Hogwarts: This holy light is righteously evil

Chapter 136 The Imposter Hagrid

He secretly observed that Puni's personality was exceptionally pleasing, and he got along exceptionally well with him. As a wizard from a pure-blood family, he had no prejudice against his lineage and was not attached to the constraints of his pure-blood identity. His clear-headed and open-minded nature was truly rare.

McGonagall had mentioned Penny's various performances to Dumbledore many times before, and those evaluations of the young man were now floating in his mind. Looking at the lively and energetic appearance of the young men just now, Dumbledore felt a deep sense of comfort. His long-term guidance and cultivation of the younger generation had finally yielded good results.

But when his gaze fell in the direction Puni had left, his thoughts involuntarily drifted to another person—Regrus.

Regulus was a wizarding force that Dumbledore had long wanted to win over. Regulus's talent and stance had a significant impact on the entire wizarding world. However, over the years, Regulus had always deliberately kept his distance from him, avoiding any encounters or negotiations. His attitude was resolute and aloof, making it difficult for Dumbledore to find a suitable breakthrough.

As his thoughts raced, a completely new idea quietly took shape: perhaps Puni was the best opportunity to bring him closer to Regulus.

He took the letter the owl had given him that morning, opened it, and began to read.

After reading the letter, Dumbledore smiled gently and thought to himself, "Puni is such a clever and witty boy. He is truly cunning and lovable."

The two-way mirror shimmered, and Regulus's voice came through the magical medium, sounding helpless and troubled.

"So you've recently been in contact with Dumbledore?"

During this period of time, whenever he contacted Puni through the two-way mirror, he would hear about all sorts of outrageous things Puni had done: breaking into the sealed chamber, hunting the thousand-year-old basilisk alone, and now taking the initiative to get close to Dumbledore. Each and every one of these things completely overturned his understanding of the ordinary Hogwarts student life.

When Regulus learned that Penny had solved the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets Basilisk, he was already filled with emotion. He felt that his seven years of Hogwarts study had been wasted, and he had never known that the castle held such a shocking secret. Now, hearing that Penny had already met Dumbledore directly, he completely overturned all his preconceived notions about the boy.

"You clearly told me before that we should have awe for top-tier powerhouses like Dumbledore and stay away from them." Regulus completely launched into his吐槽 (tu cao, a Chinese internet slang term for sarcastic or critical comments) mode, full of amusement and exasperation. "Before entering Hogwarts, you said you just wanted to spend your school years peacefully and experience a calm and ordinary academic life. But you haven't even completed a full year since you enrolled. Tell me, when has a single day been peaceful?"

Listening to the other party's barrage of complaints and questions, Puni lay half-reclined on the sofa in the lounge, looked at the two-way mirror in front of him, and smiled.

"I admit that I failed to control my pace," Puni readily admitted his mistake, then softly defended himself, "but if I could completely suppress all my impulsive thoughts and follow the rules in everything, that wouldn't be my true nature."

It was Dumbledore who first came into contact with him, and this was also related to their elders in the family.

However, Puni did not intend to tell Regulus all of this.

Furthermore, he also needs Dumbledore's help with the new expansion pack, The Battle of the Golden Dragons, which he is currently preparing.

Puni knew very well that Dumbledore stood at the top of the wizarding world and was undoubtedly a top powerhouse, but he never regarded him as an enemy. At the same time, he also understood the current relationship between the two. In Dumbledore's eyes, he was neither an opponent he could contend with nor an ally who could walk alongside him, but just an ordinary student who needed to be protected and a new generation of junior in the wizarding world.

Based on this understanding, there was no need for either side to harbor any hostility, which led to this relaxed and simple exchange that did not involve any power struggles.

Not wanting to dwell on the complicated issues of stances and ways of getting along, Puni immediately changed the subject: "By the way, Regulus! Are you interested in the Quidditch match this weekend?"

Hogwarts Quidditch matches are open to the public on a limited basis, allowing only parents and legal guardians of students to enter and watch the games. As Regulus's guardian, he could easily enter the arena to watch the game by submitting a simple application.

Regulus did not hesitate at all when faced with the invitation and refused it decisively.

"I won't go."

Previously, he had made an uncharacteristic public appearance to meet Puni, and now he has clearly stated in front of a group of pure-blood wizards that he has completely severed ties with Voldemort's forces and is irreconcilable with them. If he were to rashly step into the Hogwarts campus at this moment and appear in Dumbledore's line of sight, the other party would certainly not let this opportunity pass easily, and there would be no shortage of attempts to talk and test him.

