29

Aragog

Flowers were in full bloom and the lake shown a bright blue as summer crept across the grounds of Hogwarts. Of course there was something missing in the picture it all created and that was Hagrid the loveable gamekeeper. Usually you could see him and Fang wandering around the grounds getting various tasks done but right now he was nowhere to be found as the Minister for Magic had moved him to Azkaban in hopes to be seen doing something in the unrest the opening of the Chamber of Secrets had caused the students and parents alike. Fear had stricken the castle and the restrictions kept growing. Anyone, who was not in need of Madam Pomfrey's care, was banned from entering the hospital wing. You could not visit your friends when they were sick nor could you even stand by their bed while she fixed a cut or healed a broken bone.

With Dumbledore gone constant fear ran through the castle, it was easy to miss the sun that was shining through the windows. The joy and happiness that usually echoed down the stone corridors didn't hold the warmth it once had. Due to the constant escorting of students by the staff even Fred and George had been unable to set off pranks to lighten the mood.

During this time, Emily had become quite annoyed with one Theodore Nott. Unlike most students who were fearful of the entire situation he seemed to revel in it. He was quite vocal of his opinions especially two weeks after Dumbledore's suspension in potions class.

"You know my father had a part in removing Dumbledore," he boasted loudly before class started. "He believed he was out of touch with the needs of proper magical teaching. Hopefully now the governors can appoint a decent headmaster. We need someone who understands that the Chamber of Secrets should remain open. There is no way McGonagall can last in the position for much longer…"

Theo trailed off as Severus swept into the room towards his desk in the front of the class.

"Professor Snape," Theo said calling attention to himself. "You should apply to be the new headmaster!"

"There is no need Mr. Nott," Severus replied withholding his distaste for the suggestion. "Professor Dumbledore will no doubt be back with us soon as he has not been released from his contract only suspended."

"I'm sure all of us that have parents on the board would be more than happy to tell our parents that you are clearly the best teacher here if you apply!" Theo said looking towards Emily and Draco who just smiled tightly and nodded their heads. They both knew Severus had no dreams to become the next Headmaster. If Severus was to leave his teaching position he would most likely take up residence at the Manor in the potions lab where he worked on a lot of his experiments.

At the end of the lesson Theo decided to try Emily's patience even more commenting that it was a pity Granger hadn't been killed. She knew he said it to get a rise out of Harry and Weasley which worked because both boys looked livid. Harry seemed to be able to control himself enough to hold back Weasley who kept trying to free himself from his friend's grasp.

"Would you all stop dawdling. I need to walk you to your next class and you are all wasting my time," Severus drawled.

The class was quick to get their things together before lining up at the door. Once Severus had dropped the Gryffindors off at Herbology he took the Slytherins to the library reminding them that Lockhart would be picking them up for Defense before swiftly taking his leave back to the dungeons.

Emily and Draco were moving to sit at one of the tables in the back of the library when Emily felt a familiar signature and a tap on her shoulder.

"Ced, free period too?" Emily said turning around.

"Yeah, just cramming for my OWLs," he told her holding up a large stack of books.

"Oh, we were just going to work on the last of our homework, want to join us?"

"Sure," the fifth year Hufflepuff answered.

"I'm actually going to go help Blaise, he said something about needing help with the Transfiguration essay," Draco said smirking at Emily as he left the two of them alone.

Cedric pulled out a chair for Emily and made sure she was seated before taking the seat next to hers. "I haven't seen much of you since they instated all of the restrictions," Cedric said while opening one of his books to begin taking notes.

"Yeah, I know it's for our protection but I hate feeling so cramped. I wish I could just go for a fly around the pitch," Emily sighed as she got to work on finishing her essay for Charms.

"I miss flying too, maybe when they lift the restrictions we can go for a fly together," he postured looking up from his work for a moment flashing her, his crooked grin.

"I'd like that. I haven't seen you on a broom yet. I was going to the game to see you fly against my brother but it was canceled."

"It was the one game I was really looking forward to. Your brother hasn't lost a match yet and it would be nice to have some good competition."

"You weren't looking forward to playing Draco and the Slytherins?" Emily teased.

"He's been beaten before, I'm sure it would be a good game but I want to play against the best," Cedric answered.

"He may be good but we snakes are the reigning champions need I remind you..."

Cedric laughed quietly, "Yes, a fact that everyone in the school is well aware of."

"Of course the school is, our brilliance and cunning work wonders for achieving our lofty goals," Emily said pompously trying to hide her smirk.

"You need to not make me laugh, I am going to get in trouble with Madam Pince," Cedric chuckled glancing towards the front of the library.

"Oh, and what would you do if you got in trouble?"

"I think you would owe me because it would be your fault."

"And just what would I owe you?" Emily asked with a raised eyebrow.

Before Cedric could answer her Madam Pince called out for the second year Slytherins to gather their things. Draco approached the table, obviously he hadn't lost track of time like Emily had. The witch quickly gathered her things slinging her tote on her shoulder.

"I'll see you around. Good luck with your cramming," Emily said waving to Cedric as she and Draco made their way to join the line that was exiting the library.

