Chapter 90

“Why didn’t you take me with you?” Back in the dormitory, Pansy gripped Malfoy’s hand and asked with a melancholy expression.

“Harry is determined to dominate this committee—he nearly cornered me. Ernie and Hannah are both members of the Twenty-Eight Pure-Blood Families; emotionally and logically, I can’t oppose them. I know replacing Hannah with Cedric would be fairer, but Cedric’s bloodline is weak.”

Pansy blinked, seemingly not understanding what Malfoy was saying.

“Zhang Qiu’s background is not to be underestimated, and Luna is our only Ravenclaw on our side,” Malfoy said, leaning back in his chair, weary. “Ginny and Ivy both harbor secret feelings for Harry—we can’t insert our own people into Gryffindor. Even if I brought you along, I couldn’t stand against him. Better to owe Cui Ge a favor.”

“Very clever—I could see Cui Ge was thrilled.”

“Exactly. With Cui Ge on our side, Luna will stay stable—even if she doesn’t support me, she won’t go mad and back Harry.” Malfoy sighed, delivering his conclusion.

Yet when this pretentious committee was actually formed, Malfoy realized the situation was even more extreme than he’d feared.

Ernie and Hannah obeyed Harry blindly—not out of approval, but fear. During breaks, Ernie told Hannah, “Harry’s using the spiders in the Forbidden Forest as scapegoats to clear his own name,” yet back in session, they groveled before Harry with trembling deference.

Luna had no interest in this activity whatsoever; she fell asleep immediately. Zhang Qiu nodded to everything with “Ah yes, yes, yes,” offering no opinion of her own.

Cui Ge, however, was earnestly discussing a plan to exterminate the spiders with Harry—he truly took it seriously, occasionally pointing at the terrain map and explaining how to launch the assault.

“There’s one thing I wonder how you see it,” Malfoy asked, seizing a pause in Cui Ge’s speech. “Technically, the creatures of the Forbidden Forest fall under Hagrid’s jurisdiction.”

“Hagrid’s authority comes from Dumbledore’s delegation, and Dumbledore’s authority comes from the Board of Governors. Legally, the Board holds jurisdiction over the Forbidden Forest,” Harry said. “Dumbledore is currently at odds with the Board, but I still retain Dumbledore’s delegation.”

Harry raised the Sword of Gryffindor. “He left this sword behind, granting us the power to slay the monster in the Chamber.”

“The Board doesn’t mind the Malfoy family privately dealing with dangerous giant spiders,” Malfoy said, arms crossed. “Nor do they mind if arrogant, foolish centaurs get hurt—in fact, they’d be delighted to see the Forbidden Forest’s unpleasant creatures kill each other.”

Harry only knew centaurs were an extremely xenophobic race; now it seemed their xenophobia made them unwelcome among wizards.

“So we clearly have the authority to handle this, right?” Cui Ge eagerly pointed at the map. “Have the centaurs attack from here, and move the Ravenclaw squad’s position forward five meters…”

“Ah yes, yes, yes.” Zhang Qiu yawned.

“Fifty-plus trained centaurs, plus our dozen magical students, against fewer than two hundred beasts,” Harry smiled. “We have the advantage.”

“Your Excellency’s insight is profound,” Ernie ventured cautiously.

From Saturday, when Dumbledore and Hagrid were forced to leave school, to Sunday night, Harry had assembled a “Hogwarts Student Council Special Task Force on the Chamber Issue,” leading a dozen like-minded companions into the Forbidden Forest, preparing to politically rescue Dumbledore.

Malfoy and Pansy, with Crabbe and Goyle, formed the Slytherin combat group. Malfoy knew several high-power spells, while Pansy coached Crabbe and Goyle to cast the Repelling Charm together, ensuring their own safety.

Harry, Ron, and Neville, with Ginny and Ivy, formed the Gryffindor combat group. Ron wore his magical armor; Neville held the Sword of Gryffindor. Harry believed this was the most powerful trio, so he assigned them to look after the two determined little sisters who insisted on coming along.

Zhang Qiu, Hermione, and Luna, joined by the intruding Cui Ge, formed the Ravenclaw combat group. Hermione, as the top student and a relentless overachiever, already had Ravenclaw tendencies; Cui Ge had simply barged in as a personal acquaintance. The four had no coordination, but each possessed strong individual ability.

