As the Christmas holiday came to an end, David and his friends were escorted back to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters by Newt Scamander. They boarded the Hogwarts Express, returning to school as the castle remained adorned with festive decorations. The Great Hall still housed more than a dozen beautifully decorated Christmas trees, their branches twinkling under the enchanted ceiling, which was wrapped in garlands of holly and scutellaria.
Near the entrance, Hagrid was struggling to lift a massive fir tree onto a cart. He planned to push them into the Forbidden Forest, where Professor Sprout could replant them for the next year.
"Hagrid, need a hand?" David called out.
"Much obliged!" Hagrid grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. "How was Christmas?"
"It was wonderful—the happiest Christmas I've ever had!" Harry beamed as he ran to embrace Hagrid around the waist.
David, with a flick of his wand, levitated two Christmas trees onto the cart. The overloaded cart groaned in protest.
"That's enough, that's enough!" Hagrid waved his hands hurriedly. "I'll come back for the rest later."
With Hagrid gone, David and Harry took a seat on the nearby benches. Ron joined them, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Do you think Percy has noticed yet?" Ron chuckled.
"He must have by now," David mused. "The prank was too obvious."
Ron was referring to Fred and George's latest mischief—turning Percy's Head Boy badge into one that read "Dunderhead."
"I doubt he has," Ron said confidently. "A Sickle says he hasn't."
"You're on," David smirked. "I say he's noticed."
"Harry, care to wager?" Ron asked.
Harry hesitated before agreeing, siding with Ron. Hermione, however, shook her head. "Fred and George's pranks are never subtle. Someone would have told Percy."
With the bet settled, they awaited the outcome. Eventually, Percy went about his duties, oblivious to the prank, and David had to begrudgingly hand over a Sickle to Ron.
The castle soon returned to its usual rhythm, no longer overshadowed by the lurking threat of the Basilisk. David enjoyed a peaceful school life—attending classes, studying in the library with Hermione, and occasionally practicing new spells. Dumbledore had also translated several ancient magic texts for him, adding to his excitement.
But peace at Hogwarts never lasted.
By late March, the sun had grown warmer, casting golden light through the windows of the library. David sat at a desk, gazing outside at the birds in flight. His eyelids grew heavy, his head nodding with exhaustion.
"David, what's wrong? Did you sneak into the Forbidden Forest last night?" Hermione's voice broke through his drowsiness.
David jolted awake. "Of course not! I was in the dormitory. Ron can vouch for me—he kept me up half the night playing wizard's chess."
"You should've told him no!" Hermione scolded.
"Next time, I will."
Just then, a flash of red appeared. Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, landed gracefully on David's shoulder, a small, crumpled note tied to its talon. David carefully untied it and unfolded the parchment.
"Come to the Forbidden Forest."
Hermione peered over his shoulder, her unruly curls obstructing his view. Instinctively, David reached up and ruffled her hair, as if she were a playful Kneazle.
Hermione instantly recoiled, her face flushing. "What are you doing?!"
David coughed awkwardly. "Dumbledore's calling me—it might be urgent. I need to go."
As he rushed out, Hermione hesitated, then followed after him.
By the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Dumbledore stood with a solemn expression, his eyes fixed on the treetops. Beside him, Snape smirked with an unusual sense of satisfaction.
"Professor Snape, why do you look so pleased?" David asked.
Snape's smile vanished instantly. "You must be imagining things, Scamander. Perhaps you need a potion to correct your eyesight."
Before David could retort, hurried footsteps echoed from the trees. Hagrid emerged, gripping a massive crossbow. Behind him, Professor McGonagall followed, her face grave.
"Dumbledore, the centaurs were right," McGonagall reported. "The Acromantulas have gone berserk."
Snape seized the moment. "This is your fault, Hagrid."
Hagrid lowered his head, his eyes red-rimmed. Dumbledore raised a hand to silence Snape. "Now is not the time for blame. Hagrid, do you know why the Acromantulas are behaving this way?"
"They were fine before," Hagrid choked out. "They always listened to me…"
David frowned. "What about Aragog?"
Hagrid's voice was barely a whisper. "He's missing. If he were here, he'd never allow this."
Dumbledore sighed. "The centaurs reported that the Acromantulas' eyes are glowing red. Something has driven them mad. We must find out what."
David turned to Dumbledore. "Should we call my grandfather?"
"I already did." Dumbledore gestured to Fawkes, who had just returned. The phoenix carried a note, but Newt Scamander was nowhere in sight.
David unfolded the note, his eyes narrowing. "Newt can't come. There's a werewolf uprising in America, and they need Dumbledore's help."
"How convenient," Dumbledore murmured, deep in thought. "It seems someone wants me preoccupied."
"Who?" Snape asked.
"Whoever orchestrated this." Dumbledore's expression hardened. "They want me to stay at Hogwarts while chaos brews elsewhere. If necessary, Minerva, consider ending the semester early to ensure the students' safety."
Professor McGonagall looked aghast. "But the school board—"
"I hope it won't come to that," Dumbledore reassured her. "But we must prepare for the worst."
"When will you leave?" Snape asked.
"Immediately. The sooner I handle Newt's situation, the sooner I return." With that, Dumbledore grasped Fawkes' talon, and in a burst of flame, they vanished.
McGonagall took command. "David, stay here and assist us. Miss Granger, inform the other professors and warn students to stay away from the forest."
Hermione hesitated, casting a worried glance at David before running toward the castle.
"David, let's investigate," McGonagall said. "Snape and I will protect you."
As they ventured into the depths of the Forbidden Forest, the air filled with the sounds of battle. The centaurs, forming a defensive line, fired arrows at the advancing Acromantulas. The creatures, their eyes glowing red, screeched, lunging forward with terrifying aggression.
Snape waved his wand, sending a spider into a trap of liquefied earth. Immobilized, the beast thrashed violently, its crimson eyes gleaming with malice.
David knelt beside the creature. "What's causing this?" He drove a sharp spike into its head, killing it instantly, then murmured, "Diffindo."
The spider's body split open, revealing its internal organs. But there was nothing unusual—except for the blood dripping onto David's gloves.
"What could be driving them mad?" he whispered, his gaze fixed on the frenzied horde before him.