Lucius had come here fueled by anger. He had always assumed that, at Hogwarts, Kyle would restrain himself and not dare to act against him. Yet, in a matter of minutes, that anger had dissolved into a sense of inexplicable fear.
The strange, sweet scent that lingered in the air had left Lucius lightheaded, as if he hadn't slept in days. He couldn't identify it but suspected it might be some kind of potion. Kyle was known for his skill in Potions, and with access to the Hogwarts library, it wouldn't be difficult for him to create something unusual.
Lucius shuddered at the thought of what might have happened had he delayed tossing away his wand. The Forbidden Forest was no ordinary place—it teemed with Magical Creatures, and fainting here could be perilous. The mysterious growl he'd heard moments ago only reinforced this danger.
His thoughts turned to Rubeus Hagrid, the Gamekeeper with a penchant for taming dangerous creatures. Hagrid was friendly with Kyle; perhaps he had a hand in what transpired.
"What exactly do I have to do?" Lucius asked bluntly, pulling himself together. "As you know, what happened during the vacation wasn't intentional. I had no choice. But I'm willing to offer compensation—20,000 Galleons and ownership of two shops in Diagon Alley. How does that sound?"
"A tempting offer," Kyle said, smacking his lips, "but I can't accept it."
"That's my best offer," Lucius pressed. "I've already spent a fortune lately, especially after the Quidditch World Cup."
Kyle shook his head, smiling faintly. "Don't get me wrong, Mr. Malfoy. It's not that I don't appreciate the money, but I can't accept it. Draco and I are friends. If I wanted revenge, I wouldn't have waited until now."
"This is about helping Fred and George. They had a valid reason for what they did to Draco, and the game ban they received is far too harsh."
Lucius frowned, his skepticism clear. "So, you're saying this is only about the Weasley twins?"
"What else?" Kyle replied calmly.
"Very well, I'll speak to Dolores," Lucius said, somewhat relieved. "You're right; student conflicts are normal. From what I've heard, Draco was rude, so they shouldn't bear all the blame."
"Exactly," Kyle said, smiling. "See? It's a simple matter."
"Yes," Lucius replied with a strained smile. "Then I'll go find Dolores now…"
"No need to rush," Kyle interjected with a casual wave. "Professor Umbridge is busy with Hagrid's class right now. She won't have time to talk."
"I see. Then I'll wait…" Lucius bent down to retrieve his wand from the ground. "You should head back to class."
"It's fine," Kyle said breezily. "I've taken a leave of absence. That class is dull, anyway."
Kyle made no move to leave. Instead, he cast a sidelong glance at Lucius and suddenly asked, "By the way, Mr. Malfoy, have you heard the rumor that Professor Dumbledore is considering running for Minister of Magic?"
Lucius' hand froze, and his wand clattered to the ground again. He quickly picked it up, his voice carefully measured. "Really? I hadn't heard that."
"Well, now you know," Kyle said with an easy smile. "By the way, can I ask you for a small favor?"
Lucius' eyelid twitched. "What kind of favor?"
"Help Professor Dumbledore—"
"Impossible!" Lucius shouted before Kyle could finish.
The thought alone chilled him. This was exactly what Voldemort dreaded most. If Dumbledore became Minister of Magic, Voldemort's secrecy would be jeopardized. Any involvement in aiding Dumbledore would be a direct invitation to Voldemort's wrath.
This isn't a small favor, Lucius thought grimly. It's a question of life and death.
"Fudge is the most suitable Minister," Lucius declared, his tone filled with righteous indignation. "Dumbledore is far better suited to remain as Headmaster."
"Is that so?" Kyle shook his head slowly, a hint of mockery in his voice. "What a shame. I didn't think you'd forget about the diary so quickly. Tsk tsk…"
"What do you mean by that!" Lucius snapped, clutching his wand tightly. His voice quivered slightly, betraying his unease.
"Is it really that difficult to understand?" Kyle asked, his tone light but edged with menace. "Surely, you still remember—it was a Horcrux. I don't need to explain how crucial such things are to You-Know-Who. And now, because of you, the diary has been destroyed. Do you truly believe he will let you off so easily?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Lucius replied, though his pale, unfocused eyes and trembling arm told a different story.
