningful.

It was the beginning of a true friendship, one where they could truly get to know each other.

Chapter Three.

In the weeks that followed, Rowan’s leg healed nicely, leaving behind only a scar to remind him of his near-death experience.

Fridwulfa spent most of her time with him in the cave. She stayed as long as she could without making her clan question her absence, and in time, they seemed to grow used to her being away.

Rowan loved how he and Fridwulfa grew closer as the weeks turned into months. Together, they made the cave feel more like a home. He adored how much Fridwulfa knew about nature, and more than once she showed him things he had never known before. By then, he had already filled three notebooks with everything he had learned from her.

Fridwulfa liked the tiny wizard. He had shown her magic, which she loved dearly, and in return she showed him everything she knew about the world she lived in. Fridwulfa had never been much of a talker, but she discovered that she loved listening to the tiny wizard who knew so much and always had something to say.

Rowan had never minded being small. He had always been the smallest at school or wherever he went. But now, he had begun to hate it, because the woman he was falling in love with was so much bigger than him that loving her felt impossible.

Fridwulfa had never thought she would need the potion, a secret passed down from mother to daughter for generations.

“Fridwulfa has potion to make wizard big,” she said one morning, completely out of the blue. They had spent another wonderful day together.

“What kind of potion?” Rowan asked, confused. They had been talking about what to eat for dinner, not about potions. “How big?”

“It secret potion. You can only take two times. Third time, you die,” Fridwulfa said, smiling faintly. “You be giant for one day and one night.”

Rowan stared at her. “What’s in it? How long does it take to brew? And why can I only take it two times?” he asked eagerly.

They had both felt the pull between them, but Rowan had always pushed it aside. He had believed there could never be a future between them while he remained so small and she remained a giantess.

“It has root in it,” Fridwulfa explained as best as she could. “You take once, bones strong. Take second time, bones never break. Take third time…” She paused. “You turn to stone.”

Rowan nodded thoughtfully. “Alright. Do we have all the ingredients?”

Fridwulfa nodded. “How long does it take to brew?”

“We start tonight,” Fridwulfa answered. “It will be done after we sleep.”

“Alright,” Rowan said, smiling happily. He felt like a teenage boy with his first crush all over again. “Do you want to do it tonight, or do you need to return to your clan?”

“We have time,” Fridwulfa said with a smile as she began taking out the ingredients Rowan would need to brew the potion.

Fridwulfa had never understood why her mother had taught her this potion. Even knowing the story of her great-great-great-grandmother, who had once fallen in love with a wizard, she had always thought it to be ridiculous. How could anyone fall in love with a human?

Now she understood. She had done the same. She had truly begun to love her tiny wizard.

Rowan began brewing, following Fridwulfa’s instructions carefully. He soon realized the potion wasn’t difficult, and before long it was left to simmer quietly over the fire. He felt giddy and nervous, unsure of what the next day would bring, whether the potion would truly work, and whether he would finally be able to look the woman he was falling in love with in the eyes.

They went to sleep early that night, after Rowan made sure the potion would be safe left alone. Still, he lay awake for a long time before sleep finally claimed him.

“Rowan, wake. Potion done,” Fridwulfa said as she gently poked him with her finger, trying to wake the still-sleeping wizard.

Rowan rubbed his eyes and smiled widely when he remembered the potion. “Is it done?”

Fridwulfa nodded. “Think so.”

“Do I need to do anything before taking the potion?” Rowan asked, a little nervous as he poured the potion into a glass.

Fridwulfa shook her head. “No. You drink and you will be giant.”

Rowan smiled and lifted the glass to his lips. “Cheers,” he said, and drank the potion.

He felt it the moment he emptied the glass. It was as if his body was being pulled apart as he started to grow. It hurt far more than he had expected as he grew and grew… and then it stopped.

He needed a few moments to catch his breath before he stood up. He noticed the difference immediately when he looked at his hands, and when he straightened fully the ground was farther away than it had ever been before.

