Twenty meters north east of Forbidden Forest. Four days after the incident.
Even though it was summer and it was a sunny day, strong winds reminded Henry, Regulus, Cassiopeia and Neriada about the fact that they were in Scottish highlands, standing literally twenty meters away from the Forbidden Forest. The trio was dressed in relatively warm clothing, with Henry now settling in a black coat with blue embroidery on it, while Regulus and Cassiopeia opted for the black coats as well. Neriada was dressed in what could only be described as Dryad's combat armor, made of furs and even plant life, as she gazed at the forest. They've arrived on the place of meeting and now waited for the others to arrive, and to begin the job they've agreed to do.
For the last four days since Rose had been cured and now was back on her feet, looking healthier and even happier than ever, Harry hasn't been sitting doing nothing. He had taken the full advantage of Le Fay's library and searched through it all for an effective way to get rid of the Acromantula. Since his days in Hogwarts, when he had actually hunted those spiders for their poison, Harry knew full well that those creatures were not just nasty, but also really hard to deal with. A single Acromantula was not so much a threat to a trained and strong Wizard or Witch, easily killed with an Avada Kedavra or any other possible spell. The problem was the fact that Acromantula never attacked alone, always hunting in packs of dozens creatures of varying sizes, all of which are used for a purpose, like the bees in the hive.
Smallest spiders, those that just hatched out, were used for recon and finding a prey, which would allow their older siblings to strike out and grab it. After that, they would be dragged back to the main lair, to be presented to the females, so that they could devour it for nourishment and the future litters of spiders. The Acromantulas were predominantly ruled by their females, the strongest and biggest arachnids, as well as possibly the smartest. They were far fewer than their male counterparts, usually on one female there were up to 50 male Acromantulas, and with the colony in Forbidden Forest reaching upwards of thousands, if not tens of thousands of spiders, this meant that there were many females.
And all of them were also siblings with each other, as from what Henry knew from Hagrid, those damn spiders appeared there only from two Acromantulas, the giant's friend Aragog and his mate. A surprising trait that those creatures had was the fact that inbreeding was nothing new or bad for them, hell, it had allowed those damn creatures to multiply faster than Catholic rabbits. This factor, the numbers and rate of growth of the colony, was the most crucial to consider in Henry's plan to deal with Acromantula. He knew that the traditional methods of dealing with dangerous creatures would be ineffective against them, so he had to think outside the box to find a way to eradicate those beasts in one fell swoop.
Fortunately for Harry, his sister had given him just the right idea on how to deal with them. After doing some researching and consulting with Neriada, who had wanted to come along with them, Henry determined the best way of dealing with the Acromantula problem. Harry had told about his decision to Nym, who had decided that it would be best if this time Harry had as much support as he could muster, and so she left to get that support. And so the group stood here and waited for Nym to come to their position.
"Wish Nymphadora would hurry already." Cassiopeia spoke up, kicking out of her way a small rock. "The longer we stay, the better are the chances that Dumbledore may pick up on us through the Hogwarts' wards."
"We are a good mile away from the wards, and I've taken precautions and set up a small glamour and anti-detection ward." Henry spoke back to Cassiopeia. "Dumbledore won't find out about us, and the wards don't work properly on a full area of the Forest, otherwise there wouldn't have been so many missing students, if the wards could pinpoint their location to the Headmaster. No, the Forest itself is magical, and is somehow capable of disrupting any other magic working near or within it. At least, that's what I think."
"Your theory is not too far off, Prince Le Fay." Neriada broke her silence, but not her gaze over the Forest. "My mother had told me about the ancient and powerful magic that resides in there, one that had helped shape and birth it, as well as strengthen my people. My people had lived in a symbiosis with this land, as we tended to it, helped it grow strong and healthy, as well as defended it, while the Forest protected us and helped my people through its magic, ensuring that our mothers, sisters and daughters would be born strong, healthy, and in greater number to take care of it. When we were exiled, many of Mother's sisters and their daughters have perished because of the link to the Forest being severed too violently, and only those in the forests of House Le Fay had saved my kin, as we have settled here many ages before."
"Your mother was born in that Forest? No offence, but she must be quite ancient, considering that you were exiled a long time ago." Regulus noted out, with Neriada turning to him with an impassive look. "I did not mean any offence, just…"
"No, I understand, and you are correct, my mother was born in this forest, but left when House Le Fay was still strong and alive." Neriada spoke in a calm and reserved manner, before turning her gaze to Prince Le Fay. "She had played a crucial part in ensuring that Dryads would have a place in in your forests, ensuring the loyalty of her kin to House Le Fay, and of House Le Fay to Dryads. As a Queen, it was the duty that she had performed, and soon after, I came to life in the forests of House Le Fay, though my mother was the Dryad of Hogwarts. I was the first Dryad born in the lands of Le Fay, a symbol of my kin's new beginning."
"But… That would mean that you are at least 700 years old…" Harry spoke up in disbelief. "I heard that there are magical beings with a great lifespan, but you look like you are in your mid-twenties, by human standards."
"Prince Le Fay, the standards of Humans don't apply well with my kin, but I think I'll take that as a compliment." Neriada gave away the smallest of smirks to Prince Le Fay. "My people can live as long as the forests themselves, the process of aging is different for us from yours. My mother was over a thousand years old when she gave birth to me, and before me, she had seven more daughters, my older sisters that have come with her to my lands. I am her last and youngest child, and now… I am her only child left, and soon… I may be a daughter that mourns the passing of her Mother." Neriada said in a sad and sorrowful way, turning back to the forest.
"I am very sorry to hear that, Neriada." Harry said to her sincerely. "If there is any way we can help her…"
"You can help her, me and my kin by finally putting those damn beasts to death." Neriada said with anger in her voice. "My people, my kin have lost many daughters, mothers and sisters to those creatures, but not all were gutted by their stingers and eaten away. My people are strongly connected in magic with nature, but also to our family, to our mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters and granddaughters. We can feel when one of our family dies, the backlash and pain… It can be unbearable to withstand, and four out of seven of my sisters have withered away when they felt their daughters and granddaughters dying."
