Chapter 306: Hagrid's Request, the Beast-Repelling Curse
Chapter 306: Hagrid's Request, the Beast-Repelling Curse
In the days that followed the Dueling Club incident, Kyle found himself attracting all sorts of attention wherever he went, as a result of what had transpired.
The image of him wielding a massive stone axe left a deep impression on everyone who witnessed it.
When people talked about the Dueling Club, the first thing that came to mind wasn't Lockhart, who had embarrassed himself throughout, nor was it the variety of spells on display, but rather the towering stone axe.
This was the first time they had truly witnessed Kyle's strength.
Well, it was quite a spectacle. No wonder he had received the Order of Merlin medal in his second year.
In comparison, the other recipient of the Order of Merlin seemed comical. Lockhart's series of blunders had become a laughing stock among the students.
Additionally, Professor McGonagall had somehow gotten wind of what had happened at the Dueling Club.
So, during one of their Transfiguration classes, she uncharacteristically called on Kyle to answer various questions, and for each correct answer, she awarded ten points to Hufflepuff.
By the end of the class, Kyle had earned sixty points for Hufflepuff... a net gain of ten points after Snape deducted fifty points from Gryffindor.
Overall, the Dueling Club incident didn't significantly impact Kyle's life, and it even helped boost his reputation.
However, the same couldn't be said for another individual.
Harry Potter.
According to Mick and Ryan, after Kyle and his friends had left, Snape had called Harry and Malfoy up to face the same challenge.
It seemed that Malfoy had also messed up, though it was unclear if Snape was giving his own house special treatment.
Facing the same black serpent, Harry's handling of the situation was neither as smooth nor as impressive as Kyle's, and it unintentionally revealed his ability to speak Parseltongue.
This wouldn't have been a big deal under normal circumstances, but the timing couldn't have been worse.
Everyone knew that the Chamber of Secrets was Salazar Slytherin's legacy, and Parseltongue was the famous skill of that particular founder.
As a result, almost everyone began to suspect that Harry was the so-called heir, believing that he had been the one trying to kill Filch and Professor Keridiana Baggy.
However, there were some who disagreed...
"Harry Potter wanting to use monsters to purify the school? That's a joke," Fred said with a laugh as they stood in the outdoor arena. "Knowing Parseltongue doesn't make him a Slytherin heir. Let's not forget he's a Gryffindor."
"And his best friend... that Granger girl, she's Muggle-born," George added. "He wouldn't want to kill his own friends... We know Harry, and he's not capable of doing something like that."
"We don't think it's him either," Kyle agreed.
"It's just unfortunate that most people can't see that, and they don't believe us when we say it," he continued.
"It is strange, though... why does Harry know Parseltongue?" Cedric asked, puzzled. "I thought his parents were both Gryffindors."
"Who knows..."
The group made their way through the grounds and arrived at Hagrid's hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
"Oh, Kyle, ye're here," Hagrid said, greeting them warmly as he stood at the door. His smile faded somewhat when he spotted Fred and George, though.
"I must warn ye again..."
"The Forbidden Forest is dangerous, so don't even think about sneaking in there!" Fred interrupted with a laugh. "Hagrid, you've told us that a hundred times already."
"And it's been a while since we last visited the Forbidden Forest," George added. "We've only ever searched for Bowtruckles around the edges, and even then, we made sure not to break any rules."
"Good, good. Let's hope it stays that way," Hagrid said, sounding relieved. "Things are troublesome enough at the school without anyone wandering into the forest."
"But I'm glad ye came to help. Now, come on in."
Hagrid led the group of six into his hut, making the small space feel even more cramped.
"I need your help with casting some spells around the chicken coop and the edge of the Forbidden Forest," Hagrid replied.
Hagrid set the sandwiches aside and picked up a soft rooster from a shelf. "This is the second one that died this term. Look at the bite marks on its neck; it could be a fox or a vampire."
Kyle moved closer to Hagrid to inspect the rooster's neck. The wounds were peculiar, as if something had torn at the flesh, making it impossible to identify the culprit.
"The headmaster has given his permission," Hagrid continued. "I intended to do it myself... or rather, to ask one of the professors for help. But they're all busy, so I have no choice but to trouble you."
Fifty years ago, when Hagrid was expelled from Hogwarts, his wand was snapped in half. Although Dumbledore later repaired it and hid it in the red umbrella, Hagrid was still not supposed to use magic openly.
This was the reason he sought Kyle's help... the chicken coop was in a conspicuous location, and any spells cast there had to be reasonable and plausible.
Additionally, there were other places that needed attention, and the task might be slightly more extensive than expected.
"It's just the Beast-Repelling Curse, simple stuff. I've used it at home before," Fred said casually, pocketing the rock-skinned pie and heading for the door.
"Oh, and you mentioned the chicken coop and...?"
"The edge of the Forbidden Forest."
"Woah!" Fred stumbled and fell down the stone steps leading to the door.
"Hagrid..." Fred climbed to his feet, a look of disbelief on his face. "Do you know how massive the Forbidden Forest is?"
"Of course, I do..." Hagrid scratched his hair, looking a bit embarrassed. "You don't have to do the whole thing. Just casting the spell on the parts facing the castle should be enough."
Fred sighed heavily, knowing that even this portion of the Forbidden Forest within the school grounds was quite extensive.
He now understood why the professors were too busy; such a vast area would indeed take up a lot of their time.
"As a token of my gratitude, I can help you find a Kneazle," Hagrid offered.
"Deal!" Fred and George nodded without hesitation.
"Oh, and for the rest of you..." Hagrid looked at the others. "If there's anything you want, just let me know."
"I'm fine," Kyle said. "But Hagrid, why did you suddenly decide to cast the Beast-Repelling Curse around the Forbidden Forest?"
Hagrid's gaze became a bit unfocused. "It's nothing... I'm just worried that the beasts from the forest might wander into the castle."
Seeing his expression, Kyle felt he understood.
The news about the Chamber of Secrets must have made Hagrid think of the Acromantula in the Forbidden Forest... the very reason he had been expelled years ago.
Casting the Beast-Repelling Curse around the forest was probably his way of ensuring those creatures didn't come out during this tumultuous time.
However, it just didn't feel like something Hagrid would do.
Based on Kyle's understanding of the gamekeeper, he wouldn't bother with such a time-consuming task... he would simply trust Aragog.
If it weren't for the fact that everything else about Hagrid seemed the same, down to the unchanged recipe for the rock-skinned pies, Kyle would have suspected someone was impersonating Hagrid with a Polyjuice Potion.
"Hagrid, you should know," Kyle said as they stepped out of the hut. "The Beast-Repelling Curse is actually a type of household spell that only works on small creatures like caterpillars, voles, and foxes... it can't even affect gnomes."
"I know," Hagrid nodded. "But it's better than nothing."
(End of Chapter)
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