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Chapter 80: Sweet-Talking Kyle
Chapter 80: Sweet-Talking Kyle
Confronted by the threats of two second-year students, the weaker Kyle had no choice but to verbally agree to a series of unequal treaties to avoid being bullied.
"Remember your words, Kyle," Fred reminded him. "You need to provide technical support for our Weasley joke products."
"And a location," George added. "You have to provide us with a safe place to store them during the holidays and ensure Madam Weasley doesn't find them."
"Of course, I'd be happy to help," Kyle smiled. "I'll assist you with researching those products, and as for the location, my room should do. Madam Weasley will never find them there."
"Excellent."
Fred and George nodded in satisfaction and let Kyle off the hook.
"If you dare deceive us..." Fred warned with a menacing tone before leaving, "the consequences will be severe!"
After saying this, the two simultaneously raised their thumbs and made a slashing gesture across their necks.
Once Fred and George left, Kyle casually strolled over to the Hufflepuff table as if nothing had happened.
"How was your holiday?"
"Not bad," Kyle glanced at Cedric and replied, "No early mornings, no homework, just reading books, tending to plants, petting animals... It's the life I've always dreamed of."
Cedric seemed a bit envious.
"I wish I hadn't gone back either," he sighed. "My father said he would take me to France for the holidays, but he's been so busy. He's working overtime every day, and he barely spends five hours at home. There's just no time."
Cedric's words surprised Kyle.
This shouldn't be the case. Weren't the smuggled magical creatures already sent back by Chris and Newt? Why is Mr. Diggory still so busy?
Moreover, Kyle hadn't heard of any special incidents recently; everything seemed calm and peaceful.
Even Mr. Weasley and Lucius's argument at the Ministry of Magic made the front-page headlines of the Prophet.
If it were any other time, such trivial matters would have been lucky to occupy a corner of the newspaper.
It seemed that the magical world had been devoid of newsworthy events lately, giving off a sense of tranquility.
Unless there was an urgent, special incident, like a magical creature harming someone, Mr. Diggory would have had at least five days off.
But if such an incident had occurred, the Prophet wouldn't have been completely silent either.
Cedric seemed to notice Kyle's confusion, and after checking that no one was paying attention, he whispered, "The Winged Serpent... My father is searching for its traces."
Kyle furrowed his brows and, keeping his voice low, asked, "But isn't that creature already gone from here?"
"No, the Ministry is lying," Cedric replied.
"My father had a drink on Christmas Day and seemed to mistake me for a colleague, so I took the chance to ask him many questions. He said the Ministry hasn't found any trace of the Winged Serpent."
Kyle shook his head, "But Newt said otherwise."
He might not believe others, but Newt had never lied, especially when it came to matters concerning magical creatures.
Unless it involved the safety of the magical world, not even Fudge, let alone Dumbledore, could... Well, that was indeed the case.
Despite Dumbledore's character, it was highly unlikely that he would ask Newt for a Winged Serpent just like that.
Unless Fudge was his son.
"I asked about this too," Cedric said. "My father said that Mr. Scamander's exact words were, 'We didn't find the Winged Serpent, it must be hiding.'"
But the photo provided by the Ministry of Magic to the Daily Prophet only showed the first half of the sentence; they removed the second half.
"Huh?" Kyle raised his eyebrows. "To avoid causing panic?"
"Yes, to avoid causing panic," Cedric spread his hands out. "They even found a reason to send Mr. Scamander and Mr. Chris, who had always opposed this, on an errand."
Kyle stroked his chin, and his confusion was finally cleared up.
No wonder he always felt that there was something off about Chris's business trip; the problem was right here.
It was just a simple task of transporting some Bowtruckles, and it was unlikely that Chris and Newt would be needed for that.
The Erumpent and Occamy were one thing, but those two gentlemen were too dangerous for ordinary people to handle.
But what about the other Fantastic Beasts?
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It was a simple task that could be completed by finding a secluded deep forest or sending two Beaters, yet it also fell on Chris and Newt.
Think about it; a Deputy Head of the British Ministry of Magic and a renowned Master of Fantastic Beasts in the Magical World. The two of them traveled thousands of kilometers together just to return an ordinary Bowtruckle to its original place?
That was just absurd.
Under normal circumstances, not to mention an ordinary Bowtruckle, even if it were Grindelwald's Bowtruckle, it wouldn't receive such treatment.
Kyle thought for a moment and asked, "So, did your father find the Winged Serpent?"
"No," Cedric shook his head. "My father and his team searched for more than a month, but they didn't find any clues.
But Minister Fudge has been urging them, and he even lost his temper a few days ago. That bastard..."
Cedric was well-mannered, and when he mentioned the key word, he only moved his lips without making a sound, fully demonstrating the qualities of an excellent young wizard.
However, his lip movements were clear, and Kyle could tell that he was praising the other's family background with a very polite expression.
After sweetening his words, Cedric's mood improved inexplicably. He glanced at the teacher's seat and said, "Let's not talk about that anymore. Have you noticed that Professor Snape seems rather angry today?"
"Does he?"
Kyle picked up a chicken leg and said without looking up, "It's probably just your imagination. When is he not angry?"
"That's true, but..." Cedric glanced at the teacher's seat again. "I still feel like he's a bit different today."
Professor Snape on the platform seemed to have taken the wrong potion, his face as dark as the bottom of a pot. His eyes kept scanning back and forth across the four dining tables.
As if sensing someone watching him, Snape suddenly looked towards Hufflepuff, causing Cedric to quickly lower his head.
Beside him, Kyle continued to eat the chicken leg in his hand at a leisurely pace, occasionally chatting with Michael, who was sitting on his other side.
(End of Chapter)
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