The fact that a ghost had been petrified sent the students into a panic. What could do that to a ghost? Most of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were now avoiding Harry. He'd been one of the few Slytherins that had friends from every house, and now most people were afraid to be around him. The Gryffindors were a bit divided. His friendship with Hermione seemed to convince most of them that he wasn't out to harm any muggleborns. The Gryffindor quidditch team was especially supportive of Harry. Though, the twins loved to make a joke of the situation. They liked to refer to Harry as His Majesty, The Speccy Dark Lord.
Slytherins seemed generally unconcerned. Most of them seemed to think that the idea of Harry being the heir of Slytherin was ridiculous. Others seemed to think that even if he was, it wasn't going to effect them anyway. It was oddly soothing to Harry that at least his own house wasn't really treating him any differently. Though it was a little unsettling that several of them were perfectly content with him possibly being the heir of Slytherin.
Harry was relieved to get away from the castle and spend the winter holiday with Remus. The werewolf had been rather anxious to see Harry, especially after hearing about all that had been happening at the school. But Harry was concerned about Remus.
Remus was looking a bit thinner and very tired. His face held a sadness that Harry was sure that he'd seen before on the man's face. But it had become more pronounced and Harry was worried.
Harry glanced at Remus as they decorated the Christmas tree together. "Moony?" he asked tentatively.
"Yes Harry?" the man responded absently, adjusting the fairy lights carefully.
"Will you tell me what's bothering you?" Harry asked hopefully. "And don't tell me it's nothing. I'm not stupid. You and Minnie are my family. I should know about it when you're upset."
Remus took a step away from the tree and sighed heavily. He sat down on the couch and motioned for Harry to join him.
Harry set down his box glittering baubles and sat down next to Remus. His heart clenched at the sight of his guardian's watery gaze.
"Christmas is really difficult," Remus admitted. "I don't have anyone left. My very best friends are all gone and I don't have any family alive. Your father and mother were wonderful people. Pete was shy, but I loved having him around. Sirius-" Remus voice caught and he took a moment to steady himself.
Harry's pulse was racing. Remus had told lots of stories about the Marauders' school days. But this was something deeper then pranks and fun.
"Sirius is your godfather," Remus said softly. "James loved him like a brother. And they both looked after me at the full moon. Peter too. They made my wretched existence worth the pain. And in one night, the one that James trusted most destroyed everything. He betrayed your parents, causing their deaths. And in the same night, he killed Peter. He was arrested, and I was left alone." A few tears fell, but Remus mostly managed to keep himself under control. After so many years, the loss of his dearest friends still felt like a crushing ache.
"You're not alone," Harry murmured, his own eyes damp. "You have me. I'm not really your son, but it's pretty close isn't it? To me, Moony means dad."
Remus pulled Harry closer and hugged him tightly. Harry pressed his face into his Moony's chest, wanting to comfort the werewolf.
"You're enough for me," Remus said, stroking Harry's hair gently. "I think I'll always grieve, but I can't let myself forget the family I have right here." He gave Harry a slight squeeze to emphasize his point. "You just look so much like your father. And sometimes you're shy like Peter. And, Sirius' middle name is Orion."
"Oh!" Harry exclaimed, pulling back with a look of shock. "I didn't know that." He bit his lip thoughtfully. "Should I change it? I mean, it's meant for my animagus form."
"No," Remus said, drawing in a calming breath. "Draco didn't name you for Sirius. I honestly doubt that he knew about it. You're named after a constellation. That name is yours. It suits you in a way."
Harry nodded and gave Remus another quick hug. "Let's have a great Christmas," Harry said. "Our family is small, but we have each other and friends that love us." He stood up and pulled Remus to his feet.
Remus smiled and returned to decorating the tree. He nearly dropped the star he was holding when Harry asked another question.
"Do you ever want to get married?"
"I- Well-" Remus stammered, thoroughly embarrassed. "No, I don't think so."
Harry gave him a skeptical look, that reminded Remus of Lily. "Haven't you ever been in love?"
Remus was horrified to feel himself blush. "Only once," he responded quietly, his throat feeling tight.
Harry nodded slowly, deciding not to push any further. He didn't really know much about that sort of love. But, Harry had a feeling that Remus had loved one of the Marauders. If he had to guess, he'd say that it was Sirius.
Harry left the topic alone and cheerfully coaxed Remus into making biscuits and hot chocolate. They spent their days together, occasionally visiting with the Weasleys. It did both of them good to set the rest of their worries aside for a little while.
