Hogwarts: Oh no, I've become Voldemort!

Cyrus stared intently and saw a huge spider slowly emerging from the misty, hemispherical spider web. It was much larger than a typical eight-eyed giant spider, almost as big as an elephant!

Its body and legs were black with gray undertones, and each eye on its ugly head with large claws was covered with a layer of white film.

It is blind.

"What's going on?" it said, its two large claws moving rapidly, making a clicking sound.

It was a strange feeling that made Cyrus always unconsciously think they were talking while clapping, like rappers.

“Human,” said the spider that had just grabbed Cyrus.

“Is that Hagrid?” Aragog said, moving closer. Eight milky-white eyes stared blankly into view.

"He's a stranger."

“Kill them, I’m sleeping…” Aragog said irritably. It was very old and now spent far more time resting than active. A few unknown strangers were not worth waking it up for.

Moreover, it doesn't eat people; these creatures aren't even food to it.

Upon hearing this, the surrounding spiders could no longer contain themselves.

Every time Hagrid came here, they longed for his flesh and blood, but their leader Aragog would not allow them to harm Hagrid.

How absurd!

The giant eight-eyed spider lives to devour human flesh!

Click-clack, click-clack, the spider's large claws were moving everywhere in the depression.

Harry and Ron's hearts seemed to leap out of their chests and into their throats. They instinctively grabbed Cyrus, as if hoping that "Mr. Riddle" could offer some help.

Cyrus did not disappoint them. He glanced around at the spiders in the cave and counted their number. Surprisingly, Cyrus felt no fear in the face of so many monsters.

However, since it was a spider after all, it still made him feel uneasy.

He took a step forward and said calmly:

"We are Hagrid's friends."

The restless spiders stopped abruptly, and Aragog hesitated as well.

“Hagrid has never sent anyone to our depression before,” it said slowly.

“Hagrid is in trouble,” Harry said, his breathing rapid, “which is why we’re here.”

"Trouble?" the old spider said. Harry thought he detected a hint of concern in the clicking of its large claws.

"But why did he send you?"

Harry tried to stand up, but then decided to stay lying down; he thought his legs couldn't support his weight.

“Let me explain, Harry.” Only Cyrus was still standing. He looked proudly at the spiders that surrounded them. Although the sheer number of spiders made him a little uncomfortable, it wasn’t fear, just disgust.

Harry was clearly relieved to hear Cyrus's words.

"The secret chamber has been opened again. They believe Hagrid recently released something to harm the students. They took him to Azkaban," Cyrus briefly explained the situation, of course omitting any mention of his own affairs.

He believed that if Aragog knew that he was "Riddle," he would not say a word and would immediately have its offspring pounce on him and kill him.

Aragog brandished his large claws angrily, a sound that was echoed by a large swarm of spiders in the hollow; it sounded like applause, but it was an applause that sent chills down one's spine and made one want to vomit.

“But that was many years ago,” Aragog said irritably. “Many, many years ago. I remember it very clearly. That’s why they kicked him out of school. They believed I was the monster that lived in what they called the Chamber of Secrets. They thought Hagrid opened the Chamber and released me.”

"So you...you didn't come out of the Chamber of Secrets?" Harry broke out in a cold sweat, but couldn't help asking.

If Aragog is telling the truth, then doesn't that mean Mr. Riddle is completely wrong?

Hagrid is definitely not the murderer, and the monster has nothing to do with Hagrid.

He couldn't help but look at Cyrus, and when he saw that Cyrus was also frowning, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

“Me!” Aragog said, his large claws snapping open and closing angrily, as if trying to bite something to death.

"I wasn't born in a castle. I come from a faraway land. A traveler gave me to Hagrid before I hatched from my egg."

"Hagrid was just a child then, but he took care of me, hiding me in a cupboard in the castle and feeding me breadcrumbs scattered on the table. Hagrid is my good friend; he's a good man. When people found me and wanted me to take responsibility for a girl's death, he protected me. Since then, I've lived in this forest, and Hagrid often comes to visit me. He even found me a wife—Mossag. You see how prosperous our family has become; it's all thanks to Hagrid..."

Cyrus looked around and had to agree with its words.

The thousands upon thousands of giant eight-eyed spiders were all offspring of Aragog and Mossag. Indeed, the reproductive prowess of the species raised by the hybridization master Hagrid was no joke.

Of course, Cyrus naturally hopes that there are as many of them as possible.

Only with sufficient nutrients can the fruit be abundant!

Chapter 75 Spider Swarm Attack

Cyrus feigned doubt and annoyance, and continued to ask:

"So you've never—never attacked anyone?"

“No,” the old spider said resentfully, “I do have that instinct, but out of respect for Hagrid, I’ve never harmed a single person. The murdered girl’s body was found in a washroom. And apart from the cupboard where I grew up, I’ve never seen anywhere else in the castle. We spiders prefer darkness and silence…”

“But back then… do you know what killed that girl?” Harry said. “Because whatever it was, it’s back and attacking people again—”

Suddenly, a series of clicking sounds filled the air as countless long legs moved rustlingly; a massive black shadow swayed around them.