Penny could chat and interact with Dumbledore freely and without restraint, but Regulus always harbored a sense of apprehension towards the headmaster and deliberately kept his distance. There was no way around it; Dumbledore was too perceptive of people's hearts, especially towards all the students who graduated during his tenure at Hogwarts. He could always see through their true intentions and thoughts.

When Regulus was young, he had a brief encounter and exchange with Dumbledore at the Wizarding Council. That was the only time he faced the legendary headmaster directly, and in that one time, he completely understood how terrifying Dumbledore was.

The other party doesn't need to use invasive magic like Legilimency; they can peek into and deduce the true thoughts hidden deep in people's hearts simply through observation and conversation, with almost no error.

As ordinary people grow older, they only become more worldly-wise and insightful, but Dumbledore's experience and wisdom have long surpassed the limits of the mundane, reaching a realm that is difficult to fathom.

So he doesn't want to go there for no reason.

A few days later, Puni set off alone to find Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest. The environment of the Forbidden Forest was completely different from that inside and outside the castle. The air in the forest was thick, damp, and cold, carrying an inescapable chill that pressed down on him. Ancient giant trees grew in a continuous line, their lush branches and leaves layered on top of each other, obscuring the sky and cutting the already dim sky into fragments. Only a few scattered rays of light penetrated through the gaps in the branches and leaves, faintly illuminating the winding forest paths and the layers of wet, sticky moss on the ground.

The air was filled with the heavy, earthy smell of humus, the lingering dampness, and the peculiar aura of the magical creatures that belonged to the Forbidden Forest. These scents intertwined to create a unique yet oppressive forest atmosphere.

Puni lifted his foot and stepped onto the soft forest soil, his feet sinking into varying depths, steadily approaching the area inhabited by the centaur tribe. As he ventured deeper, his heart pounded faster and faster, the steady, powerful beat almost bursting through his chest, and a growing unease crept into his heart.

Hagrid opened the door to his cabin, where a short note with rough handwriting explained the reason for his trip.

When the centaur tribe was attacked by a swarm of spiders in the Forbidden Forest, he immediately went to their aid.

Spiders attacking centaurs?

The more Puni thought about it, the more suspicious the whole thing seemed.

He knew Hagrid's nature well. This half-giant treated all creatures in the Forbidden Forest equally, with a heart full of tolerance and kindness. Even the terrifying and highly aggressive eight-eyed spiders were always tolerated by Hagrid, who never took the initiative to be hostile.

However, the territorial conflict between the centaurs and the eight-eyed spiders has recently intensified, with constant friction and frequent clashes. Under such circumstances, it is illogical for the spider horde to suddenly gather and attack the centaurs. What worries him even more is that Hagrid has ventured alone into the forest, facing unknown risks.

With many doubts weighing on his mind, Puni had no time to hesitate. He gripped his wand tightly and resolutely stepped into the heart of the forbidden forest, a place strictly off-limits to students.

His previous experiences venturing deep into the forest had allowed him to memorize the key paths within, and he had already marked the areas where the centaur tribe resided on his exclusive navigational magic map, eliminating the need for blind exploration.

The deeper one ventures into the forbidden forest, the denser the trees become, the dimmer the light grows, and the entire forest falls into a deathly silence. The oppressive atmosphere intensifies, making one's heart tighten.

In the tranquil forest, only the sound of his footsteps, his rapid breathing, and the rustling of the evening wind through the trees could be heard. The wind was low and hoarse, like a soft sob, adding to the eeriness of the desolate woods. Puni remained on edge the entire time, highly vigilant for any movement around him. This deep, dense forest was perfect for setting up ambushes and hiding traps. Every shadow of a tree trunk and every thicket along the way could conceal unknown dangers, and could unleash a deadly beam of magic at any moment. His eyes scanned every corner along the way.

After walking briskly for an unknown amount of time, a series of chaotic sounds finally came from the quiet forest ahead: sharp, piercing chirps of insects, the heavy thuds of a giant creature, and a series of short, explosive explosions.

It was the sound of magic colliding and exploding!

Puni's spirits lifted, and he immediately quickened his pace, bending down to pass through a tangled thicket of thorns. His view suddenly opened up, revealing a spacious clearing in the woods, which had now become a fierce battleground.

Several enormous, eight-eyed giant spiders, their bodies covered in black fuzz, were entrenched around the open space, launching a frenzied attack on the central area. Their compound eyes gleamed with a cold, ferocious light, their sharp pincers opened and closed repeatedly, making a crisp clicking sound, and they continuously spewed out sticky spider silk. The silvery spider webs gleamed with a cold luster in the dim light, covering the entire battlefield.

