Everyday Life of a Top Student at Hogwarts

Chapter 94 The Forbidden Forest Plan

Chapter 94 The Forbidden Forest Plan

Inside the Eagle's Nest, the lights in front of the alchemy table were dimmed, leaving only a few wall lamps casting a soft glow. Karen carefully placed the sample of the Welsh green dragon skin, with small tears along its edges and covered in frost, into a specially made lead box. The outside of the box was densely engraved with runes for stability and isolation.

The slight tremor from the experiment still lingered on his fingertips. Images of magical accumulation, destruction, and tearing replayed in his mind—violent power, dangerous accumulation zones. A vague yet incredibly alluring idea was taking shape: what if he could briefly "tame" or "utilize" this forcibly gathered, active magic? "Karen?" Fabian's gentle voice broke the silence of the laboratory. He had just finished collecting spores from a Moonmoss plant and was wiping his tweezers with a soft cloth. "You've been staring at that box for almost ten minutes. The Dragonskin experiment—not going well?" He noticed the thoughtful look in Karen's eyes and her unusual focus.

Before Karen could answer, Wesley had already moved closer to the alchemy table: "Wow! This is dragon skin? It looks really cool! What were you fiddling with in there just now? I think I heard a 'bang'?" He curiously reached out to touch the box, but Karen quickly slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch it, Wesley," Karen's voice was weary from the experiment, but her eyes were bright. "The active residue isn't fully stable yet."

"And I just sealed it with a freezing spell." He pushed the box to the back of the table, in a safe position. "The experiment had unexpected results, but also crucial findings. The dragon skin's magical reaction was more 'violent' and more—interesting—than expected."

"Irritable? Interesting?" Ernesto put down his gleaming brass binoculars. "It sounds like you almost set it on fire. Didn't Professor Victor warn you about its dangers when he gave it to you?"

"The warning was clear, very clear." Karen rubbed her temples, trying to temporarily suppress the thrill of the dragon skin experiment and the tempting new idea. "But high risk often means high reward, especially when it comes to understanding the nature of materials. Professor Victor is right, rage itself is a characteristic."

"Well, the madness of an alchemist master." Wesley shrugged dramatically, plopping back into his armchair. "But Karen, you've practically lived on the alchemy table these past few days! Look at you, after carving mithril, you're carving dragon hide, and after dragon hide, what's next?"

Then he made a face. "Ernesto and Fabian too, I have to go to Quidditch practice alone. Fabian has to take care of his moss babies, and Ernesto is just staring at the stars. If this keeps up, our title of 'The Eagle's Nest' will rust!"

Fabian adjusted his glasses and smiled gently. "When did we ever have the title 'The Eagle's Nest Four'? But Wesley's right, Karen. Adequate rest and transitions are important for keeping your mind sharp. You look like you need a mental break."

Wesley's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh. "The Forbidden Forest! Guys, remember when we went to the edge of the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid? If it weren't for those hairy, eight-legged bastards, we might have even drawn a small map!" He looked excitedly at Karen and Fabian. "Fabian, didn't you draw a sketch? And Karen, you have the best sense of direction!"

Fabian nodded, took out a parchment scroll from his backpack, and carefully unfolded it. On it was a sketch of the edge of the Forbidden Forest, drawn with fine and neat lines, marking the path they had taken last time, the various creatures they had encountered, and the location where they had last met the eight-eyed giant spider, marked with a large spider pattern with an exclamation mark.

"We only completed a small part of the outer perimeter," Fabian said, pointing to the sketch. "Our original plan was to explore eastward along that stream, but..." He shrugged helplessly.

Karen stared at the sketch, her experience at the edge of the Forbidden Forest flashing before her eyes: Hagrid leading the way with great enthusiasm, describing various wondrous creatures, the dappled light and shadows in the forest, the sudden silence, followed by chilling sounds and compound eyes gleaming in the darkness. These eight-eyed giant spiders not only inflicted physical damage, but also significant psychological harm. Had Hagrid not been there to block their path in time, using his unique "language" and immense strength to disperse the spiders, who knows if those three spiders would have attracted even more, with potentially disastrous consequences.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but complain in his heart again: But isn't the source of all this the game guard who loves "cute little animals"? Hagrid deserves a lot of credit for the rampant octopus spiders. "The Forbidden Forest is indeed very attractive," Karen admitted, his gaze sweeping over his three roommates' expectant faces, "but wasn't the lesson from last time profound enough? Those spiders..." He deliberately paused.

