Fridwulfa

That night, Ralph couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned as rain pattered gently down on the roof and against the windows. Fridwulfa. He repeated the name silently, picturing her intelligent face, shadowed with fear and pain, the air of calm dignity about her, her heaving bosom...he blushed at the last thought, grateful for the darkness enveloping the room and glad that his cousin didn't know what he was thinking. He frowned, staring out towards the other bed. Joe just didn't understand Ralph's fascination with the giantess. He knew more about giants than anyone else Ralph had ever met, but this kind of knowledge was different. His cousin viewed giants as animals, laboratory subjects, creatures to be studied and investigated, but not people. They were all the same to him; he never took the time to notice that the giants had personalities and individual traits.

Ralph sat up, burying his head in his knees. He kept thinking about the scene he had witnessed earlier, the roughness with which the captive giantess had been treated. Suppose she was injured? She was a prisoner, at the mercy of the other giants, who were obviously furious at her. And yet, it hadn't been her fault at all! She didn't know about the giant customs and it had only been an accident! She was a victim, persecuted by humans and now by her own species. The Portkey, draped across the back of the chair, glittered faintly in the dim light. Ralph contemplated it broodingly. Did he dare go back? And what would he do then? He was only in his fifth year at school, and that afternoon had been his first real encounter with giants. He wasn't powerful enough to save the giantess; going back wouldn't accomplish anything. He'd be lucky if he could escape alive. Besides, the giantess was probably fine. Surely the giants would release her, now that they had heard her story. Still, he sat looking at the necklace, unable to forget about the giantess's plight. Too, a feeling of excitement was growing in him. Rescuing Fridwulfa would be the adventure of a lifetime; his heart beat faster just thinking about it.

Almost without thinking, he climbed out of bed and began pulling his clothes on. His heart raced as he tried to think of everything he would need. Rope? No, he was rescuing her, not tying her up. His eye fell on Joe's pocket knife, its blade enchanted to be able to cut through any substance. He pocketed it, then picked up his wand. As he was about to grab the Portkey, his cousin spoke.

"Where d' yeh think yer going, Ralph?"

Ralph jumped, spinning around to face Joe. His cousin was standing behind him, body tensed and alert. In the dark, Ralph couldn't see his face, but he guessed that his cousin wouldn't be pleased to hear his plan. He swallowed.

"I..." He paused. He had never lied to Joe before, and he wasn't going to start now. Squaring his shoulders, he blurted "I'm goin' back, Joe. I'm going t' save her."

In the silence that followed, Ralph tried hard to read his cousin's expression. Was he going to be angry? He couldn't see anything except for the dark sillouhette facing him. When Joe finally responded, his voice was curt.

"Don' be an idiot, Ralphie. Go back t' sleep."

Ralph blushed at the harsh rebuff, but felt something else, something he had never felt at his cousin before. He was getting angry.

"I won't, Joe. She needs help," he said, keeping his voice low. His cousin scoffed.

"C'mon, Ralphie, stop dreaming. How're you goin' to help her?" When Ralph didn't answer, he continued. "Leave things be. 'Sides, this is the first time giants 'ave been observed t' keep another prisoner. It's an unprecedented event, an' we ought to watch what 'appens."

Ralph was furious. "Watch what happens?! Joe, are yeh blind? This isn't about science, this is 'bout savin' her life! They're people, not bugs for yeh to study! I'm goin'!"

"No yer not, Ralph. It's too dangerous. I won't let yeh go." Ralph glared at his cousin.

"Yeh can't stop me," he snapped, and grabbed the Portkey. Joe lunged forward, snatching at the necklace. Ralph felt the familiar tug from his navel and was swept away.

He hit the ground with a painful thud a moment later and winced. Before he had a chance to get up, a hand grabbed the front of his shirt and hauled him upwards.

"You liddle fool!" his cousin hissed. "Why've yeh got to go play the hero, eh?" He released Ralph and looked around. "Lumos!"

Ralph climbed to his feet. He glanced at his cousin, half afraid of him. He had rarely seen Joe get this angry, and had never been on the receiving end of his wrath. Now, standing in the darkness surrounded by trees and who knows what else, his plan seemed very foolish indeed. Timidly, he crept up to Joe's side.

"Joe, 'm sorry," he whispered. Joe grunted, holding his wand ready. He glanced at Ralph, who was close to tears, and relented.

"All righ', no real harm done. We'll just take th' Portkey back home." Ralph stared down at his feet wordlessly, then looked up at his cousin beseechingly.

"Joe..." he began hesitantly. "Since we're 'ere, can't we go rescue her?"

"Ralphie, we haven't got anywheres t' put her, even if we could get her out," Joe explained impatiently. "Th' Portkey takes us back t' our rooms, we can't bring her with us!"

"Can't yeh enchant it t' bring us back to that patch o' woods behind our house?" Ralph pleaded. "Please, Joe?"

Joe sighed. "Ralphie..." At the sight of the younger boy's earnest expression, he gave in. "Fine, fine, since we're here, we migh' as well. But not you," he added sternly, as Ralph's face lit up. "You take th' Portkey home righ' now."

"But Joe!" Ralph protested. "How're yeh going t'get back?" His cousin winked.

"I'll make a new Portkey that'll bring us t' the forest, like yeh said. Have you got anythin' I could use?" Ralph searched his pockets and handed over two items: the pocketknife, and a marble. Joe grinned.

"That marble'll do grand, Ralphie. Now you get goin'! I'll go rescue this giantess crush o' yours," he teased. Ralph blushed, but nodded.

"Thanks, Joe." He grasped the necklace firmly and disappeared from sight. Joe waited until he was gone, then cursed.

"Darnit, I fergot t' ask him for his coat!" Standing in his pajamas, he cast a quick Warming spell₁, then prepared to transform the marble into a Portkey. It was a tricky enchantment, requiring concentration and a steady hand, both of which Joe normally possessed but was lacking at the moment. He sat down, leaning against a tree as he gathered his wits and waited for the Warming spell to kick in.

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