The Polyjuice Potion she brewed was almost perfect, and even Slughorn couldn't find any fault with it.

Although Kyle's was similar, the potion in his crucible was darker in color than Kanna's.

This was because he added the boomslang skin a little late, which had no effect on the potion itself. If it weren't for Kanna, he would definitely have been the first.

But to be honest, neither Kyle nor Connor were particularly interested in the Felicis Buddism Oil that Slughorn rewarded them with.

Both of them have the Foling drug and have channels to get it.

As for Connor, there is no need to mention it. As long as she asks, Snape will definitely not mind getting her a few bottles.

As for Kyle, he already had a good relationship with Dean Sassia of St. Mungo's. With the basilisk materials that were sent to him before, it was not difficult for him to get some Felicis.

So this reward is naturally not that attractive to them. It would be best if they can get it, but it doesn’t matter if they can’t.

And more importantly, ever since he wore the Ravenclaw crown last time, Kyle has stayed away from things like Felicis.

The feeling of being able to control everything was really intoxicating. Kyle was afraid that he would not be able to resist the temptation...

Unless it's necessary, this is fine now.

…

On the first weekend of the new school year, a misty drizzle suddenly fell from the sky and it was chilly. However, this day was also the day when the Quidditch team was selecting new players, so there were many people on the field.

In addition to those who really want to join the team, there are more people who come to watch the fun. If possible, perhaps they can spy on the enemy for their college team, killing two birds with one stone.

Because it was Gryffindor time in the morning, Kyle did not go to the stadium, but walked across the field with Connor to Hagrid's hut.

He's been in a bad mood these past two days, always with a stern face, and recently he even stopped going to the auditorium to eat.

It was the weekend, so Kyle wanted to come and see what was going on.

When they arrived near the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid was absent-mindedly watering the pumpkin patch at the door.

Inside are pumpkins that are about the size of wheels. When Halloween comes, they will appear as decorations in every corner of the castle.

But Hagrid seemed to be thinking about something else. He poured the bucket of water in his hand onto the same pumpkin, and it gathered into a small puddle on the ground.

"Hagrid, if you don't act more seriously, we'll have to go out and buy pumpkins for Halloween."

Kyle shouted, and Hagrid came back to his senses.

"Oh, it's Kyle and Kanna." He greeted them while holding a bucket. "Hello."

"Hello." Kyle walked up to him and asked directly, "What's wrong with you recently?"

"I'm fine..." Hagrid's eyes were wandering and he took two steps forward, preparing to water the other pumpkins.

“Come on, don’t you know you’re a terrible liar?” Kyle said. “Besides, why would you be out watering pumpkins on a rainy day if you had nothing on your mind?”

rain?

Only then did Hagrid notice that his hair was completely wet.

"Oh, why didn't you tell me earlier." He quickly put down the bucket and tried to scoop out the puddle with his hands.

"About the rain...do I need anyone to tell me?" Kyle couldn't help but mutter.

But seeing Hagrid in a panic, he still took out his wand and helped clean up the excess water in the pumpkin patch.

Although he felt that this was also unnecessary, since Hagrid must have his reasons for doing this, he just had to help.

…

"Tell me, what's going on."

When they returned to the cabin, Kyle asked again, "What's wrong with you lately?"

"I don't know..." Hagrid said softly, "Maybe Dumbledore made a mistake in choosing me as the Care of Magical Creatures professor."

"Why do you think so?" Connor asked.

"Because only five people chose my advanced class this year." Hagrid seemed to have made a great determination and said.

"How many, five?" Kanna was a little unbelievable. This meant that there was only one person from each college who chose Hagrid's class. The number was a bit too small.

After all, there are more than a dozen people in the divination class.

"Hagrid, aren't you setting the bar too high?"

"If 'A' is considered high." Hagrid sighed.

Kyle stopped talking. A was just the passing grade, and it was also the minimum standard for the advanced class. There was really no way to lower it any further.

"Are Harry and his friends among these five people?" Kyle asked tentatively.

"Harry, Hermione, and Ron, all three of them chose my class." Hagrid seemed a little comforted, but he couldn't laugh.

This meant that apart from the three friendship tickets, only two people chose his class. Thinking of this, Hagrid felt even sadder.

"Dumbledore must have made a mistake by making me a professor!" His voice trembled a little.

"Uh...that's not the case..." Kyle stammered.

He didn't know how to comfort Hagrid, even the current result was due to his help.

If he hadn't insisted that Hagrid give up on bringing the blasting-end skrewt into the classroom, I'm afraid there wouldn't even be these five people. After all, that thing is really unpleasant.

Kyle turned his head and signaled Kanna with his eyes for help, but Kanna spread her hands and silently looked away.

"Okay, well... don't lose heart, Hagrid." Kyle said stiffly, "I think it's just because most people don't understand magical creatures."

