After breakfast, everyone gathered in the foyer.
The atmosphere in the castle was tense, and it seed like students were eager to escape its confines. This ti, an unusually large number of them were heading to Hogsade, forming a long line in the entrance hall. Filch, as usual, stationed himself by the oak door, ticulously checking off nas on his list while constantly scanning the surroundings with his Dark Magic Detector.
"What a waste of ti. So what if we take dark magic items out of school?" Mikel muttered irritably. "You should probably check what we're bringing in instead."
"Don't tell what to do," Filch grumbled, jabbing Mikel lightly with the detector.
Despite his grouchy retort, Filch seed to quicken the pace, and soon, the line moved forward until he reached Kyle.
Outside, a fierce wind howled across the grounds. The walk to Hogsade Village in such weather was far from pleasant. As soon as the students stepped outside, many began to shiver, their ears and cheeks quickly turning red from the cold. But staying cooped up in the castle wasn't an option anyone entertained. They hurried along, eager to reach Hogsade and settle into the warm, inviting atmosphere of The Three Broomsticks for a steaming mug of Butterbeer.
Not everyone rushed, though. Kyle and Kanna, for instance, walked leisurely, unaffected by the harsh conditions thanks to the warm badges pinned to their chests. These badges were enchanted with waterproof and moisture-proof spells, shielding them from the biting wind and drizzle. As they strolled along the path, they chatted casually, their pace unhurried.
It seed precautions had been taken beforehand, as the streets of Hogsade were unusually quiet. For safety reasons, the usual crowd of visiting wizards had vanished, leaving only Hogwarts students to wander the streets and explore the shops.
"Oh, Kyle, look over there," Ryan suddenly said, pointing toward a shop nearby. "Zonko's is closed."
Kyle turned to look. Sure enough, the door of Zonko's Joke Shop, which stood near the village's entrance, was firmly shut. A group of students had gathered near the crack in the door, trying to peer inside.
"It's really closed. There's no one in there," Kyle observed.
"What a bumr—I was hoping to buy so exploding bees," soone nearby groaned.
"Forget it. You couldn't take them back even if you bought them," another student chid in. "Don't forget Filch is still checking everything at the castle door."
"Maybe I could hide them sowhere first..."
The group lingered for a mont before dispersing. With Zonko's locked up tight, there was no reason to stick around. Instead, they decided to explore the rest of the village, chatting as they made their way further into the streets of Hogsade.
...
Luckily, the popular Honeydukes candy store was still open.
The small shop buzzed with excitent as students sward the shelves, waving Galleons in the air like locusts descending on a field. In just minutes, the large bucket of jelly beans by the doorway was already half empty.
"Hey, you guys, save so for !" Mikel couldn't hold back any longer and strode toward the shop.
"Kyle, do you need anything?" Ryan asked, pausing after taking a few steps. "How about Mixed Beans and Chocolate Frogs? Those are always the most popular."
"No, thanks," Kyle shook his head.
"Are you sure?" Ryan gave him a look. "I don't think I'll have many chances to co to Hogsade again, so I'd better make the most of it and stock up..."
"That's true, but really, I don't need anything," Kyle said firmly. "I still have plenty of sweets at ho, and you all know that. Honestly, I don't need any more."
Kyle hadn't set foot in Honeydukes for years now. The reason was simple: every Christmas and birthday, he was inundated with sweets and chocolates. Even when he gave so away as gifts, there was always more left than he could finish. Spending money on even more candy seed pointless.
"We should try sothing different anyway," Ryan said as he followed Mikel into the shop. "We don't want to keep taking your stash!"
Kyle and Kanna didn't linger either. With most of the crowd at Honeydukes, they decided to head to The Three Broomsticks early to snag a good spot. On a day like this, the thought of a steaming mug of Butterbeer was too tempting to resist.
When the pair reached The Three Broomsticks, the wind howling behind them, they suddenly noticed a few familiar faces.
The unmistakable red hair gave them away instantly.
"Fred? George?" Kyle asked tentatively.
At the sound of their nas, the twins turned their heads.
"Ha! We were just wondering if you'd show up," George said, waving with a grin.
"I didn't think you'd actually appear right after I said that," Fred added, smiling. "Hey, Kanna, how's seventh year treating you?"
"Not bad," Kanna replied. "What are you two doing here—drinking?"
"Hardly," Fred sighed. "We don't have ti for fun right now. There's way too much going on at the Ministry."
"We've tried to quit more than a few tis," George chid in, "but we never seem to find the right mont."
"We could quit, but then all the work would fall on Dad," Fred explained. "He's already swamped as it is, barely makes it ho before midnight most nights."
"So what are you doing here, then?" Kyle asked.
"Tracking down a guy who's been selling fake amulets," Fred said. "We heard he might be hiding in Hogsade."
"You probably know him too—Mundungus," George added with a grimace.
