Chapter Forty-Four: The Kitten with Extraordinary Skills

Xiwen ate his meal gloomily, mulling over how to handle the string of unexpected events that kept coming his way.

First, he realized deeply that relying solely on the meager magical power in his current body, along with the few years of self-taught magic knowledge he’d managed to accumulate, and perhaps the somewhat restrictive spells from Kamar-Taj, it would be difficult to ensure absolute safety.

The most pressing matter was, of course, to strengthen himself—learn more magical knowledge from this world, so he could better deal with all sorts of crises. He had to admit, the threat posed by the venomous panther had left a significant mark on him.

As for magical power, in this world, it wasn’t cultivated like the wizards he’d seen in his previous life. Instead, it accumulated naturally in a young wizard’s body as they aged.

Because of this, talent mattered above all else here. If one’s magical talent was strong enough, they could possess an endless, inexhaustible reservoir of magic by sheer birthright. But if one’s talent was mediocre, they might risk magical exhaustion after only a few spells.

Seen in this light, the pure-blood families’ insistence on marrying within their kind and their disdain for Muggle-borns did have some rationale.

“So, should I be thankful I was born into a pure-blood family with halfway decent talent?” Xiwen smiled bitterly to himself.

It was hard to drastically increase his magical power, but there might be shortcuts to improving his ability to protect himself.

Suddenly, Xiwen remembered a magical artifact he’d often used in Kamar-Taj but had always overlooked—the Sling Ring!

While the wizarding world had two spells that restricted spatial movement—Anti-Disapparition Jinx and Anti-Apparition Charm—these enchantments only targeted wizard apparation. They couldn’t even stop house-elves, let alone space magic from another world.

With a Sling Ring, if he spotted those dark wizards, he could open a portal right away, either to attack or retreat, and could even call for backup in the blink of an eye. Imagine: while those dark wizards were lurking, suddenly surrounded by a dozen Hogwarts professors—how hopeless they’d feel!

“If I’d had a Sling Ring, Professor Kettleburn wouldn’t have lost his left leg,” Xiwen thought bitterly, glancing over at Professor Kettleburn… only to see a young, pretty nurse carefully feeding him lunch with a spoon.

Instantly, Xiwen’s melancholy vanished.

…

After lunch, Professor Kettleburn began chatting with Xiwen about his cat.

“Your cat is extraordinary,” he said. “Having the abilities of both a panther and a cat would already be remarkable, but she also possesses the powers of a Zouyu.”

“Are you sure, Professor?” Xiwen asked curiously.

“I’m quite sure! Newt once encountered a Zouyu and was carried by it, breaking through the Anti-Disapparition Jinx and traversing space. We’ve discussed such magical creatures before,” Professor Kettleburn clicked his tongue in awe. “The Zouyu is an ancient magical creature from the East, capable of traveling a thousand miles in a day, and when moving quickly, it can even warp the space-time around itself. For your kitten to have both this ability and the panther’s hypnotic power is extraordinarily rare!”

“You must understand, most magical creatures’ abilities conflict with one another. A mixed-blood magical creature is lucky to retain even one power from its bloodlines, and many hybrids can’t inherit any abilities from their parents at all!”

Hearing this, Xiwen was astonished. He hadn’t expected that his impulsive decision in the magical creature shop had truly brought him such a treasure!

“Wait, do you know where the kitten went?” He suddenly realized she wasn’t nearby and asked the professor in concern.

“How should I know? I’m more injured than you are! After your cat took us through space-time, I lost consciousness completely!” Professor Kettleburn grumbled, his beard bristling. “Instead of asking me, you should ask Huma.”

With that, he waved at Mrs. Dalal from afar.

Seeing his gesture, Mrs. Dalal walked over. “Is there anywhere you're still uncomfortable?” she asked.

Professor Kettleburn waved her off. “No, it’s not that. This time it’s Xiwen—he wants to know where his cat went.”

Mentioning the kitten, Mrs. Dalal’s stern work face melted instantly into a kindly smile. “You mean that adorable little cat? When Professor Dumbledore brought you to the school hospital, she was curled up in your arms. I gave her her own bed.”

“The kitten recovered much faster than you all; she woke up early this morning. I fed her a little, and while she ate, I stroked her fur—such a wonderful feel!” Mrs. Dalal’s eyes narrowed in delight, a satisfied smile on her lips. “Then she slipped away, I’m not sure where she went, but she seemed quite well.”

Xiwen silently grumbled: “So why are owls shooed out of the school hospital, but cats get their own beds? Is it just because Jabby isn’t as cute as my kitten? This world is obsessed with appearances!”

Still, hearing his kitten was safe, Xiwen let out a sigh of relief.

“Xiwen, tonight the Headmaster and others will definitely come to question us about what happened,” Professor Kettleburn whispered after Mrs. Dalal had gone back to her duties.

“Be sure not to reveal your kitten’s special abilities, or that old stick-in-the-mud Dippet will never let you keep her at the school!”

Xiwen nodded obediently.

…

That evening, after Xiwen and Professor Kettleburn finished dinner, Headmaster Dippet and the four Heads of House arrived at the school hospital, just as expected.

“Silvanus, are you feeling well?” Headmaster Dippet thanked Mrs. Dalal, settled into the chair she’d just brought over, and greeted Professor Kettleburn.

“Not bad!” The professor was still somewhat pale, but his spirits were high, joking cheerfully. “If I don’t get bitten by those big beasts every few years, I feel uneasy. Now I’m comfortable!”

Xiwen watched the Headmaster and the four Heads of House struggle to keep their composure.

“Silvanus, it’s the first time I’ve discovered you have a talent for drama,” said Professor Birley, the white-haired Head of Hufflepuff, trying to keep pace with Professor Kettleburn’s humor.

“Really?” Professor Kettleburn, not seeing this as a mere jest, replied excitedly. “Then next time there’s a performance, I must have a part—don’t go back on your word!”

Professor Birley’s face darkened instantly.

“Ahem.” Professor Melus, unable to endure further, cleared her throat. “Herbert, Birley, you can discuss drama next time. Today, we’re here to learn the details of last night’s events.”

With that, she looked to Professor Kettleburn, and the Headmaster and the other three professors likewise turned their gaze.

Professor Kettleburn grew serious, chose his words carefully, and began, “Last night began as a routine patrol in the Forbidden Forest. Then a unicorn suddenly appeared…”

He recounted, truthfully, the events from their entry into the forest to all that transpired. However, he omitted the part where Xiwen’s kitten used her space-warping ability, only mentioning that the unicorn, Celis, helped them escape the forest.

…

…