Chapter 755: Stop, Don't Fight Anymore
Chapter 755: Stop, Don't Fight Anymore
One had to admit that Severus Snape had a strong sense of pride.
It seemed that he didn't want to rely on Kyle's help a second time, as he stayed inside the Room of Requirement for a full five days without stepping out once.
Everything else was manageable, as the castle provided all the necessities. The only challenging part was meals... Kyle had no idea how Snape managed to survive in there for so long.
Perhaps Connor brought him food, or maybe he subsisted on potions. For instance, the Energizing Potion could sustain one for an entire day without the need for food, but it tasted awful.
Kyle had tried it once, and the sensation was like blending all the nasty flavors of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans together, squeezing out the juice, and then adding a handful of dirt.
Given a choice, Kyle would prefer to bring extra bread and roasted potatoes in the morning rather than drink that concoction.
However, Snape probably had the fortitude to endure it. He could easily carry a bag enchanted with the Undetectable Extension Charm and fill it with a dozen or so bottles of the Energizing Potion.
But Kyle wasn't sure exactly how Snape managed, as they hadn't spoken much beyond a brief conversation on the first day.
There just hadn't been an opportunity, especially since the one place Kyle wanted to avoid was the Potions classroom.
The next time he saw Snape was on the sixth day, and the man looked a bit thinner than before, but his eyes shone brightly.
Clearly, Snape had gained a lot, just like the other professors.
Although Kyle was curious, he knew Snape wouldn't tell him anything, so he wisely refrained from asking and returned to the Charms classroom.
"Don't try to control the magical writing consciously. Treat it as a part of the spell," the old professor said as he took out his wand and waved it gently.
His movements were light and graceful, as if he were conducting a grand concert, and the shimmering magical writing floated like dancing notes.
Even with the simplest Lumos spell, the light it produced was dazzling like the sun.
Kyle tried to imitate the professor's movements and waved his wand... but nothing happened, and the tip of his wand flickered half-heartedly.
The time was too short, and he didn't have a chance to infuse his magic into the magical writing.
"What a dolt! How did this school end up with such an idiotic student like you!"
The old professor roared, "While magic is the ink, the wand is not the only quill. The incantations you recite are also a form of magical writing!"
Kyle was berated from head to toe, a situation he had never faced in his first six years. But in the past month or so, it had become a regular occurrence.
He had long gotten used to it.
After all, the professor wouldn't use his wand to whack him, so a few harsh words were nothing.
Listening to the professor's lecture, Kyle gradually adjusted his casting style.
...
This went on until the day before the start of the new term. Kyle decided to take a break.
Being scolded for such a long time, even if he didn't care much, still put some pressure on him. Additionally, the continuous high-intensity learning was exhausting, so some relaxation was necessary.
It had been raining since the early hours of the morning, and Kyle slept in until eleven o'clock before finally yawning and stepping out of the dormitory.
The common room was bustling with students, but everyone was busy with their homework, paying no attention to each other. This included Connor, who was catching up on her assignments.
She had spent quite some time in the Room of Requirement and had only realized a very important matter two days ago.
Since Kyle had taken leave in advance, he didn't have any homework, but Connor hadn't...
Completing two weeks' worth of homework in three days was an impossible task, and Connor was stunned when she realized this.
Kyle had offered to help her with the auto-answering quill, but Connor refused and insisted on doing it herself.
All Kyle could do was keep his distance... He had no choice, as he was the one who had invited Connor to the Room of Requirement, and they had both forgotten about the homework. Now, he felt a bit guilty about it.
Kyle didn't disturb anyone and quietly left the common room, wandering leisurely around the castle.
It felt like it had been a long time since he had done this—walking aimlessly through the castle without any time constraints.
Looking at the dull-colored castle walls, faded picture frames, and the patina-covered railings, Kyle felt a bit dazed.
Perhaps it was because he was used to it, but Kyle found this familiar environment more pleasing than the newer version of Hogwarts in the Room of Requirement.
As he walked, Kyle suddenly came across a group of seventh-year students descending the stairs. They were probably from Gryffindor, and they were gathered around someone, chatting excitedly.
Due to the crowd and the angle, Kyle didn't recognize who it was at first, but soon he spotted a familiar face.
"Hermione!" Kyle waved.
"Kyle?" Hermione, who was at the back, rushed over with a stack of books in her arms. "What are you doing here?"
