The forbidden area was silent. Dumbledore lowered his head in thought, while Hagrid unconsciously touched his chest, as if verifying he was truly still alive.
"You mean Fluffy went berserk because he thought I was dead?" Hagrid scratched his head, confused.
"Hmm... that should be correct." Kyle nodded and turned to Dumbledore, "Professor, do you think someone might have used a Confundus Charm on Fluffy?"
Three-headed dogs have high magic resistance; ordinary spells hitting them are about as effective as tickling. But it also depends on who casts them.
Just like Dumbledore earlier — in his presence, Fluffy was no different from a fragile doll. One Stupefy and he'd be out cold.
"That's possible." Dumbledore said after a moment's thought, "However, this doesn't seem like a simple Confundus Charm."
Kyle frowned, "Are you suggesting another spell is affecting Fluffy besides the Confundus Charm?"
"Correct, and it's Dark Magic at that." Dumbledore stepped forward and bent down to examine Fluffy closely, his nose almost touching the creature's fur. He pointed his wand at the middle head and murmured, "Just as I thought... the Fear Curse."
"The Fear Curse?" Hagrid was taken aback, clearly hearing of this spell for the first time.
"Yes, strictly speaking, it's not traditional Dark Magic, but rather a spell that appeared only fifty years ago. You probably haven't heard of it." Dumbledore stood up and asked, "Kyle, do you know what a Boggart is?"
"Of course, Professor." Kyle said, "It's a shape-shifting magical creature that sees into people's hearts and transforms into whatever they fear most. Does this Dark Magic draw inspiration from the Boggart?"
Dumbledore put away his wand and said calmly, "It creates illusions, making the victim constantly see what they fear most. It seems someone cleverly combined the Confundus Charm with this fear effect, which is why Fluffy has become like this."
Kyle nodded thoughtfully, grasping Dumbledore's explanation.
The Fear Curse forced Fluffy to repeatedly witness Hagrid's "death", slowly torturing its mind, while the Confundus Charm caused it to perceive everyone as the "murderer".
Kyle felt a wave of relief. If Dumbledore hadn't identified this problem in time, if Fluffy had broken through the door and entered the castle...
He shuddered, unwilling to imagine further. The outcome would have been catastrophic.
Most professors were currently at the Quidditch field, leaving only students uninterested in the sport inside the castle. Encountering the berserk Fluffy, they would have been torn apart instantly.
Such a tragedy might have forced Hogwarts to close permanently.
Thankfully, Dumbledore discovered the situation in time, averting disaster.
Kyle took a deep breath and asked, "Professor, do you have a solution?"
"A solution?" Dumbledore's eyes flickered, "It's simple, we just need to..."
"No, Dumbledore!" Hagrid suddenly burst into tears, scrambling to his feet, "Please... don't kill Fluffy... he's a good boy... please..."
"I think you've misunderstood, Hagrid." Dumbledore looked at the sobbing half-giant and patted his arm reassuringly, "I never said anything about killing Fluffy."
"R-really?" Hagrid clutched his chest, sniffling.
"Of course." Dumbledore smiled, "I promise."
Although killing the three-headed dog would be the simplest solution, Dumbledore had never considered it.
In this whole affair, Fluffy was the most innocent victim.
After Hagrid calmed down, Dumbledore continued, "As it happens, before becoming headmaster, I researched the Fear Curse extensively, so I'm quite familiar with it. But for now, Kyle... could you please accompany Hagrid to the hospital wing?"
Dumbledore winked.
"I think he needs a good rest now."
Kyle nodded and left the room.
Obviously, Dumbledore didn't want them involved in what would happen next.
Hagrid followed behind him, constantly looking back.
"Oh, I almost forgot..." Just then, Dumbledore's voice called from the room, "Fifty points to Hufflepuff."
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After leaving the forbidden area, Kyle accompanied Hagrid to the hospital wing.
The half-giant usually disliked going there, but now he couldn't care less. Just thinking about Fluffy's condition made his heart ache as if stabbed with needles, making it impossible for him to focus. Several times he nearly tumbled down the stairs.
Dumbledore was right; he desperately needed rest.
Upon arriving at the hospital wing, Kyle explained the situation to Madam Pomfrey, though for some reason, he didn't mention what happened in the forbidden area — only saying that Hagrid was shocked.
Madam Pomfrey glanced at Hagrid standing there with his head down and didn't press further. She simply took out her wand and enlarged a bed in the corner.
She then walked to a cabinet, retrieved a bottle labeled "Draught of Living Death", and poured the entire potion into a wooden bucket about the size of a Bludger.
Madam Pomfrey emptied three bottles before handing the bucket of Draught of Living Death to Hagrid.
"Lie down on that bed over there, and drink this."
Hagrid took the bucket and stumbled over, knocking several beds askew along the way.
Madam Pomfrey frowned at the disruption. Fortunately, Kyle quickly restored the beds to their proper positions, so she merely gave a few instructions before departing.
Soon, loud snores echoed throughout the hospital wing.
Kyle pulled the curtain around the bed and exhaled with relief.
Leaving the hospital wing, he hurried across the courtyard and glanced toward the Quidditch field with a sigh.
The sky above the field was empty — no players remained. In the distance, he spotted a large group of students making their way back to the castle. The match was clearly over.
Kyle rubbed his forehead in resignation. Since last year, it seemed that every important Quidditch match coincided with some incident that prevented him from attending.
He had hoped this year would break the pattern, but fate had other plans.
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