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Marble staircase, Hogwarts, 8th May 1993 (Saturday)

Despite the many attempts, Professor Flitwick was unable to convince the Piskeys to return to Hogwarts for a session at the Fae Studies club.

They had even tried to reach out through Professor Lockhart, but the fae had still refused, citing how Hogwarts was 'way too Banal for their liking' and had no intention of ever visiting the castle again. Saddened at the lost opportunity, the professor had opted to leave them be and resume the study from the ancient texts.

Harry's group has started to think about their future and the various electives they were going to select for their third year: everyone was going to take Muggle Studying for one year, cashing in the guaranteed passing grade they all were sure to get from the various product testing for Harry's shop the previous year. Hermione was considering continuing it all the way to her seventh year and Ron was halfway tempted to do the same, but he ultimately decided to leave that particular decision for next year. Harry, Ron, Theo and Hermione were going to take Care of Magical Creatures, even though only Ron was aiming at the Magizoology N.E.W.T.; Sally, Daphne and Hermione picked Arithmancy; Sally, Ron and Hermione picked Divination; Harry, Daphne, Theo and Hermione picked Ancient Runes; Harry and Hermione picked Ancient Studies and lastly, Theo went for Biology and Music. When everyone looked at Theo in disbelief at his last elective, the boy had explained how he used to sing in a choir with his mother when he was little and, with his mother now on her deathbed, he wanted to keep that part of her alive, even if he wasn't going to make a career out of it. After all, Biology was a prerequisite for Healing magic, and that subject was considered by many the hardest elective in the entire curriculum: Theo was sure that subject alone would take up the bulk majority of his last three years.

Their somewhat scattered research on the Chamber of Secrets, Slytherin's monster and Harry's mysterious egg had all but grind to a halt. They discovered a couple of secret passages and a couple of secret rooms, but considering how they were barely large enough to be a broom closet, it was obvious that they weren't the Chamber of Secrets. They had learned that the murdered student fifty years ago was a muggleborn Ravenclaw named Elizabeth Warren, but that was the extent of what they could find out about her. Without another lead, the six of them were essentially stumbling in the dark, hoping to find something in the various books they read, but they were convinced that at that point, any discovery they made would have been by accident and through sheer, dumb luck.

It was the day of the final Quidditch match, Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff, when Harry heard that mysterious voice again.

"Kill this time ... let me rip ... tear …"

"The voice! - shouted Harry, looking over his shoulder and causing his friends to jump. - I just heard it again… didn't you?'

Hermione clapped a hand to her forehead and sprinted away, up the stairs.

The Slytherin group looked at each other, wondering what had made Hermione rush in forward. They were all going upstairs to the library, after all, and there was nothing that would justify Hermione needing to get there a few minutes before everyone else. They were about to go after her when the stairs decided that students standing still meant it was time to change conformation. After a two-floor long detour that took them almost half an hour, the group was finally approaching the library where they saw a pale-faced Professor McGonagall running towards them.

"All students are to make their way back to the house common rooms, where their Heads of Houses will give them further information. As quickly as you can, please! - she declared towards the many students that, like them, were headed towards the library. - 'Potter, Nott, Greengrass, Perks, WeasIey… I think you'd better come with me."

Wondering what exactly was going on, the five followed the professor, moving past grumbling students. They followed Professor McGonagall back down the marble staircase, toward the fourth floor.

"This will be a bit of a shock. - said Professor McGonagall in a surprisingly gentle voice as they approached the hospital wing. - There has been another attack ... a double attack."

Professor McGonagall pushed the door open and they entered. Professor Pomfrey was bending over a sixth-year girl with long curly hair. And on the bed next to her was…

"Hermione!" Ron groaned.

Hermione lay utterly still, her eyes open and glassy, completely petrified.

"They were found near the library."

"We were together only a few minutes ago…" muttered Sally.

"I will escort you back to your common room. - said Professor McGonagall heavily. - I need to address the students in any case."

"Wait… why don't you give her a Mandrake Restorative draft?" asked Daphne.

"That is the problem… someone sabotaged the draft. All our stored potions were destroyed and the mandrakes… someone burned them all."

Slytherin common room, Hogwarts, 8th May 1993 (Saturday)

"All students will return to their house common rooms by six o'clock in the evening. No student is to leave the dormitories after that time. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No student is to use the bathroom unaccompanied by a teacher. All further Quidditch training and matches are to be postponed. There will be no more evening activities."

The students packed inside the common room listened to Professor Snape in silence. He rolled up the parchment.

"I need hardly add that if anyone knows anything and wishes to come forward, be it with a hint or an admission of guilt, this would be the moment to do it."

No one uttered a word.

"It is likely that the school will be closed unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught. If anyone wishes to share anything in private… - he slowly panned his glare over the students, hesitating just a second on Draco - you know where my room is."