"Just touring the castle, I guess. Killing time."
"She's recovered?"
"Completely. She said so herself," Hermione nodded, but then added, "However, Harry already asked her, and she doesn't remember who cast the Imperius Curse on her. All she recalls is that it happened at the Three Broomsticks."
"Oh, that's alright," Kyle said nonchalantly, as he hadn't intended to inquire about that anyway.
In fact, he already knew that it was none other than Madam Rosmerta who had cast the Imperius Curse on Katie Bell. Madam Rosmerta had confessed that during the time she was controlled by the Imperius Curse, she had also cast the same curse on a Hogwarts student.
However, it wasn't her intention, and she was merely being manipulated.
This piece of information was strictly confidential among the professors, and only a handful of people knew about it, including Harry.
"Where are you off to?" Kyle asked, glancing at the books in her hand, with Wands and Magic being the topmost one.
"You haven't finished your homework either, have you?"
"No, I finished mine a long ago. It's Harry and Ron who haven't," Hermione said. "But they're done now, so I'm returning the books."
"Oh, alright then. Go ahead," Kyle said with a smile, intending to continue upstairs.
"Wait, Kyle," Hermione suddenly called out from behind, stopping him. "I heard from someone that you took leave from classes. Is that true?"
"Who said that?"
"Comac McLaggen, a Gryffindor in his seventh year," Hermione said. "He mentioned during a dinner that he hadn't seen you in class for a long time, and then Professor Slughorn said that you took a leave of absence."
"Yes, that's true," Kyle confirmed.
"Can you tell me why?" Hermione asked, taken aback by his admission. In her opinion, skipping classes was a rather incomprehensible act, especially for someone as academically gifted as Kyle. Moreover, weren't seventh-years about to take their N.E.W.T.S. exams soon? It was odd for him to be absent at this crucial time.
"It's nothing. I just have some other matters to attend to," Kyle said casually. "Although this may sound a bit arrogant, I truly don't need to attend classes anymore. And my leave is only temporary. I'll probably resume classes once I'm done with my current tasks."
He didn't mention the "make-up classes" to Hermione.
Despite their good relationship, Kyle decided against it due to Hermione's personality.
Firstly, Hermione's Ancient Runes proficiency was similar to Qiu's, so even if she went, she wouldn't gain much.
Secondly, she was different from Qiu.
How should he put it? Hermione could be a bit stubborn when it came to certain matters. For instance, she overly relied on books, and even when faced with facts, if they conflicted with so-called authorities, she would still have doubts or even resist them.
The teachings from a thousand years ago were vastly different from what she was accustomed to, and he knew she would have numerous questions. Kyle didn't have the time to explain everything to her one by one.
Additionally, even if all her questions were answered, given her personality, she might still obsess over it and try to learn it the hard way.
If she succeeded, it would be fine. But as Ravenclaw had said, the Room of Requirement wouldn't exist forever. If she didn't master it before her memory was erased, the time spent would be wasted, and this experience might even affect her future magic learning, making the gains less than the losses.
Considering all these factors, despite their close relationship, Kyle opted to keep it a secret from Hermione.
Although Hermione had her suspicions, with Kyle's denial, she could only choose to believe him.
After chatting for a while longer, the two parted ways at the staircase, with Hermione heading down to the library, and Kyle intending to continue his stroll. However, before he had gone far, he faintly heard an explosion.
That's strange. Why would there be an explosion in Hogwarts? Kyle initially thought he had misheard, but the next second, a louder noise reached his ears, accompanied by screams.
"Stop it... Don't fight anymore!"
"Don't hit him! Please, stop fighting!"
...
"That's Lavender's voice, coming from upstairs!" Hermione appeared behind Kyle, having also heard the commotion.
Lavender? Kyle paused briefly before rushing up the stairs toward the source of the noise, with Hermione closely following.
As they drew nearer, the voices became clearer, and Kyle could even make out the incantations being chanted.
"It's Harry!" Hermione screamed. She knew that voice too well to be mistaken.
Was Harry being attacked in Hogwarts?
Hermione immediately recalled the incident from two years ago during the Triwizard Tournament when Harry had been abducted from the school grounds... This made her even more anxious, and she hastily dropped the heavy stack of books onto the corridor beside her.
"Don't worry, we're in Hogwarts. Nothing bad will happen," Kyle reassured her as he quickened his pace.