Finally, he looked up into the beautiful blue eyes of the giantess he loved. “You look even more beautiful from up here,” he said with a shy, gentle smile.

Fridwulfa smiled, which only made her even more beautiful in Rowan’s eyes. “Let’s walk,” she said as she took his hand.

Together they started walking, still holding hands, their shoulders brushing against each other.

Rowan had never had a better day in his entire life than this one, the day he was no longer a tiny wizard but a giant, just as tall as Fridwulfa. They walked for hours, talking and laughing, discovering how different the world felt when they stood side by side instead of worlds apart. He loved how easily her laughter came, how often her hand found his, how natural it felt to touch her now that he could meet her at eye level.

When Fridwulfa proudly struck a troll unconscious with a single powerful blow, Rowan laughed in pure amazement. Standing there with the defeated troll at their feet, something in him settled, warm and certain. He stepped closer and kissed her. It was unplanned, instinctive, and perfect. It was the first of many kisses that day.

The hours passed in smiles and quiet touches, in shared looks that needed no words. By the time they returned to the cave, the fire was quickly lit and the world outside felt far away. That night, they lay together, close and unhurried, finally able to be what they already were in their hearts. When sleep found them, it did so gently, wrapped in warmth, contentment, and the certainty that this day would stay with them forever.

Rowan woke up and for a moment he wasn’t sure what was different, but the realization hit him all at once. He was a tiny wizard again. The moment it sank in, all he wanted to do was cry.

“It’s alright,” Fridwulfa said when she saw the devastated look on his face. “We knew. We had one day.”

Rowan gave her a wobbly smile. “We had one perfect day and an even more perfect night.”

“Fairytale,” Fridwulfa said.

Rowan smiled. For a woman who wasn’t good with words and didn’t enjoy speaking, she had found exactly the right thing to say.

“Alright,” Rowan said softly. “Let me make some breakfast and we’ll start the day as we always do.”

Fridwulfa smiled. “I bring meat.”

Time passed and even though Rowan wished he could drink the potion again he knew that it would also be the last time he could use it and Fridwulfa had told him more than once that he needed to save it for an emergency. He brewed the potion again, put it in an unbreakable-bottle underneath a stasis-charm and kept it with him at all times.

Autumn turned into winter, and on the days Fridwulfa had to return to her clan, the cave felt colder than ever. Sometimes Rowan wondered if it was time for him to go back home, but each time he pushed the thought away when Fridwulfa returned with a proud smile and another animal she had hunted for them to eat.

The first snow of winter had fallen when Fridwulfa came back from her clan, and this time she looked nervous.

“Is everything alright?” Rowan asked, worried. He had never seen her like this before.

“You remember our night?” Fridwulfa asked.

Rowan smiled softly. “Of course. It was the best night of my life. Why do you ask?”

Fridwulfa took a deep breath. “We made baby,” she said, placing her hands on her stomach.

Rowan’s jaw nearly dropped to the floor. “We made a baby? How? I thought you said it was impossible. How?” he rambled, completely overwhelmed.

“You not angry?” Fridwulfa asked, frowning.

“Angry?” Rowan echoed, confused. “Why would I be angry? Our love resulted in a baby.”

“Gurg will not accept baby,” Fridwulfa said sadly. “Baby will not be giant.”

“I don’t care,” Rowan said immediately. “I will love it either way.” He placed his hands over hers on her stomach and felt the small bulge from the life growing inside her.

“Baby secret or baby will die,” Fridwulfa said, making sure he understood the danger.

“They would kill our baby?” Rowan asked, horrified.

Fridwulfa nodded. “Only the biggest and strongest live.”

“Can you keep the pregnancy hidden?” Rowan asked. “If so, I’ll help with the delivery, and the baby can stay with me when you have to return to your clan.” The idea of their child being harmed made him feel sick.

“I try,” Fridwulfa said. “When time comes, I say I visit cousin far away.”

