Chapter: 13 The Shadows of the Forbidden Forest
The castle's grand clock struck eight, its chime reverberating ominously through the stone corridors as Harry, Daphne, and Malfoy gathered at the main entrance. A cold wind swept through the castle's massive doors, biting at their robes. Malfoy shifted uncomfortably, crossing his arms as if that would shield him from the chill—or the company.
"I don't see why I have to be here," Malfoy muttered, his usual sneer laced with unease.
Harry ignored him, exchanging a glance with Daphne. Her expression was calm, her sharp gaze fixed ahead, but Harry could sense her tension.
Before long, Filch appeared, a lantern swinging in his bony hand. He sneered at the three students, clearly relishing the situation. "Detention in the forest," he rasped. "Let's see how brave you lot really are."
The group arrived at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where Hagrid waited, his towering figure illuminated by his own lantern. The crossbow slung over his shoulder was an unusual sight, and it only added to the unease creeping over them.
"All right," Hagrid said, his tone grave. "We're goin' on patrol tonight. The creatures've been actin' strange, like somethin's stirred 'em up. Stay close, and don' wander off."
Malfoy's face turned pale. "The creatures?" he repeated weakly.
Daphne's brow furrowed. "If the forest is this dangerous, why bring us along?"
"This'll teach you some respect for the rules." Filch growled at the group.
"Don' worry, I'll keep yeh safe," Hagrid said, though his usual warmth was absent.
Harry didn't feel reassured, but he followed as the group ventured into the dark, shadowed forest.
The forest air felt oppressive and smelled rancid but was alive with sound: rustling leaves, distant howls, and the eerie chittering of unseen creatures. Malfoy stuck close to Hagrid, while Harry and Daphne walked side by side, their wands out and ready.
After nearly twenty minutes of walking, Hagrid stopped abruptly. Ahead, a faint, pulsating glow emanated from an object lying on the forest floor.
"Stay back," Hagrid ordered, his voice uncharacteristically firm. He approached the object cautiously, his crossbow raised.
"What is it?" Daphne whispered, her tone low.
"I don't know," Harry replied, unease creeping into his voice.
As Hagrid reached out to touch the object, a shockwave of black magic exploded outward. Hagrid was flung backward into a tree, collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud.
"Hagrid!" Harry shouted, rushing toward him, but Daphne grabbed his arm.
The forest suddenly erupted with movement. From the shadows emerged spiders—massive, glistening, and innumerable.
Malfoy screamed.
The spiders attacked without hesitation. Harry stunned one with a well-placed Stupefy while Daphne sent another skittering away with Impedimenta.
"Do something, Malfoy!" Harry shouted, but Malfoy was already backing away, his wand trembling in his hand.
"Not happening!" Malfoy yelled, but his retreat was cut short as a spider lunged at him, knocking him to the ground. He screamed, flailing as its legs pinned him down.
Harry didn't hesitate, running to help. "Expulso!" The spell struck the spider, blasting it away from Malfoy.
As Harry moved to help him up, Malfoy shoved him hard, sending him sprawling to the ground. "Every Wizard for himself, Potter!" he spat before bolting into the trees.
Harry barely had time to react as two more spiders lunged at him. He rolled to his feet, sending a Diffindo at one, which sliced through its legs. The second reared up, its fangs glinting, but Harry's Reducto hit it right in the abdomen, splattering its blood everywhere and sent it crashing into a nearby tree.
He stood there, breathing hard, when a sharp pang of fear coursed through him—except it wasn't his own.
Daphne!
His head snapped in her direction. She was cornered, her back against a tree, as spiders closed in around her. Her wand flickered, her spells weakening.
A surge of desperation and anger rose within him. Without thinking, Harry ran toward her. Sending every spell he could think of at the spiders, desperately trying to get to her.
He had almost reached Daphne as a spider lunged, fangs beared dripping with venom. Raising his wand, Harry didn't speak an incantation. He couldn't, his emotions taking over—the fear for Daphne, the fury at the spiders, the raw, unrelenting will to protect her.
Magic erupted from him, wild and unrestrained. A torrent of silver white fire surged outward, engulfing the spiders. The flames exploded out, devouring the spiders and setting the surrounding trees a blaze. The fire collapsed back to a single point around Harry before exploding one final time in a deafening BOOM sending a shock wave that shattered the trees and sending them flying all around.
When the light faded, Harry staggered. The forest was silent, save for the crackling of burnt wood. Harry stood staring at the forest the devastation was absolute.
Harry turned to Daphne, his vision blurring. Relief washed over him as he saw she was safe. "Are you okay Daph-" his strength gave out, and he collapsed.
"Harry!"
Daphne dropped to her knees trying to catch him as he fell. She fell to the ground unable to support both their weight, shaking him frantically. "Wake up, Harry! Please!"
He didn't respond, his skin was pale, breathing was ragid and shallow his robes covered in spider fluids. She threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. Tears streamed down her face, soaking into his robes.
"Don't leave," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Come back to me, Harry. You can't leave me…"
Her heart felt as though it had been torn in two. She didn't know how long she lay there clutching Harry, it felt like eternity.
The sound of footsteps broke through her despair. A light appeared in the distance, growing brighter as Professors Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall emerged, Malfoy trailing behind them.
"What in Merlin's name…Albus what is this?" McGonagall murmured, her eyes wide as she took in the scene. One hundred spiders lay crushed and scorched, all the trees in a fifty yard circle were severed cleanly at the ground and burning.
Dumbledore knelt beside Harry, his expression grave. "This magic…" he whispered. "Ive never see before."
Snape's sharp gaze scanned the area before settling on the glowing object, now cracked and smoking. He approached it cautiously. "Headmaster," he called, his voice clipped. "You should see this."
Dumbledore rose, joining Snape. The object was completely destroyed, its surface blackened and fractured.
"What is it?" Snape asked, his voice hushed.
"I don't know," Dumbledore admitted, his tone uncharacteristically uncertain.
McGonagall' called loudly to Dumbledor . "Albus! We need to get them to the hospital wing at once. Who knows what damage there may be to Mr. Potter and the Hagrid! You give that bloody thing to Severus and get over here and help me!"
Dumbledore nodded, quickly conjuring stretchers for Harry and Hagrid. Daphne refused to let go of Harry's hand, even as they began to move him.
"I won't let anything happen to you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
As the group made their way back to the castle, the Forbidden Forest stood silent behind them, its shadows deeper and more foreboding than ever. Something dark had been released into the forest, a shadow with red eyes.