"Mundungus Fletcher? From the Order of the Phoenix?"
"Who else would it be?" George muttered through gritted teeth. "Now I understand why Mum can't stand him. Sure, he gets us what we need, but he also causes a mountain of trouble."
"So, did you find him? Need any help?" Kyle offered.
"Nah," Fred said, shaking his head. "Looks like he got wind of us and bolted." He pushed open the door to the pub. "But since we're here, how about a drink? It's on us."
"In that case, I'll take the most expensive one," Kyle quipped.
"Don't even think about it. It's Butterbeer," George shot back, though his eyes flicked toward Kanna. "Of course, you're free to order whatever you like," he added with a mischievous wink at Kyle.
Kyle didn't rise to the bait. Instead, the mont they stepped inside, he ordered Kanna the most expensive drink on the nu—Ogden's Old Firewhisky.
The price—ten Galleons per glass—made both twins' faces twist in exaggerated agony.
"You're not going to back out now, are you?" Kyle asked innocently. "But no worries, I can cover it myself."
"Ha! Not a chance," George snapped, pulling out ten neatly stacked gold coins and slamming them onto the bar. "This one's on ."
"Then I'll thank you both on Kanna's behalf," Kyle said cheerfully, handing her the glass of golden ad.
"What luck," Kanna laughed, watching Kyle's smug grin and the twins' theatrical grimaces. "I didn't think anyone would actually buy a drink!"
"Don't pretend, you're both on double salary. Can't you afford ten Galleons?" After the group found a place to sit, Kyle ordered three more Butterbeers. "What's the situation like out there?"
"Not good," Fred sighed. "We see the Dark Mark almost every day. It's making people panic."
"Any movent on the Auror front?"
"They did catch a few Death Eaters, but they were all low-level operatives, not very useful," George said. "By the way, do you know Stan Shunpike?"
"The bus conductor on the Knight Bus?" Kyle asked.
"That's the one," Fred confird. "He was arrested too, just this morning, on charges of involvent with Death Eater activities."
"Wait, there must be a mistake..." Kanna looked up. "He's just a bus conductor, how could he be a Death Eater?"
"We don't think so either," George replied. "But this is what Stan himself admitted."
"And it was in a pub, in front of at least a dozen wizards. Aurors received several letters reporting it."
"And Gulra, a Goblin, was also found to have been in contact with Death Eaters many tis. But Gringotts insisted it was just normal trading business."
"But I don't think so. If it was a transaction, why not choose Gringotts? Why do it outside? I guess they were probably worried that the Goblin's collusion with the Death Eaters would affect the reputation of Gringotts."
As the group chatted and drank Butterbeer, Kyle noticed they kept glancing out the window, as if looking for soone.
There was another reason for this: the brown-haired wizard sitting in the doorway.
They didn't turn their heads again until Harry, Hermione, and Ron walked into The Three Broomsticks.
"By the way, you're not still responsible for protecting Harry, are you?" Kyle asked quietly.
"How did you know?" Fred was taken aback.
"A guess," Kyle shrugged.
"Well, there's no need to hide it," George said. "The Ministry really couldn't spare any staff... plus, we were going to Hogsade anyway, so it's kind of helping."
"So you dared to co for a drink just now?"
"It's okay, there are Aurors. We're just helping."
"The wizard sitting at the entrance?"
"How do you know?" Fred was even more surprised. He began to suspect that Kyle had been at the Ministry of Magic these past few days instead of at Hogwarts.
"Is that so hard to guess?" Kyle said calmly. "I've never seen a wizard with a full beard before who cos to a bar and orders a juice soda."
"Okay, she's actually Tonks," Fred admitted. "It's so obvious, no wonder Dad made us co and help."
"Fred, George!"
Ron, who had just entered, noticed them as well.
"What are you doing here?"
"We ca to let you know that Hogwarts is on holiday tomorrow," Fred said. "Mum and Dad asked us to co and get you."
"What? Hogwarts is on holiday?" Ron froze. "But Professor McGonagall never told us anything about it!"
"Seriously," George patted Ron on the shoulder, "sotis we really don't want to admit you're our brother. It's practically a stain on our intelligence."
Ron imdiately realized that what Fred and George had just said about Hogwarts being on holiday was just a tease.
He was so angry his face turned red, glaring at them. But Fred and George didn't care at all and continued chatting with Kyle as if nothing had happened.
Harry and the others saw this and sat down at a nearby empty table.
To be honest, it felt quite strange to run into forr classmates in Hogsade.
Ten minutes later, the door opened again. This ti, it was Slughorn, who looked like a giant walrus in his oversized fur hat and matching coat.
It was a good thing The Three Broomsticks was spacious, or he probably wouldn't have been able to get in.
"It's cold out, Rosrta, give a cup of that ad."
"Oh, no..." Harry quickly ducked his head when he saw Slughorn and tried to hide under the table. It was a good idea, but Slughorn noticed him anyway.
