Chapter 152 - Chamber of Secrets Ⅱ (1/2)

Suddenly the darkness lifted enough for Rowan to see that she had reached the ridge of a vast hollow. A hollow that had been cleared of trees, so that stars shone brightly onto the most hair-raising scene she'd ever witnessed. Spiders. Not TINY ONES! Spiders the size of carthorses, eight-eyed, eight-legged, black, hairy, gigantic!

The massive specimen that was carrying her made its way down the steep slope as Rowan began to desperately hope that basilisk had safely escaped from the sticky tar pit. If not all her planning was for not. And she was about to eaten alive having her organs sucked out like some sort of root beer float via a straw!

The spider made its way down the steep slope toward a misty, domed web in the very center of the hollow, while its fellows closed in all around it, clicking their pincers excitedly the sight of its load. Rowan was unceremoniously dropped onto the ground. Quickly she rolled to her feet clutching her wand and rooster each in one hand. The spider that had dropped her began to make clicking like sounds as though speaking. ”Aragog!” It called. ”Aragog.”

And from the middle of the misty, domed web, a spider the size of a small elephant emerged, very slowly. There was more gray than black on his body and legs. And each of the eyes on his ugly, pincered head were milky white. He was blind.

”It looks like Aragog is already ancient now and never mind twenty years later,” Rowan privately thought to herself.

”What is it?” he asked, clicking his pincers rapidly.

”A man,” clicked the spider who had caught Harry.

”Is it Hagrid?” said Aragog, moving closer, his eight milky eyes wandering vaguely.

Suddenly something clicked in Rowan's mind. How did Hagrid get his egg? A complete and utterly random stranger gave it to him. The line that she needed had been staring her in the face all along! Hagrid attended Hogwarts at that same time as Riddle! But more importantly, he might just know something more.

”A stranger,” clicked the spider who had caught Rowan.

”Kill them,” clicked Aragog fretfully. ”I was sleeping.”

”I'm a friend of Hagrid's!” Rowan loudly cried out as she waited for the spider to ask.

Click, click, click went the pincers of the spiders all around the hollow. Aragog paused. ”Hagrid has never sent another man into our hollow before,' he said slowly.

”Actually, I was dragged here by the courteous acromantula over here,” Rowan politely said. ”And I was attempting to do something on Hagrid's behalf, but I'm afraid that's all for not now. Thanks to this-. I'm sorry, but what is the gender of the acromantula's at my side?”

There is a long pause as Aragog finally says, ”Male.”

”Ah yes, this gracious gentleman here brought me into your nest,” Rowan lied with a straight face. ”And I happen to be in the middle of a very important mission that may get all of you killed.”

Click, click, click can loudly be heard by the pincers of the spiders all around again as they whisper with disbelief. ”And what could possibly pose a danger to us that Hagrid sent ye?” Aragog growled, fiercely clicking his pincers in agitation.

Suddenly a loud boom can be heard in the distance as Rowan merely points in the direction of the sound. The spiders all become still as Aragog hurriedly hisses, ”And what is that?”

”Well, I do believe you are quite familiar with it, no, Aragog?” Rowan pointedly said as the old spider stiffened.

”No, the Chamber was sealed away by the last Slytherins heir!” Aragog hissed as the spiders clicked their pincers in sudden distress.

”It would seem we are short on time, but to make the long story short, someone released the foul beast,” Rowan tactfully neglected to mention that she was the culprit. ”And just as I thought it is indeed coming this way with a nefarious purpose in mind. Therefore, we have one of two choices, we either run very fast in the opposite direction hoping for the best. Or we join hands to temporarily to deal with the horrifying menace.”

”We cannot fight it!” Aragog whispered as the clearing began to be filled with clicking full of fear.

”Ah, but I've got a rooster!” Rowan explained as she lifted the quiet bird in her arms for all the spiders to see.

”It smells of magic!” Aragog growled as he clicked his pincers painfully loud.