As the sun set in the west, looking at the huge rock cave standing on the cliff, Evans nodded with satisfaction.
He patted the dragon beside him and spoke softly.
"From today on, this is your home. Remember not to wander around carelessly, and especially don't fly too far in that direction." With that, Evans pointed toward the direction of the so-called big lake that the little Chimaera had mentioned.
Although he didn't know where exactly that Chimaera had encountered the curse, it was always better to be careful.
"Roar!"
Norbert nodded its huge head, indicating it understood.
After Evans finished speaking, Hagrid stepped forward two paces and hugged Norbert's head.
"Norbert, my good child, I'll come see you once a week!"
Although this place wasn't particularly close to Hogwarts, a day's time was enough to fly there and back on a broomstick.
It was just that as a gamekeeper, he had many tasks to handle daily; otherwise, he really wanted to visit Norbert every day.
This was the first dragon he had raised and also the first creature to treat him like a mother.
Seeing that Hagrid still didn't want to leave after giving his instructions, Evans helplessly shrugged, stepped forward two paces, and pointed his wand at one of Norbert's legs.
"Relax, Norbert. Don't resist."
Dragons had extremely strong magical resistance. If Norbert had even a trace of resistance, his spell might not succeed.
Although not knowing what Evans intended to do, Norbert obediently relaxed its body.
The next second, Evans's wand tip emitted a bright silver light. The light traced across Norbert's foreleg, forming a simple stick figure surrounded by small portraits of magical creatures.
After the mark fully formed, Evans put away his wand and spoke softly:
"Be careful when moving around. If you encounter anything strange, focus your attention on this mark. As long as you trigger it, I'll sense it and rush to your side as quickly as possible."
"If you discover this mark lighting up while hunting, remember to release that prey. All creatures with marks are friends. Don't forget."
Although this place was very far from his friends' habitats, he had to find ways to prevent all accidents.
"Roar!"
Norbert obediently nodded, indicating it understood.
After being affectionate with Norbert for a while longer, and after Evans helplessly pointed out that there was nothing to be so clingy about when they'd see each other once a week, Hagrid finally reluctantly released the dragon's neck and bid Norbert farewell.
When the two returned to Hogwarts, the sky had completely darkened.
The castle at night emanated warm orange-yellow light. Looking at Hogwarts that seemed to stand there eternally, Evans's mood gradually calmed.
Walking toward Hagrid's hut while lowering his head, he pondered how to solve the Chimaera's problem.
Among the people he knew, not many were skilled with curses. Although the big bat had some research in dark magic, he wasn't particularly good with curse-related matters either.
Sossia's species did have some special talents for dealing with curses, but this time her slumber might last who knows how long. This Chimaera might not survive until she woke up.
Should he go to Egypt to ask its kin? Chimaeras were relatively friendly toward their own kind. Perhaps he could get some good advice.
Or, old Dumbledore had extensive connections. Maybe he could ask for his help...
Just as Evans thought of Dumbledore, a somewhat aged voice suddenly rang beside his ear.
Gone was Dumbledore's usual warmth; his voice held an ominous weight.
"You're back? Come to the school, Defence Against the Dark Arts office."
"Hmm?"
Hearing the voice beside his ear, Evans's steps paused, confusion flashing in his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Hagrid asked curiously, carrying his case.
"Dumbledore is looking for me, asking me to go to the Defence Against the Dark Arts office." Shaking his head slightly, Evans turned to face Hagrid.
"Actually, I was planning to find him anyway to borrow Fawkes, to see if phoenix tears or flames might have any effect on it."
Although phoenix tears couldn't dispel curses, their healing abilities were very powerful. Perhaps they could improve that Chimaera's physical condition somewhat.
And phoenix flames might be able to stimulate its Fiendfyre, letting it try to burn away the curse on itself.
Lifting Alice from his shoulder and placing her in Hagrid's arms, Evans said softly:
"Help me take care of Alice. I'll go to the school first. Remember to prepare food and water for those two Chimaeras. Wait for me to return."
Hagrid nodded, watching Evans turn around and disappear as a silver-white flash.
Waving his hand in front of Alice's eyes, Hagrid said: "You should be about ready for dinner too, right? What would you like to eat?"
"Coo!"
"Mm, I can't understand what you're saying, but I can roughly guess."
"Worms? No? Then how about fresh leaves..."
A silver light flashed as Evans appeared on Hogwarts' second floor.
As soon as he entered the castle, he discovered that tonight's Hogwarts atmosphere was somewhat off.
Though there was still some distance before curfew, there were no young wizards wandering the corridors in twos and threes. Walking on the path to the Defence Against the Dark Arts office, he only encountered two students in total, both of whom greeted him before lowering their heads and hurrying past.
The entire castle seemed shrouded in an extremely oppressive atmosphere that even made Evans feel somewhat breathless.
What exactly had happened?
Walking forward with confusion, just as he was about to reach a corner, he bumped into three young wizards walking with lowered heads, looking very dejected.
Now he'd encountered familiar faces.
Looking at those three students' downcast appearance, Evans asked with confusion: "What's wrong with you all?"
Hearing Evans's voice, Harry, Ron, and Hermione paused, then simultaneously raised their heads, hope appearing in their eyes.
"Professor Kahn!"
Then Evans felt something crash into his embrace as a little girl's voice rang out from within his arms, clearly crying.
"Please save Mrs Norris, meow..."
Gently embracing the trembling body in his arms and sensing its collapsed emotions, several translucent fur strands appeared behind Evans. The trembling body calmed down somewhat. After the little black cat's emotions were no longer so broken, Evans stroked its head and asked softly:
"What exactly happened?"
After sobbing for a while longer, the little black cat chokingly spoke, and together with the three young wizards, they began recounting what had occurred.