Chapter 474: New Business Opportunities
Chapter 474: New Business Opportunities
To be honest, if given the choice, Kyle would rather not be a prefect. On the train to school, he would much prefer chatting in the compartments or playing a few games of Wizard's Chess instead of pacing up and down the corridors.
Fortunately, the students were cooperative, except for Fred and George, who were always up to mischief. The rest were relatively calm and well-behaved.
Finally, as evening approached, the Hogwarts Express slowed down and pulled into the dark Hogsmeade station.
The doors opened, and the sound of thunder rumbled in the air as heavy rain poured down, as if buckets of icy water were constantly being dumped on their heads.
Kyle put on his waterproof badge, and the others followed suit. Those without badges conjured umbrellas for themselves.
Everyone had their own way of staying dry... except for the first-years.
They had to follow Hagrid across the lake in this weather. As soon as they got off the train, they were led away.
"Oh, taking a boat ride in this weather isn't a pleasant choice," Cedric shivered. "I hope their first impression of Hogwarts won't be too dreadful."
They shuffled along with the crowd towards the carriages and Kyle hopped into the nearest one, with the others joining him.
After a moment, with a jolt, the carriage set off along the path to the castle, splashing through puddles along the way.
Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the large oak doors. The students ahead jumped out and rushed up the steps into the castle.
The entrance hall was lit with torches, creating a warm and inviting ambiance.
As Kyle walked in, he witnessed a water-filled balloon falling from the ceiling and bursting right above Ron's head, soaking him.
More balloons followed, causing chaos and panic among the students, who screamed and pushed each other in an attempt to escape the unexpected downpour.
"Peeves!" came an angry voice. "Get down here this instant!"
Professor McGonagall rushed out from the Great Hall, but the wet floor betrayed her, and she slipped...
Cats are known for their quick reflexes, and Professor McGonagall was no exception. She swiftly reached out and grabbed the person nearest to her by the neck, steadying herself just in time.
"Ouch... sorry, Miss Granger..."
"Cough... it's quite all right, Professor..." Hermione croaked, rubbing her throat.
For a fleeting moment, she thought she had seen her grandmother...
"Peeves, I am warning you!" Professor McGonagall shouted, her face growing sterner by the second.
Sticking his tongue out, Peeves threw the last few water balloons into the air and then zipped up the marble staircase, cackling as he went.
"All right, come along now." Professor McGonagall opened the Great Hall doors, ushering in the drenched students and muttering under her breath, "I wonder where Peeves got all these balloons, and why he hasn't run out of them yet after an entire holiday..."
Kyle cleared his throat softly and walked past Professor McGonagall without a word.
The Great Hall was as magnificent as ever, adorned with additional decorations for the start-of-term feast. The enchanted ceiling simulated lightning and thunder, causing some of the younger students to scream in fright.
Kyle and his friends took their seats at the Hufflepuff table.
Soon, the other tables were filled as well, and the hall buzzed with the sound of students catching up and sharing their holiday adventures.
The topic that dominated the conversations was, of course, the Quidditch World Cup. Those who hadn't attended the game eagerly inquired about the details, curious to know if it had been as thrilling as the newspapers claimed.
"Everyone knows that position is cursed. Not a single professor has lasted a full year so far..."
Suddenly, his eyes lit up.
"Have you noticed? Professor Snape doesn't seem to be here either."
He said excitedly, "Could it be that in addition to Defense Against the Dark Arts, we'll also have a new Potions master this year? Oh, that would be wonderful!"
"Perhaps he's just delayed," Kyle piped up, playing devil's advocate.
Snape was probably still busy dealing with Regulus' affairs and hadn't had the time to attend the start-of-term feast.
"Oh, must you always be such a buzzkill," Mike said with a sigh.
Just as he finished speaking, the doors to the Great Hall opened, and everyone immediately fell silent.
Professor McGonagall led a group of bedraggled first-year students into the hall.
"They look absolutely miserable," Cedric whispered.
The newcomers were soaked to the bone, and from their appearance, it seemed as though they had swum across the lake rather than taken a boat ride.
Kyle stroked his chin, thinking that he could discuss with Dumbledore the possibility of engraving some magic patterns on those small boats to create an invisible canopy to shield against the rain.
That way, situations like this wouldn't arise again.
The newcomers looked truly pitiful, and they didn't dare to make eye contact with those around them, merely lowering their heads and walking forward in silence.
As the Sorting Hat began its song, he immediately shared his idea with Connor.
"That's probably unlikely..." Connor whispered back, "Professor Burbage could easily do that, but so far, those boats remain unchanged."
"It's worth a try. Maybe Professor Burbage is just too lazy to bother..." Kyle said.
Connor thought about it, and it did seem to be the case. Every year, Professor Burbage would ask the headmaster if she could combine the classes for the fifth years so that she would have more time to travel.
No matter how one looked at it, she didn't seem like the type to waste time engraving magic patterns on boats.
"And we have the board of directors to back us up," Kyle continued, "Since Dumbledore won't have to pay for it himself, he has no reason to refuse."
Connor was convinced, and she nodded, "When are we going to talk to Headmaster Dumbledore about it?"
"There's no rush," Kyle thought for a moment, "As long as we do it before the end of the year when the new students arrive. How about Christmas or Easter? We'll have a two-week holiday then."
"Great!" Connor said.
Just then, the Sorting Hat's song came to an end.
"I have never yet been wrong.
I will decide upon the spot
If you belong in my house or not!
So put me on, and don't be afraid,
And I'll soon tell you where you'll be placed."
As the final word was spoken, the Great Hall erupted in enthusiastic applause.
Although Kyle hadn't listened to a single word, he joined in the applause.
Professor McGonagall unfurled a large scroll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she instructed the first-years.
"Stuart Ackley!"
A boy stepped forward, visibly shaking from head to toe, whether from nerves or the cold.
"RAVENCLAW!" the Sorting Hat shouted after a mere two seconds.
The Ravenclaw table burst into applause.
...
(End of Chapter)
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