Disclaimer: I do not own Harry potter or anything else I could be sued for and I am poor as hell.

A.N: Another chapter for you all to read. I'm currently visiting a friend so this was done using my laptop. From what I can tell this chapter should be no worse grammatically then the others but let me know what you all think.I want to thank everyone that's sent me a review so far, I know I don't point it out as much as some might but I am grateful for them all, even the simple ones. As usual, please read and review; I hope you all enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Chapter 16: Midnight Picnic Panic

Harry was starting to worry that Daphne might have changed her mind about coming with him. It was already quarter after eleven and Harry was reluctant to leave, but he also didn't want to stand outside the Slytherin common room all night. A few more minutes passed and Harry was about to give it up for a bad night all around when the Slytherin entrance opened up. He watched Daphne slip out and immediately threw his cloak over her. She startled for a minute until she recognized Harry and calmed down.

"Sorry Harry, professor Snape was keeping a better eye on us tonight then he usually would."

"I was worried for a while there." Harry admitted, letting his relief show.

"Don't worry Harry I would never stand you up, without good reason anyway." Daphne assured him before linking their arms and leading Harry away from the Slytherin dungeons. Harry was content to follow her for now, curious to see if she had found any of the passage ways he had found on his way down here. She used a few and they were quickly at the entrance hall. Harry led her to a statue off to the side that he knew opened just at the beginning of the Forbidden forest. The tunnel was dark and once the statue closed Harry cast a lumos spell to light their way.

"Well this is pleasant." Daphne said sarcastically noting the tunnel was a part of the castle but had clearly not been maintained in centuries. This was confirmed for her when she heard the crunch of bones under her feet.

"Sorry Daphne, but this is the only way out of the castle that leads to the Forbidden forest that I know of. If we had gone out the main doors we would probably both be in detention right now." Harry apologized trying to explain his reasoning to Daphne. He was worried that she might want to turn back as he was looking forward to showing her his family.

"It's alright, what's life without a bit of adventure." Daphne tried to say bravely, but Harry could hear the hesitance in her voice. He had been looking for it and could only sigh when his fears were confirmed. He was delighted when his wand illuminated a door just down the way. Walking over to it quickly he opened it up and Harry and Daphne made their way out of the tunnel. The tunnel came out on the side of the castle and just at the forest line, so they could see a line of trees to their right of them going off into the distance.

"Well it's certainly an interesting perspective." Harry said trying to point out the uniqueness of their position. Daphne agreed and gave a small smile to Harry who could only smile in return.

"Come on." Harry said excitedly, grabbing her hand lightly and turning her to walk into the forest on a small path. They quickly reached a clearing only a little ways into the forest and Harry pulled out his wand to cast a cushioning charm and heating charm on a stump for Daphne. She thanked him and took a seat wondering when she would get to meet Harry's friend.

"Alright so where is he?"

"He's around; I wanted to make sure you wouldn't flip out when you meet him first." Harry said nervously.

"Harry, unless it's Nickolas Flamel I don't think I'll flip out." Daphne said with exasperation.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." Harry said with a small half grin, which Daphne thought was too suspicious by half.

"Pearl, are you ready to meet Daphne?" Harry asked him, hoping Pearl didn't scare her too much.

"Oh please, I've been waiting here for hours already." Pearl answered slowly appearing from behind Daphne. Harry sat next to her and put an arm around her shoulder to prevent her from doing anything drastic just in case as he noted Pearl start to come around from her side silently. He felt Daphne freeze up as she saw the huge snake and she let out a startled gasp. Before Daphne could act or turn to Harry to point out the danger they were apparently in Harry spoke up.

"Daphne, meet Pearl. Pearl this is Daphne, she can't understand you but I'll translate." Harry said, more for the benefit of Daphne then Pearl. After a few moments Daphne began to calm down as noticed the snake didn't move or do anything after it appeared.

"You're Harry's friend?" Daphne asked hesitantly. She was somewhat startled to actually get a nodded reply from the huge snake and finally she blew out a shaky breath.

"You'd think with me being a Slytherin I wouldn't fear snakes."

"You should have seen how I reacted the first time I saw him."

