Chapter 221: Into the Forbidden Forest
"What's this?" the three asked curiously, looking over at the note.
Soon, all three of their expressions changed dramatically.
"Is this the result of you asking someone to enquire about Hagrid? But what does 'depths of the Forbidden Forest' mean?" Harry asked, studying the words on the parchment.
They knew Dudley had found someone to ask about the imprisoned Hagrid, but they hadn't expected Hagrid's answer to be so cryptic.
"Couldn't he just tell us directly? Making us go to the depths of the Forbidden Forest, really," Ron complained with obvious dissatisfaction.
"Maybe it's inconvenient to say directly," Hermione frowned thoughtfully.
After all, Hagrid was currently imprisoned, and it might also involve some of Hagrid's personal privacy, so not speaking directly was understandable.
"You go back. I'm going to the Forbidden Forest," Dudley said with determination.
Since he had already received the message, Dudley didn't plan to continue waiting. He would go to the Forbidden Forest tonight to check the situation.
"We're coming with you!" Harry said firmly, with no room for argument in his voice.
"Yeah, we won't mess about, promise," Ron added quickly.
"Hagrid helped us before. We need to help him now," Hermione said with quiet determination.
Dudley looked at the three of them carefully.
"Are you sure you want to come with me?"
"The Forbidden Forest isn't very safe, and it's even more dangerous at night."
"Also, let me remind you... I can violate school rules, but you can't!"
The three barely hesitated before immediately nodding.
"Blimey, when Hermione's encouraging rule-breaking, you know things are serious," Ron said with nervous bravado.
"After everything you've taught us? We can handle ourselves now," Harry said, unconsciously touching his wand.
"Besides, if Hagrid sent us there, he wouldn't put us in real danger," Hermione reasoned aloud.
Dudley thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
Some dangers they would eventually have to face anyway.
Also, as Hermione said, since Hagrid had told them to go to the depths of the Forbidden Forest to find answers, the possibility of encountering serious danger really wasn't high.
"Alright, I'll go get the Invisibility Cloak. Wait for me here," Dudley instructed.
Soon, Dudley brought the Invisibility Cloak from the dormitory and draped it over the three of them.
He himself walked openly and boldly straight toward the outside of the castle.
"Dudley, it's so late. Why aren't you sleeping yet?" From the shadows at the castle entrance, a small figure emerged.
"Professor Flitwick, what are you doing here?" Dudley looked at the Charms professor before him with some surprise.
"Another attack occurred, so Professor McGonagall decided to have everyone take turns patrolling the castle. I probably won't get a good night's sleep tonight," Flitwick said while yawning.
"What about you? What are you going outside to do so late?"
Dudley gestured with his eyes for the three in Invisibility Cloaks to go ahead first, then said, "I couldn't sleep, so I'm planning to go outside the castle to see if there are any clues."
"Professor Dumbledore entrusted me with Hogwarts' security issues, but so many attacks have occurred. I feel terrible about it," Dudley sighed heavily.
"Good child, this isn't your fault," Flitwick consoled him gently.
"Well, Professor, you continue your patrol. I'll go outside to take a look and will be back soon," Dudley said.
"Be careful. If you encounter any danger, immediately send up magical signals. We'll see them," Professor Flitwick instructed with concern.
"Yes, Professor."
Dudley nodded respectfully.
After saying goodbye to Professor Flitwick, Dudley quickly raced toward the Forbidden Forest and caught up with the three hidden companions.
"Professor Flitwick isn't having it easy either. Staying up late, unable to sleep, and having to patrol the castle," Ron observed sympathetically.
"With the castle like this now, probably no one can get a good night's sleep," Harry said grimly.
"It's not just us who are worried now. The people in Slytherin must also be worried, since pure blood is no longer their protective charm. Crabbe's attack is the best proof of that," Hermione said seriously.
"That's good. It saves Malfoy from mocking us all day long," Harry couldn't help saying with satisfaction.
"But at the same time, it also means that monster might be out of control and no longer following the rules Slytherin left behind," Dudley pointed out soberly.
The three fell into contemplative silence.
Soon, they passed by Hagrid's hut.
The warm yellow light that usually glowed from Hagrid's windows had vanished, leaving only darkness. Ron peered nervously into the gloom around them.
"Good thing Professor McGonagall took Fang to care for him, or how lonely would he be," Hermione said sadly.
"I hope this matter can end quickly and clear Hagrid's name," Harry sighed wistfully.
After the group lingered in front of the hut for a moment, they headed toward the Forbidden Forest.
Here, they no longer feared meeting anyone, so they removed the Invisibility Cloak and gave it to Dudley to keep.
"Lumos!" All of them cast the spell, lighting up their wands with bright white light.
"Hagrid only said the depths of the Forbidden Forest but didn't say which direction," Ron looked at the pitch-black surroundings with some apprehension.
"Let's just keep walking inward. We should find clues soon," Dudley said confidently.
After walking for about twenty minutes, Dudley stopped and crouched on the ground.
"Look at this," Dudley pointed to several rapidly moving black shadows on the ground.
The three immediately crowded over, but when Ron saw clearly what those black shadows were, he jumped back several steps in fright.
"Why is it spiders!" Ron exclaimed, already afraid of spiders. This time he encountered palm-sized ones, which scared him so much his face turned white.
"What's wrong with these spiders?" Harry asked in confusion.
"Just now at the scene where Crabbe was attacked, I saw many spiders fleeing the castle. Perhaps these spiders can point us in the right direction," Dudley explained.
"I suspect that if there really is some monster in the Chamber, it must be the natural enemy of spiders. Otherwise, these spiders wouldn't be fleeing the castle."
This was Dudley's logical speculation. Originally, he had planned to go to the library tomorrow to look up relevant information, but since he had Hagrid's hint tonight, he came to the Forbidden Forest first.
"Do we really have to follow the spiders?" Ron asked with a pale face.
"Currently, this is the only clue we have," Dudley said matter-of-factly.
"Alright," Ron agreed reluctantly. Although his expression was ugly, he still followed along.
The four continued deeper into the Forbidden Forest, and as they went further, Dudley increasingly felt a menacing presence closing in. The surrounding forest gradually became less peaceful, as if something was quickly crawling around them, making strange rustling sounds that sent chills down their spines.