After getting a clear look at the Acromantula in Morris's hands, Ron instinctively shrank back, his face even paler than before.
Seeing his reaction, Morris asked in confusion, "Are you really scared of spiders? It's all right. It's already unconscious."
"Look!"
As he spoke, he held the spider up in front of Ron, its hairy legs almost brushing his nose.
"Aah!"
Ron screamed, and his mind exploded with a buzz.
His vision went black, his body slumped backward uncontrollably, and his consciousness rapidly drifted away like a kite with a broken string.
"Ron!" Harry cried out, hurriedly reaching to catch him, but Ron was already falling straight backward.
George, standing beside him, reacted quickly and caught him before the back of his head hit the floor.
Morris froze at the sight.
He'd only been joking to lighten the mood. Why had this guy fainted?
Were wizards afraid of spiders too?
George sighed helplessly, laid Ron flat on the floor, and explained, "Don't worry about it, Morris. He's been terrified of spiders since he was little. Absolutely terrified. When we were kids... er, we only played a little prank on him, and it left him traumatized."
"What did you do?" Morris asked curiously.
"A little prank," Fred said with a grin. "When Ron was little, he had a toy broomstick he loved. He cuddled it in his sleep every night. One day, we turned it into a big spider."
"But that was our accidental magic," George said with a shrug. "We couldn't control it."
Poor Ron. Morris immediately felt a little sympathy for him.
Having two brothers like these really was a disaster.
Sometimes, childhood trauma took a lifetime to heal.
Looking at the unconscious Ron, Harry asked helplessly, "So what do we do now?"
"Just leave it to us."
Fred and George hoisted Ron up and said, "Once we're back in the common room, we'll give him some Pepperup Potion. He'll wake up right away."
Harry nodded and let out a long sigh of relief.
It really had been a day full of disasters-especially for Ron.
"One more thing," Fred said seriously, looking at Harry. "Don't tell anyone about this."
"All right. I won't," Harry replied.
He hadn't planned to tell anyone about it anyway. Or rather, he had no friends he could discuss it with.
Except Ron.
"Ahem."
Suddenly, a cough rang out in the corridor.
All four turned their heads at once and saw a very short figure, a full head shorter than even Morris, a first-year.
"Professor Flitwick?" Fred said in surprise.
"I believe it's nearly curfew, Fred, and George." The short professor named Flitwick took a few steps toward them, his tone stern. "You should return to your respective dormitories as soon as possible..."
"Wait... what happened to that student?"
Professor Flitwick's sharp gaze fell on the unconscious Ron, who was being supported by the twins.
Fred forced a smile and said casually, "Nothing, Professor. Ron just fainted after seeing a little spider. We were about to take him back to the dormitory for a good rest. Goodbye."
"Ah, just because of that? Children these days really are..."
Professor Flitwick shook his head, seemingly unsure whether to laugh or cry, but then his gaze fell once more on Ron's pale face and closed eyes, and the bloodstains and bandages on his leg.
Something's wrong!
He frowned and caught sight of the young Acromantula in Morris's hands.
"Wait!" He pointed at the spider and said shrilly, "This is the little spider you mentioned?"
The Weasley brothers and Morris nodded stiffly.
They were remarkably in sync.
Professor Flitwick stepped forward and waved his wand at the spider.
The spider in Morris's hands immediately floated up and flew over to him.
"..."
A deathly silence immediately fell over the scene.
"It's actually an Acromantula?" Professor Flitwick looked furious, his whiskers bristling. "Whose is this?"
Morris was just about to explain when Fred discreetly tugged his sleeve and spoke first. "Professor, George and I accidentally... er, found it at the edge of the woods."
"I believe you should recognize this prohibited creature," Professor Flitwick said disapprovingly. "Why didn't you hand it over to a professor immediately?"
"We're sorry, Professor." Fred lowered his head, sounding sincere, though he was still watching Professor Flitwick's expression out of the corner of his eye. "We didn't mean to."
George hurriedly nodded as well, admitting their mistake.
Their practiced movements led Morris to assume they were already used to making this sort of apology.
Professor Flitwick hurried over to Ron on his short little legs. After carefully examining his injuries, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Fortunately, it isn't serious. It's been properly treated, too. There should be no need to trouble Madam Pomfrey."
Then he turned to Morris and Harry. "So, the three of you were attacked by this spider?"
His gaze seemed to linger on Harry a little longer.
Harry and Morris both nodded obediently.
"Take the injured student back to the dormitory to rest first," Professor Flitwick told them. Then he turned to the Weasley brothers, his expression growing stern again. "Fred, George, you two are to come to my office afterward. We need to have a proper talk about this spider and everything you've done tonight."
His tone allowed no argument.
The twins exchanged a helpless glance. Knowing they couldn't get out of it this time, they could only nod in agreement.
They were used to it anyway.
Fred whispered so quietly that only Morris could hear, "It's all right, Morris. Don't worry. We won't give you away. Professor Flitwick won't be too hard on us. A few points deducted at most, and a few days of detention. Same old story."
George winked beside him as well, signaling to Morris not to worry.
"Thank you," Morris said quietly.
Although the twins had caused this mess, he did bear some responsibility for catching the Acromantula in the first place.
Since the twins were willing to handle it this way, accepting their kindness was the best outcome.
The twins might not be very reliable, but they weren't bad people.
Making friends with them seemed rather nice, too.
After that, Morris returned to his dormitory alone.
It was already past curfew, but that was no great matter.
As for the spider-Professor Flitwick hadn't returned it to him, so he probably wouldn't be getting it back.
Come to think of it, that professor named Flitwick really was short, and his features were a little strange, too.
Was it dwarfism? Or did he have some special bloodline?
Morris was a little curious.
And he seemed to have seen the name on his timetable. This was his Charms professor.
He wondered just how skilled this professor was at charms.