Chapter 648: A Nundu? You Must Be Seeing Things
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.