The Forbidden Forest Settled

But now was not the time for small talk. Hagrid climbed up from the ground, rubbed his shoulder, and said rapidly, "Let's get out of here first!"

Fortunately, the Magical Creatures in the Forbidden Forest were too busy fighting among themselves to notice the group hurrying away along the edge.

Meanwhile, the Black Lake beside them churned with splashes. Sean caught glimpses of the Grindylow surfacing now and then; it was helping Sean drive away other ill-tempered aquatic creatures trying to approach the shore.

Sean looked toward the castle with growing concern. He had seen Dumbledore only yesterday, yet something this serious had happened, and the headmaster was nowhere to be found.

He turned his gaze back to the Magical Creatures. They were clearly abnormal. Like the Little Black Dragon and the Grindylow earlier, their pupils were bloodshot, and most of their reason had been lost.

What exactly had gone wrong in the Forbidden Forest...? Sean frowned as he ran swiftly. The Little Black Dragon beside him, however, was in an excellent mood, occasionally rubbing its large head against Sean's body.

"Hagrid, what should we do with this little fellow?" The group reached the circle of stones, the fork in the road beyond the castle's covered bridge that led respectively to the Forbidden Forest and the Owlery.

Hagrid glanced at the Little Black Dragon. "You lot head into the castle first. I'll take it to Professor Kettleburn."

As they spoke, an intense white light suddenly flared up behind them.

The group spun around sharply. The light came from the Forbidden Forest, spreading rapidly from its center until it blanketed the entire forest.

The ceaseless roars of Magical Creatures gradually weakened. Hagrid's face lit up with excitement. "It must be Professor Dumbledore!"

Sean could not help letting out a sigh of relief, then looked toward the fading white light.

A spell capable of covering the entire Forbidden Forest—Dumbledore's power truly was terrifying.

As they spoke, the Little Black Dragon beside Sean seemed to notice something. It stared in one direction and scraped the ground uneasily with a claw.

"Hagrid?!" a gruff voice called out.

The newcomer held a wand and appeared to have trouble moving.

"It's me, Professor Kettleburn." Hagrid waved.

Professor Kettleburn was a tiny old man with white hair and beard. Other than one arm and half a leg, all his limbs were wooden prosthetics, marked with plenty of scorch and burn marks.

Kettleburn limped over. "Are you all right?"

Sean noticed that the man's remaining arm was trembling strangely as well.

Hagrid nodded, then asked, "Professor Kettleburn, weren't you bitten?"

Kettleburn waved dismissively. "It'd be stranger if I went a month without getting bitten. I saw something was wrong in the Forbidden Forest, remembered you were going to catch a baby dragon tonight, and came out to check because I was worried."

As he spoke, he looked at the Little Black Dragon beside Sean and stroked his beard. "It really is a Hebridean Black Dragon."

The Little Black Dragon was highly wary of Kettleburn. It crouched halfway down, its body taut as though ready to breathe fire at any moment.

Sean hurriedly soothed the little fellow. It took quite a while before it calmed down somewhat.

Kettleburn gave Sean an odd look. "What's your name?"

"Sean Wallop, sir."

"Wallop... very good. You're not bad." He showed a shriveled smile and swung one of his wooden prosthetics. "I just came back from a dragon sanctuary a few days ago. Accidentally knocked out a few dragons. This little fellow's quite perceptive."

Accidentally... knocked out a few dragons? Sean and Harry exchanged looks. Was the Care of Magical Creatures professor they had not even met yet really this fierce?

Kettleburn waved at them. "Hagrid, stun this little fellow and carry it to my place for now. I'll notify someone to take it away tomorrow."

The Little Black Dragon seemed to sense something. It roared angrily at Kettleburn, then turned back and looked at Sean with pleading eyes.

Sean looked at the Little Black Dragon awkwardly. There was no way he could raise a dragon right now. If no one had found out, there might have been some room for discussion, but now, with everyone watching...

After considering it, he was just about to speak when a crimson light flashed. Dumbledore appeared before them amid the flames.

"It seems this detention was a little too intense. Fortunately, you are all unharmed," Dumbledore said gently, his hands folded at his waist.

Hagrid felt the stone in his heart drop at once. He let out a breath. "Professor, it's so good to see you. What about the Forbidden Forest?"

Dumbledore nodded, as casually as if he had merely dealt with a trivial matter. "Those poor animals have calmed down. However, Hagrid, Silvanus, quite a few Magical Creatures have been injured or even lost their lives. You may be rather busy for some time."

Kettleburn thumped the ground with a prosthetic limb. "That's precisely what I ought to be doing. But, Albus, what exactly happened in the Forbidden Forest? I've never seen a Bowtruckle try to gouge out my eyes the moment it saw me. Merlin's Beard!"

Dumbledore's expression grew considerably more serious. "It was most likely some kind of potion, but I also detected a trace of Ancient Magic."

Ancient Magic? Sean pricked up his ears.

As though seeing through his thoughts, Dumbledore smiled. "Ancient does not necessarily mean powerful. On the contrary, many forms of Ancient Magic are extremely troublesome to cast."

He gave a mischievous wink. "Some spells not only require complicated movements and lengthy incantations, but even require you to perform a dance."

That made it seem a lot less impressive... Sean felt his enthusiasm cool considerably.

Then, under Dumbledore's questioning, Sean recounted what had happened earlier.

"Good job, child. You remind me of someone, though only when it comes to Magical Creatures," Dumbledore said with a smile.

Newt Scamander. A name sprang into Sean's mind.

"Let Hagrid look after this little fellow for now." Dumbledore waved a hand, and the Little Black Dragon immediately began to grow drowsy. "I believe this detention has already made you realize the seriousness of breaking school rules. It is time for you to return and sleep. Oh, and Sean, when the MacFasty family comes to take it home, remember to say goodbye."

"I will, Professor." Sean nodded, then cast a reluctant glance at the Little Black Dragon. Not being able to raise a dragon was a little regrettable...

After Hagrid's dragon-carrying figure and Professor Kettleburn's swaying figure disappeared, Sean turned around. Dumbledore was looking in the direction of the Forbidden Forest, seemingly lost in thought.

"Harry, you two go ahead." After greeting the other two, Sean waited where he was for a moment before walking over to Dumbledore.

"Professor, may I ask a question?"

"Of course, child." Dumbledore's eyes were wise and gentle.

The water and internet were finally back... There will be another update tonight, and after that, the update schedule will return to normal.

Oh, and happy National Day, everyone~