In the center of the battlefield, a burly and robust figure was single-handedly resisting the siege of spiders. The familiar mole fur coat and the tangled beard and hair were none other than Hagrid, who had come alone to provide reinforcements.

He raised his hand, holding up his signature pink umbrella, and locked onto a giant spider that was flanking him from the side, simultaneously chanting a spell: "Faint and fall to the ground!"

A bright red beam shot out and hit its target. The eight-eyed giant spider's body suddenly convulsed, its eight long legs abruptly curled up, and it rolled to the ground and became motionless.

The scene before him stunned Puni, and a strong sense of unease arose in his heart.

In his past understanding, Hagrid's wand was broken when he was young, and his subsequent spellcasting was never smooth. His use of magic was somewhat clumsy, and he mostly relied on his strong physique to fight enemies. He rarely showed his skillful spellcasting techniques. But the Hagrid he was fighting now was casting spells crisply and cleanly, his movements were swift and steady, and his spells were released with unparalleled power. His combat state was completely different from usual, as if he were a different person.

The critical battle situation didn't allow him to investigate further. In that instant, an eight-eyed giant spider sensed Puni's presence, immediately changed direction, and charged straight at an extremely fast speed. Its ferocious compound eyes locked onto its target, and its saliva-covered pincers gleamed coldly. In a flash, it was right in front of him, and a sense of oppression was overwhelming.

"Flames are raging!"

Puni triggered the spell almost instinctively. The flames bursting from the tip of his staff were far more intense and concentrated than the magical power of an ordinary wizard. He locked onto his target and wrapped it around the giant spider's eight long legs.

The fierce flames engulfed the giant spider, the scorching heat causing it to let out a mournful hiss. Its massive body convulsed and struggled incessantly, but all its counterattacks were in vain, and it finally lost its life in the flames.

"That was fantastic! Puni, that was a beautiful shot!"

Almost simultaneously, Hagrid's loud cheers suddenly rang out, his tone filled with intense excitement and joy, even drowning out the remaining noise of the battlefield.

He waved his umbrella and cast another stun spell, repelling another approaching giant spider. Then he strode towards Puni, raised his hand and slapped him hard on the shoulder with unusual force. The unexpected impact made Puni stagger and almost lose his balance.

"I knew you were talented! By Merlin's grace, this magic, this precision of control, is simply impeccable!"

Hagrid spoke at an extremely fast pace, his emotions unusually excited, his spittle barely visible in the dim forest light, his smile radiant, even somewhat exaggerated, his eyes gleaming with an unusual light, and his gaze toward Puni filled with an almost obsessive admiration and fanaticism.

An increasingly intense sense of strangeness surged and rose in Puni's heart.

Hagrid is enthusiastic and cheerful, and he is genuinely happy for his progress and generous with praise, but he would never lose his composure in a critical moment of life-or-death battle!

At this moment, Hagrid's attention was mostly focused on his own magic, rather than the spider threat that had not yet been eliminated. This unusual behavior made Puni even more vigilant.

As the last giant spider was blasted away by the spell, the battle subsided, and the noisy open space suddenly fell silent, leaving only a few unconscious and wounded giant spiders occasionally emitting faint hisses.

Puni forced down the doubts surging in his heart and tried to keep his tone calm as he suggested, "Hagrid, let's return to the castle immediately. We must report the unusual activity in the Forbidden Forest to Headmaster Dumbledore."

As he spoke, he subtly sized up the man beside him: a well-fitting mole fur coat, a signature unkempt beard and hair, and a uniquely imposing physique. All his external features were identical to the real Hagrid, leaving no room for doubt.

"No! There's no need to rush back to the castle. The crisis with the centaurs isn't over yet; we need to continue our support."

Hagrid, oblivious to Puni's odd behavior, with that overly excited smile on his face, turned to continue deeper into the forest path.

Puni's gaze narrowed slightly, his eyes squinted, his heart suddenly pounded violently, his blood surged, then quickly cooled, and extreme vigilance enveloped his entire body.

He was 100% certain that the Hagrid in front of him was an imposter!

The other party was not under the control of the Imperishable Curse, ruling out the possibility of the Unforgivable Curse. The only remaining explanation is that it was a disguise from the Compound Elixir.

He quickly analyzed the situation in his mind. The real Hagrid had most likely fallen into the hands of the other party. Although Hagrid was physically strong and had considerable combat power, the possibility of him being ambushed and subdued without warning could not be ruled out.

"Alright, let's continue to the centaur settlement."