Chapter Thirty-Three, Aragog

"Hermione!" Izzy, Neville and Ron croaked tearfully, spotting their prone best friend lying still as a statue upon the hospital bed.
"She was found near the Library." Professor Tonks revealed. "Along with this. Does it mean anything to any of you?" She asked, showing the three a hand-held mirror.
"No." The trio denied tearfully.
"Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprout will do all they can for Miss Granger and the others, but in the meantime, if you need to talk to someone my door is always open."
"Thank you Professor." Neville muttered, turning away from the sight as it was bringing back horrible memories, he jumped a foot in the air when he felt something clasp his hand.

Only to calm down when he realised it was Izzy squeezing his hand. He offered up a smile to his sister as he squeezed her hand, as he and Ron squeezed each other's shoulders, but feared it came out more like a grimace.
"Come. I shall lead the three of you back to Gryffindor Tower. I need to make an announcement but I want you all to promise me that you will come to me or any teacher if you need to." Professor Tonks said, coaxing the three out of the Hospital Wing. The walk up to the seventh floor where the Tower was located was a long and quiet one; none of which that any of them knew how to break, it felt like a limp had wedged itself within all of their throats. Giving the password for her students, Professor Tonks called the Common Room to order and asked Percy and Angelina to fetch any remaining years down from their dormitories.

"Now that we are all here, could I have your attention, please?" Professor Tonks requested, looking grimly over her students, two of which were petrified within the Hospital Wing and three by the looks of things were barely holding it together. "Because of recent events, these new school rules will be put into effect immediately; 'all students will return to their House Common Rooms by six o'clock every evening. All students will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher, no exceptions. And no Quiddtich or after school activities will be held for the foreseeable future.'

In light of recent events I must warn you that if these attacks do not stop and the culprit remains at large then it is highly likely that school will be closed, but in the meantime my office is open to each and every one of you. Please do not feel the need to suffer in silence, I and your other teachers are here for all of you during this troublesome time. But if you wish to speak to myself or another member of staff, speak to us after the lesson and we can arrange a time where you are not wandering around the school endangering yourselves and others in the process. Now, the House-elves will send you up some soups for supper, shortly so I recommend if no one wishes to talk as of now that you remain inside this Common room or your dormitories until breakfast tomorrow.

On another note; our Sixth and Fifth year Prefects; Mr Percival Weasley, Miss Angelica Smith, Mr Andrew Field and, Miss Linderina Crane, and also Miss Suzanne Riley our HeadGirl, I look to the five of you to make sure that each and everyone is looked after to the best of your abilities. That said, if you have concerns concerning a member of Gryffindor House or other Houses I implore you to speak to myself immediately. Thank you." Professor Tonks said sadly, as she looked around at her students and after she'd spoken to a few of them she took her leave heading for the Headmistress's office where a staff meeting was about to be held.

As soon as nobody was paying them any attention Izzy pulled Ron and Neville into the shadows of the staircase leading to the boys dormitory as neither Neville or Ron could stand on or next to the stairs without triggering the safety precautions that turned the stairs into a slide and stopped any boys from entering the girls dormitories.
"Nev, Ron. I think it's time we visit Hagrid. I don't believe it's him but I don't know what else to do, he may know of what or who it actually was the last time and that's a start." Izzy whispered hurriedly, peering round at the others, especially Fred, George and Lee who were watching them closely.
"You heard Professor Tonks, though." Ron argued. "Even though we agree with you we're not allowed to leave the Tower unless it's for class."

"If Izzy agrees I think it's time to get Uncle James's Cloak out again." Neville whispered.
"In the meantime I think we should practise some spells while we wait for the common room to clear so we have a clear shot to get to Hagrid's. Knowing our luck something will happen." Izzy whispered, leading the way up to Ron and Neville's dormitory to practise the spell she'd learnt from the dairy and others she'd looked up and proceeded to teach them to Neville and Ron while they waited.

***

Once the majority of the common room's occupants and vacated to their dormitories, a few hours later, leaving them with three hours worth of successful practice, it was easier for the trio to sneak back down and slip on the Cloak and out of the Tower where they were able to sneak down to Hagrid's Hut without coming into contact with everyone. Arriving at the Hut they knocked thrice upon the door only for it to be kicked open and missing their noses by mere inches as they came face-to-face with a rather shaken Hagrid holding a crossbow.
"What's that for?" Ron asked, startled, as he pulled off the Cloak nodding to the crossbow pointing at them.
"Oh! Nothing... I was err .... never mind, c'mon in, an' have a cup of tea." Hagrid said shakily, checking the dark grounds behind them rapidly before he stepped back and let them in his house.

