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Chapter 166: Preferably, a Fish in the Black Lake
Chapter 166: Preferably, a Fish in the Black Lake
The Quidditch fever at Hogwarts persisted for a long while, and soon, all the related books in the library were borrowed, with the queue for borrowing extending all the way to after Christmas.
"I should have come earlier," Harry muttered in frustration at the second-floor library entrance.
His special training session was scheduled for seven o'clock tomorrow evening, and he had intended to read up and learn more about the subject beforehand.
However, Librarian Madam Pince informed him that all the books were already checked out, and if he wanted to read them, he would have to wait until after the Christmas holidays.
But Christmas was still several months away; that was a long time to wait.
"It can't be helped," Ron said with a laugh. "Everyone's talking about Quidditch these days. You'll be laughed at if you don't know anything about it."
As he spoke, Ron unconsciously raised the corners of his mouth.
Thanks to his knowledge of Quidditch and the fact that he had two brothers on the house teams, he had been particularly popular these past few days, always surrounded by a group of young witches and wizards wherever he went.
This feeling of being the center of attention was something he had never experienced before.
"Why don't we ask Hermione?" Harry suggested tentatively. "I remember she has a copy of 'The Magical Game of Quidditch.' I'm not sure if she's returned it yet, though."
"Let's not," Ron said, his smile fading at the mention of that name.
He frowned and said glumly, "She hasn't talked to us much since that day we came back from the fourth floor. And everyone in Gryffindor knows that Hermione never keeps library books for more than three days."
Harry now remembered... Indeed, that was true about Hermione.
Since the first day of school, she had always carried two books with her—one was the textbook for class, and the other was a book she had borrowed from the library.
It wasn't for show; she genuinely read them.
Additionally, during their time in the common room, she rarely interacted with the other young witches and wizards, choosing instead to sit quietly in a corner and read.
Somehow, word had gotten around that she returned the library books she borrowed every three days and exchanged them for new ones.
Before, Seamus Finnegan had even confidently bet the two boys that she wouldn't last a month.
However, based on the current situation, it seemed he would lose that bet. If Hermione exchanged her book for a new one tomorrow, he would have to buy a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans for everyone in the dormitory.
Harry didn't care about a box of candy, but he still couldn't figure out how Hermione could finish reading a book in just two or three days.
For him, even finishing a book in two weeks was a challenging task.
"Oh well," Harry sighed.
To be honest, he was also a bit afraid to face Hermione. The invisible aura of a top student always made him nervous.
"Why don't we ask Kyle?" Ron suddenly suggested. "Fred and George mentioned that he has books about Quidditch, and not just one, either."
Harry was intrigued but still hesitated. "But I don't know Kyle. Do you think he'll lend me the books?"
"Don't worry, I've got your back," Ron said, patting his chest. Then, he grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him downstairs.
"We won't know if we don't try... Come on, let's go find him now."
The two searched all over the castle, from the classrooms in the basement to the Astronomy Tower, but they couldn't find Kyle.
...
"So, you're looking for me to borrow Quidditch books?"
By the Black Lake, Kyle looked at the breathless duo and asked, "Aren't there books in the library? The collection there is much richer than mine. You can just go and borrow them."
"They're all checked out," Harry panted, a little nervously. "Madame Pince said we'd have to wait until after Christmas to get our turn."
On their way here, Ron had offered to borrow the books for Harry, but he thought it would be better to ask in person.
After all, he was the one truly interested in reading the books, not Ron.
"Are Quidditch books that popular now?"
Seeing Harry's nervous expression, Kyle didn't say much else and simply took out his wand.
"Accio Quidditch Through the Ages!"
Soon enough, a thick book flew through the air in an arc and gently landed in Kyle's hand.
"You can start with this one."
Kyle handed the book to Harry. "It has some flight guidance that's more suitable for beginners like you."
"Th-thank you!"
Harry quickly took the book. "I'll return it to you as soon as I can."
Kyle waved his hand. "Don't worry about it. I don't need this book right now, so take your time."
After Harry thanked him again, the two boys returned to the castle.
After they left, Kyle turned to Fred and George, who were standing next to him, and asked curiously, "What's wrong with you two?"
Ron had proactively greeted them when they first met, but the twins acted as if they hadn't heard him and didn't even turn their heads.
That was a bit abnormal.
Although Fred and George liked to tease their little brother, they had never ignored him before. Usually, they would at least give a perfunctory response.
"It's nothing, we just don't feel like talking to him," Fred sighed.
"We used to think Ron wasn't very smart, but we never imagined he could be this foolish," George added.
"Well..." Kyle seemed to sense that there was some gossip to be had.
"Do you remember when we met them on the fourth floor last time?" George asked.
Kyle nodded. Not only did he remember, but he had also witnessed the incident himself.
"We made some inquiries," Fred said. "They went to the fourth floor because they agreed to a wizard's duel with Malfoy."
"A wizard's duel?" Cedric interjected, "Slytherins wouldn't easily issue a wizard's duel, that's obviously a trap."
"Who wouldn't know that?" George shook his head. "Doing it during curfew, in the most easily discovered location, the fourth floor... Even a goblin could tell it's a trap."
"And Ron actually believed it..." Fred trailed off.
"Merlin's beard, is he really a Weasley?"
"Well..." Cedric opened his mouth as if to say something in Ron's defense, but he didn't know what to say.
After all, Charlie, Percy, and the twins were all quite intelligent, and in comparison, Ron didn't seem very bright.
"Even the fish here have more sense..." Fred shook his fishing rod, "He's dumber than the fish in the Black Lake!"
(End of Chapter)
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