Harry Potter's : Fantastic Beasts Guide

The air was tense as David shouted, "Bane, is that you?"

"It's me," replied a deep voice from outside the chaos. "Can you still hold on?"

David glanced at Norbert, who was still fighting fiercely against the swarm of eight-eyed giant spiders. His grip on his wand tightened. "For now. Just keep them at bay and clear the path! If I don't make it out soon, you'll have to retreat."

There was a pause before Bane, the leader of the centaurs, called back, "Understood!"

Suddenly, arrows began to rain down from the treetops, expertly shot by the centaurs. The spiders hissed and scattered, their panic evident. Before, the centaurs had been cautious, trying not to harm anyone inside the fray. Now, their aim was deadly and precise, taking down spider after spider.

The largest of the eight-eyed giant spiders, a monstrous creature with gleaming black legs, roared in fury. It chittered orders to a smaller spider beside it, which quickly scurried off.

David's sharp eyes caught the movement. He frowned. "They're calling for reinforcements."

The larger spider turned its many eyes on David, venom dripping from its fangs. "Kill them all! Leave none alive!" it screeched.

The swarm surged forward, their sharp stingers clicking ominously. David braced himself, summoning his magical creatures—a massive three-headed dog and a horse-shaped water monster—to shield him. The summoned beasts fought valiantly, crushing spiders with powerful jaws and limbs. But the relentless wave of attackers began to wear them down.

David gritted his teeth, his wand moving in precise motions. "Freeze!" he shouted, casting a spell that encased an approaching spider in a block of ice. Norbert, the young Norwegian Ridgeback dragon, turned just in time to smash the frozen spider with his tail.

Despite their efforts, the numbers were overwhelming. The ground trembled beneath the spider horde's weight, and the air filled with the stench of their venom.

"Bane!" David called out. "Pull your forces back! I'll handle the rest!"

Bane hesitated but finally shouted, "We'll retreat. If you can't make it, we'll come back for you!"

The centaurs began withdrawing, leaving David alone amidst the chaos. The spiders advanced, their eyes gleaming with malice.

David knew it was time for a desperate move. With a flick of his wand, he transformed the water monster into a terrifying serpent-like creature with bright red feathers and piercing eyes.

"Basilisk!" a spider screeched in terror.

"Run! It's a basilisk!"

The reaction was instantaneous. The spiders broke formation, scrambling over each other in a frantic bid to escape. Although the basilisk was just an illusion, their deep-seated fear of the legendary predator was enough to create a momentary opening.

"Norbert!" David shouted. "Let's go!"

Norbert roared, sweeping his tail to clear the remaining spiders. David mounted his broomstick, the Light Wheel 2000, and soared into the air. Norbert followed, flapping his wings furiously and breaking through the canopy.

Below, the spiders hissed in frustration, their leader shrieking, "Chase them! Don't let them escape!"

David flew higher, weaving through the trees. In a clearing below, he spotted Hagrid armed with a massive crossbow, fending off a group of spiders.

"Hagrid!" David yelled. "Run back to the castle!"

Hagrid paused mid-swing, looking up. Relief washed over his face. "David, are you alright?"

"I'm fine! But the spiders are out of control. Go now!"

Hagrid nodded and began retreating. But just as he turned, a figure in white robes appeared in the clearing.

"Dumbledore!" Hagrid exclaimed.

The headmaster smiled faintly. "It seems you've been causing quite the commotion."

The spiders skidded to a halt at the sight of him, their aggressive movements turning cautious. Dumbledore raised his wand, speaking softly, though no words could be heard.

In an instant, the area around him seemed to warp. The spiders screamed in panic, their bravado shattered. "Leave now," Dumbledore commanded, his voice calm yet unyielding. "You've crossed the line."

The largest spider hesitated before snarling, "They killed our young! We will have revenge!"

Dumbledore's wand twitched, and a wave of magic rippled outward. The spiders scattered, their leader hissing in defeat. "Retreat!" it bellowed, and the swarm fled back into the forest.

Dumbledore turned his gaze upward to where David hovered on his broomstick. "Young man," he said with a wry smile, "perhaps it's time to avoid the Forbidden Forest for a while. I may not always be here to save you."

David nodded fervently. "Understood, sir."

As Dumbledore vanished, David descended, landing beside Hagrid. Norbert limped behind him, his once shiny black scales dulled and scratched.

"You alright, Norbert?" David asked, concern etched on his face.

The dragon collapsed with a groan, clearly exhausted. Hagrid rushed to its side, inspecting its injuries. "He's hurt," Hagrid said, his voice trembling. "The spiders' stingers are poisonous!"

David quickly pulled out two bottles of antidote from his bag and poured them into Norbert's mouth. The dragon swallowed reluctantly, then lay still.

"Will he be okay?" Hagrid asked.

David nodded. "He's tough. He just needs rest."

Hagrid led Norbert to a wooden shed nearby, chaining him to a sturdy tree. "You rest up here, Norbert," he said gently. "I'll bring you some food later."

Norbert's eyes widened in horror at the mention of Hagrid's cooking, but he was too tired to protest.

As they walked back toward the castle, David sighed. "That was way too close."

Hagrid chuckled nervously. "Aye. But you handled it well, David. You're brave, I'll give you that."

David glanced back at the shed where Norbert lay, then up at the stars. "Brave or foolish? I'm not sure anymore."

The Forbidden Forest had quieted once more, but David knew it wouldn't be the last time he ventured into its depths.