The Night of the Giant Pumpkins

by Sue

Summary:  Hagrid's attempts to protect his pumpkins from slugs leads to unusual consequences.

Hagrid stomped down the front steps of the castle, he had just been to the Headmaster's office to get permission to use magic on the giant pumpkins he'd been growing.  The slugs were ruining them and  he wanted them to be nice for the Halloween feast.

As he walked down to his cabin he went over the spell in his mind.  He was going to cast a protective spell that would keep the slugs off the pumpkins.  He thought the spell was Protego for people, it must be the same for pumpkins.   

Pulling his pink umbrella from one of his many pockets, Hagrid went out to his pumpkin patch.  Pointing his umbrella at each pumpkin in turn, he mumbled, "Protegio!"  He was so focused on each new pumpkin, he didn't see that when each spell hit the pumpkin it glowed briefly and shuddered before returning to it's original state.  "Thar, that should keep em safe until next week," he thought. 

Hagrid happily took himself off to the pub secure in the knowledge that his precious pumpkins were now protected. 

A week later Hagrid took his large orange treasures to the Great Hall.  He had enlisted the help of the Head Boy and Girl and the Prefects to decorate the hall and carve the pumpkins.  "Here ye go," he said with a grunt as he put the last one down in front of the group.

Malfoy sneered to Pansy, "I thought the great oaf wasn't suppose to do magic, he must have used an engorgement charm to get them that big."

"Mind yer own business Malfoy."  Hagrid growled, "yer just needin ta  carve em up."

Before they could start, Professor Flitwick came in with the school choir.  "Don't mind us, we are just going to practice."  He lead the group to a corner where they  began to warm up their voices.

"This just gets better and better," Malfoy sneered.

"Shut it."  Ron told him, "Just carve your pumpkin."

Harry, Ron and Hermione moved toward a pumpkin near the staff table.  "Whatcha think, scary or funny?"  Ron asked. 

"Scary." Hermione decided.  Using her wand, she quickly drew a scary face on the giant pumpkin.  Then working together the three carved it into a face.  Around the room others were doing the same.

Terrified screams coming from behind him caused Harry to spin around just in time to see a giant pumpkin with a wicked grin swallow Flitwick.  The choir scattered, some  ran screaming out the door, while others were chased across the room.   At another shout, Harry turned to see Draco running from the pumpkin he'd been carving, while Pansy lay collapsed in a heap. 

"Oy, Harry, look out!" Ron shouted, shoving Harry hard from behind.  As he fell, Harry saw the wide mouth of the pumpkin they'd been carving, close over the space he'd just been in.  Hermione's cry of "Reducto!"  only caused the pumpkin to turn and head for her.  Ron grabbed her hand and pulled her out of it's way. "Try Confringo!" he yelled, "together."  The two shouted "Comfringo!!!" causing the pumpkin to explode. 

Harry, gaining his feet, ran across the room to help Anthony, who was trying to save some of the choir members from a leering pumpkin.  "Confringo!" they shouted, making short work of the giant orange monster.   

Harry looked around, Hannah and Ernie were battling a Jack o Lantern with large round eyes.  Ron had joined Padma as she battled one with large teeth.  Hermione had gone for the one that had swallowed Flitwick and Hagrid's big fist smashed another as it was closing in on him.   Draco was cowering under the staff table, screaming like a girl, while the pumpkin repeatedly bumped the table trying to shove it out of the way. 

As much as he would have liked to leave him, Harry went to Draco's rescue.   Harry's "Reducto!" splattered Draco in pumpkin pulp, as around the room the others finished off the last of the giant gourds.. 

In the silence that followed, Harry looked to Hagrid.  "What happened?"

"Don't know,"  Hagrid moaned, looking at the mess his pumpkins had made.

Hermione moved to stand next to him, "Hagrid, did you use your umbrella on these pumpkins?" she asked in a quiet voice. 

"Erm, yea. I was just protectin em from ta slugs."  Hagrid stated.  "I just used a protectin  charm."

"I don't think it worked."  Ron said watching pumpkin pulp slide down the wall.

"Now what are we gonna do?  Hagrid cried, "all me pumpkins are mush and we don't have anything for the feast."

"You could always make pies."  Ron stated, rubbing his stomach.  "I'm hungry."

Hermione hit his arm, "Oh Ron, when aren't you hungry?" she laughed.

"Let's get this mess cleaned up."  Harry said, "then we can find Ron something to eat."