Even though Kael repeatedly assured that he was fine, Professor McGonagall insisted on sending him to the Hospital Wing.
Although Madam Pomfrey didn't find any injuries on Kael, after hearing about the incident, she insisted that Kael spend the night there.
After Professor McGonagall left, Madam Pomfrey took a bottle from the cupboard and poured Kael a large glass of light blue potion.
"Drink it!"
Lying in bed, Kael said with a bitter face, "No, really, there's no need, Madam Pomfrey."
The potions in the Hospital Wing, how should I put it, are very effective but also very unpleasant to taste.
Cedric once drank a Stimulant when he had a cold. According to him, it tasted like dishwater left in the sun for three days, just swallowing it required great determination.
Kael didn't want to drink dishwater.
Besides, his worst injury was just a bite mark on his arm, for which he didn't really need medication.
But Madam Pomfrey wouldn't listen. Standing there, she sternly said, "This magic potion will help you quickly restore your energy and strength. You must finish it, or you won't be discharged!"
Hearing that he couldn't be discharged, Kael's face immediately fell.
The Hospital Wing has the most authority in Hogwarts; even if Dumbledore came, he'd have to listen to Madam Pomfrey and wouldn't dare disagree.
If Madam Pomfrey didn't let Kael leave the Hospital, he really couldn't go, no matter who came.
Kael picked up the cup and resignedly finished the potion.
"Gulp, gulp, gulp…"
The taste wasn't great, but it was better than the Stimulant, more like dishwater left out for just one day.
After he finished the potion, Madam Pomfrey left.
Kael lay on the bed, not knowing if he was just too tired or if it was the effect of the potion, but he felt his eyelids grow heavy and soon fell asleep.
He didn't know how long he slept, but in a daze, Kael could faintly hear a rustling sound by his ear.
Almost like someone was eating something.
Hmm, eating something?
Thinking of this, he suddenly felt a bit hungry… and the sensation grew stronger.
Kael struggled to open his eyes; the sunlight was a bit dazzling, but after a while, he gradually adjusted.
Above him was the ceiling of the Hospital Wing, and… Albus Dumbledore's smiling face.
"Good afternoon, Kael." Dumbledore said indistinctly, he seemed to be chewing something, and beside him was an open box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
Once Kael was fully awake, he quickly understood the situation.
Before him was the greatest White Wizard, the Hogwarts Headmaster, actually sneaking his snacks!
"There really wasn't any room left on the table." Dumbledore seemed to guess what Kael was thinking and said with a smile, "And I'd advise you not to eat this box. I ate three, and they were all bad flavors; I think they must have been packed wrongly."
"Headmaster, you might want to try that gold-brown one." Kael said instinctively, then turned to glance at the table, where various snacks were piled like a mountain.
And not just on that one table; someone must have moved the table from the neighboring bed over as well, as it was also laden with a mountain of snacks.
"All your friends' gifts for you, I suspect they may have bought out Honeydukes." Dumbledore said with a cheerful smile, popping the bean Kael mentioned into his mouth.
"Oh, it's champagne… rare flavor."
"Headmaster, how long was I asleep?"
"Almost a full day, just three more hours left," Dumbledore said.
Kael sat up in bed, loosening his stiff neck.
He didn't expect to sleep so long; it was already the next afternoon, no wonder he felt hungry… Wait! The next afternoon?
"Headmaster, the Quidditch match."
"I'm afraid you missed it," Dumbledore replied, "But Hufflepuff won, and they thought a Quidditch Cup would help you recover faster. They played with great spirit."
"Damn Oren!" Kael said in frustration, pounding his pillow. He was most looking forward to this match.
"Speaking of Oren… Kael, do you know why he's giving you a hard time?"
"He said it's because of my father," Kael replied.
"But from what I know." Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled, "Twelve years ago, if not for Chris, Oren would have died at the hands of the Death Eaters; it was your father who saved him."
"That's impossible, if my father saved Oren, why would he repay kindness with malice?"
Kael asserted, "He really wanted to kill me then, if not for the timely arrival of the Centaur, he might have even used the Killing Curse on me."
"This is indeed perplexing; perhaps only Oren himself knows the reason," Dumbledore said softly, "But he has already fled; catching a wandering minstrel is not an easy task."
"A wandering minstrel?"
"Yes," Dumbledore explained, "After that narrow escape, he left here and went to France, beginning to travel the world as a wandering minstrel.
As for when he got involved in smuggling Fantastic Beasts, I do not know."
"Then why did he come to Hogwarts?" Kael asked, puzzled. "Surely it wasn't just to kill me?"
"Certainly not, child," Dumbledore shook his head, saying, "I learned that the Ministry of Magic received an anonymous tip-off letter in mid-August, detailing the smugglers' routes.
Thinking back, it was probably Oren who sent the letter, which is why he applied two months early for the Defense Against Dark Arts professor position.
But I also don't understand why he did this; maybe he sought to use Hogwarts as a refuge from something, or perhaps he was strapped for cash, or some other reason; wandering minstrels are always hard to fathom."
After hearing Dumbledore's words, Kael found Oren more and more perplexing. All he could do was plant more Chomping Cabbage and, the next time he sees Oren, treat him to a plant bath.
No matter what, the fact remains that he almost got the better of Kael, who's never suffered such a huge loss before.
Kael had made up his mind, one hundred Chomping Cabbage as a thank-you gift for Oren.
"Now let's change the subject to something happy."
Dumbledore said in a cheerful tone, "For your calmness in the face of danger when you used the broomstick to safely send Conna Prince out of the Forbidden Forest at the most critical moment, and for your noble spirit facing two Dark Wizards alone to buy her time, we've unanimously decided to award you the Special Contribution Award for the school."
…