I do not own…
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Another attack & Aragog
When Vanessa returned to Hogwarts she still brought along a talking Dude. Lupin was sick again that week and Mal couldn't find an anti-potion for it. She had wondered if Madam Pomfrey would have something but the longer she had him talking the funny it was and very useful. He could be her ears at times when she knows her cousin is up to something that could put him in danger. So she was able to train him when and when not to speak.
When the Easter holidays had passed it was time for the second years to choose their subjects for the third year. All of them weren't sure what to choose, well besides Hermione. From what Vanessa saw the Ganger girl was planning on taking all the classes. The witch princess couldn't help but shook her head. Herminoe may be one of the smartest students in her year but no one can handle that much work. She also knew that Herminoe wasn't gonna enjoy Divination, since you can't rely on books to pass. Harry and Ron weren't so sure as Hermione was. Percy tried to be helpful but she hardly doubted those two would take his advice.
"It's just your third year Harry. If you're not sure yet of what you want to do just take something that would interest you. When you're sure then you can drop it in the third term or in your sixth year, then you can take something else." Vanessa told Harry. "I chose Care of Magical creatures because I find Magical creatures fascinating and I want to do something in that field."
He understood what she meant but decided to choose the same new subject as Ron.
Then there was Quidditch. The next Gryffindor match would be against Hufflepuff. Wood has been a slave driver again and insisted the team practices every night after dinner. No one barely had time for anything but Quidditch and homework. At least the weather was getting better than before and luckily there haven't been any attacks on the students. When it was time for the game everyone was hyped up and looking forward to the match. That was until Gryffindor team came out into the field and Professor McGonagall came marching across the pitch carrying a purple megaphone.
"This match has been canceled." She called through the megaphone.
Everyone in the stadium boos and shouted while Wood looked devastated.
"But, Professor!" He shouted "We've got to play...the Cup...Gryffindor…"
Professor McGonagall ignored him and continued to talk through her megaphone.
"All students are to make their way back to the House common rooms, where their Heads of House will give them further information. As quickly as you can, please!"
When she was done she beckoned Harry over to her.
"Potter, I think you'd better come with me…"
Ron followed her as well while Vanessa, Fred and George headed back to the Common Room. When they came back Harry told them that there were two more attacks: a sixth year Ravenclaw and Hermoine. Vanessa placed them in a hug as the young witch was their best friend and knew this must be hurting them. The Common Room was completely packed by the time Professor McGonagall came marching in.
"All students will return to their House common rooms by six o'clock in the evening. No students is to leave the dormitories after that time. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No student is to use the bathroom unaccompanied by a teacher. All further Quidditch training and matches are to be postponed. There will be more evening activities." McGonagall announced "I need hardly add that I have rarely been so distressed. It is likely that the school will be closed unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught. I would urge anyone who thinks they might know anything about them to come forward."
When she left everyone started talking. Lee Jordan made the comment that the culprit had to be a Slytherin since none of their own were attacked. Believing that the school should just chuck them out of school and placed them on the next train home. Percy hasn't said a word during the talks as he looked pale and stunned. The Ravenclaw girl was a perfect as well and everyone thought he was just shocked that the creature attacked a Perfect. Vanessa looked like she was paying attention to Lee Jordan and twins but she was using her enhanced hearing to listen to her cousin. She saw that look on his face and it always leads to somewhere he shouldn't.
"What're we going to do?" Ron asked quietly in Harry's ear. "D'you think they suspect Hagrid?"
"We've got to go and talk to him." Harry said "I can't believe it's him this time, but if he set the monster loose last time he'll know how to get inside the Chamber of Secrets, and that's a start."
"But McGonagall said we've got to stay in our tower unless we're in class…" Ron said
"I think…" Harry whispered "...it's time to get my dad's old Cloak out again."
