Poor Professor Kayson

Kayson and the young wizards left the Alchemy classroom covered in soot and dust. Though the process had been somewhat tortuous, at least they had all seen the Nether Star inside the beacon.

Before leaving the classroom, he gave each young wizard a small beacon as well. He had enchanted them so they would only work for their owners; if handed to anyone else, the beacons would petrify and turn into useless stones.

It could be considered a small gift, something like an amulet to boost themselves.

That evening, Kayson arrived at the Great Hall after washing himself clean again. Seeing Quirrell's seat still empty, he let out a satisfied hum.

Hmph~ Villager noise.

After dinner, Kayson did not return to his office immediately. Under Hagrid's sneaky gaze and what Hagrid thought were cautious but were actually broad, obvious movements, Kayson decisively followed him.

"I'm guessing you found some good liquor," Kayson said.

"It's not good liquor. It's something even better than fine wine... You'll know when you get there."

They arrived at Hagrid's newly renovated hut. After Hagrid's "redecorating," the place had become extremely... lived-in.

Though it did not quite suit the hut's original style, as the saying went, being happy was what mattered most.

The two entered the hut and sat on the sofa beside the fireplace. Only then did Kayson learn why Hagrid had invited him over.

"Is your dragon egg about to hatch? Forgive me, but I know nothing about magical creatures."

"More or less. This is the first time I've personally witnessed the birth of such a wonderful little life..."

Hagrid wanted to say more, but an ill-timed knock interrupted him.

When he opened the door, just as Hagrid had expected, there were four familiar faces.

"Hello, Hagrid."

"Mm, hello to you too. But let me say this first: I hope you haven't come today to convince me that Quirrell is a Dark Wizard." Hagrid ushered the young wizards inside as he spoke.

"No, no. We came to apologize for my shouting last time," Harry said awkwardly.

"You really don't have to. Honestly, if you hadn't reminded me, I would've forgotten. It wasn't a big deal." Hagrid waved his hand.

After entering the living room, they sat on the small sofas around the fireplace. Only then did they notice that someone else was sitting there.

"Hello. I was still wondering how long it would take you to notice there was someone sitting here... But not bad. Your reactions were pretty quick," Kayson said with a smile.

"Probably because the contrast between your clothes and the sofa is too obvious."

Ron complained.

"Can't help it. Hagrid loves pink sofas."

Pfft!

"Don't laugh. There's nothing embarrassing about it."

"Oh, yes, yes. We weren't laughing."

"We just thought of something funny."

"What funny thing?" Hagrid asked.

"Once upon a time, there was a giant, and then he... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

Kayson and Hagrid exchanged a look, seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.

After the four little ones had finished laughing, Hagrid brought out a plate of rock cakes from the kitchen. Kayson picked one up, then took the milk warming by the fireplace. He violently broke the rock cake apart and tossed the pieces into the hot milk.

This was a way of eating them he had discovered. To be honest, rock cakes soaked in milk were surprisingly delicious.

After all, aside from baking them a little too hard, Hagrid's cakes had no other flaws, and he was generous with the ingredients.

Seeing Kayson eat them that way, the four little ones each picked up a cup of milk and went to place them by the fireplace. Then... then...

"Is that a dragon egg?" Ron asked blankly.

"Oh... yes. Keep it secret for me. This is a secret between the six of us," Hagrid said with a smile.

"Of course, of course. We'll keep it secret." Harry, Neville, and Ron all nodded.

But Hermione remained rational. "But Hagrid, where are you going to raise this dragon? I think I read in a book that a three-month-old dragon can snack on elephants."

For a moment, the air in the entire hut fell silent.

Hermione looked toward Professor Kayson again. In her eyes, he was the only serious and reliable person in the room.

Then Kayson looked at everyone with a baffled expression. "Why are you all looking at me? I've never seen a dragon before. I thought they were only as big as elephants at most... or perhaps like a three-headed dog..."

Hermione rolled her eyes helplessly.

"Oh, God..."

"Maybe we could raise it in the Forbidden Forest?" Hagrid muttered.

"Certainly, if you aren't afraid that this dragon will eat every living thing in the Forbidden Forest into extinction. By the day it finishes, it'll be extending its claws and fangs toward Hogwarts." Hermione retorted.

"That won't work either...? Kayson, is there some spell that can make it smaller?"

"A dragon's magical resistance can even perfectly block curses. Otherwise, dragon-hide gloves wouldn't exist."

Hermione's triple strike nearly made Hagrid cry.

"Forget it, Hagrid. Even if you can't have a dragon forever, this dragon is at least about to hatch. You'll witness the birth of such a life. Your life and the dragon's life will intertwine at this moment. Even if you part in the future, you'll have experienced it. You're already far luckier than most people."

Kayson patted Hagrid's shoulder comfortingly.

And just like that, it would have been better if he had not comforted him. The moment he did, Hagrid's tears finally fell.

A Half-giant hugged Kayson, burying a head larger than Kayson's chest against him and bursting into tears.

"Neville... all I can say is, it's fortunate I'm not wearing your robes today."

Neville looked at Kayson's utterly lifeless expression, then at the endlessly crying Hagrid, and nodded in deep agreement.

Tap!

"There's someone outside!" Harry suddenly became alert.

"It's not curfew yet," Kayson said helplessly.

"I'll open the door and take a look." Hagrid stood up, wiping away his tears and leaving behind one thoroughly disheveled person.

Not long afterward, Hagrid led another young wizard inside. It would have been fine if he had not, but once this person entered, the entire living room nearly exploded!

"Draco Malfoy!"

Malfoy curled his lip, folded his arms, and snorted. "Is there a problem? Is this some kind of forbidden place?"

As he spoke, he looked over the people in the room.

He looked at Hagrid, a huge giant.

He looked at Harry, someone who could not tell right from wrong.

He looked at Neville, an idiot barely better than a Muggle-born. Though Draco had accidentally suffered a narrow defeat before, that was only because he had been careless and failed to dodge.

He looked at Ron, a pauper.

He looked at Hermione... uh... not worth looking at.

He looked at Professor Kayson...

Draco looked at Kayson, especially at his wizard robes stained with tears, and a faint trace of pity appeared in his eyes.

Poor Professor Kayson.