Chapter 107: Chapter 107: "First Encounter with the Acromantulas"
As the small snake darted toward the gathering of giant acromantulas, it called out loudly in determination, "Speaker, come on, kill these spiders and take back my home!"
Under normal conditions, the sight of such a small snake challenging a group of large acromantulas might have seemed funny, but here, with the imposing spiders looming, it was anything but amusing. Harry felt a pang of worry for the brave little snake and regretted bringing it along. It would have been wiser to simply get directions from the snake and leave it behind.
The acromantulas, now alerted by the snake's bold intrusion, shifted their focus menacingly toward it. The snake faced the towering spiders defiantly, almost as if it were sneering at them. This seemed to provoke a few of the bolder spiders, who quickly moved to dispatch what they saw as a pesky nuisance.
Harry reacted immediately. With a swift flick of his wand, he cast a summoning charm that whisked the snake into the safety of his hand. Although Harry felt no particular affection for the snake, its tips about the acromantulas being so close to Hogwarts had proved crucial, and he felt compelled to rescue it for its help.
Now fully aware of a bigger threat in their midst, the acromantulas became visibly agitated. A loud screech from one of the largest spiders rallied the others, and a swarm of them began to advance aggressively toward Harry.
With the snake now safe in his hand, Harry didn't hesitate. He sprinted deeper into the forest, deciding against engaging the enormous acromantula colony by himself. He also refrained from casting any spells that might further provoke the already dangerous spiders.
Although heading straight back to the castle might have been simpler, Harry knew that leading such lethal creatures towards other students was too risky. Fortunately, his enhanced speed from his Knight training made him faster than ever, allowing him to easily outpace the spiders.
After running a good distance, Harry dared to look back to check on his pursuers. To his relief, only about ten large acromantulas and twenty smaller ones had continued the chase. Feeling confident that he could manage these numbers, Harry stopped to face his foes. This was his first real battle, and he was both nervous and excited.
He pulled out the steel Gryffindor family sword from his pouch—not the wooden practice sword he usually carried—and braced himself for the fight. Although acromantulas were challenging opponents due to their venom and webs, Harry was keen to put his swordsmanship to the test against actual threats. He knew that if the fight turned dire, he could still fall back on powerful fire spells.
The snake, still coiled around his arm, seemed to sense the impending battle and hissed encouragingly, "Come on, Speaker, hack those spiders!"
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Harry couldn't help but smile at the snake's bravado, though it clearly didn't grasp the full danger they were in. He appreciated the support as he squared off against the encircling spiders.
Just then, one of the smaller acromantulas made a sudden leap towards him. Harry's response was swift and precise; his sword sliced cleanly through the creature, effectively halving it in mid-air. As more spiders approached, he realized he needed a free hand to manage his spells, so he switched to fighting with one hand. He started to burn the webs that were being thrown at him and used his wand to deflect the venom spat by the acromantulas, all while continuing to fend off the attackers with his sword.
As the fight grew fiercer, Harry's rigorous training paid off splendidly. He moved around the open space with grace, easily sidestepping the acromantulas as they leapt towards him. His sword moves were sharp and strong, cutting through the spiders' thick, hairy legs, rendering them helpless one after another. His actions were smooth, resembling a dance as he navigated through the forest of venomous fangs. Each time a spider tried to surround him, Harry quickly identified and exploited the weaknesses in their approach. Whenever he spotted an especially good opportunity, he would spring forward with an energetic jump, slashing his sword powerfully through the body of the spider, sending it crashing to the forest floor with a heavy thud.
With every slash and dodge, Harry's awareness of his surroundings grew sharper, his instincts honed by the immediate danger posed by each spider. The fight transformed into a dangerous dance of swift moves and strategic retreats.
During this intense combat, Harry discovered an intriguing aspect of his training. As he engaged the spiders, he realized that his sword-fighting stance and movements remarkably aligned with the poses recommended for the Knight breathing technique. Without even thinking about it, he was breathing in the rhythm prescribed by the technique, which not only enhanced his combat effectiveness but also fortified his body more efficiently than his regular practice sessions.
This realization thrilled Harry, giving him a rush of exhilaration as he noticed the tangible benefits of his training in real combat. His strikes became quicker and more forceful, each move driven by both necessity and a newfound joy in the physical challenge.
Within about fifteen minutes, the battlefield was strewn with the remains of dead acromantulas. Their legs were spread out across the ground, and their venom shone on the leaves under the sunlight. The small group of acromantulas was no match for Harry.