With his mistress' orders' Dude waited outside the Common Room and waited for Harry and Ron. The portrait opened but no one came out. Dude wasn't stupid as he could smell Harry scent. So waited for a minute before following Harry's scent. The scent led him to Hagrids' hut. He walked around the hut before he climbed on a stack of logs that were next to one of the windows. At first there was nothing as the giant man was pouring tea for the two boys, clumsily though. When he was about to give them fruitcake someone knocked at the door. Harry and Ron placed the Invisibility Cloak over themselves and retreated into a corner. Hagrid grabbed his crossbow and opened the door. It was Dumbledore and another man that Dude remembered seeing once in Auradon. Cornelius Fudge, the British Minister of Magic.
"Bad business, Hagrid." Fudge said "Very bad business. Had to come. Four attacks on Muggle-borns. Things've gone far enough. Ministry's got to act."
"I never…" Hagrid said "You know I never, Professor Dumbledore, sir…"
"I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence." Dumbledore said
"Look, Albus…" Fudge sighted "Hagrid's record's against him Ministry's got to do something...the school governors have been in touch…"
"Yet again, Cornelius, I tell you that taking Hagrid away will not help in the slightest." Dumbledore said
"Look at it from my point of view." Fudge said "I'm under a lot of pressure. Got to be seen to be doing something. If it turns out it wasn't Hagrid, he'll be back and no more said. But I've got to take him. Got to. Wouldn't be doing my duty…"
"Take me?" Hagrid said "Take me where?"
"For a short stretch only." Fudge said "Not a punishment, Hagrid, more a precaution. If someone else is caught, you'll be let out with a full apology…"
"Not Azkaban?" Hagrid croaked
Before Fudge could anything there was another knock on the door. This time Dumbledore answered it. Dude let out a low growl when he saw that it was Lucius Malfoy.
"Already here, Fudge." He said as he walked in the hut. "Good."
"What are you doing here?" Hagrid asked in anger. "Get outta my house!"
"My dear man, please believe me, I have no pleasure at all being inside your...er…" Lucius said, sneered as he looked around the small cabin. "...d'call this a house? I simply called at the school and was told that the headmaster was here."
"And what exactly did you want with me, Lucius?" Dumbledore asked
"The other Governors and I feel that it's time for you to step aside." Lucius said, taking out a long roll of parchment. "This is an Order of Suspension...you'll find all twelve signatures on it."
Fudge went to take it but Dumbledore stopped him before taking it.
"I'm afraid we feel you're losing your touch. How many attacks have there been now? Two more this afternoon, was it? At this rate, there'll be no Muggle-born left at Hogwarts, and we all know what an awful loss that would be to the school."
"Oh, now, see here, Lucius." Fudge said "Dumbledore suspended...no, no...last thing we want just now…"
"The appointment...or suspension...of the headmaster is a matter for the governors, Fudge." Lucius said "And as Dumbledore has failed to stop these attacks…"
"See here, Malfoy, if Dumbledore can't stop them." Fudge said "I mean to say, who can?"
"That remains to be seen." Lucius said with a nasty smile. "But as all twelve of us voted…"
"Yeh can' take Dumbledore away!" Hagdrid said "Take him away, an' the Muggle-borns won' stand a chance! There'll be killin' next!"
"You think so, do you." Lucius mocked
"Calm yourself, Hagrid." Dumbledore said before looking at Lucius. "If the governors want my removal, Lucius, I shall of course step aside. However, you will find that I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."
"Admirable sentiments." Lucius said "We shall all miss you...er...highly individual way of running things, Albus, and only hope that your successor will manage to prevent any...ah...killing."
Mr. Malfoy gestured for the headmaster to the door before leaving himself. Fudge stayed for a bit before gesturing for Hagrid to come with him.
"Um...If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they'd have ter do would be ter follow the spiders. That'd lead 'em right." Hagrid said as he pulled on his moleskin overcoat. "An' someone'll need ter feed Fang while I'm away."
