Chapter 694 Funeral

The afterglow of the setting sun slowly dissipated, the sky and the world slowly dimmed, the castle was lit with candles and torches, and the glass windows revealed a dim light.

In the Gryffindor common room, Ron squatted down and looked closely at the elixir in the bottle. There were golden light spots floating in the clear liquid, which were crystal clear and extremely beautiful.

An introduction to the effects of Fuling Elixir came to mind, and some vague and shapeless ideas gradually brewed, such as that he successfully passed the Apparition exam, that he led the team to win the Academy Cup...

He looked at Harry next to him and couldn't help but ask again:

"Have you really thought it through?"

"certainly."

"Don't you want to keep it for later?"

"Is there anything more important than his memory?"

Harry's expression was determined. After the last attempt failed, he had the idea of ​​using Felixir to obtain memories, but he never waited for the right time. When Loren handed him Hagrid's note, he told Aragog When he received the news about the funeral, he vaguely felt that the time was ripe.

Loren sat across from him, his eyes flickering, asking the same question: "Have you really thought about it clearly?"

"?"

Harry looked at him confused, why he was asking this question.

"I mean, have you figured out the purpose of using Felixir? Is it to understand the Horcruxes, or to gain access to Professor Slughorn's memory?"

"What's the difference?"

"I have some doubts about the effect of Felixir. Will it achieve your preset short-term goals, or will it point to a longer-term end point."

Miss Know-It-All next to her also raised her head when she heard this, showing a curious look. She was holding a book and flipping through the introduction to the elixir, even though she had almost memorized it. They both also have the elixir of good fortune, but they haven't used it yet. After all, there is nothing in the school that requires good luck.

"I don't understand what you are talking about..."

These outstanding students can occasionally act strangely, and Loren and Hermione are no exception.

Harry shook his head and didn't care. He picked up the elixir on the table, unscrewed the cap, took a good measure and took a small sip.

"How do you feel?" The three friends all looked over.

Harry squinted his eyes, twitched the corners of his mouth twice, and smiled unconsciously.

A real warm current surges through the body, as if under a happy spell, the body and mind are happy, golden light flashes in the mind, inspiration keeps emerging, and I feel like I can do anything now.

"Feels... great..."

Harry stood up suddenly and said, "You guys go to Hagrid first. My intuition... no, it was the Felixir that told me that I should invite Professor Slughorn to attend the funeral now."

"Are you sure?" Loren raised his hand and waved it in front of this man's eyes. Now Harry didn't look very smart.

"I'm...sure?"

Harry paused for a moment in his answer. The moment he met Loren's gaze, the golden light spots in his mind became more active, and some very unclear and vague thoughts kept flashing. He tilted his head and thought for a while, perhaps because of the lack of valid information. , or invite Slughorn's intuition is clearer.

"You go to Hagrid's place and wait for me first." Harry waved his hand and walked towards the portrait hole.

"OK."

Loren watched him gradually go away, the figure covered with a layer of crystal golden light.

…

The semicircular waxing moon hangs high.

Next to the pumpkin patch of the Forbidden Forest Lodge, a hill of dirt and rocks was piled up, and a rough and wide grave pit was opened to the sky. The body of Aragog, the Acromantula, lay quietly next to it, with a pair of large claws hanging powerlessly beside it. It was white fluff, with traces of curse scratches remaining on the shell. It was dark and furry, with a strange light shining in its eyes.

Loren and the others stood nearby silently, breathing the air that smelled of earth and grass.

Hagrid lay slumped next to the mound, his moleskin coat stained with mud, his shoulders twitching from time to time, his sobs filled with sorrow, and tears flowing from his small black eyes and falling into his beard.

"Fortunately, I got there in time and managed to move Aragog's body out with great difficulty. Let me tell you, they usually eat the body, but I wanted to give him a decent funeral and send him off...

"I knew it, I knew it...it has been ill for several months and has never recovered...

"We have been together for such a long time..."

The hound Yaya curled up at his master's feet, nuzzling his trousers in a sensible manner, purring comfortingly from his throat.

Hermione took a few steps forward and patted his shoulder gently: "Don't be too sad, Hagrid. As a spider, Aragog has lived long enough."

Loren nodded in agreement.

"I know, I know, thank you, I thought you wouldn't come..." Hagrid wiped his tears with his shirt, blinked his small black eyes, and realized that there was no Harry around, and suddenly showed some Aggrieved expression.

Ron quickly explained: "Harry has something to do and will be delayed for a few minutes."

Hagrid sniffed.

A few minutes later, the sound of rustling footsteps sounded from behind. Several people turned their heads and saw two figures, one fat and one thin, gradually approaching. The thin Harry walked happily, and the fat Slughorn panted behind.

"Harry, you're here."

"Hagrid, my condolences."

Hagrid hugged Harry, the sadness on his face softened a little, and he looked up at the Potions Professor who was greeting Loren and the others.

"Horace."

"Merlin, is this really an Acromantula?" Slughorn's eyes were attracted by the huge spider corpse, and his eyes unconsciously glanced at its venom glands. "I heard from Harry that this is your friend, Hagrid, I'm sorry to hear this news."

"It's okay, Aragog would be very happy if he knew you could come to its funeral."

"..."

The two professors stood in front of the corpse and greeted each other. The students behind them gathered together to talk. Harry told how he followed the guidance of the Felix Felicis to the greenhouse, and how he met Slughorn who was collecting herbs. How he inadvertently revealed the news of the Acromantula and invited him to attend the funeral.

Loren stroked the stone in his pocket and observed the different colors on the bodies of several people. Harry was still lingering with the golden color of the Felix Felicis, Hagrid's sadness was a cold gray, and Slughorn concealed the excitement in his heart.

It was a pity that Aragog had been dead for some time, and his body did not have any special color.

"Well, Hagrid, I don't want to disrespect your friend, but the venom of the Acromanthus is extremely rare. Can you let me take some? It's purely for academic research."

"Well, it won't be used anyway, right?"

"Thank Aragog, in the name of potions!" Slughorn said excitedly, happily stepped forward to take out the ampoule, and neatly collected the spider venom. The senior potion professor was skilled in his movements.

The venom of the Acromanthus is expensive, but Loren still has dozens of ounces in reserve in his pendant, so he doesn't have any thoughts on it.

"Aragog relied on its venom to settle in the Forbidden Forest and opened up a breeding ground for the tribe." Hagrid looked at him taking the venom and revealed a nostalgic look.

Slughorn took two full tubes and returned to his original place with satisfaction. Seeing the sadness on Hagrid's face, he immediately restrained his smile and deliberately showed a heavy expression: "Would you like me to say a few words of eulogy?"

"Of course."

"Farewell, Aragog, King of Spiders, those who know you will never forget your long-term loyal friendship! Although your body will decay, your spirit will remain in the quiet, spider-webbed place of your forest home. May your many-eyed descendants continue to multiply, and may your human friends be comforted in their grief..."