Dumbledore's Punishment

"Damn the Fire-Making Spell, he's lying, that's clearly Fiendfyre!"

In the Headmaster's Office, Snape roared, "Fire-Making Spell that powerful? Or does that fool Lupin think we can't even tell the difference between Fire-Making Spell and Fiendfyre?!"

"Calm down, Severus, I can hear you. Don't get so agitated." Dumbledore picked up the teapot beside him.

Would you like some black tea?

"What time is it? You still have the mood to drink tea?" Snape stared at Dumbledore as if he had just met him.

"Someone used Fiendfyre to destroy an office at the school!"

"Even back when that guy was in 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 black tea.

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

"I have a different opinion on this..."

Dumbledore shook his head. "Remus told me he didn't hear the spell. Perhaps Kyle just suddenly saw his friend's 'corpse,' causing a magical outburst..."

"A magical surge can produce Fiendfyre?" Snape's face grew increasingly grim; he felt his intelligence had been insulted.

"It's not impossible."

Dumbledore pondered for a moment, "Kyle saw the Fiendfyre when he was in his second year, and he was actually inside it. It wasn't a pleasant memory."

And then there Boggart, creatures that always manage to uncover the deepest fears in people's hearts. Perhaps Kyle also recalled this experience, so when the magic surged, he subconsciously replicated it...

"Hmm... that's normal, nothing strange about it."

The Headmaster's Office was silent.

Snape stared at Dumbledore in disbelief, his expression as if he had been forced to swallow a mouthful of Potions brewed by Neville Longbottom.

Do you think I'm an idiot?

"Of course not, Severus. You are the most talented Potions genius I have ever seen, and one of the youngest headmasters in the history of Hogwarts. That's beyond question."

"But..."

Dumbledore changed the subject, continuing, "You're too focused on Potions, which inevitably leads to some shortcomings in other areas... Magic, after all, is the most wondrous thing in the world."

"Bang bang..."

Snape was about to say something when he was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.

"Did we arrive so quickly?"

Dumbledore stood up and said, "Severus, could you please inform Hagrid that Kyle might be a little late for class this afternoon?"

"I hope you don't regret this!" Snape took a deep breath, turned around, and opened the door to the Headmaster's Office.

Professor McGonagall and Kyle were outside the door.

Snape's lips twitched, but he said nothing and walked past them.

Professor McGonagall then left, leaving Kyle alone there.

"Sit down," Dumbledore said, gesturing to an armchair in front of him.

Kyle went over and sat down.

He had expected Dumbledore to ask him some questions or to reprimand him severely... but none of that happened.

Dumbledore simply waved his hand calmly.

The table between the two was instantly filled with all sorts of food.

"Have lunch here... It's not as lively as in the Great Hall, but the food is just as good."

Dumbledore blinked and said, "And as headmaster, I always get things that aren't in the dining halls, like this honey cream pie."

He pushed a plate towards Kyle. "Try it."

Kyle a small piece and put it on his plate, but didn't eat it.

The things Dumbledore liked were all too sweet for him, and honey cream... the name alone was sweet enough to be excessive.

Kyle only cut a little bit and didn't touch it anymore, while Dumbledore happily brought the plate to himself.

The two of them ate lunch in the Headmaster's Office, a scene that was both harmonious and strange.

Half an hour later, the last plate of pudding disappeared, and a pot of black tea and a glass of lemonade appeared on the table.

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

"I'm sorry, Professor." Kyle didn't explain further, "I just wanted that Boggart to disappear completely."

"Is it because you saw your friend's 'corpse'?" Dumbledore asked.

Kyle nodded.

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

"Yes...yes..." Dumbledore paused in mid-air, holding the teacup, then said softly, "...I understand."

He couldn't imagine what he would do if he turned around and saw Ariana Dumbledore's corpse.

Maybe... like Kyle, or worse.

Dumbledore's eyes flickered for a moment, then he put the teacup back on the table and added two more sugar cubes.

"But Kyle, no matter what, you have seriously violated the school rules, and as punishment, I have to deduct 100 points from Hufflepuff."

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

Kyle was somewhat surprised.

He hadn't expected that Dumbledore's punishment would only be a deduction of points.

A hundred points may sound like a lot, but it's the least effective punishment, especially for Hufflepuff. This kind of punishment is even less effective than letting them skip a meal.

"I assure you, Professor," Kyle said.

"I hope you remember this." Dumbledore looked up at him. "Oh, and you're also responsible for returning Professor Lupin's office to him, with all the desks, chairs, and windows intact."

If you don't have enough Galleon, I'll have to write to your family.

"What?!"

Kyle was drinking lemonade, choked. "Can't we find some other reason to get reimbursed by the School Governor?"

"Of course not, that's your own mistake." Dumbledore gave him a strange look.

What does this child take the School Governor for?

Okay... it's not impossible, but it's really unnecessary.

"Alright, you can go back now," Dumbledore said. "You should still be able to make it to the first Care of Magical Creatures."

Kyle didn't leave. "I have one last question, Professor."

"Go ahead and ask."

"Is there any way to stop the Boggart?" Kyle asked hesitantly. "Like Occlumency?"

"I'm afraid it will be difficult."

Dumbledore said calmly, "The Boggart is essentially another form of the Mirror of Erised; its power is more inclined to reflect your inner self like a mirror, rather than to spy on you..."

Unless you master Occlumency to a very high level, it's unlikely to be effective.

"Like you?" Kyle asked.

"If I wanted to, I could," Dumbledore said, "But for dealing with the Boggart, I have many more suitable methods, all of which are far more effective than Occlumency."

"You could also ask Professor Lupin for help; I remember he just taught a very useful little spell to third graders yesterday."

"Riddikulus?" Kyle asked.

"It seems you already know," Dumbledore said. "Yes, the standard answer in the book is simple, but very useful."

Kyle frowned. "But it doesn't prevent the Boggart from Transfiguration."

"At least you won't need to make such a fuss anymore," Dumbledore jokingly. "You can't blow up an office every time..."