Chapter 756: I'm Going to Get Scolded Again (Edited)

"Fish!"

As soon as the trio appeared in the living room, Hermione, who had been waiting for them, ran over and hugged Fish.

"Are you alright?" She glanced at Fish and felt relieved to see that he didn't appear to have any injuries and was in his usual state.

"Did you have a good trip?" Hermione asked again. "What's wrong with Professor Dumbledore?" She noticed that Fish was carrying Dumbledore behind him.

"We obtained the Horcrux, we'll talk about it later, we need to take Albus to Severus now."

=(?ω?)

Fish dropped Dumbledore onto his back, then jumped towards the fireplace and threw a handful of Floo Powder into it.

The fireplace immediately erupted in green flames, and Hermione and Harry joined forces to help Dumbledore recover. Fish picked up Dumbledore on his back again and dove into the fireplace.

"Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts Office!" Fish shouted.

They were then engulfed in green flames.

Emerging from the fireplace in Snape's office, Fish tried to speak, only to find that Professor Snape was already there, waiting for him.

"Put Dumbledore here," Snape instructed Fish, standing next to an improvised bed.

Snape didn't have time to speak with Fish; he simply nodded and began examining Dumbledore.

"The antidote you prepared is working well, I don't think he's going to die just yet," Dumbledore said with a relaxed smile on his face as he lay in the hospital bed.

Snape looked at him coldly and remained focused on his work, not even glancing at Hermione and Harry as they exited the fireplace later.

With the three of them nervously watching, Snape finished his examination and said impassively, "Well, you're lucky. The potion wasn't meant to poison you, and with Fish's healing spells, you won't be dead for a while. I'll give you another potion later, so you should be able to regain basic mobility."

Having said that, Snape approached the cabinet and started gathering and selecting the necessary ingredients to make the potion.

Dumbledore winked at Fish. "See, I told you."

Fish felt relieved seeing that Dumbledore's life force still seemed like it could flicker out at any moment, but he trusted Snape's judgment. All Fish needed was for Dumbledore to stay alive for now, as his transformation power would soon be complete, and by then, he should be able to fully heal Dumbledore.

Even without the premonition provided by the Felix Felicis potion, Fish was convinced of it.

Finally relieved, Fish shifted uncomfortably but soon tensed up again, suddenly understanding why Dumbledore had kept his health hidden from most people.

Furthermore, Fish recalled something else and knew it wasn't the right time to relax.

"Oh, yes! Fish has to summon Kanaloa back nya!"

∑(ΦДΦ)

Fish shook himself vigorously and rushed out with a start and a groan.

He ran to the Black Lake and managed to summon his ally, bringing Kanaloa out of the cave and back to Hogwarts' Black Lake.

Once that was done, Fish didn't even have time to greet Kanaloa and hurried back to Snape's office.

Snape continued with the cauldron, preparing his potion, and the room had a strange but comforting smell. Hermione and Harry sat obediently, not daring to disturb Snape, while Dumbledore lay peacefully on the simple bed with his eyes closed and his chest slightly rising and falling, as if he were asleep.

Fish glanced at Hermione, and his body shrank, taking the form of a striped cat. He then jumped onto the bed and positioned himself next to Dumbledore's head, relaxing his tense body without leaving a trace.

Fish slumped onto the pillow, emitting a soft purr from his throat—a purr that cats instinctively use to alleviate their own pain or the pain of their companions when they are injured, sick, or feeling unwell.

But after purring for a while, Fish couldn't resist his exhaustion, and his purring gradually grew fainter. His consciousness started to fade, and Fish fell unconscious, overwhelmed.

(=?ω?=)

After a while, Snape finally finished preparing the potion, thanks to Dumbledore's advance notice, which allowed him to prepare the ingredients beforehand. Otherwise, it would have taken him longer.

Snape poured the dark liquid into a cup and brought it to the bedside, careful not to awaken Dumbledore. He held the cup to his mouth, cupping his cheek with one hand and pouring the potion abruptly with the other.

"Ahem... you should be gentle with an old man like me, Severus." Dumbledore choked and coughed, opening his eyes, looking at Snape, and grumbling helplessly.

"Humph!" Snape scoffed, with a disgusted expression. "Hurry up and get Potter out of here when you can move. You have a lot of work to do, I suppose."

"Oh, you're right."

Dumbledore sat up in bed, still pale, but his once dull blue eyes now held a glimmer of light.

He looked at Fish, lying on his back, and whispered, "Fish, can you give me the Horcruxes you have?"

Fish lay motionless on the pillow.

Dumbledore suppressed a smile and carefully lifted Fish, while Hermione, Harry, and Snape approached with anxious faces.

"What's wrong with Fish, Professor?" Hermione asked, her voice trembling as she wrung her hands.

"Nothing... he's just tired and sleeping." Dumbledore took a moment before his expression calmed, and he replied in a relaxed tone, "It's similar to the first time he used [Serenity] and when he transformed into a white tiger to ward off the Dementors. He'll be fine when he wakes up."

The other three felt reassured then.

"I suppose we'll have to set aside the Horcruxes for now," Dumbledore said with a hint of helplessness in his smile as he looked at the furry creature in his hands. "I can't extract the Horcruxes with Fish in this condition..."

"And..." the bitterness in Dumbledore's smile deepened as he gently placed Fish back on the pillow, addressing Hermione, "I was going to keep this from Minerva, but now I'll have to ask you to let her know... it means she'll probably scold me again."