Chapter 432: The Truth
Chapter 432: The Truth
As Ron stared at the crazed Blinky, he instinctively backed against the wall, his hand gripping his chest as he asked in a hysterical tone, "What's going on here? Can someone please explain?"
After raising a pet for several years, he never expected it to be able to use a wand. His mind was in complete disarray, and he didn't dare approach Blinky anymore.
"That's what we want to know too." Professor Lupin glanced at Sirius, who was laughing uncontrollably, and frowned, "How do you know Peter won't come back?"
Kyle didn't answer immediately but instead took out his wand.
"Stupefy!"
Peter, who was colliding with the wand, immediately fell to the ground.
After that, Kyle returned Hermione and Professor Lupin's wands to them and then explained, "Because of the potions I made for him."
"Potion?" Hermione frowned as she took her wand back, "But the book never mentioned that a potion for pets could prevent an Animagus from returning to human form."
"Normally, it wouldn't," Kyle said, "but I added an entire dried Mandrake leaf to his potion... and it was the one at the top of the root."
"What did you say?" Professor Lupin subconsciously raised his voice.
Mandrake leaves were already expensive, and one leaf cost five Sickles. The one at the top of the root was even more expensive, almost ten times the price of a regular leaf.
Such an expensive item would be enough for Kyle to live on for a month, but he used it to make a potion for a mouse?
Did Kyle know Blinky was Peter beforehand?
No, that's not right... Professor Lupin shook his head. Only they had seen Peter's Animagus form, and Peter's faked death happened twelve years ago. How old was Kyle back then, two or three?
"It's just a coincidence..." Kyle didn't mind Professor Lupin's strange expression and continued, "I originally wanted to improve the effectiveness of the potion, but I didn't expect him to be an Animagus."
"But... what does that have to do with anything?" Harry blinked, looking bewildered.
"Of course, it does." Kyle transformed a cage, trapping Peter inside without looking up as he spoke.
He had thought someone would help explain, but even after he dealt with Peter, not a single person around him spoke.
Even Hermione and Professor Lupin were just as confused as Harry, their expressions mirroring his.
"Don't you ever read any books on herbs besides textbooks?" Kyle asked subconsciously.
Hermione shook her head lightly. Among all the books she had read, the least were on herbs.
Professor Lupin also turned his head away. His situation was similar to Hermione's.
"Alright..." Kyle sighed and continued, "Mandrake leaves are a great thing for magical creatures, healing wounds, improving physique... they have many uses, but it's different for Animagi. You should know what the first step in learning Animagus is, right..."
The last sentence was directed at Sirius.
"Of course, I remember." Sirius, still floating in mid-air, didn't ask how Kyle knew he was an Animagus. Instead, he rubbed his slightly sore jaw and said, "Holding a Mandrake leaf in your mouth for a month... to be honest, that month was really tough. I almost gave up several times."
"That's right."
Kyle said, "The role of the Mandrake leaf is to record everything about you as a wizard. It's like another 'you' or a guiding lighthouse..."
"What lighthouse?" Harry was completely lost.
He felt like he was attending Professor Trelawney's Divination class, not understanding a word and just going through the motions.
"Alright, let me explain it more simply." Kyle sighed, "The Mothwing Pupa allows you to transform from a human into an animal, and the Mandrake leaf can transform you back..."
"What's a Mothwing... Ouch!"
Harry wanted to ask more, but before he could finish, Hermione elbowed him in the waist, causing him to grimace in pain.
"It's an ingredient for a potion." Kyle glanced at him and continued, "So, when an Animagus consumes a large amount of Mandrake leaves in their animal form, the 'Wizard' information within them gradually disperses, until they can no longer transform back."
"But that's impossible..." Hermione frowned, "Professor McGonagall taught us about Animagi, and she didn't mention this. If it's as dangerous as you say, the professor would have warned us."
"There's no need for that," Kyle said, "Strictly speaking, it's difficult to disperse the 'Wizard' information unless they consume Mandrake leaves continuously for several years... And if they transform back into human form during this period, the information will re-concentrate."
The probability of an Animagus remaining in animal form for five consecutive years while constantly consuming Mandrake-infused substances is incredibly low...
In a thousand years, the entire magical world has only seen one such case... Well, now there are two."
Kyle glanced at Peter in the cage.
Black started laughing again.
Professor Lupin looked at Kyle and suddenly asked, "Did you already know that Blinky was Peter?"
Kyle turned his head, "Why do you say that?"
"Because I didn't see any surprise in your eyes." Professor Lupin said, "When I, Harry, Ron, and Hermione realized that Blinky was Peter, we were all shocked. But you remained calm."
As he said this, everyone's gaze shifted to Kyle.
Ron seemed to want to say something, but Hermione stopped him.
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"The reason I'm not surprised is that this isn't the first time something like this has happened." Kyle shrugged.
Professor Lupin was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Kyle to say that.
"In fact, something similar happened when I was in my first year. Another student's pet was also an Animagus, and it was also a rat."
Kyle smiled, "If you don't believe me, you can ask Fred and George, or any other students from the fourth year and above. They all know about it."
Everyone looked at each other, their expressions were fascinating.
Harry and the others started school a year after Kyle, so they naturally wouldn't know about this. As for Professor Lupin, he only joined the school this year, and what he knew about past events was mostly related to Harry, which he heard from other professors.
He didn't inquire further.
After listening to Kyle, Harry nodded, indicating his understanding... To be honest, if he saw another face growing on someone's back, he wouldn't be surprised either.
Soon, the room fell silent, except for Black's gradually hoarse laughter.
Harry felt awkward. He looked at Professor Lupin, wanting to ask something, but didn't know how to start.
His expression was too obvious.
"Do you want to know about Lily and James?" Professor Lupin asked.
"Yes." Harry nodded, "I heard you say you were friends."
"The best of friends, at least for me." Professor Lupin said.
"Can you tell me?" Harry asked eagerly.
Professor Lupin hesitated for a moment, then nodded...
"You have the right to know the truth, but I only know the beginning. The rest, Sirius will have to tell you...
Let me think from where to start... I first met James and Lily when I was in school..."
(End of Chapter)
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