Spider's Lair

Spider's Lair
Location information
Location	Forbidden Forest, Scotland, Great Britain
Permanent residents	Forbidden Forest Acromantula colony
Affiliation	Forbidden Forest Acromantula colony

"Craning his neck sideways, he realised that they had reached the ridge of a vast hollow, a hollow that had been cleared of trees, so that the stars shone brightly on the worst scene he had ever laid eyes on.... Spiders the size of carthorses, eight-eyed, eight-legged, black, hairy, gigantic. The massive specimen that was carrying Harry made its way down the steep slope towards a misty, domed web in the very centre of the hollow, while its fellows closed in all around it, clicking their pincers excitedly at the sight of its load."

— Description

The Spider's Lair, also known as Aragog's Lair, was a large hollow located deep within the Forbidden Forest. It was the home of Aragog after he was forced to leave Hogwarts Castle, and later housed a large colony of Acromantula, the children of Aragog and his mate Mosag. It had been cleared of trees, presumably by its inhabitants, and a large domed web sat in the hollow's centre.

History

Early history

As an egg, Aragog was brought to Scotland in the 1940s by a traveller, and soon came into the possession of Rubeus Hagrid. For some time, he was kept hidden in the basement of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. However, Tom Riddle, requiring a scapegoat to disguise the fact that he had opened the Chamber of Secrets, framed Aragog as Slytherin's monster, and Aragog was forced to flee into the Forbidden Forest. There, he presumably found this hollow and began work on making it his home. Eventually, Hagrid provided Aragog with his mate Mosag, and the two would begin a colony here.

1980s

During the 1987–1988 school year, Jacob's sibling, accompanied by friends, ventured into the Forest Vault, which was guarded by an Acromantula from the Spider's Lair. Jacob's sibling and Charlie Weasley were later attacked by Acromantulas there.

1990s

Harry, Ron and Fang escaping from Aragog's Lair in the Ford Anglia

On 24 May 1993, following Hagrid's advice, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley unwittingly travelled towards Aragog's Lair, only knowing that they were "following the spiders". Nearing the place, a young Acromantula encounters them and brings the two before Aragog. Out of respect for Hagrid, Aragog explains to Harry and Ron of his past, related what little he knew about the Chamber of Secrets by giving the two a small clue of its resident monster, and refrained from personally attacking them, however, he did nothing to prevent his colony from attacking them after their conversation was over. Harry and Ron were saved by the timely arrival of the Weasleys' old car, which carried them out into a safer part of the forest.

"Hermione was not taking the path they had followed to visit Grawp, but the one he had followed three years ago to the lair of the monster Aragog. Hermione had not been with him on that occasion; he doubted she had any idea what danger lay at the end of it."

— Hermione Granger accidentally heads towards Aragog's Lair

Centaurs grabing Dolores Umbridge near Aragog's Lair

On 17 June 1996, as part of a ruse to convince Dolores Umbridge that Albus Dumbledore was working on a weapon of some form in the Forbidden Forest, Hermione Granger and Harry led her deep into the forest, inadvertently coming within close proximity of Aragog's Lair. However, Hermione's plan to get the forest's centaurs to attack Umbridge came to fruition before they got too close to it.

Voldemort "killing" Harry Potter

On 2 May 1998 during the Battle of Hogwarts, Lord Voldemort used Aragog’s Lair in the Forbidden Forest as his base during the one-hour armistice. The Death Eaters drove the Acromantulas out of their habitat, which made them enter the Battle of Hogwarts, attacking members of both sides. It was into this clearing, still with webs draped overhead, that Harry walked to sacrifice himself.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game (First identified as Spider's Lair)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (First identified as Aragog's Lair)
• LEGO Harry Potter
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (Mentioned only)