"Withered away?" Regulus asked of Neriada, but it was Cassiopeia that had answered.
"Like our naturalistic companion had stated earlier, Dryads don't exactly age as we humans do. I've heard about Dryads as old as three thousand years, and still alive and fertile." Cassiopeia spoke up. "However, they can die of a natural cause, which is called Withering. Like an old tree, a Dryad can wither away at her own volition, or from the lack of sustenance."
"Yes, and my sisters, those that had felt the deaths of their family, they chose to wither away before it was their time." Neriada said in low and saddened tone. "Their deaths had all been felt by me as well, and our mother, our Queen. She is not long for this world and she is already withering away, as she wasn't capable of living on without them, without her daughters and granddaughters. The only reason I have not yielded to the Withering, is because I swore on the blood of my sisters and my nieces, that I'll make those creatures pay for every death they had made me live through." Neriada's anger showed through, as the trio of magical users felt the ground shake up a little.
"Wow, and I thought that you didn't have it in you, Neri." The entire group turned their gaze towards the new voice, which belonged to Skadhi, Queen of the Jotanns, who now made her way to them, dressed in what could only be described as a female military uniform. "I was all sure that Morenna had plucked away all your thorns, but I guess I was wrong. Nice to know that you still have it in you."
"Skadhi…" Neriada narrowed her eyes slightly at the grinning Jotann. "Nothing ever escapes the Queen of Winter, especially when it concerns a long, bloody and brutal battle, right?"
"Indeed, and I am honestly hurt that you haven't even given me a heads up, Prince Le Fay." Skadhi turned to Henry with a bit of a sultry smile. "Deciding to invite little Neri here, but not me? I might take that as an insult, Your Highness. I am sure you are aware that I am a very proficient warrior, and I would've been of much assistance, if you've asked me nicely."
"Apologies for not considering that, Lady Skadhi." Harry spoke up. "Neriada had offered to come along after I've consulted her on the matter. I wasn't sure if you would agree, though."
"And even if she did, she has a tendency to cause far more trouble and damage than doing her job well. The woman's only interests are battles and rush of adrenalin through her veins." Neriada said dryly, with Skadhi simply sending her one of her own smirks.
"And what's wrong with that, Neri? I've never hid it away that I liked a good battle, and this one looks up to be the better one than all the others I had in the past few years or so." Skadhi said, before letting out a theatrical sigh. "But, if it will ease your mind, I give you my word to be mindful of the trees around, but I give no promises about the grass and bushes though. Is that enough to ease your mind, Neri?"
"Sufficient enough, considering that it's the most one can ask from someone like you, Skadhi." Neriada said to her, before turning to Henry, who looked back at her. "Do remember that my kin wishes the Forest to remain intact. As ill and unwell as it is, it is still a sacred ground for us, a place of my kin's birth on this island."
"I remember that, Neriada." The Dryad nodded to him, before turning back to the forest, while Harry looked at Skadhi. "You didn't look too interested in venturing out here when Crawley made me swear a vow. And how did you find me, while we are on the topic?"
"I know how to keep my more… pronounced instincts from showing, but I was interested from the second I heard about it. As for that little vow, you may've said it, but the vow only meant your pretty redheaded Devil, but said nothing about the others. And your sweet little sister knows it." Skadhi said, as she moved closer to Henry, accessing him with blue eyes, before a smiled crept up on her lips. "Mm, you are in quite a good shape for a Wizard and the amount of power coming from you… No wonder that little Veela girl that came with Victoria had left your mansion all hot and bothered after that small display of power with that mutt. I would enjoy through a few rounds with you, after this little show is over." Skadhi licked her upper lip in anticipation.
"You make it hard to distinguish, if you are flirting with me, or simply want to fight me." Harry admitted to Skadhi, who let out a small chuckle.
"Usually, it's just the latter, but with someone like you…" Skadhi gave him one more look, before moving a little closer, and whispering to him. "I might mean both, but if you impress me today, I may simply skip those two and get to more… interesting and primal activities." Skadhi pulled away from him with a wink, with Henry deciding to stretch his legs a little bit, before coming close to Neriada.
"Skadhi has taken a great deal of interest in you, Prince Le Fay, and not just as a suitable sparring partner." Neriada told him of her observations, with Henry looking at her with an interest. "Not surprising, considering that it is prime time she had settled down and that you happen to answer most of her demands for a man, not to mention being quite gifted in magical powers."
"Pardon?" Harry asked her, with Neriada deciding to elaborate.
"From what I've learned, Jotanns' complete maturity comes when they find a mate and settle down with him. She is currently in her latest stages of youth, when she is the brashest, headstrong and so on, as you can see. When the time comes, Jotanns start to look for a partner, and I believe that she has already picked you as her mate." Neriada simply stated to him, with Henry glancing at Skadhi, who simply observed him with a small predatory smile. "Jotanns lay only with their chosen mates, no one else, though each Jotann chooses their mate based on their own criteria. Some prefer magicals, others don't, some like timid, others like bold and so on. Skadhi seems to have set her eye on you for good."
"As in, an already determined mate?" Henry asked of Neriada, who nodded to him. "Doesn't it bother her that this is only the second time we've met?"
"No, nor would it bother any other Jotanns, if they've had set their eyes on you." Neriada answered to him. "Once they find their mate, they become attracted to them on both physical and spiritual level, from what I understand. It has something to do with their magic, but I can't be too sure. In that regard, they are similar to my people."
"Similar to your people?"
