Chapter 14

"Aragog," Harry replied back. "Long time no see. I've never expected to see you again."

"Huge spider…" Zak trembled in fear. "Suddenly, I miss Munya. At least I can control that spider dude."

"An acromantula… fascinating," Hermione murmured under her breath. "But the colony of acromantulas has been established in Scotland are just unconfirmed rumours…"

"Congratulations, Hermione," Harry murmured. "You've found them."

"Harry Potter," Aragog released clicking sounds from its pincers. "I've never tried your flesh before. I wonder how it tastes right now."

Harry gulped. "I'm totally sorry, Aragog. We don't have time to spare. We're busy."

"Oh really? Don't you want to stay and have dinner with us?"

"We really have to go, Ara... whatever your name is, Mr. Spider," Zak was backing away. But then he noticed someone missing. "Luna?"

Hermione shrieked. Luna was in front of the deadly spider, observing it. She wasn't afraid that the spider might kill her. "You had such fine hair, Mr. Aragog."

Aragog looked at its delicious meal. "You look nice too. Nice to be eaten!" It opened its jaw ready to swallow her but Hermione was quick enough to cast a spell.

"Freezio!" The spider was frozen in solid ice. Zak quickly dragged Luna back to them.

"Never do that again! You hear me?" Zak chided her. She just nodded happily.

"We should go, before Aragog defrosts itself," Hermione led the way out of the place. Everyone agreed without doubt, hoping their journey wouldn't be their last. Zak focused on sensing his siblings which no doubt led deeper into the perilous forest. Harry and Hermione stood as lookouts while Luna was just… being Luna. It took them quite some time until Zak came to a halt. He scanned the area for his siblings but they were no where to be found. He was sure that the trail ended here. But where could they be?

Please be okay, he thought.

"Anything?" Harry asked, still looking around in case Aragog or any other mutated creatures decided to follow them. Zak shook his head in despair.

"They should be here…"

Hermione walked towards a boulder and looked up when her intuition told her to. There was something among the eerie tree branches that swayed by the ominous night breeze. The place was being gloomy. She squinted harder and spotted something wriggled among the branches. She set a flickering light at the tip of her wand, pointing it at the tall branches above her. At once everything lit up with a weak but white light. The first thing she saw was a pair of eyes as huge as an owl's. She immediately recognized them as Fiskerton's. Beside the eyes was a long and thin stick… no, she squinted harder this time. It was a beak with tiny sharp teeth protruding from it. It was Zon with her mouth tied up to keep her silent. She hit the jackpot.

"Guys!" Zak craned his neck, yelling in happiness after Hermione told them her discovery. Harry praised her for her brilliantness.

Fiskerton made some muffled voices as he was gagged. Zon wriggled to have more space for her as both of them were tangled within a net that was only fit to capture a deer, which apparently doesn't fit for the two massive-sized creatures. They were hanging 20-feet above ground which was a difficult task for the gang to free them. None of them know how to fly or have a spear or anything appropriate to cut the net loose. Even Zak's Claw wouldn't have that much length to reach them.

Oh how much Zak wished he could fly.

Hermione majorly suggested using an attack spell that could cut through anything to free them. Harry just retorted with the fact that they might hurt Fisk or Zon in the process due to the gloominess and the altitude. Luna was just looking at the net, thinking of all sorts of weird ideas to cut it. Unaware to them, Zak was trying his best to climb a tree which was a few times thicker than a few Zaks combined. His Claw pulled himself up from tree branch to tree branch but it was still not enough. It would take a whole lot more of tree branches but he reached to a stop. There were no more tree branches in his way; even if there were, those fragile ones would snap after Zak stepped on it gently. Fisk and Zon were still dangling in mid-air, a few more feet above him.

He forced himself to think. Think!

"Ahh!" he heard a piercing scream from below. He gently twisted his head downwards, afraid of losing his balance. The place was still gloomy but he could make out 3 new figures that had joined his friends. Streams of blue light were released from his friends' wands, entangled within another wave of light from the enemies. None of them were winning, he thought, which meant his friends doesn't stand a chance either. The battle continued for a few minutes, enlightening the ominous place with lights. He wanted to help, but if his friends were caught and so was he, they would be dead meat for sure.

"Stupefy!" Harry sent a flash of blue light at one of the enemies, which succeeded in stupefying him. But Harry dodged a minute late at the guy's attack spell which cut a gash through his right arm. He pressed his wound to stop the blood but that was also when he got tossed away by a new force from the enemies. He was cushioned by the damp ground and thank god, he thought, but he wasn't able to stand anymore. Something had tangled across his legs and slowly proceeding to his chest, which then he realized was a snake that was made out of the vines nearby. It barred its fangs at him that dripped of disgusting goo that struck his mind as venom. His hands weren't able to move thanks to the snake and his wand was just inches away.

Hermione took a few moments to strike the snake's head with a spell of great precision just at the right time. This had opened a huge gap for the enemies that cast her away with a wind spell (which really surprises her of how did they did that). She was flung to a tree nearby, her head throbbing from the pain. Harry quickly freed himself from the vines, wanting to help Luna as she stood alone. Luna was fortunate to have dodged every single blow but she knew that that kind of luck won't last long. She dodged another deadly blow from one enemy and ducked just in time from another blow. She was so busy dodging at the same time, she hadn't had a chance to counterattack.

"Defense won't do much for you," said a girl from the opposite. The guy beside her cackled as he was preparing for a new spell. To make things worse, the man that Harry had stupefied overcame the paralyzing and was rising slowly.

Oh no, thought Zak. He had to free Fisk and Zon fast or else they won't stand a chance. He tiptoed his feet to add to his height and flung his Claw at the net. He nearly succeeded until Harry yelled, "Look out Zak!". He stared in horror as a flash of light headed towards him in great speed, reducing his chance from dodging.

"Zak!"

Sorry guys that this chapter took ages. I got slight complications…

After this chapter, I' maybe able to write another 2 more before I have to deal with year-end exams which is important to decide my grade and my chance of going on a trip. So… the ending of this story will be postponed till the end of October.

Oh god. Don't be mad, okay? I'll finish it ASAP. I promise.

Please review and thanks for reading~~