Unknown Origins - HP Roleplay Book

Chapter 40 - A helpful friend

Erica was sat in Gryffindor common room. It was oddly quiet which she didn't like and the rest of the Herd was elsewhere meaning she was sitting alone, staring at the fire. That's when Erica brought out her vial of Liquid Luck and played around with it in her hands. She still hadn't used it yet. Harry mentioned to her that he needed to get the actual version of Slughorn's memory directly from him, maybe that's what she should do. But could she trust Harry? After what happened with Draco? After he took her book? Erica sighed, closed her eyes and took a drop of the potion. Immediately she knew where to go, Hagrid's house. She just had a feeling, that feeling was telling her to go to Hagrid's. Why? She'd find out soon enough. Erica made her way outside and decided to take a trip to the greenhouses first. That's when she saw Slughorn taking some of the tentacula leaves.

Slughorn looked at Erica and jumped, "Merlin's beard, Erica."

"Hello Professor." Erica greeted him,"What are you doing?"

"I'm just grabbing some leaves. Mrs Sprout gave me permission to take some for my potions." Slughorn answered.

"Alright, I mu-" Erica was then cut off.

"How did you get out of the castle this late, Miss Weasley?" Slughorn questioned.

"Oh, through the front door sir." Erica replied.

"Erica. It's nearly nightfall. Surely you can't allow me to let you roam the grounds yourself." Slughorn looked at her.

"Then feel free to come along sir. Hagrid's hut isn't that far." Erica informed him, walking out of the greenhouse.

Slughorn looked back before he followed Erica out of the greenhouse.

"Erica! I must insist that you accompany me back to the castle immediately." Slughorn called after her.

"That would be counterproductive, sir." Erica stated, walking onward.

"What makes you say that?" Slughorn questioned.

"No idea." Erica shrugged.

Soon enough, Erica joined up with Hagrid, who was standing with Fang and in front of them was a dead Aragog.

"Horace." Hagrid nodded to him sadly.

"Merlins beard. Is that an actual Acromantula?" Slughorn asked Hagrid.

"A dead one I think, sir." Erica pointed at Aragog.

"Dear God. However did you manage to kill it?" Slughorn questioned.

"Kill it? My oldest friend he was." Hagrid stated, looking at Aragog.

"Sorry, I did-" Slughorn began but got cut off.

"Oh, don't worry yourself, you're not alone." Hagrid told him,"Seriously misunderstood creatures, spiders are. It's the eyes, I reckon."

"Not to mention the pincers." Erica added, imitating spider pincers.

Hagrid looked at Erica, "I reckon that too."

"Hagrid, the last thing I want to be is indelicate but acromantula venom is uncommonly rare. Would you allow me to extract some, purely for academic reasons?" Slughorn asked Hagrid.

Hagrid started tearing up, "Well I don't suppose its going to do much good now, is it?"

"Oh, my thoughts exactly. I have a vial or two on me just in case" Slughorn stated, taking out a vial and extracting some of the venom from his fangs.

"I wish you could've seen him in his prime. Magnificent he was. Just, magnificent." Hagrid wiped a tear away.

Slughorn then walked back over to the others,"Would you like me to say a few words?"