Chapter 42: Chapter 42: The professors arrive at the scene
Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
$Parseltongue$
Chapter 42: The professors arrive at the scene
The giant acromantula hissed at him while moving its frontal legs in an attempt to intimidate him. The ones behind him did the same.
But they did not attack or get closer to Harry.
He did not understand the reason for their unusual behavior but did not care either, he had one job to do and he was going to do it.
Harry pointed his wand to the floor right beneath the giant acromantula and then followed it with a swift upward flick.
The spider gave a tremendously loud shriek as it was impaled by a stone spike that rose from beneath the creature and lifted it in the air.
With the biggest threat already incapacitated and dying, Harry turned around to face the rest.
He threw a low-powered bombarda aimed downwards, just strong enough to blow up several stone tiles, and then followed it up with a depulso, sending all the sharp pieces of stone to the acromantulas, who had no way to dodge them.
Five more spiders went down, fire was left to go.
Harry conjured a dozen knives and sent them at light speed to the creatures.
The acromantulas shrieked in pain after being cut and stabbed, but none of them tried to run away. Not a single one of the creatures wanted to separate themselves from the trophy case where Neville was hiding.
Four more spiders fell victim to the knives, there was one left.
Harry decided to get a bit creative with the last one.
He tapped his wand against the rocky wall to his right. For a moment, nothing happened, but then, the part of the wall that was closest to the acromantula came to life.
A stone hand, three times the size of the spider, formed from the wall itself, and with its palm completely opened, it smashed the creature in one quick motion like it was a common fly.
With the deed done, the hall became silent once more and Harry contemplated what to do next.
Neville had stopped his screaming and seemed to be staring at the dead acromantulas from inside the glass piece of furniture.
Harry considered for a moment going to Neville and checking if he was okay, but he did not want to reveal his involvement in this matter.
He was confident that Neville had not been able to discern his identity based on the construction of the cabinet he was in. Only the front part was made of glass and Harry never approached that area, instead he killed all the acromantulas from a good distance.
The decision was taken away from him the moment he heard a large number of people getting closer to him.
'The teachers are already here…fine, I can leave the clean up to them.'
Harry lifted his wand and disappeared from the hallway before the adults turned the corner.
"This way!, I heard some noises." Professor McGonagall hurried her steps.
She let out a loud gasp when she saw the macabre scene.
"By Merlin!"
"This is…" Dumbledore's eyes scanned the hallway meticulously, pointing his wand around until it stopped on the glass cabinet.
"There is someone there!." he pointed forward.
"Be careful, that acromantula is still alive." Warned Snape as he walked from behind the Headmaster.
They moved as close as possible to the wall and passed the twitching giant spider.
McGonagall stared at the stone spike that was impaling the creature.
"This was done with transfiguration. The construction of the spike must have been perfect to be able to lift such a monster…"
Dumbledore was walking ahead of the group when he suddenly stopped.
"Headmaster?" Snape called, wondering what took the attention of the old wizard.
Dumbledore said nothing and pointed his wand at one particular spot. He moved it around and whispered some words.
His eyes opened widely.
"This can't be!"
"What is it, Albus?" McGonagall asked this time.
"This area here…it has traces of…"
"Of what?" Questioned Snape.
Before the Headmaster had time to answer, someone started to shout.
"Hey, is there someone there? help!"
McGonagall hurried up and moved to the cabinet, where she finally spotted the terrified Neville hiding inside.
"Longbottom!" She exclaimed.
"Unlock the doors, Mister Longbottom."
Ordered Snape.
"Is it safe?" Neville looked around, expecting to see more spiders appearing.
"It is quite safe, my boy. You don't have to worry about the acromantulas any longer. " Dumbledore tried to sound reassuring.
Neville nodded and released his iron grip on the doors, allowing it to open.
"I'll take him, Madam Pomfrey," Mcgonagall said after making sure he did not have anything serious that required immediate action.
"Yes, do that… I will visit the infirmary a bit later, we still have some work to do here." Said Dumbledore.
The professor took Neville away by the hand. The boy follows without complaints, looking to be in an almost state of shock.
With the two of them gone, Dumbledore and Snape were left to examine the scene. There was acromantula blood splashed everywhere. It was quite a shocking view.
"I'm glad Hagrid is not here to see this…he is fond of these creatures."
Snape observed carefully the remains of the beasts. The conjured knives were still embedded into some of them. Then, there was the giant stone hand that crushed the last one.
"You think a student could use transfiguration to this level of skill?" Asked the potion professor, pointing at the hand.
Dumbledore contemplated the question for a moment.
"It would not be impossible for a talented seventh-year to create something like that, I believe Minerva could give you a couple of names. At least that's what I would say if these were normal walls."
Dumbledore tapped the wall with his wand.
"There are protections weaved into them that should prevent students from affecting them with magic."
"So, not the work of a student then. Is that what you think?" asked Snape.
"I have one more reason to believe this wasn't done by someone so young and inexperienced…whoever did this…he or she, escaped with apparition."
Snape was filled with shock.
"From inside Hogwarts? that's impossible."
"Yes, well…there is always a way to make the impossible…. possible."
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