"So, did you have fun," Draco smirked.

Emily nudged her best friend playfully, "Oh we didn't do much, just talked while we studied."

"Did you talk about anything interesting?"

"He did mention wanting to go flying together when the restrictions are lifted…" Emily said biting the inside of her lip.

Draco just smirked at her as they entered the Defense classroom taking their normal seats in the back of the room. It wasn't long before Professor Sprout dropped off the Gryffindors and they took the remaining seats, most of which were in the front of the class. Lockhart bound to the front of the room after thanking Professor Sprout. Unlike most of the teachers who looked more grim than usual he looked rather cheerful. Emily just groaned at the man's cheeriness before pulling out a book to hide under the table and began to distract herself for the rest of the lesson.

That night the common room was crowded much like it always was after the new curfew of six o'clock. There was nowhere else they were allowed to be so the room seemed to overflow with people. With so much space being taken up in the common room people tended to crowd the halls of the dorm rooms, making the whole place noisy till well past midnight each night. It was all too much for Emily who just wanted a moment of silence not trapped in her dorm room to get it. She decided to slip out of the Slytherin common room and go check on Fang. She knew from Severus that he was being looked after by the staff but she thought he was probably lonely without the constant companionship from Hagrid.

Emily moved along the halls quickly and quietly keeping to the shadows while using the passageways to get close to the large oak doors. She slid between doors that were surprisingly unlocked, making her way swiftly to Hagrid's hut. After starting a fire Emily moved to sit on a cushion on the floor, enjoying the silence as she petted Fang. She wasn't sure how long she sat there staring into the flames but she was startled from her thoughts when the door to Hagrid's hut opened to reveal Harry and Weasley.

"Emily," Harry said with a tone of disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," she said continuing to pet Fang's head.

Weasley looked pale and kept nudging Harry, "Maybe we should just go."

"Is he okay?" Emily asked pointing to the red-head.

"He's fine," Harry answered before turning to look at his friend. "We are doing it tonight."

"Doing what?" Emily asked raising an eyebrow at the pair.

"We are going to take Fang for a walk…"

"Uh-huh," Emily gave her brother a look that clearly said she did not believe him. "Why don't I join you on this walk..."

"No need, we can handle Fang," Harry said walking forward, he started urging Fang to stand and follow him.

"If you're sure... I'm just going to make sure he has food and water for the night then, before heading back to the castle," Emily stood and moved towards Fang's food dishes making a show of putting food and fresh water in them.

Harry nodded practically pulling Weasley out of the hut by the arm with Fang following behind them. Emily waited a minute before leaving the hut and trailing after Harry. They seemed to be focused on something on the ground leading them into the forest. Looking around her she noticed a steady stream of spiders that appeared to be fleeing from the castle into the forest in droves. She followed them along the path into the forest while making sure to not get too close to Harry and Weasley. It was easy to keep track of them as Harry had cast a Lumos with his wand. She couldn't believe how deep into the forest they were traveling. Emily hesitated for a moment when she realized they were starting to deviate from the path. Last year Hagrid had warned them to never stray from it but there wasn't much she could do if she wanted to keep following them.She saw Harry jump and decided it was time to make them turn around and go back.

"Harry" Emily hissed.

"What?" he snapped back before realizing it wasn't Weasley. He instantly started looking around his eyes filled with terror until he finally found her. "Emily! What are you doing?"

"Wondering why you are wandering into the forest for starters," she said crossing her arms.

He seemed to debate with himself for a moment before responding, "We are just following a clue Hagrid gave us."

"Hagrid told you to come into the Forbidden Forest, alone, late at night?" Emily demanded.

"Well he…" Just then Fang barked loudly and started bounding forward forcing them to follow him.

"There is something moving over there! We're going to die!" Weasley shrieked.

"Of course something is moving, we are in the forest and there are spiders everywhere," Emily snapped while trying to motion Fang back towards them.

"Shhh, we don't want to make any more noise," Harry cautioned.

"I'm pretty sure Fang has already made our presence known Harry," Emily told him still trying to urge the happily barking dog to them. "It would be nice if you two would help me get Fang back."

There was an odd rumbling noise off to their right side. It didn't sound like an animal though, if Emily had to guess it sounded like an old car. She shook her head and turned back towards Fang as Weasley clung to Harry both frozen in their places looking towards where the sound was coming from. Emily had to cover her eyes as a blinding light broke through the dark trees. When her eyes adjusted she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"It's Dad's car!" Weasley exclaimed looking relieved.

All three of them stood there looking at the blue car that was stopped in front of them. Weasley was the first to move and walked up to it, patting the front of the car.

"Can you believe it's been in here this whole year?" Weasley said looking back to Harry excitedly. "It seems to have blended in with the forest…"

Emily had to agree with that statement, the car itself was covered with scratches and mud, there was even a few vines growing out of the trunk and up onto the hood of the car. Fang who had come back curious to see what had caught the three second years' attention was shaking next to Emily wary of the car before them.

