Those Who Offend My Forbidden Forest Shall Be Punished

For the next week, Horatio's life became exceptionally regular. He slept through classes during the day, and after dinner, he'd spend two hours in detention with Snape. After detention, he'd take the Basilisk to the Forbidden Forest to hunt Acromantulas.

Deep within the Forbidden Forest, a ghastly green light struck an escaping Acromantula. Horatio walked up to the Acromantula with his lantern, first collecting its soul into the lantern, then extracting venom from its mouthparts, and finally storing its corpse in his bag.

The Symbiote Basilisk swam to Horatio's side and conveyed a message to him.

"What did you say? A giant brought nine little wizards into the Forbidden Forest," Horatio exclaimed in surprise. "Take me to see them. Damn it! Those who trespass in my Forbidden Forest will be struck down and broken!"

Horatio followed the Basilisk towards the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

The perspective shifted to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where Hagrid was leading two Gryffindor team members, Ronnie and Neville, along a small path at the forest's edge.

"Stay close. Professor McGonagall has punished you by making you investigate the Acromantula unrest in the Forbidden Forest with me. The Forbidden Forest is no joke; one wrong step and you could get hurt or even die," Hagrid said, walking ahead with his lantern.

Fred and George comforted a trembling Harry, Ronnie, and Neville. "Don't worry, we come to the Forbidden Forest often. There's no danger."

Hagrid turned and glared at them. "Stop your ignorance. We're heading into the Acromantula territory today, deep in the Forbidden Forest."

Neville nervously said to Harry, "My grandmother told me the depths of the Forbidden Forest are full of werewolves and vampires."

Harry got goosebumps all over. Ever since he'd arrived, he'd felt like he was being watched. Now, hearing Neville's words, he felt a chill run down his spine.

They walked along the path, through the bushes, heading deeper into the Forbidden Forest.

They reached the edge of a wide clearing. The ground, covered in fallen leaves, was teeming with spiders. Ronnie, terrified, threw herself into Harry's arms, her ample bosom rubbing against his chest. Harry couldn't quite describe his feelings—was it fear? Nervousness? Shyness? Or perhaps happiness?

As they looked up, the trees in the clearing had been cleared. Illuminated by Hagrid's lantern and the moonlight, they saw the most terrifying sight of their lives.

Spiders as large as small cars scurried through the clearing. They were pitch black, with eight eyes and eight legs covered in thick fur, and a pair of giant black pincers on their heads.

All the young wizards present nearly fell to the ground in fright. Ronnie screamed, clutching Harry's neck tightly. The immense pressure almost suffocated Harry.

Neville, pale with fear, hid behind Fred. Fred, also tense, stared ahead, his right hand gripping his wand and his left resting on his Bag of Holding.

"Is that you, Hagrid?" From the center of a hemispherical spiderweb, a spider the size of a small elephant slowly emerged. Its body and legs were blackish-gray, and on its ugly head with large pincers, each eye was covered by a white film.

"It's me, Aragog!" Hagrid replied.

"Hagrid, I don't know how long it's been since we last met. What do you need me for?" Aragog asked.

"Aragog, why did you attack the centaur tribe? And your offspring have gone to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Didn't we agree that you wouldn't leave the depths of the Forbidden Forest?" Hagrid questioned.

Aragog was silent for a moment and then said, "Hagrid, do you remember the little girl who was killed in the lavatory?"

"I remember. It's something I can never forget in my life," Hagrid said, sounding a bit sad.

"The one who killed her has been released again. It's been hunting my offspring in the Forbidden Forest, causing chaos. We have no choice; we must find a new place to live.

It's getting closer and closer to our nest. Fortunately, I sent a suicide squad to lure it away, but it's not safe. We must move to survive."

"What is it? You wouldn't say back then, and you won't say now. Please tell me, so I can ask Headmaster Dumbledore for help," Hagrid pleaded.

"It's an ancient creature that we spiders fear the most. We can't say its name!" Aragog seemed unwilling to talk further and slowly retreated into its nest.

Spiders from all directions began to surround Hagrid and the others. Aragog said from within its cave, "I'm sorry, Hagrid. Because that monster is roaming the Forbidden Forest, we haven't caught any prey for days. I can no longer control my offspring; they can't resist fresh human flesh anymore. Goodbye, Hagrid. I will mourn you next year on this day."

"Aragog!!!" Hagrid roared. "Children, get behind me! We'll leave here together." Hagrid raised his umbrella and cast a spell at a spider lunging at them, repelling it.

The young wizards also used their wands to fend off the surrounding spiders, but there were simply too many of them, and their numbers were insufficient.

The spiders had surrounded them. Just as Harry thought he would die there today, the spiders suddenly stopped attacking and fled in the direction they were facing.

"Still trying to run? After finally finding your nest, do you think I'll let you escape?"

A voice echoed from behind them, and a wall of golden fire surrounded the entire clearing.

Harry turned and saw Horatio, dressed in a red cloud trench coat, riding on the head of an enormous snake as it slithered towards them.

"Hey, hey, hey, do you guys know you've trespassed into my home?" Horatio said, sitting on the Basilisk's head and striking a pose.

"Horatio, what is this...?"

"We'll discuss any problems later. For now, close your eyes and lower your heads. If you want to die, feel free to open your eyes. I won't be responsible then," Horatio said playfully.

"But..." Hagrid started to say something, but Harry tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to do as Horatio said.

Everyone present closed their eyes and lowered their heads. Once they had all bowed, Horatio commanded the Symbiote Basilisk to open its eyes.

The moment its eyes opened, all the spiders in the clearing froze as if under a petrification spell, killed by the Basilisk's gaze.

Aragog, terrified, hid in its nest, not daring to make a sound. Horatio directed the Basilisk into the nest and glared to death the surviving Acromantulas who had managed to hide and avoid being killed.

Horatio jumped off the Basilisk's head and walked up to Aragog. "Did you escape death because you're blind?"

"My lord, please spare my life," Aragog begged.

Horatio shook his head. "Your only value is to provide nourishment for the birth of my ultimate beast."

"Avada Kedavra!!!"

As the green light struck Aragog, the once-invincible Acromantula tribe of the Forbidden Forest was nearly wiped out. There might be a few survivors, but they would no longer pose a significant threat.

"You can open your eyes now," Horatio said to everyone who had been keeping their heads down.

When Harry and the others opened their eyes, they saw a scene like purgatory. The golden fire illuminated the night sky, the ground was covered with Acromantula corpses, and a large snake coiled before them. Horatio sat atop the snake's head, elegantly sipping a bottle of cola.

"Gulp, gulp... Ah, refreshing." Horatio finished the cola in one go and patted the Basilisk's head. "How do you propose we punish these little wizards who trespassed into my home?"

The Basilisk opened its massive mouth and let out a deafening roar, raising its upper body into an attacking posture.