Wesley's excitement subsided a bit, and he muttered, "Yeah, those damn eight-legged things, they just suddenly lunged out, if it weren't for Hagrid—."

"But if Hagrid hadn't been there, we might have killed those three spiders on the spot," Ernesto suddenly interjected, his tone decisive. "I think we can skip Hagrid this time. It's not that Hagrid is bad, but he's just too much of a 'lovely friend' to us."

Ernesto clearly disapproved of Hagrid's penchant for keeping dangerous creatures as pets. "We'll operate independently, staying on the outermost perimeter, never venturing deeper. Our objective is clear: refine Fabian's map and observe and record common creatures in safe zones. The place where we were interrupted last time..."

The relatively open woodland on the east bank of the stream didn't seem to harbor any dangerous creatures.

Fabian hesitated: "Going on my own? Is it safe? School rules—"

"School rules forbid entering the depths of the Forbidden Forest, but they don't say we can't conduct—listen—herbalism field trips on the edge?" Wesley winked mischievously, glancing at the plant specimen folder peeking out of Fabian's backpack. "Right, Fabian? Haven't you been wanting to find the native habitat of moonshine moss? Maybe it'll be there under the damp tree roots on the edge of the Forbidden Forest!"

Fabian was persuaded; he was indeed very interested in those strange magical plants. "Well, theoretically, if we're only in a very clearly defined outer area and are fully prepared..."

"Look! Fabian agreed!" Wesley immediately declared victory, then looked expectantly at Karen, "Karen? The map master?"

"You have the best sense of direction; without you leading the way, we'd probably be wandering around in circles in the woods!"

Karen watched as her three roommates—Wesley, Fabian, and Ernesto—showed eagerness, Fabian's gentle anticipation, and even Ernesto's eyes gleamed with a desire for exploration and revenge. Karen himself had indeed been under considerable stress lately due to constant experimentation. Perhaps a planned, well-prepared exploration confined to a relatively safe area would be a good way to unwind? Besides, he also wanted to see for himself the area he hadn't had time to explore last time.

"Alright," Karen finally relented, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Just stay on the outer edge, to the area east of the stream. Absolutely no going deeper, and make thorough preparations for defense, especially against those 'eight-legged' creatures."

"Yeah!" Wesley cheered.

"Protective preparations? What else can we have besides wands and vigilance?" Ernesto frowned. "Are we supposed to go wearing armor?"

Karen walked to the storage cabinet on one side of the Eagle's Nest, opened it, and inside, besides cauldrons, potion bottles, and some basic materials, were several books he had borrowed from the library, their covers slightly worn. He pulled out a thick book with the title "A Collection of Obscure and Practical Spells (Volume Targeting Specific Magical Creatures)" on its spine.

Karen opened the book on the round table in the center and turned to the page with the bookmark. On the parchment page was a complex diagram of a wand's motion, next to which were the spell's pronunciation and lines of explanatory text. "Although I've already taught you the Disarming Charm, to deal with swarms of spiders, especially large, hard-shelled, and numerous giant spiders like the Octopoda, there's a spell more effective than 'Expelliarmus'."

Three heads immediately crowded around.

"Spider-repelling spell (Arania Eumai)?" Fabian murmured the spell's name, adjusting his glasses to carefully read the description below. "Specifically for dealing with spiders?" Wesley's eyes lit up. "This is great! Why didn't you bring it out sooner, Karen?"

Karen pointed to a line of notes: "Because it's a very obscure spell. There are very few truly dangerous spider species in the magical world that require a special exorcism spell to deal with. The eight-eyed giant spider is one of the most famous, but it usually only exists in legends and a few extremely dangerous habitats."