"I think it would be best if we found the trail again," Emily said looking away from the car in the direction they came from. When the boys didn't answer Emily turned around and couldn't believe what she was seeing. Both boys were being lifted up by large spiders. Before she could get a spell off she found herself in the arms of a third monster.

The oversized spiders quickly took off for the heart of the forest. Emily was quickly trying to process what was happening. It wasn't long before they came to a ridge where there was a vast hollow, all around were giant spiders, it was like a scene from a muggle horror film. The spiders carrying the three second years moved to the middle of the hollow before dropping them onto the ground. Fang moved to Emily's side whimpering. Emily was shocked when she heard the spider that had carried Harry speak. It called out for someone named Aragog.

Emily, Harry and Weasley instinctively huddled together as a spider the size of an elephant emerged in front of them. Emily concluded that he must be the oldest as he had gray mixed into his coloring and was by far the largest of the spiders in the hollow.

"Hagrid…" the large spider called.

"No its strangers," one of the spiders called out.

"Then kill them and bother me no more tonight," Aragog ordered.

"Hagrid sent us!" Harry called out. Emily looked at Harry incredulously, this is what Hagrid had told them to do? She knew Hagrid loved creatures but this was ridiculous, how could he tell them to find man eating spiders in the middle of the forest?

"But Hagrid has never sent anyone to us before," Aragog clicked.

"They've taken him to Azkaban, they think he has opened the Chamber of Secrets and he told us to follow the spiders," Harry attempted to explain to the aged spider.

Emily was looking around the hollow. Things did not look good for them. There seemed to be more spiders gathering and she had no doubt they wouldn't freely let them leave the forest. She immediately started going through all the spells she knew that could help them make it to the edge of the forest alive.

"Hagrid was forced to leave the school for that years ago, they thought that I was the monster he was releasing into the school. At the time I was still young, though I was not born in the castle. I was brought to Hagrid from a faraway land, Hagrid hatched me and raised me within the castle walls. When I was blamed for the death of the girl who died Hagrid brought me to the forest and has continued to visit me through the years," Aragog explained.

"So it wasn't you, you weren't involved with the Chamber of Secrets at all?" Harry asked. Emily nudged her brother motioning him that he needed to stop. He was close to offending Aragog and he was their best chance for making it out of there without a fight no matter how small she thought it a possibility.

"It was my respect for Hagrid that kept me from attacking humans. The girl was found in a bathroom but I never left the dungeons or the cupboard Hagrid kept me in. I prefer the dark as does most of my kind," the aged spider told them.

"D-d-do y-you know w-what killed her?" Weasley stammered out.

"The creature is an ancient being that lives within the castle. We do not mention its name, it is a being we spiders fear above all others! I wanted to leave the castle the moment I sensed it moving about the school. It wasn't until the girl's body was found in the bathroom that Hagrid finally made arrangements to move me. He wasn't quick enough though, someone had found out about me and I had to flee the castle on my own."

Emily could tell that they needed to leave now as the spiders seemed to have become angered at the mention of the beast within Hogwarts. She nudged Harry and motioned for him and Weasley to start backing up slowly. "Thank you for your time Aragog," Emily spoke to the spider for the first time. "We must get back to the castle and when Hagrid is back we will tell him of your help."

"I think not, you see I cannot stop my sons and daughters from a feast when it comes to us most willingly," Aragog answered.

Emily knew she was going to have to start casting spells but before she could cast her first spell a bright light flooded the hollow. The enchanted car came screeching into the clearing knocking spiders out of its path. As soon as it stopped the doors opened and the three second years needed no prompting as they threw themselves into the car, Emily pulling Fang into the backseat with her. Once they were all in, the doors slammed shut on their own accord and the car took off, knocking spiders out of its way.

They were flying through the forest on a bumpy ride, no one was driving, the car knew where it was going on its own. Fang was howling next to her but Emily like the boys couldn't seem to make a sound. After about ten minutes they came upon the edge of the forest. As soon as they cleared the trees and were next to Hagrid's hut once again the car abruptly stopped. Fang jumped from the car the second Emily opened the door darting to the hut, scratching to be let inside it. Emily moved to let him in and once he was settled she joined Harry and Weasley in a silent trek back to the castle. None of them could bring themselves to say anything as they parted ways towards their different common rooms.

When Emily made it back to the dorms she quickly changed and slid into bed next to Draco who woke up seemingly sensing her distress as she buried her face in his chest.

"Em…" Draco said groggily. "Are you okay? What's wrong?" Emily shook her head she didn't want to talk about it right now. She was trying to understand it all herself. Knowing Emily wasn't going to talk right now Draco rubbed her back as he drifted back off to sleep. Emily on the other hand lay wide awake. Hagrid had not been the one to open the Chamber, what he was guilty of was raising man eating spiders and letting them breed by a castle full of children. No, the monster was still here in the castle as was the Heir and whatever the monster was, caused these spiders that ate humans to be terrified. Lastly, she had a very good idea as to who the girl was that had died, a girl that perhaps had never left the bathroom where she lost her life… Moaning Myrtle.