"When did you meet?" Daphne asked curiously.

"We met in the beginning of summer, it's a long story." Harry told her. He was reluctant to tell her anymore about the summer but she managed to drag the rest of his summer out of him over the next half hour through seemingly simple questions. Harry had to admit she really fit the bill for Slytherins.

"Do you always get what you want?" Harry asked Daphne when she finished getting the last of the story out of him.

"Usually if it's something I really want I tend to get it." Daphne admitted with a smile.

"You're more of a snake then Pearl." Harry said with a laugh, his tone of voice telling Daphne it was a simple jest and not meant as an insult. Not that she thought Harry would ever insult her anyway; he just wasn't that type of person. Harry translated for Pearl whenever he had something to add and they chatted for another half hour before Harry decided to bring out his surprise for Daphne. As he undid the shrinking charm of the picnic basket Daphne smiled as said, "That's awfully thoughtful of you to prepare snacks Harry."

"You almost make it sound as if I'm dense." Harry asked in faked hurt tones causing Daphne to laugh and bump her shoulder against him slightly.

"Perhaps I am?" She said playfully.

"Perhaps I am dense, I'll have you know that this was mostly Pearls idea…the picnic that is, not the walk, that was all me." Harry said with a mixture of humor and smugness.

"Thank you Pearl." Daphne said with a laugh and she tentatively patted the giant snake on the head.

"He really likes it if you rub just behind the ridges of his eyes." Harry told her noting that Pearl had finally moved close enough for Daphne to actually reach him. He had been moving steadily closer to her as she grew more comfortable in his presence. Harry admitted to himself that had he not been running on overdrive and able to talk to snakes he probably would not be half as calm around Pearl as Daphne was right now. He observed and heard the sigh in Pearl's hiss as Daphne did as Harry suggested. Harry finished prepping the picnic Daphne got up to sit down with Harry on the blanket.

"I have to admit Harry; I'm impressed you know the cushioning charm so well." Daphne told him when she noted that the ground under the blanket didn't feel hard.

"It's a very useful charm." Harry said bluntly, "So is this one." Harry said summoning Daphne's goblet so he could pour her a drink from the pitcher. Daphne was suitably impressed with his feat and told him so, much to his embarrassment and pride.

Things were going good for the two and they finished up their meal quickly. Pearl coiled around the blanket and placed his head in Harry's lap, which he immediately began to pet softly, as he talked to Daphne about every day things going on in the school and their common rooms. It was interesting to hear that there was specific hierarchy in the Slytherin common room that Harry knew would not be found in any of the other houses.

"So the leaders basically rule the common room?"

"Pretty much, they usually just set specific times that specific years may use the room or what parts of the room certain years have access too. It isn't really a problem, but it was kind of annoying to be stuck in my dorm the whole time the fifth and seventh year took their OWLs or NEWTs." Daphne explained to Harry, surprised a little that Harry really found any of this interesting.

"Wow, we Gryffindor's just use the common room as if a pack of zoo animals were unleashed. It's a damn good thing house elves like to clean or we'd get in trouble a lot more than we do." Harry said somewhat dismayed by the level of order to the Slytherins had in their lives while in their own common room, especially when compared to his own houses common room.

He felt like he was riding on cloud nine being able to just talk to Daphne without thinking about anything else. He had Pearl and Daphne with him, and it was an amazing night out, life was perfect. Or it was until he saw a pure white owl flying low overhead, an owl that was clearly injured and was also clearly Hedwig.

Harry jumped to his feet and gave a wave to Hedwig unsure for some reason if Hedwig would be able to find him in her current state. He really should have known better as she was already angling her descent directly at him, about half way to him her wings crumbled and Harry jumped to catch her, not even realizing that at worse she would have landed on Pearl at the time. He ended up sprawled across Pearls coiled body, which caused Pearl to hiss in minor annoyance at the sudden pressure to his body in various places, with Hedwig in his hands. He was relieved to note she was still alive, but she looked weak and she was missing several feathers.