Ernie and Hannah formed the Hufflepuff combat group; their task was to closely monitor the battle and, if things turned dire, to seek help from the professors. Harry had ultimately retained the option to call for faculty aid—after all, while gaining glory was fun, safety must come first if things became untenable.

In the Forbidden Forest, they met the centaur representative, Firenze. Centaurs despised being used by wizards; Harry had expected a long negotiation, but Firenze agreed with surprising ease.

“These spiders sometimes harm centaurs—we dislike the eight-legged giants too,” Firenze said. “And I know you, Harry Potter. Divination showed you to be Dumbledore’s champion. I trust you. Your combat group clearly demonstrates Dumbledore’s resolve.”

“We begin tonight. Thank you for your help,” Firenze slung his bow over his shoulder. “Come, Bane. Dumbledore has authorized us to clear the spiders.”

“It seems things are going better than we expected,” Harry turned to the children clutching assorted secondary weapons. “The centaurs have long wanted to deal with these monsters.”

“We must be cautious,” Malfoy whispered. “Don’t rush ahead—let the centaurs go first.”

The students crouched low, following the centaurs slowly toward Spider Valley. Ron’s armor clanked loudly; Harry thought bringing him in full armor was a bad idea—Gao Wen’s strength gained no boost at night. Of course, Ron had also criticized Harry and Ivy for carrying guns—weapons weaker than spells, yet loud and bright, likely drawing spider attention.

Only Ginny carried no secondary weapon; she gripped her wand tightly in both hands, her face filled with dread—she looked terrified.

“It’s fine, Ginny,” Harry heard Ivy whispering. “Harry will protect us, and we don’t even need to do anything in this operation.”

“I don’t know if I should say it,” she mumbled.

“What is it? Go on,” Harry stopped walking and looked at the girl with concern.

“Harry… was it you who opened the Chamber? To plan today’s operation—to prepare yourself to become Head Student?” Ginny stammered.

“Shut up! How embarrassing! Do you think everyone is obsessed with power like Percy?” Ron snapped, lifting his helmet. Harry noticed his face was pale. “Listen, Ginny—I’m terrified too, but you can’t attack your own because you’re scared. I’m ashamed…”

“It’s fine, Ron,” Harry interrupted before he could say anything more hurtful. “It’s admirable to face enemies—but it’s rarer to face friends. Ginny, you did well. Now relax and listen to me.”

“I admit this spider extermination is reckless,” Harry softened his tone. “But we have no other choice. We spent a whole year and still couldn’t find the real Chamber. Now the Ministry is pressuring Dumbledore for answers. We’re doing this so Dumbledore can return first.”

Ginny’s expression eased slightly.

“These spiders are vicious—they nearly ate your brother last time,” Harry said. “I mean, they’re not innocent. We’ll eventually have to drive these dangerous creatures out of the school. Why not do it today? Clearing the spiders can also close the Chamber case.”

“But we haven’t caught the one who opened the Chamber,” Ginny whispered.

“Once the monster is dead, who opened it doesn’t matter,” Harry said. “The Ministry can’t convict anyone without evidence. We can simply claim the spiders from fifty years ago evolved intelligence and sought revenge on students themselves.”

“I’m deeply dissatisfied with this political compromise,” Neville grunted. “But I admit it’s meaningful. As for the real culprit—I’ll find and capture him myself.”

Ginny lowered her head, lost in thought.

The battle erupted quickly. The centaurs slaughtered the spiders mercilessly with bows and curved blades, moving in perfect coordination. Even when wounded, they swiftly retreated to safety for treatment. Harry noticed centaurs were highly skilled in healing magic, granting them formidable endurance.

Malfoy perfectly embodied “showing up but doing nothing.” He led his group in cautious circles, only occasionally repelling spiders that charged forward—never initiating any attack.

Cui Ge seemed fascinated by the battle, firing his pistol repeatedly at the spiders. Harry noticed his aim was surprisingly accurate—always hitting targets. The three girls stood guard around him, watching for sudden spider attacks.

Harry couldn’t help watching them longer—Zhang Qiu held her magical sword, Hermione gripped two wands in both hands, making her stand out. But soon, a spider hit by an arrow lurched toward Harry—he had to prepare for combat.

The centaurs’ combat strength was formidable. Even though the students did almost nothing, they still followed the main force all the way to the center of Spider Valley, beside the sticky, glistening web.

At that moment, Harry noticed a spider, the size of a small elephant, slowly emerging from the damp, glistening web.

Its black body was streaked with gray; its ugly, pincer-like head bore white eyes—blind.