Chapter 239: The Extravagant Journey
Chapter 239: The Extravagant Journey
Upon realizing that Fred and George were merely joking, Kyle finally handed Laton over to the two of them.
However, Laton remained cautious, keeping a watchful eye on them from mid-air.
"Hey, we were just kidding," Fred said awkwardly.
But Laton acted as if he hadn't heard a word.
"You shouldn't have said those things in front of the owl," Kyle said. "But it has agreed to help you deliver the items."
"What does it need to eat every day? Owl nuts?" George asked.
Errol didn't require owl feed or nuts, and if needed, they would have to purchase some from Diagon Alley.
"No need to feed it; it will find food on its own," Kyle instructed. "Just give it some clear water after it returns from delivering the items."
"I think it's better to buy some..." Fred smiled bitterly. "Consider it an apology."
"That's fine too," Kyle laughed.
In front of the owl, they had mentioned tailing another owl, so it was no wonder Laton was so cautious around them.
Not only Laton, but even Errol would likely ignore them for a few days.
...
"By the way, when are you coming back?"
Fred looked at Kyle's attic with a hint of nostalgia. "This week, we were caught making Rapid Escape Potion twice by Mom... It was a disaster."
"I'm not sure about that," Kyle replied after some thought. "Maybe just a day or two. I'm just visiting, so it shouldn't take too long."
"That's good. We have many new ideas we want to try..."
"At home, Mom would never allow it."
...
After sending Fred and George off, Kyle was about to return to finish his breakfast.
But as soon as he stepped inside, he noticed an unfamiliar figure in the living room.
And he recognized this person.
"Professor Dumbledore?"
Kyle asked subconsciously, "When did you arrive?"
"Just now, while you were chatting with Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore replied with a smile.
"Chris wanted to call you, but I thought it would be better to let you finish your conversation. After all, we're not in a hurry for what we need to do."
"Sorry, Professor, I wasn't paying attention," Kyle entered the room. "So, this time, you're here to pick me up?"
"I would love to take on this task, but due to some other trivial matters, I can't leave here for now."
Kyle nodded, not asking further questions.
He knew that Dumbledore wasn't there for a casual chat, and all he needed to do was wait patiently.
Kyle sat down and said half-jokingly, "It's not because of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor position, is it?"
"I have to say, you're really smart," Dumbledore sighed. "Finding a suitable professor is so difficult. I have to spend a lot of time on this every year.
These days, I visited some old friends, but they were almost never home. The few who were there didn't even open the door for me.
To be honest, this feeling is just terrible."
"It's only temporary, Albus," Chris said with a smile. "When you go back in September, it won't be like this. Would you like a cup of tea?"
He poured a cup of tea for Dumbledore, and Kyle handed over the nearby container of sugar cubes.
After drinking the tea, Dumbledore's tone became noticeably lighter.
"But these days weren't entirely unproductive. Doug recommended someone to me, and they seem quite interested in the position.
"Oh?" Kyle raised an eyebrow.
"This time, I assure you, it's not a Dark Wizard," Dumbledore emphasized. "He's quite famous in the wizarding world and, like you, a recipient of the Merlin Medal."
"I have no doubt about your judgment, Professor," Kyle said solemnly. "So, we already have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"
"Not quite yet," Dumbledore thought for a moment. "The new teacher requested a large quantity of new textbooks, and they don't come cheap. I've been hesitating, hoping to find someone else willing to take on the job."
"And if no one else does?"
"Then it will have to be him."
Dumbledore finished his tea and glanced out the window.
"Oh, it's about time," he said with a smile. "You might be staying there for quite a while, so are you all packed and ready?"
"Of course, Professor," Kyle patted his lizard-skin bag, which had been expanded with an Untraceable Stretch Charm.
The box Newt had given him when he left school now contained only ordinary cargo of similar size.
"So, is Fawkes going to take me there?" Kyle asked.
"That's one way," Dumbledore shook his head. "But I don't think you'd enjoy the phoenix's mode of travel. To be honest, it's a bit too crude for a wizard, even for me, to get used to."
"We have better options."
As he spoke, Dumbledore took out a fragment of a bright red stone and placed it on the table.
"The Philosopher's Stone?"
"It's a fragment of the Philosopher's Stone, Kyle," Dumbledore explained. "The stone itself has been destroyed and no longer possesses any magical properties. But we've found another use for it... as a key."
"It's amazing. A key made from a fragment of the Philosopher's Stone is incredibly stable and the best choice for long-distance travel."
Kyle's eyelid twitched.
Using a fragment of the Philosopher's Stone as a key... what's the difference between that and skipping stones with Galleons?
Tsk, no wonder he's a big shot who's lived for over six hundred years. So extravagant.
Dumbledore glanced out the window again.
"Are you ready, Kyle... You should know how to use the key, right?"
Kyle nodded and reached for the fragment of the Philosopher's Stone on the table.
A cool sensation spread from his palm.
"Oh, and this."
At that moment, Dumbledore suddenly remembered something and slipped an envelope into Kyle's pocket.
"Open it after you arrive in France..."
Kyle only heard this sentence before he knew nothing else.
He felt someone push him hard from behind, and then he was airborne.
In the blink of an eye, Kyle vanished from the living room, flying forward like a gust of wind, unable to see anything clearly.
This was Kyle's first time using the key, and unlike Apparition, the key seemed to pull him forward at an incomprehensible speed.
However, compared to the feeling of being stuffed into a tumble dryer during Apparition, this method was much friendlier.
Although it was still uncomfortable, at least it didn't have the nauseating dizziness that came with Apparition, and it was within an acceptable range.
After an unknown amount of time, Kyle suddenly felt his body lighten, and then he landed heavily on the ground.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
