Chapter 244: Does He Have a Grudge Against Dumbledore?
Chapter 244: Does He Have a Grudge Against Dumbledore?
The next day, Kael rubbed his head and sat up on an antique bed. He stared blankly at his unfamiliar surroundings, and it took him a moment to realize he was in Paris, at Niccolme's home.
"Honored guest, would you like to have a meal?" A shrill voice came from the other end of the room.
It was a house-elf wearing goggles.
"Tata?"
Kael remembered that this house-elf was named Tata.
"Yes, honored guest... It's an honor that you remember Tata's name."
Unlike the house-elves in the Hogwarts kitchen, who always seemed terrified, Tata's behavior was much more normal.
With its clean and proper attire, it resembled a butler in an ancient manor.
But they shared one common trait—they were both overly enthusiastic.
Upon seeing Kael awake, Tata brought over toiletries and breakfast in one go.
Steak, sausages, bread, foie gras, French soup... Various breakfast items filled the table, enough to feed an entire elephant.
"That's enough! I can't eat all this!" Kael quickly stopped Tata from bringing more breakfast. He took a towel from the tray beside him, wiped his face, and asked, "What happened yesterday, and why am I sleeping here?"
Kael's head felt fuzzy. He only remembered being invited to Niccolme's home and meeting Beauxbatons' Fleur and Madame Maxime.
As for what happened afterward and why he was sleeping there, he had no recollection.
"Honored guest, you drank a very strong potion yesterday and fell asleep," Tata said. "The master asked me to bring you here to rest."
"A very strong potion?" Kael frowned, recalling something but feeling a bit hazy.
"Oh, this one." Tata took out a bottle. "I specifically kept it after they finished drinking yesterday."
Kael took the bottle, his face turning grim.
Aged Firewhisky.
He looked at the date on the bottle, 1933...
Wow, he had been drinking sixty-year-old whisky? No wonder his head hurt so much.
Since learning the Mind Concealment Technique, he hadn't felt this way in a long time.
And the Mind Concealment Technique only worked against mental magic; strong alcohol was clearly outside its scope.
"The master said you might need this."
At that moment, Tata stuffed a Sky Blue Potion into Kael's hand.
Kael opened the lid, took a slight whiff, and drank it down.
The next second, Kael felt a chill throughout his body, and his fuzzy head instantly became much clearer. He also remembered what happened.
During yesterday's meal, someone had indeed given him a cup of something like alcohol.
And it wasn't anyone else; it was Michael Filch, who had delivered the Merlin Medal to Hogwarts.
At the time, he had said it was mead, and that young wizards could have a couple of cups, so Kael hadn't thought much of it and took a sip.
And then this happened...
Kael felt his head throbbing.
Who would have thought... Michael Filch, the over-a-hundred-year-old wizard and one of the few holders of the Merlin First Class Order Medal, would deceive a child into drinking Firewhisky! Oh, and there was also the Buffe Brain Tonic he had prepared for himself.
That sticky, bubbly, and eerie brown liquid... Kael had only seen it in Mikael's cauldron.
Even a dragon would suffer from drinking that stuff! For a moment, Kael wondered if Michael Filch had a grudge against Dumbledore... and was trying to get back at him by targeting Kael since he couldn't beat him.
After breakfast, Kyle left the room and followed a golden corridor to the hall from the previous day.
The hall had completely transformed. The ceiling was gone, and the walls and floor had turned a dark gold.
As Kyle entered, he saw an astonishingly large band filling every corner of the room, intently playing their instruments.
Niccolme was lying on a beach chair, sunbathing and enjoying the captivating opera performance.
Noticing Kyle's entrance, Niccolme smiled and said, "Tata just took away all the food in the kitchen... I guess you must be awake now."
Kyle approached Niccolme, his eyes fixed on the massive band.
"Mr. Lemay, this is..."
"Oh, you mean this?" Niccolme said proudly, "This is the most precious treasure in my long life."
As Niccolme spoke, he stood up from the beach chair.
The melodious opera continued, but the band disappeared, and the hall returned to its previous state.
Kyle noticed that some golden symbols on the wall had just flickered.
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These symbols seemed vaguely familiar, as if he had seen them somewhere before... That's right, in Dumbledore's office!
These symbols were almost identical to those on the meditation basin.
"Mr. Lemay..."
"We agreed before that you'd call me Niccolme."
"Alright, Niccolme," Kyle asked, "Are these your memories?"
"Yes..." Niccolme recalled, "An unforgettable encounter a hundred years ago, I can't help but want to experience it again."
"Incredible!" Kyle exclaimed.
A meditation basin as large as a room... Only Niccolme could have witnessed this.
"This is my most prized creation," Niccolme said, changing to a new tune.
Kyle looked around the hall, which was empty except for Niccolme and himself.
Kyle then asked in a low voice, "Niccolme, does Mr. Filch have some personal grudge against Professor Dumbledore?"
"As far as I know... no," Niccolme replied, "In fact, they have a good relationship, and they're both loyal fans of Quidditch."
"Before you came here, he told Albus that he would help take care of you."
"Are you trying to trick me with Firewhisky?" Kyle asked suspiciously, "That's a unique way of caring."
"It has nothing to do with Albus," Niccolme smiled, "Since Doug retired, his personality has become more eccentric. It's not just you; even Fleur couldn't escape it."
But he seems to have forgotten that Olime is here... Oh, that's right. Perhaps this will make you feel better."
Niccolme clapped his hands, and suddenly, the atmosphere in the hall changed. The melodious music turned into piercing screams, interspersed with clear and powerful knocking sounds.
Kyle recognized the voice immediately; it was Filch's.
He had heard the same screams yesterday when he entered the Potion room, leaving a deep impression.
"Is Madame Maxime..." Kyle whispered.
"Just as you thought," Niccolme winked, revealing a mischievous smile, "I think he won't be able to go out for a long time."
Kyle forced a laugh, now believing that Dumbledore had nothing to do with this.
Tricking him was one thing, but for Filch to dare to lay a hand on Fleur, who was following Dumbledore's lead? Kyle felt no guilt for the beating he had given.
(End of Chapter)
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