"Dryads are all women, no? And to procreate, we need a partner, and we mate with humans, either non-magicals or Wizards." Neriada calmly stated, with Henry quirking up a brow. "All children born from Dryads are always Dryads, as with Sylphs and Nymphs. Aside from a few special cases, Dryads do not form any bonds with the fathers of their daughters. We simply lay with them, erase their memory, and carry the children."
"And what are these special cases?" Henry was curious, with Neriada looking at him with an interest.
"This is a very rare practice, but there are times when a Dryad remains connected with the father of her child. Even though a Dryad's loyalty first to her people and daughter she carries, she remains loyal to her chosen partner, and will even be with him to a certain extent, even allow him to see their child, but not influence her upbringing in a wrong way." Neriada explained to Henry, who nodded to her. "Your people would call such connection a marriage, but it happens very rarely and most of Dryads do not engage in such connection, due to the fact that the Dryad also becomes attached to her mate, in much the same way as with the rest of her family. And since Dryads live far longer than men, be they Wizards or not, once their partner passes away, the Dryad feels how her love leaves her. Very few of my kin had remained strong enough not to wither away after feeling such a loss."
"I see." Harry nodded to her, until he heard a distinct sound of apparition happening close to them, causing him to turn his head towards the source of it.
Just a few meters away from them, Harry saw how his now lover Nymphadora appeared, followed closely by her former mentor, now turned trainer of the Aurors, Alastor Moody, and behind him were following Andromeda and Edward "Ted" Tonks. Harry smiled to them, and went on ahead to them, closely followed by Regulus and Cassiopeia. Once he came up close, Nym came to him and hugged him, before pulling back and speaking up.
"Sorry if we are a little late. Ol' grumpy here had to change oil in his leg." Nym smirked as Alastor grumbled about ungrateful students, though Nym continued. "Also, I've had a word with Bonesy about this whole operation, and we've got a green light from her. So if anyone, named Dumbles, starts asking questions about the sudden disappearance of his favorite poisonous pets, he'll have his answer of that being the result of a combined effort of Auror department, and the newly instated Prince Le Fay. And I should also point out that she'll want to have a word with you after the meeting on 31st."
"Thanks Nym." Harry smiled to her, before turning to look at Moody, who was giving him an evaluating look. "What's the latest score between Chelsea and Manchester United?" Harry suddenly asked out in random.
"Same as always: Arsenal wins the season." Alastor replied with a bit of a smile. "Looking a lot better now, kid. No visible bones or anything like that, at least."
"Yeah, and sleeping in a warm comfy bed with sheets and matrass does wonders to regain health." Harry replied to him. "You sure you are up for this, Moody? As much as you may deny it, old man, but you are by far no spry chicken, and this isn't going to be a walk in the park either."
"I know that, kid." Moody said to him in his gruff voice. "Like it or not, but I'm already here, and I've a feeling that you've come with a good plan to take those spiders down, because even an idiot knows that doing what we are about to do the old fashioned way is as good as letting them chew us up for dinner, like a pork with an apple in his mouth."
"There is the plan, and it will work." Moody nodded to him wobbling to Regulus, while Harry turned his attention to Andromeda and Ted. "I'm sorry that I've dragged you into this one, but I am short on manpower and…"
"Son, no need to explain it to us. You've called, you needed help, and that is what we are here for- to help you." Ted said to him, stepping closer to look at his surrogate son with a smile. "That's what family is for, Harry. And it's also high time that you've realized it, son, because me and 'Dromeda wouldn't want our future son-in-law to end up dead because he decided to play Superman."
"Dad…" Nym blushed up, as her hair turned crimson, while Ted and Andromeda chuckled a little.
"No need to feel embarrassed, Dora, dear. We are just happy that you two are finally on the right track and we are even happier that you've straightened your boyfriend's head." Andromeda said to her daughter, before turning to Regulus. "Regulus, is that invitation to a picnic still in effect? Because Ted and I thought that we may head out after all this is done, if you do not mind."
"Not at all, and Faye will be happy to see you." Regulus stated to her, before turning to Harry. "Looks like the gang are all here and ready. Time that you've revealed your master plan, kid."
"Right." The group came close together, with Henry speaking up as they've listened. "First of all, thank you for coming, this means a lot to me. Now, as you all are aware, we are heading into the Forbidden Forest to deal with the Acromantula threat, and when I say we deal with it, I mean, once and for all. I know that those creatures have nests all over Scotland, Northern and even Central England, but this here is where it all started, and this is where it will all end."
"Won't we be detected by Dumbledore and Hogwarts when we enter into the Forest?" Andromeda asked the same question that Cassiopeia mused with a couple of minutes ago. "And once we enter, how are going to effectively genocide those creatures? From what I understand, simple Avada Kedavra on them all is like stomping on one ant with a boot, while leaving a million around."
"No, the wards don't work properly in the Forest, hence the number of students that have gone missing in it. I believe Neriada here can explain it the best." Henry pointed to her.
"The Forest existed here long before your school was even in the making, and it's magic distorts the wards and whatever other defenses that Hogwarts employs in the Forest." Neriada spoke up. "As Prince Le Fay had stated earlier, none will notice us breaching the grounds of your school from Forbidden Forest."
"None but Hagrid, if the big guy happens to get sentimental today and visit his old pal Aragog." Ted noted out, with Andromeda and Nym giving him something of a curious eye. "If you think he is bad at keeping secrets, try listening to him after he had a shot of Finnish vodka that I shared with him once. Boy, for a half-giant, that dude can't hold his liquor."
"That he doesn't." Harry agreed, with Regulus nodding his head to that. "And as for how we are going to deal with spiders, Cassiopeia and I have come up with a way to do it."
"Like Andromeda and Alastor have stated, taking on Acromantulas like normal magical creatures is both suicidal and impossible, given their numbers and the fact that they've got nests all over the northern country." Cassiopeia spoke up after Henry. "That makes the traditional approach pretty much useless to us. However, there is one factor that we've found out about Acromantulas that is going to a fatal one for them: their colonies and numbers have all started out from two specific Acromantulas, Aragog and his mate. They are going to be our main targets."