"But when Professor Kettleburn was here, many people chose his advanced class."

Hagrid took out a dirty handkerchief and wiped his eyes. "Thank you, Kyle, thank you for coming to comfort me at this time, but no need, I understand."

"No." Kyle shook his head. He suddenly thought of something else. "Hagrid, do you know what's different this year from the previous ones?"

"Different? What do you mean?" Hagrid was a little confused.

"You-Know-Who." Kyle said, "This year the Ministry of Magic announced that You-Know-Who has made a comeback, so when most students choose courses, they will subconsciously prefer courses that can improve their abilities, so they will ignore the Care of Magical Creatures course."

"Is that so?" Hagrid looked up.

Thank God, there was no crying tone in his voice. Kyle was really not good at comforting a half-giant.

"Of course." Kyle said seriously, "Think about it, many people chose you last year. How can it be that you are not capable enough?"

"But..." Hagrid was still a little confused. "Magical creatures are obviously very useful. Dumbledore once used Fluffy to guard the Philosopher's Stone. How could he not be able to help them?"

"Because you can't bring a three-headed dog to class," Kyle said. "Think about what they're learning. Bowtruckles, fairies, Nifflers, and the slightly better ones are unicorns and salamanders. They can't expect to ride unicorns to fight Death Eaters."

Hagrid was somewhat persuaded, and even Kyle and Connor believed it, because last year quite a few people chose Hagrid's class, almost more than twenty people.

The only change during this period was that the Ministry of Magic publicly announced that Voldemort had been resurrected. Perhaps this was the reason.

The Divination class can also predict the future. Although it may not be accurate, it is at least a consolation. The only exception is the Protection of Magical Creatures class.

Before the fifth grade, students are only allowed to study magical creatures of XXX level or below, so it is normal for them to look down on them.

More importantly, most wizards don't carry magical creatures with them and rely more on wands.

"It's their loss, Hagrid," Kanna also said.

"That's right." Kyle nodded, "One day they will regret this decision."

"yes."

Hagrid was convinced and cheered up. "Give up the Care of Magical Creatures class? They will never know what they have missed. I decided to let these five people see something different."

"Something different?" Kyle pondered for a moment, "Wait Hagrid, you're not going to bring Fluffy to class, are you?"

Not to mention, with Hagrid's personality, he might really do such a thing.

What's more troublesome is that Kyle brought Fluffy out secretly, and now he hasn't had time to return him to the Forbidden Forest.

It would be difficult to explain if Hagrid found out about this.

"No, of course not."

Fortunately, Hagrid did not intend to do so. He shook his head and said, "I haven't seen it for a long time since Fluffy became familiar with the environment of the Forbidden Forest, and Dumbledore would not agree to let students face overly dangerous magical animals.

"So I'm going to show them the Thestrals in the first class."

"Thestrals?"

Kyle was stunned for a moment. If he remembered correctly, they seemed to be learning Thestrals at this time last year, and Umbridge was attending the class at that time... Is there any difference?

"In this way, when they encounter danger at school, they can go to the Forbidden Forest to get help as soon as possible!" Hagrid clenched his fists, looking full of confidence.

…

"Kyle, do you think Hagrid will succeed?" Connor couldn't help asking on the way back to the castle.

"It's hard to say." Kyle shrugged. "To be honest, Hagrid's idea is good, but he doesn't seem to be good at thinking."

Kanna couldn't help laughing. "If Hagrid heard this, he would definitely be angry."

"That's why I didn't say anything just now." Kyle glanced behind him, "This is Hogwarts. If students need to come to the Forbidden Forest for help, it proves that the Death Eaters have completely conquered the school.

"Instead of running across the field to the forbidden forest, why not hurry to the broom closet and get a broomstick?"

"And one more thing, not everyone can see the Thestrals."

Connor thought about it and found that it was indeed the case. Hagrid's decision was better than nothing.

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"Forget it, as long as it can cheer Hagrid up again." Kyle waved his hand and didn't care.

He hadn't intended to make the Care of Magical Creatures class more meaningful, that was unrealistic, as long as Hagrid had something to do and stopped thinking about the fact that there were only five people attending his advanced class.

…

When they arrived at the castle gate, the Gryffindor Quidditch team just returned from the field.

"Hey, Kyle." Harry waved and came to Kyle's side. "By the way, I haven't thanked you yet."

"Thank me for what?" Kyle asked puzzledly.

"You made us buy the Potions book, of course," said Harry. "Professor Slughorn insisted that I go to his class, and I don't know what I would do without the book.

"By the way, did you already know that Slughorn would teach Potions?"

"That's nothing." Kyle said as a matter of course: "Slughorn is one of the few famous potion masters, and he is best at protecting himself. No matter what, he can't become a professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"You should have told me earlier." Harry muttered, "If I had known, I wouldn't have chosen the Defense Against the Dark Arts course."

