"Are these two cats your pets? I have to say, they are the most beautiful cats I've ever seen," Dumbledore remarked warmly.
As a seasoned educator, he knew that forcing students to behave a certain way would only lead to rebellion. His approach was to first connect with them, building rapport before instilling lessons. This time, he chose to start by asking about Kyle's magical companions.
"Professor, they're not cats! They're called Eevee," Kyle corrected with a smile, pointing to the creatures on his shoulders. "This one is Sun Eevee, and that one is Moon Eevee."
"Eevee? That's a lovely name. And with names like Sun and Moon, I assume they have some special abilities?" Dumbledore asked, intrigued.
"Absolutely! Sun Eevee can sense changes in the weather and people's emotions, and Moon Eevee is especially energetic at night," Kyle explained with pride.
"Fascinating!" Dumbledore replied. "You know, I also have a special companion. His name is Fawkes, and he's a phoenix. He's like family to me. I'll introduce you to him one day."
"But, Professor," Kyle continued, frowning slightly, "I'm a bit troubled…"
"What's the matter? Feel free to share if you'd like," Dumbledore said, noticing Kyle's concern.
"Well, because they have these special abilities, they can be a bit mischievous. I worry that one day they might cause trouble for someone. After all, Hogwarts is full of young students."
Dumbledore couldn't help but smile. He saw another side of Kyle—the side that genuinely cared about his fellow students. He realized the rumors about Kyle, labeling him as a "blood demon," couldn't be trusted. Growing up in Knockturn Alley had likely forced Kyle to adopt certain survival tactics, but in the nurturing environment of Hogwarts, his true nature was beginning to shine through.
"That's a good thought, Kyle, but I wouldn't worry too much. Eevee seems like a playful creature, and I'm sure your classmates will love them, even if they pull a few pranks. Take the Gryffindor twins, for example. All the professors find them a bit of a handful, but everyone still loves them."
Kyle beamed at the reassurance. "Professor, you're right! Sun Eevee and Moon Eevee were only playing a little prank on Mr. Filch, but he fainted!"
Kyle's expression turned mock-serious. "I think Mr. Filch is just trying to blackmail me. It's outrageous!"
Dumbledore instinctively nodded along, then paused, realizing something wasn't quite right. Wait a minute—Filch passed out? he thought. Are we really sure this was just a prank?
Dumbledore's thoughts raced. Great White Wizard Dumbledore once said… What had he just agreed to? He quickly backtracked.
"Of course, Professor," Kyle added with a feigned look of concern, "I agree that Sun Eevee and Moon Eevee went a bit too far. Why don't you punish them for me?" Before Dumbledore could respond, Kyle scooped up the two Eevees and handed them to him, looking at him with wide, innocent eyes.
Dumbledore glanced at the two creatures, their expressions equally blank. Silence filled the air.
How did he manage to shift all the responsibility onto me? Dumbledore thought, shaking his head.
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Ding! Shock detected! Treasure chest extraction in progress! Congratulations, host, you have unlocked a golden treasure chest!
---
"Well, Kyle," Dumbledore said, shaking off his confusion, "we'll postpone our lesson on the Patronus Charm for now. I need to take Mr. Filch to the infirmary first."
The two walked down to the underground corridor—the "crime scene." As they approached the unconscious Filch and Mrs. Norris, Dumbledore felt a twinge of regret. He had thought tonight would be a good time to start guiding Kyle, but now, he was too exhausted to think straight.
"Sometimes, it's better to get a good night's rest," Dumbledore said wearily. "You need sleep to prepare for tomorrow's classes. If you'd like, we can meet after class tomorrow, before dinner."
"Of course, Professor!" Kyle replied enthusiastically. "Don't worry—I'll make sure to educate Sun Eevee and Moon Eevee properly about how to behave around others."
Kyle flashed a wide, obedient smile, but as he walked away, he knew it was time to teach the mischievous Eevees how to get along with the castle's less forgiving inhabitants.