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Chapter 143: Compensation from the Ministry of Magic
Chapter 143: Compensation from the Ministry of Magic
Finally, the train pulled into Hogsmeade station, and everyone disembarked, creating a chaotic scene. Owls hooted, cats meowed, and even toads joined in the ruckus, their croaks adding to the din on the small platform.
Just then, a lion-shaped firework suddenly exploded in the sky, instantly capturing everyone's attention.
"Bang!"
Another firework soared into the sky, leaving a long trail of sparks in its wake.
The young witches and wizards then noticed Fred, who was setting off the fireworks.
Under everyone's gaze, Fred calmly wrapped a piece of parchment with golden edges around a Filibuster firework and lit it.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang..."
A series of ten Filibuster fireworks exploded one after the other, forming lions, badgers, and fire dragons that ran and leaped across the sky before slowly fading away.
"Is this the Hogwarts welcome ceremony?" some excited first-years wondered aloud.
They had no idea what was going on and thought that Hogwarts was welcoming them with this dazzling display of fireworks.
It must be said that these fireworks were indeed spectacular, and the sight of the sparkling creatures in the sky helped ease the tension they had been feeling.
However, others had a different reaction.
"See, Zabini?" Draco Malfoy said triumphantly to a few first-years beside him. "I told you Kyle would destroy those maps. And you didn't believe me, ha..."
He let out a strange laugh, seemingly mocking their previous self-righteous remarks.
Next to him, a boy with a sprinkling of freckles across his nose frowned and stubbornly said, "Who knows if this is real or not? It could be a Transfiguration spell for all we know."
"Impossible!" Malfoy scoffed. "I trust Kyle. He received the Special Contribution Award from the school. He's not that kind of person."
"How would you know?" The freckled boy, Zabini, retorted with a pout. "Don't forget, those guys are second-years. This would be easy for them."
The two argued, each refusing to budge from their stance.
Just then, the tallest of the group, Crabbe, spotted something and reached out to catch a piece of parchment fluttering down from the sky.
"Draco, look at this," he said.
Malfoy, who had been engaged in a heated discussion with Zabini, turned around, and his eyes lit up at the sight.
"Aha!"
He excitedly grabbed the parchment fragment, pointing at the remnants of golden patterns. "Look at this; it's real gold. Do you still think it's a Transfiguration spell?
And..."
He brought his face close to a charred black spot on the fragment and took a deep sniff.
"I accidentally burned a hole in my family's unicorn tail-hair tapestry, and it smelled exactly like this."
Zabini's face reddened as if he had been slapped hard.
Seeing his expression, Malfoy became even more smug. He tilted his head back and said, "I know, you must be jealous because you can't afford a twenty-Galleon map, right?
Don't worry, I've inquired, and they still have a few Sickles-worth of maps left. Surely you can afford those."
"Who can't afford it?" Zabini snapped, his anger flaring. He could accept being wrong, but he refused to tolerate Malfoy's mockery.
So what if it was twenty Galleons? Was he implying that he, Zabini, couldn't afford it?
"Tsk tsk, that's impossible."
Malfoy glanced at him contemptuously and said, "I bought the most expensive one, and Kyle promised me that my number is the earliest. Even if yours is the same as mine, it can only be ranked behind mine."
"You... Humph!"
Zabini felt his chest tighten, and he glared at Malfoy angrily before turning and walking away.
But Malfoy didn't care at all and watched him leave with an air of victory.
At that moment, a lamp appeared above their heads.
"First-year students! First-year students over here. Harry, are you alright?"
Hagrid's massive figure appeared on the platform and took away all the new students, just like last year.
As for Kyle and the others, they walked to the other side of the platform. As second-year students, they would ride carriages to Hogwarts.
On a rough and muddy path were over a hundred empty carriages.
Thestrals pulled the carriages, though most people couldn't see them.
Kyle couldn't see them either.
There had been an opportunity before—with the werewolf from St. Mungo's, but his life force had been too strong, and he had been revived by the healers in the end.
One had to be close to death to see Thestrals.
Kyle walked up to a carriage and, relying on his sense of touch, patted its skeletal head.
The Thestral gently nuzzled Kyle in return.
Once they were seated in the carriage, the Thestral began pulling them toward Hogwarts Castle.
The carriage had a faint musty and straw-like smell, reminiscent of a broom closet that hadn't been used for a long time.
The carriage drove toward a pair of magnificent wrought-iron gates, with stone pillars on either side topped by winged boars.
These boars weren't magical creatures; their image came from a dream Rowena Ravenclaw once had.
In her dream, she had been brought to the edge of the Black Lake by a flying wild boar, and that was where Hogwarts Castle was eventually built.
After passing through the gates, the carriage accelerated along the road leading to the castle. Through the windows, they could clearly see the turrets and towers getting closer and closer.
Finally, the carriage came to a shaky stop.
The young witches and wizards disembarked, discussing their magical experiences while climbing the stone steps toward the oak front doors of the castle.
In the spacious and deep entrance hall, torches burned, and to the right, the doors to the Great Hall were open. They needed to enter the Great Hall before the first-year students arrived.
Kyle followed the crowd inside.
After two months, he really missed this place. He looked fondly at the magically enchanted ceiling.
The weather was nice today, with no clouds, and the stars shone brightly.
Kyle had just reached the Hufflepuff table and was about to sit down when he heard someone call out, "Kyle, can you come here for a moment?"
Kyle looked up in surprise and saw Professor Sprout, the Head of Hufflepuff House, standing at the staff table and waving at him.
"I'm coming, Professor," Kyle replied immediately, making his way through the crowded hall toward her.
"What is it, Professor?" Kyle asked.
"The Ministry of Magic sent some things here recently, saying it was compensation for the Forbidden Forest incident two months ago," Professor Sprout said with a smile.
"I think it's probably for you."
...
(End of Chapter)
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