"Who would have thought—" He paused, then added irritably, "that there would be a whole nest of them in the Forbidden Forest of Hogwarts, all thanks to the 'loving care' of a certain gamekeeper." The origin of the eight-eyed giant spiders had become a consensus within their small group.

Ernesto quickly scanned the spell's description: "-After casting, it forms an invisible, powerful repulsive barrier against spider-like creatures. The area of ​​effect depends on the spell's strength. It inflicts intense aversion and dizziness on the target, forcing them to retreat or flee. It has a weak effect on non-spider-like creatures. Hmm, very targeted. It's definitely more suitable for dealing with spider swarms than a simple disarming spell. When did you find this?"

"After the last attack," Karen said frankly, "I specifically looked for effective ways to deal with spiders in the library. This spell, though obscure, is clearly documented and its principle is quite simple. I think it's necessary for everyone to learn it, just in case. After all, none of us want to experience the 'fun' of being chased by a swarm of hungry eight-eyed giant spiders." He imagined the breathtaking scene, his tone tinged with a hint of lingering fear and irony.

“However,” Karen changed the subject, her finger flipping through a few more pages until it stopped on a spell with a picture of a funny little dancing figure, “if you just want to create chaos, or deal with someone who’s charging ahead too far alone, there’s another spell that might—well, be more ‘significant’.”

"What spell?" Wesley asked immediately, his eyes widening even more.

“‘Tarantallegra,’” Karen pointed to the spell, “a standard prank spell, usually used to make someone’s legs dance uncontrollably, creating a comical scene. But—” a subtle smile played on his lips, “think about it, how many legs does an eight-eyed spider have?”

The Eagle's Nest fell silent for a second.

Fabian imagined the scene and couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Eight—eight legs jumping around uncontrollably at once? Merlin!"

A flicker of surprise crossed Ernesto's grey eyes, followed by an overwhelming sense of absurdity: "Make an eight-eyed giant spider—dance? The image is too shocking. Theoretically, if the spell takes effect, it could indeed cause extreme chaos in its legs." The strange amusement in his tone was impossible to conceal.

"Hahahaha!" Wesley was laughing so hard he was doubled over, tears welling in his eyes. "Dance! Make the giant spider dance! Karen! You're a genius! You have to learn this! Absolutely! Imagine a hairy, eight-eyed giant spider with snapping pincers wildly tap-dancing its eight legs in front of you! It's so much more satisfying than chasing them away! And it'll definitely confuse them!"

Karen, watching her roommates' varied reactions, laughed. "Don't get too excited. This spell has a few problems. First, it requires precise targeting, unlike the Dispel Charm which is an area-of-effect barrier. Second, its effect is 'confusion' rather than 'dispel' or 'damage'."

The dancing spider might temporarily lose its mobility, or become even more dangerous due to its rage, and its companions won't stop to watch its performance. Third, maintaining it requires a continuous output of magic; interfering with one is manageable, but you can't sustain it with too many.

"So," Karen concluded, "'Spider Repeller Charm' is the core and primary element of our defense, used to establish safe zones, disperse spider swarms, and buy time for retreat. And 'Dance of the Curses Charm'—" he glanced at Wesley, who was still trying to suppress a laugh, and Ernesto, who wore a strange expression, "can be used as a surprise tactic in crucial moments, or to deal with particularly 'brave' 'unlucky' individuals charging ahead, creating chaos and openings. But remember, it's only supplementary and auxiliary; we can't rely on it."

"Got it! A brilliant move! A chaos maker! I love it!" Wesley immediately drew his wand, as if he couldn't wait to see the spider dance. "Teach me, teach me! Isn't that move cool?"

Ernesto's smile faded, and he nodded seriously. "That makes sense. Tactical combinations. The Exorcism Charm establishes a defensive line, while the Dance Charm creates gaps in the defense to target specific targets. A very flexible approach." He expressed his approval of Karen's unconventional idea of ​​using prank charms in actual combat.

Fabian wiped away tears of laughter: "Okay, although the visuals are a bit...unbearable to watch, it does sound like an effective distraction tactic. Karen, what about the spell's actions and pronunciation?"

