https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-617-Extra-Credit-in-Potions-Class-/12538965/
Chapter 616: The Numerous Clubs of Hogwarts
Chapter 616: The Numerous Clubs of Hogwarts
After leaving Umbridge's office, Kyle hurried down the corridor towards the Great Hall.
It was already noon, and the Great Hall was filled with students having their lunch.
By the Hufflepuff table, the team members, including Cedric, were gathered, discussing the new recruits from that morning's tryouts.
Upon seeing Kyle, Cedric quickly shifted to the side, making room for him.
"How was your detention with Professor Umbridge? Did she give you a hard time?"
"What did Umbridge have you do?"
As Kyle sat down, his teammates bombarded him with questions.
"It was alright," Kyle replied after a moment's pause. "I had to write a sentence five hundred times."
"That's not too bad," Cedric commented.
"Yeah," Kyle nodded, "but five hundred repetitions are quite a lot. It took up ten rolls of parchment; it felt like writing an extremely long essay."
"At least it wasn't worse," Connor comforted him, sliding a plate filled with pies closer to Kyle. "Want some pie?"
"Thanks, I've been hungry for an hour," Kyle said, cutting off a piece and popping it into his mouth.
The beef pie, seasoned with onion and pepper, tasted delightful.
"By the way," he turned to Cedric, "how are the new team members this year?"
"They're average," Cedric replied. "We didn't find any exceptionally talented players this time. The only decent one is a third-year goalkeeper.
"There's also a fifth-year, Froepadwei, who flies well, but she doesn't seem too dedicated to Quidditch. During the tryouts, she made it clear that she wouldn't prioritize team practice if it conflicted with her participation in the 'Charm Club.'"
"Wait, what club did you say?" Kyle asked, lifting his head.
"The Charm Club," Cedric repeated.
"Is there such an organization in Hogwarts?" Kyle asked, puzzled.
"Not only is there one, but there are quite a few," Cedric said. "For example, there are clubs for Wizard Chess, Splendid Robes, and Afternoon Tea, to name a few."
"These clubs are independent of the professors. They are formed by students who share common interests and have fixed activity times and locations. Even I joined the Wizard Chess Club in my fourth year."
"I've never heard of them before," Kyle said.
"Do you even have time for these?" Cedric countered.
Kyle was momentarily lost for words. Indeed, he had been rather busy. Between attending the professors' clubs each week, Quidditch practice, delving into Ancient Runes, and finally, squeezing in time for homework, he barely had a moment to spare.
He had more free time last year, but back then, he was the champion representing Hogwarts, and no one would bother him with such trivial matters.
Come to think of it, Kyle vaguely recalled hearing discussions about participating in certain activities in the common room, but he hadn't paid much attention at the time.
"I see…" Kyle nodded, then looked at Connor curiously. "Have you joined the Charm Club?"
"No," Connor replied. "This is the first time I've heard of it."
"Me too," Kyle laughed. "Looks like this club isn't as influential as we might have thought."
Connor couldn't hold back her giggles.
"I advise you to be careful," Cedric said. "Just because you weren't invited doesn't mean you should underestimate them.
The 'Charm' club has quite a substantial membership, and getting in isn't easy. You have to go through a series of tests."
Kyle glanced at him, "So, Autumn is a member as well?"
Cedric fell silent for a moment. "Alright, it's not that influential."
As soon as he finished speaking, he couldn't help but laugh.
"But I wasn't wrong about one thing—they do have a large membership."
"I think they might be putting on an act," Cedric speculated. "After all, the Weasley family has produced quite a few outstanding members."
"Or maybe you're overthinking it," Kyle suggested. "Perfect teamwork can make up for individual skill gaps, and we still have some time before the first game. A few extra training sessions should do the trick."
"That's what I'm hoping," Cedric agreed.
In the afternoon, with some free time on their hands, the group made their way outside to the grassy lawn.
Fred and George wanted to check if Hagrid had returned. Their Skipping Class Candy product line required some special poisonous berries as ingredients, which could be found in the Forbidden Forest. Collecting them themselves would save them a lot of money.
However, as they approached Hagrid's hut, they found it still tightly shut, with no signs of life from within.
"Looks like Hagrid isn't back yet," Fred commented. "I wonder what he's up to."
"Forget about that for now," George said excitedly. "Don't you think this is a perfect opportunity? With Hagrid absent, there's no one guarding the Forbidden Forest. Why don't we just go in and collect the berries ourselves?"
"Hey, you two," Cedric said, shooting them a sideways glance. "Are you sure it's wise to discuss this in front of us?"
Fred and George suddenly realized that there were no less than four prefects among them.
And prefects had the authority to overlook houses, which meant that even if they weren't from the same house, they could still deduct house points for any rule-breaking they witnessed.
"Can't you just pretend you didn't hear anything?" George asked with a cheeky grin. "After all, opportunities like this don't come along often, and we only want to gather some berries."
"You're really just going for the berries?" Autumn asked skeptically.
"Of course," Fred assured her. "We promise."
"They promise to only take the berries, but not to limit how far they go in," Kyle whispered.
The poisonous berries needed for the Skipping Class Candy weren't particularly rare. They could be found on the outskirts or deeper within the Forbidden Forest.
And Fred and George, being the adventurous sorts, would undoubtedly go for the ones in the heart of the forest.
Far from being embarrassed by having their plan seen through, Fred and George opened their mouths to argue, but were interrupted by a stern voice calling out to them.
"What are you lot doing here?"
It was Professor Grubbly-Plank, emerging from the Forbidden Forest with two large buckets in her hands. She eyed them warily.
"Students aren't allowed in the Forbidden Forest. Off you go, or I'll have to report this to Professor McGonagall."
"No, we're looking for Professor Hagrid," George quickly explained. "Where has he gone?"
"Looking for Hagrid again, are you?" Professor Grubbly-Plank muttered under her breath before shaking her head. "I don't know where he is, but you lot had better get back to the castle. Students shouldn't be here unless they're attending a Care of Magical Creatures class."
"Yes, Professor," Cedric said, and the group began to make their way back to the castle, Fred and George trailing behind.
"She doesn't seem very friendly," Fred muttered. "I much prefer Hagrid."
"Yeah," George agreed.
"You didn't seem to like Hagrid that much before," Autumn said with a smile, looking at the twins. "You were always complaining about how tightly he watched the Forbidden Forest, making it hard for you to sneak in."
"But at least he's willing to listen to us out," Fred argued.
"And sometimes he even goes into the forest to help us get what we need," George added.
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