"Really?" Kyle shrugged, feigning indifference. "If that's the case, I can only wish you luck, Mr. Malfoy."
He paused, his expression turning contemplative. "What a pity about Draco," he mused aloud. "I wonder if You-Know-Who will spare him… perhaps as a reward for your unwavering loyalty?"
Lucius remained silent, but the faint struggle in his eyes betrayed the turmoil within. He knew Voldemort far too well—his cold, unyielding nature, his lack of compassion for both allies and enemies.
Yet, Lucius clung to a sliver of hope. As long as he remained useful, Voldemort might not eliminate him immediately. There was still a chance—however slim—that he could make amends.
But hope was a frail thing, and Lucius knew it.
"Oh, one more thing," Kyle said, his voice breaking the silence. He spoke as though oblivious to Lucius' inner conflict. "For Draco's sake, I'd advise you to keep your distance from Minister Fudge for the time being. Otherwise, if Professor Dumbledore does become Minister, the consequences will fall squarely on you."
Lucius jerked his head up, staring hard at Kyle, as though searching for some hidden meaning in his expression. But Kyle's face betrayed nothing.
In the distance, the noise of chattering voices began to rise. Class was over, and the students were drawing closer, their figures growing larger with each step.
"I'll… go find Dolores," Lucius murmured hoarsely.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Malfoy," Kyle said, a touch of mock politeness in his tone. "And don't forget—stay away from Minister Fudge."
Lucius didn't reply. Without another word, he turned and strode out of the Forbidden Forest, heading toward the castle. Clearly, he intended to wait for Umbridge there rather than risk searching for her in the forest.
Kyle, however, remained where he was. With a flick of his wand, he cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself, blending seamlessly into his surroundings.
Soon, the students passed by, none the wiser to his presence. He waited until the last figure—Umbridge, trailing alongside Hagrid—had disappeared from sight. Only then did Kyle lift the charm and step out from behind a tree.
He reached into his Mokeskin pouch and pulled out a suitcase. Clicking open its clasp, he waited as a dark figure darted out from the nearby bushes and leapt straight into the open case. Kyle closed the suitcase and returned it to the pouch with practiced ease.
But just as he finished, a loud, startled cry rang out behind him.
"Oh, my goodness!"
Kyle turned sharply. To his surprise, Hagrid had returned to the Forbidden Forest, running toward him at full speed. When Hagrid reached him, however, he froze in his tracks, a mix of surprise and suspicion on his face.
"Kyle… why're you here?" Hagrid asked.
"Who else would it be?" Kyle replied smoothly. "Has someone else wandered into the Forbidden Forest?"
"Ah, no," Hagrid admitted, scratching his head. His gaze shifted around uncertainly. "But… did you see something just now?"
"Should I have seen something?" Kyle asked, his tone calm and even.
"I'm not sure if I was imagining things," Hagrid said hesitantly, "but I thought I saw a Nundu. It was beautiful, really."
Kyle smiled, shaking his head. "I think you must be mistaken. There's no way a Nundu could be in the Forbidden Forest. They're incredibly rare magical creatures."
"You think so?" Hagrid scratched his beard, looking around once more.
"I'm certain," Kyle said with confidence. "I've been here the whole time and haven't seen anything remotely like a Nundu. Maybe you're just frazzled from dealing with Umbridge."
"You're probably right," Hagrid sighed, disappointed. "That woman's a nightmare. Always nitpicking and stirring up trouble, even when I've done nothing wrong. I don't understand why Professor Dumbledore allows her to stay."
"By the way, did you find what you were looking for?" Hagrid asked.
"I did," Kyle replied, a touch apologetic. "My Niffler got loose earlier, but I've managed to catch it now. Sorry for any trouble, Hagrid."
"It's no problem. Nifflers are always like that—up to no good." Hagrid chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. "For someone like you, though, I reckon handling a Thestral wouldn't be any trouble, eh?"