Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures

The three quietly left the castle. In the thick twilight, the fresh air was mixed with the pleasant smell of grass.

Harry did not go directly to Hagrid’s. After walking out of the castle gate, he suddenly said that he wanted to pass the vegetable patch on his walk.

“Let’s not go to Hagrid’s just yet. I can’t really explain why — I just have this urge,” said Harry.

“Urge? Are you okay?” Elaine looked at him doubtfully. “To go to the vegetable patch at this hour?”

“It should be fine. I’ve got a feeling something good will happen if we go there now,” said Harry.

“Come on, Elaine, Harry’s the luckiest person right now. If we follow his instincts, we won’t go wrong,” said Evan. “Don’t trust logic — it’s not always reliable.”

Sometimes, such as in this situation, Harry’s instincts were much more reliable than any rational analysis.

So, the three of them changed their direction and walked towards the vegetable patch.

Sure enough, when they got there, they found Professor Slughorn in conversation with Professor Sprout.

Elaine, who had been a bit skeptical, looked at Slughorn in surprise, then turned her head to glance at Harry.

“You knew he’d be here? Was it a prophecy?” she whispered. The three of them lurked behind a low stone wall.

““No, just a feeling!” said Harry, not particularly surprised.

“This is the power of luck,” Evan murmured, listening to the conversation between Professor Slughorn and Professor Sprout.

“I do thank you for taking the time, Pomona,” Slughorn was saying courteously, “most authorities agree that they are at their most efficacious if picked at twilight.”

“Oh, I quite agree,” said Professor Sprout warmly. “That enough for you?”

“Plenty, plenty,” said Slughorn, who was carrying an armful of leafy plants, “This should allow for a few leaves for each of my third years, and some to spare if anybody over-stews them. … Well, good evening to you, and many thanks again!”

Professor Sprout headed off into the gathering darkness in the direction of her greenhouses, and Slughorn directed his steps to the spot where Evan, Harry, and Elaine stood.

“Now!” said Harry, rushing out. “Good evening, Professor.”

“Merlin’s beard, Harry, you made me jump,” said Slughorn, stopping dead in his tracks and looking wary, then his eyes moved to Evan and Elaine behind Harry. “Merlin’s beard, how did you get out of the castle?”

“I think Filch must’ve forgotten to lock the doors,” said Harry cheerfully, and was delighted to see Slughorn scowl.

“Really? I’ll be reporting that man, he’s more concerned about litter than proper security if you ask me. … But why are you three out here?”

“We came out for Aragog’s funeral,” Elaine replied.

“Aragog? Who’s that?” Slughorn asked, puzzled.

“A giant spider.”

Slughorn’s expression became even more puzzled by Elaine’s answer.

“Actually, sir, it’s Hagrid,” said Harry. “He’s pretty upset. … But you won’t tell anyone, Professor? we don’t want trouble for him. …”

“Yes, it’s a secret. We promised Hagrid to keep it a secret,” Evan added.

“A secret?” Slughorn’s curiosity was evidently aroused. “Well, I can’t promise that,” he said gruffly. “But I know that Dumbledore trusts Hagrid to the hilt, so I’m sure he can’t be up to anything very dreadful. …”

“Well, it’s this giant spider,, the spider called Aragog. Hagrid’s had it for years. … It lived in the forest. … It could talk and everything —”

“Oh, I’ve heard of those Acromantulas,” said Slughorn softly, looking over at the mass of black trees. “They live in the forest, do they?”

“Yes, we have cleared them out before. Acromantula venom is a very precious potion ingredient,” said Evan.

“Extremely valuable. It sells for a high price on the market and can be used to brew —” Slughorn trailed off, then said, “But let’s talk about that spider, Aragog. What happened to it?”

“It died last night. Hagrid’s devastated. He wants company while he buries it and we said we’d go.”

“Touching, touching,” said Slughorn absentmindedly, his large droopy eyes fixed upon the distant lights of Hagrid’s cabin.

“You know, Professor, Aragog is the first Acromantula Hagrid ever got. It is also the longest-lived and largest Acromantula in the world,” said Evan. “I heard that as a potion material, the longer the Acromantula lives, the more valuable its venom is.”

“Yes, you’re quite right, Evan,” said Slughorn eagerly. “Acromantula venom is very valuable. The larger the spider is and the longer it lives, the more precious it is. If the beast only just died it might not yet have dried out. Now is the best time to collect it. Are you three planning to harvest it? Can you manage that?”

“We’re not completely sure. It’s our first time trying to extract venom from a spider that big. It would be great if you could go to the scene to guide us,” said Evan. “After all, such a precious thing is best not to waste. Professor, are you willing to help us?”

“I can go,” Slughorn agreed at once. Then, seeming to realize he was being a little too eager, he added more solemnly, “Of course, I wouldn’t want to do anything insensitive if Hagrid is upset … but if there was any way to procure some … we’d better not waste this opportunity… You know, if that Acromantula is really as big as you say, Evan, then the preciousness of its venom may be beyond imagination.

“Well, we shouldn’t miss it,” Slughorn continued, more like talking to himself, “It seems an awful waste not to collect it … might get a hundred Galleons a pint. … To be frank, my salary is not large. …”

After waiting for a while and seeing that he still hadn’t responded, Evan asked again, “Professor, would you like to attend Aragog’s funeral and help us by the way?”

“I daresay Hagrid would probably be really pleased if you wanted to come. It would make Aragog’s send-off a bit more dignified!” Harry followed.

“Well, ah, yes, of course I do,” said Slughorn, his eyes now gleaming with enthusiasm. “Well, Evan, Harry, Elaine, wait for me for a moment, I’ll meet you down there with a bottle or two. … We’ll drink the poor beast’s — well — not health — but we’ll send it off in style, anyway, once it’s buried. And I’ll change my tie, this one is a little exuberant for the occasion. …”

He bustled back to the castle, and Evan, Harry, and Elaine sped off to Hagrid’s.

“Incredible — we did it. He actually agreed to come,” said Harry after thinking for a moment. “Though, somehow, it feels like it was meant to happen.”

“That’s because you’ve got Felix Felicis on your side,” said Evan. “For the rest of us, this is already pretty unbelievable.”

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