Chapter 53: Hagrid's Letter

Selling maps was undoubtedly a very successful endeavor. Young wizards got the convenience they needed, professors were in a good mood due to punctuality, and Kyle and his friends made a small fortune.

It could be said that everyone was happy.

If there was someone who wasn't pleased, it was probably Filch.

After Fred and George had sufficient funds, there was often a lingering smell of dung bombs in the corridors. Filch was nearly driven mad, wishing to catch the twins red-handed, so he followed them around all day.

However, Fred and George always found a way to shake him off.

Cho and Kanna also became acquainted with Kyle because of this incident, especially Kanna. She no longer avoided sitting near Kyle during class.

Perhaps she had gotten used to it as her social anxiety wasn't as severe as before.

After receiving points from the professors, she could now express her thanks like everyone else without hesitation.

Hogwarts had a relatively light schedule for first-year students, with typically only three classes a day under normal circumstances.

However, when you added the homework load, it became a different story.

Young wizards had to spend all their free time in the library to barely finish those several-foot-long assignments.

Moreover, the handwriting couldn't be too large. The last person who did so not only lost five points from Professor McGonagall but also had their workload doubled, resulting in dark circles under their eyes for quite a while.

In the end, Professor McGonagall canceled the punishment out of fear that the student might collapse in the classroom one day.

However, no one dared to try such a trick again after that.

But there were exceptions to everything.

What was a nightmare for others was a breeze for Kyle when it came to assignments.

It was just an assignment, and he had experience. Besides, as a first-year student, there was no talk of plagiarism checks. He could write whatever he wanted.

Borrowing from a few relevant books, adding some optional sentences, and summarizing it – in less than twenty minutes, a perfect assignment was born.

Professors even praised him for his extensive reading.

Except for a certain Potions professor who refused to reveal their name.

For some reason, Kyle felt that Snape was becoming less and less fond of him.

Occasionally, he would find reasons to deduct two points from him.

But Kyle had no choice and could only try to avoid Snape as much as possible.

Each time after a deduction, he would buy a bottle of Potter's Quick Shampoo Potion, planning to give it to him anonymously when he had enough.

On Halloween, Kyle, as usual, sat in the library reading until the Halloween feast was about to start. Holding the unfinished "Great Dueling Masters," he approached Madam Pince.

"How many days this time?" Madam Pince asked without looking up.

"One day."

"Hmm."

Since Kyle came to borrow books every two or three days, Madam Pince had some impression of him. She only briefly noted his name and the time.

Since today was Halloween, the Great Hall had been decorated with colorful decorations.

Carved pumpkins in various shapes floated in the air, directly creating a Halloween atmosphere.

A thousand bats fluttered on the walls and ceiling, and even above the dining tables, a large cloud of bats circled.

Since it wasn't dinner time yet, the Great Hall seemed bustling, with almost half the students crowding around Gryffindor's table.

Fred and George, each wearing a pumpkin head, imitated the signature moves of the Headless Hunters Club, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

The professors on stage didn't stop them. Instead, they watched with relish.

Dumbledore even cheerfully took out sweets, wanting to exchange them with other professors.

Unfortunately, no one paid attention to him.

Even the usually good-tempered Professor Sprout declined the pile of cockroaches he offered.

"You went to the library again?"

When Kyle sat down at the Hufflepuff table, Cedric leaned over and asked, "What are you doing with duel-related books?"

"Charms class homework," Kyle explained. "I have to make up for the points Snape deducted. Practical application of basic spells is what Professor Flitwick likes to see the most."

Cedric knew about Kyle's recent troubles with Snape and sympathetically glanced at him. "Did you make any progress?"

"Don't mention it."

Kyle sighed. "Obviously, no wizard would use the Unlocking Charm during a duel."

Cedric bit his lip tightly, suppressing the laughter that was about to burst out.

He initially thought Kyle's last class was about the Levitation Charm, but it turned out to be the Unlocking Charm.

Not to mention Dueling Masters, even first-year students in a fight wouldn't use the Unlocking Charm, right?

Thinking of this, his lips pressed even tighter.

Kyle glanced at Cedric suspiciously, and his intuition told him that this person was definitely thinking of something impolite. But before he could say anything, an owl happened to land next to him.

It stretched out its paw and placed a piece of paper on the plate in front of Kyle.

"For me?"

Kyle opened the letter curiously. The handwriting on it was very messy, but luckily it was still readable.

Dear Kyle Chopper.

I collected some Mooncalf fertilizer. If you have time, can you come over on Friday? (I remember you don't have classes that afternoon).

Hagrid.

After reading the content on the note, Kyle was stunned. He never thought that Hagrid would take the initiative to invite him to the cabin.

Seeing Kyle holding the note in a daze, Cedric, who had finished laughing secretly, asked curiously, "Who sent you the letter?"

"Hagrid."

Kyle replied.

Cedric thought for a moment and asked, "Is it the key keeper by the Forbidden Forest?"

"Yes, that's right." Kyle nodded.

"What does he want from you? Do you know each other before?"

The other Hufflepuffs at the table were also curious.

"The letter says he collected some Mooncalf fertilizer," Kyle explained. "I planted two ornamental plants previously and went to find him once."

"Then can you take me with you when you go?" Cedric said, "I'm quite curious about it."

"If you want to go, then come along. It's not a big deal."

Kyle took out the quill he always carried with him and wrote at the back of the note, "Alright, I'll come with my friend tomorrow afternoon."

He fed the owl some nuts and let it fly back.

Afterward, the Halloween feast began.

Since it was Halloween, the food was much more abundant than usual. In addition to a whole roasted beef leg, there were also pumpkin pies and caramel apples.

Various candies were also available. Kyle scanned the table and was glad there were no cockroaches.

It seemed that the Headmaster's peculiar hobby had not spread to the kitchen.

…

(End of chapter)