Chapter 234: Be Prepared
Chapter 234: Be Prepared
As the dinner came to a close, Kyle casually glanced at where Chris and Diana had been seated... only to find that they had already left.
Soon, all the students returned to their respective dormitories, except for Kyle, who was asked to stay back.
The banquet was merely a part of the Order of the Merlin ceremony, and what came after was the main event.
"Care to join me for a cup of tea?" Dumbledore suggested with a smile.
"Of course, I could use a drink right about now," replied MacFay.
He nodded, "To be honest, there seems to be an enchanting charm about this castle. My appetite has improved since arriving here."
His earlier comment about leaving early had been in jest, and it was unlikely that Dumbledore would offer them, a bunch of old folks, a position as a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher... that was a job for the young.
"Albus, do you have any whisky? I'm quite in the mood for some," MacFay asked.
"How about some Firewhisky? I received a bottle just in time for Christmas," Dumbledore offered.
"That would be perfect."
...
The Headmaster's office on the eighth floor now featured a long table and several soft chairs with backrests.
On the table were various beverages, including steaming tea and whisky, mead, butterbeer, and lemonade.
These must have been recently purchased from the Three Broomsticks by the house-elves, who, unlike wizards, could use Disapparition within the castle.
The group sat down, chatting pleasantly while enjoying their drinks.
As the guest of honor, Kyle was the main topic of their conversation.
Though Fudge tried several times to steer the discussion elsewhere, Dumbledore subtly redirected it back to Kyle, much to the former's chagrin.
Kyle understood his intention.
On their way up to the eighth floor earlier, Dumbledore had whispered to him that this was a rare opportunity to mingle with renowned witches and wizards beyond the school, which could greatly expand his network.
Kyle was well aware of the importance of networking in the wizarding world. After all, it was Dumbledore's connection with Nicolas Flamel that allowed him to borrow the Philosopher's Stone as bait.
The Malfoys were another example. Their influence extended far and wide due to their intricate web of connections within the Ministry of Magic, even though it was held together by gold Galleons and could fall apart at the absence of this vital currency.
Nonetheless, it was undeniable that this web of connections kept the Malfoys afloat, helping them navigate the troubles of their business and personal lives, despite their reputation as suspected Death Eaters.
Even Mr. Weasley, whose position was seemingly insignificant, had cultivated strong relationships within the Ministry, including several heads of departments like Ludo Bagman (Head of the Department of Sports and Games)
, Bartemius Crouch (Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation)
, and Amelia Bones (Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement)
.
Chris, as his deputy, was not an exception.
A few days ago, Chris had mentioned in passing that Mr. Weasley was working on a new bill for the protection of Muggles and the stricter regulation of Dark artifacts, which seemed close to passing according to his tone.
The two parties hit it off instantly and enjoyed a pleasant conversation.
Everyone, that is, except for Fudge and Newt.
Fudge had other things on his mind. He believed that while Kyle had great potential, by the time he graduated from Hogwarts, Fudge's term would likely be over, and their paths would rarely cross.
Thus, Fudge was more interested in conversing with MacFay or Thicknesse, sharing his ideals and ambitions, hoping to leave a good impression.
As for Newt, it was simpler—he struggled with social anxiety.
The last time he had been in a room with so many people was over twenty years ago, so the current scenario was quite foreign to him.
Fortunately, this situation didn't last long.
As it was already quite late, their chat concluded in less than half an hour.
Newt was the first to leave the Headmaster's office.
MacFay and Babbling didn't move, as Dumbledore had offered them accommodations in the castle for the night, making it convenient for them to attend another ceremony for a different individual tomorrow.
The two gladly accepted.
For some reason, Fudge also stayed behind.
After leaving the Headmaster's office, Thicknesse departed for St. Mungo's... Her presence at the ceremony had been solely to support Kyle, and she didn't need to attend the investiture ceremony the next day.
After bidding her farewell, Kyle found Newt waiting for him at the turn of the staircase.
The two retreated to an empty room nearby, and Kyle said with some surprise, "I really didn't expect you to come."
"Didn't you write to me about needing help with some troublesome little beasts?" Newt asked.
Newt sighed. "As it happened, they invited me to join them at Hogwarts, and I accepted."
"So you came because of that?" Kyle inquired.
"Yes," Newt nodded. "Receiving the Order of Merlin is a cause for celebration, and I should be here for it. Oh, and Tina feels the same way."
"Thank you..." Kyle said sincerely.
Newt rarely attended gatherings of old friends, so for him to show up at an event with hundreds of people was quite a challenge for someone with social anxiety.
But Newt waved his hand, stopping Kyle from saying more.
"So, were the beasts you mentioned in your letter Nifflers?" Newt asked.
"Those little guys are indeed mischievous, and you need to be patient when dealing with them," Kyle acknowledged.
"No, not Nifflers," Kyle smiled. "They're adorable and not troublesome at all."
"Then what are they?" Newt asked, taken aback.
Aside from Nifflers, Newt couldn't think of any other magical beasts that Kyle might need his help with.
"They were smuggled and I took care of them for a while... Never mind, you'll see for yourself," Kyle said as he took out his trunk and placed it on the ground, opening it.
"But before you look inside, you should prepare yourself. They might be a little different from what you're expecting," Kyle added.
"Now I'm curious," Newt said with a laugh, shaking his head. But he didn't take Kyle's words to heart.
What kind of magical beast hadn't he seen before? He didn't think he needed any special preparation.
(End of Chapter)
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