.We.re.not.going.to.say.anything.like.that!..Harry.shouted...We.know.you.didn.t.do.what.you.did.because.we.wanted.you.to.‐..
But.nobody.seemed.to.be.listening.to.him..
A.bearded.centaur.towards.the.back.of.the.crowd.shouted,.They.came.here.unasked,.they.must.pay.the.consequences!..
A.roar.of.approval.met.these.words.and.a.dun‐coloured.centaur.shouted,.They.can.join.the.woman!..
.You.said.you.didn.t.hurt.the.innocent!..shouted.Hermione,.real.tears.sliding.down.her.face.now...We.haven.t.done.anything.to.hurt.you,.we.haven.t.used.wands.or.threats,.we.just.want.to.go.back.to.school,.please.let.us.go.back.‐..
.We.are.not.all.like.the.traitor.Firenze,.human.girl!..shouted.the.grey.centaur,.to.more.neighing.roars.of.approval.from.his.fellows...Perhaps.you.thought.us.pretty.talking.horses?.We.are.an.ancient.people.who.will.not.stand.wizard.invasions.and.insults!.We.do.not.recognise.your.laws,.we.do.not.acknowledge.your.superiority,.we.are.‐..
But.they.did.not.hear.what.else.centaurs.were,.for.at.that.moment.there.came.a.crashing.noise.on.the.edge.of.the.clearing.so.loud.that.all.of.them,.Harry,
.Hermione.and.the.filty.or.so.centaurs.filling.the.clearing,.looked.around..Harry.s.centaur.let.him.fall.to.the.ground.again.as.his.hands.flew.to.his.bow.and.quiver.of.arrows..Hermione.had.been.dropped,.too,.and.Harry.hurried.towards.her.as.
two.thick.tree.trunks.parted.ominously.and.the.monstrous.form.of.Grawp.the.giant.appeared.in.the.gap..
The.centaurs.nearest.him.backed.into.those.behind;.the.clearing.was.now.a.forest.of.bows.and.arrows.waiting.to.be.fired,.all.pointing.upwards.at.the.enormous.greyish.face.now.looming.over.them.from.just.beneath.the.thick.canopy.of.branches..Grawp.s.lopsided.mouth.was.gaping.stupidly;.they.could.see.his.bricklike.yellow.teeth.glimmering.in.the.half‐light,.his.dull.sludge‐coloured.eyes.narrowed.as.he.squinted.down.at.the.creatures.at.his.feet..Broken.ropes.trailed.from.both.ankles..
He.opened.his.mouth.even.wider..
.Hagger...
Harry.did.not.know.what..hagger..meant,.or.what.language.it.was.from,.nor.did.he.much.care;.he.was.watching.Grawp.s.feet,.which.were.almost.as.long.as.Harry.s.whole.body..Hermione.gripped.his.arm.tightly;.the.centaurs.were.quite.silent,.staring.up.at.the.giant,.whose.huge,.round.head.moved.from.side.to.side.as.he.continued.to.peer.amongst.them.as.though.looking.for.something.he.had.dropped..
.Hagger!..he.said.again,.more.insistently..
.Get.away.from.here,.giant!..called.Magorian...You.are.not.welcome.among.us!..
These.words.seemed.to.make.no.impression.whatsoever.on.Grawp..He.stooped.a.little.(the.centaurs..arms.tensed.on.their.bows),.then.bellowed,..HAGGER!..
A.few.of.the.centaurs.looked.worried.now..Hermione,.however,.gave.a.gasp..
.Harry!..she.whispered...I.think.he.s.trying.to.say..Hagrid.!..
At.this.precise.moment.Grawp.caught.sight.of.them,.the.only.two.humans.in.a.sea.of.centaurs..He.lowered.his.head.another.foot.or.so,.staring.intently.at.them.
.Harry.could.feel.Hermione.shaking.as.Grawp.opened.his.mouth.wide.again.and.said,.in.a.deep,.rumbling.voice,..Hermy...