Chapter 146. Kray, Look Over Here—Say Cheese!
With the professors working in concert, the terrifying lightning finally subsided, and the thick storm clouds returned to normal.
Dumbledore let out a quiet breath, turned to the other professors, and said, "Well done, everyone. Is anybody hurt?"
"No," Professor McGonagall smiled. "It's just been a long time since anything this exciting happened, so I'm a tad out of practice—my heart's racing a bit."
The other professors nodded with faint smiles.
Only Snape's face was dark as he narrowed his eyes, searching the ravine for a certain someone.
"Professor Dumbledore," Duncan quickly said to the Headmaster at his side, pointing into the distance. "That old man is the leader of this lot. Don't let him get away—if you seize him, you'll definitely pry plenty of useful information out of him."
In a neglected corner of the ravine, Bishop Charles saw Dumbledore and several others arrive and knew things had taken a bad turn, so he chose to retreat without hesitation.
He had barely edged a short distance when Duncan spotted him and actually called Dumbledore over to arrest him.
"Damn brat!" Bishop Charles swore, glowering at Duncan with burning fury.
"Don't worry—we'll meet again!" Fixing Duncan's face in his memory, Bishop Charles roared.
Before Dumbledore could look his way, he vanished with a pop, Disapparating at speed.
"Sorry. He got away," Dumbledore said, lowering his raised wand a touch sheepishly.
Though his words carried an apology, his smile was broad, with no hint of embarrassment.
"All right then, we'll leave him be for now. I'll sort him out later," Duncan said helplessly.
"Was that magic just now cast by you?" Dumbledore asked, gazing up at the thunder-rent sky in thought.
"Ah?" Duncan arched a brow and flatly denied it. "It was the Thunderbird under me. Nothing to do with me!"
"Oh? And was it the same one calling wind and rain in the forest near Hogwarts some time ago?" Dumbledore asked.
"Well…" Duncan cut in, "Professor, the creatures below are about to lose their senses again. I've got to help them. I won't chat just now. You and the other professors are quite capable—why don't you do the honours and scout the cave first?"
With that, Duncan urged Dumbledore to Apparate away, then he and Kray wheeled downwards.
By now, the fighting in the ravine was basically over.
Apart from some wizards struck by spells and left immobilised, the rest had fled with Bishop Charles.
Dumbledore stood upon the stone dais before the cave, his deep-set eyes tracking Duncan's retreating figure.
After a moment, he shook his head with a smile.
"Dumbledore," Snape said as he landed on the dais, stowed his broom, and walked to the Headmaster's side, lowering his voice. "I didn't see Quirrell. Could we be mistaken, and he has nothing to do with this group?"
"Perhaps he knows," Dumbledore said, his gaze drifting, almost idly, towards the far distance before he turned and headed into the depths of the cave.
Snape frowned and, expressionless, followed his glance.
Down on the ravine floor, Duncan was hard at work, the creatures around him all transformed into spheres.
"Duncan Scamander?" Snape's thin lips curled as he murmured the name, his brow knitting.
A few moments later, he schooled his features and followed in Dumbledore's wake.
No one knew what he was pondering at that moment.
At the ravine bottom, Duncan kept firing his bubble pistol at the struggling magical creatures.
Mori followed at his side; two broad strands of waterweed unfurled from his body—one hoisting the open suitcase, the other batting the ball-like creatures into the case like dribbling a rubber ball.
As for Kray, who had abandoned his friend for love, the moment he set Duncan down, he rushed off in a flurry to find his beloved.
"Duncan, help me—quick!" a panicked cry sounded from behind.
Duncan ballooned the Ponlock in front of him and turned.
Kray was fleeing in mid-air, with another Thunderbird in hot pursuit.
Its talons and beak pecked and swiped at him from time to time, and clusters of beautiful feathers spun down to the ground.
Kray made no move to resist, only covered his head and fled, pleading to Duncan for help over and over.
"How pathetic," Mori said, unable to hide his glee. "Hurry—where's that thing of yours that spits out pictures? Get it and take a couple for Kray. He'll thank us for it later. What a touching memory this is! If it gets forgotten, that'd be a terrible shame!"
"A camera?" Duncan asked, following Mori's description.
"Yes, yes, that one—get it out," Mori said, nodding rapidly.
"No problem." Duncan grinned, fished a camera out of his pouch, and levelled it at Kray's position.
"Kray, look over here! Smile—cheese!"
He raised his hand and shouted.
When Kray's face filled the viewfinder, Duncan clicked the shutter several times in quick succession.
Catching the flash not far away and seeing Duncan's pose, Kray's head buzzed.
He suddenly realised something dreadful, and he shot over, yelling, "Duncan, don't—don't take pictures! I'm begging you!"
Before Kray reached him, Duncan had already put the camera away.
He lifted the bubble pistol and said, "Kray, bring that Thunderbird over here, quick!"
Kray dropped anxiously beside Duncan.
When the other Thunderbird swelled and froze, he carefully escorted it into the case, then bulged his eyes and threatened, "Duncan, hand over those photos you just took, or I'll fight you to the death!"
"Eh? What are you talking about? What photos? No idea," Duncan said, denying everything as his gaze drifted aside to avoid Kray.
"Ugh!" Kray fumed. "Your acting is awful—you couldn't even fool those two dunces, Ari and Charlie!"
"Acting? Kray, I've no idea what you're on about," Duncan said with feigned puzzlement, cocking his head at Mori. "Do you know?"
"I don't either!" Mori said, playing along with a shake of his head. "Kray, did you get hit on the head? Is that why you're not quite with it?"
"Fine, fine—make fun of me as much as you like…" Kray said helplessly, his wings drooping to the ground.
"All right, all right—here, take it." Duncan pulled out a photo and held it up to Kray.
Seeing his own sorry state in the picture, Kray flushed, then hastily tossed it down and shredded it under his talons.
"Was that the only one?" Kray's huge eyes stayed locked on Duncan.
"Don't be a greedy bird," Duncan said, stroking Kray's head.
With that, he rose to meet the hastening Tina.
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