"What an astonishing talent. He's practically born for magic."
In the Headmaster's office on the eighth floor of the castle, Dumbledore stood by the window, gazing at the small figure by the distant Black Lake, and couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
Snape's eyes remained downcast. "It's hard to believe he's just a young wizard who's only recently stepped into the magical world. He still has a long road of growth ahead of him."
Dumbledore turned around, looking at Snape earnestly. "Severus, I'd like you to be his teacher."
"What exactly do you want me to teach him?"
"Anything at all. The key is to keep him from straying down the wrong path." Dumbledore spread his hands. "You wouldn't want to see another Grindelwald stirring up trouble in the wizarding world in ten or twenty years, would you?"
Snape shook his head slightly. "When it comes to looking after children for you, I think Professor Sprout or Professor Flitwick might be far more suited to the task than I am."
Dumbledore's face broke into a wide smile. "But I think he'd get along better with you. Didn't the two of you have a nice chat during dinner in the Great Hall that day?"
At Dumbledore's words, Snape's expression darkened.
He recalled their first encounter in the Great Hall with Kyle. Snape swore that Kyle was the most talkative little brat he'd ever met.
Throughout that meal, Kyle had chattered nonstop, while Snape listened with a blank expression as the boy prattled on.
Snape would rather hole up in his chilly dungeon office, tending to a cauldron simmering gently over low heat and filling the air with its delightful aroma, than deal with a kid like Kyle.
"I refuse."
"Very well, Severus. I respect your decision." Dumbledore sighed. "Then I suppose I'll have to ask our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. If he does a good job, perhaps I should consider keeping him on for that position next year…"
"Wait!" Snape's face grew even darker.
Dumbledore's smile widened. "Changed your mind?"
Snape clenched his fists. "I don't have a choice, do I?"
Dumbledore blinked mischievously. "I'm not forcing you."
Snape sorely wanted to whip out his wand and hit the shameless old man in front of him with a Sectumsempra. If he thought he could actually land the spell, he might have done it.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. With a flourish of his black robes, he stormed out of the Headmaster's office without looking back.
Kyle had spent the entire morning by the Black Lake, only returning to the castle when the sun was high overhead.
When he appeared at the entrance to the Great Hall, George and Fred immediately waved him over with great enthusiasm.
"So, what do you think? About our proposal?" It was impossible to tell whether George or Fred was speaking.
Kyle sat down at the Gryffindor table. "What proposal?"
"You know, coming with us to Potions class."
Kyle's mind was still preoccupied with figuring out how to properly form a genuine Rasengan. He had no interest in attending classes with them—plus, he hadn't even bought a cauldron…
Well, actually, he had bought one. But it wasn't for brewing potions. It was for cooking hot pot.
So he waved a hand dismissively. "Nah, I've got stuff to do."
George and Fred looked a little disappointed.
"Alright then. How about we play some video games tonight?"
"I think shooting games are more fun."
Kyle cut off the two who were arguing over whether video games or shooting games were better. "Hey, as seniors who've been at Hogwarts for over a year, shouldn't you show this newbie around the castle?"
The twins exchanged a glance and nodded.
"We'll explore the castle tonight. But this afternoon, we're taking you somewhere even more fun. We don't have classes anyway."
"You treated us to drinks last time. This time, it's our turn to treat you."
At the mention of the twins buying drinks, Kyle's eyes lit up.
"I still remember how you got me drunk under the table last time. This time, I'm definitely getting revenge."
No need to guess—that was definitely George.
Kyle raised an eyebrow provocatively. "I won't brag about anything else, but when it comes to drinking, the two of you combined couldn't outdrink me."
Joking aside, in his previous life, before he'd even grown teeth, his family elders had fed him alcohol with chopsticks more times than he could count.
After reincarnating into this life, he'd lost the ability to chug a bottle of vodka without flinching, but he'd quickly built up his tolerance again.
When he was wandering the streets with no guardian to watch over him, America's laws against underage drinking were practically nonexistent to him.
As for George and Fred, these two lightweights were probably kept on a tight leash at home and never had the chance to build up their tolerance.
A couple of beers were enough to turn their faces red and have them sprawled on the couch, drunk and rowdy. How could they possibly compete with him?
The fifth-floor corridor of Hogwarts Castle was deserted, with only the troublemaking trio gathered there after lunch.
George and Fred moved a mirror aside, revealing a hidden passage behind it.
"This secret tunnel leads straight to Hogsmeade Village, right next to Hogwarts," George explained.
Seeing the blank look on Kyle's face, Fred clarified, "Hogsmeade is a wizarding village with lots of shops. Most importantly, there are pubs."
So the twins were taking him to a pub?
Kyle was genuinely curious about whether the alcohol sold in wizard pubs was different from what Muggles drank.
The three of them crawled through the opening into the passage. After sliding the mirror back into place, the tunnel was pitch black.
"Lumos," George cast, raising his wand.
After walking through the passage for several dozen minutes, George, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped. "We're here."
In front of him was a trapdoor. After climbing out, Kyle found himself on a deserted little path.
At the entrance to the path was a shop with a rusty bracket over the door, holding a tattered wooden sign painted with a severed boar's head.
"This is the pub?" Kyle was still ten steps from the entrance, but he could already smell a strong, gamey odor.
The protruding windows were caked with thick grime, barely letting any light into the pub. Kyle could just make out a few rough wooden tables and chairs in the dim interior.
He pinched his nose in disgust.
Of all the pubs Kyle had ever seen, none could rival this one for sheer filth. He was ready to crown the Hog's Head the undisputed champion.
He wondered if the wizarding world had anything like a food and drug administration. If they did, this pub's hygiene standards would never pass inspection.
"I think we should go somewhere else."
"That's probably not an option. The Hog's Head is the only pub in Hogsmeade that'll sell alcohol to underage wizards," Fred replied.
George turned to look at him like he was an idiot. "Can't you just buy the drinks and take them somewhere else?"
Holding their breath, the trio stepped into the pub.
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