Beyond Memory

"Why have you stopped...?"

Hagrid noticed Kyle suddenly stop and turned to ask, "Did you find something?"

Kyle was thinking about something and didn't answer immediately.

Hagrid followed his gaze with some curiosity and soon noticed the Mooncalf dancing gracefully.

"So that's what you're watching." He said with a sudden realization, "Yes, the Mooncalf's dance is really captivating, but we're... well, it's a rare opportunity like this, if you enjoy watching, we can go back to the castle a little later."

Although he was anxious, Hagrid didn't urge Kyle any further, seeing how engrossed Kyle was.

Hogwarts has a curfew; young wizards are not allowed to leave the common room after 10 p. m. So, in his opinion, Kyle wouldn't normally see such goodies except at this time.

"No need, Hagrid. Business is more important; let's head back."

After regaining his senses, Kyle shook his head and continued walking out of the Forbidden Forest.

As Kyle passed Hagrid, Kyle suddenly asked, "By the way, were you in the Forbidden Forest before Christmas?"

"Before Christmas?" Hagrid asked, puzzled. "Why are you asking that?"

"It's nothing," Kyle said. "I'm just curious, do you need to go to the Forbidden Forest every day?"

"I don't need to go every day, maybe twice a week," Hagrid said after thinking for a moment. "As for before Christmas, I can't quite remember, but it should be around that time."

"No unexpected situations?" Kyle frowned. "Like if you discover something amiss, or come to the Forbidden Forest in the middle of the night to investigate."

"No, not at all." Hagrid shook his head and said definitively, "The Forbidden Forest was very peaceful before. I only came to the Forbidden Forest at night when I was collecting Mooncalf dung or visiting Fluffy."

"Is that so?" Kyle glanced at Hagrid thoughtfully, then said nothing more.

The two walked through the dark grounds back to the castle, then headed straight for the Headmaster's Office on the Seventh Floor.

As Hagrid climbed the stairs, he muttered to himself, "Hopefully Dumbledore isn't resting yet, otherwise we'll have to wait until tomorrow."

"It's alright," Kyle reassured him. "Old people are light sleepers; just knock a few more times and he'll wake up."

When they reached the second floor, they encountered Filch and Mrs. Norris coming down from upstairs.

The Trophy Room is on the fourth floor. He came straight over after hearing the commotion and is now blocking Hagrid's way.

"Why are you back so soon?" Filch said with a grim face. "This is against regulations."

"Get out of my way, Filch." Hagrid impatiently shoved Filch aside. "I need to find Dumbledore now, I don't have time to waste with you."

The frail Filch looked like a chick next to Hagrid and was pushed aside.

Filch was furious, his face turning red. He wanted to grab Hagrid, but the man's over three-meter-tall stature quickly calmed him down.

Filch considered himself a reasonable person, so he stood there gesturing wildly and talking incessantly about the curfew rules, trying to verbally drive Hagrid out of the castle.

Perhaps because he was too excited, he accidentally hit a portrait next to him.

"Thump..."

"Ouch! Who slapped me in the face!" The person in the portrait was furious at being slapped for no reason. He opened his eyes and angrily shouted, "What are you doing? It's sleeping time!"

Filch offered a few explanations, but when he turned back, he found that Hagrid had already walked down the stairs and disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

"That brainless idiot!"

Filch, grumbling, straightened the portrait he had knocked askew, and left with Mrs. Norris via another staircase.

Meanwhile, after leaving the second floor, Hagrid couldn't help but complain, "That grumpy old glutton, every time I come to the castle he brings that cat with me. I really want to introduce it to Fang."

Kyle shrugged noncommittally.

Honestly, given Fang's timid nature, it's not certain he could handle Mrs. Norris.

The two arrived at the dripping stone beast statue on the Seventh Floor. Hagrid cleared his throat and said, "Iced lemonade."

With the correct password, the statue jumped aside, revealing the staircase behind it.

"Dumbledore told me," Hagrid said softly. "He told me to tell him as soon as I had any news."

After going up the stairs, Hagrid began knocking on the door... no, to be precise, he started banging on the door.

Perhaps he was used to the heavy castle gates, because even though he was knocking very lightly, the oak door still made a loud banging sound as he knocked.

Kyle felt that even if he kicked it, he couldn't make that much noise.

In the Headmaster's Office, Dumbledore, dressed in light pink pajamas with a strawberry pattern, sat behind the desk and said with a hint of exasperation, "Hagrid, I'm not going to sleep for a while, so you could have knocked a little more gently."

"I'm sorry, Dumbledore," Hagrid said somewhat apologetically, "I'll be more careful next time."

"I didn't mean to blame 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?"

"Here's the thing, we've discovered something very strange in the Forbidden Forest," Hagrid said. "I found my footprints in a spot, but I'm sure I've never been there."

Kyle stepped forward, placed the clod of earth with footprints and the rotten tree trunk on the table, and described the situation in detail.

Dumbledore bent down and carefully examined the things on the table, his crooked nose almost touching the dirt.

Then, he touched the corroded tree trunk with his hand.

"To find traces of my existence in a place beyond my memory?" Dumbledore murmured to himself. "It is indeed a strange thing, but not entirely impossible, requiring only a little help..."

Hagrid's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, "Do you know what's going on?"

"Not yet, I need to think about it." Dumbledore straightened up, his gaze shifting slightly, and said gently, "But Kyle, you need to go back and rest now. Hopefully, this confinement will be fruitful for you."

"All right..."

Although Kyle was somewhat disappointed by the lack of further information, since Dumbledore had spoken, he nodded and said, "Well then... goodnight Headmaster, goodnight Hagrid."

Goodnight, Kyle.