“Do you really have a cousin far away?” Rowan asked.

Fridwulfa nodded. “My father from another clan. Far away. Still family.”

“Would they believe that?”

“They believe when I say I go look for mate,” Fridwulfa explained. “That is how many giants find mate.”

“Alright,” Rowan said thoughtfully. “I’ll need to find a city where I can buy everything we need for the baby.”

“Buy?” Fridwulfa asked with a frown. “Why buy?”

“We’ll need bottles, formula for when you return to your clan, nappies, clothes, and a lot of other things,” Rowan explained.

“We make ourselves,” Fridwulfa said, still frowning.

Rowan laughed softly. “I like making things too, but I’m not washing dirty nappies when we can buy disposable ones. Buying things will make life easier, especially for me when you have to leave. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

Fridwulfa still looked doubtful, but she nodded. “We have five or six months before baby comes.”

“I’ll make sure everything is ready by then,” Rowan said gently. “In the meantime, you take care of yourself and the precious cargo you’re carrying.”

“I keep baby secret,” Fridwulfa said with a small smile.

“It will be alright,” Rowan said. For the millionth time, he wished he were big again so he could hold her properly, wrap his arms around her and pull her close. Instead, he gently patted the large hand resting over her stomach.

Chapter Four.

The next few months flew by faster than Rowan could have imagined. The entire cave underwent a complete metamorphosis as he prepared for the arrival of their child. Fridwulfa didn’t find it necessary at all, but she let it go because it made Rowan happy, and as long as he was happy, so was she.

It was when Fridwulfa only had a couple of weeks left before she would go into labour that she said goodbye to her clan. They reluctantly let her go and even made her promise to return in just a few months, with or without a mate, as the new Gurg wanted her for himself.

Rowan had read everything he could about childbirth and how he could help with the delivery. He studied spells that could ease the process and learned what needed to be done once the baby was born. He had read and learned so much that he could almost make a profession out of it, the only thing he lacked was practical experience.

“Baby will not be big,” Fridwulfa said one morning, not long before she was due.

“How do you know?” Rowan asked, his hands resting on her stomach. He loved feeling the baby move inside her.

“Belly should be much, much bigger,” Fridwulfa said. “Women in clan are much bigger.” She demonstrated with her hands, and compared to what she showed him, her baby bump was indeed much smaller.

“They may be small,” Rowan said gently, “but according to my spells they are perfectly healthy.” He tried to reassure her.

“You don’t care they are small?” Fridwulfa asked again. She had asked this many times, still unable to truly believe it didn’t matter to him.

“I don’t care how big or small they are,” Rowan answered once more. “As long as they are healthy. I will love them and take care of them, always.”

“Baby is coming!” Fridwulfa shouted, her voice trembling with both excitement and a hint of fear. Rowan’s heart nearly leapt from his chest as he dropped everything and rushed to her side.

“Alright, I’m here,” he said, trying to sound calm, though his hands were shaking. “Just breathe. We can do this.”

Fridwulfa gritted her teeth and leaned against him, her hands clutching his shoulders. The contractions were strong but steady, and Rowan followed every instruction he had read, every spell he had memorized. With a few gentle charms to ease the pain and steady her breathing, he guided her through it.

Hours passed or maybe only minutes; time felt stretched and then, with one final push and a cry that made Rowan’s heart skip, the baby was born.

The little half-giant lay wrapped in Fridwulfa’s arms, tiny compared to her enormous hands but already strong, kicking and stretching with life. Rowan stood beside them, awe-struck.

“You did it,” he whispered, tears filling his eyes. “You’re amazing.”

Fridwulfa smiled wearily. “Baby tiny.”

Rowan carefully lifted the small bundle, feeling the warmth and weight. “He… he’s perfect.”

Fridwulfa smiled and Rowan wasn’t sure if she agreed with him. “What name?” She asked.

“Don’t you want to name him?” Rowan asked but she shook her head. “Dad name baby, always.”

