However, since the venom sacs of the eight-eyed giant spider could only remain intact for a short period after the spider's death, Hagrid did not have any in stock. The only way to find one or two fresh venom sacs was to enter the Forbidden Forest and visit the spiders' nest.
That was why Hagrid said he would go take a look tonight.
Out of curiosity about these creatures, Viktor decided to accompany him.
Hagrid did not refuse.
As the gamekeeper of Hogwarts, Hagrid knew the Forbidden Forest inside out, and the creatures in the forest knew him just as well. He assured Viktor that as long as they were with him, no animal would harm them. Thus, Viktor was allowed to enter the Forbidden Forest.
"Sometimes, students serving detention are taken into the Forbidden Forest for patrols. Oh right, you can bring Fang along... That way, no animal will even try to harm you. They all recognize us."
At dusk, Hagrid led Fang out of his hut and handed the leash to Viktor.
Fang was a large dog, his hunched form reaching up to Viktor's thighs, with a pointed snout and sharp, gleaming teeth—he looked more like a source of danger than protection.
But Hagrid clearly thought otherwise.
After making a few simple preparations, Hagrid placed the books he had borrowed from the library inside his cabin. The only strange thing was that he did so rather furtively, as if afraid Viktor would see something inside the hut.
Before slamming the door shut, Viktor caught a glimpse of one of the books Hagrid had tossed inside—it was titled: Things You Must Know About Fire Dragons.
"Are you planning to raise a dragon, Hagrid?" Viktor asked.
"I, uh... well, yes, I do fancy the idea," Hagrid stammered. "You know, dragons—they have magnificent scales and powerful flames. Who wouldn't be drawn to them?"
"Fair enough. But dragons tend to smell rather awful once they're away from gold. Not sure if you could handle that," Viktor remarked.
"Smell awful? What do you mean?"
"Dragons have incredibly high body temperatures, and gold is the best material to cool them down. I believe your Muggle term for it is thermal conductivity. Without a layer of gold beneath them, their massive bodies and relatively small skin surface area make them overheat, causing them to sweat and stink. It also makes them irritable and short-tempered. You could ask them yourself about it."
"One of my dragon friends became particularly aggressive and moody after trading away all its gold," Viktor added.
For a moment, silence fell between Hagrid and Viktor. Hagrid, pushing aside branches as they walked deeper into the Forbidden Forest, pondered over Viktor's words.
"Uh... I'll definitely consider the gold thing. But wait—fire dragons can talk? How am I supposed to ask them?"
"Huh? The dragons from where I come from can talk," Viktor replied, puzzled.
Hagrid furrowed his brows in confusion. After a moment, he convinced himself of something and brightened up.
"You're right! If Aragog can talk, then there's no reason fire dragons can't. Maybe the dragon tamers over the years just haven't figured out how to communicate with them yet!" Hagrid suddenly grew excited. "I'll definitely give it a try!"
Viktor made no further comment. After a slight nod, he asked, "Who is Aragog?"
"Oh, he's the eight-eyed giant spider we're going to see. He's their leader. Don't worry, Aragog is adorable and has a good heart—nothing like the terrible things the books say about him."
Hagrid sounded completely confident.
As they conversed, they had already ventured deep into the Forbidden Forest. At night, the only illumination came from the moonlight filtering through the thick canopy, casting shifting shadows. The vast darkness was barely broken by the faint glow of Hagrid's lantern.
Soon, Viktor noticed a subtle change in the illuminated surroundings.
The moonlight filtering through the trees was no longer as clear; on closer inspection, it seemed as though something hazy was obstructing it.
The deeper they went, the more distinct this hazy obstruction became—it was a dense web stretching across the forest. As the trees grew taller, the webs became more vast, blanketing the entire space.
When Viktor walked past one, a strand of web stuck to his cloak. He had to pull it forcefully to tear it away.
The texture of the web was surprisingly tough, like thick hemp rope, with strands as thick as an adult's finger.
It was obvious what kind of prey a spider capable of spinning such webs would need to sustain itself.
By now, spiders had begun appearing around Hagrid and Viktor. In the dimly lit forest, they weren't immediately noticeable, but when the lantern's light swept across the ground, trees, and undergrowth, it revealed countless spiders, large and small, shifting like a living tide of darkness.
As they moved forward, Viktor could hear a whispering sound, low and rustling like waves blending with the wind:
"Hagrid, it's Hagrid..."
"He brought someone..."
"Is that our food? Has Hagrid finally changed his mind...?"
The murmuring was accompanied by the clacking of powerful mandibles snapping open and shut.
Occasionally, as Viktor lifted his foot, the empty space he had just stepped away from was immediately filled with more spiders.
Yet, as they moved forward, the spiders instinctively parted to make way for them.
At last, Hagrid and Viktor arrived at a clearing among the trees. There, countless spiders the size of horses lurked in the shadows, their eight gleaming eyes staring out from the darkness. At the very center lay a spider the size of a small elephant, its eight eyes clouded over with a milky haze.
"Aragog! Aragog!"
Upon spotting him, Hagrid enthusiastically waved his arms and strode forward.
"Hagrid?"
The elephant-sized spider slowly turned around, its cloudy eyes unfocused as it gazed into the air.
"It's me, Aragog," Hagrid said with concern. "How have you been lately?"
"The same as ever... but my children tell me you've brought someone?"
"Oh, yes! This is Professor Viktor—he teaches Divination. He has some questions for you." Hagrid gestured towards Viktor, beckoning him forward. "Don't be nervous, Viktor, Aragog is very friendly."
But the moment Hagrid turned to look at Viktor, he realized he had spoken too soon.
Because Viktor was not standing there nervously at a distance.
Instead, he was calmly extending his hand towards one of the giant eight-eyed spiders, clasping its bristly front limb in what appeared to be a handshake. The spider's massive mandibles were nearly brushing against Viktor's face.
Yet Viktor did not even flinch.
"Oh, Hagrid was right."
"You really are quite adorable."
Viktor said this as he casually released the eight-eyed spider's limb, as if he had just shaken hands with an old acquaintance—ignoring the fact that the limb was lined with razor-sharp spines.