After Ron caught a clear glimpse of the true appearance of the Acromantula in Morris's hand, he instinctively recoiled. His face drained of color, turning even paler than before, as if he had just seen a ghastly apparition.
Seeing Ron's reaction, Morris tilted his head, a bit puzzled. "Are you… really afraid of spiders? It's alright. It's already passed out," he said, trying to sound reassuring.
"Look!" he added, holding the spider right up to Ron's face. Its long, hairy legs quivered in the air, almost brushing against his nose.
"Ah—!" Ron screamed, his voice cracking as a sudden, deafening buzzing filled his mind. The world blurred, and darkness clawed at his vision. His body went limp, slumping backward uncontrollably, and his consciousness drifted away like a kite with a broken string.
"Ron!" Harry shouted, rushing to grab him, but it was too late. Ron had already fallen straight backward. Only George's quick reflexes saved him, catching Ron just in time so that the back of his head didn't meet the cold stone floor.
Morris froze, bewildered. He had only intended to lighten the mood with a little joke—how could this boy just faint? Were wizards really that afraid of spiders?
George sighed, a hint of helplessness in his expression. Laying Ron carefully on the ground, he explained, "Don't mind him, Morris. He's been terrified of spiders since he was a kid. When we were little… we teased him a bit, and it left a… psychological shadow."
Morris tilted his head in curiosity. "Teased him? How?"
Fred smirked at the memory. "Just a little prank. When Ron was tiny, he had this toy broomstick he loved so much he slept with it every day. One day, we turned it into a giant spider."
George shrugged, adding, "That was during one of our Magical Outbursts. We couldn't control it properly."
Morris felt a surge of sympathy for Ron. Having two mischievous brothers like Fred and George must have been exhausting. Childhood traumas, even the seemingly minor ones, could leave scars that lasted a lifetime.
Harry, watching Ron lie unconscious, asked helplessly, "So… what do we do now?"
"Leave it to us," Fred said confidently. He and George lifted Ron carefully. "Once we get him back to the Common Room, a few sips of Pepperup Potion will wake him right up."
Harry exhaled, relief washing over him. The day had been eventful—especially for Ron.
"One more thing," Fred said, turning to Harry, his expression serious. "Don't tell anyone about this."
"I wasn't planning to," Harry replied with a faint smile. Besides, who else could he tell? Other friends might tease Ron, or misunderstand. Only Ron knew how he felt about spiders.
Just then, a sudden cough echoed down the corridor. All four of them turned at the same time and saw a tiny figure approaching—so small, he barely reached the height of the first-year Morris.
"Professor Flitwick?" Fred asked in surprise.
"I believe curfew is approaching, Fred, George," the small professor said in a crisp, serious tone. He took a few careful steps toward them. "You should return to your respective dormitories immediately."
"Wait… what happened to that student?" Fred's gaze fell on Ron, still unconscious and supported by the twins.
Professor Flitwick's eyes narrowed, sharp and discerning. "Ah… and this student?"
Fred forced a light, casual smile. "Nothing serious, Professor. He just saw a little spider and fainted from fright. We're taking him back to the dorm to rest. Goodbye."
"Ah, just because of a spider?" Professor Flitwick shook his head, exasperated but faintly amused. Yet his gaze fell on Ron again, noting the pale skin, the slight bloodstains, and bandages on his leg. Something wasn't right.
And then his eyes caught the Acromantula in Morris's hand. His short stature belied a sudden, intense authority.
"Wait!" he squeaked, pointing at the spider. "This is what you call a little spider?"
The Weasley twins and Morris exchanged quick, stiff nods. Their coordination was almost theatrical.
Flitwick stepped forward, waving his wand. The spider floated up obediently and hovered in front of him.
"…An Acromantula?" The professor's whiskers twitched, and his tone was sharp with anger. "Whose is this?"
Morris opened his mouth to explain, but Fred quietly tugged his sleeve and whispered first. "Professor, George and I… accidentally found it by the edge of the forest."
"I assume you recognize such a forbidden creature," Professor Flitwick said, his voice stern. "Why did you not report it to a professor immediately?"
Fred lowered his head in apology. "Sorry, Professor," he said sincerely. George nodded in agreement. Morris, observing them, realized these twins had perfected the art of apology—it came naturally to them.
Flitwick hurried to Ron and checked his injuries carefully. After a brief examination, he sighed in relief. "Fortunately, nothing is severe. The injuries have been treated properly, and there should be no need to trouble Madam Pomfrey."
Then, turning to Morris and Harry, he asked sharply, "Were the three of you attacked by this spider?"
Both boys nodded obediently.
"First, take the injured student back to the dormitory," Flitwick instructed, his short legs moving briskly. He then turned to Fred and George with renewed gravity. "The two of you will come to my office later. We need to discuss this spider and your actions tonight. It will be a serious conversation."
The twins exchanged a resigned glance. They were used to this routine. Fred leaned toward Morris and whispered just loud enough for him to hear, "Don't worry, Morris. We'll handle this. Professor Flitwick won't be too harsh. Maybe a few points lost and a short detention—that's it."
George winked, signaling Morris to relax.
Grateful, Morris whispered back, "Thanks." Though the twins were chaotic and unreliable at times, they weren't bad people. It seemed wise to stay on good terms with them.
Morris returned to his dormitory alone. Curfew had already passed, but that didn't matter. As for the spider, Professor Flitwick hadn't returned it, so Morris likely wouldn't see it again.
Walking through the empty halls, he reflected on the little professor. Short, odd features—was it dwarfism, or perhaps a unique bloodline? Either way, this would be his Charms professor. He couldn't help but wonder how proficient the little man would be with spells.
The day had been exhausting. Ron's fainting incident, the Acromantula, and the twins' usual mischief had all combined into a chaotic adventure. But, in the end, it had been manageable—and surprisingly, Morris felt a budding respect for the twins' loyalty and cleverness.
As he reached his dormitory, he paused briefly, glancing back at the dimly lit corridor. Hogwarts was full of surprises, some frightening, some exasperating, but all part of the life he had chosen. And though the day had tested him, he had survived—and learned that even in chaos, allies could be found in the most unexpected places.
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