Chapter 97: The Forbidden Forest

"Detention?" Kyle asked innocently, standing in Professor McGonagall's office. "But Professor McGonagall, we only sold a few things. We didn't break any school rules."

"This is at the Headmaster's request," Professor McGonagall replied sternly. "He believes you should be focusing more on your studies or practicing your wand techniques in preparation for exams, rather than diverting your energy elsewhere."

"Well… alright, I understand," Kyle sighed, deciding not to argue further.

It was only detention, and as long as they weren't being asked to refund anyone, things could have been worse.

After leaving McGonagall's office, the six students exchanged resigned looks and sighed.

"Cheer up, everyone," said Fred and George, who were well-acquainted with detention and the first to regain their spirits.

"With Professor McGonagall, it's a blessing she didn't ask for a refund or dock points from us," Fred said with a grin. "That's pretty rare."

"Yeah," George chimed in, clapping Cedric on the shoulder. "For you guys, this is a great chance to experience detention for the first time."

"By Merlin's beard!" Fred gasped, feigning shock. "George, I just realized—apart from us, everyone here is a model student!"

"Indeed, Fred," George replied, squeezing out a pretend tear. "Compared to them, we who frequent detention must seem quite out of place."

"They won't look down on us, will they?"

"Maybe we should go back to studying now, while there's still time?"

"Maybe we can try for more 'O's on our final exams!"

"That's a bit ambitious… maybe 'E's will do."

The twins' antics, complete with exaggerated expressions, quickly lifted everyone's spirits, and soon the group was laughing.

Kyle chuckled. "Thanks, but you're overthinking it."

"Yeah," Cedric added with a shrug, "if I could get a hundred Galleons for every night in detention, I'd make sure to show up in front of Filch on time every evening."

Cho and Kanna nodded, both agreeing.

"Yes, absolutely."

"Mhm."

As Cedric had said, for a hundred Galleons, a little detention was hardly a big deal.

Fred's smile faltered briefly before he shot Kyle a mock glare. "So that's it—you dared to trick us!"

Kyle shook his head, grinning. "Don't look at it that way. You just didn't catch on quickly enough."

He had to admit, though, that he hadn't expected Dumbledore to assign detention over something so minor. It didn't seem like his usual style.

After passing the corridor leading away from Professor McGonagall's office, they split up and returned to their respective Houses.

Later that evening, during dinner, they each received a note from Professor McGonagall.

Detention starts at 11:00 p.m. tonight. Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.

—Professor McGonagall.

"When did you end up with detention?" Mikel, sitting next to Kyle, asked with a frown. "Maybe Professor McGonagall put the note in the wrong place?"

To him, Kyle didn't seem the type to break any rules, let alone end up with detention. It was hard to believe.

Kyle calmly tucked the note away and said, "It wasn't a mistake. The detention note is really mine."

"Well..." Mikel thought for a moment, then said uncertainly, "Could it be that you got caught for night-wandering... but that was during the Easter holiday, wasn't it?"

Kyle had been busy until midnight on the last two nights of Easter break, working on something before finally returning to the dormitory. Mikel and Ryan both knew about this.

Kyle neither confirmed nor denied it. Instead, he gave Mikel a knowing pat on the shoulder and said, "So, remember, don't go night-wandering, even during holidays."

Mikel and Ryan exchanged glances, seeming to gain a new understanding of Hogwarts' rules.

This place is too strict, they thought.

That night at eleven o'clock, Kyle, Cedric, and Kanna gathered in the entrance hall, where Filch was already waiting, along with Fred and George Weasley and Cho Chang.

"Follow me," Filch grumbled, lighting a lamp as he led them out. "I expect you'll think twice before breaking any more school rules, hm?"

He gave them all a sidelong glare. "A shame they did away with the good old punishments… suspending you from the ceiling by your wrists for days…"

Filch's sinister mutterings drained the color from Cho and Kanna's faces, and even Cedric swallowed nervously. But Fred and George barely reacted, even sneaking grins and making faces at the others when Filch wasn't looking. They'd heard this spiel so often it barely registered.

"Here we are," Filch finally said after a short walk, stopping before a door. He pulled out a key and unlocked it. "In you go. You're to clean the Trophy Room."

He shook his head, muttering, "I really don't understand what Professor McGonagall was thinking, making all of you clean the Trophy Room… This punishment is too easy."

Hearing that, Cho and Kanna relaxed visibly, relieved that it was only cleaning duty. They filed into the room one by one, but when it was Kyle's turn, Filch blocked his way, saying flatly, "Your punishment isn't here."

Leaving Mrs. Norris to keep an eye on the others, Filch guided Kyle back to the foyer and led him outside the castle. They walked in silence across the dark grounds, with Filch uncharacteristically refraining from his usual jibes. As they continued, Kyle realized they were headed toward the Forbidden Forest.

"Hurry up, Filch!" called Hagrid from the doorway of his hut, waving as they approached. "We need to get movin'!"

Filch stopped and said to Kyle with a sneer, "The Forbidden Forest is dangerous. Stick close to that oaf, or no school rules will save your life."

"I know," Kyle replied calmly.

Pretending not to hear, Filch kept walking until they reached Hagrid, who was fully prepared with his giant crossbow and a quiver of arrows. Fang trotted alongside him.

"Are you ready, Kyle?" Hagrid asked with a warm smile.

"He's all yours," Filch said coldly. "I'll be back at dawn. Let's hope there's something left of him by then."

"Don't worry about that," Hagrid snapped, giving Filch a dark look. "No need for you to come back—I'll see that Kyle makes it safely back to the castle."

With a scowl, Filch turned and headed back toward the castle, his lantern swinging as he disappeared into the dark.

"Finally got rid of 'im. That old vulture," Hagrid muttered. He adjusted his crossbow and winked at Kyle. "It's good to see yeh… Well, not that I'm glad you're in detention, but tonight'll go a lot smoother with yeh here."

Kyle eyed Hagrid's heavy crossbow and fully stocked quiver, asking with a hint of concern, "What exactly happened in the Forbidden Forest?"

"An unicorn's cub gone missin'," Hagrid replied, his eyes dark with anger. "We need to search the forest for any clues. And if I find out who's behind it, believe me, I won't let 'em off easy!"