He pointed at the small corridor that connected the Slytherin common room to Professor Snape's personal chamber, before turning around and walking away.

"What're we going to do? - said Theo quietly in Harry's ear. - Shouldn't we go to Hagrid?"

"You think we should talk to him?" said Harry, still uncertain.

"We don't have any other leads. If he was the scapegoat last time, he must know something." pointed out Daphne.

"So… how do we sneak out?" asked Sally.

"I think - said Harry - it's time to get my dad's old cloak out again."

Theo and Harry went to bed at the usual time, waited until Blaise had closed his book and finally went to sleep, got up, dressed again in complete silence, and threw the invisibility cloak over themselves. They met Sally and Daphne waiting for them in the darkest corner of the common room and the four of them headed out. The journey through the dark and deserted castle corridors wasn't easy due to the lack of light and the sheer amounts of patrols. Teachers, Prefects and ghosts were marching the corridors in pairs, staring around for any unusual activity. Harry's invisibility cloak didn't stop them making any noise, and often the four of them had to stop, pushing themselves against the wall to await for the patrol to pass them by. It was a clear, starry night. They hurried towards the lighted windows of Hagrid's house, and pulled off the Cloak only when they were right outside his front door. Seconds after they had knocked, Hagrid flung it open, aiming a crossbow at them while Fang barked loudly behind him.

"Oh - he said, lowering the weapon and staring at them. - What're you doin' here?"

"What's that for?" asked Theo, pointing at the crossbow.

"Nothin' ... nothin' - Hagrid muttered. - I've bin expectin' … doesn' matter ... Sit down ... I'll make tea …"

He hardly seemed to know what he was doing. He nearly extinguished the fire, spilling water from the kettle on it, and then smashed the teapot with a nervous jerk of his massive hand.

"Are you OK, Hagrid? - asked Harry. - Did you hear about Hermione?"

"Oh, I heard, all righ'." said Hagrid, glancing nervously at the windows. He poured them

large mugs of boiling water, forgetting to add tea bags, and was just putting a slab of fruitcake on a plate, when there was a loud knock on the door.

Hagrid dropped the fruitcake. The Slytherin group exchanged panicstricken looks, then threw the Invisibility Cloak back over themselves and retreated into a corner. Hagrid checked that they were hidden, seized his crossbow and flung open his door once more.

"Good evening, Hagrid."

Dumbledore entered, followed by a second, very odd-looking man. The stranger was a short, portly man with rumpled gray hair and an anxious expression.

"Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic!" quietly whispered Theo, knowing Harry wouldn't have recognized the man.

Hagrid had gone pale and sweaty.

"Bad business, Hagrid. - said Fudge, in rather clipped tones. - Very bad business. Had to come. Four attacks on Muggle-borns. Things've gone far enough. Ministry's got to act."

"I never - said Hagrid, looking imploringly at Dumbledore - you know I never, Professor Dumbledore, sir …"

"I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence." said Dumbledore, frowning at Fudge.

"Look, Albus. - said Fudge, uncomfortably. - We know he's innocent, but… the people are concerned and we have to do something! Hagrid's record's against him. Ministry's got to do something… the school governors have been in touch."

"Yet again, Cornelius, I tell you that taking Hagrid away will not help in the slightest." said Dumbledore.

"Look at it from my point of view. - said Fudge. - I'm under a lot of pressure. Got to be seen to be doing something. If it turns out it wasn't Hagrid, he'll be back and no more said. But I've got to send him out. Got to. Wouldn't be doing my duty…"

"Send me? - said Hagrid, who was trembling, panic clearly evident in his voice. - Send me… where?"

"For a short stretch only. - said Fudge, not meeting Hagrid's eyes. - "Not a punishment, Hagrid, more a precaution. If someone else is caught, you'll be let back with a full apology …"

"Not Azkaban?" croaked Hagrid.

Before Fudge could answer, there was another loud rap on the door. Dumbledore answered it. Mr Lucius Malfoy strode into Hagrid's hut, swathed in a long black traveling cloak, smiling a cold and satisfied smile.

"Already here, Fudge. - he said approvingly. - Good, good …"

"What're you doin' here? Get outta my house!"

"My dear man, please believe me, I have no pleasure at all in being inside your… you call this a house? - said Lucius, sneering. - I simply asked at the school and was told that the Headmaster was here."

"And what exactly did you want with me, Lucius?"

"Dreadful thing, Dumbledore. - said Mr Malfoy lazily, taking out a long roll of parchment. - but the governors feel it's time for you to step aside. This is an Order of Suspension, you'll find all twelve signatures on it. I'm afraid we feel you're losing your touch. How many attacks have there been now? Two more this afternoon, wasn't it? At this rate, there'll be no Muggle-borns left at Hogwarts, and we all know what an awful loss that would be to the school."

