Chapter 281: Conflict and the Unpredictable Snape
Chapter 281: Conflict and the Unpredictable Snape
It was hard for anyone who stepped into Honeyduke's to leave empty-handed.
Kyle and his companions, their pockets stuffed with treats after purchasing a plethora of candies, bid farewell to the sweet shop.
They continued down the main path, making their way to the Three Broomsticks for a refreshing glass of butterbeer.
Fred and George stayed true to their word and paid for Kyle...
Though what Kyle was most concerned about was another matter entirely, one that Fred and George deftly sidestepped, claiming they weren't quite ready yet.
Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick were also at the Three Broomsticks, engaged in cheerful conversation with Madam Rosmerta.
Before Professor McGonagall sat a small glass of violet water, while Professor Flitwick enjoyed a cherry soda with ice and an umbrella.
Though they didn't seem to notice Kyle's group, it still felt a tad awkward being in the presence of professors.
Fred and George, especially, kept sneaking glances at Professor McGonagall... or perhaps it was Madam Rosmerta who had captured their attention.
The well-endowed and striking pub owner was quite popular among the students of Hogwarts.
After hastily downing their butterbeers, the group returned to the streets.
They also stopped by Twilfit and Tatting's, Wizarding Wear to help Qiu choose a thick cloak with white fur trim.
Most of the time, Qiu and Connor did the selecting, with Kyle and the others merely nodding in agreement when asked for their opinions.
Cedric tried to offer suggestions, but his ideas were met with headshakes not just from Qiu, but even Fred and George.
While Qiu was a Seeker, it didn't mean she wanted a cloak that was entirely golden...
Aside from the color being too eye-catching, the cloak was also an adult size, and when Qiu tried it on, she looked like a walking, golden Snitch.
From then on, Cedric's input was politely ignored, a decision unanimously agreed upon by all.
As they passed by Madam Puddifoot's, they caught a glimpse of Harris through the window, deep in conversation and laughter with a pretty girl who had long, chestnut-colored hair.
"Oh... now I understand why Harris rushed here so early in the morning," Cedric muttered.
"It's understandable," Kyle smiled. "This is definitely more important than a Tri-Wizard Captain."
Madam Puddifoot's was a haven for dates, and most Hogwarts couples would inevitably find themselves here.
There was no need to elaborate on the relationship between Harris and the young lady.
"Oh, I remember..."
Qiu suddenly spoke up. "That's Livvy Cornfoot, a seventh-year and Head Girl of Ravenclaw.
No wonder she looked so familiar. She changed her outfit and did something different with her hair today."
The group lingered by the window for a while, and Fred and George suggested going inside to feign a coincidental encounter.
However, Connor and Qiu vehemently opposed the idea.
"Trust me..." Qiu said seriously. "If you go in there and cause a ruckus now, Harris will definitely use your heads as goal posts during the Quidditch match.
Your choice: your heads or the Bludger?"
"Don't worry, I've got your back." Kyle patted his chest valiantly. "I'll keep passing the Quaffle to him..."
"And me..." Cedric muttered softly.
"Then the Bludger, definitely..." Fred forced a laugh. "Hey, mates, I'm just joking."
"Also, Mr. Diggory, don't forget you're not supposed to talk..."
George glanced at Cedric out of the corner of his eye. "What's a Seeker doing getting involved anyway? As if you could ever get close to a Bludger."
Cedric pouted but remained silent.
At noon, the group returned to Hogwarts.
While Hogsmeade had its eateries, the food couldn't compare to the fare back at the castle.
More importantly, they'd have to pay for it...
By midday, the novelty of the "Visiting Day" had mostly worn off, and the group decided to head back to Hogwarts ahead of schedule.
"What happened this morning...?" Qiu whispered, "I feel like they're about to start dueling any moment now."
"I don't know," Fred shook his head.
"Let's go find out."
The two quickly dashed towards the Gryffindor table and located their good friend, Jordan Li.
With most students off to Hogsmeade, there were plenty of empty seats at each table, and the remaining students sat wherever they pleased, regardless of house affiliations.
Soon enough, Fred and George returned.
"Oh, we really shouldn't have gone to Hogsmeade!" Fred lamented. "I can't believe we missed out on all the excitement."
"Get to the point..." Qiu urged impatiently, "What happened?"
"Our team got into a fight with the Slytherins on the Quidditch pitch," George explained, "all because of that Malfoy."
"The second-year Slytherin?"
"Yes," Fred nodded, "His father donated seven Nimbus 2001 brooms to the school, and that's how he managed to get onto the team."
"Typical of them to throw Galleons at the problem," George remarked, glancing in the direction of the Slytherin table, where the students were holding their brand-new, sleek Nimbus 2001 brooms.
"I've seen Malfoy practice..." he continued, his voice grim, "His flying skills are mediocre at best. Without those brooms, he wouldn't stand a chance of making the team."
"And then what happened?" Cedric asked.
"Malfoy said something really offensive," Fred replied, "and that's when the fight broke out."
"You won't believe it..." George chuckled, "Our little brother Ron really showed him! He jinxed Malfoy to spew slugs for the entire morning!"
Qiu and Connor's faces suddenly turned grim, as the news was a bit too explosive for them to process. Cedric's eyes widened in surprise as well.
"We were just as shocked when we first heard about it..." Fred smiled, "We thought there must be another Ron in the school..."
"Never thought it would be our little brother!"
"Even though he ended up on the receiving end of a similar jinx and had to spend some time in the hospital wing, his actions were commendable."
"We've decided to share some of the candies we bought in Hogsmeade with him."
Kyle scanned the Great Hall.
Indeed, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Malfoy were all absent.
"So, what was the outcome? How did the professors handle it?"
"That's the strangest part," George said, stroking his chin thoughtfully, "Jordan told us that it was Professor Snape who dealt with the incident. At first, we thought he would severely punish Gryffindor... deduct a hundred points and put Ron in detention."
"But he didn't," Fred continued, "Instead, it was Malfoy who ended up in detention!"
"What?!"
The news was so unexpected that even Connor found it hard to believe.
"We asked three different people, and they all confirmed it," Fred said in a low voice, "Makes you wonder what's gotten into Professor Snape lately."
"Maybe he's trying to make up for past mistakes," Kyle remarked casually.
"What?" The others were confused by his comment.
"Never mind," Kyle shook his head, "Just a random thought. Don't mind me."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