"Hagrid, let me do that." Izzy suggested, gently taking the shaking teapot out of his hands before he seriously burnt himself. "Are you okay?" She asked concerned, her hair no longer her natural dark brown/black but a dull grey voicing her concerns for her first friend and father figure.
"I'm fine. I'm fine." Hagrid assured, breathless with anxiety that he wasn't even fooling himself nevermind this astute little girl who from day one had been nothing but kind and caring towards him. The last thing he wanted was her or Neville or Ron to get mixed up in his past.
"Did you hear about Hermione?" Neville asked cautiously.
"Oh, I heard about that alrigh'!" Hagrid muttered grimly, avoiding eye contact with them as he laid out some biscuits on a large saucer in the middle of the table.

"We hate to ask Hagrid, but.... Do you know who opened the Chamber of Secrets?" Ron asked tentatively.
"Now, what you have to understand about that is -?" But whatever Hagrid had been about to say he never got to finish as there was a sudden sharp knock upon his door. "Get in the corner and under the Cloak. Quickly now! Don' say a word, neither of yer!" Hagrid's hurried whispers hidden from outside by Fang's loud barking.
"Professor McGonagall Ma'am." Hagrid greeted, after he kicked open the door with the crossbow in hand once again.
"I'm sorry to trouble you Hagrid but the Minister will simply not listen to reason! You'd think after what happened twice now that you'd learn, but oh no!" McGonagall ranted, her Scottish accent thick with anger before she took a breath to calm herself.

"Sorry, could we come in?" She asked.
"Of course. Come in." Hagrid bid, holding the door open for his friend and employer.
"That's my Dad's boss, Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic." Ron whispered sharply upon spotting the man standing beside their Headmistress.

"Shh!" Izzy and Neville whispered sharply, both of them elbowing Ron in the ribs.
"Bad business, Hagrid, very bad business. Had to come. Three attacks on Muggleborns..." Cornelius ranted, not looking at Hagrid but rather at the table between them.
"But I never! Professor, you know I never, Professor!" Hagrid said sharply, fear coating his words.
"Of course not Hagrid. But rather than do their jobs the first time this happened and investigate properly, they did the same with Sirius and now once again with you. Despite myself and other members of staff arguing with Madam Bones, might I add, in your favour he simply refuses to listen to reason!" Minerva scoffed.
"Look, Minerva, as I've told you Hagrid's record is against him, I've got to take him." Cornelius said reproachfully as if she was an errant child.
"Take me!!! Not Azkaban prison!" Hagrid screeched. 

"And I've told you, Minister, that it shows a complete and utter lack of leadership! This will be the third time this has happened, twice in your tenure and believe me I will be informing the Wizengamot and the Governors about your complete failure to follow the letter of the law and hold trials for supposed crimes!" McGonagall argued sternly, leaving the three Gryffindors feeling extremely impressed with their Headmistress.
"It's.... It's okay Minerva.... I'll go." Hagrid muttered shakily, seeing things were taking a turn for the worst with his dear friend and the Minister.
"I will get you a FAIR trial Hagrid and out of there before you know it. I swear it, Hagrid." McGonagall promised.

"I know and thank you." He muttered tearfully.
"We shall wait outside to give you a moment. Don't worry I'll have someone look after Fang while you're away." Minvera promised, grasping the Minister by the elbow and pulled him out of Hagrid's house.
"If anyone.... If anyone is looking for some stuff all they would need to do is follow the spiders and that would lead them right." Hagrid muttered, spying the hidden trio out of the corner of his eye sadly before he left his house after the arguing Headmistress and Minister.
"Come on." Izzy whispered, once she was sure they were gone. Leaving the Cloak on the table and grasping a lantern as she followed the spiders out of the Hut and towards the Forest.
"What!!!" Ron screeched suddenly terrified.
"You heard what Hagrid said, Ron." Neville added, adding him a lateen before he picked up the last one as he followed Izzy and Fang out of the Hut.

"But they're heading into the Dark Forest!!!" Ron screeched even more terrified than before. "Why spiders? Why couldn't it be follow the butterflies!!!?" He complained as he smoked after his best friends.

***

After nearly being eaten only to be saved by Mr Weasley's Flying Ford Angular and three hours later, the trio and Fang had finally survived their ordeal and arrived outside of the Hut once more.
"'Follow the spiders! Follow the spiders! If Hagrid ever gets out of Azkaban I'll kill him!" Ron ranted, still half terrified and half angry. "What was the point of sending us in that bloody forest?! What did we even find out?!"  Ron ranted, as they made sure Fang was alright, had food, water, and picked up the Cloak once more.
"We found that we were right that Hagrid never opened the Chamber of Secrets, he was framed. Innocent. Hold on!!! The girl was found in a bathroom..." she trailed off as she shared a look with her two brothers.
"No! You don't suppose-"

"Do you?!" Neville asked, his own eyes widening as Izzy nodded and prices started to fall into place within their own minds.
"Myrtle!" The trio whispered together startled at what the night's events had unveiled.