Sera and Ron delved deeper into the forest. Ron whimpered constantly, backing up behind Sera so that she could be the first to protect him.
"Can we turn back, now?" he whimpered.
"Come on," Sera insisted.
No matter how deeply they delved into the woods, Ron complained all the more. But Sera had learned to ignore it by now.
"I don't like this. Sera, I don't like this at all."
She ignored him once more. They didn't stop until they got to a big hollow in the ground. Something big began to come out of the hole. Ron gripped Sera's arm tightly to the points it nearly went numb.
"What's happening?!" Ron squeaked in terror.
"I dunno," Sera answered. She, too, began to feel a little nervous. But she needed answers. "But it — it sounds big."
"Hagrid?" a voice boomed, sending shivers up Sera's spine. "Is that you?"
"We're friends of Hagrid's," Sera answered, her voice wavering slightly. But she kept her ground firm.
A giant spider came into view. Sera's breath got caught in her throat at the sight. It was a huge spider, exactly the same one she saw in the diary. Her face blanched. She kept her grip tight on the lamp's handle.
"And you . . . .," she whispered quietly. "You're Aragog, aren't you?"
"Yes," the spider rasped. "Hagrid has never sent down men into my hollow before. Let alone, a woman."
"There's trouble," Sera continued, trying to be brave and strong. "Up at the school. They think that Hagrid has opened the Chamber of Secrets and that you are the monster."
"That is a lie!" the spider hissed. "Hagrid has never opened the Chamber of Secrets!"
"If you're not the monster, then what did kill that girl fifty years ago?"
"We do not speak of it! It is a deadly and ancient creature that we spiders flee from. It lives in the very bowels of the school. I came to Hagrid in a box from an ancient traveller in a distant land. I never saw any part of the castle but in the box, in which Hagrid kept me in."
"Sera," Ron whined, tugging on the girl's arm.
"What?!" she groaned in frustration.
Ron whimpered and pointed upward. She followed his gaze and her stomach sank. She could clearly see what he wanted to talk to her about. She glanced back at the spider and cleared her throat.
"Well, thank you," she said as politely as she could. "We'll just go, now."
"Go?" the spider echoed, confused. Ron nodded, looking terrified and desperate to get out. "I think not! For my sons and daughters do not harm Hagrid unless it's on my command. But I cannot deny them fresh meat! Goodbye, friends of Hagrid's!"
"Can we panic, now?" Ron whimpered.
A spider came in their face, making Sera yelp in surprise, causing her to fall to the floor. Ron helped her to her feet. Once she had her feet on the ground, she had her wand out, gripping it tightly. Her hand shook.
"Know any spells?" Ron asked, his voice choked in fear.
"Only one," Sera answered. They were now back-to-back against each other. "But it's not enough to repel all of them. Arania Exumai!"
She repeated the spell a couple of times before something startling came their way. Sera was surprised when car lights nearly blinded her. It was banging its doors opened and closed, demanding for them to get in.
"The car!" said Ron.
They sprinted forward and quickly closed the doors, locking them shut. Ron put the car in driving mode and they began to speed their way out of the forest. Once they were sure they were a good way away, they stopped. Ron's muscles relaxed, though his face was beaded with sweat.
"Glad we got out of that," he whimpered.
He spoke too soon. A large Acromantula latched itself around Ron's neck, threatening to choke him. Sera shrieked and her hand immediately flew to her back pocket where her wand was. With her hand shaking, she aimed it at the spider that threatened to kill Ron.
"Arania Exumai!"
A flash of bright light shot out from the tip of her wand, releasing the spider from threatening to kill Ron. He let out a slow sigh of relief, grateful that his sister had been there to save him. He would not have been able to do it by himself.
"Thanks for that," he said squeakily.
"Don't mention it." Sera squinted through the dim forest. More miniature Acromantulas were coming forward, blocking their way. Sera stiffened, frozen in fear. "Get us into the air. Now!"
Ron stomped on the gas pedal, literally flooring it. It took a few tries, but they managed to get safely back on Hogwarts grounds. Sera sighed in relief as they touched down to safety. She knew there was no way the Acromantulas were going to go past the border of the Dark Forest. Ron slammed the door shut in frustration. Sera could tell that he was clearly not happy with Hagrid's instructions, as he ranted to Sera.
"Follow the spiders. Follow the spiders! If Hagrid ever gets out of Azkaban, I'm going to kill him!" The car revved to life by itself and went back into the Forbidden Forest. "I mean, what was the point of sending us there? For nothing? What did we find out?"
"Well, we know one thing for sure," Sera answered slowly. "Hagrid never opened the Chamber of Secrets. He was innocent."
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