"The spider's web? I know where that is."

Harry leads the way, Aline following. He hasn't spoken a single word nor looked at her since she's returned in her wolf form. Is he scared of her?

If he is, he's doing a decent job at hiding it. Unfortunately for him, fear has a scent that werewolves can smell.

"How do you know?" She inquires.

"Back in my second year, we followed the spiders out to the Forest and found their lair. They're giant alright, Acromantulas. If that's where Gabrielle is, we better move on."

"Spiders eat kids?"

"Not really, but they might play with them. Aragog is not too helpful. Ever been chased by a hundred spiders?"

"Not but I've been tangled up in a few traps," Aline remembers.

They step through thick brambles and patches of moss. Then Harry's shoes get caught and he's about to trip over. Aline's senses pick it up instantly and she dives over to catch him by the scruff of his jacket.

"Whoa," he breathes, steadying himself. "Thanks. That was...fast...'

"Wolf senses," Aline mumbles. Really? Wolf senses? That's the best she has? What was I thinking, she grumbles, red with embarassment and pinching herself. Harry cracks a gentle smile in the corner of his mouth.

They come to a darker and deeper part of the wood covered in cobwebs.

"They're here," Harry says, on high alert, "but we need to be quick."

He cups his hands to his lips and yells, "Aragog!"

It takes some time but Aline feels the earth rumbling before she sees a gigantic Acromantula creeping out of the shrubbery. Its eyes focus in on them, two specks of kids before him. The hairs on his legs tingle.

Aline's never been fond of spiders.

"Hagrid's friend!" Aragog says a tad too excitedly. He glares at Harry but then his gaze shifts to her, and she swears she can see his expression darken (if that's even possible for a giant spider). "And the traitor..." his voice trails out.

"She's with me. She's my friend. Hagrid's friend too," Harry says straight. "Right now, we really need your help."

"I help Hagrid only. Not his friends," Aragog says.

"There are two little girls in trouble. And one of them is hidden here. So we were told."

"Here?" Aragog says. "I cannot deny my brothers and sisters fresh meat. If the girl has been taken by them, there is not much left of her."

"-Please!" Aline cries. "She's just a girl and she's a little sister of our friend. We need to find her! It's not her fault."

"The spiders do not like the wolves," Aragog states.

"Aragog you let your brothers and sisters attack Ron and I two years ago and did nothing to stop them. Let us go in one more time," Harry pleads.

"Very well," Aragog says, "But I cannot promise your little friend is still with us."

"I'll be the judge of that," Aline huffs under her breath. Greyback had been right when he said to never trust the spiders. "Come on Harry," she mumbles, edging him on with her head.

"Okay. Thank you."

Aragog nods his head. His eyes never leave them as they walk deeper into the spider lair.

"What a eight legged jerk," Aline says. Here Harry bursts into a full fledged laugh. "What? He is!"

"I don't think I've ever heard you swear before," Harry says laughing.

"I mean, doesn't he have a heart? Who gives innocent kids as bait to a bunch of hungry spiders? Besides, I could have literally bitten him for all he knew and he would have had one leg less..."

"I'll have to tell you the story of the time Ron and I got rescued by Mr Weasley's Ford Anglia."

"A car?"

"A flying one at that. Flew it to Hogwarts in our second year too."

"You'll definately have to share that one. And many more," Aline said smiling as the pair continued through the pit of webs and the eerie smell of spider dust. "I wish I had taken something of Gabrielle's to smell. Why didn't I think of it?!"

"I don't think you need to. There!" Harry ponted to what looked like a giant lump dangling off a particularily large tree.

"Gabrielle!" Aline all but cried.

"I've got it." Harry takes out his wand. "Ready? Stand underneath her. Liberacorpus." Aline watches as Gabrielle's body falls from the tree, jumps and softens her fall. She's sore, but she's satisfied.

The two get down in front of the cocoon, each unwrapping the threads from her body: Aline with her claws and Harry with the sharp end of a stone. Gabrielle's limp face and body is revealed and she suddenly gasps for air, coughing and breathing heavy.

"Oh thank gosh!" Aline cries. "You're okay."

"-Wolves. S-spiders...I-"

"We know. Save your breath," Harry says.

"That was easy. With you around, it took us much less time than I thought," Aline says.

"We make a pretty good team," Harry says, nodding.

"S-spiders."

"Yes we know."

"L-look. Spiders." Gabrielle lifts one finger. They follow her gaze and their blood runs still in their veins. Dozens-no hundreds of spiders creep out of the shadows and are rapidly making their way towards them.

Aline cries, "Quick, put her on my back."

"What?"

"DO IT."

Harry hoists Gabrielle up until her arms are wrapped around Aline's wolf neck and scruff. She's carried Ellie on her back before, and Gabrielle is not much heavier.

"Hurry! Run!"

Harry's still holding his wand. He cries, "Incendio!" and a large ring of fire bursts around them. Spiders flee left and right. It's then when they hit the ground running.

They barely have a few seconds of a headstart when a new wave of spiders emerges towards them.

"Confundus!" Harry cries and the spiders begins scattering around and falling.

Aline isn't sure about it, but the moment they reach a clearer part of the lair and the moonlight hits her fur, she gets a giant burst of energy. "Harry. Get on my back!"

She stops for a half-second, letting Harry climb on, before bounding forwards out of the lair. The mooon gives her a strength she has never felt before. Her eyes glow, and she feels more alive than she's ever been in her life. It's exhilerating and frightening and powerful.

They run until she can't anymore and crashes on the soft floor. Eyes rolling back, she pants heavily, relishing in the cool dew on the moss beneath her. She's thirsty and her mouth is dry.

"Water."

Harry waves his hand and puts his cupped palm over her mouth, dripping in the water. Aline drinks about five handfuls before she's satisfied.

"Gabrielle."

The girl is beside her now too, hugging her. "Merci. Thank you, you have saved my life. Both of you," she mumbles softly, and hugs Harry as well.

"We need to find Ellie as well."

"Where the horse and man come together," Harry mumbles. "What is that?"

"I know. There is a story of the centuar..."

"Gabrielle you're a genius! Of course!" Harry cries. "It's got to be the centaurs!"

"But where do we find them."

"That, I think I know. I also know that they're not as bad as the spiders," Harry grins.