Chapter 431: Big Feet and Bug Tails
Chapter 431: Big Feet and Bug Tails
The sudden appearance of Kyle startled everyone, even causing Professor Lupin to unconsciously halt the punch he was about to land on Black's face.
Black, however, remained unaffected and continued to lunge towards Ron's Scabbers without turning back.
But without his wand, he was quickly repelled by the combined efforts of Harry and Hermione, his body flying backward and crashing into a table with a loud bang.
"Kyle?" Professor Lupin came back to his senses, incredulous. "What are you doing here?"
"Hello, Professor," Kyle said with a smile, then pointed to the corner where he had been hiding, "I've been here for a while, over there... you just didn't see me."
"What? You've been here all along?" Professor Lupin frowned.
Although he had been watching Black and hadn't paid much attention to his surroundings, he didn't think he would have missed someone else being present.
And that wasn't even his main question...
"I mean, how did you find this place?" Professor Lupin continued.
"I followed the map," Kyle replied.
He took out a large piece of parchment, "I was looking at this in the dormitory just now, and then I came here. I noticed that the five of you left the castle before curfew. I was curious, so I followed."
"The Marauder's Map!"
Having been involved in its creation and having used it for several years, Professor Lupin instantly recognized the parchment.
"Did you take it from Filch's office?"
"No, I've never been to Filch's office," Kyle shook his head. "I borrowed this."
"Wait, Kyle!"
At that moment, Harry suddenly realized something was amiss and quickly spoke up, "You just said five people left the castle?"
"Yes," Kyle nodded.
Harry thought carefully, "But there are only three of us, plus Professor Lupin, that makes four. Unless Black entered the castle again?"
"No," Kyle said, "The map shows that next to Professor Lupin, there's also a person named Peter Pettigrew."
"Impossible!" Ron exclaimed in frustration, "How is it Peter again? It's clearly Scabbers!"
"Indeed." This time, Professor Lupin stood by his side, "We just confirmed that it's not an Animagus. I think there must be a problem with the map... I mean, it's been a long time since it was created."
"The map can't be wrong!"
Before Kyle could respond, Black scrambled to his feet and shouted in rebuttal.
He looked exceptionally excited and rushed towards Kyle, but after taking two steps, his body began to float uncontrollably like a balloon.
"Wandless magic..." Hermione said in surprise, covering her mouth.
"No!" Professor Lupin shook his head, his eyes fixed on a blue insect the size of a fist next to Black, "It's a Billywig. Anyone stung by it will float uncontrollably."
"Sorry, Black is a bit too agitated. I thought this would help calm him down," Kyle shrugged.
He then extended his hand and caught the returning Billywig.
Ron couldn't help but feel envious. If only his Scabbers had such a trick, perhaps he wouldn't have been snatched away.
Black continued to struggle, but Professor Lupin had already found a rope and securely tied him up.
He now looked even more like a balloon.
"Let's go," Professor Lupin said, "It's getting late. We need to deliver Black to Professor... Dumbledore quickly."
Scabbers had stopped struggling and was now comfortably nestled in Ron's hand, seemingly smiling.
"Why are you able to smile, Peter?" Kyle asked kindly. "Haven't you realized it yet? You can't regain your human form. Or do you think Professor Lupin and Black are incompetents who messed up the spell?"
Visibly, the joy in the rat's eyes vanished, replaced by sheer terror.
Were Lupin and Black incompetents?
Of course not; in fact, they were both outstanding graduates.
Scabbers seemed to realize something, and the terror in his eyes intensified. He started struggling again and even bit Ron's finger.
"Ouch!" Ron exclaimed, letting go.
But instead of running away, Scabbers just spun in circles on the spot, emitting a sharp squeak.
"What's wrong, Scabbers?" Ron asked anxiously.
"It's just confirming something," Kyle said, looking at him. "Can I borrow your wand?"
Ron held his wand tightly and didn't let go.
"Here, use mine," Harry said, handing over his wand as he looked at the rat on the ground with a complicated expression.
He had too many doubts in his mind and didn't want to miss any chance to uncover the truth.
"Thanks," Kyle said. He took Harry's wand and placed it on the ground, smiling at Scabbers. "You can try it yourself and see if you can undo the Animagus transformation."
Scabbers didn't move... he wasn't going to be that foolish and expose himself.
Kyle probably guessed his thoughts and said, "Rest assured, if you can turn back, I'll let you go."
As he spoke, he suddenly pointed Hermione's wand at her without warning and said, "Expelliarmus!"
Kyle caught Hermione's wand and placed it in his pocket along with Lupin's and his own.
"Look, now no one can threaten you," Kyle said with a shrug. "As long as you can turn back and get Harry's wand, you can escape anytime you want."
"Kyle, you're not..."
Before Professor Lupin could finish his sentence, Scabbers moved.
To Ron's disbelief, the rat rushed towards the tip of Harry's wand.
Unlike the previous blue light, this time, the wand shone with a white light.
Under everyone's gaze, Scabbers's body trembled... but nothing happened.
This time, even Ron noticed something was off about Scabbers. It was as if he had gone mad, repeatedly ramming into the wand.
In the small room, the white light flickered like a faulty lightbulb.
Witnessing this, Ron's belief gradually crumbled... his Scabbers was using a wand, and it was casting the same spell over and over.
But could an ordinary rat use a wand? Scabbers rammed faster and harder, to the point where the fur on his head was torn, and blood dripped onto the wand, making Harry feel sick.
He now understood why Kyle had borrowed Ron's wand earlier.
"Hahaha... Peter... Hahaha..." Black's maniacal laughter filled the room, his laughter unrestrained. A crystal tear fell from the corner of his eye, landing on the dusty floor.
...
(End of Chapter)
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