The next day, at the same time, in the same Hufflepuff common room, Kyle, Cedric, and Kanna sat together again.
Only this time, there was a pile of golden galleons on the table in front of them.
"One, two, three..."
"No need to count..." Kyle glanced at Cedric, raising an eyebrow. "Exactly sixty galleons."
"That much..." Cedric's mouth hung open, his whole body feeling dizzy, as if he were in a dream.
...
In fact, it really did feel like a dream. Today's plan had gone surprisingly well.
Kanna had been so nervous that she'd completely forgotten the specific process and, like a salesperson, pulled out the map as soon as they met. No, even a salesperson would at least say hello and make small talk, not jump straight to the point like Kanna did. This left Kyle and Cedric standing there, unsure if they should continue with the performance.
But soon enough, they had their answer.
Rowle and Yaxley's reaction was just as unexpected. Without even waiting for Kanna to speak, they eagerly asked where she got the map as soon as they noticed its gold border. After learning that only ten copies had been made, they dropped their previous haughty demeanor and eagerly struck up a conversation with her. They took Kanna's arm, laughing and reminiscing about the banquet from a few years ago, acting like they'd been best friends forever.
Kanna just went along with it, stumbling her way through the whole interaction. By the time she made it back to the Hufflepuff table, she had ten galleons in her hand. She had only a vague memory of when she received the galleons. It might have been while they were in the corridor, or maybe at the entrance to the Great Hall.
Rowle and Yaxley were great conversationalists. On the way, they had seamlessly shifted the topic from the feast to the complex structure of Hogwarts Castle and, just as naturally, had asked Kanna if she could help them get a map. After she agreed, the conversation smoothly returned to the original topic without any awkwardness.
Though Kanna's goal aligned with theirs and the two sides were mutually benefiting, Kyle had to admit that Slytherins did possess a unique knack for socializing.
At the table, the first thing Kyle said to Kanna was, "Remember to stay away from Slytherin in the future, or you won't even know when you've been sold out."
Cedric, sitting beside him, nodded in agreement.
To avoid further trouble, after lunch, two gold-edged maps were handed over to Rowle and Yaxley. After their "publicity," it took less than two hours to sell all nine remaining maps, leaving only the sample in Kanna's hand. Some of the smaller houses even requested their family crests be printed on the maps. Kyle initially resisted, but they offered so much money that he couldn't refuse.
The price doubled... who could resist?
And that's how they ended up with sixty galleons.
"Sharing the spoils... ahem, sharing the galleons." With everyone watching expectantly, Kyle pushed half of the galleons in front of Kanna. "As agreed, we'll split it equally."
"No, you've counted it wrong," Kanna shook her head, counted ten galleons from the pile, and placed them back. Then she looked at Kyle, puzzled. "Three people should split it equally, so it should be twenty galleons. Are you that bad at arithmetic?"
"I..." Kyle opened his mouth, but a lump formed in his chest.
"Just let it go. As long as she's happy," Cedric said, laughing so hard he nearly passed out.
Kyle, bad at arithmetic? Cedric could laugh about that for the entire school year.
Kyle grumpily shoved the twenty galleons over to her. He couldn't understand how Cedric, who'd always been so kind, had become like this. Good grief, does he not even have the decency to gloat behind my back?
Cedric, completely unfazed by Kyle's bad mood, picked up one of the galleons and rubbed it between his hands.
"So many galleons, I can buy ten Fwooper quill pens with this."
"Fwooper quill pens?" Kyle frowned. "What's so special about those? And why are they so expensive?"
"They're pretty," Cedric said matter-of-factly. "I've had my eye on the yellow one for a while. That color really suits Hufflepuff."
Kyle thought of something, and his lips curled up before he quickly suppressed the smile. He replied calmly, "Then you should buy a few more, so you can switch them out in the future."
"No, just one for now," Cedric said after a moment of thought. "The rest will go to my father."
Hearing this, Kyle couldn't help but glance at him. Just as he was about to say something, Cedric continued, "Maybe if he's happy, he'll upgrade the broom he got me from the Cleansweep VII to the Nimbus 1700."
Kyle swallowed the words that had been on the tip of his tongue.
The Nimbus 1700 was 200 galleons more expensive than the Cleansweep VII. Twenty galleons to two hundred? Cedric's hopes were wildly optimistic.
But then again, knowing Mr. Diggory's personality, once he learned that Cedric had made the academy team and earned a full twenty galleons, he might just get him that Nimbus after all.
