Chapter 721: Professor Babbling’s Warning
It had been over a week since Dumbledore last left the Headmaster's Office. During that time, he returned briefly to give Harry a lesson before disappearing again.
As for the lesson's content, Kyle wasn't certain, though he could probably guess. It was likely an open and honest conversation with Harry. Perhaps it was about the Order of the Phoenix or the Horcruxes. After all, when Harry previously failed to learn Occlumency, much had been kept from him, and he was still upset about it.
This lesson seemed to focus on Harry letting go of his worries. How much progress he made would depend on what Dumbledore wanted him to know.
But that had little to do with Kyle.
On Wednesday afternoon, after the Ancient Runes class ended, Kyle approached Professor Babbling with a parchment full of rune formulas. She was clearly about to make a quick escape.
Yes... escape.
Since the first class of the year, Professor Babbling had been reluctant to see Kyle outside class. It wasn't that she feared being stumped—her knowledge of Ancient Runes was likely superior even to Dumbledore's, and Kyle's questions posed no real challenge. She simply didn't want to work overtime. Usually, she left immediately after class, never lingering a moment longer than necessary.
However, Kyle had positioned himself strategically near the door, and with Apparition banned within the castle, her plan for a timely escape was doomed the moment she stepped outside.
When Professor Babbling glanced at the parchment Kyle handed her, her expression immediately soured.
"Primitive runes..." she muttered almost instinctively. "Why are you looking at such useless things? It's a waste of time."
"Huh?" Kyle blinked, caught off guard. He had anticipated many possible reactions but had not expected Professor Babbling to dismiss his interest so outright. It didn't even sound like she was being rude—she genuinely believed it was a waste of time.