Chapter 12: Scabbers and Rat Tonic

For Kyle, who used to fly and take high-speed trains when traveling, riding an old-fashioned steam train like the Hogwarts Express was simply a form of torture.

Especially after you sit for a few hours, when the novelty and Hogwarts buffs gradually wear off, its shortcomings will be infinitely magnified.

First of all, it's slow. It's really too slow. Kyle feels that this thing can only reach 130 km/h at most, which is not even as good as some cars with better performance.

Moreover, the comfort level was also very poor. It was so shaky that Kyle almost had doubts about his life, and he couldn't wait to spit out his breakfast.

In this case, it is basically impossible to pass the time by reading a book.

Fortunately, Cedric, who was in the same carriage with him, was very talkative, so the trip was manageable.

After talking about the professor, Kyle asked about other things as well. Cedric also knew everything, and he also took the initiative to share about some interesting places in Hogwarts, or interesting portraits, many of which were unknown to Kyle, and this intrigued him. 

In return, Kyle waved his hand and took Cedric's snacks along the way. There were plenty of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, chocolate frogs, and cauldron cakes.

There was only one topic that left Kyle speechless, and that was the sorting ceremony, where Cedric continued the wizards' bad taste as expected and did not tell the truth.

"You have to catch the golden snitch in the auditorium within ten minutes before you can be sorted?"

Kyle politely twitched his lips and did not answer.

Come on, Quidditch is at least more reliable than Fire Dragon, and that is very Cedric-like.

"By the way Kyle, have you ever thought about which house you will be sorted to?" Cedric threw a multi-flavor bean into his mouth and said: "It would be great if you could be sorted into Hufflepuff, but a smart wizard like you would probably want to go to Ravenclaw."

Before he finished speaking, the corners of Cedric's mouth suddenly twitched, and his whole face wrinkled up unconsciously, looking extremely funny.

"Oh hell, it's the beef liver smell that I hate the most." Although he said that, Cedric still swallowed it hard.

"I have thought about it, but it doesn't necessarily mean I can get sorted into the house I want." Kyle also picked up a multi-flavor bean: "Also, my ability to catch the Golden Snitch is average, so I may not be able to find it in ten minutes. By then, it would be great if there is a house willing to take me in."

Hmm...it's the new black pepper steak flavor, which is pretty good.

"Don't worry, you can definitely do it." Cedric laughed and said, "It won't be too difficult."

Just as he was saying this, the compartment door was suddenly opened from the outside.

Kyle and Cedric turned their heads at the same time.

A familiar redhead, but instead of the twins, it was another Weasley member.

Percy walked into the carriage and said: "Kyle, Fred told me you were here...oh, you are Cedric Diggory, I am Percy Weasley, nice to meet you."

Originally, Cedric, who was still curious, suddenly heard his name and nodded quickly in response: "Likewise, nice to meet you, Percy Weasley."

The other party's serious look made Cedric think that he was on some formal occasion, not the Hogwarts Express.

In short, he looked confused but still very polite.

Kyle held back his laughter and waited for the two of them to finish their greeting before saying, "Percy, what can I help you with?"

He was familiar with all seven Weasley children, Percy was no exception, but they usually have less communication.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I do have something going on." Percy put his hand into his pocket and pulled out a big mouse.

"Scabbers hasn't been feeling energetic lately, so I just wanted to ask if you still have the rat tonic that you fed him before. I'd like to buy some if possible."

"A rat tonic?" Kyle looked at the gray rat in Percy's hand, which was missing a finger in one hand, narrowed his eyes, and smiled: "Of course, just wait a moment."

After that, Kyle found a bottle filled with red liquid from his box, turned around, and stuffed it into Percy's hand.

"You know, once a week, three drops at a time, the amount here should be enough for a long time."

"Thanks." Percy quickly took the bottle of red rat tonic, then hesitantly took out three silver coins and said with a blushing face: "I know this may not be enough, but this is all I have now. I will pay the rest back to you as soon as possible."

"This is too much." Kyle only took one sickle, and he pushed the remaining two back: "It's just a rat tonic. It doesn't have much value, so it's not that expensive. One sickle is enough."

Percy looked at the sickles in his hand, his face turned red and white. After a while, he sighed softly and said, "Thank you, Kyle."

Kyle said: "No, I collected the money, it was a normal transaction."

"No, I know everything." Percy also smiled, but it was just a bitter smile: "If it were an ordinary rat tonic, how could it be possible for Scabbers to live for eleven years? This should have been made by Mr. Scamander. After all, only a legendary figure like him can keep an ordinary rat alive for such a long time. If this kind of tonic were on the market, it would probably cost at least ten galleons."

Uh...

Kyle rubbed his cheek. He actually wanted to tell Percy that Scabbers' ability to live for so long had nothing to do with the rat tonic. Besides, this was indeed his own product and is not worth ten galleons.

But the matter of Peter Pettigrew was too troublesome. He was only eleven years old, and he didn't want to attract Dumbledore's attention yet.

But it wasn't that he didn't do anything either.

In addition to the rat tonic, he has also told Percy before that rats are different from other pets. If they are contaminated with too much wizard scent, they will be rejected by their own kind.

Percy was skeptical at first, but after Kyle told him that it was Mr. Scamander who said this sentence, he believed it and regarded it as truth.

Percy was indeed very attached to his only pet.

Not only did he get an exclusive little nest for Scabbers in his room, but even reduced the usual physical contact by a lot. Except for special circumstances like now, when he has to carry it with him, he is basically letting it loose at other times. On the other side, seeing that Kyle has not responded, Percy has no intention of staying any longer.

"Anyway, thank you, Kyle. If you have any academic questions in the future, you can ask me, also and I will pay you back the galleons after graduation."

After saying that, Percy hurriedly left the carriage, leaving Kyle and Cedric who were staring at each other.

In the end, it was Cedric who took the lead to break the silence: "That… You can still get some rat tonic from Mr. Scamander?"

"It should be said that I know how to brew it, and not only rats, I know how to brew all kinds of pet tonics." Kyle didn't bother to explain too much and shrugged: "It's not that difficult. It's just a little troublesome, so very few people deliberately learn it."

(End of chapter)