"Harry a large group of Acromantula's are headed this way, too large for us to dodge." Pearl told him, the tone of his voice telling Harry he was getting ready to fight as fleeing was apparently not an option. Harry ignored Pearl for a minute while he cast some minor healing spells on Hedwig but he couldn't do much more then stop most of the bleeding from her various cuts. Finally what Pearl said registered with Harry and he turned to look at Pearl as he handed Hedwig off to Daphne.

"I thought you said Acromantula would avoid you Pearl?" Harry asked feeling minor annoyance at his familiar for his apparent lie.

"They do, or so I would have thought before today, whatever is with these spiders they are making it clear they have no intention of going around, we have a few seconds at best Harry. Stay within my coils, I will protect you and Daphne as best as I can." Pearl said somewhat annoyed himself at their current predicament, but he started sending as much confidence to Harry through their mental connection as he could manage to help calm Harry down. Pearl moved and recoiled himself around the blanket, he managed to provide a wall for Harry and Daphne by coiling his body on top of itself, though it only came up to Harry's thigh.

"What's going on Harry?" Daphne said looking over Hedwig straightening out feathers as best she could, hoping that it would help the poor owl in some way at least. She managed to cast a minor pain relieving spell but it was nothing special and she didn't know any other healing spells.

"Well, remember how I said Pearl could protect us from Acromantula's?" Harry said sighing at the apparent inevitability of this moment ruining his relationship with Daphne.

"Yeah?" Daphne said, her voicing shaking slightly as her mind began to piece together what Harry had just said meant.

"Apparently the Acromantula have decided they no longer fear snakes of his caliber, and theirs basically a whole nest coming at us from what Pearl can tell" Harry said with a grim tone.

"Oh god, we need to get out of here." Daphne explained picking up Hedwig and beginning to look left and right, her mind looking for the best possible escape route.

"We can't Daphne, there's too many, the line runs for hundreds of yards in each directions, we would have to run further into the forest at a full sprint, maintaining a diagonal line just to maintain our distance from them as we moved to get around them." Harry explained, trying to nicely state they could only die by trying to run.

"What are we going to do then?" Daphne yelled frustrated.

"Pearl will protect us, and I'll protect you." Harry said simply. He stated it with such confidence and pure courage that Daphne was able to calm down enough for her mind to begin to process what was occurring in a more Slytherin manner. Eventually she turned to Harry, who looked to be observing the outlying trees. It was hard to believe that only a few minutes had passed since Hedwig had landed.

"Only a Gryffindor…" She said watching as Harry began to stretch and practice wand movements.

"What was that?"

"Nothing Harry." Daphne said beginning to copy Harry's stretches and practice all the more dangerous spells she knew.

A minute later Pearl twitched and Harry caught a glimpse of something behind one of the trees.

"There here, stay inside the area of the blankets, and remember, aim for their eyes their skin is too tough for your level of spells to penetrate."

"Eyes it is then." Harry said before translating everything Pearl said to Daphne who only nodded in confirmation. Suddenly Pearl was striking at the first spider to get in range, Harry watched in fascination as Pearls fangs cut through the Acromantula like it wasn't even there. He had never seen Pearl feed, but he doubted the snake was this vicious, for the first time he realized how dangerous Pearl really was. Harry quickly discovered that Pearl was able to handle the front end of the attack on his one, striking out a speed that defied common logic and at which Harry could only attribute to Pearls internal magic. He and Daphne were quickly sent to work when spiders tried to climb over pearls coils from the sides. Harry first copied Daphne and used the simple flipping hex to send the smaller spiders away, the large ones appeared to be mainly a part of the frontal assault leaving the smaller spiders to attack Pearl from the side and rear.

"Diffindo" Harry yelled casting his first and only sure fire offensive spell against the spiders. He doubted he'd ever forget what happened next. His spell aimed true and severed the nearest spider's eyes. Harry was disgusted as the spider wailed in agony blood pouring rapidly from eye sockets that still had dangling pieces of eye flesh attached to it, the spider thrashed around biting into its own kin causing what Harry could only describe as a horrific wash of bloodshed and violence as the younger spiders lost in madness of the night and the pain filled screams of their brothers and sisters, as each new spider was injured, attacked and killed each other. As suddenly as it started, it was over. Harry looked over to see Daphne staring wide eyed in his direction, he felt a sudden sadness wash over him as he realized Daphne had just witnessed the same massacre he had witnessed. It was only the spider coming up behind Daphne and Pearls muffled, "Harry this is no time for laziness, the bigger ones are coming in fast."

