Yaxley Infiltrates the Forbidden Forest

Sensing Harry's strange look, Irina knew he had definitely gotten the wrong idea.

Irina said helplessly, "Obviously, Harry, these are Giant Grubs, not some hybrid creature you imagined with that head of yours full of feather grass!"

As she explained it to Harry, Irina mischievously adopted Professor Snape's tone.

Sure enough, after hearing Irina's words, everyone, including Hagrid, stared at her in astonishment.

Ron even cried out, "Bloody hell! Damn Snape, get out of Irina's body!"

At that, Irina could not help laughing.

After a round of horseplay, Hermione looked at the Giant Grubs in the bucket. She turned to Hagrid. "What will they become when they grow up?"

Hagrid's expression suddenly turned sorrowful, and he began crying for no apparent reason. Through his sobs, he said, "They won't become anything. I'm raising them to feed Aragog... It's... Aragog's about to die..."

"He's been sick all summer and hasn't gotten any better... I don't know, if he... if he... what I'm supposed to do... We've been together for so long..."

Hagrid spoke in fits and starts, sniffing hard enough that the sound made Hermione's eardrums ache.

Harry and Hermione moved closer, gently patting Hagrid's shoulders from either side. Even though Harry had nearly lost his life to that damned spider, he could still empathize with Hagrid.

Hagrid's bond with Aragog was probably like his bond with Hedwig...

Harry thought.

Ron stood where he was, his face full of conflicted emotions. His fear of spiders was carved into the depths of his soul, not to mention that damned old Acromantula had nearly killed him...

Irina, meanwhile, watched it all thoughtfully.

Acromantulas... Aragog...

So what was Aragog doing right now?

Meanwhile, deep within the Forbidden Forest.

A figure clad in black robes and wearing a silver mask, surrounded by countless Acromantulas, slowly