Minerva was able to join them on Christmas day. She was delighted when Harry had leapt from his seat at the sight of her and rushed to embrace her warmly. He was as sweet as ever and she mourned the fact that he was growing up so quickly.
Harry spent part of Christmas as a cat. His feline antics seemed to amuse Remus, so he indulged a bit. Minerva looked oddly proud when Orion climbed straight up the middle of the Christmas tree. The black cat pawed at the star and knocked it down from its place on top. Then Orion smugly draped himself over the top of the tree, his legs splayed awkwardly on surrounding limbs to support his weight. It was worth it when he heard Remus wheezing with laughter.
"Bravo," Minerva said with a little nod. "But how will you get down?"
Orion cocked his head to one side and then looked down at the tree. After a pause, he let out a loud meow of distress. It made Remus laugh even harder. But, the werewolf did take pity on him and walked over to pluck the black cat out of the tree.
"Draco will be disappointed that he missed that," Remus chortled, stroking the black fur affectionately.
Orion huffed and swatted at him playfully.
Draco had mixed feelings about the end of the winter holidays. He had been eager to see Harry again. But he wasn't looking forward to the chaos that was sure to come. He definitely didn't want to tell Harry about a discussion he'd had with his father, but he knew that he'd have to.
"Why are you so quiet today?" Harry asked. It was their first night back and Draco had spoken very little all day.
Blaise looked over at them as he was tugging on a soft pair pajama bottoms. "I don't think I've ever seen you so quiet," he added.
"Just thinking," Draco said, looking down at his hands. He bit his lip, glancing at Harry nervously. "Listen, I asked my father about the Chamber of Secrets," he said quietly.
"And?" Harry asked curiously.
"He confirmed that it had been opened before," Draco said. "He wouldn't tell me who did it, but they were expelled. He also said-" Draco swallowed hard. "He said that last time, a mud- muggleborn died."
Harry paled. "What?" came his horrified whisper.
"I can't believe your father is being so casual about sending his only son to school with a monster," Blaise said shaking his head.
"He's not worried," Draco responded, sounding miserable. "Apparently, the monster somehow knows. Father says that I'm not in any danger."
"But there are lots of students that could get hurt," Harry objected. "Hermione..."
"I know," Draco acknowledged softly. "I'm sorry Harry. Father wouldn't tell me anything else."
Harry nodded. He want convinced that Lucius merely had knowledge of the situation. It was too much of a coincidence that the Malfoy house elf would show up to warn Harry meet months before the chamber was opened. Harry didn't voice this thought to Draco. Draco was clever, and surely wouldn't need Harry to point it out. But, Draco was also clinging to a bit of hope in his father.
Blaise cast a worried glance at Draco and then at Harry. Blaise really hoped that this wouldn't end up hurting the friendship between Harry and Draco. The pair was very close. Blaise was even starting to wonder if Draco saw Harry as more than a friend. He'd have to question the blond about it.
Classes resumed and Harry allowed himself to be distracted by lessons, homework and Quidditch practice. A large number of students were still avoiding him and he endured a lot of staring and whispering. He hated the attention and it hurt that so many people had turned against him.
Harry was extremely grateful to the Slytherin and Gryffindor quidditch teams. They all maintained a friendly relationship with Harry and helped to chase off people that glared at Harry. Harry appreciated the solidarity, especially from the Gryffindor team, since one of the petrified students was a Gryffindor.
Harry looked up from his breakfast one morning and smiled when he saw Hedwig fly in with the other owls. She swooped down and landed in from of him, her wings nearly knocking over a pitcher of juice. She extended one foot and allowed him to untie the small bundle of mail that she carried.
"What is it?" Draco asked, reaching out to stroke Hedwig's white feathers. "Such a lovely girl," Draco cooed, grinning when the owl shuffled closer to him.
Harry opened up a pink envelope and pulled out a card with little hearts drawn on it. It was a short poem.
His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad.
His hair is as dark as a blackboard.
I wish he was mine, he's truly divine,
the hero who conquered the Dark Lord.
"Oh," Harry murmured looking surprised and flustered. "I completely forgot about Valentine's day."
"Who sent it?" Draco demanded, pulling the card closer but resisting the impulse to snatch it right out of Harry's hands.
"There's no name," Harry replied, eyeing the slightly misshapen hearts. "This is... nice."
"Nice?" Draco asked incredulously, as Blaise took the card from Harry to read it for himself.
"Don't you like people saying nice things about you?" Harry asked.
"Obviously," Draco replied. "But this isn't meant just to compliment you. It's a love poem."