Dude let out a little whine.
"This is not good. Vanessa has to know. Now." Dude muttered before running back to the castle.
Vanessa found out last night while the news about Hagrid and Dumbledore had reached everyone's ears by morning. With Dumbledore gone, everyone minus the Slytherins, fears have tripled. She really wasn't in a good mood today. When Lockhart boasted about always knowing that Hagrid was no good she, once in her life, walked out of class. She had to or else she would have cussed and cursed him just to show how much of a fraud he was. Around lunch she nearly punched Draco when she overheard the brat talking about the Headmaster and Hagrid and hoped the new Headmaster wouldn't allow Muggleborns or let the Muggleborns get killed. He got away only because Dawn, Artism and Malcom were holding her back with all their might. Lucas did nothing to protect his brother or show any concern. Later she heard from Dawn that Lucas cornered Draco and threatened to keep his mouth shut. Said that he'll make the rest of the school year a living hell for him.
Then something unbelievable happened later that afternoon. Uma had appeared at Hogwarts somehow. Unconscious as she was attacked by a pack grindylows. Some first years found her by the lake and got Professor McGonagall. Right now she's in Madam Pomfrey's care as she had a few scratches and a dislocated arm. She knew that she should owl her brother about Umas' appearance but needed to know why she was here and if she was planning anything. With her map she was able to see when Madam Pomfree left the infirmary. She unlocked the door and snuck in with Pickett on watch. Like she had thought Uma was awake and getting ready to leave.
"You?" Uma said
"Hello Uma. Surprise to see you here." Vanessa said
"Where is this place actually? When I woke up I felt a lot of magic here." Uma said
"This is the school that I go to. This is Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Vanessa replied "How did you find this place?"
Uma fidget with her mothers' shell necklace.
"I was exploring the world until this...kept leading me somewhere. Then it led me here." Uma said "I really don't know why. Maybe it was because of the level of magic this place has."
Vanessa raised a brow.
"Why swim in the black lake? Why not walk through the village that is nearby?" She asked
Uma shrugged.
"What can I say? It's in my blood to be one with the water. I must admit, there are a few amazing things down there." She said "Though the mermaids down there are a lot different than the ones in Atlantis."
Then she looked around and her eyes widened when she saw the other patients.
"Whoa." She said "What happened to them?"
"Petrified. Some of the students were attacked by some unknown monster." Vanessa said "You came at a bad time. No one knows what creatures it is or how it keeps coming and going through the castle."
When she glanced at the window for just a minute she saw something with her enhanced eyes. Looking closer, she saw two figures and a large black dog heading to the Forbidden Forest.
"How stupid can they get?" She muttered
"Hey, where're you going?" Uma asked
The princess didn't answer as she got Pickett and left the room. Not wanting to be there by herself with all the petrified people sea witch followed her. Vanessa used the map to make sure she doesn't run into Flinch and his cat or anyone else. With luck they made it to the forest and hurried inside.
"Why are we here?" Uma asked
"My cousin and his friend are in here. This forest has dangerous magical creatures in here." Vanessa said, taking out her wand. "Lumos." Her wand glowed bright for them. "And if they are looking for Acromantula they have no idea what they're getting into."
"Acro-what?" Uma asked
"Giant spiders." Vanessa said
The witch princess and sea witch continued on walking when they noticed a trail of small spiders. When they got deeper they started to hear two boyish screaming for help. They ran a little deeper and saw the boys being pulled up by slik web like. The trees were covered with giant spiders. Vanessa quickly sent a spell at the spiders to scare them off and let Harry and Ron go.
"Harry. Ron. Are you guys okay?" Vanessa asked as she and Uma helped them up.
"Yeah. Yeah, we're good." Harry sighed
"Good…" Vanessa said before glaring and grabbing both of their shirts. "...because when we get back to the castle, I'm gonna kill you two. What the hell were you two thinking?"
