𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 (OC x OC)

[002] Chapter 23

Harry

I've been skeptic with the whole Malfoy family ever since the first attack. At first, I thought it was Draco. It just made sense, then Makayla not only spoke to a snake the same day I did, but she also showed up at Hagrid's shack? Something is up, and I'm going to find out what. Preferably after her, Ron, and I finish whatever Hagrid told us to do.

"Follow the spiders," Ron says warily, "why couldn't he have said follow the butterflies or something?"

"Oh, would you shut up?" Makayla whispers. She's annoyed. I can tell that she doesn't want to be here. My only question is why she is even here in that matter.

We all stop in our tracks. There's a large, bony structure a few feet in front of us. It's barely lit by the moon.

"Who is it?" A large, loud, deep, bellowing voice groans from its direction.

That's when I recognize the structure. It's a large snake. "Don't panic," I tell Ron.

"Hagrid?" the voice shouts out again. "Is that you?"

"We're friends of Hagrids!" I call out.

The structure begins to move, its bony legs stretching out and crashing to the ground. The spider is much taller and bigger than I expected it to be. So much for magic, am I right?

Ron is doing exactly what I told him not to do, panicking. The only good thing is that he is doing it silently. Now I don't have to deal with Makayla's complaining about how annoying she finds him–or everyone.

I'm guessing that this spider is Aragog. Aragog is a spider that Hagrid owned back in his time at Hogwarts. It's also the reason that Hagrid was sent to Azkeban.

"You're Aragog, aren't you?" I ask for good measure.

"Yes..." Aragog bellows out.

"Hagrid–he's in trouble! The Chamber of Secrets has been opened, and–and they think it's him! They think he opened it like before."

"THAT'S A LIE!" All of us flinch at the sudden outburst of rage from the 20 foot spider. "Hagrid never opened the Chamber of Secrets."

"And you're not the monster?" Makayla asks, stepping forward. Her eyebrows are furrowed and her expression is confused–probably because she's wondering why she's always caught up in these situations and why our initial theory wasn't true.

"Oh, I am a monster," Aragog says, "I'm just not the monster. The monster was born in the castle. I was born in the pocket of a traveler."

I notice a ruffling coming from behind us, but I ignore it.

"Harry," Ron whines, but I ignore him.

"But, if you're not the monster," Makayla continues to question Aragog, "then what killed that girl 50 years ago?"

"We do not speak of it!" Aragog whispers loudly. "It is an ancient beast that we spiders fear above all other creatures."

"Have you seen it?" I ask.

"I never saw any part of the castle," Aragog says, "all except the books in which Hagrid held me in. The girl was discovered in a bathroom and they accused Hagrid. Then he brought me here."

"Harry!" Ron whines out one more aggravating time.

"What?" I ask sternly, turning to him.

His face is quivering with fear as he points above us. We all look up.

Above us, tethering down to fall on top of us, is a spider gripped to its web. It's not a small spider like we saw in Hagrid's shack and at all of the other attack sites–it's not as big as Aragog either.

"Well, it was nice meeting you!" Makayla says nervously.

"Thank you," I say, also nervous. "We'll just go, now."

"Go?" Aragog asks. Ron nods nervously in fear. "I think not! My sons and daughters do not harm Hagrid on my command, but I can't deny them fresh meat when it wanders so carelessly into our home... Goodbye... Friends of Hagrid's."

"Can we go now?" Ron cries out.

"Yup!" Makayla shouts.

We turn around and run, dodging the spiders in our way. This is mental. Makayla swears as she almost trips, then Ron fully trips to the ground. I grab one of his arms as Makayla grabs the other and we help him up, continuing the marathon.

We're stopped in our tracks when a familiar vehicle rushes out of the brush in front of us, headlights on and all, and runs the spiders that are closing in on us over. It's Ron's dad's car!

Makayla shrugs and gets in the driver's seat; Ron in the passenger seat; Me in the backseat.

The car immediately starts driving on its own.

"Woah," Makayla says, startled.

I look out the back windshield and see that there are still spiders following behind us. "We need to get in the air!"

"This thing flies?" Makayla asks in a shouting manor, surprised–all while she's clicking random buttons.

"That one!" Ron points his finger to a certain button.

Makayla clicks it.

Doesn't start.

Again.

Doesn't start.

She does it for a third time and she's met with a loud

VROOOOOOM!

"Perfect!" Makayla says as the car soars through the sky.

We're all breathing heavily–and for good reason. That was very stressful.

Note from Makayla: No shit, man.

Then the car begins to shake abruptly. We all look around nervously.

"What's happening?" I ask.

That's when the car drops to the ground. Ron and I scream as Makayla just accepts her fate and closes her eyes tight.

The car reaches the ground with a loud thud. We're okay! Suddenly, a screeching noise starts from the car and we're suddenly thrown out of it.

We land on the ground with a thud and a few scattered groans.

Then the car drives off, back into the Forbidden Forest.

I guess it was finally through with us.