adored by him | *under editing*

second year × 29

Harry illuminated the path which the arachnids followed and started off after them. Hermione grabbed his arm. "Where are you going?"

"You heard Hagrid, 'follow the spiders'," Harry said. "We have to see what he meant."

"But they're heading for the Dark Forest!" Ron squeaked, trembling. Harry sighed and continued on after them. Hermione and Ron exchanged worried looks. "Follow the spiders. Why couldn't it be 'follow the butterflies'?"

They followed the forest path, soon reaching a hollow ribboned with shadows. Enormous trees lurked over top of them, strewn with thick strands of white webbing. Peering up ahead, Hermione noticed the spiders streaming into a dark opening. She tugged on Harry's sleeve and pointed at them.

The trio approached it, shuddering at a clicking sound emanating within. Ron faltered. "Guys, I don't have a good feeling about this."

"Just stay calm." Harry reassured weakly, advancing further into the dark cavern. The air crackled with movement and twigs crunched beneath their feet. Then, an eerie figure emerged from inside, about the size of an elephant. A gigantic spider.

The trio slowly reversed as its eyes caught the light. "Who is it?"

Fang growled lightly. "Don't panic." Harry whispered.

"Hagrid?" The spider croaked. "Is that you?"

"We're friends of Hagrid's." Harry called. "And you? You're Aragog, aren't you?"

"Yes. Hagrid has never sent humans into our hollow before."

"He's in trouble." Harry explained. Ron glanced about nervously as several more overly large spiders crowded the hollow. "Up at the school, there have been attacks. They think it's Hagrid. They think he opened the Chamber of Secrets...like before."

"That's a lie." Aragog seethed. "Hagrid never opened the Chamber of Secrets."

"T-then you're not the monster." Hermione concluded quietly.

"The monster was born in the castle. I came to Hagrid from a distant land, in the pocket of a traveller."

"Harry!" Ron whispered frantically.

"Shh!" Harry snapped. "But if you're not the monster, then what did kill that girl fifty years ago?"

Aragog cowered slightly. "We do not speak of it! It is an ancient creature us spiders fear above all."

"But have you seen it?"

"I never saw anything of the castle other than the walls of the box Hagrid kept me in. The girl was discovered in a bathroom. When I was accused, Hagrid brought me here."

As Harry went to speak, Hermione siezed his arm harshly. "What?" She said nothing, only pointed a shaky finger upwards. The trees were blanketed with spiders, some slowly descending on thin strands of web. Harry gulped. "W--well thank you but we should go now."

"Go?" A sinister glint shot across Aragog's many eyes. "I think not. My sons and daughters do not harm Hagrid on my command, but I cannot deny them fresh meat when it wanders so willingly into our midst. Goodbye, friends of Hagrid's."