Chapter 503: Uncomprehending, Yet Respectful
Chapter 503: Uncomprehending, Yet Respectful
As Kyle left the room and returned to the common room, the cacophony of noise that assaulted his ears nearly caused him to stumble backward.
Before Kyle could even take a step, a dozen hands reached out and pulled him into the room... If the space at the entrance hadn't been so limited, there might have been even more people.
"Pop, pop, pop..."
Dozens of colorful streamers exploded in the common room, and everyone from Hufflepuff was screaming and cheering.
"Welcome back, brave warrior of Hogwarts!" someone shouted.
It was Fred and George, who had somehow snuck in and were now excitedly preparing to set off another streamer.
"You really did it!" Cedric squeezed his way through the crowd. "Professor Sprout was here earlier, dancing with joy. It was the first time I've ever seen her so excited."
"We've prepared some food and were just waiting for you." Fred said, "Honestly, having the kitchen right next door is so convenient."
"And Butterbeer..." George added, "The house-elves in the kitchen brought back three huge barrels of it from Hogsmeade in just five minutes."
Then, Kyle was once again pulled by the crowd to the tables that had been pushed together.
The tables were laden with all sorts of delicious food, almost as extravagant as a feast, and next to the tables were three barrels of Butterbeer that were almost as tall as him, enough for everyone to drink throughout the night.
Kyle really wanted to say that he had eaten his fill at the banquet and wasn't hungry at all, but no one listened to him.
Everyone surrounded him, constantly handing him Butterbeer, and each person wanted to know what the first task of the Triwizard Tournament would be.
"I don't know," Kyle said, "They didn't tell us anything. The only thing I know is that the competition will start on November 30th."
But there were too many people around, and some didn't hear his answer, so Kyle had to patiently explain it over and over again... This was the first time he realized that so many people could fit into the Hufflepuff common room.
Two hours later, Fred and George left, leaning on each other's shoulders and staggering slightly. Kyle also finally managed to free himself from the crowd and hurried back to his dormitory.
He really couldn't drink any more.
...
It was unknown how late the celebration lasted, but when Kyle woke up on Sunday morning, there were only a handful of people left in the common room.
The tables and floors that had been messy before were now spotlessly clean, not even a crumb of cookie left behind.
"You're awake. Do you want something to eat?" Connor opened a tray on the table, which had a few slices of bread, some ham, and a pitcher of pumpkin juice.
"Breakfast time is over, but I just got this from the kitchen."
"Thanks." Kyle said.
He stuffed the bread and ham into his mouth but didn't touch the pumpkin juice... The drink looked too much like Butterbeer, and just looking at it made his stomach churn.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" Worried that he might be surrounded again, Kyle decided to go outside and hide for a while after breakfast.
"Sure." Connor said.
The two of them walked through the barrel door and along the entrance hall to the grounds outside the castle.
Dumbledore's large ship was moored on the Black Lake, rocking gently with the waves. Kyle wondered if they would be able to get a good rest at night.
"Where are you going?" Connor asked.
"How about we visit Hagrid?" Kyle thought for a moment, "I think it's been a while since we last went to his hut."
"Good idea."
The two strolled leisurely across the grass, heading towards the Forbidden Forest.
As they approached Hagrid's hut on the edge of the forest, Connor suddenly asked, "Do you smell something?"
"It smells like alcohol..." Kyle said, looking around. He quickly identified the source of the smell.
"You're finally here," he said, feigning anger. "I thought you youngsters had forgotten where I lived."
"Of course not. We've just been busy," Kyle replied. "You know, it's our O.W.L. year, and we're swamped with homework."
"Well, well. It's a rare occasion to hear you complain about the workload," Hagrid said with a laugh. "By the way, congratulations on becoming a Triwizard champion. I knew it had to be you."
"Thanks," said Kyle. "What are you up to?"
"Preparing breakfast for these beauties," Hagrid said, pointing into the enclosure at the enormous Abraxan horses. "They only drink pure malt whiskey, so I had to make an early morning trip to Hogsmeade to get some."
"It's worth it, though... They're gorgeous, aren't they?"
"Yeah..." Kyle leaned against the fence, his eyes fixed on the magnificent creatures within.
Hagrid was right; these beasts were stunning, but it was a shame they belonged to Beauxbatons, and there weren't many of them...
Shaking his head, Kyle tore his gaze away.
Just then, Hagrid finished bringing in the last barrel. He opened it, and a strong smell of whiskey wafted out.
"That should do it," Hagrid said, clapping his hands together as he exited the enclosure. "That whiskey will keep them happy for the whole day."
"Do they only drink whiskey?" Connor asked.
"Of course not," Hagrid replied. "They also eat grass, and in the evenings, I bring them fresh rue leaves... That's what Madame Maxime told me, anyway."
Suddenly, Hagrid let out a mysterious laugh.
"What's so funny?" Connor asked, feeling that Hagrid was acting a bit odd today.
Especially with the way his hair seemed to be slicked with an excessive amount of hair oil, making it shine in a way that was... difficult to describe. Connor decided it was best not to comment.
"Oh, nothing," Hagrid said, his face turning a bit flustered. "Would you like some tea? Come on in."
With that, he quickened his pace, leading Kyle and Connor back to his nearby hut.
The interior was much as they remembered it—a huge wooden bed, a quilt patched together from scraps of fabric, and an equally large wooden table and chairs by the fireplace.
As Hagrid began preparing tea, Kyle noticed a piece of clothing hanging on the wall—Hagrid's best, and simultaneously most hideous, outfit: a fluffy brown coat.
Next to it hung a striped tie with yellow and orange bands.
Such a magical combination, Kyle thought, was something he had never seen anywhere else.
Connor had also noticed, and the two shared a mutual glance, wisely deciding to withhold any comments.
In fact, they had commented on it before, back when Hagrid had first become a professor the previous year. Kyle had repeatedly suggested that Hagrid buy a new set of clothes from the Fashionable Witch's Finery in Hogsmeade, as the shop owner had a good eye for matching styles to individuals.
But after all this time, Hagrid's favorite outfit remained this one, which he would proudly wear on important occasions.
Well, Kyle thought, I may not understand it, but as long as I respect it, that's what matters.
Besides, it wasn't as if those clothes were meant for us.
It wasn't easy for someone of Hagrid's towering height—over three meters tall—to find someone of similar stature. Fortunately, Madame Maxime of Beauxbatons was one such person, and she was even half a head taller than him.
Perhaps, as individuals of similar stature, they shared a unique sense of aesthetics and considered this combination attractive... It wasn't impossible.
...
(End of Chapter)
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