The three people ran forward and did not dare to stop at all. They were about to get out.

  The spiders were also running behind them, their eight huge legs and sharp cws were frightening, but when they reached the edge of the forbidden forest, they stopped chasing Eda and the twins.

  But they didn't leave either. They anxiously paced in pce, seemingly hesitant about whether to tihe chase. Losing their almost-caught prey left them quite displeased.

  In the end, the giant spiders didn't leave the Forbidden Forest. They just stared resentfully at the gradually retreating Eda and the twins. Slowly, the spiders withdrew, leaving behind a trail of severed limbs and wreckage in their wake.

  Eda and the twins finally exited the Forbidden Forest. They could clearly see Hagrid's hut now. Seeing the spiders retreat at st, the three of them felt relieved and began to catch their breath. The ret sprint had exhausted all three of them.

  Eda panted heavily, hands on her knees, and said, "Why do we always enter such bad things every time we e out?"

  "No idea!" The twins shook their heads in unison. They were tired too, but less so than Eda, refleg the differen stamiween genders.

  "We've been to the Forbidden Forest before," Fred said.

  "But this is the first time something like this happened," Gee added.

  "When it's just the two of you, nothing happens, but add me, and it does. Is it my fault?" Eda ughed and said, "ime, don't call me for such things. I value my life too much for these scares!" The cold air she inhaled in rge gulps made her body feel chilly.

  "It's okay, you'll get used to it," the twins forted her, though the reassurance sounded more annoying than helpful.

  "Who's there?!" A gruff voice, apanied by a bout of barking, pierced through the night. It was Hagrid's voice.

  To avoid getting caught, the twins had t the still heavily panting Eda along. Being pulled along, Eda felt like her breathing sounded like a broken bellows.

  After much effort, the three finally made it back to the warm castle. Fred used the Marauder's Map to locate Filch, while Eda tio catch her breath. Geently rubbed Eda's back to help her regain her posure. With Gee's help and after resting for a bit, Eda finally mao steady her breathing.

  With Fred leading the way using the map, Eda and Gee closely followed as they made their way back to the on room.

  Suddenly, Gee let out a chuckle and said, "Fred, what do you think about catg one of those Forbidden Forest spiders and giving it to Ron as a gift?"

  "Brilliant idea! Just ohe size of a basin should do. Anything bigger might hurt him," Fred said seriously, as if he were genuinely sidering Ron's well-being.

  Wow, Eda thought to herself, impressed and exasperated at the same time. Giving Ron a giant spider—what were they thinking?

  "Please, I beg you, be reasonable!" Eda said. "Are you sure Ron wouldn't kill you both?"

  "It's because of our mistake back then that he's so afraid of spiders."

  "So as his brothers, we o take responsibility and help him overe his fear."

  The twins spoke fidently, their righteous tone leaving Eda speechless. "Ron must have done something awful in his past life to end up with you two as brothers in this one."

  "We're just helping little Ronny overe his fear in our own way," the twins said again.

  "Little Ronny is our family, and didn't you say the best way to overe fear is to face it?"

  Eda wao retort, "I didn't say that, you're making it up," but she couldn't because she had indeed mentiohat cept before.

  Sorry, Ron, it's my fault. Eda thought to herself. She then remembered their little sister and asked the twins, "You won't do the same to Ginny, will you?"

  "Ginny? Of course not," Fred replied, looking surprised.

  "She's our sister!"

  So the sister gets special treatment, but the brother doesn't, huh? Eda thought, feeling a pang of sympathy for Ron.

  Once ba her dormitory, Eda fell asleep immediately. The night's running had exhausted her, and she slept very soundly.

  The day, Eda, Fred, and Gee saw Hagrid entering the castle. They greeted him and tried to leave quickly, still feeling awkward from their escape the previous night.

  However, Hagrid didn't seem to notice their disfort. Instead, he asked the twins with , "You two haven't been to the Forbidden Forest tely, have you?"

  "No, you told us not to go!" the twins replied, trying to stay calm.

  "That's good, that's good," Hagrid said, looking relieved.

  Eda, not suspected by Hagrid, asked, "Hagrid, what's wrong?"

  "Someone's been sneaking into the Forbidden Forest tely, even st night," Hagrid said in a low voice that was still quite loud. "Fred, Gee, the forest has been a bit dangerous these days, so stay away from it."

  After exging a gh the twins, Eda said to Hagrid, "Hagrid, I'll keep an eye on them and make sure they don't cause you any trouble. What's been happening in the Forbidden Forest tely?"

  Hagrid looked around at the passing students, then lowered his voice again and said mysteriously, "Last week, someo into the forest and hurt a lot of animals. Last night, someo in again and killed many 's children."

  Eda didn't know who had goo the forest st week, but she realized that the ones who killed many 's children st night were likely themselves. These rge spiders, indeed, were Hagrid's pets.

  "I shouldn't be telling you all this. Just stay away from the forest for now," Hagrid said, pushing the three of them towards the Great Hall. "Dumbledore has been too busy this year, so these troublemakers think they e to Hogwarts and cause problems."

  Onside the Great Hall, Eda saw Dumbledore, whom she hadn't seen for a while. He was sitting in the Headmaster's seat, smiling and chatting with Professonagall.

  Dumbledore had made it clear that he would not be running for Minister of Magice again turning down the position.

  With Dumbledore back, all the lurking dangers seemed to vanish. Eda and the twins, who had been chased miserably by the spiders, didn't return to the Forbidden Forest. The twins no loalked about catg a spider, and Ron wouldn't be receiving such a "gift" during the holidays.

  As the weather improved, Hogwarts' Quidditch matches resumed, with Gryffindor scheduled to py this Saturday. Charlie had been interaining the team, and Fred and Gee were happily participating as practice partners. Eda also joined in, tinuing her role as the cheerleader.

  However, on Friday, Eda missed Gryffindor's training session because she was kept after css again.

  Eda had once again taken up her primary role of being Snape's main target, bearing the brunt of his attention. During this css, Snape's challenges had gone beyond the curriculum, asking questions that Eda couldn't possibly answer.

  After css, a mountain of work awaited Eda, signaling the end of her evening pns. This time, Snape didn't brew potions in front of her but instead sat at his desk reading.

  The two of them spent the evening in silence, as if in a petition to see who would speak first and lose.

  Arou o'clock, Eda finally finished all her tasks. She ed up the prepared materials and asked, "Professor, may I leave now?"

  This night, Eda lost the silent petition. Snape had left briefly, presumably for dinner, and since bringing back food was not in his character, Eda was quite hungry.

  Snape nodded, signaling that she could leave, adhering strictly to the principle that silence is golden.

  Eda, having been given permission, started to put away her tools. She should have left immediately, but she had some questions she wao ask Snape.

  "Professor, was it Wulfric who attacked Daniel?"

  "That's none of your ." Snape didn't even look up.

  Eda asked again, "Was he the one who forcibly ehe on rooms of the four houses?"

  "That's not for you to worry about." Snape looked up at Eda. For venien her work, Eda had tied her hair into a ponytail.

  "What about the Forbidden Forest? Hagrid said someone had broken into it?"

  "Your presumptuousness will eventually be your downfall." Snape lowered his head again, not wanting to look at her. "Winnie!"

  A female house-elf suddenly appeared in the , bowing deeply to Snape and Eda, her long nose almost toug the floor of the underground .

  "Wiake her back!" Snape ordered.

  _________

  12 Advance Chapters—Patreon./Dragonel