"Yes, this is very serious," Blaise said, nodding his head gravely. "This is only a step down from a marriage proposal." He laughed at the glare Draco directed at him.
Harry rolled his eyes and opened the next little envelope. He instantly wished that he hadn't. A voice began to sing loudly. Harry was sure it was either Fred or George singing in a high-pitched shrieky sort of voice. It was so shrill that Harry couldn't understand most of it.
On the other side of the Great Hall, Fred and George were laughing hysterically. Ron and Hermione were giggling with Seamus and Dean who were making kissy faces at Harry.
"Gits," Harry laughed, shaking his head and stuffing the still screeching card back into its envelope.
The commotion from Harry's mail allowed another owl to land in front of Draco without causing a stir. Draco carefully removed the attached envelope uncertainly. The card's message was simple. Written in shining silvery ink was a request for Draco to be Pansy's Valentine.
"I see you've got one too," Harry said, leaning closer to look down at the card.
"A bit more tasteful than yours was," Draco responded with a sniff. "And it has the sender's name."
Draco and Harry looked down the table toward where Pansy sat with a group of girls. Pansy gave a flirty little wave to Draco. He responded with a halfhearted wave in return. "Gross," he muttered quietly as he turned away.
Harry snorted. "That's so mean Draco," he laughed.
It wasn't until they'd headed to class and Harry was chatting with Ron and the twins that Blaise got an opportunity to speak to Draco privately. "I don't want to be late," Draco complained as Blaise pulled him into an unused classtoom.
"It wont take long," Blaise assured him.
"Fine," Draco conceded. "What do you want?"
"Do you fancy Harry?" Blaise asked bluntly.
Draco's mouth dropped open in shock. "What- What- Why would you ask me that?" he sputtered.
"So you're not denying it?" Blaise asked calmly.
"Of course I'm denying it, you idiot," Draco snapped, his cheeks bright red. "I'm just shocked that you'd ask me such a thing."
Blaise rolled his eyes. "I'm not stupid," he reminded the blond.
"Harry Potter has been my best friend since we were six years old," Draco told him, folding his arms over his chest defensively.
Blaise gave him an unimpressed look. "I'm aware," he said flatly. "But that doesn't mean you can't have a crush." He smirked when Draco blushed even more and looked down.
"I can't- You don't-" Draco cut himself, struggling to find something to say.
"I won't tell anyone," Blaise said quietly.
Draco sighed, looking defeated. "Thank you," he muttered, almost too quietly for Blaise to hear.
Blaise grinned. "Come on then," he said brightly. "Don't want to be late for class." He stepped back into the hallway, pulling Draco with him. "You know, of course, that I intend to tease you with this knowledge. And, though I've promised not to tell, there are ways that this information can be used for blackmail."
"Stupid Slytherins," Draco grumbled.
"There you are!"
They looked up to see Harry wading through the crowds of students. His cheeks were slightly flushed. "I turned around and you two were gone," he said.
"We were chatting about the Valentine cards," Blaise said dismissively.
Harry grimaced. "Ron said that mine was from Ginny," he told them. "The poem. Not the weird singing. That was definitely Fred and George. Fred proposed to me in the hallway a moment ago."
"I'm sorry I missed that," Blaise laughed as they continued on their way to class.
"So she-Weasley is the one sending poetry?" Draco asked, trying hard to keep the jealousy out of his tone. He didn't do a very good job if Blaise's eyeroll was anything to go by.
"Makes things a little awkward," Harry said, cringing a little.
Draco was feeling slightly relieved as they entered the charms classroom. He sat down next to Harry, firmly ignoring the knowing look that Blaise was giving him.
A few days later, the three Slytherins and Ron were seated near the Black Lake enjoying the slowly warming weather. There was still a definite chill in the air, but it was an improvement over the bitter cold of previous months.
They were determined to do well in Defense Against the Dark Arts, despite Lockhart's terrible teaching. So, they spent part of their free time, reviewing defensive spells. Harry seemed to be especially gifted in that area so he helped his friends.
"That wasn't right," Draco said, lowering his wand.
"You've got the wand movement wrong," Harry responded. He shifted closer and wrapped one hand around Draco's hand. He guided Draco into the proper wrist rotation and flicked the wand. "Like that. Try it again."
Blaise watched as Draco did the spell again, still guided by Harry's hand. This time, Ron was knocked backwards onto his back. Blaise swiftly helped Ron back up.
"That was great," Harry praised. Draco preened.
