Chapter Seventeen: Professor Kettleburn

"Are you looking for something?"
A ghost hovering in mid-air made Professor Lore and Pringle pause in their tracks.
"A student has broken school rules and should be nearby," Pringle replied, hoping for the ghost’s assistance. "Did you see anyone suspicious?"
The ghost pretended to ponder, then said, "Speaking of young wizards wandering at night, I did see one at the third-floor stairwell just now. He must have escaped that way."
"It must be one of those mischievous Gryffindors!" Pringle grumbled, dashing toward the stairwell. "I’ll catch him for sure!"
Professor Lore frowned, casting another glance at the spot where the stone pedestal had been. The sense of discord he’d felt had already vanished. He shook his head, puzzled, and left the area.
The ghost in the air let out a sigh of relief, then noticed Helena drifting over with curiosity. She asked, "Were you covering for the wandering student?"
Heathen gave an awkward laugh. "I just think it’s not easy for the young wizards…"
Helena gave him a skeptical look but didn’t press further.
…
At the same time, young Heathen had arrived at the first-floor hall of the academic wing.
While distracting Professor Lore and Pringle with his ghostly persona, he had quietly drawn his wand, murmured a spell he’d just learned that day, and turned the soles of his shoes into cushions. Then, treading softly, he slipped away from the two searching staff members and made his way to the first floor.
He stood tense and alert beneath the stairs leading to the second floor, only relaxing once he heard their footsteps fade into the distance. He exhaled deeply.
‘That was close!’ Heathen rubbed his face, feeling as if his whole body had gone stiff.
But in the end, he’d accomplished his goal.
Leaving his hiding spot beneath the stairs, Heathen walked to the castle’s tightly shut entrance. He saw the heavy iron bolts and padlock, but wasn’t discouraged.
He placed his hand on the great door, gauging its thickness.
Then, raising his left hand in a vertical palm and brandishing his wand in his right, he traced a circle upon the door.
A golden ring of light expanded from small to one large enough to admit a person, pressing against the doorway. Through the shimmering gold, he saw the twinkling stars above and the faint grass below—the scene outside the castle!
‘Who would have guessed I’d be reduced to using a simplified Dimensional Gate as a portal through walls?’ Heathen laughed at himself, then stepped through the ring and out into the night.

…
Half an hour later.
Heathen wandered aimlessly across the lawn, feeling the hope of finding his kitten grow ever dimmer.
"Accio Kitten!"
He raised his wand in frustration, shouting at the empty grass.
With his eyes closed, Heathen pictured the kitten in his mind, hoping to summon her.
After about half a minute, Heathen opened his eyes—
A scruffy, bearded face loomed suddenly before him, wearing a startled expression.
"Merlin!" Heathen swore, leaping back in fright and tumbling onto the grass.
"Professor Kettleburn, what are you doing here?" he asked, rubbing the bump on his head as he managed to sit up, still shaken.
"I should be asking you that!" Professor Kettleburn glared at him. "Shouting outside my hut in the dead of night! If I’m not mistaken, it’s curfew right now."
Heathen replied with a groan, "I know, but my kitten is missing. I just want to find her."
"How much trouble can a pet kitten get into? She’s probably out exploring and will come back when she’s had enough," Professor Kettleburn said gruffly.
"But she hadn’t even opened her eyes at noon, and her cage was still locked!" Heathen insisted.
Professor Kettleburn’s tone grew even more severe. "You brought a newborn kitten to school before her eyes were open? What were you thinking? What if she doesn’t survive? Will you take responsibility?"
Hearing this, Heathen suddenly recalled something and asked excitedly, "Professor, you teach Care of Magical Creatures, don’t you?"
Professor Kettleburn eyed him suspiciously. "That’s right. What of it?"
"I was hoping to find you anyway. This is perfect!" Heathen exclaimed.
He then recounted all the strange things about his kitten to Professor Kettleburn.
As the professor listened, his interest grew. With a sweep of his large hand, he said, "Come with me!"

…
Professor Kettleburn led Heathen to his residence—a simple hut beside the Forbidden Forest. Inside, there was only a bed, a table, and a chair. The grimy table sat by a narrow window, and on it was a brightly colored cauldron with water boiling inside.
Heathen couldn’t help but notice how out of place the cauldron looked in the otherwise bare room. He glanced at it again—and found he couldn’t look away.
"Professor, is that a fire crab shell? For boiling water?" Heathen asked in disbelief.
"Mm-hmm, heats up water quickly—very handy!" Professor Kettleburn flopped onto the bed and gestured for Heathen to take the chair.
Heathen bent down to move a dusty long-haired brush out of his way toward the chair—then froze in shock.
"Is this… unicorn tail hair?" He reached out, feeling the familiar texture he’d once studied for wand cores, astonished, he looked at Professor Kettleburn.
The professor waved him over.
"No need to fuss. Unicorn tail hair snags easily on tree trunks. It’s common enough in the Forbidden Forest," he said. "Now sit and tell me everything about your kitten."
Heathen felt numb—surely not even his wealthy family would be so extravagant as to use unicorn tail hair, worth ten galleons a bundle, for a brush…
He gave his head a vigorous shake, forcing the astonishment away, and began to recount how he’d acquired the kitten, her appearance, her odd behaviors, and the experts’ opinions.
The professor listened with great interest, occasionally breaking in to ask for details.
"You said the cage was intact, but the kitten was gone?" he asked. "Could your roommate have let her out?"
Heathen shook his head. "I don’t think so; they had no reason to."
With a thoughtful nod, Professor Kettleburn fell silent for a moment, then spoke gravely: "From what you describe, a feline that can pass through a locked cage without damaging it… I can think of only one creature…"
"The Zouyu!"
…
…