"I am back!" A silvery dragon appeared in the dungeon and nearly roared at Tom. Both Tom and Estella had retreated at the sight of it. Tom sighed with relief as he heard Porch's voice. It was about time he had returned.
"I have to go." He held Estella hoping she would understand.
She smiled. "I wanna come see him too."
"May be in the morning?"
"Alright." She smiled, kissed him and left allowing him to visit Porch.
Tom was real excited to know exactly what had happened. Within minutes he was standing at his hut knocking on his door.
But when Porch opened the door Tom ran in quickly to hold him straight or he would have fallen right on top of him. He looked fine but he seemed to be swaying real bad.
Tom kicked the door shut behind himself and sat Porch down on his bed.
"Are you alright?" Tom asked him as he conjured out a glass filled it up with his wand with water and handed it to him. Porch drank then answered him.
"Not really. I haven't slept in two days."
"What happened?"
"I had to escape. The giants have no love for half giants. They considered me an outcast."
"But when we heard from you-_"
"I know. The giants were happy to see the gifts and Grawp, only unfortunately they didn't feel the same about me..." Porch whose voice had reduced to near whisper now slumped back into his bed and fell into a well awaited sleep.
Tom realized how tired Porch was. He put out the fire in his chimney and returned to the Castle. Tom had only just stepped into the grounds when he felt something. He felt as if he was being watched. He pulled out his wand and looked all about him but he couldn't see anyone. He knew no one could be disillusioned around him and escape his notice and Riddle couldn't penetrate his protection. Whatever he was feeling was either him being paranoid or someone was hiding here.
"Lumos!" He ignited his wand and pointed it towards the edge of the forest. He felt as if something had moved behind the tree. He had been right. Someone was here. He decided to check it out. Holding his wand aloft, he strode towards the forest. He thought he saw leaves rustling as if someone was running away from the beam of his wand. He broke into a run too. Although, he wasn't looking forward to another trip into the forest he knew he would have to take it. Who was trying to hide from him and why? What were they doing here in the first place? Had someone followed Porch? Harry would have removed the protection when Porch would have arrived if Tom hadn't been informed immediately. Could that mean that someone had followed him here, to Hogwarts?
Once inside the forest Tom could hear footsteps running away from him. He could actually hear someone now. He wasn't being paranoid. Within minutes he was hot on their trail. He felt as if he was only inches away from that person but he was still not near enough. Before he knew where exactly he was running to, he ran into something.
Whatever he had run into was soft and hard all at the same time. His wand flew out of his hand and he landed flat on his back. He heard a very familiar roaring sound above him. He felt sweat break over his forehead. It was Sharpeye the hippopgirff's sound. In the dead dark, he hadn't been able to see it but this wasn't its clearing. Who had unleashed him? Tom made to get up. He had only just got to his feet when he saw Sharpeye rise up above his head raising its sharp talons that he could see very clearly now against the full moon. He retreated instantly out of harm's way but his wand lay behind Sharpeye, he had to get it. He stooped low so Sharpeye couldn't see him and walked from right under its wing to his wand. He had just snatched it off the ground when something flew past him and hit Sharpeye's wing. The beast that had only just halted raged back into motion and retaliated in pain at the first target that stood before him. His lashing out talon caught Tom sharp and deep in the chest. He had stood there longer than he should have. But then again everything had happened so fast.
He fell before he could stop it. Searing pain engulfed him as he covered his chest with his arms. Sharpeye who had felt that the only obstacle in his way had fallen jumped clean over him and ran away into the forest.
Tom lay there bleeding feeling beat. He realized he would have to get back up. No one knew he was here. He wouldn't be able to call anyone for help. He had to get out of here himself. Within minutes his motivation arrived in the form of sound of talons against the ground. As Tom got to all fours he saw Sharpeye returning back to this clearing running back with even more rage than before. Before it ran him over again, Tom rolled out of the way allowing it to go the other way. It was only when Tom had made back to his feet that he realized that the other way was the Castle grounds and Sharpeye could create real chaos at this hour if it ran out of the forest.
Tom willed himself and ran out behind it. He had only just reached the forest edge clinging on to one tree trunk after another when he saw Shareye destroying Porch's vegetables. This was his chance to capture the beast. He had only just got out of the forest when Porch's door flew open and he brandished his wand threateningly at Shareye. Within moments he had controlled the beast and leashed it in his vegetable garden.
Tom felt a wave of relief sweep over him so much so that he finally gave in and fell to his knees in the middle of the grounds. Within minutes Porch had rushed to him and carried him inside his hut.
"What happened?" he asked as Tom sat down him round table and opened up his bloodied shirt. Porch had already lit fire in his chimney and put water to boil on it.
"I...heard... something..." He could barely speak up. The deep gash on his chest was hurting really bad now. He had no idea the creature's talons could be that hurtful. He knew they could be poisonous if they went deep enough but one stroke would hurt like this, he didn't know.
Porch pulled out a table cloth, soaked it in the hot water and cleaned his wound as a low moan escaped his mouth.
"Is it hurting bad?"
Tom nodded.
Porch examined it closely. "It's deep. It won't heal easy. What were you doing in there at this hour?" He asked him glaring angrily at him.
Tom felt really stupid now. He had been trying to protect Porch and here he was being tended by him.
Porch realized this was no time to be angry.
"Don't worry. I'll fix you just fine." Before Tom could answer Porch was in action. He strode in and out of the hut several times to grab herbs from his garden, made a potion within minutes and applied it on the open wound which according to Tom made things worse. Tom held his hand before he could apply anymore.
"If you're angry...maybe we could... Talk... You ... don't... have to... torture me."
"Only I wish I could." Porch was still angry but now Tom knew Porch knew what he was doing. He let go allowing him to continue. Porch applied it well then put a few bandages to cover it up.
Tom felt as if the pain had increased manifold, a burning, searing pain that penetrated his sternum. Perhaps, Porch had been right, the gash was too deep.
"The potion will counter the poison. You should feel the pain lessen considerably in the next 24 hours. After that, you can heal it with magic. You'll be good as new. In the meantime, nothing can be done for the pain." Porch nearly slammed the bowl he was carrying the potion in on the table.
Tom put his hand on his chest. He was glad he wasn't bleeding anymore but he was feeling dead miserable at the moment to face Porch's anger as well but before he had even made it to the door he found it blocked by Porch's large stature. For the first time in his life, he felt the full impact of being the friend of a half giant.
He sat back down. Within minutes Porch had handed him a hot cup of tea gulping some down himself.
"Drink." He ordered him quietly. "It'll help."
Tom did as he was told. He knew how Porch behaved when he was angry. He bossed everyone around. Surprisingly, for him, the tea worked. Its fragrance refreshed him and his throat cleared enough to answer Porch's questions.
"What did happen?"
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