Powerful Flames

Hagrid held up his lantern, his face grim.

This was not his first encounter with the Acromantulas.

Few people at Hogwarts knew them better than he did—

Years ago, he had taken Aragog out of the castle and hidden him in the Forbidden Forest. Aragog had since bred an enormous colony there.

To Hagrid, they were a mistake from his youth, a bond he had never severed, and a great many talking, eight-legged problems.

"Don't move," Hagrid said quietly. "None of you move."

Ron clearly wanted nothing more. His body had obligingly frozen, like a door under Petrificus Totalus.

Fang huddled against Hagrid's leg, whimpering, his tail nearly tucked against his belly.

Hermione gripped her wand, her eyes darting around them.

Harry moved beside Ron, his wand already raised.

Cordelia edged half a step closer to Gavin. It was a small movement, but Gavin noticed.

Just then, the bushes ahead began to shake—

An Acromantula crawled out and stopped at the edge of the lantern light.

It was far larger than an ordinary spider. Damp dead leaves clung to its black fur, and its eight eyes reflected tiny points of light in the dark.

Instead of lunging, it raised its front legs and spoke in a dry voice that sounded like hard shells scraping together:

"Hagrid."

Hagrid suddenly breathed easier—

It could talk. At least they could try reasoning with it.

In the Forbidden Forest, that already counted as good news.

"It's me. I'm Hagrid, Rubeus Hagrid," he said at once. "I know Aragog. I'm his friend."

The spider's pincers clicked softly.

Click.

Click.

More spiders joined in all around them. The sound surged from every direction, like countless tiny bones knocking together.

"Aragog is old," the spider said. "He does not come out."

Hagrid's face darkened. "Then who are