Chapter 300: Half-Giant
Chapter 300: Half-Giant
Liam was just heading to the second-floor Library to read, so he and Hagrid happened to be going up the stairs together. As Hagrid placed the Christmas Tree in the designated spot and picked up the Armor, Liam finally couldn't hold back his question.
"Hagrid, you can use Magic now, right? Why not use it to move this thing?"
"Just out of habit." Hagrid patted the Armor on his shoulder, which drew a series of curses from Peeves inside. "Honestly, the Yule Ball is a great chance to relax. You and Hermione are always buried in your books; this time, you can take a proper break."
"Yeah, it is Christmas break after all." By this point, they had reached the second-floor corridor. Liam was about to head to the Library when he suddenly stopped as if remembering something.
"Hagrid, have you been spending a lot of time with Madame Maxime lately?" Liam asked, looking at Hagrid. Hagrid also stopped and then said a bit sheepishly, "Yeah, I've only met one other big woman like her in all these years."
Liam nodded and, after checking that no one else was around, said, "Hagrid, as a friend, I need to tell you that you shouldn't discuss your Giant Bloodline with Madame Maxime in public, whether there are people around or not."
Hagrid looked puzzled, "Why not?"
"You need to understand that the Wizarding world places a lot of importance on bloodlines. They generally distrust Wizards with non-human ancestry, especially those with blood from creatures the magical community considers evil. Madame Maxime has worked hard to become Headmistress, and if people found out she has Giant blood, they would likely turn against her. Her life's work could be ruined. I also think a woman as elegant as Madame Maxime wouldn't want to be associated with Giants, given the negative connotations."
Hagrid was a bit dazed by Liam's words but still nodded and said, "I know you're looking out for me, so I promise I won't bring it up and risk hurting her."
Hagrid then seemed to realize something and said, "Wait, when did you find out I'm a Half-Giant?"
"Shh, keep it down." Liam put a hand to his mouth. "Most people don't like Half-Giants. You don't need to shout it out."
Liam then continued in a calm tone, "You said I'm always reading, so I naturally deduced it from your physical resilience and how you age. Normal people don't recover as quickly from magical creature injuries, nor do they look like they're in their forties when they're actually in their sixties. Those traits, combined with your extraordinary size, made it clear to me that you're a Half-Giant back in first year."
Liam patted Hagrid's arm and said, "Of course, I think you're a good person. I'll keep this secret for you."
With that, Liam left the bewildered Hagrid and headed to the Library to study, leaving Hagrid standing there in a daze.
After spending the afternoon reading in the Library, Liam and Hermione went to the Great Hall for dinner. Due to the presence of foreign guests, the school's meals had been consistently high-quality, with many dishes featuring international flavors. For example, the German-style grilled white sausages that evening made Liam very happy.
"The food in Britain is way too greasy", Fleur's voice, tinged with a French accent, echoed from the Ravenclaw direction. "I feel like I've gained quite a bit of weight lately, and my robes are getting a bit tight!"
"Nobody's forcing her to eat so much. If she can't control herself, who else can she blame? Liam, you should at least be better than this self-centered woman", Hermione said, a bit annoyed, to Liam at her side.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely outdo her", Liam mumbled, his mouth full of German-style cream shrimp soup.
"Don't talk with your mouth full", Hermione gently tapped Liam with the book she was holding, but from her expression, she seemed satisfied with his response.
After finishing their meal, the two chatted for a while about Transfiguration before getting up to head back to the Common Room. As they walked through the entrance hall with their books, they saw a large crowd gathered, and Ron's loud voice could be heard from within.
"Fleur Delacour, would you be my dance partner?"
"Has he lost his mind?" Hermione said as she and Liam pushed through the crowd to the front. Sure enough, Fleur and a few Beauxbatons girls were standing together, looking at Ron with disdain, as if he were some kind of sea cucumber, too beneath them to even respond.
In this awkward atmosphere, the color drained from Ron's face, and he covered it, fleeing into the crowd.
"Is he going to be okay?" Hermione, being kind-hearted, asked after the spectacle.
"He'll be fine. Didn't you see Harry and Ginny go to help him?" Liam, with his Eagle Vision, had excellent eyesight and easily spotted Harry and Ginny leading Ron away through the crowd.
When Liam and Hermione returned to the Common Room, they found Ron sitting there with a deathly pale face, being consoled by several people.
"Ron, it's okay. Fleur is a half-Veela, and she might have been releasing her Charms of Enchantment at that moment", Liam tried to reassure him.
"Half-Veela, really?" Ron asked, grasping at the hope like a lifeline.
"Really. Fleur mentioned her grandmother was a Veela when we were checking wands. Ask Harry if you don't believe me."
Harry nodded quickly, confirming Liam's words, which finally seemed to ease Ron's anxiety a bit. But his face soon fell again. "Harry, Liam, you both have dance partners, but I don't. Hey, Ginny, will you go to the ball with me?"
"Bro, that would make me look like nobody wants me. Besides, I already have a dance partner."
"You have a dance partner? Who?" Ron asked, disbelief written all over his face.
"That's my business. You just need to know that someone appreciates your sister", Ginny said with exaggerated emphasis.
For the rest of the time, Ron kept muttering about this. Liam took the opportunity to ask Harry quietly, "You didn't tell Ron that Ginny is your dance partner, did you?"
"No", Harry shrugged. "Ginny and I both think it's better to wait until the time comes. Otherwise—" Harry discreetly pointed to Ron, who was still nagging his sister.
"Alright, you're right", Liam said, making a sympathetic face. Having such a brother did mean some things were best left unsaid.
(End of Chapter)
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