Chapter 8: Mr. Weasley's Ambition
Chapter 8: Mr. Weasley's Ambition
The adults' customary bluff didn't fool Kyle, but it definitely scared Ron and Ginny, who were listening nearby.
Especially Ron, who had been quite interested in the topic and was eagerly listening, hoping to gain some experience ahead of his first year at Hogwarts.
But as the conversation progressed, his expression became increasingly grim.
He could handle the mention of trolls, ghosts, and hippogriffs, though outrageous; he figured he could just run the other way and his chances of survival would be decent, considering the professors at Hogwarts weren't just there for show.
But what about dragons?
A xxxx-level magical creature, even a fully grown witch or wizard might not stand a chance against it, let alone an eleven-year-old student. By the time the professors finished casting their spells, he'd probably be reduced to ashes by a sneeze.
Was this what school was supposed to be like?
Ron's heart sank, and he even contemplated running away from home. He didn't want to go to Hogwarts anymore; he just wanted to live.
Ginny, sitting next to him, wasn't faring much better.
Her usually vibrant red hair had lost its luster, and her face had gone pale.
"What's wrong, Ginny?" Kyle asked with concern from across the table. "You're not eating. Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, I'm fine," Ginny quickly shook her head, not wanting to admit to her family that she was scared. "I'm just full, that's all."
As a nine-year-old girl, Ginny didn't have a big appetite, and she had already eaten half a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans earlier. She was indeed quite full at the moment.
She was about eight-tenths full, that perfect state where one could choose to eat more or stop. However, the sudden topic of House sorting had completely taken away what little appetite she had left.
"Oh, that's a shame," Kyle said, oblivious to her worry. He casually got up, calmly took the untouched grilled fish from Ginny's plate, and placed it on his own.
Grilled fish was different from other foods; its flavor diminished quickly over time, so it would be a waste to leave it uneaten. He might as well enjoy it himself.
It's worth mentioning that Mrs. Weasley was an excellent cook when it came to grilled fish. It was one of her secret specialties.
However, as she had a large family to care for and picking out fish bones was a tedious task, it was usually only during important festivals that the Weasley family got to enjoy this particular dish.
Of course, another reason might be that fish was relatively expensive in the wizarding world.
Nonetheless, Kyle had been craving this dish for a long time, and he certainly wasn't going to let this delicious treat go to waste.
Ginny knew this, and though she had originally planned to savor the grilled fish slowly, now that she knew she'd be facing dragons in a couple of years, she had lost her appetite entirely. All she could do was watch with a pained expression as Kyle devoured the fish that was meant to be hers.
In the end, she simply turned her head away, deciding that if she couldn't see it, it would hurt less.
Meanwhile, Fred and George, sitting next to them, simultaneously sighed.
They, too, had been eyeing that grilled fish, but Kyle's quick action had left them without a chance to make a move.
The disappointed twins then turned their attention to Ron.
Unfortunately, Ron didn't have Ginny's habit of savoring his food. He had already devoured his fish, picking it clean to the bone. Even a Flobberworm would slip if it tried to crawl on it.
"What's wrong, Ron? Are you scared of dragons?" Fred narrowed his eyes, concealing his true intention as he rarely showed concern for Ron's well-being. He patted Ron's shoulder in a comforting manner. "Don't worry, there's only one dragon, and by the time you start at Hogwarts, they'll probably have switched to another magical creature."
"I think it'll be spiders next.
Ron was terrified, his eyes widening with fear as he instinctively threw down his cutlery and ran back to their shabby home, screaming.
It was clear that Ron had been genuinely frightened, so much so that he didn't even notice the mischievous grin on the twins' faces as he fled.
However, the twins' prank didn't come without a cost.
"George, why were you in the Forbidden Forest?" Mrs. Weasley asked sharply, her eyes narrowing as she honed in on the crucial detail. "I don't recall Hogwarts allowing first-years to go there."
"Mum, I can explain..." Fred and George tried to make a run for it, but being only in their second year, they were no match for Mrs. Weasley, and she soon caught them.
What followed was a familiar scene of motherly discipline.
Although this scenario had played out countless times over the past eleven years, Kyle found it just as entertaining, and his appetite even improved as a result.
He had no doubt that the twins had ventured into the Forbidden Forest, but the part about the spiders was most likely made up to scare Ron, and they had accidentally hit the mark.
After all, the Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest were far from harmless, and if the twins had truly encountered them, they would likely have made the Forest their final resting place.
Moreover, Kyle recalled that the Acromantulas' nest was deep within the Forest, and Fred and George wouldn't have been able to run that far.
Unlike Harry Potter, the twins enjoyed pranks more than risking their lives.
About twenty minutes later, dinner came to an end, and despite the minor hiccup, it had been a pleasant gathering.
At the very least, Kyle had enjoyed himself.
After a quick cleanup of the table, Percy headed upstairs to resume his studies.
Ron, who had been caught trying to run away from home with a small bundle, now took the twins' place, frantically running around the yard with Mrs. Weasley in hot pursuit.
Meanwhile, Mr. Weasley and Chris continued their chat elsewhere.
"Chris, your acting was a bit over the top," Mr. Weasley remarked with a hint of regret in the shabby home. "It's just the Sorting Ceremony; how could there be a fire-breathing dragon? Kyle's a smart kid; he must know we're pulling his leg."
"No, Arthur, you're wrong," Chris shook his head. "In fact, this plan was doomed from the start."
"Kyle has spent at least two months every year since he was three years old with Mr. Scamander. Do you think he'd be afraid of giants and hippogriffs?" Chris said, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "Also, Arthur, have you forgotten that Kyle's last name is also 'Newt'?"
"Uh..." Mr. Weasley froze, scratching his head awkwardly. "You mean, like you, he can communicate with magical creatures?"
"Of course," Chris nodded. "So, he wouldn't be afraid of hippogriffs. Only a fire-breathing dragon would make him feel anxious, I reckon."
Mr. Weasley glanced at Chris, a hint of envy in his eyes. "It's an incredible ability. I wish I could communicate with Muggle artifacts like you."
"???"
Chris was momentarily lost for words, letting out an awkward laugh. "Well, it's not as impressive as you think. This gift only applies to fantastic beasts. Regular creatures like rats, toads, and owls are beyond my reach; I can only guess at their intentions based on experience."
Chris' implication was clear. Even if Mr. Weasley used some exotic magic to change his last name to 'Newt,' he would only be able to exchange a few words with a Floo powder or a Golden Snitch.
As for communicating with a toaster or a car... well, that was a pipe dream!
(End of Chapter)
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