So Many Backup Plans

When Hagrid saw Professor McGonagall's expression, he shrank back.

Hermione, her face stern and lips pursed, replied, "Professor, we came to attend Aragog's funeral, to pay respects to Hagrid's 'friend,' an Acromantula. But the other Acromantula wouldn't let us take its body, and they attacked us..."

Hermione, with a stern face, recounted the whole story from beginning to end. Will thought Hermione looked remarkably like Professor McGonagall.

After listening, none of the professors spoke immediately—this had gotten out of hand; professors bringing students was violating school rules, and this was unacceptable!

The professors' gazes swept over the group, all looking somewhat helpless at Hagrid.

Finally, Slughorn spoke first, "So, in the end, Will saved you?"

"Yes." Everyone nodded. Harry and Ron looked at Will gratefully, especially Ron, whose gaze towards Will changed after Will killed the spider.

Slughorn nodded in satisfaction. "I agree to give Will extra points!"

"?" The professors' gazes then turned to Slughorn.

Is now the time to talk about this?!

"I agree too." Only Snape nodded in satisfaction—the old man wasn't crazy yet and knew what was important.

McGonagall turned to Slughorn: "Professor Slughorn, we should discuss the rest of the matter now, Madam Hooch— "

"I'm here." The witch carrying Broomstick immediately stepped forward.

"Please return to the Castle immediately," McGonagall said. "Tell Filius and Pomona that the alert is over."

The Death Eaters didn't appear; it was the Fantastic Beasts in the Forbidden Forest that went out of control. The situation has been resolved; students can return to their dorms, and classes will proceed as normal tomorrow.

"Understood." Madam Hooch mounted her Broomstick and disappeared into the night almost immediately.

Professor McGonagall looked at the group again. "Four students went on a nighttime stroll, left the school's safe zone, and came to the Forbidden Forest to fight the Acromantula..."

"Professor McGonagall, actually only Will fought the Acromantula." Snape seemed unusually talkative today.

Professor McGonagall glared at Snape. "I know, so Will's in Detention for a week, Miss Granger for two months, and as for you..."

Harry and Ron swallowed hard.

"Detention until the end of this semester."

Harry and Ron's faces immediately turned deathly pale, while Hermione stood with her arms crossed, saying nothing.

Finally, the professors looked at Hagrid and Grawp beside him.

Hagrid was somewhat uneasy.

"Hagrid," Professor McGonagall said, her voice laced with anger and helplessness, "You knew all along that they would attack people, didn't you?"

"No, I didn't..." Hagrid quickly said, "Aragog won't let them attack others indiscriminately—"

"You know Aragog is dead," Snape interrupted Hagrid, "Right?"

"Yes."

"So who's in charge of them?" Snape continued.

Hagrid was speechless.

"Who's in charge of them, Hagrid?" Snape repeated, then his expression darkened. "As a Fantastic Beasts expert, you know how dangerous these things are."

You've kept a group of dangerous Magical Creatures of XXXXX level in the Forbidden Forest for decades.

But you never reported the number of cases to the school, never conducted a risk assessment, and never applied for quarantine measures.

They've always been very well-behaved.

"They just tried to eat four students," Snape raised his voice. "Four students!"

Hagrid's face flushed red, Grawp scratched his head—he didn't know what had happened, but something felt off tonight.

Slughorn then spoke up.

"I must say," he began slowly, "Hagrid, I understand your feelings for Fantastic Beasts; and Aragog is a friend, that's a fact, but you must also admit that you made a serious misjudgment in this matter."

I'm not blaming you; Acromantula are dangerous, but you allowed their colony to make their home right next to a school, Hagrid. You've failed in your duty as a professor."

He paused.

"What if they develop for decades to come? What if there are hundreds, or even thousands, of these Acromantula here?"

Hmm? If the Hogwarts children get into danger, who will be responsible?

Hagrid huddled there, a hint of regret on his bearded face. "I... I shouldn't have done that."

"Yes, of course you shouldn't," Snape said, his Black Robes billowing in the night wind, "Because we're not here to discuss your feelings, but the safety of this school."

The detection Magic has sounded the alarm throughout the Castle, and Filius and Pomona are evacuating the students, all because you planned to hold a funeral for your little pet, thus plunging the entire school into panic.

None of the professors spoke. Percy hid further back—he already had some unpleasantness with Hagrid, and it was better not to show Dobby of himself at this moment.

Snape continued, "If it weren't for Mr. Behrens tonight, there wouldn't be four students standing here with the two of you, but six corpses—if those disgusting spiders didn't eat them."

Therefore, although I don't have the authority to suspend you, I do have the authority to make recommendations, and I will do so.

"Severus!" McGonagall frowned. "This isn't something that can be solved with just a suspension—"

"Then what do you suggest?" Snape turned to her slowly. "Professor McGonagall, tell me, according to school rules, what should be done if a professor allows dangerous creatures to gather on campus, endangering students' lives?"

Professor McGonagall opened her mouth, but in the end, she could only say helplessly, "Alright, this matter cannot be decided by us. Let's deal with it after Professor Dumbledore returns."

"No need, Minerva."

The group heard a gentle, aged voice, and then they were surprised to see Dumbledore emerge from the Forbidden Forest.

"Professor?" "Professor Dumbledore?"

"Professor Dumbledore, is that you?"

"Didn't you go to the Ministry of Magic?"

Dumbledore gentle smile, "I used a few tricks when setting up the school's monitoring Magic. I came back as soon as I received the alarm, and I heard everything that just happened..."

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed in Will's Silver-Gray eyes— Dumbledore certainly had a lot of backup plans...