"There's Hermione," Ron said, scrubbing grass out of his red hair. The bushy headed muggleborn was striding purposefully across the lawn, her Gryffindor scarf flapping behind her like a flag. "What took you so long?" Ron asked her as she stopped in from of them.
"Moaning Myrtle flooded the bathroom," Hermione informed them. "There was water in the hallway again. So I went to check."
"Moaning Myrtle?" Ron questioned.
"She's a ghost," Hermione responded with a shrug. "She's a little sensitive. It's awful to try and have a pee when she's in there wailing in the next stall."
"A ghost that haunts the lavatory," Ron said, shaking his head.
"She was crying because someone threw this book at her," Hermione went on, pulling an old book out of her bag. It was bound in battered black leather. She handed it over when Draco reached for it, watching as he opened it and gingerly looked through the damp pages.
"It's all blank," Draco muttered. "How curious... Why bother throwing it away?" He turned it over and looked at the back, frowning at the name etched into the leather.
"Tom Riddle," Harry read, frowning at the name. "Who is that?"
Blaise and Ron shrugged. Draco shook his head, still looking down at the name. "Maybe this has magical properties," Draco suggested. "Perhaps it only looks blank."
Harry pulled a quill out of his bag. "Let's test it out," he said, taking the book from Draco. He located the driest page he could find and dipped his quill in ink. He then held it poised over the page, trying to decide what to write. He gave a careless shrug and simply wrote "My name is Harry Potter."
There was a pause and then the ink faded. New words appeared in handwriting that was completely different from Harry's. "Hello Harry. My name is Tom Riddle."
"This is so creepy," Ron said,
"What should I say next?" Harry asked.
"Ask if he knows about the Chamber of Secrets," Hermione suggested. "That book isn't new. Maybe he was around back then."
Harry did as suggested and was excited when the book showed him the word "yes".
Draco frowned and shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know about this," he murmured. His unease grew when he saw the words "I can show you" appear on the page. Harry gasped and went rigid. It lasted only a moment before Harry slumped to the side and Draco caught hold of him. "Are you alright?" Draco asked frantically, shoving the book away from Harry.
Harry was breathing heavily, looking around with wide eyes. "The book pulled me in," Harry panted.
"What?" Draco asked, startled.
"I got sucked in," Harry insisted with wide eyes. "I was in a memory. I saw Tom Riddle," he panted. "He was a student here. He turned Hagrid in for setting a monster loose in the castle. I didn't get a good look at the thing, but I'm pretty sure it was a spider the size of a large dog. Riddle was saying that it had killed someone."
Ron shuddered violently at the mention of the spider. But Blaise was exchanging a look of concern with Draco and Hermione. "You never left," Blaise said carefully. "You were sitting with that book and you sort of went rigid and that was it."
"Maybe it was just his consciousness that was pulled in," Hermione suggested, wringing her hands. "That's... unsettling."
"Indeed," Draco agreed grimly. He used his foot to push the diary further away from himself and Harry. "That book is dangerous."
Harry bit his lip anxiously. "Hagrid can't be the heir of Slytherin," Harry said. "He's is our friend."
"Harry, he hatched a dragon last year," Draco reminded him. "Is it really so surprising that he'd have a murderous spider?"
"It doesn't fit," Harry insisted. "I can accept that he had a dangerous pet, but it wouldn't make sense for him to be the heir of Slytherin. He doesn't want to get rid of muggleborns. He loves Hermione."
"Plus I'm pretty sure he's half giant himself," Blaise put in.
"So, Riddle either framed Hagrid on purpose, or just accidentally caught the wrong monster?" Ron asked. "It would be nice to know for sure."
"We're not opening that book again," Draco said sharply. "It's clearly full of dark magic. We'll have to find another way."
Ron tugged off his scarf and used it to wrap up the old diary. "I'll put it in my trunk until we decide what to do with it," he offered.
They sat in silence, each contemplating what they'd just learned. Draco had a very bad feeling about Tom Riddle's diary.
The next day, Ron hurried over to Harry just before dinner. "It's gone," he gasped. "Someone destroyed the dormitory and went through my trunk. The diary is gone."
"Anything else taken?" Blaise asked, urging them to keep moving toward the Great Hall. Ron's disheveled appearance was drawing attention.
"Everything else seemed to be there," Ron answered, taking a calming breath.
"There must be a connection," Hermione muttered. "There's just too many odd things happening. Somebody had to know that we had the book. There must be a link to what's really going on."
Hermione stopped walking and bit her lip as she thought. "I need to go to the library," she said. "I'll see you when you're done eating."
