.But.why?..asked.Hermione,.who.sounded.as.though.she.wanted.to.cry...Why.‐
.what.‐.oh,.Hagridr
.I.knew.if.I.jus..got.him.back,..said.Hagrid,.sounding.close.to.tears.himself,..an..‐
.an..taught.him.a.few.manners.‐.I.d.be.able.ter.take.him.outside.an..show.ev.ryone.he.s.harmless!..
.Harmless!..said.Hermione.shrilly,.and.Hagrid.made.frantic.hushing.noises.with.his.hands.as.the.enormous.creature.before.them.grunted.loudly.and.shifted.in.its.seep...He.s.been.hurting.you.all.this.time,.hasn.t.he?.That.s.why.you.ve.had.all.these.injuries!..
.He.don..know.his.own.strength!..said.Hagrid.earnestly...An..he.s.gettin..better,
.he.s.not.fightin..so.much.any.more.—..
.So,.this.is.why.it.took.you.two.months.to.get.home!..said.Hermione.distractedly.
.
.Oh,.Hagrid,.why.did.you.bring.him.back.if.he.didn.t.want.to.come?.Wouldn.t.he.have.been.happier.with.his.own.people?..
They.were.all.bullyin..him,.Hermione,..cause.he.s.so.small!..said.Hagrid..
.Small?..said.Hermione...Small?..
.Hermione,.I.couldn..leave.him,..said.Hagrid,.tears.now.trickling.down.his.bruised.face.into.his.beard...See.‐.he.s.my.brother!..
Hermione.simply.stared.at.him,.her.mouth.open..
.Hagrid,.when.you.say..brother.,..said.Harry.slowly,..do.you.mean.—?..
.Well.‐.half‐brother,..amended.Hagrid..Turns.put.me.mother.took.up.with.another.giant.when.she.left.me.dad,.an..she.went.an..had.Grawp.here.‐..
.Grawp?..said.Harry..
.Yeah….well,.tha.s.what.it.sounds.like.when.he.says.his.name,..said.Hagrid.anxiously...He.don..speak.a.lot.of.English….I.ve.bin.tryin..ter.teach.him…
.anyway,.she.don..seem.ter.have.liked.him.much.more.n.she.liked.me..See,.with.giantesses,.what.counts.is.producin..good.big.kids,.and.he.s.always.been.a.bit.on.the.runty.side.fer.a.giant.‐.on.y.sixteen.foot.‐..
.Oh,.yes,.tiny!..said.Hermione,.with.a.kind.of.hysterical.sarcasm...Absolutely.minuscule!..
.He.was.bein..kicked.aroun..by.all.o..them.‐.I.jus..couldn..leave.him.‐..
.Did.Madame.Maxime.want.to.bring.him.back?..asked.Harry..
.She.‐.well,.she.could.see.it.was.right.importan..ter.me,..said.Hagrid,.twisting.his.enormous.hands...Bu..‐.bu..she.got.a.bit.tired.o..him.after.a.while,.I.must.admit…
.so.we.split.up.on.the.journey.home….she.promised.not.ter.tell.anyone,
.though…..
.How.on.earth.did.you.get.him.back.without.anyone.noticing?..said.Harry..
.Well,.tha.s.why.it.took.so.long,.see,..said.Hagrid...Could.on.y.travel.by.nigh..an.
.through.wild.country.an..stuff..Course,.he.covers.the.ground.pretty.well.when.he.wants.ter,.but.he.kep..wantin..ter.go.back...
.Oh,.Hagrid,.why.on.earth.didn.t.you.let.him!..said.Hermione,.flopping.down.on.to.a.ripped.up.tree.and.burying.her.face.in.her.hands...What.do.you.think.you.re.going.to.do.with.a.violent.giant.who.doesn.t.even.want.to.be.here!..
.Well,.now.‐..violent..‐.tha.s.a.bit.harsh,..said.Hagrid,.still.twisting.his.hands.agitatedly..Til.admit.he.mighta.taken.a.couple.o..swings.at.me.when.he.s.bin.in.a.bad.mood,.but.he.s.gettin..better,.loads.better,.settlin..down.well...