“That creature that lives in the castle,” Aragok said, “is an ancient creature that we spiders fear most. I remember clearly begging Hagrid to let me go when I sensed that beast roaming around the school.”

"What is it?" Harry asked eagerly, the truth was right before his eyes.

The clicking sounds grew louder, and the rustling sounds became more frequent. The spiders seemed to be closing in, becoming extremely frightened and agitated.

“We won’t say!” Aragok said vehemently. “We won’t reveal its name! I haven’t even told Hagrid the name of that horrible creature, even though he’s asked me, many times.”

Harry didn't want to press the issue any further, especially with the spiders gathering from all directions. Ron seemed to be on the verge of fainting; his face was paler than paint, and he gripped Harry tightly, his face showing fear and pleading.

Aragog seemed to have lost its will to speak. It slowly retreated back into its hemispherical web.

“It looks like we won’t get any more information, but at least we’ve gotten some intelligence,” Cyrus said, keeping an eye on the spider.

The spiders seemed unable to restrain themselves, slowly, inch by inch, moving towards them.

"Then let's go." Harry realized something was wrong and shouted to Aragog as he heard the leaves rustling behind him.

Ron seemed to have heard a message of salvation.

"Leave?" Cyrus said slowly. "I don't think it'll just let us go like this..."

“You’re right, I think you shouldn’t leave—” Aragog’s whitish eyes were still moving; it couldn’t see anything, but it could still sense things. As it grew older, its control over the spider swarm had diminished considerably.

One Hagrid is one thing, but if it keeps trying to stop the spiders from eating these humans who have walked into its trap, it is very likely to face resistance from the spiders.

"But - but -"

“My children obeyed my orders and did not harm Hagrid. But fresh human flesh has been delivered to their doorstep, and I cannot stop them from enjoying it. Farewell, Hagrid’s friend…”

Cyrus turned around, and a few steps away, high above him, spiders formed a solid, towering wall of steel, their large pincers clicking incessantly, and many eyes gleaming on their ugly black heads…

Harry felt like he was drowning in the ocean, suffocating from the countless spiders. Ron was even worse off; he was frozen in place, but even if he were alright, he probably couldn't help much, as the wand was useless.

Harry wanted to draw his wand and fight the spiders to the death, but Cyrus held him back.

"Let me handle this. You find a chance to take Ron away."

"But……"

Are you leaving "Mr. Riddle" here all alone?

Harry looked at the endless swarm of spiders and immediately shook his head: "We can't leave you behind!"

Even Ron, who was so terrified he had no strength left, nodded. He was more worried about his sister. What would happen to Ginny if Cyrus died here? He was using Ginny's body.

"Don't worry, the eight-eyed spider can't kill me. You guys find a chance to leave first, and I won't have to worry about you when I escape." Cyrus wanted to get Harry and Ron away, otherwise how could he perform a ritual that looked a bit evil?

The eight-eyed giant spider wanted to eat them, but didn't he also want to exchange the eight-eyed giant spider's life for his own rebirth?

"But?"

"Worried I'm no match for them?" Cyrus easily knocked away a spider the size of a car. Seeing Harry nod, he smiled and said, "Don't worry, I deliberately let them capture me in the first place. Otherwise, how would I find their lair?"

Harry and Ron were still a little hesitant.

"Alright, believe me! Ginny is my friend too. I'd rather you two die than let her get hurt!"

"All right!"

Harry agreed, but he didn't really know how to get out of there. There were just too many of them; even though Cyrus kept knocking away the approaching spiders, they still completely blocked the area.

Suddenly, a high-pitched and long voice rang out, and a dazzling light illuminated the entire depression.

Mr. Weasley's car roared down the slope, headlights flashing, horn blaring, shoving the spiders aside; several were knocked flat on their backs, their long legs flailing wildly in the air. With a screech, the car came to a stop in front of Harry and Ron, the doors flung open.

"Get in quickly!" Cyrus cleared the spiders around the car and pushed them into the vehicle.

Harry and Ron struggled to adjust their positions.

"Take this dog with you!" Cyrus shouted, grabbing the large, seemingly deflated hound around the waist and tossing it into the back seat. The car door slammed shut.

Ron didn't touch the accelerator, and thankfully the car didn't require him to do anything; the engine roared to life, and they set off.

However, the spiders couldn't just watch their prey escape. They blocked the way, and many of the giant eight-eyed spiders, which looked bigger than cars, stood in front of them like a small, hairy mountain.

Harry and Ron in the car were pale-faced and didn't know what to do.

At that moment, a bright red light suddenly flashed outside the glass, followed by a loud bang. The giant spider in front of them was blown to pieces, and the entire road was cleared.