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Chapter 900: The Sleeping Hungarian Horntail
Chapter 900: The Sleeping Hungarian Horntail
"You're sleeping like a baby," Kyle said with a faint smile, his forehead creasing slightly, "I never knew that giants had the habit of sleeping while standing. Are the beds in the house that uncomfortable?"
It was a strange feeling, and although he didn't really expect Hagrid to be of much help, the fact that he had fallen asleep right in front of him seemed a bit much.
Even if Hagrid had been sleeping in the room, Kyle wouldn't have minded at all.
Hagrid's face turned bright red.
It wasn't intentional, but the things Kyle drew were just too sleep-inducing... When he stared at them, he felt like he was in a daze.
On top of being tired from the day's work, he had somehow fallen asleep.
"Forget it," Kyle sighed, "You must have been a Gryffindor before you got expelled."
"How do you know that?" Hagrid asked, puzzled.
He remembered that he hadn't mentioned these things to Kyle, and neither had Harry... It was only when chatting with Madam Olympe Maxime that he occasionally brought up his time before being expelled from Hogwarts.
Could Olympe have told Kyle?
"Because the Gryffindors have the highest number of students sleeping in History of Magic class," Kyle replied casually, "The other houses might have one or two students paying attention, but not a single Gryffindor."
He didn't know about the other grades, but that's how it was with Kyle's batch.
Hagrid's face turned even redder.
"It's not... I..."
Seeing his flustered state, Kyle didn't press the issue further.
"Um... When is Professor McGonagall coming?" Hagrid quickly changed the subject.
"I don't know," Kyle shook his head and turned to glance at the castle, "It's the weekend, so she might be here soon..."
"Hagrid, can you stay here and keep an eye on things for a bit? I have something to take care of."
"Sure," Hagrid agreed, eager to make up for his mistake.
Kyle then pushed open the door and went inside.
Half an hour later, Kyle emerged from the room, and as he raised his head, he saw several people coming out of the castle in the distance, walking briskly towards them.
In addition to Professor McGonagall, the other three Heads of Houses were present, along with Dumbledore, the Deputy Headmaster and Chairman.
The group hurried over, their expressions reflecting their mood.
Dumbledore was chatting and laughing with Professor Flitwick, looking relaxed, while Professor Sprout maintained her usual calm demeanor.
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, looking a bit weary as if she hadn't slept well the previous night.
As for Snape... he wasn't important.
"Kyle, are you ready?" Dumbledore asked, glancing at the wooden door in the distance with a meaningful look, as if he had discovered something.
"Of course, professors," Kyle replied, opening the door, "Please come in, Professor Snape."
Snape's expression turned rigid.
His instincts told him that Kyle was up to no good, but he quickly realized that with the Heads of Houses and Dumbledore present, Kyle wouldn't dare to pull any tricks.
Perhaps there was something odd inside the room.
Snape was pleasantly surprised, as he wasn't afraid of any tricks Kyle might play. After all, he was here on an inspection, and if he were to be injured, even if it was just a hair falling out, he would have an excuse to confront Kyle.
He was young and couldn't keep his cool.
Snape waited, determined not to let it go if Kyle didn't personally deliver ten pints of dragon blood.
Without hesitation, Snape stepped up to the door's staircase.
The runes on the door lit up, emitting a faint golden light.
However, since the door was open, the runes on the front were turned in a different direction and hidden behind, so Snape didn't notice them.
Then, he naturally turned and walked down, starting to pace back and forth on the stone steps.
The professors following behind were stunned, unsure what Snape was up to.
Only Dumbledore's expression remained unchanged as he moved to the side and studied the runes on the door with interest.
"Click!"
The crisp sound of a shutter snapped everyone back to attention.
Kyle stood nearby, holding a camera and continuously taking pictures of Snape. Noticing the professors looking his way, he calmly put away the camera.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just bought a new gadget and wanted to test it out."
Professor McGonagall tugged at her lips, but she could tell that Kyle had done something to make Snape keep pacing in place.
"It's a standard Alchemical Mist."
At that moment, Dumbledore spoke up, "The concealment is a bit lacking, and the runes on top are completely exposed. Any wizard familiar with alchemy would likely see through it at a glance."
"It's just a temporary lock, but it's enough," Kyle said.
Dumbledore nodded, "That's true."
Hogwarts didn't currently offer a course in alchemy, so even if these things were openly displayed, the students wouldn't understand them, let alone find a solution.
Upon hearing this, Professor McGonagall and the others also approached and noticed the dark golden runes on the door.
Although they weren't proficient in alchemy, they could sense the magic within.
Moreover, Snape was a clear example, as even he was trapped, so it was unlikely for any students to break through.
Unless... another student like Kyle appeared in the school.
However, they were also aware that the chances of that were slim; students like Kyle were rare, and Hogwarts hadn't seen one in several centuries.
The last one was Tom Riddle sixty years ago...
"Smash!"
As the group was talking, the stone steps in the distance suddenly cracked... or more accurately, they were blasted open by a spell.
