The students were too scared to move.
Ron was especially terrified, wishing he could run away.
The Acromantula's black fur gleamed under the sun, and its eight eyes stared densely at the students, as if choosing their dinner.
Harry swallowed, turning his head to look at Draco.
"Hey, Malfoy."
"Aren't you going to go up there and show it who's boss?"
Harry's words were not very harmful, but they were extremely insulting.
Draco's face turned from pale to red, his lips trembled slightly, and his eyes glared at Harry.
Harry was not to be outdone and glared back.
Goyle and Crabbe stood behind Draco, their faces also not looking good. If Draco hadn't still been standing there, they would have immediately turned and fled.
Hagrid noticed the students' fear and called out, somewhat flustered.
"Don't be afraid, everyone!"
"They're very docile, really! As long as you don't provoke them, they won't hurt you."
Ron's lips trembled as he muttered softly.
"Docile my foot."
Hagrid pulled out a large basket from behind him, filled with pre-cut pieces of meat.
"Come on, everyone, step a little closer."
Hagrid waved, signaling the students to move forward.
"As long as you feed the Acromantula the meat, they won't hurt you anymore."
The students looked at each other, but no one dared to move.
Hagrid looked at everyone, somewhat at a loss.
"Just try it, they're really friendly."
Harry took a deep breath and, bracing himself, took a step forward.
Ron immediately grabbed his sleeve.
"Are you crazy?"
"That's an Acromantula, it eats people!"
Harry gritted his teeth.
"Hagrid wouldn't harm us."
He broke free from Ron's hand, walked to the edge of the basket, and picked up a piece of meat.
The meat was wet and warm to the touch, and Harry's hand trembled slightly.
He walked to the nearest Acromantula, extended his hand, and offered the meat.
The Acromantula's eight eyes stared at Harry in unison, then slowly opened its mouth, revealing sharp fangs.
Harry's heart pounded, and his hand trembled even more violently.
The Acromantula stretched out its head, took the meat with its fangs, then stepped back and began to chew.
Hagrid was so happy he almost jumped up.
"Yes, that's it!"
He clapped his hands excitedly.
"Gryffindor, ten points! Harry did very well!"
Harry sighed in relief and turned to walk back to the crowd.
Hagrid looked around.
"Come on, everyone, give it a try!"
Harry turned his head, staring at Draco.
"What, Malfoy?" His voice was laced with provocation.
"Where's your show of dominance?"
At this point, he had successfully fed the Acromantula and was in an unselectable state, so he went straight for a close-up taunt.
Draco's face changed.
The surrounding Gryffindor students all looked over, and Ron spoke directly.
"Yeah, didn't you sound pretty tough just now?"
Draco gritted his teeth, his eyes sweeping over the Acromantula, then looking at the people around him.
He was in a difficult situation.
If he backed down now, his earlier words would become a joke.
Moreover, Harry had already gone, so how could he back down?
Draco took a deep breath and, bracing himself, walked to the edge of the basket and picked up a piece of meat.
He walked to the nearest Acromantula, its eight eyes staring at him in unison.
Draco honestly extended his hand and offered the meat.
If there were winged beasts, he might dare to disobey Hagrid and provoke them. But facing the Acromantula, he didn't dare to be the least bit dishonest.
The Acromantula opened its mouth, took the meat, and chewed.
Hagrid nodded with satisfaction.
"Very good, Draco! Slytherin, ten points!"
He turned around and began to call out to the other students.
"Come on, everyone, give it a try!"
Just then, the Acromantula, seeing that Hagrid's attention was elsewhere, a cunning glint flashed in its eyes, and it made clicking sounds.
"Fresh human flesh... let me eat you."
Draco's body froze.
"Father!!"
...Charlie was unaware of what was happening in the Care of Magical Creatures Class.
This morning's class was Transfiguration.
Professor McGonagall stood at the podium, wand in hand, demonstrating how to turn a teapot into a tortoise.
Her movements were clean and precise; her wand drew an arc in the air, and the teapot instantly transformed into a small tortoise with its head retracted.
"Remember, keep your wrist steady when casting the spell," Professor McGonagall's voice was stern.
"Don't use too much force, or uncontrollable changes will occur."
The students all took out their wands and began to try.
This was a piece of cake for Charlie, who had already mastered it.
He casually waved his wand twice, and the teapot turned into a tortoise. Then he started to daydream, listening to the system remind him of rising tyrant points.
Professor McGonagall didn't bother him; after all, Charlie's skill far exceeded the content of this class, and studying diligently wouldn't yield any new knowledge.
When the bell rang, the students packed their things and left the classroom.
Charlie walked to the podium with his essay.
This was the Animagus essay on magical creatures that Professor McGonagall had assigned last semester. Hermione had finished it during the holidays and given it to Charlie on the first day of school.
"Professor, here is the essay you asked for." He handed over the parchment.
Professor McGonagall took the essay, her eyebrows slightly raised.
"You finished it so quickly?"
For a groundbreaking essay, it was not uncommon to spend a year or even several years on it.
But Charlie had finished it in a few months, which greatly surprised Professor McGonagall.
"Yes." Charlie nodded, then added.
"However, Hermione provided a lot of help for this essay; she is the second author of this paper."
Professor McGonagall's expression was somewhat surprised. She opened the essay and began to skim through it.
The further she read, the more obvious the surprise in her eyes became.
The essay's structure was clear, its arguments well-supported, and it even cited many ancient texts.
"Well written." Professor McGonagall closed the essay, her tone filled with satisfaction.
"I will examine it carefully and make some revisions. If it's up to standard, I will send the essay to transfiguration today."
Charlie nodded; this all conformed to the process of writing an essay.
Just then, the classroom door was suddenly pushed open.
Filch rushed in, panting, his steps hurried, his face flushed, looking very anxious.
He walked to Professor McGonagall's side, bent down, and whispered something in her ear.
Professor McGonagall's face instantly changed.
She stood up abruptly, her voice raised.
"Hagrid let the students touch Acromantula? Why would he do that?"
Charlie's mouth twitched; Hagrid really did that?
He stood in front of the podium, staring straight ahead, silently chanting: It has nothing to do with me, it has nothing to do with me.
Professor McGonagall grabbed her wand and hurried towards the door.
Her steps were fast, her robes billowing behind her, looking like she had a lot to do.
Charlie was somewhat curious about what had happened, so he turned and walked towards the Great Hall.
Harry and the others should be out of class by now; he would go ask what happened.
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