"Now, for those of you who are unaware, House Pendragon had been destroyed due to a powerful curse that my now mother, Morgana Le Fay, had placed on the members of said House that came from bloodline of Guinevere Gryffindor." Henry spoke up. "Cassiopeia and I have found out about that curse and how Morgana had done it."
"Morgana had first used a modified parent linking charm that connects the parents and their offsprings through magic, before sending an infertility curse. The modified charm that she used had managed to link up all children of Guinevere, and their descendants that came from them, in one link." Cassiopeia stated to them all. "I've learned the charm, as did Harry here, and we can cast it, but we need to cast it on either the male or female progenitors of those creatures, for it to take full effect on all of their offsprings and descendants. Once the link has been established, we cast a single Killing Curse on the casted spider, and the infestation problem is gone."
"Sounds pretty simple enough, but I do have a few questions, though." Ted spoke up. "Why not utilize a blood linking charm and use it with the first Acromantula that we get in contact with? Use the charm, blasted it bits and boom, all is done."
"Ted, darling, do you really think that I, a world renowned researcher and expert in all things dark and charming, wouldn't have tested the very thing you've just said?" Cassiopeia spoke to him with a voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do be a dear and leave the complex magical thinking to Andromeda. You are far better at thinking in muggle way and just standing around looking handsome."
"You make it sound like I'm just an accessory to my wife here." Ted folded his arms at the thought, with Andromeda stifling her giggle. "What? Don't tell me that you think the same way, you minx?"
"Of course not, dear. You have quite a number of qualities that have drawn me to you, and the handsome part is just the icing on the very delicious cake." Andromeda calmed her husband, before turning to her aunt. "Cassiopeia, while I can see the reason behind using that linking charm you spoke of, I have to ask, how do you plan to get to their main nest, and do you know where is it located even?"
"I do, and the nest is about quarter a mile away from our position to the south west." Henry spoke up. "And we will be going there the good old fashioned way, no way around it, I am afraid. Using brooms won't do us good due to the density of the forest, not to mention the spider webs. Apparition doesn't work correctly in the forest, and I've already tested it out, as with the portkeys. Same reason why the wards aren't working on the forest, so that leaves us with one option, really. So we'll have to fight our way through to get to those two Acromantulas."
"Sounds like this is going to be fun." Skadhi chuckled darkly, as the grass near her feet turned to ice.
"Sounds like suicide to me, instead of fun." Alastor spoke up, before turning his attention to Harry. "Those bastards are a tough damn bunch, believe me. And with the numbers on their side… Best we just burn our way through to them with Fiendfyre."
"Try that, and you will lose not just your other eye, but your life as well." Neriada spoke to Alastor in a dangerous tone of voice. "My people will take the destruction of the forest nothing short than an act of war, Prince Le Fay. And my people are very well versed in the art of war."
"I know." Harry stated to her, before turning to everyone else. "Because of this, we can't simply burn our way through to them, so we'll have to fight to get to them. Seeing as, aside from me, Lady Skadhi, Neriada and Alastor, most of you have much of an experience when it comes to dealing with the crawling bastards, so you'd better remember the two spells that I've actually created to deal with the critters: Arachnea Exterminatus, and Protego Arachnea. The first is a Spider Killing curse, which works on a small area towards which you point and kills them, much like with Avada Kedavra. As for Protego Arachnea, it is defensive and repelling Charm that repels the Acromantulas around you better than a Shark Repellent with Batman." Ted, Nym and, surprisingly, Regulus snickered at what Harry just said, before he showed them the correct wand movements for the spells.
"Alright, sounds like everything is set up well enough." Alastor grumbled up. "We go in together, no straying away from the group. I go up front, clear up the way, while Ted and Regulus take up the flanks. Cassiopeia and Harry stay in the middle of the group, as they need the best protection. Andromeda and Nymphadora, you cover our rear and all you, watch out above for those bastards. As for you two…"
"I'll take the place up front too, bound to be where all those creatures will like to come at." Skadhi spoke up.
"I'll move along with Prince Le Fay." Neriada spoke up, with Alastor nodding to her.
"Alright, while we clear the way, one or two of you keep up the Protego Arachnea to repel the bastards, and if you see the critters flanking us around, you kill them with Exterminatus. Once we get to the lair and the targets, Cassiopeia and Harry quickly cast up the charm and kill the target with their brood, along with the surviving mate. If we get to see Hagrid, stun and Obliviate him, we can't have Dumbledore finding out about us here. If the plan fails, we retreat in orderly and calm fashion, and if one gets injured, we cover for them and get out." Alastor explained his formulated plan, with everyone nodding.
With the plan formulated, the group took up the formation and moved into the forest, keeping up a distance from each other in a few paces, to give room for maneuver for everyone. Moving in something that could only be described as a pentagram formation, with Henry, Cassiopeia and Neriada within it, they threaded the through forest carefully, with Alastor silently grumbling to everyone about the constant vigilance. Soon enough, the massive trees with their leaves and branches began to blacken the skies and sun away, with the group warily stepping forward. All the while, Neriada looked around herself with somewhat wide eyes and didn't even notice at first when Henry called her out when he noticed her being somewhat light headed in his eyes.
"I was listening to the Forest and taking in its magic and senses." Neriada explained herself. "It struggles under the fact of Acromantulas being here, and it wants to be rid of them, to start healing itself from them. And you were right, their lair is close enough. How did you know about it?"
"When I attended Hogwarts, I've made it my pass time to hunt for these critters and salvage up their poison. Made a good deal of Galleons off selling it." Harry admitted to Neriada. "I've walked practically through most of the place, so I know where their hunting grounds are, as well as where the nest is. We've just crossed the border between a proverbial no man's land and the Acromantulas hunting grounds, so everyone get read- Look out!" Harry called out, before he casted his Arachnea Exterminatus above their heads.