“His name is Rubeus Fridrick Hagrid.” Rowan said proudly.

“I like Ruby.” Fridwulfa said. “You take baby now. I go to sleep.”

Rowan gently took the baby from her arms who felt too heavy for a new-born baby but then again he couldn’t compare Ruby with a human baby.

“Sweet dreams, I will take care of him, shout if you need anything.” Rowan said while keeping his eyes on his son.

Rubeus or Ruby for short, was a perfect baby. He only cried when he had a dirty nappy, drank his bottles completely, and grew like a weed. Rowan had to throw almost everything he had learned about the growth of babies out of the window, as Ruby grew far quicker and faster than any human child had ever done. Fridwulfa often said it was more than normal and proudly watched as Ruby started teething at just three months old. By four months, he was already eating the meat Fridwulfa brought home.

Their little family had it good. They were happy, and the cave was filled with warmth and laughter. When the time came for Fridwulfa to return to her clan, she left hesitantly. She knew she had to go, it was for the best. Deep down, she understood that the life she and Rowan had built in their cave wouldn’t last forever, no matter how much Rowan wanted to believe it would.

From the very first moment Ruby was born, Fridwulfa knew the baby was a wizard, just like his father. She also knew he would need to learn to be a wizard, just as Rowan had at that school she could never quite remember the name of. Someday, they would both leave her. When that day came, she would still need her place in the clan. She hated the thought and wished that day would remain far, far in the future.

Rubeus learned to walk and run before he was a year old, and most of the time Rowan found himself running after the little boy, who loved nothing more than to explore. Rubeus adored the plants, trees, and animals, always curious about the world around him.

By the time he was two, he had brought home a wounded wolf cub. Fridwulfa’s first instinct was to smack its head in, but little Rubeus had screamed at her and carried the cub straight to his father, who healed it. Fridwulfa didn’t agree with his methods, but she let it go. Rubeus was being raised as a human, not a giant, and sometimes that was hard for her to accept.

Her little boy would never be a giant, yet she smiled at the thought that he was going to be a wizard. Most of the time, she left the parenting to Rowan; she wasn’t naturally motherly in the traditional sense. She loved her child deeply, make no mistake, but she was different. She was a giantess.

The three of them had shared a wonderful few years together…but as with most things, even the best things eventually come to an end. The Gurg of Fridwulfa’s clan had decided he wanted her for himself and was determined to keep her from ever leaving again.

“Daddy, where’s Mummy?” Rubeus asked, his small face troubled. Fridwulfa had been away for more than two weeks, longer than she had ever been gone.

“She’s with her clan,” Rowan said gently, lifting the boy into his arms and hugging him close.

“We go to clan?” Rubeus asked again, worry creeping into his voice.

Rowan sighed and stroked his son’s hair. “We can’t, Rubeus. We just have to be brave and wait for your mum to come back to us. She’ll be here soon enough, and she’ll teach you how to swing the club she gave you for your birthday.”

“I like my club,” Rubeus said, leaning his head against his father’s shoulder. “Can we have pancakes with extra syrup?”

“Sure, we can have pancakes,” Rowan laughed. Rubeus was easy to distract, especially with food.

Rowan tried not to show his son how worried he was for Fridwulfa. She had told him about her encounters with the Gurg who wanted her as his new mate, and how she had refused him more than once.

They ate their pancakes, and then it was time for Rubeus to wash up and get ready for bed.

Once Rubeus was tucked in and fast asleep, Rowan sat outside, a horrible feeling twisting in his stomach. He wasn’t sure how long he was supposed to wait, but then again… what else could he do? He couldn’t go to the clan, they would crush him like an annoying fly. There was no chance he could truly help Fridwulfa even if he tried.

It was late, the evening had turned into night, and Rowan was still sitting outside, debating whether to go in and try to get some sleep before little Ruby woke him up, excited for a new day. That was when he heard someone running toward him.