Snape stood there, panting heavily, his eyes red with anger.
He was indeed furious.
In fact, during his second lap, Snape had realized he was trapped, but he couldn't find a way out.
The surrounding scenery showed no changes, yet it was constantly transforming. No matter which direction he took, he would always end up back at the starting point.
It was as if he was surrounded by an invisible maze.
But Snape, being a professor, quickly realized the situation and took action. With a spell, he shattered the stone steps beneath him, using this subtle change to find the correct path.
In simpler terms, he broke through the maze with sheer force, barging his way out.
Kyle didn't find this strange.
If a hastily-made trap could hold a professor, then that would be strange.
However, Snape's expression was somewhat unfriendly, and looking at him was like gazing at a potion that had already solidified.
Kyle subconsciously took a step back, moving closer to Dumbledore. He then smiled innocently.
"Well done, Severus," Dumbledore said with a smile. "How do you feel? Has this experience alleviated some of your concerns?"
Snape's lips moved, but he didn't speak. Instead, he let out a heavy, cold huff and turned to leave.
He realized that Dumbledore was clearly taking Kyle's side, and he couldn't use this as an excuse to confront Kyle. Even the other professors who had accompanied him wouldn't speak up for him.
They were here to inspect safety issues, and it wouldn't make sense for them to be unhappy just because the lock was secure.
The only one who was unhappy was Snape.
So, Snape didn't want to stay there any longer.
"It seems Severus has acknowledged your actions," Dumbledore said, moving his fingers. The shattered stones on the ground floated into the air and landed on the broken step.
He then walked straight into the room, but the dark golden patterns remained lit, seemingly useless and non-existent.
"Professor McGonagall, do you need my help to map out the correct route?" Kyle asked.
"No, I don't," Professor McGonagall replied.
She wanted to personally experience this so-called alchemical mist to better understand the details.
"But before that," Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes, "may I take a look at your camera?"
"Huh?" Kyle was taken aback. "Sure, no problem."
He took out the camera and handed it to Professor McGonagall, and the three professors all took a step forward.
They wanted to see if the mist would still work when facing multiple targets.
Kyle realized that this wasn't just a camera to observe the maze; they were clearly worried he would take more photos.
Was he that kind of person? Where was the trust between people?
Kyle shrugged and reached into the Transfigured Lizard Leather Bag again.
He had never said he bought just one camera.
With their guard up, the professors quickly escaped the mist.
Among them, Professor McGonagall was the fastest, finding the correct path after only three laps and entering the house.
Professors Sprout and Flitwick also made it out within three minutes, and they were all satisfied with the effect.
Professor McGonagall's expression finally relaxed.
She could now confirm that it would be difficult for students to pass this test.
"Alright, let's go and see the dragons," Professor McGonagall said.
Kyle, of course, didn't refuse. He quickly walked into the house and opened the door to the garden.
But as he watched the professors enter one after another, he scratched his head, feeling like something was missing.
Oh well, it probably wasn't important.
...
Although Kyle had temporarily turned the garden into a cage, the area was still quite spacious, even with three fire dragons soaring above.
Professor McGonagall had seen fire dragons before, but seeing so many at once, and at Hogwarts, still surprised her.
However, she soon noticed a problem.
"Weren't there supposed to be five dragons?"
"Ah, Norbert is a fully grown fire dragon, and he's quite restless. So, he didn't come out," Kyle explained. "As for the others... Oh, there they are!"
Kyle pointed to a tree not far away.
Hanging on a branch was a large, dark figure, asleep with its head drooping on a sturdy branch, its mouth open, and its tongue resting beside it, creating a peculiar sleeping posture.
"A Hungarian Horntail!" Professor Flitwick immediately recognized the dragon's breed. "Aren't Horntails supposed to be temperamental? Why is it so quiet?"
"Maybe it has a different personality," Kyle said calmly.
"But what about the wounds on its body?" Professor Flitwick frowned. "Those holes... they look like they were bitten. Is there a magical creature that can bite through a fire dragon's scales?"
"Oh, those are old wounds," Kyle said, his expression unchanged. "The Dragon Reserve gave it to me in this condition, and I'm trying to help it heal.
"But as you know, Professor, fire dragons are different from wizards. Regular White Fresh Fragrant Essence doesn't work well on them."
Professor Flitwick nodded, half-believing, half-doubting, and didn't say anything more.
This also explained why the dragon slept during the day; it was injured and lacked energy.
"Did you do all this?" Dumbledore looked around. "Such a large area, Kyle. Your alchemy skills have improved significantly. I couldn't have done this at your age."
"Um..." Kyle clicked his tongue and gave a dry laugh.
Dumbledore was clearly exaggerating. He had only set up a few nodes connecting the magical runes. While it looked impressive, at Beauxbatons, this would only be considered sixth-year alchemy class material.
And according to Nicoleme, Dumbledore only started practicing Alchemy after Ariana's incident, so it was impossible for Kyle to have achieved such feats at his age.