A pale white array of translucent lightning shot out of his wand into the upcoming Acromantulas. Within the next second, six spiders got shot by the invented spell and all fell down on to the ground, completely dead and limp, without moving even a muscle. The group took a second to look at the effect of the curse, while Harry already casted up Protego Arachnea, knowing full well what was to come and making sure to create a repelling field. Ted spoke up, after looking at the nearest corpse of the spider.
"Don't these creatures usually do that thing when they roll up on their back and fold those legs of theirs when they die?" Ted asked out of the blue, as the group reassembled together. "Just out curiosity…"
"Like I said, my curse does the same thing as Avada on everyone, only with spiders and on large area." Harry reminded to Ted, who understood what he meant and nodded to him. "They must've expanded their grounds, because they don't usually have the hangers attack close to the edge of their territories. And if the hangers have struck, then that means…" And at that moment, the entire group began to hear the hustling of the leaves, grass and more, along with the sounds of the spiders coming right up towards them.
"Bollocks, everyone, ya know what to do, so get to it!" Alastor commanded, as he and the rest of the wizards drew out their wands and prepared to meet the waves of spiders.
And just as they did so, they realized they've been already surrounded, as the spiders started to pour in from all sides. Wasting no time whatsoever, the group formed up, with Alastor opening up with Henry's curse at the spiders, downing at least three dozens of the crawling creatures. The rest of Wizards and Witches opened up with their Exterminatus, while Henry and Cassiopeia decided to focus up on keeping the spiders away from them via specialized Protego. The repelling defensive charm worked, as the spiders couldn't come in any closer were dying by the numbers, all the while moving forward towards their intended target.
Neriada and Skadhi weren't wasting breath either, deciding to take their share of crawling creatures. The Dryad's powers came from her connection with the forest and nature, commanding the very soil, earth and plants around her, including trees. At her command, branches of the trees extended and grabbed a hold of the hanging Acromantulas, before squishing and crushing them into nothing. Roots of the same trees rose up from under the ground and crushed the nearby spiders, while those spiders that still climbed their trunks were impaled on suddenly sprung out sharp branches. The ground itself has also started to fight agaisnt the spiders, as it became muddier and softer, sinking the creatures into itself and not allowing them to come any closer. Those that have fallen prey to such fate were dispatched by either nature, magic or Skadhi.
The Jotann Queen didn't waste her breath either, and used her powers to quite a delightful effect. Jotanns were one of the most powerful magical races, most closely linked with magic and capable of most freely using it their advantage. Skadhi's magical prowess stemmed from her control of cold and ice, manipulating the very air and water to freeze and take whatever shape she commanded. As her eyes glowed up and a predatory smile crossed her beautiful face, she began to form up spikes, blades and stars made of ice from the thin air, before launching them at spiders, piercing their carcasses and ripping them to shreds. Placing her hands on the ground, and all around the ground ice spikes protruded and impaled Acromantulas. She sent frozen shards and spikes at them, used her powers to the fullest when she conjured her walls of ice around the group to protect them. The Jotann Queen was in a battle rash, having forgotten the tactic and even the fact of her being a part of the group.
This was a bad mistake, as after half an hour of non-stop battle and spell casting, the group has reached the proverbial doors of the lair, indicated by the webs and more ferocious spiders, along with their nimbers. And it was at that moment, when Skadhi had strayed away from the group a little, that the largest yet spider jumped down on her, forcing her to the ground. If the previous Acromantulas that had attacked varied from the sizes of large housecats like Maine Coon to the size of Newfoundland dog, than this particular spider was the size of a literal car, up to ten meters in length and with a very wide spread of his legs.
The creature was met by the Arachnea Exterminatus, but to the shock of Regulus that had sent it, the curse was utterly ineffective. Skadhi, after having been practically fully crushed by the large spider, just barely managed to maneuver away from its stinger and mandibles. It was at moment when the spider was going for its third strike, when she heard Henry's voice.
"Fulgur!" A bolt of lightning struck out from his wand and in an instant reached the giant spider.
The conjured lightning sent the eight legged creature back from Skadhi, before being burned to a crisp and succumbing to death, leaving after itself only the disgusting husk and a smell of roasted spider. The group maneuvered to Skadhi, with Henry helping her to get up, as she composed herself back, before speaking up.
"Thank you." She sounded sincere. "That thing… It had a jump on me and…"
"Don't excuse yourself, everyone can be taken by surprise. Happens to the best of us, I know from personal experience." Harry simply stated to Skadhi, while the group had enjoyed a small window of calm before the storm.
"Why didn't that thing get roasted by the Exterminatus like its lesser siblings?" Regulus asked out loud of Henry. "Is that a mutant or something?"
"No, it looks a lot more like one of the leaders of the colonies that I and my sisters have destroyed." Neriada spoke up. "They have a hardened skin and are resilient against the magic, but not all magic, it would seem."
"That's what the fully grown Acromantula looks like, when it reaches its complete and full maturity. If before we've handled their kids, teens and young adults, these are the middle-aged bastards, speaking in human terms." Harry explained, as the group observed how about a couple of dozen of the same sized spiders began to surround them. "Well, I'd say this is actually good news for us, because they stick only to their lair, which means we are in it, given their presence and the amount of web around here."
"Hate to break to you, love, but how do we kill those freaks before they kill us?!" Nym was practically panicking at the sight of those creatures coming towards them.
"You don't, I do!" Cassiopeia shouted out to her nieces, as she raised her wand up in the air, before speaking the name of the spell. "Fulgur Catena Arachnea!"
