บท 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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