Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is not meant to infringe upon copyrights.
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The map sale was undoubtedly a success. The young wizards benefited, the professors were delighted because no one was late, and Kyle and the others made a small fortune. Everyone was happy.
If anyone was unhappy, it was probably Filch.
With Fred and George's funds overflowing, the corridors often smelled of dung.
Filch was practically furious, and he wanted to follow the twins all day to catch them in the act.
But Fred and George always found a way to shake him off.
Cho and Kanna became more familiar with Kyle because of this incident, especially Kanna, who no longer avoided sitting around him during class.
Perhaps she'd gotten used to it; her social anxiety wasn't as severe as before. At least after receiving extra points from a professor, she could now say thank you like everyone else.
The first-year schedule at Hogwarts was quite easy, with only three classes a day.
But when homework was added in, it was a different story.
The young wizards had to spend all their spare time in the library just to finish their foot-long assignments.
And the font couldn't be too large, because the last wizard who'd done so cleverly earned Professor McGonagall a five-point deduction and double the workload, leaving him with dark circles under his eyes for a long time.
Eventually, Professor McGonagall, fearing he'd stumble in class one day, rescinded the punishment.
But no one dared to resort to such trickery again.
But there were exceptions.
What everyone else considered a nightmare assignment was a piece of cake for Kyle.
It was just an essay, something he had experience with, and since freshmen didn't have to worry about plagiarism checks, he could just write whatever he wanted.
He'd borrow from a few relevant books, add a few unnecessary sentences, and then conclude with a summary.
In less than twenty minutes, a perfect assignment was created, and the professors praised his extensive reading.
Except for one Potions professor who wished to remain anonymous.
For some reason, Kyle felt Snape was growing increasingly displeased with him, and he'd find excuses to deduct two points from him.
But Kyle had no other choice but to avoid Snape. Every time he lost points, he'd buy a bottle of Sleakeazy's Hair Potion, planning to give it to him anonymously once he'd accumulated enough.
On Halloween, Kyle sat in the library reading as usual. It wasn't until dinner was about to begin that he approached Madam Pince, clutching his unfinished copy of The Great Duelist.
"How many days will you borrow it this time?" Madam Pince asked without even looking up.
"One day."
"Yes."
Since Kyle frequently borrowed books, Madam Pince had a good memory of him. She simply noted his name and the time, and that was it.
Since it was Halloween, the Great Hall had been festooned with colorful decorations.
Pumpkins carved into various shapes floated overhead, creating a vibrant Halloween atmosphere.
A thousand bats fluttered across the walls and ceiling, and even a cloud of bats hovered above the dining table.
Because it was not yet time for dinner, the entire hall was bustling with activity, and almost half of the people gathered around the Gryffindor table.
Fred and George each wore a pumpkin head and imitated the signature moves of the Headless Hunt Club, making everyone laugh.
The professors on the stage did not stop them, as they were also watching with great interest. Dumbledore even happily took out some candy and wanted to exchange it with other professors.
Unfortunately, no one paid any attention to him.
Even Professor Sprout, who had the best temper, politely declined the pile of cockroaches he handed over.
"Are you going to the library again?"
When Kyle sat down at the Hufflepuff table, Cedric poked his head over and asked, "Dueling books... what are you looking at?"
"Charms homework,"
Kyle handed the book to Cedric. "I have to make up for the points I lost in Potions. Practical application of basic spells is what Professor Flitwick loves most."
Cedric, knowing Kyle had been targeted by Snape recently, gave him a sympathetic look and said, "So, did you learn anything?"
"Don't mention it," Kyle sighed.
"Obviously, no wizard would use the Unlocking Charm in a duel."
Cedric bit his lip tightly to prevent himself from laughing out loud. He had thought Kyle had been using the Levitation Charm in the previous lesson, but it turned out to be the Unlocking Charm.
Even first-years wouldn't use the Unlocking Charm in a fight, let alone a duelist.
His lip tightened even more at the thought.
Kyle gave Cedric a suspicious look, his intuition telling him he was thinking something impolite. But before he could say anything, an owl landed nearby.
It extended its claws and placed a note on the plate in front of Kyle.
"For me?"
Kyle curiously unfolded the note. The handwriting was scribbled, but thankfully legible.
"Dear Kyle, Chopper.
I've collected some mooncalf fertilizer. If you have time, could you come over on Friday (I believe you don't have classes that afternoon)?"
-Hagrid.
After reading the note, Kyle was visibly stunned. He hadn't expected Hagrid to actually invite him to the cabin.
Seeing Kyle staring blankly at the note, Cedric, who had already finished his chuckle, asked curiously, "Who sent you the letter?"
"Hagrid," Kyle said.
Cedric thought for a moment, then asked, "The grounds keeper at the edge of the Forbidden Forest?"
"Yes, that's right," Kyle replied.
"What did he want to see you about? Did you know each other before?"
"The letter said he was collecting some fertilizer from the Mooncalf," Kyle explained. "I planted two ornamental plants and went to see him once."
"Then can you take me with you?" Cedric said, "I'm quite curious about that place."
"If you want to go, then go. What's the big deal?"
Kyle took out the quill he always carried and wrote on the back of the note, "Okay, I'll go there with my friend tomorrow afternoon."
He fed the owl some nuts and let it fly back.
Afterwards, the dinner party just started.
Because it was Halloween, the food was much richer than usual. In addition to a whole fragrant roasted leg of beef, there was also pumpkin pie and caramel apples.
A variety of candies were also indispensable. Kyle took a glance and was glad that there were no cockroaches in the place. It seemed that the principal's unique hobby had not affected the kitchen.
[End of the chapter]