"We'll bring you something," Harry called back to her as she walked the other way.
Harry ate his dinner slowly, ignoring most of the chatter around him. His mind was focused on the diary, the chamber and the monster.
The next morning Harry, Draco and Blaise bundled up and headed out to the quidditch pitch. Slytherin wasn't playing, but they wanted to go support the Gryffindor players.
They were shocked to see that the players were standing around looking disgruntled. The other students were leaving the stands a bit reluctantly.
"Did we miss it?" Harry asked.
"We can't have missed it," Draco replied with a frown. "It's too early. And there's no way either of those Seekers could get to the snitch so fast."
Ron came running up to them, looking pale and frightened. "The match was cancelled," Ron told them. "Have any of you seen Hermione?"
"No," Harry answered, fear creeping up his spine. "Why was the match cancelled?"
"There's rumor of another attack, but I don't know who," Ron said.
"Let's find Professor McGonagall," Draco said firmly, pushing Harry and Ron forward and steering them toward the nearest cluster of people.
It didn't take long to find her. She was giving instructions to the prefects and directing everyone to their dormitories. Her expression was a bit pained when she noticed Harry and his friends. "Come with me," she said tiredly. "There's something you need to see."
The four boys followed McGonagall silently, their hearts filling with dread as she left them to the hospital wing. Their fears were confirmed when a curtain was pulled back to reveal Hermione. One of her arms was raised slightly, and her face was frozen in an expression of fear.
Harry shuddered at the sight and sunk down onto the edge of the bed. Ron hovered at the other side of the bed, staring at Hermione in horror.
"We found her just outside the library," McGonagall said softly. "She was holding this." She held up a round mirror. "Does this mean anything to you?" she asked, handing Draco the mirror when he reached for it.
Draco looked the mirror over, turning it in his hands. He shook his head and passes it to Blaise. Harry glanced back miserably, shrugging in a dejected sort of way at the mirror.
"She'll be alright Harry," Draco murmured. "They'll be able to cure everyone when the mandrakes are old enough."
"I know," Harry said softly.
"If you think of anything, let me know," McGonagall said. She moved around the bed and pulled Harry into a hug. "We'll make this right." She kissed the top of his head. "Now, you Slytherins are to go right to your dormitories. No detours. Mr. Weasley, I'll escort you to the common room."
Blaise and Draco put Harry between them and led him back to their common room. Snape was there giving strict instructions to prefects and assigning groups of students so that nobody was ever alone. Harry, Blaise and Draco were allowed to be in a group, though they were required to check in the Marcus Flint throughout the day.
After a week, Harry decided that they had to go see Hagrid. Surely the gamekeeper knew something if he was a student the last time the chamber was opened. So, just after dinner, the four boys made their way to Hagrid's hut.
Hagrid was tending to his garden, and glancing around anxiously. He relaxed only slightly when he saw the boys. "What are you lot doing out here?" he asked.
"We've got to ask you about the Chamber of Secrets," Harry said, looking apologetic but determined.
Hagrid's eyes widened and he quickly ushered the students inside. "The thing about that-" he began.
"We don't think that you didn't open the chamber," Harry assured him quickly.
"You don't?" Hagrid asked, looking pleased and hopeful but shocked.
"You wouldn't hurt muggleborns," Ron scoffed.
A knock at the door made them all jump. "Hide," Hagrid whispered frantically.
Harry pulled out his invisibility cloak; He no longer went anywhere without it. He easily draped it over himself, Draco and Ron while Blaise dove under Hagrid's rickety old bed.
Harry watched as Hagrid opened the door to reveal a portly man in dark robes and Albus Dumbledore. "That's Minister Fudge," Draco whispered into Harry's ear.
"Bad business, Hagrid," Fudge said, shaking his head. "Had to come. With three students petrified..."
"But I didn't- You know I didn't, Professor," Hagrid pleaded to Dumbledore.
"I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence," Dumbledore said sternly.
Fudge sighed. "Hagrid's record is against him. The ministry has got to act. I've got to take him," Fudge concluded gravely.
"To Azkaban prison?" Hagrid asked anxiously.
The question was answered by another knock on the door. This time, Lucius Malfoy walked in. He turned to Dumbledore with a cold smile. "I was looking for you at the castle and was told that I could find you here," Lucius said, curling his lip in distaste as he looked around at the house. "I've talked with the board of governors, and we've all agreed." He offered Dumbledore a scroll that was tied with a neat little ribbon. "This is an order of suspension. We rather feel that you've lost your touch."