Kyle's eyes lit up as a sudden idea crossed his mind, but it was too late to act on it now. He'd have to wait until tomorrow.
...
After dividing up the galleons, Cedric went to the kitchen and returned with biscuits, desserts, and other snacks, along with a large pot of pumpkin juice. The three of them decided to have a small celebration in the common room.
Kyle lifted his glass of pumpkin juice and was just about to take a sip when he noticed Kanna across from him. She was pulling out seven or eight small bags and putting two galleons into each one.
"???"
Seeing Kyle's confused look, Kanna explained, "I'm afraid I'll lose them again, so it's better to keep them separate."
Cedric, astonished, asked, "Kanna, you lost galleons?"
"Hmm," Kanna nodded and briefly explained what had happened.
After hearing her explanation, Cedric smiled and thought carefully. "There shouldn't be any on the Quidditch Pitch. After every flying lesson, Madam Hooch inspects the pitch, so if anyone dropped something, it would be found quickly. And when I was training yesterday, no one mentioned finding twenty galleons. How about this—tomorrow I'll ask around to see if anyone's seen them."
"It's okay, I don't mind anymore," Kanna said, pointing to the small pile of bags in front of her, her eyebrows curving as she smiled. "These will last me a long time."
"Er..."
"You're just going to lose twenty galleons and not care?"
Cedric didn't respond, but somehow, the pumpkin juice in his hand suddenly tasted like bitter lemonade.
/////
Selling the map had undoubtedly been a success. The young wizards were thrilled, the professors were pleased because no one was late to class anymore, and Kyle and his friends had made a tidy sum. If anyone was unhappy, it was probably Filch.
Ever since Fred and George became wealthy, the smell of Dungbombs often filled the corridors. Filch was furious and determined to catch the twins in the act, following them around all day. But Fred and George always found clever ways to lose him, leaving him more frustrated than ever.
Meanwhile, Cho and Kanna got to know Kyle better through all of this, especially Kanna. She no longer hid from Kyle in class, and her social anxiety seemed to have improved. Now, when she earned extra points from a professor, she could even manage a "thank you," just like everyone else.
Hogwarts' first-year curriculum remained relatively light, with usually only three classes a day. But if you counted the homework, it was a different story. The young wizards had to spend all their spare time in the library just to finish the feet-long essays assigned to them. And they had to be careful not to increase the font size—anyone who tried that trick learned a harsh lesson. The last student who attempted it not only lost five points, courtesy of Professor McGonagall, but also saw his workload doubled, earning him a black eye from the resulting sleepless nights. In the end, McGonagall canceled the punishment out of fear that the student might collapse from exhaustion, but since then, no one dared to play that game again.
Well, almost no one.
While homework was a nightmare for most students, it was a breeze for Kyle. To him, writing essays was easy. And since there was no plagiarism check for first-years, he could write almost anything. He would borrow a few sentences from relevant books, add in a few more for good measure, and then summarize everything neatly. In less than twenty minutes, he would have a polished essay, earning praise from professors for his "extensive reading."
Except for one professor. In Potions class, Professor Snape—who preferred not to be named—seemed to grow more displeased with Kyle by the day. Snape always found reasons to deduct points from him. Kyle could do nothing about it, so he tried to avoid Snape as much as possible. After each point deduction, he would buy a bottle of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion, planning to one day send an entire case to Snape anonymously.
On Halloween, Kyle was sitting in the library as usual, engrossed in a book. It wasn't until dinner was about to start that he brought the unfinished book, The Great Duel Masters, to Madam Pince.
"How many days this time?" Madam Pince muttered without looking up.
"One day," Kyle replied.
"Mm-hm," she murmured.
Madam Pince remembered Kyle well, since he borrowed books frequently. After a brief note of his name and the time, she handed the book over.
Since it was Halloween, the Great Hall had been decorated with colorful adornments earlier that day. Pumpkins carved into all sorts of shapes floated above the hall, creating a festive atmosphere. A thousand bats flapped against the walls and ceiling, and a large cloud of them hovered over the dining tables.
When Kyle entered, it was still early, but the hall was buzzing with excitement. Nearly half the students had gathered around the Gryffindor table, where Fred and George were putting on a show. Each wearing a pumpkin head, they imitated the signature move of the Headless Hunt, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Even the professors didn't stop them, enjoying the spectacle as much as the students. Dumbledore, always in good spirits, even pulled out sweets and tried to trade them with the other professors. Unfortunately for him, no one seemed interested. Even the ever-polite Professor Sprout declined the Cockroach Clusters he offered with a smile.