"Harry, boy," Slughorn said, striding over, his smile widening when he saw that Kyle and Kanna were there too. "You've already missed a few of my small dinner parties, and that's not good. You must co and see for yourselves. Miss Granger loves these evenings." He sat down directly in the empty seat at Harry's table.
"How about tomorrow night? You can't still be busy then?"
"I... I..." Harry stamred, struggling to find the words, while frantically thinking of an excuse to turn down the invitation. Ever since he'd been surrounded by seven or eight people doing howork, Harry had been avoiding Slughorn. He'd rather face a vat of Flobberworms than attend one of those dinner parties.
"Sorry, Professor," Kyle said calmly, his expression unchanged. "There's just so much going on at the Ministry of Magic." He pointed at Fred and George. "Even if they co to Hogsade for the weekend, they can't escape and my work reports."
"You work for the Ministry of Magic?" Slughorn asked, looking at the Weasley brothers.
Although they didn't understand what Kyle ant, Fred and George imdiately nodded in agreent.
Slughorn's attitude shifted instantly, and he greeted the two of them warmly, but that was about it.
"I'm afraid I can't either," Kanna added. "Professor Snape has confined to my room for a month, and I can't go anywhere during that ti."
"What?" Slughorn nearly jumped out of his seat, so excited. "How could Severus do that? Doesn't he know how talented you are in potions?"
"A month in solitary confinent? Goodness, how could he bear it... No, I have to go and talk to him."
With that, Slughorn didn't even drink the ad that had been poured for him. He hurried out of The Three Broomsticks in a rush.
"What's going on? Is that the new Potions professor?" Fred asked curiously, clearly having heard about the changes in Hogwarts' staff this year.
"Yes, Horace Slughorn, the professor who likes to throw dinner parties," Kyle replied, giving a brief summary of his infamous Slug Club and his penchant for hosting such events.
This was a shock to the twins, who hadn't expected the professor to be so... unusual.
"By the way, does he know about Kanna and Snape?"
"Apparently not," Kyle said. "But that's a good thing, because it'll get Kanna out of those boring dinner parties."
If Kanna didn't want to go, she could be confined to her room for the entire term. Even Dumbledore's pleas wouldn't change that, let alone Slughorn's.
"Ron..." George turned his head, looking at him aningfully. "I noticed he didn't invite you just now. Was that a coincidence? Or an oversight?"
Ron's face turned red again.
In fact, Slughorn had never paid any attention to him. Every ti they t, he only spoke to Harry, treating Ron like an invisible ornant.
"I envy Ron," Harry said, trying to break the tension. "His parties are a real torture."
"Yeah," Hermione nodded. "It's really not very pleasant."
Ron's expression softened slightly, and he muttered sothing under his breath, but no one could hear what he said.
After a while, everyone else resud their conversations, but after finishing their Butterbeer, Kyle and Kanna decided to head ho.
Harry and the others felt the sa way. The weather outside was getting worse, and they all preferred the warmth of the common room to the cold.
They got up and walked toward the door.
At that mont, two Gryffindor girls at a table nearby also stood up.
"Wait, Kyle," they called after him as he walked out of the bar.
"What is it?" Kyle asked, turning around. He recognized one of the girls as Katie Bell from Gryffindor and a mber of the Quidditch team.
"This is for you," Katie said, walking over and holding out a package.
Kyle was a little puzzled. He didn't seem to rember having any connection with the girl. But when he looked at the package, his frown deepened.
Fred and George, who were standing next to him, reacted the sa way.
After all the ti they had spent working in the departnt that specialized in tracking down dark magic items and counterfeits, they could tell right away that sothing was wrong with the package. The dark magic reaction was so obvious it didn't even try to disguise itself. Whatever was inside was definitely dangerous.
The two of them were about to say sothing when Kyle stopped them. He shook his head slightly and then looked at Katie.
"Who gave this to ?"
Katie didn't say anything, just nodded stiffly, her movents unnatural.
"The Imperius Curse!" A horrible thought suddenly popped into Fred's head. "Damn it, soone's used the Imperius Curse on a Hogwarts student!"
anwhile, Kyle, after a mont's hesitation, slowly began to reach for the package. Fred's heart imdiately sank. He wanted to warn Kyle, but quickly realized there was no need to. He ran towards Tonks, who was not far behind them.
George stayed where he was, watching nervously. His hand was already in his pocket, ready to pull out his wand at any mont.
However, just as Kyle's fingers were about to touch the package, a harsh voice suddenly ca from behind the group.
"Get out of the way, you disgusting Mudblood!"
It was Malfoy, who also seed to have just co from The Three Broomsticks, and unusually, wasn't accompanied by any followers.
Then, to everyone's surprise, he viciously pushed Hermione, who was standing in front of him.
Hermione didn't react in ti and stumbled into Katie, who also fell over, dropping the package in her hands.
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