"Who is making that noise?"
All four of them tense at the sudden voice. They looked to the side and their mouths dropped at the size of a very large Acromantula coming out in the open.
"Hagrid, is that you?"
"Get behind me." Vanessa whispered
She pushed the boys behind her, while Uma kept an eye from behind.
"We're actually friends of Hagrids." Vanessa said
When the Acromantula got a good view of them it stopped.
"That's...that's Aragog." Harry whispered to Vanessa.
"Friends? Hagrid has never sent humans into our hollow before." Aragog said slowly.
"Hagrid's in trouble." Harry said "That's why we've come."
"In trouble?" The aged spider said in concern. "But why has he sent you?"
"Up at the school, there've been a lot of attacks. They think he has something to do with it." Harry said "Like before."
"That is a lie! Hagrid has never opened up the Chamber of Secret." Aragog said furiously.
"Then...you're not the monster." Harry said
"No! I was not born in the castle. I come from a distant land. A traveler gave me to Hagrid when I was an egg. Hagrid was only a boy, but he cared for me, hidden in a cupboard in the castle, feeding me on scraps from the table. Hagrid is my good friend, and a good man. When I was discovered, and blamed for the death of a girl, he protected me. Thanks to a kind girl, she helped me escape and had me live here in the forest ever since. Hagrid still visits me. He even found me a wife, Mosag, and you see how our family has grown, all through Hagrid's goodness…"
"So you never...never attacked anyone?" Harry asked
"Never!" Aragog croaked "It would have been my instinct, but out of respect for Hagrid, I never harmed a human. The body of the girl who was killed was discovered in a bathroom. I never saw any part of the castle but the cupboard in which I grew up. Our kind like the dark and the quiet…"
"Then...do you know what did kill that girl?" Vanessa asked
Uma placed a hand on the sheath of her sword when other spiders started to return, but slowly.
"It is an ancient creature we spiders fear all others. Well do I remember how I pleaded with Hagrid to let me go, when I sensed the beast moving about the school." Aragog said
"Do you know what the creature is though?" Vanessa asked
"We do not speak of it!" Aragog said fiercely. "We do not name it! I never even told Hagrid the name of that dread creature, though he and the kind girl asked me, many times."
He started walking a little closer until he was face to face with Vanessa. While the others backed away a little Vanessa didn't as she knew that she couldn't show fear.
"You...You look like that kind girl. She saved me from being killed and took me to the forest." He said in a whispered
"Was...Was her name Victoria? Victoria Tepes." Vanessa asked
"Victoria. Yes. Yes. That was her name." He whispered
"She was mine and Harry's grandmother." Vanessa said "She saved your life so…" She looked around seeing that the other spiders were getting closer. "...So...maybe out of respect you can let us go."
It gave a strange look as if he was thinking of it. This was a long shot but if he wasn't gonna let them leave alive she would use the same spell to cast them off.
"Go? Sorry but I cannot. My sons and daughter do not harm Hagrid on my command but I cannot deny them fresh meat." Aragog said "Goodbye, friends of Hagrid and descendants of Victoria Tepes."
"You got any other plans?" Uma asked
"Start running. Now!" Vanessa said before casting the same light spell.
The light spell scared them off again and they all started running. It wasn't long till the spiders returned. With another lucky break Mr. Weasly's enchanted, now wild car came to their rescue. They all got in the car and it flew out of the forest before landing at Hagrid's hut. Fang quickly ran out and inside the hut, leaving the humans to get out themselves. The wild car then drove off and headed back into the forest.
"Follow the spiders." Ron said in anger. "Follow the spider. If Hagrid ever gets out of Azkaban, I'll kill him. I mean what was the point of sending us in there?"
"Still dents as ever Ron. This meant that Grandma Victoria was right and Hagrid was innocent. He was set up." Vanessa gritted as she grabbed a hold of their ears. "Now let's get inside so I can kill you both."