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Chapter 598: Returning to 12, Grimmauld Place
🕑 Added 2025-03-09 13:16:30 +0000 UTCDumbledore didn’t linger long at the Ministry. After exchanging a few words with Kyle, he left with Professor McGonagall, disappearing into another corridor.
In the elevator, Mr. Weasley swatted away a paper airplane zooming overhead and leaned toward Kyle. “Why don’t you come over to Grimmauld Place for a bit?” he said in a low voice. “Everyone’s there, and Molly’s cooked up a feast to celebrate that everything turned out all right.”
“Okay,” Kyle agreed.
Diana had previously warned him against going elsewhere, likely because of the Ministry interrogation. Now that it was over, there was no reason to stay cooped up in St. Catchpole Village. Besides, he couldn’t remain isolated for two months straight.
Harry’s face lit up at Kyle’s agreement. He had been beaming ever since learning he wouldn’t be expelled from Hogwarts, and anything else seemed to only add to his joy.
When Kyle decided to go to 12 Grimmauld Place, Chris stayed behind as the elevator stopped at the Department for the Control of Magical Creatures.
“Have fun,” Chris said with a smile. “If you decide to stay overnight, send an owl to let me know.”
“Okay, Dad,” Kyle replied with a nod.
As they exited into the main hall, Kyle noticed it was much quieter than it had been in the morning. A single duty wizard sat slouched at his desk, face buried in a copy of The Daily Prophet. It was unclear whether he was reading or napping.
As they walked past the golden fountain, Harry suddenly stopped and turned back.
“Wait…”
He reached into his money bag and emptied it into the fountain, the coins clinking loudly as they hit the water.
“I decided on the way here,” Harry explained, tucking away his now-empty purse. “If I managed to make it through this whole thing, I’d donate every Knut I had.”
“In that case, I should donate something too,” Kyle said, stepping up to the fountain.
He rummaged through his pockets and eventually found a single silver Sickle. Most of his money was locked up in the Niffler’s safe within his suitcase, making this his only available coin.
Kyle tossed the Sickle into the fountain. It made a larger splash than Harry’s Galleons, earning a faint chuckle from Harry.
Kyle looked up at the fountain’s inscription:
“All proceeds from the magical fountain go to St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Injuries.”
“That’s all for today,” Kyle muttered. “If everything goes well, I’ll donate more next time…”
The three then stepped into the fireplace, Flooing to the Leaky Cauldron.
Perhaps it was the rare opportunity, or maybe he wanted to show Kyle something new, but Mr. Weasley decided to forego Apparition and opted for Muggle transportation instead.
The journey was filled with Mr. Weasley’s uncontainable excitement. At every stop, he let out loud exclamations of wonder, drawing curious—and occasionally bemused—stares from nearby Muggles. He was dressed in ill-matching clothes, completing the image of a country bumpkin marveling at the “modern” world.
For Kyle and Harry, however, the experience was less entertaining.
Harry, already embarrassed from his morning escapades with Mr. Weasley, kept his head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
Kyle, meanwhile, quietly distanced himself, pretending to be just another passenger.
When they finally arrived at the station, both boys rushed ahead, leaving Mr. Weasley behind as he continued to marvel loudly at the ticket machine.
“I’ve never wanted to learn Apparition so badly in my life,” Harry muttered under his breath. “Fred and George do it all the time, and they’re not even subtle about it.”
“You’ll get your chance soon,” Kyle said.
“You’re learning it this year, right?” Harry asked.
“Yeah, you can take the class in sixth year,” Kyle replied.
In truth, Kyle had already learned Apparition on his own, and the upcoming lessons were merely to formalize his skill and obtain the certificate.
By the time they arrived at 12 Grimmauld Place, it was already noon.
The house was noticeably livelier than the last time Kyle had visited. Though it wasn’t as bustling as it might be in the evening, there were far more people than before, and the air buzzed with activity.
“Oh, dear, I knew you’d be fine,” Mrs. Weasley said warmly as she pulled Harry and Kyle into a tight hug.
“Welcome, Kyle,” Hermione said as she hurried over, her face alight with both relief and concern. “Harry, how did it turn out—”
Her question was abruptly cut off as a small figure darted past her, nearly knocking her over.
“Master Kyle!” exclaimed Kreacher, the House-elf, as he rushed up to Kyle, bowing deeply. “Welcome, Master Kyle. Would Master like some biscuits? I have freshly made raspberry cookies—or perhaps you’d prefer some Butterbeer first?”
The sight of Kreacher behaving so respectfully left everyone wide-eyed.
Harry and Ron exchanged a bewildered glance, their expressions a mix of disbelief and amusement.
This was not the Kreacher they had come to know—the sullen, muttering House-elf who treated them with disdain and whispered rude comments behind their backs. Kreacher’s usual demeanor was as far from enthusiastic as one could imagine.
“Are you sure this is Sirius’s house?” Ron muttered to Harry. “Feels like Kyle’s the master here.”
“I don’t know,” Harry whispered back, equally confused. He glanced at Kreacher, who seemed entirely devoted to Kyle, and couldn’t help but recall Dobby’s eager and affectionate behavior.
Even Mrs. Weasley, usually quick to smooth over awkward moments, seemed surprised by Kreacher’s uncharacteristic enthusiasm.
“Don’t be so shocked,” Sirius said as he entered the room, a wry smile on his face.
“Kyle has done the Black family a great service. That’s why Kreacher treats him with more respect than he’ll ever give me.”
Sirius walked over, briefly nodding to the others, before focusing on Harry and Kyle. “How did it go? Everything all right?”
“Better than all right,” Harry said, grinning ear to ear. “I wasn’t expelled—the charges were dropped!”
“Yes,” Kyle added simply, confirming Harry’s words.
“Ha! I knew it!” Ron exclaimed, jumping up excitedly. “You were bound to get off!”
“Yes, you didn’t do anything wrong,” Hermione said, her hands still trembling slightly as relief washed over her.
Everyone shared her sentiment—looks of visible relief spread across their faces. Even Mrs. Weasley dabbed at her eyes with her apron, her happiness evident.
The moment of celebration was abruptly interrupted by a loud bang!
Fred and George had Apparated into the room, startling everyone.
“Actually, we knew you’d be fine too,” Fred said with a grin, slinging an arm around Kyle’s shoulders.
“Absolutely,” George added. “Not worried one bit.”
“I think the Ministry owes you compensation, though,” Fred said mischievously.
“You’re dreaming,” Kyle replied with a chuckle. “They won’t give me a single Knut.”
“Wait a second…” Hermione’s brow furrowed as something clicked in her mind. She turned to Kyle, her expression incredulous.
“You mean—Kyle was questioned by the Ministry too?”
“Ah, yes,” Kyle said nonchalantly. “Like Harry, I was accused of misusing magic outside of school.”
Hermione stared at him, momentarily speechless.
She could understand Harry’s predicament—it wasn’t his fault, but it was hardly his first time being caught for using magic outside of school. However, Kyle’s case didn’t make sense.
He lives in a village with wizards, right? How could they accuse him of breaking the rules?