The bright flash of light erupted from Cassiopeia's wand, as the cracking sound of lightning sounded in the forest. With the second, a single lightning bolt shot out and traveled around the surrounded group, disintegrating and roasting the giant spiders that had surrounded them. Within ten seconds, Cassiopeia seized her spell work, before nearly slumping down, only to be caught by Andromeda and helped her onto her feet. Cassiopeia spoke up in a tired tone of voice.
"Hope Dorea hears it, because I could kiss her for teaching me how to modulate the spells, as she called it." Cassie said to Harry with a knowing smile. "Still… That spell took quite a bit of me to pull off… Harry, I do sincerely hope that you remember the charm, right?" Harry nodded to her. "Good, because I'm in no condition to cast it now, and since we are in their lair's territory, I'd suggest we watch our spells."
"Right. Andromeda, help your aunt here. Everyone else, use the repelling charm, and let's get a move. And no straying away now." Alastor said the last part to Skadhi who simply nodded to him.
The group went down a small slope, before coming down a clearing, surrounded by the old and mangled trees, linked with thick webs. As they've all stepped onto the clearing, observing the many exits from the clearing and noticing multiple holes in between the grounds and roots of the trees. In the center, there was the largest hole, with the biggest spider the group had seen so far seen perched from out of it.
It was the double the size of the fully mature Acromantula, and it looked straight at the group. It was clear that this is one of the targets that they've been looking for, but that wasn't what had drawn their attention alone. There, right in front of them and with his back to the giant spider, stood none other than the keeper of gates and keys of Hogwarts, the massive form of Hagrid, who practically took a protective form between the invaders and the spider. Ted was the first one to break the silence.
"Oh, bollocks… Hagrid, mate…" Ted tried to address his old friend, before the giant boomed on them.
"Wha' the bloody hell yer' all think ya doin', ya heartless bastards?!" Hagrid shouted at them. "Don't 'cha 'now what ya' doin?! Ya bloody murderin' them all! By the hundreds and thousands now! And all for what, some damn poison from em?!"
"This is not about the poison, Hagrid, mate, but you really need to step aside from it." Nym asked of him, as she and her dad pointed their wands at Hagrid. "Hagrid, please don't me and the others do what we'll later regret…"
"Nym, ya' shouda' understand how I feel about 'em, and ya know that they ain't no danger to anybody! Yet ya go and slaughter them all with your posy here!" Hagrid screamed at her, with Andromeda and Harry taking a stance in front of Nym with their wands out. "Ted, 'Dromeda, what the bloody hell yer' all doin?! I thought we were friends, but why…"
"Hagrid, mate, we are friends, and I mean it, damn it!" Ted shouted at him. "But, as much as you may be my friend, that doesn't excuse the fact that your so called harmless misunderstood cuties have been spreading through the country like a bloody plague! They are already all over Scottish hills and planes with forests, and they are also down south, in Northern and Central England. Towns and villages have been literally eaten by these wall crawling freaks! Towns and villages, Hagrid!"
"Ya' speak bollocks, Ted! I'd know if somethin' like that were happenin', and if not me, than Dumbledore for sure! And how can there be towns and villages eaten, if there's only one colony and only here?!" Hagrid called out on them.
"And how the hell do ya' know of that, you big headed monster-loving buffoon?!" Alastor shouted out to him. "Ya thinkin' that the Aurors know nothin' about all those damn beasts and monsters ya' have been smuggling in here? Well guess again, 'cause Amelia Bones has got one big fat file with your name all over it, detailin' every single bloody deal, smuggle, every itty bitty bug ya brought to Hogwarts, all 'cause ya decided to make yourself a private zoo! We've been stayin' away only 'cause Dumbledore told us that he holds those beasts on tight leash, but looks like that's one big fat lie! Your eight-legged friend there and his mate have made so many of those freaks that they are now crawling all over the country, and since people are now dead and eaten 'cause of them, with numbers going up in hundreds, this is the matter that we ain't ignorin' anymore! So step aside, Hagrid, or I'll personally bring you to Bones as for impeding the work of the Aurors and bloody well assisting in spreading of those freaks!"
"The only Aurors I see are ya 'lastor and Nym, but the rest ain't no Auror, so it's' no Ministry work here! And who the hell is the silver haired ponce who's been glaring daggers at me?!" Hagrid asked of them.
"The man, whose lands your so called 'friends' have been plundering." Henry calmly stepped forward with his wand on the ready. "I am Henry Arthur Le Fay, Prince Le Fay, Ruler and Protector of the Northern Britannia, which are currently crawling with hundreds of your friends' inbred offsprings, killing and eating those that live on my lands. I give you one last chance, half-giant: step away from that beast, or I'll deliver you to Bones personally and make sure you sit in Azkaban for association with those beasts' murderous sprees." Hagrid looked at him with a heated glare, before shouting at him.
"To hell with ya and yer' innocents, ya monster! I'll rip ya head off myself!" Hagrid practically launched himself towards Henry with murderous rage, with Andromeda and Ted both sending Stupefy, but to no avail.
However, before he could even reach past Alastor, roots and branches of the surrounding trees spread out and taken hold of Hagrid's limbs and torso, holding him firmly place. Usually, the half-giant would've been able to easily break free, but the magic of entire forest seemed to be focused up in those binds. They were led and empowered by the wrath and rage of a grieving Dryad, who stepped forward, holding Hagrid with her magic. Nymphadora and Ted had wanted to step forward and stop her, but Cassiopeia and Andromeda stopped them with them shaking their heads, indicating that it would be best not to come any closer. Neriada looked at Hagrid, who still tried to get out of binds, as she spoke up.
"You… It is because of you that my sisters have withered away." She spoke in cold and near impassive way, as the binds strengthened even more. "Those monsters… They've spread their webs around my forests, tangled them around my sisters and their daughters, before they've feasted on them. Dozens of my people have withered away because they've felt every second of their torment and anguish, crying out for Gaea to stop it, and getting nothing. All of them, all of my sisters, nieces, friends and even my mother… All because you've decided to take these monsters for pets?" The branch of tree found its way around Hagrid's neck, coiling around it strongly, nearly suffocating the half-giant.
