Chapter 179: The Frenzy of Rowe
Chapter 179: The Frenzy of Rowe
Five minutes into the game, the first goal was finally scored.
It was Angelina of Gryffindor...
Cheers from the stands reverberated like thunder in the cold air.
Kyle clapped along with everyone else. Just as Lee Jordan had said, Angelina was indeed an excellent Chaser.
During her offense, she had soared through the air, breaking through the Slytherin defense on her own.
But just as Kyle finished clapping and was about to turn his attention back to the game, a large, fire-red bird suddenly flew through the crowd and perched on his shoulder.
"Fawkes?"
Kyle looked at the phoenix on his shoulder in surprise.
What was going on? Did the headmaster's bird also enjoy watching Quidditch? He had never heard of such a thing.
The young wizards around him were equally startled.
Cedric stared, his mouth agape, looking like a love-struck fool as he gazed at Fawkes. He was so mesmerized that he almost drooled.
"Th-That's... That's a phoenix, right?!"
"Yes, yes!" Suddenly, he jumped up excitedly, gesticulating as he spoke, "That's a phoenix! It looks exactly like the description in the books!"
"Calm down," Kyle said disdainfully, giving him a sidelong glance. "It's just a phoenix. No big deal."
Cedric pouted at the rebuke.
It was easy to say, but this was the first time he had ever seen a living phoenix.
Meanwhile, Kyle had taken out some white mulberry leaves and offered them to Fawkes.
Snacks were, of course, a must while watching a game.
Unexpectedly, Fawkes didn't eat them. He shook his head and then leaned closer to Kyle's ear, whispering something.
"What is it?"
Kyle frowned, puzzled.
Fawkes hadn't come to watch the game but to deliver a message.
Dumbledore needed to see him.
But the game had just started...
Seeing Kyle's hesitation, Fawkes raised his head and pecked gently at his hair.
"Alright, alright, stop plucking my hair. I'm going," Kyle said as he stood up.
"What's going on?" Connor asked, puzzled.
Kyle whispered, "The headmaster is looking for me. I need to go back to the castle."
"The headmaster?"
"Yes, this phoenix is the headmaster's pet..."
"Do you need our help?" Cedric asked.
"No, you guys continue watching the game."
Kyle hesitated, his eyes lingering on the pitch, before he finally squeezed his way out of the crowd and hurried back toward the castle.
The path was deserted, and along the way, Kyle learned from Fawkes why Dumbledore was seeking him out.
Upon returning to the castle, Kyle climbed the stairs directly to the fourth-floor restricted area.
Dumbledore was already waiting for him there, along with Hagrid.
"Professor, Hagrid."
Kyle greeted them and then furrowed his brow. "I heard from Fawkes that Rowe has gone berserk?"
"I believe so," Dumbledore said softly. "I apologize for interrupting your game, Kyle, but only you can get to the bottom of this."
"It's fine. Rowe is my friend, too," Kyle shook his head. "Can I see him now?"
"Of course."
Dumbledore opened the door and led Kyle inside.
Rowe was lying on the trapdoor, asleep.
"Some necessary precautions," Dumbledore explained. "If he were awake, he would be attacking everything around him, and it would be difficult to contain him behind this door."
"I understand," Kyle nodded.
He stepped forward and carefully examined Rowe's body.
"Professor, can you wake Rowe?" Kyle asked.
"Then you must be prepared, Kyle," Dumbledore said gravely. "Believe me, a raging three-headed dog is far more terrifying than you can imagine."
"It's alright, with you here, I'm sure I won't be harmed," Kyle replied.
"That is the highest compliment indeed." Dumbledore smiled. "The last time I felt so proud was when I became the headmaster of Hogwarts.
Now, step back..."
Dumbledore raised his hand and lightly tapped his wand.
Rowe, who had been lying on the floor, suddenly opened his eyes.
"Roar..."
An angry roar reverberated like thunder throughout the room, shaking dust from the ceiling.
Rowe's muscles tensed, and he leaped up from the floor, lunging at Kyle, who was closest to him.
He moved swiftly, appearing before Kyle in the blink of an eye, his three large mouths gaping to reveal yellowish teeth.
But just then, a chain appeared out of thin air, binding Rowe's neck.
Soon after, a second and third chain appeared...
In total, six chains, like a spider's web, securely trapped Rowe in place, preventing him from moving even an inch closer.
As Rowe struggled violently, the chains cut into his skin, embedding themselves deeply into his body.
"Oh..."
Hagrid clutched his chest and let out a pained groan, as if he were the one bound by the chains.
"Please... Dumbledore, please!"
But Dumbledore remained unmoved, his eyes fixed on Kyle.
Rowe continued to roar, but Kyle's attempts to communicate were futile.
With no other option, Kyle focused his attention on Rowe's roars.
Due to his lack of consciousness, Rowe's roars were incoherent, but Kyle noticed that certain words appeared more frequently.
"Death... Kill..."
"Hagrid..."
"Revenge!"
Soon, as Rowe struggled recklessly, the chains gradually turned red, and the room filled with a bloody scent.
Hagrid covered his mouth, weeping silently. He seemed to want to comfort Rowe but was almost bitten when he drew close.
Fortunately, Dumbledore pulled him back in time.
As Rowe's injuries worsened, Kyle finally spoke up.
"That's enough, Headmaster!"
"Stupefy!"
A blinding flash filled the room, the chains disappeared, and Rowe crashed like a cannonball into the wall behind him. His body swayed twice before he collapsed, unconscious.
Hagrid rushed forward and applied Essence of Dittany to Rowe's wounds.
Dumbledore turned to Kyle.
Before he could ask, Kyle spoke, "If I'm not mistaken, the reason he's like this is that he wants to take revenge for Hagrid."
Dumbledore's blue eyes sparkled.
"Take revenge... for me?"
Hagrid also turned, surprised, with tear stains still on his face.
"But I'm fine, and he even tried to bite me just now..."
"That's the strange part." Kyle frowned. "He seems to believe that you're dead and that we're the culprits."
(End of Chapter)
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