Rowan smiled at first, he knew that sound. It wouldn’t be the first time Fridwulfa ran toward him, and the rhythm of her footsteps was unmistakable. But then he realized there were multiple footsteps, pounding hard across the forest floor.

A scream tore through the night.

“ROWAN! TAKE THE POTION!”

Rowan froze. He knew exactly what she meant. There was only one reason she would demand that the giants were coming for him… and for their son.

Without hesitation, he pulled the potion from his pocket and gulped it down. Pain seared through his limbs as he grew, stretching painfully until he was the size of a giant. Within moments, he was towering over the chair he had been sitting on, waiting for Fridwulfa’s arrival. He quickly cast protective wards around the entrance of the cave to keep Rubeus safe, sleeping peacefully inside.

“The Gurg is coming!” Fridwulfa shouted as she arrived, her face etched with fear and fury. “Someone from the clan saw us, told the Gurg. He’s coming to kill you…and Ruby!”

Rowan’s eyes softened despite the danger, and he kissed her. He had wanted to do that for so long. If this was the end, he wanted at least one kiss before the fight began.

“What do we do? How long before he’s here?” Rowan asked, his voice tense.

“You can’t fight the Gurg. He’ll kill you and Ruby,” Fridwulfa said, tears streaking her face. “You take Ruby and run! I’ll hold him off as long as I can.”

“No, I can’t leave you!” Rowan said, taking her face in his massive hands and kissing her again.

“You will leave and protect Ruby,” she said sternly. “You will not come back, not safe.”

“Forever?” Rowan asked, fear and desperation in his eyes.

“No. Come back when Ruby is seventeen… an adult, a wizard. Then we’ll meet again.” Fridwulfa wanted to say more, but a deafening roar erupted behind her. With a powerful shove, she pushed Rowan toward the cave.

“Get Ruby and RUN!” she shouted, turning with her huge club to face the Gurg and buy him and their son time to escape.

“Daddy… big?” Rubeus murmured sleepily as Rowan lifted him from his bed. “Mummy?” His tiny face scrunched with worry when he heard his mother screaming outside. He wriggled, trying to be set down to go to her.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but we have to leave,” Rowan said, his voice thick with pain. He waved his wand which felt absurdly small in his enormous hand and tried to grab their most important things, then started to run. He ran away from the woman he loved, even as she screamed in pain and roared in anger. He kept running, knowing he had to keep their son safe.

Never in his life had Rowan made a harder decision. He knew that not even together could he and Fridwulfa defeat the Gurg.

Still, he ran. He ran even though his son cried for his mother. He ran even though it felt as if he had left his heart behind. He ran because their son deserved a chance to grow up.

Rowan ran through the night, over the rugged mountains of France, carrying Rubeus safely in his arms, the cold wind biting at his face, the distant roars of the Gurg echoing behind him.

Chapter Five.

Fridwulfa had never fought so hard in her life. She knew the Gurg wouldn’t kill her, but that was the only reassurance she had. As long as the Gurg wanted her for a mate, she would survive.

She swung her club with all her strength, feeling the wood crack in her hands. For a moment, a small smile crossed her face as the Gurg stumbled, but he quickly recovered and slammed his massive fist into her face, sending pain shooting through her skull.

Suddenly, more giants emerged into the clearing. The Gurg barked orders, commanding them to seize her, while he followed Rowan and their son. But Fridwulfa didn’t care. She had given them enough time to escape.

It didn’t matter how many bones were broken, or how deep the cuts on her arms ran. Her son and her tiny wizard (now a giant) had gotten away. That was all that mattered.

Rowan had no idea how they had made it back to England, but somehow, they had. Rubeus had fallen asleep during their flight, his small face streaked with tears, still angry with his father for leaving “Mummy” behind. All Rowan could hope was that his son would understand one day…understand that he had had no choice but to run. Fridwulfa had sacrificed herself to give them time to escape, so their son could grow up.