"You were in the library again?" Cedric poked his head over as Kyle sat down at the Hufflepuff table. "Books on duels... what are you reading that for?"
"Charms homework," Kyle replied, handing the book to Cedric. "I need to make up for the points I lost in Potions class. Professor Flitwick loves to see practical applications of basic spells."
Cedric, aware that Snape had been targeting Kyle recently, gave him a sympathetic look. "So, did you learn anything useful?"
"Forget it," Kyle sighed. "Obviously, no wizard would use the Unlocking Charm in a duel."
Cedric bit his lip to keep from laughing out loud. He had thought Kyle might have used something like the Floating Charm in class, but the Unlocking Charm? That was just too much. Even first-year students knew better than to try that in a duel.
His mouth tightened further, trying to suppress the laughter.
Kyle shot him a suspicious look, sensing that Cedric was probably thinking something rude. But before he could say anything, an owl landed nearby, extending its talon and dropping a note onto Kyle's tray.
"For me?" Kyle muttered, opening the note curiously. The handwriting was messy, but he could still make out the words:
Dear Kyle Chopper,
I've collected some Mooncalf manure. If you have time, could you come by on Friday (I don't think you have class that afternoon).
Hagrid.
Kyle blinked, surprised. He hadn't expected Hagrid to invite him to his cabin. Still holding the note, he stared blankly ahead.
By this time, Cedric had stopped laughing and asked curiously, "Who sent you a letter?"
"Hagrid," Kyle said.
Cedric thought for a moment. "Th Keeper of Keys in the Forbidden Forest?"
"Yes," Kyle confirmed.
"What does he want with you? Did you know him before?"
"The letter says he's collected some Mooncalf manure," Kyle explained. "I visited him once when I needed fertilizer for a couple of ornamental plants I was growing."
"Can I come with you?" Cedric asked, intrigued. "I've always been curious about his place."
"Sure, why not?" Kyle shrugged. "It's no big deal."
He took out the quill he always carried and scribbled on the back of the note: Okay, I'll come by tomorrow afternoon with my friend. He fed the owl a few nuts and watched it fly away.
After that, the dinner began. Since it was Halloween, the feast was more elaborate than usual. There was a whole aromatic roast beef leg, pumpkin pie, caramel apples, and a variety of sweets. Kyle scanned the selection and was relieved to see there were no Cockroach Clusters—thankfully, the headmaster's peculiar tastes hadn't reached the kitchen yet.
/////
After the Halloween feast, the little wizards, full and happy, made their way back to their dormitories in groups. Once the students were gone, the professors also departed one by one.
In the headmaster's office, Dumbledore looked calmly at Snape, who stood before him with a grim expression.
"Severus, what can I do for you?" Dumbledore asked, his voice gentle.
"It's still about what happened two weeks ago, Dumbledore," Snape said, his face emotionless as he placed a gold-framed map on the headmaster's desk. "That Kyle Chopper selling maps at school... There should have been results by now."
"So, that's what this is about," Dumbledore responded, taking a measured sip of his black tea. "May I hear your thoughts?"
"People like him, who blatantly ignore school rules, should be expelled!" Snape burst out, his tone sharp.
"That's not a very good joke, Severus," Dumbledore said, shaking his head slightly. "You know that Hogwarts' school rules do not prohibit students from selling items on campus."
"And, as far as I understand, this particular map was originally sold by Miss Prince to Slyther…"
"That's abetting!" Snape interrupted, his voice rising in frustration. "I investigated—Kyle gave her all the maps!"
His voice grew so loud that even the surrounding portraits, which had been pretending to sleep, couldn't ignore the outburst. One portrait, depicting a big-nosed wizard, angrily chimed in.
"Watch your tone, young man. This is the headmaster's office."
Snape, however, paid the portrait no mind and pressed on. "I should have insisted that Kanna be transferred to Slytherin instead of listening to you and leaving her in Hufflepuff."
"I think it's for the best," Dumbledore said with a gentle smile. "Don't you think Kanna's former personality was a bit too withdrawn? As the last descendant of the Prince family in the wizarding world, that's not a good thing. And, Severus, you can't protect her forever."
Snape was silent for a moment, his jaw tightening before he impatiently changed the subject. "We're discussing Kyle Chopper here. If he's bold enough to sell a map for five galleons today, what's next? Robbing Gringotts tomorrow? Even if he can't be expelled, there must be some form of punishment."
