"Sorry, Albus, I didn't think they'd be so rude," Fudge said, fidgeting with his top hat in the headmaster's office at Hogwarts. "I've spoken to them about it before, but, as you know, the Hit Wizards have been tied up for months with that Swooping Evil incident. Sometimes they act impulsively; it's hard to avoid."
"I understand, Cornelius," Dumbledore replied calmly. "But I trust Hagrid. There's certainly no Swooping Evil involved here."
"Yes, well, personally, I trust Hagrid too," Fudge replied, glancing away and avoiding Dumbledore's gaze. "But you must see my position—he has a record, and we've received reports. The Ministry has to investigate, for the safety of the students."
"I'm not stopping you from investigating Hagrid," Dumbledore said, crossing his arms and resting his fingers on his chin as he spoke slowly. "And even Minerva only intervened when you were about to take Hagrid by force. I assure you, Cornelius, you're welcome to bring your witnesses here to Hogwarts, now or in the future, to question Hagrid. We have an excellent Potions Master who can easily determine whether he's telling the truth. And if you can't come yourself, send word, and I'll personally bring Hagrid to the Ministry for questioning."
"There's no need for that, Albus," Fudge replied, sounding slightly unnatural. "I trust you completely, and the investigation into Hagrid is closed. His room shows no trace of any Swooping Evil."
"Thank you for your confidence, Cornelius," Dumbledore said warmly. "I didn't expect you to come all the way to Hogwarts in person over this."
"Oh, it's nothing, Albus," Fudge said, taking a sip of his black tea. "It was our mistake to begin with, so I felt I should handle it myself. I only hope Minerva isn't too upset. Speaking of the Swooping Evil, something else just came to mind."
"Oh?" Dumbledore raised his brows slightly, looking intrigued.
"It's just that…" Fudge absentmindedly straightened his collar. "Recently, someone at the Ministry has been using the Swooping Evil incident to tarnish my reputation, claiming I'm too ineffective. They think my decision to release those magical creatures was a mistake and that I shouldn't have held onto Newt and Chris for so long. Even foreign Ministries have sent letters, saying I shouldn't have let Newt visit their countries."
Fudge leaned forward. "But Albus, I just want to show that I take this seriously—my intentions are good."
"I understand entirely," Dumbledore nodded. "It can be deeply frustrating not to be understood."
"I knew you'd get it." Fudge sighed, taking another sip of tea. "These days, all I hear are complaints, and it's making my work nearly impossible. Had it been otherwise, I'd have sent you a note before the Hit Wizards came to Hogwarts."
Dumbledore's gaze flickered for a moment as he looked at Fudge, but he remained silent.
"If you were in my shoes," Fudge continued, trying to sound casual, "how would you handle this sort of trouble…"
No one knew the full extent of Fudge and Dumbledore's conversation that day, but many saw Fudge leave Hogwarts with a downcast expression. It was clear he hadn't left pleased.
After Fudge's departure, Hagrid caught up with Professor Oren and invited him to share a large barrel of Pure Malt Firewhiskey. As a token of thanks for his support, Hagrid gifted Oren a big bag of Rock cake.
This kindness resulted in Professor Oren's speech sounding a bit slurred during Defense Against the Dark Arts the following day.
"I was trying out a new Charm," Professor Oren explained, "and let's just say there was a small hiccup in the process. Just a minor injury—nothing serious."
Kyle couldn't help but wonder what kind of charm would make someone lose a tooth. A Lunch-Banishing Charm?
Kyle was equally puzzled by Professor McGonagall's behavior in Transfiguration class. She unexpectedly tapped him with her wand while checking homework and then posed a simple question. When Kyle answered correctly, she awarded Hufflepuff an unprecedented 20 points.
The sudden reward stirred excitement among the younger students, with some speculating that Professor McGonagall might be trying to rally support for Hufflepuff in their ongoing rivalry with Slytherin for the House Cup. But they soon realized they were mistaken.
Professor McGonagall remained her usual self—serious and fair, with no intention of favoring any particular house. That substantial bonus was a one-time occurrence, and by third year class, she was back to her regular approach, even deducting ten points from Hufflepuff over an incomplete homework assignment.
Only Kyle likely knew the reason behind this.
As he stirred up excitement among the younger students, he noticed Professor McGonagall casting deliberate, or perhaps unintentional, glances in his direction. Despite Kyle's efforts to disguise his voice, it seemed only to fool the Ministry of Magic and the younger wizards around him. Professor McGonagall, however, was not so easily deceived. Still, judging by her demeanor, it appeared she didn't intend to pursue the matter.
Meanwhile, Kyle had planted Devil's Snare roots in the Room of Requirement, placing them in a corner near the Mooncalves' lair—a completely shaded area. After two weeks of meticulous care, the roots, initially just small cuttings, had grown into a new Devil's Snare plant, even sprouting finger-thick tendrils. As soon as Kyle touched the tendrils, they wrapped themselves around his wrist. Still young and tender, the plant's embrace felt like a gentle massage, quite relaxing in its own way. After entertaining himself with the Devil's Snare for a bit, Kyle released it.
Nearby, the Mooncalves had settled comfortably into their surroundings, sleeping soundly in their burrows. Both Dittany and Rue were thriving, and if used as feed, there was more than enough to sustain the Mooncalves for several months. Recently, though, Kyle had considered enhancing their diet by introducing Bubotuber.
A whole Bubotuber, mashed and mixed with Dittany and Rue leaves, rolled into small balls, was a treat the Mooncalves relished. But Bubotuber wasn't available in Hogsmeade, nor was it easy to source from the school's greenhouse. Kyle would likely have to wait until the holidays to visit Diagon Alley… and to see Newt.
The Chomping Cabbage was also nearing maturity, its rows of teeth as sharp as razors. Kyle tossed it a stone, which the cabbage promptly chewed through as though it were a mere chickpea, making a satisfying crunching sound. Now, Kyle found himself eagerly awaiting the Devil's Snare's full growth so it could interact with the Chomping Cabbage.
The scene he imagined brought a mischievous smile to his face. Hehehe