"Now look, Lucius, if Dumbledore can't stop them… - said Fudge, whose upper lip was sweating now. - I mean to say, who can?"

"That remains to be seen. But as all twelve of us have voted …"

"An' how many did yeh have ter threaten an' blackmail before they agreed, Malfoy, eh?" roared Hagrid.

"Dear, dear, you know, that temper of yours will lead you into trouble one of these days, Hagrid. I would advise you not to shout at Azkaban's guards like that. They won't like

it at all."

"Now, now Lucius… there's no reason to go to that extreme. We know Hagrid's innocent. We can't send an innocent to Azkaban."

"You won't?" asked Lucius, his tone clearly disappointed by the minister's response.

"We just need him somewhere safe. Ministry's cells aren't exactly a place for tourists, but it's certainly better than Azkaban!"

Lucious frowned, while Hagrid took a sigh of relief.

"I suppose that would do… I suppose Dumbledore can keep him company?"

Hagrid jolted to his feet, ready to attack, but halted as Dumbledore raised his hand to stop him.

"Calm yourself, Hagrid." said Dumbledore sharply. He looked at Lucius Malfoy.

"It will be my pleasure to visit Hagrid whenever the ministry allows for visitations. At the same time, if the governors want my removal, Lucius, I shall of course step aside."

"But…"

"No!"

"However. - said Dumbledore, speaking very slowly and clearly. - you will find that I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."

For a second, Harry was almost sure Dumbledore's eyes flickered towards the corner where they hid.

"Admirable sentiments. We shall all miss your… highly individual way of running things, Albus, and only hope that your successor will manage to prevent any… ah…'killin's'."

He strode to the cabin door, opened it and everyone out. Hagrid stood his ground, took a deep breath and said carefully.

"If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they'd have ter do would be ter follow the spiders. That'd lead 'em right! That's all I'm sayin'."

Fudge stared at him in confusion.

"An' someone'll need ter feed Fang while I'm away."

The door banged shut and the four pulled the invisibility cloak off.

"We're in trouble now. - Daphne said hoarsely. - No Dumbledore, the best the minister can do is damage control and Malfoy's making a power play. They might as well close the school tonight. There'll be an attack a day with all the infighting that's sure to come."

Wausau, Wisconsin, 12th May 1993 (Wednesday)

Tonks slammed the book close and tossed it to the side. She had spent the last six months trying to understand how to read those damn DNA tests. When she first met Dr. Eatherly she had asked him what was a ph level… Merlin's beard, she must have looked like an idiot. To be perfectly honest, at the time she was an idiot. But after spending six months at Megalodon, she was finally starting to understand what they were even doing here. Apparently, DNA were some sort of instructions that contained every single detail about the person, from eye color, to height, to sex… all the way to the smallest of details, and that included hereditary traits like blood curses. The only problem was, everything was written in code and no one had found the key to read it yet, so they were mostly going by assumptions. Many 'Hey, a lot of the people that have this disease have the same three letters in this particular spot, so it's probably what causes the disease' kind of thing. It was tedious. It wasn't what she wanted when she entered Auror training, but it was a job she had been assigned by Mr. Greengrass himself, so it had to be important. When she had seen the sheer size of the building, she knew that the job was important, but she had never guessed it could be so complicated. At first she thought they had stuffed her in a room with a mountain of paperwork with nothing but gibberish to keep her distracted, but after spending an entire week following Dr. Eatherly under a Notice-me-not Charm (which, for some reason, had given her severe bouts of nausea the whole time), she had come to realize that the scientist working here could actually read that gibberish.

And that meant that, in order to properly investigate Megalodon, she had to learn how to read it as well.

And now, after six months of studying, she was able to understand more or less what they were talking about. She still had no way to understand whether they were lying about something, but at the very least she knew how to tell the difference between a urine sample from a blood sample just by looking at the types of tests they were running.

She slammed her head against the desk, sighing deeply.

"What did I do to deserve this?"

Forbidden Forest, Hogwarts, 24th May 1993 (Monday)

As Daphne had predicted, the attacks had increased.

Two more petrifications the next week and one more, Professor Vector, only yesterday. The new headmaster hadn't been picked and the school board was panicking.

When they told Ron about Hagrid's enigmatic suggestion, the redhead had gone pale and all but shouted that he wasn't going in there again. It took two days to coerce the information about the spiders out of the boy: during his first year, after being caught snooping around the forbidden corridor, Ron had been sent to the forbidden forest with Hagrid for detention. Amongst the centaurs, hippogriffs, mooncalves and dugbogs, they had also visited a colony of giant talking spiders.

A colony that the redhead was now guiding the rest of his friends towards, after they hall snuck out of the castle under the cover of Harry's invisibility cloak.

