Chapter 369: Dumbledore's Punishment
Chapter 369: Dumbledore's Punishment
"Damn it, that's an Inferno Charm! He's lying, it's clearly an Inferno Charm!"
In the Headmaster's Office, Snape roared, "How could a Flame Charm have such power? Or is that idiot Lupin unable to distinguish between a Flame Charm and an Inferno Charm?"
"Calm down, Severus. I can hear you. Don't be so agitated," Dumbledore picked up the teapot beside him.
"Would you like some black tea?"
"At a time like this, you still have the mood for tea?" Snape stared at Dumbledore as if he had just met him.
"Someone used an Inferno Charm to destroy an office in the school!
"Even back then, when that person was in school, they didn't dare to use such dangerous Dark Magic openly."
"I know, Severus... I know," Dumbledore still poured him a cup of black tea.
Snape took a sip, but finding it too hot, he put it down and continued, "You should investigate how he learned the Inferno Charm!"
Dumbledore shook his head, "I have a different opinion on this... Lemmy told me he didn't hear the incantation. Perhaps Kyle had suddenly seen his friend's 'corpse,' which triggered a magical riot..."
"Could a magical riot produce an Inferno Charm?" Snape's expression grew worse, feeling his intelligence insulted.
"It's not impossible."
Dumbledore pondered for a moment, "Kyle witnessed an Inferno Charm in his second year and was in the midst of it. It's not a pleasant memory.
There's also the Boggart, a creature that always reveals people's deepest fears. Perhaps Kyle also thought of it during the magical riot, subconsciously recreating it...
"Hmm... It's normal, nothing strange about it."
The Headmaster's Office fell silent.
Snape looked at Dumbledore incredulously, his expression as if he had been forced to drink a mouthful of Neville Longbottom's potion.
"Do you think I'm an idiot?"
"Of course not, Severus. You are the most talented Potions genius I've ever seen and one of the youngest Heads of Hogwarts in history. There's no doubt about that."
"But..."
Dumbledore changed the subject, continuing, "You're too focused on Potions, and it's inevitable that you might be lacking in other areas... Magic, it's the most wonderful thing in the world."
"Bang bang..."
Snape wanted to say something, but was interrupted by the sudden sound of knocking.
"Is it time already?"
Dumbledore stood up, "Severus, could you please inform Hagrid? Kyle may be a little late for class this afternoon."
"Just don't regret it!" Snape took a deep breath and turned to open the door to the Headmaster's Office.
Outside the door were Professor McGonagall and Kyle.
Snape's face twitched, but he said nothing and walked past them.
After Professor McGonagall also left, only Kyle remained.
"Have a seat," Dumbledore pointed to the armchair in front of him.
Kyle walked over and sat down.
He had thought Dumbledore would ask him some questions or scold him severely... But none of that happened.
Dumbledore just calmly waved his hand.
Instantly, the table between them was filled with various foods.
"Have your lunch here... Although it's not as lively as the Great Hall, the food is just as good."
Dumbledore blinked, "And as the Headmaster, I always get some things that aren't available in the Great Hall, like this honey cream tart."
He pushed a plate towards Kyle, "Try it."
Kyle cut a small piece and put it on his plate, but didn't eat it.
Dumbledore's favorite things were too sweet for him, and the name 'honey cream tart' itself was enough to exceed his sweetness tolerance.
In the Headmaster's Office, Kyle had only taken a small bite before stopping, while Dumbledore happily brought the plate to himself.
The two of them ate lunch in the office, a harmonious yet peculiar scene.
Half an hour later, the last plate with pudding vanished, and a teapot and a glass of lemonade appeared on the table.
"Can you tell me why?" Dumbledore suddenly asked.
"I'm sorry, Professor," Kyle said without explanation, "I just wanted that Boggart to disappear completely."
"Was it because you saw your friend's 'corpse'?" Dumbledore asked.
Kyle nodded.
For the first time, his mind went blank, and his body reacted instinctively. By the time he came to his senses, it was already done.
"Yeah... yeah..." Dumbledore paused with the teacup in mid-air and said softly, "... I can understand."
He couldn't imagine what he would do if he turned around and saw Ariana's corpse.
Perhaps... he would do the same as Kyle, or worse.
Dumbledore's eyes flickered, then he put the teacup back on the table and added two cubes of sugar.
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"But Kyle, no matter what, you have seriously violated the school rules. As punishment, I must deduct one hundred points from Hufflepuff.
"And you have to promise me that you will never use any Dark Magic in the castle again."
Kyle was a little surprised.
He didn't expect Dumbledore's punishment to be just a deduction of points.
A hundred points sounded like a lot, but it was the least painful and itchy, especially for Hufflepuff. This punishment was even less effective than making them skip a meal.
"I promise, Professor," Kyle said.
"I hope you remember," Dumbledore looked up at him, "Oh, and you also have to pay for a new office for Professor Lupin, including desks, chairs, and windows.
If you don't have enough Galleons, I'll have to write a letter to your family."
"What?!"
Kyle, who was drinking lemonade, choked, "Can't you find some other reason and get reimbursed by the school board?"
"Of course not, it's your own mistake," Dumbledore looked at him strangely.
This kid, what does he think the school board is?
Well... it's not impossible, but it's not really appropriate either.
"Okay, you can go now," Dumbledore said, "You should still be able to make it to the first Care of Magical Creatures class."
Kyle didn't leave, "I have one last question, Professor."
"Go ahead and ask."
"Is there a way to defend against Boggarts?" Kyle hesitantly asked, "Like Occlumency?"
"I'm afraid it's difficult."
Dumbledore calmly said, "Boggarts are essentially another form of the Erised Mirror, and their ability is more inclined to reflect your inner self, rather than to peek...
Unless you can learn Occlumency to a very high level, it's hard for it to be effective."
"Like you?" Kyle asked.
"If I wanted to, I could," Dumbledore said, "But just to deal with Boggarts, I have more suitable methods, all better than Occlumency.
"You can also ask Professor Lupin, I remember he just taught a useful little spell to the third years yesterday."
"Silly-Silly?" Kyle asked.
"Looks like you already know," Dumbledore said, "Yes, the standard answer in the book, simple yet useful."
Kyle frowned, "But it can't prevent Boggarts from transforming, can it?"
"At least, you don't need to make such a big fuss again," Dumbledore said half-jokingly, "You can't blow up an office every time, can you...?"
...
(End of Chapter)
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