Chapter 376: Beckoning Cats and Calling Dogs
Chapter 376: Beckoning Cats and Calling Dogs
On the morning before Halloween, almost all students in their third year and above gathered outside the gates, ready to depart for Hogsmeade.
Except for Harry, who stood alone in the entrance hall, watched closely by Filch as if he were a potential thief.
Being the only student in his year without a signed form, he naturally became the object of Filch's keen attention.
Soon, Professor McGonagall arrived, and the group began to set off.
Harry tried to feign nonchalance, bidding Ron and Hermione farewell with a casual tone.
"Don't worry about me, see you both at the feast later, have fun."
"You're staying here, Potter?"
Malfoy deliberately veered off his path to taunt him, "Too scared to pass by those Dementors?"
Harry ignored him and turned towards the marble staircase.
"Not being able to go to Hogsmeade, he'll miss out on a lot..."
Fred, bringing up the rear of the group, watched Harry's retreating figure and murmured, "He can't stay cooped up in the castle for all seven years, that's just boring."
"Yeah," George agreed emphatically, "we've got to help him out..."
"How?" asked Kyle, who was walking beside them. "Give him the Marauder's Map?"
"That's not a bad idea," Fred said. "After all, we've already marked the locations of all the secret passages. It wouldn't hurt to give it to Harry.
"But that would make our nighttime excursions less convenient..." George pondered, "The map we made last year wasn't bad, we just need to add the secret passages to it."
"But we have to make it discreet, in case Filch or a teacher finds it."
"What if we make it like the Marauder's Map... it only reveals its secrets with a password."
"That's what I'm thinking..."
As they discussed their plan, they soon arrived in the village of Hogsmeade.
At the sight of the pointed rooftops, Fred and George immediately forgot about Harry and rushed towards Zonko's Joke Shop.
Stink pellets, belching powder, and Fanged Frisbees... who cares about Harry?
Cedric intended to go to Dervish and Banges to purchase broom servicing tools, and Kyle decided to join him.
The owners of the shop were a pair of well-connected brothers who always managed to get their hands on novel trinkets.
As for Connie and Autumn, they were more interested in Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop.
The group agreed to meet at The Three Broomsticks in an hour and then parted ways.
Dervish and Banges was located at the far end of Hogsmeade, right next to the Hog's Head pub. Compared to the other shops, it appeared much smaller.
Kyle and Cedric pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The interior was stacked high with magical items, teetering precariously as if ready to topple over at any moment.
Kyle had only seen a similar arrangement in the room where the twins hid their merchandise in the Room of Requirement.
"Welcome..."
A blond wizard poked his head out from behind the counter. "What can I get you...?"
"Do you have any broom servicing tools?" Cedric inquired.
"Of course." The shopkeeper leaned out and, from amidst the stacked items, pulled out a square box.
His movement caused the entire wall to shake, startling Cedric, who quickly took a couple of steps back.
But the shopkeeper seemed accustomed to it and nonchalantly placed the box on the counter, opening it to reveal its contents.
"Nine Sickles for the pruning shears.
"The complete broom servicing kit is two Galleons, and I'll throw in a bottle of wood polish and a portable carrying case for free.
"Which will it be?"
"I'll take the kit, it's a better deal..." Cedric counted out two Galleons and placed them on the counter.
"Thank you for your business." The shopkeeper turned to Kyle. "And what can I get for you?"
"Actually, I have a question before that," Kyle said, pointing towards the door. "Is that dog outside yours by any chance?
"Of course not," he shook his head. "Truth be told, not many witches or wizards would choose a pure black dog as a pet."
"I reckon it must've wandered out from the Hog's Head next door," the owner continued, "The patrons there are always an odd bunch, and they bring all sorts of creatures with them."
As he spoke, the owner chuckled. "Remember that time a Runespoor snake slithered out? I could hear Madam Rosmerta's screams from here!"
"Seems like Madam Rosmerta doesn't fancy snakes with three heads then," Kyle remarked, withdrawing his gaze and asking nonchalantly, "Any new curiosities you've acquired lately?"
"You're in luck. Just got my hands on something nice yesterday," the owner replied, taking out a gray bead. "Mist-making gem... Crush it and it'll create a dense mist that won't dissipate for about two hours."
"Not even with a Wind-Making Spell?" Kyle inquired.
"Unless it's cast by Professor Dumbledore himself," the owner joked, "Otherwise, you'll find the mist swirling in place instead of being blown away."
Intrigued, Kyle asked, "How much?"
"Twenty galleons," the owner stated. "Might be a bit pricey, but this is something you'd only find in Wagadou. We barely managed to get our hands on three of these."
...
After some haggling, Kyle purchased all the mist-making gems for fifty-five galleons.
The owner only agreed to lower the price by five galleons but threw in a pair of anti-dementor glasses and a few irregularly shaped opals.
While Kyle suspected he was just trying to offload some unsellable stock, he wasn't about to refuse free gifts.
Half an hour later, the two left Dervish and Banges with their arms full of purchases.
The black dog from earlier was still lying by the door, its gray eyes scanning the young witches and wizards passing by on the main street, as if searching for something.
As Kyle walked past it, he suddenly stopped and, using his tongue, pushed up against his upper teeth...
"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"
Without hesitation, the black dog turned its head instinctively.
Sure enough, this trick worked on all dogs.
Kyle squatted down and raised a finger, "Sit!"
The dog's face showed a hint of human-like mockery, and it ignored him, shaking its tail and continuing to lie there.
"Pff..." Cedric covered his mouth with his hand.
He had been quite opposed to this dog earlier, as in the wizarding world, the image of a large black dog was an ill omen that all witches and wizards tried to avoid.
But now, seeing Kyle being mocked by a dog, he couldn't help but laugh... Yup, this was a good dog.
Kyle, however, didn't mind. He took out a packet of meat jerky and waved it in front of the dog, repeating, "Sit!"
This time, the black dog immediately straightened up, its front paws on the ground, tongue hanging out as it stared intently at Kyle's hand.
"Roll over..."
The black dog hesitated for a moment... until Kyle opened the packet.
The moment it smelled the strong aroma of meat, it rolled over without hesitation.
Kyle then tried out several other commands.
Run... Spin in a circle... Stay and jump... Jump through a hoop... Thomas twist...
The black dog performed each one flawlessly.
"Good boy!" Kyle praised, placing the meat jerky in front of the dog. "Eat up."
"It's so smart," Cedric exclaimed, crouching next to them. "It's as if it understands every word you say."
The black dog paused for a moment, then continued chewing the meat jerky as if nothing had happened.
(End of Chapter)
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