Hogwarts: Harry Potter's Return from the Witcher World

As he said it, Harry suddenly realized something—among the professors at Hogwarts, most of whom were rather advanced in age, none seemed to have any real experience with marriage.

Dumbledore, the old bumblebee, went without saying.

Professor Flitwick was half-goblin—unpopular in his youth, and though some were willing to marry him later due to his reputation, he turned up his nose at them.

Professor Sprout probably had some experience with weddings.

But... as a true Hufflepuff, she led a simple life. She still wore a patched hat that looked older than the Sorting Hat itself—which is probably where the Sorting Hat got its confidence to keep calling itself fashionable.

Her wedding was likely very modest.

Few could attain such profound simplicity of spirit.

As for Professor Snape—no need to elaborate.

And McGonagall? Harry felt it was downright impolite to bring up the word "marriage" in her presence.

As for the rest of the staff:

Binns was a ghost. Trelawney was an alcoholic. Professor Babbling, who taught Ancient Runes, was a staunch celibate. In the end, only Madam Pince, the librarian, and Madam Hooch, the flying instructor, were confirmed to be married.

Over ten professors and more than twenty faculty members—and only two could be said to have married.

Harry sighed. "You could go ask Madam Pince or Madam Hooch. They probably have actual marital experience."

Hagrid turned bright red. "No—no! Not the wedding! At least not yet... not so soon. Not until the business with You-Know-Who is sorted."

He hesitated, then asked quietly, "Madam Pince and Madam Hooch are really that experienced?"

"In Hogwarts, they're the only ones with normal marriages," Harry replied.

Hagrid nodded, making a mental note. "I'll ask them sometime. But Harry, that's not why I invited you here today. It's something else."

"In August, I went off with Olympe to find the giants."

Ron looked surprised.

So they hadn't gone off on holiday—they were on a mission for the Order of the Phoenix? His mum definitely hadn't put it that way.

"It was a very pleasant journey," Hagrid continued, waving his wand to pour them all tea. "We climbed Weisshorn in the Alps and spent a few wonderful nights there."

Wonderful.

Hearing that word, Ron's expression twitched. His mind was still stuck on that dress they found earlier, and now this? He couldn't help letting his imagination run wild.

Hagrid went on. "The giants were driven out by wizards. They now live in desolate places far from Muggle paths."

"It's safer that way—for everyone. But their living conditions are terrible."

"Olympe and I found them by mid-August."

"Things went downhill from there. My mum—she... she passed away. The new tribe chief is even more violent, more aggressive. We tried to talk to him, but he said unless the Ministry gives them a country, fertile land, and resources, they won't listen to Dumbledore."

Harry interrupted, "So the negotiations failed?"

"We could've kept trying..." Hagrid said with a sigh, looking upset. "But I discovered something unexpected."

He hesitated.

Harry narrowed his eyes. "Your mum remarried and had more kids?"

Hagrid lowered his head and nodded. "Yes. Though giants don't marry like humans do. She just chose a stronger male."

"I have a half-brother now."

His expression turned strange.

"A family member."

"His name's Grawp. He wasn't doing well in the tribe. He's... small, like me."

Ron looked up at Hagrid.

Small?

He might be misunderstanding that word.

"I mean compared to giants," Hagrid clarified. "I'm a half-giant. Compared to full giants, I'm short. Grawp is too—he's only sixteen feet tall."

Ron tilted his head even farther back.

Hagrid stood just over eleven feet. Sixteen feet was almost one-third taller.

"I mentioned in class," Hagrid continued, glancing at Ron, "that adult giants reach twenty feet. Some strong ones even grow to twenty-five."

"Grawp's small and scrawny. And now that Mum's dead, he's being bullied."

"I couldn't stand it. Since negotiations failed anyway, I brought him back."

Hermione gasped. "You brought a giant back—to the Forbidden Forest?"

Hagrid nodded.

Hermione frowned. "Hagrid—Professor Hagrid—you know better than anyone what giants are like."

In the magical world, there were many non-human species—goblins, Veela, and others who lived among and even married humans. Veela, with their beauty and intermarriage efforts, had largely removed wizard prejudice.

But centaurs, merfolk, and giants remained distant.

Centaurs were proud and reclusive. Wizards were biased against them, so they rarely got along. Still, centaurs were articulate and intelligent, and even held respectable positions within the Ministry.

Even goblins, despite controlling Gringotts, had to answer to humans in the Ministry's Goblin Liaison Office.

Merfolk's isolation came from their underwater habitats—their language couldn't be heard properly in the air.

And giants...

Were just plain violent.

They had intelligence, yes, but weren't particularly bright. Bloodthirsty, savage, and brutal. They could understand wizard laws—but obeying them long-term was another matter. They simply couldn't suppress their nature for more than a day or two.

Hence why they were driven out and monitored—forced to live in remote, wild places.

They were dangerous by nature.

"I know. Of course I know," Hagrid muttered, shrinking in shame.

Hermione's tone hardened. "Even though Professor Dumbledore forbids students from entering the Forbidden Forest, you know how few actually listen."

"Especially since Care of Magical Creatures is taught right on the edge of it. What if—"

"No ifs!" Hagrid interrupted quickly. "I've put Grawp deep in the forest. The centaurs and unicorns are helping me watch him."

"And I patrol every night. I've even asked Professor Flitwick to teach me tracking spells—though I haven't mastered them yet."

Harry nodded. "So you want me to create a tracking map of the Forbidden Forest—like the Marauder's Map in Dumbledore's office?"

Hagrid nodded furiously.

"That might be difficult." Harry touched the Sorting Hat gently. "Hogwarts itself is magical. When students enroll, they form a magical contract with the castle. That's why the Marauder's Map works—it taps into that contract to track those bound by it."

A yellowed piece of parchment appeared in Harry's hand—it was an older Forbidden Forest map he had drawn.

"But the Forbidden Forest is different. It's not inherently magical, and it doesn't form contracts with those who enter."

"Achieving a Marauder's Map effect would be hard."

"I can give you this map, though."

Hagrid frowned. "Then... can you enchant the forest to seal off at night? Prevent students from sneaking in?"

"Let's get back to the Marauder's Map," Harry shifted back. "It's difficult—but not impossible."

"Rowena Ravenclaw once forged a pact with the Forbidden Forest."

Hermione and Ron instantly perked up. That wasn't written in Hogwarts: A History.

"The creatures within the forest swore never to kill Hogwarts students," Harry explained.

Hermione nodded.

No wonder Dumbledore repeatedly warned students against entering the forest—but never really enforced it...

There'd never been any recorded student deaths in the Forbidden Forest.

So that's why.

Harry took a deep breath. "But... there are two exceptions."

"The Acromantulas. They're not technically forest creatures—not yet. Once your pet dies and its offspring are born here, then they'll count."

"The second... is your half-brother. Grawp."

Hagrid froze, visibly ashamed.

The two threats in the forest—both were because of him.

Harry gave him a sidelong glance but said no more. Hagrid wasn't like Snape; too much criticism would hurt his gentle heart. "I can try tapping into that old magical oath and tie it to Hogwarts—create a living map of the forest."

"Of course..."

"I'm a student and have the Sorting Hat—I can represent Hogwarts."

"For the other side of the pact, that's where you come in."

Hagrid thought for a moment, then asked hesitantly, "So... what do I do? Dig up the forest?"

"The creatures, Hagrid," Harry sighed. "Unicorns, centaurs, Thestrals, and the like..."

"Of course, you could also invite your eight-legged friend—those Acromantulas—to help complete the missing clauses."

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Powerstones?

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