diff --git a/scripts/bootstrap.py b/scripts/bootstrap.py
index 8183d3b..1e4a13a 100644
--- a/scripts/bootstrap.py
+++ b/scripts/bootstrap.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ import argparse
 import os
 import platform
 import re
+import urllib.request
 from pathlib import Path
 import shutil
 import subprocess
@@ -118,6 +119,7 @@ def run(cmd: list[str], quiet: bool = False, debug: bool = False, cwd: Optional[
 
 
 REPO_URL = "https://code.glowers.club/goyimnose/Medios-Macina.git"
+HYDRUS_INSTALLER_SCRIPT_URL = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hydrusnetwork/hydrus/master/scripts/hydrusnetwork.py"
 
 
 class ProgressBar:
@@ -900,6 +902,16 @@ def main() -> int:
             print(f"Error: Failed to clone repository: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
             return False
 
+    def _download_hydrus_installer(dest: Path) -> bool:
+        """Download the hydrusnetwork.py helper script into the provided path."""
+        try:
+            with urllib.request.urlopen(HYDRUS_INSTALLER_SCRIPT_URL) as response:
+                dest.write_bytes(response.read())
+            return True
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"Error: Failed to download Hydrus installer script: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+            return False
+
     def _ensure_repo_available() -> bool:
         """Prompt for a clone location when running outside the repository."""
         nonlocal repo_root, script_dir, is_in_repo
@@ -1134,28 +1146,30 @@ def main() -> int:
             # Choice 2 is for installing HydrusNetwork standalone/independently.
             # We preferentially use the local script if already in a repo.
             hydrus_script = None
+            temp_installer_path: Path | None = None
             if is_in_repo and repo_root:
                 hydrus_script = repo_root / "scripts" / "hydrusnetwork.py"
             
             if not hydrus_script or not hydrus_script.exists():
-                # If truly not in a repo (Web Installer), we don't want to install
-                # Medios-Macina permanently. We'll use a temporary clone to get the installer.
+                print("Downloading the Hydrus installation helper...")
                 try:
                     import tempfile
-                    # Create a temporary directory that persists for this run
-                    temp_repo = Path(tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="mm_hydrus_"))
-                    if _clone_repo(REPO_URL, temp_repo, depth=1):
-                        hydrus_script = temp_repo / "scripts" / "hydrusnetwork.py"
-                        # We temporarily set repo_root so the script finds its dependencies if needed
-                        repo_root = temp_repo
+
+                    fd, path = tempfile.mkstemp(prefix="mm_hydrus_", suffix=".py")
+                    os.close(fd)
+                    helper_path = Path(path)
+                    if _download_hydrus_installer(helper_path):
+                        hydrus_script = helper_path
+                        temp_installer_path = helper_path
                     else:
                         print("Error: Could not download the installation helper.")
+                        helper_path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
                         return 1
                 except Exception as e:
                     print(f"Error setting up temporary installer: {e}")
                     return 1
 
-            if hydrus_script.exists():
+            if hydrus_script and hydrus_script.exists():
                 try:
                     # Clear out project-venv related env vars to prevent auto-reexec
                     env = os.environ.copy()
@@ -1182,6 +1196,9 @@ def main() -> int:
                     print("\nHydrusNetwork setup exited with an error.")
                 except Exception as e:
                     print(f"\nFailed to run HydrusNetwork setup: {e}")
+                finally:
+                    if temp_installer_path:
+                        temp_installer_path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
             else:
                 print(f"\nError: {hydrus_script} not found.")
             return 0