And then… The forest filled with the breaking and tearing noise, as Nymphadora and Andromeda turned away in shock, while Ted, Regulus and Harry looked away, at what Neriada had done. In a single second, the powerful and vengeful Dryad had unleashed her wrath in one single move, as she tore apart Hagrid with all of her power. The separated parts of his body fell down onto the ground, spilling blood out of them. Neriada gave one last look at the severed up corpse of the half-giant, before she looked at the progenitor of the monsters that took so much from her and her people.
"Was… He didn't mean any harm to you or any of your people. Why did you…" Nym looked at him in shock.
"Because of all the blood that have been spilled because of him!" Neriada shouted at her, as she looked at Nymphadora with rage. "What would you do, if your sisters have died because of his actions, even if he meant none of it?! What if your dear mother had been forced to death from all the losses she had to feel and witness?! Would you just sit on your bottom and let it happen, or would you make sure to make those responsible for it suffer?!"
"But Hagrid…" Nymphadora tried to speak up, with Alastor interrupting her.
"Tonks, as much as I may hate the fact of what she had done, Hagrid was a goner the moment he stood in our way." Alastor admitted to her. "The DMLE has been itching to get their hands on the man, and the only thing that had stopped us was Dumbledore's word. There's more charges and evidence on that buffoon than on most Death Eaters I've sent to Azkaban. Even if they are just smuggling and illegal breeding, their number is enough to warrant the kiss of Dementor. And after what has been happening in the country… I would've brought that guy in, Dumbledore or not."
"Poor Hagrid…" Suddenly all of them heard the deep voice, coming from Aragog, making them turn their head to him. "He could never tell whom he should trust and not. Though I am thankful to him for protecting my children and me, because only thanks to him we may now freely take what is ours."
"You don't sound all too sorrowful for your friend here, and your kind's time on this island is over." Harry said to Aragog, as he stepped forward, while Neriada had summoned roots to hold Aragog in place. "You and your mate have made a big mistake sending out your bastards out of here."
"Haha, do you really think that just killing me and Mosague will change the fate of your peoples on this island?" Aragog laughed at him. "Our children are many, and their offsprings have already spread all throughout these lands, and our colonies outside prosper. Soon enough, there shall be more of us than you could ever possibly handle. And we will all feast on your flesh and bones. Humans, centaurs, Dryads and all, all of them will be our meals. You may kill me and my wife, but in our will come ten thousand of our descendants. You have all lost, and all thanks to Hagrid…" The flash of green light lighted up the area behind them, as the gigantic body of a black spider hit the ground behind them all.
The giant body of Mosague burned to the crisp, as Regulus lowered his wand from her and turned to Harry.
"You said we needed one of them, right? And that thing was trying to get a drop on us." Regulus simply stated to him with Harry nodding to him. "Just get this over with, Harry." Asked of him in a tired tone of voice.
Harry turned himself to the bound giant spider, who stared down at the silver haired wizard. Without wasting another breath, Harry raised his wand towards Aragog and began to speak incantations in an ancient archaic form of Norse language. While most known to Europe spells could be spoken in the Latin, there were far, far more spells that were spelled out in different languages, all of which held power in them. And the linking charm that Henry was casting on Aragog was one of the most powerful of such kinds of spells, as it created a direct magical link between the progenitor of the line and everyone coming from that line. Everyone thought that it was the curse that Morgana had sent on Guinevere that was the symbol of her power, but in reality, it was the charm that she had casted.
After a long and powerful chant, the white wisp of light had exited Harry's wand and gone to Aragog, merging with it. Letting out a sigh of relief at seeing that the link had taken effect and root in the beast, he pointed his wand once more at the beast before speaking the words.
"Avada Kedavra." The green flash of light went directly to the spider and hit him, as his body fell down limp.
The very next moment, the group heard a great many of thumping noises, as the many dead husks of spiders have hit the ground. Everyone looked around and then at each other, before Neriada spoke up.
"The forest sees no living spiders, none of them…" Neriada spoke in somewhat of a shock, as she took in the breath of air. "Only their dead husks and nothing more, and I can already sense the forest beginning to heal from their blight, and I can sense that forests in my lands are also starting to heal... Sisters, Mother, they may now rest with Gaea in peace."
"And people speak of me being prone to overkill…" Skadhi spoke up in awe, as she looked at Henry with a smile. "Congratulations, Prince Le Fay. You have held your word to Crawley and to us all, and you've shown to be a no pushover or a pansy…" She stepped closer to Henry, before taking his arm in her own up to the elbow. "I, Skadhi, Queen of Jotanns of Britannia, pledge the absolute and complete allegiance of my people to House Le Fay, ruler and protector of my people. I and my people shall stand with you till the end of days."
"I, Henry Arthur Le Fay, do solemnly accept your pledge and swear upon the name and magic of my House to uphold it and for my descendants to uphold our word and oath made to you." The hands of Skadhi and Henry glowed in golden, as the pact was sealed and moot, with Skadhi smiling to him, as did Harry to her. "Thank you."
"No, thank you, milord." Skadhi spoken to him, before distancing herself from him. "I will put my efforts to make sure that the others know what you have done, my Prince. And I'll make sure that Crawley knows of it first. Oh, and wouldn't it be just nice if our resident vengeful princess of woods had upheld her word, now that Prince had upheld his." She said the last part to Neriada, who turned to them.
"The loyalty of my people may only be pledged by our Queen." Neriada simply stated to them, but she still stepped closer to Harry. "She is not long due for this world before joining in Gaea with her daughters and sisters, but she will know of your act. When the new Queen comes to her rights, she shall come to Albion's Hearth to see you, Prince Le Fay. Any more I may not say, but from myself… Thank you, milord." She bowed to him with respect.
