Chapter 7: Dinner
Chapter 7: Dinner
A box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans was shared among the group, with Kyle offering one to Ron, and taking one for himself, leaving the rest to Ginny.
The young girl, holding the box, pondered for a moment before running back to Kyle, asking him to help her pick out the beans, especially the ones that tasted like dragon dung.
Kyle, understanding Ginny's request, firmly refused.
"It's all part of growing up, trying new things," he said. "After all, the slogan for these beans is 'A New Adventure with Every Mouthful'. The element of surprise is what makes them so special."
Without the unknown flavors, they would just be ordinary sugar beans, he explained. It wasn't out of laziness, but rather, he wanted what was best for Ginny.
After playing in the open space for a while longer, the familiar voice of Mrs. Weasley finally called out from the shack, signaling that dinner was ready.
The hungry group, their stomachs growling, hastily dropped the wooden sticks they had been playing with and began their walk back.
Kyle led the way, with Ron close behind. However, before they had taken more than a few steps, the twins, Fred and George, rushed past, jostling Ron to the side.
Caught off-guard, Ron almost tumbled into the nearby goblin cave, and he glared at the twins angrily, his face contorting as if he were about to pounce on them and bite them if they didn't apologize.
While Ron was seething, it was clear that his efforts were in vain as Fred and George's attention was solely focused on Kyle, and they hadn't even spared a glance for Ron. Naturally, they had no idea what he was thinking.
Even if they had known, it was unlikely they would have cared. Teasing their younger brother was a regular occurrence, and they were well versed in the process.
Despite Ron's furious appearance, he knew better than to initiate a fight unless he wanted a beating. A few days' worth of saved-up snacks would be enough to smooth things over in no time.
Before long, it would be back to brotherly love and harmony within the family.
For now, the main concern was Kyle.
The incident in Diagon Alley still weighed heavily on the twins' minds as a blemish on their reputation, and they had been eager to redeem themselves. However, Kyle had stayed indoors these past few days, denying them the opportunity for revenge.
Taking the initiative to visit him would seem too deliberate and might arouse Kyle's suspicion. Thus, Fred and George had no choice but to bide their time, waiting for the right moment.
And that moment was now.
With the addition of Chris and Kyle, the room felt a bit cramped for dinner, so Mrs. Weasley decided to set up the table in the yard instead.
As Kyle made his way to his usual spot, Fred suddenly gave him a peculiar look before quickly taking a seat next to him.
Although George wasn't privy to his brother's plan, the twins shared an uncanny connection, and he immediately took a seat on Kyle's other side.
"Hmm?" Kyle raised an eyebrow at the unusual sight of the twins sitting separately.
"Something's up," he murmured to himself, as it was the first time he had seen them sit apart.
Kyle's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he said, "You don't seem to be up to any good."
The twins' intentions were obvious, and he would have been too dense to notice otherwise.
However, unsure of their exact plans, Kyle chose to remain still and continued to help Mrs. Weasley set the table, acting as if he hadn't noticed anything amiss.
The dinner spread was simple yet hearty: soft, crispy rolls, tender roasted potatoes, juicy roast chicken, golden fried chicken chunks, and tender, juicy veal cutlets.
While the group was already familiar with each other, the meal could still be considered lavish.
Kyle hadn't expected anything extravagant and was merely hoping for a surprise from the Hogwarts house-elves.
He didn't ask for a Chinese or French cuisine; even Italian pasta or pizza would suffice.
He really didn't want to be the center of attention in that way.
...
Thanks to Kyle's vigilance, all was well so far.
The twins were acting as they usually did, telling jokes and making everyone laugh, with no signs of anything amiss.
It wasn't until halfway through dinner, when the group was at their liveliest, that things took a turn.
After Fred finished telling a joke about a Slytherin grease-gob, he seemed to suddenly remember something. He turned to George and said, "Hey, George, Kyle's going to Hogwarts tomorrow. Should we offer him some help? Like telling him some things to watch out for during the Sorting, since it can be quite dangerous."
George instantly caught on and pretended to ponder the suggestion (really just trying to swallow the steak in his mouth)
before replying, "I don't think that's necessary, Fred. We should have faith in Kyle; he's quite capable. A fully grown troll is no match for him, he'll definitely pass the Sorting with flying colors."
"I think you're right, George," Fred nodded seriously. "And the proud Mr. Kyle Zoro here probably wouldn't take our advice anyway. He won't even call us 'senior'."
Fred's plan was simple: to scare Kyle a bit about the Sorting before he started school, and if they could keep him up all night worrying, all the better.
And in this setting, not only would their prank not be stopped, but it might even gain some outside support. It was the perfect opportunity.
Fred looked at Kyle with satisfaction; he was going to get his revenge for what happened in Diagon Alley.
...
As Fred expected, their conversation immediately piqued the interest of the adults nearby, who eagerly joined in.
The Sorting of new students was a long-standing tradition among British wizards, and they never tired of using the same topic to prank generation after generation of young witches and wizards.
This time, it seemed Kyle was their target.
"Dear, don't listen to them," Mrs. Weasley was the first to voice her opinion. She "sternly" scolded the twins before turning to Kyle and reassuring him. "It's not that scary, you just have to pass a test given by a group of ghosts. It's not dangerous at all."
"Molly, how can you lie to the boy?" Mr. Weasley wasn't about to be outdone. He tried to look stern as he glared at his wife. "Kyle is a great kid, we should tell him the truth. I'm sure he can tame a Hippogriff on his own."
"A Hippogriff? I thought it was a dragon?"
Chris paused slightly, then asserted confidently to Kyle, "Son, believe me, it's a dragon. And I suspect it will be a Hungarian Horntail this year."
...
"Oh, I see."
"Yes, I can do it."
"I believe in you, Dad."
Kyle was like a nodding machine, agreeing with everyone and putting on appropriate expressions as each person spoke.
Mrs. Weasley was relieved.
Mr. Weasley was confident.
His own father seemed hesitant.
The wizarding world was pitiful, really. What entertainment did they have? Quidditch, and pranking kids, mostly. If this was their idea of fun, he might as well play along. It wasn't a big deal, and everyone seemed happy with the situation.
...
The group was in high spirits, completely oblivious to two forlorn figures cowering in the corner of the table, trembling in fear.
(End of Chapter)
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