One minute later, a roar of pure fury echoed through the Hog's Head: "Get out!"
The three boys, unceremoniously booted onto the street, stared at one another in bewilderment. What on earth had they done to offend the owner?
The Hog's Head's proprietor was a tall, gaunt old man with a famously foul temper. His long hair and beard were both iron-gray.
Kyle couldn't shake the feeling that he looked familiar—uncannily like Professor Dumbledore.
He wondered if the man had some old grudge against his father, Grindelwald. The way they'd been chased out felt oddly connected to the eyes Kyle had inherited from the Dark wizard.
Because the moment they'd stepped inside, the owner had greeted them cheerfully enough, asking what they'd like to drink.
But the instant Kyle approached the bar and the man caught sight of those eyes, his face had twisted into a mask of rage. He'd snatched up a broom and herded them out like stray dogs.
Kyle rubbed his nose sheepishly. Looked like the drinks the twins had promised were off the table.
After a few muttered curses calling the owner a lunatic, George and Fred slunk away, disgruntled.
"Where to now?" Kyle asked.
George glanced at a shop a little way down the street, three broomsticks hanging above the door. "Hogsmeade only has two pubs. The other one won't serve us either."
"We don't have to drink," Kyle said with a shrug. "I've got plenty stashed in my cellar anyway."
Over the years, the money he'd earned hustling street toughs had far outstripped the cost of furnishing his hideouts.
What else was he supposed to do with the surplus?
Buy things, obviously—feed his collector's itch.
Rare firearm models the gangs didn't even stock, every game console on the market, an arsenal of fine liquor…
Just the red wines alone in Kyle's cellar could supply every guest at a Hogwarts feast with a personal bottle.
"You haven't tried wizarding sweets yet, have you?" George suggested. "Honeydukes?"
By the time the trio reached the secret passage they'd used to sneak out, their arms were laden with bulging bags of candy.
Their robe pockets were stuffed to bursting too.
The twins looked sheepish.
"We were supposed to treat you," Fred muttered. "Ended up costing you again."
Kyle waved it off. "No big deal. I'm down to my last… few million Galleons."
He wasn't exaggerating. The fortune Grindelwald had left him was easily in the tens of thousands of Galleons, and wizarding prices…
A wand cost ten Galleons. Ten.
Any lingering guilt the twins felt evaporated. They now only wanted to punch him in the nose.
Down to his last few million?
Believe me, I'll drop into a slide tackle and cling to this rich bastard's thigh if I have to.
Laughing and chatting, they reached the mirror that concealed the passage. George pushed it aside—and the smiles vanished from the twins' faces.
"What's wrong?" Kyle asked, bringing up the rear.
"P-P-Professor… McGonagall…" George's teeth chattered.
The name sent ice through Kyle's veins. He dropped his candy bags and spun to bolt.
"Come out, Mr. Dumbledore. I can see you."
On the fifth-floor corridor, three small wizards stood in a trembling line like frightened quail. Professor McGonagall faced them, arms folded, expression severe.
"Mr. Weasley," she said crisply, "I believe you are aware that third-years are not permitted to visit Hogsmeade."
Kyle stepped forward. "Professor, I asked them to take me."
McGonagall's eyes flashed. "I will relay that to Professor Dumbledore verbatim."
Bloody hell—Hogwarts calls parents too?!
McGonagall's arms remained crossed. "Regardless of the reason, you had no business sneaking into the village. You two will serve a week's detention."
"At least no points," George whispered.
"Gryffindor will lose twenty points!"
George's head snapped up. No way!
"Twenty each," McGonagall clarified.
Kyle lowered his head silently.
He didn't know if the punishment was harsh, but seeing the twins penalized for taking him to Hogsmeade made him feel rotten.
And the thought of McGonagall "calling their parents" made him want to disappear.
"Your detention begins tonight at eleven," McGonagall continued, eyeing Kyle—whose head had practically retracted into his collar like a turtle. "If you were enrolled, you'd be joining them."
With that, she turned on her heel and strode away.
Kyle Turtle Dumbledore's head popped back out. He opened his mouth to console the twins—only to find them grinning.
"Finally, a legitimate excuse to enter the Forbidden Forest!" Fred crowed.
"There are all sorts of magical creatures in there," George added. "We've been dying for a chance to sneak in."
The forty points lost? Utterly forgotten.
Kyle blinked at the pair's steel nerves. Clearly, they didn't need comforting.
"If it's the Forbidden Forest…" A slow smile spread across Kyle's face. "I might be able to show you something interesting."
He wondered if Dumbledore had dealt with the three-headed dog yet. Letting Fluffy roam the forest wasn't exactly safe.
He'd ask Hagrid tonight.
"You're coming too?" George asked, puzzled. "McGonagall didn't punish you."
"Share the joy, share the pain," Kyle said, clapping George on the shoulder. "We went to Hogsmeade together. Can't let you two take the fall alone."
Fred grinned. "Share the pain? I'm all for that!"
Kyle scooped up the candy bags he'd dropped. "Eleven o'clock, Gryffindor common room."
He started to leave—then turned back.
"Uh… could you show me the way? I don't know how to get back."
Laughter echoed down the corridor as George and Fred doubled over.
Kyle scratched his nose, mortified. If his hands weren't full, he'd have climbed out a window and scaled the wall.
He made a mental note to ask Dumbledore if the wizarding world had storage scrolls or space rings. Carrying candy by hand was ridiculous.
"Come on, come on," the twins said, still chuckling as they led the way.
The three vanished around the corner.
What they didn't see was the figure standing in the shadows at the far end of the hall, just out of sight.
Had George and Fred spotted him, they would have recognized their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor—Tom Hiddleston.
Flames of vengeance burned in Tom Hiddleston's eyes.
"Eleven o'clock tonight…" he murmured. "The Forbidden Forest… My chance… has come…"
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