Finally, the train stopped at Hogsmeade station. Everyone got off, creating a chaotic scene. Owls hooted, cats meowed, and toads croaked as if joining the commotion, making the small platform incredibly lively.
Just then, a lion-shaped firework exploded in the sky, immediately attracting everyone's attention.
Bang!
Another firework soared into the sky, trailing a long flame.
By now, the young wizards had noticed Fred setting off the fireworks. Under everyone's gaze, he calmly wrapped a piece of gold-edged parchment around a Filibuster firework, then lit it.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang…
Ten Filibuster fireworks exploded in succession, featuring lions, badgers, and dragons. They ran and jumped across the sky, lasting for quite a while before dissipating.
"Is this Hogwarts' welcome ceremony?" Some excited first-years asked.
They didn't know what was happening and thought Hogwarts was using fireworks specifically to welcome them. These fireworks were undeniably beautiful, and watching the twinkling animals in the sky helped ease their earlier nervousness.
However, some others had a different reaction.
"See that, Zabini." Draco said smugly to several first-years nearby, "I told you before that Kyle would destroy these maps, and you didn't believe me, ha..."
He let out a strange laugh, mocking their previous self-assured statements.
Beside him, Blaise Zabini frowned, his neck stiffening as he said, "Who knows if it's real? Maybe they just used a Transfiguration Charm."
"Absolutely impossible!" Draco snorted coldly, "I trust Kyle. He received the Award for Special Services to the School. He's definitely not that kind of person."
"Who knows?" Blaise pouted, "Don't forget they're all second-year students. This sort of thing would be easy for them."
The two stubbornly held their positions, neither able to convince the other.
Just then, Crabbe, the tallest among them, suddenly noticed something and caught a piece of parchment floating down from the sky.
"Malfoy, look at this."
Draco, who had been arguing with Blaise, turned to look. His eyes immediately lit up.
"Aha!" He excitedly grabbed the parchment fragment, pointing at the remaining gold patterns on it, "Look at this — it's real gold! Do you still think it's a Transfiguration Charm? And also..."
As he spoke, he brought his face close to a blackened area on the fragment and took a deep breath.
"I accidentally burned a hole in my unicorn-hair tapestry at home, and the smell is exactly the same as this."
"This..." Blaise's face turned red, as if he had been slapped hard twice.
Seeing his reaction, Draco became even more smug, saying with his head held high, "I get it now. You probably can't afford the twenty-Galleon map, that's why you're saying this. Don't worry, I've heard they have maps for a few Sickles too. You should be able to afford those at least."
"Who are you saying can't afford it?!" Blaise was instantly furious.
He could accept being wrong, but he couldn't accept this mockery. Twenty Galleons? As if he couldn't afford that! Who did Draco think he was looking down on?
"Just wait, I'll buy the most expensive map he has." Blaise said, his neck stiff with pride, "It'll definitely be better than yours!"
"Tsk, tsk, that's impossible." Draco looked at him disdainfully and said, "I bought the most expensive one, and Kyle promised that my number would be the earliest. Even if you get the same type, yours will only come after mine."
"You... hmph!" Blaise felt a tightness in his chest. He glared fiercely at Draco before turning to leave.
Draco remained completely unfazed, watching him go with the posture of a victor.
At that moment, a lamp appeared above their heads.
"First years! First years over here! Harry, are you alright?"
Hagrid's enormous figure appeared on the platform, taking all the first-years away, just as he had done the previous year.
As for Kyle and the others, they headed to the other side of the platform. As second-years, they needed to take carriages to Hogwarts.
On a rough, muddy path stood over a hundred empty carriages. They were pulled by thestrals, though most people couldn't see them.
Kyle couldn't see them either. He had almost had such an opportunity before, with that werewolf at St. Mungo's, but the person's life force had been too strong, and the healers had saved them in the end. Being half-dead clearly wasn't enough to see thestrals.
He walked up to a carriage and, guided by instinct, patted its skeletal head. The thestral gently nuzzled him in return.
After they boarded the carriage, the thestral carried them toward Hogwarts Castle. The carriage smelled faintly of mildew and straw, somewhat like a broom closet that hadn't been used for a long time.
The carriage drove toward two magnificent wrought-iron gates flanked by stone pillars, each topped with winged boars.
These boars weren't magical creatures; their image came from Rowena Ravenclaw's dream. In the dream, a flying boar had brought her to this patch of ground by the Black Lake, and afterward, Hogwarts Castle was built.
After passing through the gates, the carriage sped up along the road to the castle. Through the windows, they could clearly see the turrets and towers drawing closer.
Finally, the carriage came to a swaying halt. The young wizards climbed out, chatting excitedly about their journey as they ascended the stone steps toward the castle's oak doors.
Flaming torches illuminated the spacious, deep entrance hall. To the right, the doors to the Great Hall stood open; they needed to enter before the first-years arrived.
Kyle followed the crowd inside.
After two months away, he truly missed this place and gazed fondly at the enchanted ceiling. The weather was perfect today — cloudless, with stars shining brightly.
He had just reached the Hufflepuff table and hadn't even sat down when he heard a voice call out.
"Kyle, could you come over here for a moment?"
Kyle looked up in surprise to see Professor Sprout, the Head of Hufflepuff, waving to him from the high table.
"I'm coming right away, Professor."
He promptly replied and made his way through the crowded hall toward her.
"Did you need something, Professor?" Kyle asked.
"The Ministry of Magic sent some items here a while ago, saying they were compensation for the Forbidden Forest incident two months ago." Professor Sprout said with a smile, "I believe they're meant for you."
✭✭✭
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