Chapter 469: Battling the Giant
Chapter 469: Battling the Giant
Beyond the door lay a corridor, down which the group proceeded.
After taking a few steps, Fred suddenly asked, "I wonder, what treasure do you think Headmaster Dumbledore is hiding here?"
"Are you planning on stealing it?" Albert stopped and turned to face Fred, who had almost bumped into him, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, it's just that so many professors have set up enchantments to protect it. We had to deal with Professor Sprout's Devil's Snare, and the keys were definitely enchanted by Professor Flitwick. Not to mention Professor McGonagall's giant chessboard puzzle. With all three Heads of Houses involved, it makes you wonder..."
Fred trailed off, but the others understood his implication.
What could Dumbledore be protecting that warranted such extensive security? It definitely piqued their curiosity.
"I'm curious too," said Albert.
"We can wonder all we like, but don't get your hopes up about getting your hands on it. I suspect Headmaster Dumbledore will know about our presence here soon enough," Albert added.
At this, the three friends fell silent, taken aback by Albert's statement.
"It's not surprising, considering it's Dumbledore we're talking about. How could he not have a way to monitor this place? I doubt these enchantments are meant to stop thieves; instead, I believe he set them up to catch whoever is after the treasure," Albert explained with a wry smile.
The trio remained quiet, acknowledging the logic in Albert's words.
Were the professors' enchantments really that difficult?
Perhaps not as challenging as they seemed. Though, one wrong step, and they could still end up in a pinch.
Wait, did he just call us thieves?
They all wondered who these enchantments were meant to deter.
Albert might have some insights, but he wasn't about to share them, so they didn't bother asking.
Changing the subject, George said, "With all three Heads of Houses involved, I reckon Professor Snape won't be far behind. We'll likely face one of his enchantments next." His speculation made sense, given the situation.
As they spoke, they reached another door.
After exchanging glances, Fred stepped forward and opened it.
The moment the door swung open, a putrid stench assailed their nostrils, causing them to instinctively lift their robes to cover their noses.
The next instant, the sound of rattling chains and ear-piercing roars emanated from within the room.
Albert reflexively reached out to close the door again.
"Merlin's beard!"
The stench was unbearable! He could feel his eyes watering.
"It's a giant!"
Fred took several steps back, not out of fear of the giant, but to distance himself from the door and the nauseating smell, desperate for a breath of fresh air.
"Are you sure this is one of Professor Snape's enchantments?" Lee Jordan clearly didn't think the giant was part of Snape's plan.
"It's probably one of Professor Quirrell's doing. The book 'Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection' mentions giants," Albert explained as they moved away from the door, waiting until the foul stench dissipated before casting a Stunning Spell on each other to remove the effects.
"That's better," Lee Jordan said, unable to resist a jab. "I wouldn't be surprised if that giant was meant to suffocate anyone who entered the room."
Ignoring Lee's comment, Albert instructed, "Don't just blast the giant when we go in. I'll throw a Lumos spell, and then you can hit it with Stunning Spells. Try to knock it out without a direct fight. There's usually an easier way to subdue these creatures."
The others nodded, indicating they understood.
Facing the giant, they felt less anxious than they had with the chess pieces, even though giants were far more dangerous. With their prior experience of defeating two giants, the four of them felt little fear as they prepared to face this one.
"Three, two, one!"
As Fred reopened the door, Albert immediately threw a Lumos spell into the room, illuminating the dim chamber.
The four young wizards raised their wands and fired Stunning Spells at the giant.
Hit by four simultaneous spells, the giant staggered, appearing drunk, but it didn't fall. Instead, it steadied itself and shook its head, glaring at the intruders.
"It's still standing!"
Fred, George, and Lee Jordan were shocked. Four Stunning Spells were enough to send most people straight to St. Mungo's.
"Impediment Jinx!" Albert shouted.
The giant before them was even larger than the two they had encountered previously.
"Impediment Jinx!" they all cried together.
Spells shot from the tips of their wands, striking the giant and halting its advance as if some immense force had bound it.
"Now what?" Fred yelled. "Do we keep stunning it?"
The Impediment Jinx wouldn't last long, and the giant could break free at any moment. They needed to do something more permanent to subdue it.
"Let's destroy its club first," George suggested, preparing to use an Exploding Spell, but Albert stopped him.
"Let me," Albert said, simply waving his wand.
The giant's club flew out of its hand and into the air.
As the giant regained its mobility, it looked confusedly at its empty hand, scratching its head. The club, now floating in mid-air, suddenly swung in a graceful arc and struck the giant on the back of its head with tremendous force.
A thunderous crash reverberated through the room as the giant performed an exaggerated dance, staggering and finally falling face-first to the floor with a resounding "boom" that shook the entire room.
"Is... is that it?" Lee Jordan asked, eyes wide in disbelief. He had expected a protracted struggle with the giant, but it had been so easily dispatched?
"I've studied giants," Albert said, carefully stepping over the giant's bulky body as he made his way to the opposite door. "The only annoying thing about them is their smell."
"So, the weak point is the back of the head?" Fred asked, patting his own head.
"Yes, one of their weak points is the back of the head. Striking it there can knock them out," Albert confirmed.
"Let's get out of here, I don't want to spend another second in this stinky room," George muttered, reaching for the wooden door and stepping through first.
"Next up, we'll likely face one of Snape's enchantments!" (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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