MrBlackWing
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✭ Chapter 100 ➜ Beyond Memory ✭
🕑 Added 2025-05-10 23:15:40 +0000 UTC"Why did you stop?" Hagrid noticed Kyle suddenly stopping and turned around, "Did you find something?"
Kyle was lost in thought and didn't immediately respond.
Hagrid curiously followed his line of sight and quickly noticed the mooncalves dancing gracefully.
"So that's what you're looking at." He said with sudden understanding, "Yes, the mooncalves' dance is truly mesmerizing, but we should... well, since this is a rare opportunity, if you'd like to watch, we can return to the castle a bit later."
Though anxious inside, he didn't press further when he saw how entranced Kyle was.
Hogwarts had a curfew — young wizards weren't allowed to leave their common rooms after 10 PM. So in his view, besides now, Kyle wouldn't normally get to see something this special.
"No need, Hagrid. We have important matters to attend to, let's hurry back." Coming back to his senses, Kyle shook his head and continued walking toward the edge of the Forbidden Forest. As he passed by Hagrid, he suddenly asked, "By the way, did you come to the Forest before Christmas?"
"Before Christmas?" Hagrid asked, puzzled, "Why do you ask?"
"No reason." Kyle said, "I'm just curious — do you need to go to the Forest every day?"
"Not every day, about twice a week." Hagrid said thoughtfully, "As for before Christmas that you mentioned, I can't quite remember, but it was probably similar."
"No unusual situations?" Kyle frowned, "Like discovering something strange and coming to check the Forest at night?"
"Nothing like that." Hagrid shook his head firmly, "The Forest was very peaceful then. I only came at night to collect mooncalf droppings or to visit Fluffy."
"Is that so?" Kyle gave him a thoughtful look but said nothing more.
The two crossed the dark grounds back to the castle, then headed straight for the Headmaster's office on the eighth floor.
While climbing the stairs, Hagrid muttered quietly, "I hope Dumbledore hasn't gone to bed yet, or we'll have to wait until tomorrow."
"It's fine." Kyle reassured him, "Old people are light sleepers — just knock a few times and he'll wake up."
When they reached the second floor, they encountered Filch and Mrs. Norris coming down from above. The Trophy Room was on the fourth floor. Having heard the commotion, he had come directly here and was now blocking Hagrid's path.
"Why are you back so soon?" Filch said with a gloomy face, "This is against the rules."
"Move aside, Filch." Hagrid said impatiently, pushing him to the side, "I need to see Dumbledore now, I don't have time to waste with you."
The frail Filch was like a small chick compared to the half-giant and was pushed directly aside.
His face turned red with anger. He made to grab Hagrid but quickly thought better of it when confronted with the other's towering frame.
Considering himself a reasonable person, Filch stood there gesticulating wildly, citing curfew rules and trying to drive Hagrid from the castle with words alone. In his agitation, he accidentally struck a nearby portrait.
Thud—
"Ouch, who hit my face!" eExclaimed the portrait's occupant, clearly displeased at being disturbed, "What are you doing? It's sleeping time!"
Filch muttered a brief explanation, but when he turned back, he found Hagrid had already crossed the stairs and vanished around the corridor corner.
"That brainless fool!" He grumbled, straightening the knocked portrait before departing with Mrs. Norris via another staircase.
Once they'd left the second floor, Hagrid couldn't help complaining, "That cranky old dustbin — every time I come to the castle he has that cat following me. I'd really like to introduce it to Fang."
Kyle shrugged noncommittally. Truth be told, given Fang's cowardly nature, he probably wouldn't be able to handle Mrs. Norris.
The two arrived at the gargoyle statue on the eighth floor, and Hagrid cleared his throat, "Ice-cold lemonade."
The password was correct, and the statue jumped aside to reveal the stairs behind it.
"Dumbledore told me." Hagrid said quietly, "He asked me to tell him immediately if I had any news."
After climbing the stairs, he started knocking — or more accurately, pounding — on the door. Perhaps because he was used to the castle's heavy doors, even his gentlest touch made the oak door resonate with loud bangs.
Kyle doubted he could make such a loud noise even if he kicked the door.
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In the headmaster's office, Dumbledore, wearing light pink pajamas with strawberry patterns, sat behind his desk and said with gentle exasperation, "Hagrid, I won't be going to bed for a while yet — you could knock a bit more gently."
"Sorry, Dumbledore." Hagrid replied sheepishly, "I'll be more careful next time."
"I'm not scolding you, Hagrid... it's just that I really don't have time to look for a new door right now." Dumbledore said with a smile, "So what brings you here so late?"
"Well, we discovered something very strange in the Forest." Hagrid said, "I found my footprints in a place where I'm certain I've never been."
Kyle stepped forward, placed the piece of earth with the footprint and the corroded tree trunk on the desk, and described the situation in detail.
Dumbledore bent down to examine the items closely, his crooked nose almost touching the soil. Then, he touched the corroded tree trunk with his hand.
"Finding traces of one's presence in a place beyond memory." He muttered to himself, "This is indeed a very strange matter, but not entirely impossible, with just a little help..."
Hagrid's eyes lit up, "Do you know what's going on?"
"Not yet, I need to think about it." Dumbledore straightened up and turned to Kyle with a gentle gaze, "However, Kyle, you need to go rest now. I hope this detention has been enlightening for you."
"Alright..." Though disappointed at not hearing more information, Kyle nodded at Dumbledore's directive, "Well then... goodnight, Headmaster, goodnight, Hagrid."
"Goodnight, Kyle."