Kyle smiled and said nothing.

The two returned to the castle.

"Kyle, hey, Kyle!"

Kyle turned his head and saw Susan Bones, running towards him hurriedly with a roll of parchment in her hand.

"For you." She stuffed the parchment into Kyle's hand and asked breathlessly, "Have you heard about Hannah's incident?"

"Yeah, I heard about it." Kyle nodded.

On the third day of school, Death Eaters launched several attacks, killing many people, including Hannah's family. She had not appeared for many days.

"I hope she can hold on." Susan said worriedly, "And I don't think it's the right choice for her to go home. Right now, there's no place safer than Hogwarts."

"Yeah." Kyle nodded.

After Susan left, he opened the parchment and found a line of thin, slightly crooked words inside.

Dear Kyle: Please come to my office after lunch. I hope you have a smooth start to the school year.

Yours faithfully, Albus Dumbledore

Also, the password is Sour Pop Candy.

…

"Principal Dumbledore is looking for you?" Connor read the letter over Kyle's shoulder. "It can't be anything dangerous."

"Who knows?" Kyle said, walking toward the auditorium.

The letter says it will be after lunch, so there’s no need to rush.

…

At the same time, in the principal's office on the eighth floor.

There was something wrong with the atmosphere here. Dumbledore was sitting there, and Snape was standing in front of him, his face as gloomy as water.

"So this is your purpose, right?" He said in a cold voice, "Let Harry or Kyle find out the secrets in Slughorn's head."

"We must know how many Horcruxes Tom has created." Dumbledore knocked on the table. "You know, Severus, this is not really that dangerous."

"Not dangerous?" Snape raised his voice unconsciously, "Slughorn has been hiding this secret for many years.

As far as I know, ever since the Dark Lord was resurrected, he dared not stay in one place for more than three months and could only live in empty Muggle houses... Is this what you mean by not dangerous?"

Dumbledore was silent for a moment. "I can't believe you care about Kyle, Severus."

"Don't be stupid." Snape glared at him. "You know who I'm talking about."

"Yes, I know," Dumbledore said softly, "this guilt has tormented you for sixteen years, ever since Lily..."

"Don't mention that name!" Snape roared, loud enough to wake Fawkes, who flapped his wings vigorously to express his displeasure.

In the portrait, Phineas Black also opened his eyes slightly, and then continued to pretend to sleep.

But Dumbledore didn't seem to care. He stroked the ring on his hand and asked softly:

"Do you want to see her again? Maybe you can get her forgiveness."

"Are you making fun of me?" Snape looked at Dumbledore coldly, trying to suppress his anger. "She's dead. How could I possibly see her again...wait..."

At this moment, he suddenly noticed the ring on Dumbledore's hand.

“That is…”

"Yes, it's the thing we found from the old Gaunt house." Dumbledore stretched out his hand and showed the ring to Snape.

"But... isn't there a curse on it..."

"It has been removed," said Dumbledore, taking the ring off and placing it on the table. "Perhaps you didn't notice, but I was wearing it at the Start-of-Term Feast."

Resurrection Stone...

Snape had only one thought in his mind.

The resurrection stone that brings back the souls of the dead is right in front of him. Through this thing, he can see Lily again, talk to her, and apologize to her...

Subconsciously, Snape walked over quickly.

But for some reason, the closer he got to the Resurrection Stone, the heavier his steps became.

When he finally came before Dumbledore and was within reach of the Resurrection Stone, he was unable to move a finger.

He is scared.

He was afraid to see Lily, afraid that she would look at him with disappointment... or even hatred.

What if she doesn't forgive herself.

It was because he informed Voldemort of half of the prophecy he heard in the Hog's Head that the Potter family was killed. It was normal for Lily to refuse to forgive herself.

Snape never wanted to recall this incident again. For the past ten years, all he had been thinking about was how to atone for his sins.

If he used the Resurrection Stone, it would mean he would have to open the scar again.

Looking at the Resurrection Stone so close, Snape's expression kept changing, and finally he struggled to take two steps back.

He crashed into a table, knocking over a lot of silverware.

"Take it away!" Snape cried hysterically. "Take him away."

Dumbledore was not too surprised by this scene, or perhaps he had thought of it a long time ago.

"Severus..." Dumbledore picked up the ring and put it on his hand again, "Sometimes we all need a little extra courage. Although it will be painful to reopen the scar, it also means that it has the possibility of healing."

"Shut up, Dumbledore, shut up!" Snape gasped, and it was impossible to hear what he said.

Just at this moment, there was a knock on the door.

"Sorry, I have something else to do." Snape walked towards the door. He walked very quickly without even looking at Kyle who had just come in.

(End of this chapter)