Dumbledore considered this, swirling his tea thoughtfully. "You have a point. Five galleons is a bit steep for a first-year. But tell you what—I'll speak to the students myself. If they feel they've been cheated, I'll take appropriate action."
...
Snape fell silent once again. In truth, he had already asked around when he confiscated the map, and Rowle's response at the time had been...
"Cheated? Professor, you're joking. It's only five galleons. What's the big deal?"
Even if Dumbledore went to ask the students, the answer would likely be the same. Snape knew he could easily persuade the Slytherins to change their minds and denounce Kyle in writing. But doing so would be too underhanded, even for him. He was biased, yes, but not shameless. Besides, hiding such manipulation would be difficult. If exposed, it could lead to significant trouble.
"Kyle also has problems with his character," Snape suddenly added, his voice sharper. "I've observed that he's talented, but his performance in class is very average. At such a young age, he's already so hypocritical. Aren't you afraid he could become the next Dark Lord?"
"I would call that humility, Severus," Dumbledore replied calmly. "It is easy for a person to shine, but much harder to restrain that light. That is a rare and valuable quality."
"So..." Snape glared at Dumbledore. "You're not going to punish him?"
"Not if he hasn't made a mistake."
"Very well!" Snape's expression darkened further. With a dramatic swirl of his robes, he turned and stormed out of the headmaster's office.
As he left, whether by accident or design, the hem of Snape's robe flicked the portrait of the big-nosed wizard, hitting him squarely on the nose. The wizard shouted after Snape, "Come back and apologize, you impolite Slytherin brat!"
Snape ignored the outburst, but Phineas Nigellus Black, another portrait nearby, could no longer hold back. He stormed over, grabbing the big-nosed wizard by the collar. "What did you just say about Slytherin?" he demanded.
"What, do you want a fight?" the big-nosed wizard retorted angrily, punching Phineas in the face without another word.
Phineas, unwilling to back down, quickly engaged him, and the two portraits began wrestling furiously.
The other portraits, seeing the commotion, gathered around with snacks, watching the fight with interest.
"Stop fighting, you two!" one portrait called out. "You're both grown men—why are you pulling his hair?"
"That knight over there, put away your sword!"
"Oh no, that Sir is reaching for his sword!"
"Someone fetch the hunter in the corridor, he still has his axe!"
The headmaster's office quickly became lively, filled with shouting and laughter. More portraits crowded into their frames to watch, their collective excitement turning the room into quite the spectacle.
Behind his desk, Dumbledore cheerfully added sugar to his tea, unfazed by the scene. Fighting portraits were nothing new; it was one of their few forms of entertainment, and as long as no damage was done to the frames or canvases, he saw no reason to intervene.
However, the sudden sound of Professor McGonagall's voice outside the door made the portraits freeze in place.
"Minister, are you here to see Albus at this hour?"
The portraits' ears twitched, and they quickly abandoned their brawl. In a flash, they fled the headmaster's office, with the Fat Lady and two knights dragging the bruised and battered combatants, Phineas and the Knight, away. They couldn't be seen in their current state by the Minister of Magic—it would be a disgrace to Hogwarts.
Just then, the door to the headmaster's office swung open.
"It happened so suddenly, Minerva. There was nothing I could do," came a low voice.
Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, walked in, a strained smile on his face. "Albus, long time no see. How are you?"
"Long time no see, Cornelius," Dumbledore said, rising to embrace him. "Would you like a cup of tea? Or perhaps some pumpkin juice?"
"Tea would be great," Fudge replied, still looking a little nervous as he rubbed his bowler hat in his hands and glanced at McGonagall, who stood nearby.
Dumbledore snapped his fingers, and a steaming cup of tea appeared on the table. "Sugar?"
Fudge shook his head, sitting down. His unease was palpable, and he kept glancing at McGonagall.
Sensing that Fudge wanted to speak privately, McGonagall made her way to the door. "Albus, I'll be off then," she said, leaving the office.
The moment she left, Fudge leaned in closer. "Albus, I can't hide it anymore. Those smuggled magical creatures..."
As the door closed behind her, Fudge's voice was cut off, but Professor McGonagall could guess the reason for his late-night visit. Cornelius Fudge, like many politicians, had a habit of hiding inconvenient information until it could no longer be suppressed. Only then would he seek out Dumbledore for advice.
With a heavy sigh, McGonagall pursed her lips. Cornelius Fudge's lack of responsibility was far worse than Millicent Bagnold's ever had been.