After ensuring no more acromantulas were coming, Harry began to collect the valuable parts of the defeated spiders. He knew that acromantula venom and other body parts were quite valuable, so he carefully gathered them, placing them into an expandable pouch for safekeeping.
Harry felt a sense of accomplishment as he surveyed the aftermath of the battle. He was completely unharmed—not a single scratch on him. The only signs of the recent fight were the splashes of blood on his clothes, a few drops of venom here and there, and his heavy breathing from the exertion. He was quite tired and looked forward to returning to the castle for a well-deserved meal.
However, before he could head back, he needed to secure his loot. If he delayed, other creatures from the forest might scavenge or destroy the valuable materials. Ideally, he would have called Mira, his house-elf, to use her magic for an easy pack up, but Hogwarts rules were strict about house-elves with owners entering the school grounds. Harry had confirmed this with the Hogwarts kitchen elves; they had explained that any visiting elf would be quickly detected by the Hogwarts elves, who would then alert the headmaster. Such an infraction could lead to penalties for the student involved.
This restriction made Harry think about the events described in the Harry Potter books, suggesting to him that many incidents might have been orchestrated or manipulated by Dumbledore, possibly as a way to train or test Harry.
Lost in these thoughts, Harry was brought back to reality by the snake's excited hissing. The snake, exhilarated by their triumph, suggested eagerly, "The fight was thrilling, Speaker! They were no match for us. Let's go back to my nest and clear out the rest!"
Harry glanced at his watch and realized he couldn't linger. "Not now. I've got classes," he told the snake. "Check your nest in a few days; the spiders will likely be gone. Take care," he added, then started back toward the castle.
"Can I come with you, Speaker?" the snake asked, clearly wanting to stick by Harry.
"Not this time. My being a speaker is a secret, so I can't be seen with you. Maybe in a few years, we can meet again. Until then, goodbye," Harry explained, continuing his walk.
While Harry had grown fond of the brave and clever snake, he knew carrying it around would cast him in a suspicious light, possibly as an evil dark wizard, which was trouble he didn't need.
As he walked, Harry's mind was filled with pressing concerns, primarily the large acromantula colony close to Hogwarts. The loss they'd suffered today might make them desperate enough to attack the school, especially with tonight being the Halloween night.
Harry pondered whether to alert someone or handle the threat himself. Just minutes before, he would have notified Sirius without hesitation, avoiding the risk of a dangerous battle. However, the benefits he gained from running the Knight Breathing Technique during the battle were too substantial to ignore. The progress from those few minutes of combat was equivalent to a month's worth of training, and Harry estimated that taking on the entire colony alone could accelerate his progress by about a year.
With these thoughts, Harry was now leaning more towards dealing with the acromantula colony by himself rather than informing others. But first, he needed to prepare—gathering items to slow down the large group and making arrangements to protect himself from potential harm.
Chapter 108: Chapter 108: "Preparing for the Spider Siege"
After getting ready for his classes back in his dorm, Harry skipped breakfast in the Great Hall and headed straight to the castle kitchens instead. His stomach was growling, and he needed a big meal to satisfy his hunger. Preferring not to draw attention in the public dining area with his hearty appetite and the need to eat quickly due to the lack of time, Harry opted for the privacy of the kitchens.
Following his morning classes, Harry found himself with some free time. Not having to attend the History of Magic class in the afternoon and no other classes afterward, he had the perfect opportunity to prepare for the upcoming night's challenges. He headed straight for the Room of Requirement, where he had been working on the vanishing cabinet.
Harry had already repaired the cabinet and successfully tested its transport mechanism with food and small animals. He had initially planned to test the cabinet with larger animals before attempting to use it himself. However, pressed for time and needing to gather supplies for his planned confrontation, he decided to take the risk and step through the cabinet himself. If anything went wrong, he knew he could always use apparition to escape to safety, much like the unlucky character in the canon.
Upon entering the cabinet and shutting the door behind him, Harry experienced a momentary flash of light. When it subsided, a door materialized in front of him. He opened it to find himself in an unoccupied room in the Black Castle, exactly where he had installed the other vanishing cabinet.
Harry was particularly impressed with this mode of transportation. Unlike apparating, elf travel, or using a portkey, which was a little disorienting or uncomfortable, traveling via the vanishing cabinet was seamless and smooth. It was the most comfortable long-distance travel method he had ever experienced, devoid of the usual magical travel side effects.
After stepping out of the empty room, Harry decided to give Lord Black a surprise visit. He found the older man busy in his study. To avoid startling him too much, Harry politely knocked before entering.