He returned to the house he had grown up in. His parents had left it to him after they had died from dragonpox. This was where he would raise Rubeus; it was a small, safe home in a magical village where hopefully it wouldn’t be a problem that Rubeus was a half-giant.

The first few days were spent settling into their new house. They decorated Rubeus’ bedroom, though the little boy was more than a little confused. He kept asking about the rock walls from the cave and wondered what had happened to them. It took some time for Rowan to explain the difference between a cave and a house, as both were home for Rubeus.

Rubeus’ room was soon filled with stuffed animals, and together they painted the walls to look like the mountains and forests they had left behind. The little boy liked it, but he still asked for his mother. It hurt Rowan to see him sad, but he tried his best to explain things to his three-year-old son, gently reminding him that Fridwulfa had given him time to grow up safely.

Time flew by in the blink of an eye. Rubeus stopped asking about his mother, and though it hurt Rowan, he was glad to see his son thriving in their new home. Rubeus was a sweet boy, full of energy and curiosity, and he loved to prank his father whenever he got the chance. Their home was always full of animals in need of care, which Rubeus loved helping with.

By the time he was six, Rubeus could easily lift his dad and plop him on top of a dresser, which made Rowan laugh harder than he ever had. At eight, his accidental magic freed all the animals at the farm nearby, much to Rowan’s exasperation.

At nine, Rubeus and Rowan learned from Newt Scamander that Fridwulfa was alive and safe. She urged them not to try to find her, as the Gurg still kept her close, and Rowan and Rubeus accepted that, though he longed to see his mother and Rowan the woman he still loved.

When Rubeus was ten, his anger got the better of him, and he broke a few fully grown trees, drawing harsh whispers and disapproval from the villagers about him and his father but that was nothing new.

At eleven, Rubeus finally received his Hogwarts letter, and with it, Rowan told the full story of how he had met his mother, the story of Rowan and Fridwulfa, the tiny wizard and the giantess, which Hagrid treasured and never forgot.

Tragedy struck when he was twelve. Rowan died in a car accident when a truck lost control on a slippery road and struck him as he walked home from the groceries. Rubeus was left alone, but he grew stronger, determined to live up to his father’s lessons. At thirteen, he faced one of the hardest blows of his life: he was falsely accused of killing Myrtle and expelled from Hogwarts, an injustice that haunted him for years.

Decades passed. By the time he was sixty-three, Rubeus met Harry Potter again, and the two became friends. At sixty-four, he was finally cleared of all charges and given a true home, a place where he could feel safe and belong. Four years later, at sixty-eight, Rubeus completed his schooling and became a teacher of Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts, passing on his love for animals and magic to new generations, and carrying the lessons of his extraordinary life with him always.

Epilog.

“…And that is the story of me mum and dad,” Hagrid said as he wiped away his tears.

“Wow,” Harry said softly. “They loved you very much.”

Hagrid nodded. “Yeah, that they did.”

“Did you ever go back, on your seventeenth birthday?” Hermione asked. She had many questions, especially about the potion, but she decided now was not the time to ask them.

“I went back, but tha Gurg refused to let her see me,” Hagrid said sadly.

“So you never spoke with her again?” Ron asked.

“She came to tha’ cave,” Hagrid said. “She managed to sneak away. We talked for a bit, an’ then she hugged me and left to return to the clan before anyone missed her.” He hesitated for a moment. “I asked her if I could take her picture.”

Hagrid pulled an old photograph from his pocket. “This is me mum.” Then he showed them a second photo. “An’ this is me an’ me dad, just before I left for Hogwarts.”

They studied the photographs quietly.

“These are wonderful,” Harry said. He knew how important photographs were when the people in them were gone. “Thank you for telling us your story, Hagrid.”

Harry stood and hugged the friendly half-giant. Ron and Hermione quickly joined in.

“We’re glad you’re our friend.”

“Me too,” Hagrid said as he hugged the trio back, more than happy.

THE END.