Aragog, who had originally been about to leave, hesitated for a moment and said slowly, "Hagrid has never sent anyone to me before."
Seeing this opening, Dudley spoke up, "Hagrid has encountered some trouble and is temporarily not at Hogwarts."
"May I ask, do you know anything about the Chamber of Secrets?"
"The Chamber of Secrets?" Aragog pondered for a moment, seeming to fall into deep thought.
Around them was the continuous clicking sound of numerous spider pincers colliding together—making people feel increasingly on edge.
After a while, Aragog spoke again, "That was many years ago. Why do you ask about this?"
"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened again. They think Hagrid was the one who opened it last time—so this time they took Hagrid away without even questioning him," Dudley said calmly.
"They are still so foolish," Aragog said in a cold, disdainful voice.
"Back then, it was precisely because of this incident that Hagrid was expelled from school—but Hagrid was wrongly accused."
"I was the monster Hagrid was raising at that time, but I was not the monster from the Chamber of Secrets. They thought Hagrid had opened the Chamber and then released me. How ridiculous."
Hearing this revelation, Dudley's and the others' expressions all changed.
They all knew that Hagrid was most likely wrongly accused—but they hadn't expected there to be such specific details involved.
Hagrid had actually been raising a monster at Hogwarts. Although this monster hadn't hurt anyone, looking at the giant spider with such a massive body before them, no one would think this creature was particularly friendly.
Moreover, Dudley and Hermione had already guessed its identity from this spider's appearance. An Acromantula! This was a very terrifying magical creature that—by nature—ate humans.
Having such a monster in the school—what was Hagrid thinking?
Even though they were Hagrid's friends, they didn't think this was the right thing to do.
"I came from a distant land. A traveller gave me to Hagrid when Hagrid was still a child, and he has been taking care of me ever since. He is a good person," Aragog continued.
"Later, people discovered me and made me responsible for that dead girl. It was Hagrid who stood up to protect me—he would rather be expelled than betray me."
"Later, he even found me a wife. Look around—those are all my descendants. All of this is thanks to Hagrid."
Ron glanced at the surrounding spiders and felt his scalp tingle with revulsion.
After hearing this, Dudley thought for a moment and then asked again, "So from birth until now, you have never attacked anyone—is that right?"
"No!" Aragog said with some resentment. "Although it is my instinct, Hagrid wouldn't let me attack humans—so I have never harmed anyone."
"That murdered girl was found in a bathroom, while I was kept by Hagrid in a cupboard and never went to other parts of the castle."
"Bathroom?" Dudley frowned slightly. This was key information.
Although he couldn't think of anything specific yet, Dudley instinctively felt this news was very important.
"One last question. Do you know what the monster in the Chamber of Secrets is?" Dudley asked.
He had actually already determined that this spider should know about that thing. Because from the previous situation, spiders seemed very afraid of that creature—which was why they fled from the castle. As a member of the giant spiders, Aragog's perception was definitely much more acute than other spiders.
"That fellow in the castle is an ancient creature that we spiders fear most," Aragog said with obvious emotion.
"I remember very clearly—when I sensed that thing was active in the school, I once begged Hagrid to let me go. But Hagrid didn't do that."
"Hagrid really should have released this spider," Ron said quietly.
Harry nodded, agreeing completely.
Perhaps if that spider had been released at that time, Hagrid wouldn't have been expelled later—and he wouldn't just be a gamekeeper now.
Dudley looked at Aragog and continued asking, "What is that thing?"
They were already very close to the answer.
As long as they knew what that fellow was—what ancient creature—dealing with it would be much easier.
"We don't speak of it!" Aragog said with sudden agitation. "We don't say its name—I didn't even tell Hagrid the name of that terrible creature, even though he asked me many times. I still didn't say it—this is our taboo!"
Dudley frowned with frustration.
"Can't say?"
Seeing the answer right in front of them but being unable to know it, Dudley's expression became somewhat grim.
"Perhaps you could reveal some information to me, so I can research it myself," Dudley said.
He didn't want to force this spider—but he desperately wanted to get the answer.
He had already learnt some information. He just needed Aragog to reveal a little more, and he would be able to narrow down the scope and quickly identify that monster.
"Can't say. I could never tell you," Aragog said in an icy voice.
Its eight eyes covered with white mist swept a glance in Dudley's direction—then its body slowly curled up as it retreated toward the depths of the spider web.
At the same time, the surrounding spiders began to grow restless.
Their dark, hairy legs began to shake violently, and the sound of clashing pincers became continuous—making people's scalps tingle with dread.
"Thank you for your answers," Dudley said diplomatically.
"Let's go."
The situation here was becoming somewhat ominous. Since Aragog refused to speak even if it killed him, Dudley didn't plan to continue questioning—lest he anger this monster.
After all, it was an Acromantula, not exactly a gentle creature.
However, he had already obtained quite a lot of information. He just needed to go back and research thoroughly—and it would still be easy to find the answer.
"Ancient magical creature, natural enemy of spiders, deadly yellow eyes..." Dudley gradually connected this information together. He could feel the answer hovering just beyond his grasp—like a word on the tip of his tongue that refused to surface.
"Leave? Heh heh—I never said you could leave here," Aragog suddenly said with menacing amusement.
"What?" Everyone who had been preparing to retreat changed expressions with alarm.
"We are Hagrid's friends," Ron emphasised again desperately.
"You can't harm us—you promised Hagrid," Hermione also said anxiously.
"I did promise Hagrid that I wouldn't harm humans—but this doesn't include my children! They obey my commands and haven't harmed Hagrid, but when fresh human meat delivers itself to our door—I can't stop them from enjoying it. Moreover, such tender-skinned students, that taste..." Aragog's voice took on a predatory quality.
"Goodbye, friends of Hagrid."
Aragog said with a hint of a cruel smile—completely indifferent to their pleas.