Werewolf

Chris and Diana only stayed at home for one day, returning to the Ministry of Magic early the next morning; they had many things to do.

Chris, in particular, was away on business trips for six months at a time, and the department's documents piled up like a mountain.

Kyle, who was home alone, decided to visit Hagrid.

St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries is located in London, in front of an old-fashioned department store.

Like the Leaky Cauldron, this place also has Muggle-Repelling Charm; they can only see the "Closed for Renovation" sign on the door and cannot enter.

Kyle found an ugly doll in the shop window and said, "I want to visit a patient."

The doll nodded slightly and waved its joined fingers, gesturing for Kyle to go inside.

Similar to the partition wall you have to pass through to enter Platform 9, you have to pass through that glass window to enter the St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

This was Kyle's first time visiting St Mungo's's, the most famous hospital in the Wizarding World, where all sorts of strange and wonderful patients were always present.

Not long after entering, Kyle saw an old wizard with a leg on his head hopping to the information desk in the waiting room and start queuing.

However, his appearance was indeed a bit exaggerated, and those in front of him in line were stunned and said they could let him go first.

"No need, no need, you go first."

The old wizard was quite polite. "I just feel a bit heavy-headed, I just need a kind person to help me hold my head."

No one dared to help him up, not because they were afraid of being extorted, but mainly because the leg on his head was unruly, kicking left and right, making it impossible for anyone to get close.

Finally, a plump, blonde witch emerged from the inquiry desk and led him elsewhere.

As he left, his leg swung from side to side, as if he wanted to kick the witch.

Kyle was heading to the Creature-Induced Injuries Department on the second floor, where he met a curly-haired healer and learned Hagrid's location from him.

"You mean that big guy? He's in Janus Titchell's ward, right across from the sample room... Never mind, I'll take you there."

The therapist led Kyle to a brownish-red door.

"This is it." He then pushed open the door and said, "Rubeus Hagrid, someone has come to see you."

"Mmm..." came an indistinct murmur from inside the door.

Kyle went inside.

It was a fairly spacious room with six beds, but only three people were there.

Besides Hagrid, there were two other male wizards here, one of whom was sleeping, and the other Kyle actually recognized.

"Professor Kettleburn... what are you doing here?"

"Hmm?" A bald wizard with a white beard looked at Kyle and asked in confusion, "You are... a junior wizard from Hogwarts?"

"Yes, Professor," Kyle replied, "I'm a sophomore now."

"No wonder..." Professor Kettleburn exclaimed in realization.

Second graders aren't allowed to take the Care of Magical Creatures, so naturally he'd never seen Kyle.

"Um... what are you doing here?" Kyle looked at his only remaining arm and half a leg.

Thankfully, everything was still there; if anything had been missing, this professor would probably have had to retire early.

"It's nothing, I just got bumped by a Unicorn." The old professor casually fiddled with the thick bandages on his body, waving his hand and saying, "It's just a scrape, nothing serious. Aren't you going to see Hagrid? Go on."

Kyle clicked his tongue. The horn on the Unicorn's forehead was no mere decoration; it could even pierce through the scales of Dragon.

Getting hit by that thing... I guess only Professor Kettleburn would remain so calm.

However, for him, this was really not a big deal.

Hagrid was to Professor Kettleburn's right, and he occupied three beds by himself.

Hagrid looked slightly confused when he saw Kyle.

"You are... Kyle, what are you doing here? Don't you have class?"

"It's summer vacation now, Hagrid," Kyle said, placing a box of candy on the table beside him. "How are you feeling?"

Of course, he didn't forget to give Professor Kettleburn a copy as well.

Is summer vacation already on?

Hagrid rubbed his head and said, "I feel terrible. I think I've forgotten a lot of things."

"Mr. Scamander came by a couple of days ago. He said I'll need at least a month of treatment to recover these memories."

"I don't want to live here. I still want to pick Harry up for school."

Hagrid, somewhat agitated, tugged at the hospital gown he was wearing, which was pieced together from various sources but was still a size too small.

He had been preparing for a whole year to be able to pick up Harry Potter this year. What if Dumbledore wouldn't let him go because of this?

Hagrid couldn't accept it.

"It's okay," Kyle reassured him. "It's only the beginning of summer vacation. The owls won't be sending the acceptance letters for another month and a half. There's plenty of time."

"I hope so." Hagrid tugged at his clothes again.

"Be confident, Hagrid. The headmaster will definitely let you pick up Harry Potter." Kyle handed him a Chocolate Frog and said, "Have some chocolate, it should cheer you up."

"Thank you, Kyle." Hagrid sobbed softly, "I never imagined that anyone other than Dumbledore would come to see me."

"Wait... your name is Kyle?"

Just then, Professor Kettleburn, who was standing nearby, suddenly looked over and said, "That Unicorn cub, could it be the one you found?"

"I suppose so," Kyle said calmly. "But Oren only returned the cub after the Ministry of Magic arrived; it just happened to end up in my hands."

"The Ministry of Magic... Ha, I never thought those good-for-nothings could be reliable sometimes."

Professor Kettleburn made no attempt to hide his opinion of the Ministry of Magic. He looked at Kyle with interest and said, "You're a second-year student this year, right? Would you be interested in taking Care of Magical Creatures next year?"

"This is the course I've been most looking forward to, Professor."

The people in the next ward were arguing loudly, their shouts carrying all the way here, but the person sleeping there was snoring so loudly that Kyle couldn't hear what they were arguing about.

After saying goodbye to Hagrid and Professor Kettleburn, Kyle went down the corridor.

Here, the arguing became clearer, accompanied by the sound of things being broken, as if the patient inside was not cooperating and was struggling desperately.

Kyle didn't pay much attention and, after closing the door, prepared to head towards the stairs.

"Bang!"

But just as he turned his head, an arm suddenly smashed through the door of the next ward and stood blocking Kyle's way.

Its arms were covered in gray hair, and its fingernails were long, black, and hooked at the very tip.

Before Kyle could even react, a tall figure smashed through the door and ran out from the next room.

The other creature landed on its hind legs, its long mouth opening and closing.

This look... Werewolf?

Kyle could hardly believe his eyes. It was daytime! How could there be Werewolf?!