A couple of hours passed. Between the Quidditch match, the ensuing accusations of cheating, and scouring the school for any more secret rooms hissing for me to come closer, every moment of my day had been busy. Abarrane comforted me the best she could when I visited her for dinner. She held me above the calm, blackened waves, and we watched the stars together. The waxing moon looked nearly full, with only a few days until it reached its peak. Abarrane's massive yellow eyes glowed beneath the surface as Val splashed in the waves with her. She happily tossed him through the water, much to his delight.
After almost an hour of relaxing, I began to doze. I took my wand and gently pressed it against the tendril coiled around my arm.
"Thank you for this. It was nice, but I think it's about time for me to sleep."
Val, already nestled inside my sleeve, had coiled up and was resting—tuckered out from Abarrane's playtime.
She squeezed me gently, pulsing around my body in a soft rhythm.
"on't *orry 'm sre *ou ndd so*e rest."
Her voice was still warbled and unclear, but the message was gentle and comforting.
She placed me at the water's edge, and we said our goodbyes before I turned back toward the castle. Walking up the stone steps, the flickering torchlight guided my path. I paused, catching movement in the corner of my eye. I glanced up at the torch—and jumped at the strange sight that greeted me.
Spiders.
A line of them, marching in single file from a narrow slit in the stone above the torch near the doorway.
They moved quickly and neatly, driven by some communal purpose. I followed their trail, but soon lost sight of them in the darkened grass at the base of the steps.
"Lumos."
A bright light flared from my wand. The spiders instantly scattered beneath its glare, so I raised the wand and dimmed the glow. They settled down slightly, though still tense. I decided to skip the frightened ones and followed the line to those that hadn't scattered.
I jogged into the field and, after some searching, found the trail again. Looking back, I saw that it formed nearly a straight line from where I first spotted them. Then I turned to see where they were headed—and my stomach dropped.
That place.
A place of pain. I gripped the vial weighted around my neck, the memories of her final moments rushing back. The trees loomed like pitch-black shadows, absorbing the moonlight. My curiosity burned, but did I really want to go back in there?
I stood frozen at the forest's edge, torn.
Salazar may have placed his secret chamber outside the grounds... It would make the most sense to hide something away from where you lied about...
The thought held water—and compelled me forward into the abyss.
I took a deep breath and stepped into the Forbidden Forest. I knew myself. I would go mad wondering if the spiders were leading to Salazar's Chamber.
If I find something strange, I'll just run right back out, I promised, keeping the light dim and low to the ground to avoid being seen from afar.
The twigs and leaves crunched underfoot—being fall, nearly winter, everything had dropped to the forest floor. The spiders easily navigated the rough terrain, skimming over the leaves I couldn't avoid. The deeper I went, the darker it became. The forest fell silent, leaving me surrounded by stillness and an eerie void of sound.
I stopped. My ears almost rang from the lack of noise.
A few leaves floated in midair. I poked one with my wand, watching it sway and spin—suspended by nearly invisible silk. I looked closer and saw more leaves hanging, and trees gradually losing their dark hues—turning pale further in. My instincts screamed.
Turn back.
My theory was enough. I didn't need to see more.
I turned around and began retracing my steps, following the spiders to stay in a straight line. But then came rustling—and chittering. I froze and pointed my wand toward the sound, but it was too far for the light to reach.
To stay calm, I pulled out a vial of Vitamix. If there was ever a time to use it, this was it.
I downed the contents. Heat surged through me, my face flushing, and my senses sharpening. The wandlight looked blinding now.
"Nox," I muttered, extinguishing it.
The chittering grew louder through my now heightened hearing. I moved quietly, leaping over exposed tree roots to avoid noise. As I crept around a larger trunk, I saw them.
Acromantulas.
The largest spiders I'd ever seen—easily four feet across. Man-eating spiders.
I knew it… I thought, biting my lip. Two faced one, all with front legs raised, hissing and chittering at each other.
The two circled the third. She moved sluggishly, her reactions slightly delayed, struggling to keep the others in sight.
Strange.
Was she weak? Injured? That would explain why they targeted her—cannibalism wasn't cruelty to them, just survival.
Still, the way she moved was off.
Then I saw her face—and my heart sank.
Her eyes were completely white.
Blind!?
I gasped, clutching my chest.
She tried desperately to keep her attackers in front of her, even as they moved around to flank her.
"Weak."
"Eat weak."
Their voices oozed venom.
"Not weak!" the blind one screamed back—her voice higher-pitched, but just as vicious.
They circled again. One crept behind her and lunged.
"AAAHHH!" she shrieked, trying to shake it off.
Flashes of the unicorn's final scream hit me like a brick. My grip tightened around my wand.
"Flipendo!"
The attacker flew back.
"Human!?" the other hissed. The blind one stood still, confused, unable to see.
"Flipendo!"
The second attacker hit a tree, breaking off a few legs. Nothing permanent—they'd grow back when it next molted. It screeched, and the first immediately began feeding on it.
Truly carnivorous creatures… I thought, repulsed despite knowing it was instinct.
The blind one faced my feet, though she couldn't see. I sighed, watching her. Her days were numbered here—and I didn't even know why I'd saved her. Maybe… in memory of the unicorn I couldn't help.
"You'll die if you stay at the colony," I said quietly.
"Die… because blind," she replied. The higher tone suggested she was female.
She crept closer. I raised my wand instinctively—but she gently tapped my shoe.
"Will you kill… because blind?"
I shook my head before realizing it was pointless.
"No, I won't kill you."
I took out a bottle of food, unscrewed the cap, and placed a large piece of fish—meant for Abarrane—on my shoe. She tapped it a few times before the scent reached her. She devoured it in one bite.
"Do you know why the spiders are leaving Hogwarts?" I asked, placing another piece on my foot.
She froze—then shivered.
"We… we don't speak name… Monster at Hogwarts. Scary! Too scary!"
I frowned, giving her another piece to calm her down. The truth sank in. There was a monster at Hogwarts—just like Salazar had planned. My theory about the chamber being in the forest crumbled.
And then that voice in the back of my mind returned.
What if it's you? What if you're the one controlling the monster?
I shoved it away and focused on the blind spider before me.
"Would you like to come with me?" I asked, capping the container.