"Ah, Harry? Have you managed to fix the vanishing cabinet already?" Arcturus asked, looking up from his papers. "I was curious who was coming through at this unexpected hour."
"Yes, Grandfather. I'm surprised you're not more surprised to see me. I'm supposed to be at Hogwarts right now," Harry responded with a light smile.
Arcturus chuckled lightly, "My boy, after all I've seen, very little surprises me anymore. How did you find traveling with the vanishing cabinet?"
"I love it," Harry replied enthusiastically. "It's the smoothest travel method I've experienced. You should try it sometime. Maybe take a trip to Hogwarts, relive some memories?"
"No need for that, Harry," Arcturus replied firmly. "If I feel the need to visit Hogwarts, I will do so openly. The school governors wouldn't dare deny me entry. Now, you should head back to school. I don't approve of skipping classes, even for magical experimentation."
Understanding the seriousness in his grandfather's tone, Harry nodded in agreement and left the room.
Harry "Mira help me sell these things later. Don't haggel too much, just sell them at different places. No need to search for the best price."
Mira "Yes Master Harry."
Once outside, Harry quickly summoned Mira to take care of the spoils of his morning encounter with the acromantulas.
"Mira, I need these items sold later. Don't spend too much time bargaining, just make sure we get fair prices and spread the sales across different places," Harry instructed carefully.
"Of course, Master Harry," Mira replied.
Harry continued, "For now, there's something else I need your help with. I need to gather some supplies, and I need them quickly. It'll be faster if we both handle it."
Harry then took a moment to write down two lists: one for Mira and another for himself. They planned to split up to efficiently gather everything needed. To keep a low profile, Harry disguised himself to ensure no one would recognize him as a Hogwarts student out of school.
After about two hours of shopping and gathering, Harry had all the supplies packed. He then returned to Hogwarts discreetly, using the vanishing cabinet to transport himself and the supplies back to the castle safely.
That evening, after parting ways with his dormmates Roger and Reggy who were heading to the Great Hall for the feast, Harry quietly left the castle.
Covered by several stealth spells and hidden beneath his invisibility cloak, Harry cautiously approached the acromantula colony to observe any changes. He noticed that the number of acromantulas had increased since the morning. Among them stood a particularly massive acromantula, whose legs spanned about 15 feet. Harry figured this giant spider must be the leader of this new colony, expelled for challenging its ancestor, Aragog.
This giant acromantula was surrounded by about 50 large ones, 100 of medium size, and countless smaller ones. The colony seemed larger and more threatening than it had in the morning, but Harry was focused on the 150 larger ones as the primary threat.
The acromantulas seemed highly agitated, likely upset over the morning's confrontation and the disappearance of some of their members. Harry felt his earlier suspicions were correct: the acromantulas were organizing, possibly preparing to attack the castle.
Harry thought their plan was foolish. Just a few Hogwarts professors could easily repel or even decimate such a colony. He speculated that this was why Aragog had exiled these more radical spiders. Knowing that an attack on the school would be unwise, Aragog might have sent these rebellious members away, effectively dooming them for their unwillingness to heed reason.
After ensuring no additional acromantulas were approaching, Harry began setting up traps around the area. These traps were crucial; they might give him a fighting chance against the massive colony. While confident in his abilities to take on smaller groups, Harry knew that facing such a large number of these creatures could lead to defeat if they all attacked at once. He considered using a destructive spell like Fiendfyre to obliterate them completely, but he dismissed the idea. Such a spell would draw unwanted attention, and it wasn't his intention to cause widespread destruction.
With his preparations complete, Harry dressed for the upcoming battle as night fell. He donned a specially designed combat suit that covered him from head to toe, shielding him from acromantula venom. The suit included dragon hide reinforcements at vital points to protect against the spiders' sharp legs. Every part of his body was protected, except his face.
Next, Harry worked on a disguise for his face. Anticipating a prolonged fight where he might be spotted, he needed to conceal his identity effectively. After several attempts, he crafted a look that resembled Godric Gryffindor, aligning with the fact he would wield the Gryffindor family sword in battle. This appearance would not only protect his identity but also fit the theme of his armament. Should anyone see him, it would add a layer of mystique and leave them guessing about his true identity.
With all his preparations in place, Harry awaited the cover of darkness, ready for what could be the most intense battle of his life. He felt a mix of nerves and confidence, knowing he had the means to escape if the situation turned dire. Fueled by the potential gains for his Knight training, Harry set aside any doubts. This battle was necessary, not just for the safety of Hogwarts, but as a crucial step in strengthening himself.
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