"You can't get rid of Dumbledore!" Hagrid cried. "He protects this school. Mark my words, there'll be killings next!"
Lucius raised one mocking eyebrow at Hagrid before turning back to Dumbledore.
"I will respect the board's wishes," Dumbledore said calmly. "You will find that I will truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me. Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."
Harry's breath caught as Dumbledore looked straight into his eyes. Did he know that Harry, Draco and Ron were there under the invisibility cloak?
Lucius rolled his eyes. "Admirable sentiments," he said impatiently. "Shall we go?"
The four men moved to leave the hut, but Hagrid paused. "If anyone wanted to know some stuff, they should follow the spiders," he said loudly, standing awkwardly in the middle of the room. "That's all I have to say.
Fudge was looking at Hagrid with mild concern. He shook his head as Hagrid stomped out of the house, muttering about someone needing to feed Fang.
Once they were alone, Harry pulled the cloak off while Blaise crawled out from under the bed. "I think Hagrid is right," Blaise said, dusting himself off. "People are going to die."
"They're gonna close the school if this keeps up," Ron added.
Harry wasn't listening. He was watching a line of spiders crawling out of one of the windows. "Hagrid said to follow the spiders," he said thoughtfully. "Let's do that."
"No," Ron groaned. "I hate spiders."
"It's for Hermione," Blaise said, pushing Ron toward the door. "Let's go." They hurried around the hut to find the window and easily spotted the trail of spiders. There were even more spiders on the ground. "They're headed for the forest."
"We're doing this properly," Draco said sternly. "We'll go to Snape. We won't be setting foot in that forest without him."
Deciding that it was best not to argue, they ran to the castle. They encountered Snape very quickly as he had been coming to look for them. Marcus Flint and Adrian Pucey were with him. Snape frowned as Draco hurriedly explained what they'd seen and heard. Harry was mildly surprised when the surly potions master commanded for them to follow him before leading the way back to the forest.
"Stay close together," Flint instructed quietly as they all stepped into the forest.
They moved slowly, their eyes following the spiders' path further into the trees. The spiders varied in size a great deal. Ron was whimpering and trying to not look at the spiders at all. It was rather difficult since they were everywhere. Blaise took hold of Ron's arm and guided him along.
They all stopped as they came up on a massive spider. It was big enough to consume all of them. "You're not Hagrid," the spider said in a strange gravelly voice.
"We're friends of his," Harry piped up.
It was strange, talking to a spider. There was no visible mouth for the creature to speak with, but speak it did. Its name was Aragog and he'd come to Hagrid when he was small. He claimed that the only part of the castle he's seen was the box that Harris kept him in and that the student that died had died in a bathroom.
Aragog wouldn't put a name to the monster in the castle. He only said that it was an ancient creature that spiders feared.
At that point, Blaise was nearly knocked over by Ron's frantic flailing. The spiders were closing in on them. Snape and the students pulled their wands out. Snape, Marcus and Adrian began firing spells and blasting the spiders back. Draco quickly copied them, using a clever blend of spells to make the spiders dizzy or unable to walk as their legs jerked uncontrollably. Harry, Ron and Blaise joined in.
Snape whirled around and made a wide arc with his wand. A rush of magic swooped in like a strong wind blew the spiders away from them, making their path clear. "Run!" he shouted.
They raced through the trees, glancing over their shoulders to see if the spiders were catching up. When the burst through the treeline and onto the Hogwarts lawn, they stopped, panting heavily.
"Follow the spiders!" Ron snapped between gulps of breath. "If Hagrid ever gets out of Azkaban, I'll kill him."
"Indeed," Snape agreed. "That was a bit pointless. We still don't know what the creature is."
"But we know for certain that Hagrid is innocent," Draco said, still panting. "We can get him released from prison." He smiled at the relief that flashed on Harry's face.
"You're really trying to find out what the monster is?" Adrian asked incredulously.
"Someone has to," Harry responded.
"You are second years," Adrian argued, scowling. "Whatever that thing is, it could kill you."
"People will die anyway if someone doesn't do something," Harry snapped.
"That's enough for today," Snape said irritably. "Back to the dorms, all of you. There is nothing more to be done tonight."
"Come on," Marcus said. "We'll drop Weasley off at the Gryffindor common room first."
Snape watched the students trudge back to the castle. He supposed that he was grateful that the students sought himself rather than venturing into the forest alone. If nothing else, Snape had learned that he'd be avoiding the forest as much as possible in the future.
