https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-487-Every-Drink-is-a-Cheerful-Potion-Thank-you-to-Alliance-Master-Shenyuan-for-the-additio/12538827/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-489-All-of-These-Are-Gifts-from-My-Godfather/12538829/
Chapter 488: A Game of Portraits
Chapter 488: A Game of Portraits
By the time Kyle returned to Hogwarts, it was already evening.
That scoundrel Sirius Black had bought a bunch of things from Diagon Alley and asked Kyle to bring them back; one package was for Kyle, and the other was for Harry.
Perhaps it was because he could finally appear openly in the sunlight that Kyle felt Sirius was engaging in a bit of revenge spending.
Who in their right mind could spend over two thousand galleons in Diagon Alley?
And that pure gold crucible... Was it really for brewing potions? One would be heartbroken if it got so much as a scratch.
But what could he do? Sirius insisted on buying it, and there was no talking him out of it... What a spendthrift.
Just as when they had left, they reappeared with a pop from their Apparition journey, right inside the Headmaster's office.
"Hahahaha!"
As soon as Kyle returned, he heard a burst of excited laughter. But this laughter was so unpleasant, like that of a goose being pinched in the neck,
"Ahaha... Dumbledore, I heard it all from that old lady."
On the wall, the portrait of Phineas Black spoke proudly, "My great-grandson was acquitted, wasn't he... Hahaha... I knew it, there's absolutely no way the Black family could produce a traitor.
Those idiots in the Ministry of Magic couldn't even see through such an obvious frame-up, they're getting more and more incompetent... But this Minister isn't bad, at least he can tell right from wrong."
There was not a single person in the portraits around him, as everyone kept their distance, looking at him with a gaze that one would use to observe someone with an intellectual disability.
"Shut up, Phineas," said a wizard with a big beard, unable to hold back, "It's fine if you deceive others, but don't deceive yourself. How can you forget the way you cursed Sirius Black? Do you want us to remind you?"
"Yes..." A witch sneered, "You were so keen on cursing him back then, and now you dare to talk about others? You're shameless."
"Impossible," Phineas said stubbornly, his neck stiff, "I've said it many times, how could I ever suspect someone from the Black family!"
"Heh..." Everyone let out a cold laugh in unison.
At this moment, a thin and tall black-haired witch quietly approached Phineas from behind, holding a round shield that she had apparently snatched from somewhere.
Taking advantage of Phineas being engrossed in his speech, she raised her hand and slammed the shield onto his head.
"Who did you just call an old lady!"
Phineas was stunned by the blow and plopped down on his butt, taking quite a while to come back to his senses.
Upon seeing this, the others also rushed forward and joined in, punching and kicking him.
There was no particular reason for this; it was purely muscle memory. Beating up on Phineas in their free time had almost become the favorite pastime of the portraits.
A series of meaty thuds and the howls of someone in agony soon filled the Headmaster's office.
"Professor, your daily life here must be quite interesting," Kyle couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh, yes? It certainly is interesting." Dumbledore retrieved a piece of velvet cloth from the desk and walked towards the most boisterous portraits. "But sometimes they can be too loud.
By the way, weren't you going to find Harry? Go on, I believe the password for the common room is Gibberish."
"Alright." Kyle nodded and opened the door beside him, "Then, goodbye Professor, and Fawkes..."
The Headmaster's office wasn't far from Gryffindor's common room. One just had to walk straight down the corridor, turn at the end, and they'd arrive at their destination.
"Password!" Mrs. Norris inquired dutifully.
"You're not a Gryffindor; I've never seen you before."
It seemed that after last year's incident with Sir Cadogan, she had become much more cautious.
"I guess you must have found a piece of parchment with the password written on it and thought it would be fun to come here," she continued.
"Actually, I'm from Hufflepuff," Kyle explained, "but the password I got from the Headmaster himself. I just came from his office, and I'm looking for Harry Potter."
"The Headmaster?" The Fat Lady's suspicion softened a little, but she was still hesitant.
"Don't do anything against the school rules," she warned. "Otherwise, you'll never be able to pass through this door again."
"Rest assured, I have never broken any school rules," Kyle said with a smile.
"By the way, the other Headmasters are currently playing a game with Headmaster Black. If you hurry, you might still be able to catch them."
The Fat Lady's eyes lit up at this.
"My child, I take back what I said. You must be an excellent young wizard."
With that, she disappeared from the portrait, and the door swung open for Kyle.
He made his way through the passage behind the portrait.
It was the weekend, and the common room was bustling with activity.
Kyle scanned the room and soon spotted the familiar trio sitting at a table in the corner.
Hermione was doing her homework, while Ron and Harry were playing a game of Wizard's Chess and discussing ways to make themselves older.
"I think Ageing Potion is a good option," Ron said as he took one of Harry's pieces. "Fred told me he can brew it, and one bottle is just enough to add a year. It's a bit pricey, though—ten Galleons."
"Ten Galleons?" Harry exclaimed. "That's not cheap."
"But I am their brother, after all," Ron said proudly. "If I were to buy it, it would only cost me five Galleons. They said that's the cost of the ingredients; they're not making a Knut of profit. But I think that's fair... Checkmate!"
Ron directed his knight to the side of Harry's king before continuing, "It would be great if I could find a way to make some money. I don't even have five Galleons to my name right now."
"I can buy two potions," Harry offered as he moved his king one space. "Assuming... you don't expect any Christmas presents."
"That's fair," Ron agreed with a laugh. "Or, if I win the tournament, I'll have a thousand Galleons to pay you back with."
"Yeah," Harry said. "I hope we both become champions."
"That's impossible..." Hermione looked up from her book. "The book says that each school can only have one champion, and it has always been that way... Oh, Kyle, when did you get here?"
"Enough, Hermione," Ron interrupted, putting down his chess piece. "I know Kyle is excellent and has always been at the top of the grade, but that doesn't mean he'll definitely become a champion. I still have a chance."
"You misunderstood," Harry said, patting him on the shoulder and also putting down his chess piece. He stood up to greet Kyle, saying, "Welcome to the Gryffindor common room. Are you looking for Fred and George?
"But they've been in the entrance hall on the first floor since lunch and haven't come back. You can try looking for them there."
...
(End of Chapter)
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