Chris took a week's leave, but he found himself with nothing much to do by the second day.
The requirements for entry-level Disillusionment weren't too difficult, coupled with Kael's unexpectedly fast learning speed, he finished teaching all the necessary content in just one afternoon.
The remaining parts didn't need to be mentioned anymore...
And once Kael gradually adjusted to the discomfort brought by Disillusionment, Chris found that even his sole identity as a "Healer" was in jeopardy.
Kael didn't disillusion once for two whole days, meaning the Dittany Essence in his bottle didn't decrease at all.
At this rate, won't those three Galleons be wasted?
In the spirit of frugality and avoiding waste, by the third day, Chris increased the difficulty for Kael, not only setting the target location farther away but also reducing the interval between each Disillusionment.
Sometimes Kael didn't even have time to catch his breath before having to perform the next Disillusionment.
Moreover, Chris's reasoning was unassailable.
"Disillusionment is a Charm that requires a lot of practice, especially frequent repetitive practice, definitely making your efficiency optimize!"
Kael felt Chris was wrong but somehow made sense...
With no choice, he could only keep disappearing and reappearing... and at an increasing frequency.
The hillside at Ottery St Catchpole was sounding like firecrackers, crackling relentlessly.
By the fifth day...
On a small hill in the north, Luna was watering the hydrangeas outside the house, occasionally diving into the flower bushes...
"What are you looking for?" Mr. Lovegood asked.
"Jumping amphibians!" Luna replied, "I just saw them on the petals."
"Oh, then you need to look more closely..."
"Pop!"
Before Mr. Lovegood could finish speaking, a firecracker-like explosion broke their serene moment.
It spontaneously appeared in front of them.
In itself, it wasn't a big deal, as this wasn't Kael's first visit here.
But disturbingly, Kael wasn't fully intact, missing half an arm, worn out, and his clothes were tattered.
"Someone is chasing this kid..." Mr. Lovegood instinctively thought.
Chasing a student who hasn't graduated yet in broad daylight at Ottery St Catchpole... how outrageous!
This isn't twelve years ago!
But before he could draw his wand...
"Pop!"
Another explosion sounded, and Chris arrived too.
He skillfully pressed half an arm against Kael's wound, quickly applying Dittany Essence.
"Chris, what are you..." Mr. Lovegood asked, bewildered.
"Oh, Xenophilius, you're at home..." Chris hesitated to say: "No, I meant, weren't you taking Luna to Northumberland?"
"The Curved-Horned Snoring Beasts have left." Luna tilted her head up.
"Yes, we just returned an hour ago."
Mr. Lovegood nodded, then thoughtfully asked: "Are you... teaching Kael Disillusionment?
I recall he's only fourteen this year..."
After the initial shock, he now mostly understood what was going on.
The familiar explosion sound just heard, coupled with the severed then reattached arm, indicated apparition issues.
It could only be Disillusionment.
"Actually, we were just... uh, alright, indeed, can you keep it a secret for us, Xenophilius..."
Chris sighed, and softly said: "I suddenly remembered I haven't prepared a gift for the Romanian Ministry of Magic, what do you think of a unique magazine?"
"Like... the Daily Prophet?"
"No, that's too formal." Chris shook his head, "I think The Quibbler would be nice."
"Ahem..." Mr. Lovegood suddenly cleared his throat, turning his head aside, "Luna, I think there must be a group of fairies hiding in our garden, they're making me hallucinate."
Luna blinked, "Dad, fairies don't cause hallucinations."
"Perhaps one of them has changed in some way..."
While they spoke, Chris quickly left the hill with Kael.
Having practiced for five hours and just being discovered, Chris decided to call off today's special training.
The sky gradually darkened.
Upon returning home, Kael moved his recently attached arm, asking: "Taking The Quibbler as a gift for Romania really isn't a problem?"
How to put it, the content of this magazine is just... well, let's say forward-thinking.
Since people can't comprehend it, they mostly think it's a nonsensical garbage magazine... its audience is largely concentrated in the Spiritual Magic Injuries Department at St Mungo's.
Using such a magazine as a gift... wouldn't the Romanian Ministry of Magic feel it's provocative?
"Oh, that's fine." Chris waved his hand saying: "Anyway, most of them can't understand it, and the views in that magazine should be interesting to people from other countries."
By the sixth day, Kael's arm was perfectly fine, but his disillusionment practice had to be forcibly stopped.
Primarily because Diana returned, and happened to witness their entire training process.
Diana used the excuse of going to Diagon Alley to buy some things, smilingly hooked her arm around Chris's, and left.
Then... there was no 'then.'
Anyway, she returned alone later, telling Kael that Chris, busy with work, decided to stay at the Ministry for several days and wouldn't be home for meals recently.
As for why Chris, having taken leave, was back at the Ministry... Kael, seeing Diana's lingering anger, didn't dare to ask.
...
July quickly came to an end.
On his birthday, Kael received quite a few gifts, among them, Fred and George gave him something resembling a glass top.
There were two notes attached below.
"Happy birthday, Kael.
This is a Pocket Peeping Mirror, when there are suspicious people nearby, it spins and lights up. We've already tested it, works great."
"The only downside is it's not very reliable, yesterday a beetle climbed into Bill's soup, and it lit up endlessly... even though the beetle itself crawled into the soup.
Oh, by the way, Percy's been made Head Boy, we're all happy for him and planning to give him a new badge."
Kael sneered, not believing a word from the Weasley Brothers.
How foolish a beetle would climb into the soup by itself! They must have helped ninety-eight percent... and Percy's Head Boy badge probably won't end up well.
Kael set aside the Pocket Peeping Mirror and picked up Hagrid's gift.
As expected, it was a book.
The Monster Book of Monsters
Kael just had to take it out, and the book immediately sprang to life, rapidly crawling around the floor like some eccentric crab.
This is the most special thing about the book, it appears alive due to some special magic.
But the solution is simple, stroke the book's spine, or...
"Relashio!"
A Charm thrown by Kael.
The monster book immediately went limp, sprawling on the floor like a tastelessly poor soft cushion.
Kael walked over, wrapped a rope around the book's spine, and then picked up Hagrid's card.
"Dear Kael:
Happy Birthday!
You'll use this book next semester, I won't say much here, we'll talk when we meet. You absolutely won't guess what's happened, I feel like I'm dreaming even now.
All the best.
Hagrid"
Kael raised an eyebrow, Hagrid's silence proved he had quite the tight lips.
Sending him a book and saying it will be used next semester clearly indicates Professor Kettelburn's retirement, which Hagrid is taking over, becoming the new Professor of Care of Magical Creatures.
Last semester's events vindicated Hagrid, finally allowing him to work outside gamekeeper duties.
From the letter, it's clear, Hagrid is really excited.
Kael is happy for him too.
After thinking for a moment, Kael found a piece of parchment and wrote back to him.
"Dear Hagrid:
Thanks for the gift, I really like it, I can't wait for the semester to start, but unfortunately, there's still a month left.
I can only follow Mr. Scamander to Romania's Fire Dragon Reserve for a while... a big event is about to happen there, the dragons will fight each other until the strongest dragon becomes their new leader.
Kael.
P.S. I've heard there are dozens of Fire Dragons there."