Hogwarts: I Am an Exemplary Wizard

Chapter 370: Chapter 368: Dumbledore’s Punishment

”Damn Fiendfyre, he’s lying, it was clearly Fiendfyre!”

In the Headmaster’s Office, Snape roared, ”The Fiendfyre Curse can have such power? Or does that fool Lupin think we can’t tell the difference between a Fiendfyre Curse and Fiendfyre!”

”Calm down, Severus, I can hear you, no need to be so agitated.” Dumbledore picked up the teapot beside him.

”Would you like some tea?”

”At a time like this, you still have the mood to drink tea?” Snape stared at Dumbledore, as if he was seeing him for the first time.

”Someone used the Fiendfyre Curse in the school to destroy an office!

”Even when that... person was at school, he didn’t dare to openly use such extremely dangerous Dark Magic.”

”I know, Severus... I know.” Dumbledore still poured him a cup of tea.

Snape took a sip and, seemingly finding it too hot, put it back down and continued, ”You should investigate how he learned the Fiendfyre Curse!”

”On this point, I beg to differ...”

Dumbledore shook his head, ”Remus told me he didn’t hear any spell, perhaps Kael just suddenly saw his friend’s ’corpse’, causing a magical surge...”

”Can a magical surge create Fiendfyre?” Snape’s face grew darker as he felt his intelligence was being insulted.

”It’s not impossible.”

Dumbledore pondered for a moment, ”Kael, in his second year, has seen the Fiendfyre Curse and been caught in it, which is not a pleasant memory.

Also, the Boggart, this creature always reveals the deepest fears of people, perhaps Kael also thought of this experience, thus subconsciously recreating it during the magical surge...

”Hmm... it is normal, nothing surprising about it.”

The Headmaster’s Office was silent.

Snape looked at Dumbledore incredulously, his expression as though he had been forced to drink a concoction brewed by Neville Longbottom.

”Do you think I look like an idiot?”

”Of course not, Severus, you are one of the most talented potions geniuses I’ve ever seen, and one of the youngest heads of house in the history of Hogwarts, no doubt.”

”But...”

Dumbledore shifted the conversation and continued, ”You focus too much on potions, inevitably lacking in other aspects... Magic, after all, is the most wonderful thing in the world.”

”Bang bang...”

Snape wanted to say something but was interrupted by the sudden knock on the door.

”Has it arrived so quickly?”

Dumbledore stood up and said, ”Severus, could I ask you to help notify Hagrid? Kael might be late for class this afternoon.”

”Just don’t regret it yourself!” Snape took a deep breath, turned around and opened the door of the Headmaster’s Office.

Outside the door was Professor McGonagall and Kael.

Snape twitched his lips but said nothing as he walked past them.

After that, Professor McGonagall also left, leaving Kael alone there.

”Have a seat.” Dumbledore pointed to an armchair in front of him.

Kael walked over and sat down.

He initially thought Dumbledore would ask him questions or severely reprimand him... but none of that happened.

Dumbledore just calmly waved his hand.

The table between them was instantly filled with various foods.

”You can have lunch here... although it’s not as lively as in the auditorium, the taste is just as good.”

Dumbledore winked, ”Besides, as headmaster, I always get something that’s not available in the canteen, like this honey cream pie.”

He pushed a plate in front of Kael, ”Try it.”

Kael cut a small piece and put it on his plate, but didn’t eat it.

The things Dumbledore liked were too sweet for him, and honey cream... just the name alone was sweeter than acceptable.

Kael cut a bit and then stopped, while Dumbledore happily brought the plate back to himself.

The two of them just had lunch in the Headmaster’s Office, a scene both harmonious and peculiar.

Until half an hour later, when the last pudding plate disappeared, the table was replaced by a pot of tea and a glass of lemonade.

”Can you tell me why?” Dumbledore asked suddenly.

”I’m very sorry, Professor.” Kael also didn’t explain, ”I just wanted that Boggart to disappear completely.”

”Was it because you saw your friend’s ’corpse’?” Dumbledore asked.

Kael nodded.

This was the first time his mind went blank, his body reacted instinctively, and by the time he came to, it had already happened.

”Yes... indeed...” Dumbledore paused in the air with his hand holding the tea, then said softly, ”...I understand.”

He couldn’t imagine what he would do if he turned around and saw Arianna’s body.

Maybe... he’d do the same as Kael, or something worse.

Dumbledore’s gaze flickered, then he put the teacup back on the table and added two sugar cubes.

”But, Kael, no matter what, you’ve seriously violated school rules, and as punishment, I have to deduct one hundred points from Hufflepuff.

”And you must promise me that you will never use any Dark Magic inside the castle again.”

Kael was somewhat surprised.

He hadn’t expected Dumbledore’s punishment to be merely a point deduction.

One hundred points seemed like a lot, but it was the least consequential punishment, and especially for Hufflepuff, it wasn’t even as punishing as skipping a meal.

”I promise, Professor.” Kael said.

”I hope you remember that.” Dumbledore looked up at him, ”By the way, you also need to provide Professor Lupin with a new office, and everything should be replenished, including tables, chairs, and windows.

If you don’t have enough Galleons, I’ll have to write to your family.”

”What?!”

Kael, who was drinking lemonade, choked, ”Can’t you find some other reason and get it reimbursed by the board?”

”Of course not, it’s your own mistake.” Dumbledore gave him an odd look.

This kid, what did he take the board for?

Well... it’s not impossible, but it’s unnecessary.

”Alright, you can go now.” Dumbledore said, ”You should still be able to catch your first Care of Magical Creatures class.”

Kael did not leave, ”I have one last question, Professor.”

”Feel free to ask.”

”Is there any way to block a Boggart?” Kael hesitated and asked, ”Like Occlumency.”

”I’m afraid it’s difficult.”

Dumbledore said calmly, ”A Boggart is more akin to another form of the Mirror of Erised, its ability leans more toward reflecting like a mirror and less like peering...

Unless you can master Occlumency to a very high degree, it’s challenging for it to be effective.”

”Like you?” Kael asked.

”If I wanted to, perhaps.” Dumbledore said, ”But just for dealing with a Boggart, I have more suitable methods, much more effective than Occlumency.

”You could also ask Professor Lupin, I recall he taught the third years a very useful little charm just yesterday.”

”Riddikulus?” Kael asked.

”Seems you already know.” Dumbledore said, ”Yes, the standard answer from the book, simple yet effective.”

Kael frowned, ”But it doesn’t prevent the Boggart from transforming.”

”At least, you wouldn’t have to make such a big commotion.” Dumbledore said half-jokingly, ”You can’t blow up an office each time...”

...