But Professor McGonagall and the others were unaware of this, and their faces showed surprise, looking more at ease.
"It's okay, it's okay..." Kyle rubbed his face and nodded along with Dumbledore.
The group continued forward.
The most curious of the dragons, the Longhorn, perched on a nearby tree, tilting its head to examine them as strangers entered. Its golden horns on both sides of its head glistened in the sunlight.
The professors were startled by this sudden scene.
Even as a young dragon, it was still a fire dragon, and they couldn't help but feel tense.
Fortunately, the Longhorn only watched and didn't make any unnecessary moves. Kyle waved his hand, and it flew away again.
Only then did Professor McGonagall lower her wand, "They're actually so obedient?"
"After all, I was the first thing it saw after hatching, so our relationship is naturally much closer," Kyle explained, clearing his throat and shouting loudly.
"Everyone, come over here."
The Longhorn and Ironbelly didn't hesitate and turned in the air before landing where Kyle indicated, staring at him with wide eyes.
The Fireball Dragon was a little slower, but it flew over awkwardly and landed nearby.
This surprised Professor McGonagall even more, and most of her concerns were dispelled.
Her biggest worry was that the dragons would be uncontrollable, but it seemed like she was overthinking it.
Just as she was about to speak, she caught a whiff of a strange scent.
It was a bit fishy, and it didn't blend in with the sulfurous smell of the dragons.
"Do you smell something?" Professor McGonagall asked in confusion.
The surrounding area was filled with gasps.
"I guess it's that," Dumbledore pointed to a large barrel not far away and took a closer look.
"Oh, fresh dragon dung, no wonder the trees here are growing so well."
Kyle couldn't help but rub his forehead again.
Is it really okay to praise him so bluntly? After all, his garden was only completed yesterday, and even if dragon dung is good, it shouldn't be effective so quickly.
The gasps suddenly stopped, and the professors' faces turned a bit unpleasant.
Except for Professor Sprout, whose eyes lit up. She went over and stared at the dragon dung, even stirring it with her hands.
"It's definitely fresh dragon dung, and it's very healthy. The quality is much better than what I bought. Those merchants in Diagon Alley must have added mud to their products and still sold them at such a high price."
"Oh, Kyle..." She turned her head.
"It's for you, Professor," Kyle said before she could speak. "After this, I'll send these over... How about Greenhouse Three? Dragon dung is great for Mandrakes."
"You're right," Professor Sprout said with a delighted smile.
That's why she came here, for this dragon dung. This barrel was enough for her to use for a long time.
Perhaps she could even use this, along with Moonmad Beast Fat, to create a new fertilizer.
With this thought, Professor Sprout couldn't wait. She waved her wand and carried the barrel out of the garden.
"You don't need to send it; I can take it back myself."
As soon as she finished speaking, she had already walked through the garden gate and left quickly.
With another professor gone, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick looked at each other.
This inspection seemed to be coming to an end.
However, some necessary tests still needed to be conducted.
Professor Flitwick took out his wand, and a group of small birds flew chirping towards the dragons.
The dragons were a bit annoyed by the noise, but at Kyle's signal, they didn't react. Only the Fireball Dragon grumpily blew a small fireball out of its nostrils.
But that was all.
Apart from the Flying Birds, Professor Flitwick used several other common spells to provoke the dragons.
They were all ordinary spells with little power, purely for distraction. The dragons remained calm and didn't show any aggressive behavior or react to the stimuli.
The Horntail, on the other hand, was still asleep, unaffected by the noise.
Professor Flitwick used Flying Birds three times in a row, and the numerous birds were almost ready to perform a symphony by its ears, but it didn't even lift an eyelid.
What a deep sleeper... Professor Flitwick thought to himself.
He had never seen a dragon so tolerant. He even used the Sleeping Spell's counter-charm, but it had no effect, proving that the Horntail was indeed asleep and not knocked out by Kyle's spell.
But it was sleeping too deeply. If it weren't for the Horntail's body rising and falling with its breath, and its warm temperature, he would have thought it was just a model.
However, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick didn't mind. It was better to be lazy, at least compared to having a bad temper.
In contrast, the infamous Horntail became the most reassuring dragon among them.
"Kyle."
At this moment, Professor Sprout returned and pointed outside, saying, "Someone's looking for you."
"Me?" Kyle asked in confusion. "Is Professor Snape back?"
"No..." Professor Sprout's expression was a bit odd. "It's Saxia from St. Mungo's."
What? St. Mungo's? Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore immediately headed towards the gate.
Saxia, a long-overdue retiree who, for various reasons, had postponed her retirement, was the current head of St. Mungo's and the most famous Potion Master in the wizarding world, having saved countless wizards' lives.
She was such an important figure that even the Minister of Magic would stand at the door to welcome her. Why had she suddenly come to Hogwarts?
As they passed by Kyle, Dumbledore intentionally glanced back at him.
Kyle didn't explain and followed behind with a shrug.
...
(End of Chapter)
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