"Lumos!" they all muttered, their wands illuminating the surroundings woods.

They followed an increasingly uneasy Ron, not speaking, listening hard for noises other than breaking twigs and rustling leaves.

They followed the trail into the trees, over the roots and stumps. More than once, they had to stop, so that Ron could remember the correct path or backtrack when he realized he had made a wrong turn. After a while, they noticed that the ground seemed to be sloping downwards, though the trees were as thick as ever. Then Sally's wand suddenly darted toward their right, exploding in a flash of green light.

"Verdimillious!"

"What?" said Ron loudly, looking around into the pitch dark, and gripping Harry's elbow very hard.

"There's something moving over there."

Some distance to their right, something big was snapping branches as it carved a path through the trees towards tem.

"Oh no - started whimpering Ron. - Oh no, oh no, oh…"

The darkness seemed to be pressing on them as they stood, terrified, waiting. There was a strange rumbling noise and then silence.

"What d'you think it's doing?"

"Probably getting ready to pounce." said Daphne, her wands extended and an incantation on the tip of her lips.

They waited, shivering, hardly daring to move. Ron didn't speak, nor did he move. His eyes were fixed on a point some ten feet above the forest floor, his face was white with terror. There was a loud clicking noise and suddenly Harry saw a figure marching on six immensely long, hairy legs, the front two just below a pair of shining black pincers the size of his forearm. Behind it, he could hear other creatures moving into the very heart of the forest. Theo could hear his own heart fighting to free himself from his chest, his instincts shouting him to run away as far as he could. Sally and Daphne huddled themselves together, shaking wands pointing at the enormous figures stepping out of the shadows, surrounding them.

Spiders.

Spiders the size of cars. The massive specimen that was standing in front of them took a heavy step into their wand light, while its fellows closed in all around the wizards, clicking their pincers excitedly.

Harry suddenly realized that the spiders were saying something, the sound distorted by the clicking of its mandibles.

"Aragog! - they called. - Aragog!"

And from the trees above, silky threads lowering it from a misty domed web, a spider the size of an elephant lowered itself into the light. Its massive black body and legs were dotted with streaks of silver, and each of the eyes on his ugly, pincered head was milky white. He was blind.

"What is it? Is it Hagrid?" said Aragog, moving closer, his eight milky eyes wandering vaguely.

"Strangers." clicked the spider standing above Ron.

"Kill them - clicked Aragog fretfully, now finally reaching the ground. - I was sleeping …"

"We're friends of Hagrid's." Harry shouted. His heart seemed to have left his chest to pound in his throat.

Aragog paused. It turned towards Harry, as if studying it

"This one is… different. - Aragog said slowly. - Can you not feel it? That one carries something. Under his skin. In his flesh."

Many clicks and hisses spread around the spiders. Before Harry could react, one of their giant legs darted forward, striking him across the face and forcing him to the ground.

"Harry!" shouted Theo, rushing to his friend's side, only for a ball of a sticky substance to hit his leg, rooting him to the ground.

Harry turned his head, just in time to see the spider dragging its own leg closer to its mouth, letting a small drop of blood fall in between his fangs. Harry got up, ignoring the burning sensation on his cheek where the spider had left a bloodied wound.

"Father! What does that mean?" almost shouted the spiders, looking at Aragog.

"It means that the boy isn't as he seems."

The giant spider leaned forward, his giant frame contorting, shifting and collapsing on itself until in front of Harry stood an decrepit old man that seemed to have come straight out of an old Kung-Fu flick. He was wearing tattered rags, with a long, flowy white beard that almost reached the floor. His back was arched in a massive hump, forcing Aragog to lean onto a knotted branch he used as a walking stick.

"I am pleased to meet you, young one. I am Aragog, Anomia of the Children of Nareau clan. Like you, young boy, we serve the Wyrm."

Notes

Hermione's petrified! The Heir strikes again, this time against the anti-petrification measures, which brings us back roughly in line with canon. Hermione will be missing out on the final chapter(s) of the second book.

Hagrid and Dumbledore are removed, but Hagrid isn't taken to Azkaban because that feels a tad too much tbh. You don't take people to Alcatraz prison during an investigation, what if you need to interrogate them? Effectively this changes nothing, but I think it's a bit more of a humane treatment. Doesn't change the fact that it's a stupid decision that doesn't solve anything, but it's Fudge we're talking about, so...

Tonks has been studying! Nothing massive, but it's important to plant the seed for future scenes.

Speaking of planting seeds, Ron had visited Aragog in the past, hence why he could guide everyone there even without following the spiders (which, let's be honest, following spiders on forest ground with a flashlight isn't an easy task...)

Aragog is an Ananasi! I bet the most ardent WtA fan already expected it, but now you got confirmation. Hope you're excited for next week's chapter and... sorry for the cliffhanger