Challenges

Minor Character Boot Camp Challenge (HPFC) - Aragog & 40. Funeral

The Forgotten Characters Challenge (HPFC) - 4. Aragog

If You Dare Challenge (HPFC) - 6. Warmongering

HPFC Royalty Competition - 500-1,000w & Prompt 6. Pattern

Halloween/October Drabble Challenge (HPFC) - 66. Decaying

Greek Mythology Category Competition (HPFC) - 8. Hades: Write about death. (Immortals)

Word Count: 527

She sat next to her husband's enormous form, comforting him in his last moments of death. They had been together for almost fifty years and if life had been fair they would have enjoyed many more years together. When they found out that he had contracted the sickness she could have just died from grief. However, she had her children to think of and he reminded her of that. The children were sad but not as sad as she. They had resented their father not allowing them to feast on flesh when they wanted to. Especially the sweet taste of human flesh.

"My darling," he sighed. "It is time."

She blinked away her tears. "I know."

"Just promise me…."

"What?"

"Don't harm Hagrid. Tell him- tell him goodbye, and thank-you."

Mosag hesitated. She had never been fond of the large human her husband felt grateful to. However these might be his last moments and she did not want her husband to die unhappy.

"Of course, my love," she purred.

After one final breath Aragog's eyes closed for the last time. The family mourned, as was tradition, though also began preparations for the feast the next night. Mosag did not help and merely sat by her husband's decaying form as her children continued on with their work. A rustling sound beyond their encampment alerted Mosag to the presence of another creature. She knew who it was before he appeared. As soon as he entered the clearing the large human dropped to his knees in despair.

"No!" he cried. "Aragog, no!"

He rushed over and planted his face against Aragog's rigid body. Mosag saw that the large human was sobbing so hard that he could not control the movements of his own body. This was the first time she had ever felt anything pleasant towards the man her husband had loved so much. For some reason his grief touched her, perhaps he was the only other creature on this earth that had loved her husband as much as she had. Finally he calmed himself and stepped away from the body. Mosag noticed that some of her children were tensely watching, hoping that she would give her permission to devour him. Hagrid looked up at her.

"Shall I start diggin' then?" he asked.

"Digging?" Mosag repeated. "Why?"

"To bury 'im o' course."

"Bury him? We do not bury our dead. We eat them."

"Wha'?" the human looked horrified. "You can't do tha', I won' let ya."

"Let me? LET ME! I shall do what I like with my own husband and you cannot stop me."

"Yes I can!"

With that Hagrid seized her husband's lifeless corpse and began to move towards the opening in the trees.

"Stop! You humans are all the same. It's always the same pattern." She spat. "You don't respect anyone's traditions other than your own."

"He needs a proper funeral!"

"This is what he wanted! He wants his children to feast. If you do this it will be an act of warmongering that we shall not forgive."

"Fine!"

Hagrid began to run and disappeared into the trees. Mosag narrowed her eyes.

"Stop him. At any cost."