Inside the lavatory was indeed Harry, panting heavily with his wand at the ready.
And across from him was... Draco Malfoy, in a similar state, also brandishing his wand.
Something intense must have transpired, as the lavatory door had been blasted off its hinges and now hung crookedly from the frame.
The pipes within had also burst, spraying water everywhere, with streams hitting the ceiling only to fall back down like rain inside the room.
Peeves shrieked frantically for them to stop, but neither boy paid any heed.
Their eyes were locked on each other, oblivious to their surroundings.
As if on cue, they raised their wands once more.
"Reducto!"
"Blasting Curse!"
"Stop, Harry!" Hermione screamed, trying to intervene, but it was already too late.
The two dazzling spells crossed paths in midair, each seeking the other's demise.
The Reductor Curse and the Blasting Curse... It was clear that both boys intended to end things once and for all.
Hermione closed her eyes, unable to bear witness to the impending catastrophe.
But the expected explosion and cries of pain never came.
Perhaps only a second passed, or maybe it was a minute, but when Hermione opened her eyes again, she beheld an inconceivable sight.
The light from the spells had vanished, but in their place were two differently colored... ravens?
They were ravens, one red and one blue, matching the colors of the Reductor and Blasting Curses.
They fluttered in midair for a moment before suddenly shaking all over and transforming into bursts of colorful sparks that faded away.
Everyone froze, even Peeves falling silent.
Hermione hadn't seen it happen, but she understood perfectly well what had transpired.
Just as Harry and Draco had shouted their spells, Kyle had also raised his wand.
No one knew what he had done, but somehow, the two deadly spells had eerily halted in midair, only to twist and transform into the forms of ravens.
Perhaps due to the sheer absurdity of the scene, the two boys, who had been hell-bent on destroying each other, suddenly snapped out of their rage and turned to stare at Kyle, who stood at the entrance.
"You arrived just in time," Harry began, but Kyle cut him off.
With another wave of his wand, the pipes on either side elongated like snakes and coiled around the boys, binding them securely.
The metal pipes proved effective, rendering their struggles futile.
"Let me go!" Draco shouted furiously. "Damn it, you can't do this..."
However, Kyle didn't even bother listening to Harry, so how could he pay attention to Draco? With another wave of his wand, the pipes wrapped around Draco's mouth, silencing him.
And the same was done to Harry, ensuring fairness.
Silence fell.
"Peeves," Kyle turned and said, "Could you do me a favor and find a professor, any professor, and ask them to come here as soon as possible?"
"Oh... Oh yes, of course!" Peeves, having recovered from his shock, eyed the lavatory worriedly before shooting off.
Hermione, standing beside Kyle, was stunned by his mastery over magic. The two boys, a year above her, had been locked in a fierce duel, yet Kyle had effortlessly restrained them?
Although they were a year above, they weren't exactly poor students. To have them subdued so easily was quite an over-the-top display.
Even if a professor had arrived, the situation probably wouldn't have been much different... No, perhaps most professors wouldn't have handled it better than Kyle had.
Hermione recalled Kyle's earlier words... He truly didn't need to attend classes anymore.
But now wasn't the time for such thoughts.
Shaking her head, Hermione stormed into the lavatory.
"Harry, do you know what you're doing? Using the Reductor Curse on a classmate is grounds for expulsion if a professor finds out!"
Kyle, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow...
"If a professor finds out?"
So that was Hermione's main concern? But she wasn't wrong.
"What on earth is going on?" Hermione demanded, fixing her gaze on Harry. "You were just in the common room. How did you end up here on the seventh floor, fighting with Malfoy! Have you thought about the possibility of getting expelled?"
"You need to explain yourself," she continued, her voice rising. "Don't think you can stay silent and get away with this. McGonagall will be here soon, and you'd better think of a good explanation or you will be expelled!"
Harry mumbled a couple of "mm-hmm"s in response.
He wanted to speak, but did Hermione not notice that his mouth was covered?
Harry struggled to turn his head, frantically blinking at Kyle, pleading with him to set him free.
Kyle pretended not to notice.
This was Harry's fault, after all. If he wanted to release him, why bother binding him in the first place? This was a good opportunity for them to cool off.
Their reckless behavior, brawling without a care for the consequences, was truly something.
Kyle gestured with his hand, and the two wands on the ground flew into his grasp.
(End of Chapter)
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