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Chapter 320: Anomaly
Chapter 320: Anomaly
Hagrid had been taken away by the Ministry of Magic, but fear still lingered within the walls of Hogwarts Castle.
The monster in the secret chamber remained at large, and the threat of an attack loomed over everyone.
The professors carried on as if nothing had happened, escorting students from one classroom to another during the day and patrolling the castle floors at night.
Despite Professor Lockhart's repeated assurances that the danger had passed and it was unnecessary to waste time escorting students, no one heeded his words.
In recent days, the Hufflepuff common room had been packed with students as there was nowhere else to go after six in the evening, and everyone always had a lot to talk about.
After dinner, Kyle played wizard chess with Cedric as usual, but his performance that day was rather poor.
In over an hour, he hadn't won a single game.
"I feel like your mind is elsewhere," Cedric said as he packed up the chessboard. "Are you still thinking about the Chamber of Secrets?"
"No..." Kyle shook his head. "I just feel unwell."
For the past few days, he had been feeling groggy and found it hard to concentrate on anything. Moreover, the condition seemed to be getting worse.
While playing chess earlier, he had even heard a buzzing sound as if multiple people were talking inside his head.
"I think you might have caught a cold," Connor said worriedly, giving Kyle a sidelong glance.
The weather had been unusual lately. Even though summer was approaching, it had been raining nonstop, fluctuating between cold and warm temperatures, and many students in the castle had caught colds.
"I think you're right," Cedric agreed as he put away the chessboard. "Why don't you write to Professor Sprout and ask her to take you to the school hospital?"
"No need," Kyle replied, patting his forehead. He rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a bottle containing a red potion. He uncorked it and took a sip.
The next second, steam rose from his head, and the grogginess lessened significantly.
Due to his discomfort, Kyle retired to his dormitory soon after taking the medicine and fell into a dazed sleep.
Kyle had a long dream in which he found himself in the Chamber of Secrets, and the snakes carved on the pillars came to life, surrounding him.
Strangely, they neither attacked him nor let him leave; they just encircled him...
The next day, Kyle was awakened by Ryan.
Professor Sprout was waiting at the door, ready to escort them to class.
"You slept for almost twelve hours," Mike said as he placed a few wrapped sandwiches on the table. "I heard from Cedric that you're unwell. Do you want to ask Professor Sprout for a leave of absence... I'm sure one day of missed classes won't be a problem for you."
"No, thanks," Kyle shook his head. "I took some medicine, so I should be fine."
"Alright then..." Mike and Ryan didn't press the issue further.
...
It seemed that the potion Kyle had taken was past its expiration date, as he drank it for three consecutive days with no effect.
He continued to feel groggy every day and had the same dream every night.
On the third evening, he even fell asleep as soon as he returned to the common room.
"This won't do," Cedric said, shaking him awake. "You need to go to the school hospital."
Without giving Kyle a chance to object, Cedric insisted on writing to Professor Sprout.
This time, Kyle didn't refuse, as he, too, felt that something was amiss.
Ratton delivered the note, and Cedric and Connor donned their robes, intending to accompany Kyle to the school hospital when Professor Sprout arrived.
However, they waited for over half an hour before Professor Sprout rushed into the common room, her face pale and her eyes red as if she had been crying.
"Thank goodness," she said upon seeing Kyle, forcing a smile. "I'm sorry, dear, I was delayed by something, but now I can take you to the school hospital."
Although Cedric and Connor wanted to join them, their request was denied.
Professor Sprout escorted Kyle out of the common room, walking down the deserted corridor.
She appeared tense and kept glancing around, her wand tightly clutched in her hand.
Professor McGonagall was angrily questioning Lockhart.
"A student has been attacked... and you left to get your hair done?!"
"I, I didn't know..." Lockhart stuttered, his wand still stuck in his hair.
"Just one corridor left... they said there was no need to escort them..." Lockhart tried to justify himself.
"So you just left them there?" Professor McGonagall roared like an enraged lion. "Knowing full well that Dumbledore wasn't at the school today, how dare you let the students leave unattended!"
"But Hagrid has already been captured..."
"Obviously, the true heir is someone else." Snape said coldly. "It's a pity that monster didn't come for you instead."
"... ..."
"Poppy, could you take a look at this child, please?"
At that moment, Professor Sprout entered with Kyle in tow.
Upon hearing her words, the hospital fell silent, and the professors stopped reprimanding Lockhart, almost simultaneously turning their heads.
"Don't worry, Minerva... it's not an attack." Professor Sprout quickly explained.
The professors also noticed that Kyle had walked in by himself and breathed a sigh of relief.
Only Snape's expression was peculiar, a mix of regret and relief.
Madame Pomfrey rushed over and gave Kyle a thorough check-up...
Taking advantage of this moment, the professors drew the curtains around Ron's bed, blocking Kyle's view.
Ten minutes later, Madame Pomfrey stood up.
"It's not a cold... perhaps you're just overly anxious, causing you to have the same dream repeatedly."
She led Kyle to a bed. "You'll stay here for the night..."
Kyle nodded and quietly sat on the bed.
"Is it possible..." Snape drawled, "that he's perfectly fine?"
"I am capable of making my own judgments, Professor Snape," Madame Pomfrey said sternly. "I can easily tell if someone is feigning illness, and I fully expect that if the attack incident remains unresolved, we'll see more cases like this..."
She carried a large bottle with a label that read "Dreamless Sleep Potion."
"Try this first." She poured a steaming cup and handed it to Kyle. "It should help you sleep soundly."
As always, the hospital potions were unpleasant, but bearable.
After Kyle finished the drink, Madame Pomfrey left, pulling the curtains closed behind her.
Soon after, the professors also departed, as they needed to return to the castle to patrol and prevent further student attacks.
The hospital quickly fell silent.
The Dreamless Sleep Potion did allow Kyle to sleep well... but only for a short while.
Two hours later, Kyle suddenly opened his eyes and couldn't fall back asleep.
He thought about Ron, who was lying in the bed next to him, and his brows furrowed.
Kyle should have anticipated this day. If the basilisk remained unchecked, it was only a matter of time before a student was attacked... petrified or even killed.
Today it was Ron, but tomorrow it could be Cedric, Connor, Fred...
Was it worth endangering everyone, including his friends, for the sake of a single basilisk?
The answer was unequivocally no.
But why had he hesitated before? Kyle's expression turned grim.
Especially in the past few days, he had considered going to Dumbledore about the matter. Yet, after a single night's sleep, he had forgotten all about it, as if the thought had never crossed his mind.
When had his memory become so unreliable? Or was it the result of a Confundus Charm?
But if it was the Confundus Charm, then who had cast it? Riddle's diary? When had he done it, and why did Kyle have no recollection of it?
Kyle dared not fall back asleep. He forced himself to stay awake, enduring the incessant buzzing in his head, and sat up on the bed.
...
(End of Chapter)
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