"The Forest also thanks us, and has granted you and us all a passage out of her in magic. You may now come and go in here freely at your volition." Neriada stated to him and the others, before she turned her head towards the corpse of Hagrid. "I will not apologize for him, nor will the Queen, even if he was your friend. But at the very least, I can give him this." With a wave of her hand, the land taken the dismembered body of half-giant and taken it into itself.
"Let's… Let's just go home already." Nymphadora spoke up tiredly, with her parents and the others agreeing with her, and in the next second, the group apparated out of the place.
Evening. Albion's Hearth. Harry's personal study.
"You mean… She just up and tore him apart like a ragdoll?" Rose, who was now dressed in the robes of Le Fay House colors, said in shock as she listened to Harry tell her of Hagrid's fate. "Poor Hagrid… Why didn't you stop her? You could've easily have done so, and you knew that Hagrid's only sin is that he liked dangerous beasts a little too much."
"I know that, sis." Harry simply stated to her, as he took a sip of whiskey, being seated at the fireplace near his sister. "And I know I could've done so, but… There was something in her eyes, something that I've seen in my own a few times, when you were hurt. And when I saw it and I imagined being in her place… She may be a Dryad and different from us humans, but be I in her place and if you had suffered from those freaks… I'd have done the very same thing with Hagrid as Neriada."
"And let's not forget that your scarred charming friend have already told us that Hagrid would've had to face a Dementor for the amount of his crimes, not to mention being indirectly responsible for deaths of 4.267 humans over the past 30 years." Irene spoke up, as she read a book from her own chair, without even looking up. "I've also had swept up the areas where the colonies have been spotted and located. Only dead spiders of all sizes and ages in thousands. All collected and delivered to Goblins, as you have ordered, milord, along with those that were still collectable in the Forbidden Forest. However, I do wish to note that utilizing my talents in such way is a one particular way of demeaning me, in my personal humble opinion."
"Considering that I was unable to use you to wipe them out, I wasn't able to see the extent of your powers. You may see this as a way to showcase your immense and great power, Irene, and as a way to impress me." Harry simply stated to her, looking at the fire.
"If being a heavy lifter and running a delivery service to Goblins is all that it takes to impress you, milord, then I am very much worried for your House, and my future employers." Irene dryly stated. "Hopefully, Lady Tonks will be able to sort out and pick up truly impressive witches, and those that are loyal to you and not their families' greedy interests."
"Irene, do not fret. If you are looking for a way to prove your power, or simply to flaunt it around, then there is something that you may do." Harry stated to her, with Irene now looking up to him. "Regulus' hunch about the Gaunts' properties was the right one. They've lost practically everything in land department, safe for a small half ruined shack deep in the woods. I've taken a trip there yesterday to access if there was anything unusual. The place, along with the woods around it are warded better on a level of a magical fortress, and there are quite a number of powerful and dangerous curses placed there. In other words, Voldemort had made that place a literal magical death trap for any wizard to thread through."
"Why someone would ever place the wards and curses on such a level around an abandoned shack, if not to keep people away from something that is inside?" Rose asked a rhetorical question. "He would've warded it up so that not even Dumbledore was able to get inside."
"But where the world's allegedly strongest Wizard fails to walk, a Devil will come through without as much as broken nail." Irene smirked slightly, as she flipped the page. "Very well, milord. I'll make sure to visit the place and destroy any Horcrux that I may come upon. This should prove to be entertaining."
"Be sure to enjoy yourself, Irene, but do not destroy the Horcrux." Harry suddenly spoke up, with Rose and Irene looking at him with surprise. "Morgana's linking charm had sparked up an idea in my mind. We may be aware about that one Horcrux, but not if there are others, how many there are, and most importantly, where those Horcruxes are located."
"And the Horcrux houses a part of Voldemort's soul, so they are all connected through being parts of one soul." Rose simply stated. "Utilizing the greatest weapon of your enemy to destroy him… And my friends had wondered why you were placed in Slytherin instead of Gryffindor."
"The hat did consider putting me there, to be fair with you, but I refused and went to Slytherin." Harry chuckled, as he sipped whiskey. "Had I known back then that my Head of the House would be such an arsehole, and all because I've served to steel the object of his masturbation, I would've gone to Hufflepuff instead. Professor Pomona's always been the nicest person in that place, plus I always did like a late night snack." Harry chuckled some more, as he drank his whiskey.
"Speaking of the late night snacks, you mind telling me where did you get that little bottle of whiskey, if I know for certain that there are only wines in this castle?" Rose pointed at the bottle standing near Harry. "And speaking of the said bottle, since when did you get to drinking, hm?"
"Ted's early present on my birthday, so to speak." Harry answered. "Said that since I don't celebrate it anyway, he might as well give it to me early. Also, what's with the sudden questioning, sis? You are not our mother." Harry chuckled.
"And thank Morgana for that, or I would've slit my own throat if I were." Rose shook her head. "I am, however, your sister, and since our mother is a bitch, as you've stated numerous times, it automatically becomes my responcibility to look after your bottom. And considering your track record of getting into trouble, I'd say that is a must."
"I second that notion." Irene approved. "And I believe Lady Nymphadora would support as well."
"Do I smell treason, Irene?" Harry narrowed his eyes. "Planning on having my beloved little sister usurp my position?"
"Of course, milord." Irene admitted without missing a beat. "In my experience, House Le Fay had always prospered when it was run by women. Men, safe for a few, have been surprisingly dissapointing in their duties, both as Princes and husbands."
"Well, here is to me not falling in the eyes of public and our residential Devilish jury." Harry chuckled, before taking another sip of whiskey, enjoying his evening and life at the moment.
Not much to say for now, other than I'm not apologizing for Hagrid's death. Be sure to leave a comment, PM, suggestion or question, always enjoy those.
Next time: Wizengamot and House Le Fay strikes first.