"What" Harry practically yelled, casting flippendo on the spider behind Daphne sending it flying before turning to see what Pearl was talking about. He didn't even notice the look Daphne had given him as he had seemingly casted directly at her. When she realized what he had done she got back to work at casting banishing charms at the spiders, which she knew thanks to her father, and at the same time wondering if she would ever be able to get that sight out of her mind ever again.

Harry did not like what he saw when he looked to where Pearl was. What Pearl meant by bigger spiders was one big spider that was easily eight feet tall followed by more than just a few spiders around 4 feet tall. Considering he had thought the two feet ones attack Pearl before were big he was about ready to faint at the sight before him.

"Please tell me this isn't a big problem Pearl" Harry said feeling a little desperate for some reassurance right about now.

"I would be lying if I said it wasn't a problem, and it certainly is big isn't it Harry." Pearl said jokingly. Harry almost snapped at him before he realized that the joke was meant to calm him down and reassure him; which, once he thought about it, did.

"Remember Harry attack the eyes, banishing them will only be a reprieve, unless you think you can hold them off until I kill the leader." Pearl said. This time Harry caught the joke but didn't really think it funny considering their situation. He told himself he could do it for Daphne, no he would do if for Daphne. His resolved strengthened Harry took the time to look around, while only a few seconds had passed during their conversation he could see that taller, bigger spiders had already surrounded Pearl. Daphne was doing a good job keeping the remains of the now tiny, in Harry's mind, spiders away from pearl. She had yet to cast any serious spells though and Harry was worried she wouldn't be able to stomach it if the spiders attacked each other again. He walked up to her and began helping her banish the smaller spiders, which was somewhat hard for him as he hadn't actually learned the banishing charm until tonight, though he knew of it before.

"Are you ok Daphne?" Harry asked, he noted she was getting tired but he could do nothing for her at the moment.

"Despite not being known for their stupid bravery like Gryffindor's, Slytherins are more than capable in a fight. I admit I was surprised by what we saw just a moment ago, but I assure you I won't hold you back." Daphne snapped at him. Harry had to admit that the barb stung and he couldn't bring himself to say anything more to Daphne. Daphne's comment did enable him to focus on the oncoming spiders as he didn't want to think any more on the pain he felt inside at her words. He poured all his frustration into his spells and cast the severing charm with a vengeance at the taller spiders that were now charging at them. Likely due to his fury at the spiders for ruining his night and at his apparent loss of his relationship with Daphne he let his magic run wild within him. He thought back to the day he took the inheritance test, the feeling of the magic being drawn from him; he let that feeling flow through him, pouring his magic out his wand arm. He was no longer aware of what he was casting, nor was he aware that Daphne had stopped casting to watch as Harry unleashed near unheard levels of magic for his age. His spells ripped through the spiders like a deadly wind yet Pearl and Daphne remained untouched by the spells, as if magic itself was answering Harry's subconscious desire to protect them both. Daphne only barely noticed the epic battle going on between the giant snake and the giant spider, as she only had eyes for Harry. She didn't know what was going on and her brain could not process it, Harry was glowing with the level of magic pouring out of him. A small part of her realized she might be going into shock, but she was unable to do anything about herself as the largest portion of her brain focused acutely on the boy in front of her.

Harry's conscious was only aware of one thing; the world was very, very bright. So bright he could no longer see. He could however feel, he felt everything acutely, he could feel the cloth of his pants and shirt, he could feel every fray of the fabric, he felt the prickles of grass on his feet, having taken off his shoes before eating, he felt the sweat on his brow running down his face, joining with his tears. Tears of wonder and joy of the feeling flowing through him, tears of sadness at what his subconscious knew it was doing to both him and to the spiders. Eventually blackness developed around the white and Harry's subconscious mind urged him towards that darkness. Harry welcomed it knowing somehow it was the key to his survival.