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Chapter 351: Nimbus 2000: Everyone Has Their Moment to Shine
Chapter 351: Nimbus 2000: Everyone Has Their Moment to Shine
The Leaky Cauldron, a well-known wizarding pub, marked the entrance to Diagon Alley.
Kyle visited this place once every year to purchase new books and school supplies like ink and parchment.
However, nothing much changed whenever he came, and this year was no exception.
The dim lighting, the well-worn tables, and the boisterous customers surrounding them remained the same as ever.
After Newt finished his Disillusionment Charm and returned to Dorset, Kyle made his way to the backyard, where he entered Diagon Alley.
He first went to Scribbulus Writing Instruments to buy a large quantity of parchment and ink before heading towards Flourish & Blotts Booksellers.
This year, he didn't need to purchase too many new textbooks. Apart from "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," he only needed to buy "Intermediate Runes: A Study Aid."
As he passed by Quality Quidditch Supplies, Kyle noticed a large crowd gathered there.
Everyone was pushing forward, trying to get a closer look at the window display, and amidst the crowd, Kyle spotted a familiar face—Harry Potter.
His head was clamped under the arm of a burly wizard, his face contorted, yet he seemed utterly oblivious, his green eyes fixed on the item in the window. From time to time, he wiped the corner of his mouth, wearing a very satisfied expression.
...It was rather sleazy, and a bit stupid-looking.
"Harry, what are you doing here!"
Kyle called out three times before Harry snapped out of his trance.
"Kyle!"
Harry reluctantly tore his gaze away from the window, a smile spreading across his face. "It's great to see you here. What a pleasant surprise."
"What were you looking at just now?" Kyle asked.
"The Firebolt!" Harry exclaimed, immediately lighting up with excitement as he proceeded to ramble on about how amazing the broomstick was.
"Streamlined design... ash wood handle, with birch twigs that have also been shaped for maximum aerodynamic performance...
And get this, it can accelerate from a standstill to one hundred and fifty miles per hour in ten seconds! It's the fastest broom in the world!"
Harry could go on all day about how fantastic the Firebolt was.
Kyle, however, wasn't quite as enthused.
The Firebolt was indeed impressive, but his Nimbus 2000 was no slouch either.
Moreover, when the Nimbus 2000 had first hit the market, it had also been the fastest broom in the world, and the same could be said for the earlier Cleansweep 150.
So, in a way, everyone had their moment to shine.
"I'm heading to Flourish & Blotts to buy my new textbooks. What about you? Do you want to keep staring at the Firebolt, or shall I suggest you go inside the store? You can take a closer look without spending any money." Kyle offered.
"No, that's alright. I've been staring at it for days now... In fact, due to certain circumstances, I've been staying in Diagon Alley for quite some time," Harry shook his head. "I'm actually looking for Ron and Hermione. They should be arriving soon as well."
"In that case..." Kyle pointed to a spot not far from them, at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, "Are those two over there Ron and Hermione?"
"Huh?" Harry turned around.
Even though he could only see their backs, he instantly recognized them. The two buying ice cream were indeed Hermione and Ron.
"Hermione! Ron!" He called out excitedly.
The two turned around, equally surprised.
"Harry!"
"Kyle!"
Ron waved and rushed over excitedly. "It's good to finally see you. We went to The Leaky Cauldron, but they said you had left. We even looked for you at Flourish & Blotts and Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, but we couldn't find you."
Before long, Hermione joined them, holding four large ice creams in her hands.
"Thanks." Kyle took one of the ice creams and took a bite.
It was almond chocolate flavored and tasted pretty good.
As they ate their ice creams, the group strolled forward aimlessly, chatting along the way.
Inevitably, the topic turned to Harry's situation.
"So, Harry, you really inflated your aunt?" Hermione asked in a serious tone.
"I didn't mean to," Harry said. "I was just too angry and lost control for a moment."
Ron burst out laughing beside him.
"This is no laughing matter, Ron," Hermione said sternly. "Honestly, I'm surprised Harry wasn't expelled.
You should know that any young wizard who uses magic outside of school more than once will be expelled. And Harry was already warned last year."
"I'm puzzled as well," Harry said. "Fudge just told me to stay here, and there were no other punishments. I wonder why he let me off the hook."
"Maybe it's because it's you... the famous Harry Potter," Ron shrugged and laughed softly. "I shudder to think what would happen to me if I inflated my aunt.
But first, they'd have to dig me out from underground because Mom would have buried me alive by then."
Having said that, Ron couldn't help but laugh again.
Hermione and Harry joined in the laughter.
Nonetheless, the fact that Harry wasn't expelled and didn't face any serious punishment was undoubtedly the best outcome.
The group walked a little further and soon arrived at Flourish & Blotts, the bookstore.
Kyle went in to buy his new textbooks while the others headed to the pet shop a few dozen meters away.
Hermione wanted to get herself a pet, and Ron decided to check on his pet rat.
"Last year, Scabbers was like this too, getting thinner and gloomier every day," he said, holding the rat in his hands. "I thought taking him out might cheer him up, but it looks like he's still a bit homesick."
After parting ways at the entrance, Kyle stepped into the bustling Flourish & Blotts.
This year, there was no fighting inside the bookstore, but there were dozens of copies of Monsters and Their Monsters—these books were aggressively tearing at each other, as if engaged in a fierce wrestling match, and shredded paper was scattered everywhere.
A shop assistant, wearing thick gloves, was trying to separate the books with a large, knobby walking stick, all the while scolding them.
"Hello...if you want to buy those books, you might have to wait a moment while I get them under control... Cut it out! Don't bite it!
Damn it, I'm never stocking these again, never! What a mess!"
"It's alright, I already have that book," Kyle said.
"Oh, thank goodness," the assistant sighed in relief. "I've been bitten five times today already... So, what can I get for you?"
"I need Intermediate Runic Symbols Explained," Kyle replied.
"Ah, delving into the ancient Runic language, are we?" The assistant removed his gloves and found the book Kyle needed from a corner of the store.
"Not many people buy this one; it's a challenging subject. But it's undoubtedly an excellent guide, very comprehensive."
He handed over the book. "That'll be two galleons, please."
(End of Chapter)
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