"The movements are relatively simple," Karen demonstrated, picking up her wand. "Point the wand at the target, flick your wrist quickly, Tarantalegra!"

(Ta-lan-ta-lai-gra!)" With his clear and powerful incantation, a thin beam of purplish-red light shot from the tip of his wand, focusing on the target.

Unfortunately, the target didn't have legs.

"The emphasis in the pronunciation is on 'Leg,' and the key to the movement is a quick and crisp flick of the wrist, with a rhythmic 'command' feel," Karen emphasizes. "The focus should be on the effect of 'making the target's legs move uncontrollably.' This spell demands a higher level of willpower than a banishment spell, since you're forcibly interfering with the target's body control."

"Wow! This color!" Wesley was even more excited as he watched the fading crimson light. "Watch this! Tarantallegra!" He mimicked Karen's movements, flicking his wand and pointing it at an empty stool next to him.

puff!

A crooked, purplish-red beam of light shot out and struck the stool, but unfortunately, the stool didn't dance.

"Listen—it doesn't seem to want to dance?" Wesley scratched his head.

"The shaking is too fast and too violent, like a cramp, not conducting," Karen pointed out. "The wrist needs to be relaxed; the shaking should be high-frequency but short."

Imagine you're rapidly striking an invisible tuning fork with the tip of your wand. Also, don't shout the spells out loud; focus your energy on channeling your magic.

It's not about the volume of my voice, and the stool won't dance, but I can turn it into a spider.

With that, Karen pointed her wand at the stool, and the stool instantly transformed into a small, eight-eyed giant spider. It was a bit slow, but it was enough for practicing spells.

Fabian also tried: "Tarantallegra." His movements were gentler, and his wrists didn't twitch fast enough. A crimson light shone out and hit the spider, whose legs just swayed lazily, showing no passion for dancing.

"Not enough frequency, Fabian. Faster, more powerful, with a sense of 'command'," Karen instructed.

Ernesto once again demonstrated his precise control. He focused intently, his wand steadily pointing at its target, his wrist flicking three times quickly and sharply at just the right pace: "Tarantallegra."

Whoosh! A solid, purplish-red beam of light struck the spider's leg precisely.

Click-clack-clack-clack!

The poor spider leg immediately began kicking wildly up, down, left, and right in an extremely uncoordinated, rapid, and frantic rhythm, causing the entire spider to "dance" and jump comically in place, as if it were being pulled madly by invisible threads!

"Success!" A glint of satisfaction flashed in Ernesto's eyes, then he looked at the wildly dancing fake spider, and his lips twitched involuntarily. The scene—was indeed a bit surreal.

"Well done, Ernesto!" Wesley shouted enviously. "Watch me! This time it'll work!" He took a deep breath, trying to recall the feeling of "striking a tuning fork" that Karen had described, relaxed his wrist, and gave a quick, short flick: "Tarantallegra!"

The crimson light became much more stable than before, striking the spider's other leg. That leg also began to twitch violently, rising and falling, though not as frantically "rhythmic" as Ernesto's, it was definitely "dancing"!

"Haha! It worked! It moved! It moved!" Wesley jumped up excitedly.

Fabian adjusted the frequency and intensity of his wrist shakes and tried again: "Tarantalegra." This time, the spider legs in front of him began to swing in a clumsy rhythm, quite properly.

The Eagle's Nest was suddenly filled with flashes of magic and several spider legs flailing wildly, creating a chaotic, comical, and somewhat absurd scene.

Karen watched his companions practice, a smile on his face, but inwardly he was evaluating the situation. The Dance Charm's effect was immediate, its ability to disrupt single targets was extremely strong, especially against multi-legged creatures—it was practically a "special attack." But as he said, accurate hits, sustained damage, and the risk of potentially enraging the target were all problems. However, as a supplement to the Repel Charm, in certain situations, having a charging eight-eyed giant spider suddenly perform an "octopus tap dance" could definitely buy the team a few precious seconds of reaction time, or create chaos that would confuse the other spiders.