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Chapter 242: Almost Got Eaten
Chapter 242: Almost Got Eaten
"Something's coming this way."
Hearing the sound of dogs barking in the woods, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan immediately became extra vigilant, turning their heads towards the direction of the sound and exchanging glances.
However, since they were still on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest and it was daytime, they didn't think they would encounter anything major. Even if they did run into trouble, the four of them together should be able to handle it, especially with Albert here.
"Hagrid's dog?" George wondered aloud.
"I don't think it's Fang," Lee Jordan denied with a shake of his head. Although it had been a while since he last visited Hagrid's hut, he was confident he could recognize Fang's bark.
The sound of footsteps and barking grew closer, echoing through the woods and creating an unnerving cacophony.
"Let's go, time to head back," Albert reminded them again, starting to walk briskly towards the edge of the forest.
"Where are you going? Wait for us!" George called out to Albert, who was already walking away.
"Hurry up and get out of here. Do you want to get caught by Hagrid?" Albert muttered, continuing on his way out of the woods. He really didn't want to run into Hagrid here, and he was certain Hagrid wouldn't want other students to see him walking his dog either.
Yes, walking his dog—that was Albert's guess. The sound they had heard earlier was undoubtedly Fluffy's bark, and there were only two possible reasons for its presence here. Either Fluffy had broken free from Hagrid's leash, or Hagrid was taking it for a walk in the Forbidden Forest, the latter being the more likely scenario.
"Do you know what that thing is?" Fred asked, noticing Albert's reaction and suspecting he knew something.
"Let's get out of here first," Albert evaded the question, continuing to hurry along. It had been several months since he had last seen Fluffy, and the three-headed dog must have grown even bigger by now! Encountering Fluffy and Hagrid here would be awkward for both parties.
"Hey, wait for us, don't walk so fast!" Fred and George exchanged glances and slowed down, their curiosity about what kind of dog Hagrid had gotten ahold of getting the better of them. As for why they assumed it was Hagrid's dog, it was because Hagrid had mentioned during their last visit to the Hog's Head that he had purchased a dog named Fluffy from the black market, which was most likely the one they were encountering now.
"Fred and George are falling behind," Lee Jordan turned his head to look back and reminded Albert, who was walking ahead.
"Those two idiots," Albert stopped in his tracks and glanced back at the twins, whose figures had already disappeared from view. "Oh well, let them learn their lesson the hard way. They really thought the Forbidden Forest was safe, huh?" he muttered under his breath.
"What was that just now?" Lee Jordan finally voiced the question that had been on his mind.
"Fluffy, Hagrid's new pet," Albert replied distractedly, glancing at Lee Jordan.
"Why are we in such a hurry to leave then?" Lee Jordan's confusion only deepened.
"Why do you think Hagrid keeps his new pet in the Forbidden Forest? I hope Fred and George don't get so scared they wet themselves." Albert rolled his eyes. He then raised his wand and cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself, disappearing from view instantly.
"Wet themselves? Why?" Lee Jordan began to ask, but before he could finish his question, he was startled to see Albert vanish into thin air.
"What are you...?" Lee Jordan was perplexed by Albert's actions.
"Come on, don't you want to see Hagrid's new pet too? Although I doubt the Disillusionment Charm will work on Fluffy," Albert whispered, referring to the three-headed dog's keen sense of smell.
Albert had cast the Disillusionment Charm to avoid being recognized by Hagrid, not necessarily Fluffy.
"Okay."
Lee Jordan felt a cold sensation as if something icy was flowing into his body from where the wand had touched him. In the moment the Disillusionment Charm took effect, he too disappeared from view, leaving only their footprints in the snow as proof of their presence.
Although Lee Jordan didn't know the full story behind Hagrid's new pet, he was certain that Fred and George were in for some trouble. How could they have been so foolish as to not follow him when he suggested leaving earlier! "Is this really a good idea?" Lee Jordan asked in a low voice.
"Fred and George brought this upon themselves. It's not our fault. Whatever you see, keep your mouth shut. And if you're discovered, don't give me away," Albert reminded him before turning back.
Soon, they located Fred and George hiding behind a tree, having cast a Disillusionment Charm on themselves as well. However, their charm was poorly executed, with visible distortions in their forms that even Lee Jordan could spot.
This was a result of their inexperience with the Disillusionment Charm. Wizards typically needed to spend a significant amount of time practicing their spells, which was one of the reasons Albert often emphasized the importance of practice. It wasn't just about becoming familiar with a particular spell, but also strengthening one's control over magic and increasing one's magical power, which was especially noticeable among lower-year wizards.
The barking grew louder, interspersed with other sounds, as the source drew closer and closer, soon appearing within their line of sight.
However, when Fred and George laid eyes on the three-headed monster before them, they instantly regretted not heeding Albert's earlier warning to leave. They stood frozen in place, afraid that any movement would attract the attention of the monster that was now sniffing around. Its sharp teeth could easily tear off their limbs, shredding them to pieces and swallowing them down, bones and all.
Fred and George realized their scents had given away their position. The monster might not have spotted them yet, but it had definitely caught their scent. Fluffy was approaching the tree where they were hiding, and the terrifying pressure it exuded left them breathless with fear.
It was petrifying, and all they wanted was to go home.
It wasn't just Fred and George who were struggling to breathe—Lee Jordan, hiding nearby, was also fighting the urge to cry out in surprise. He now understood why Albert had told them to run, and to make matters worse, Hagrid was nowhere to be seen. What were they supposed to do now?
Lee Jordan instinctively looked in Albert's direction, but his eyes found nothing. Albert had disappeared, but he couldn't have left them, could he? No, that didn't seem like something Albert would do.
Lee Jordan refused to believe that Albert would abandon Fred and George, especially after he had bravely ventured into the Forbidden Forest in the middle of the night last semester to find the Weasley twins.
But where was he?
(End of Chapter)
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