After leaving Flourish and Blotts, Kyle picked up a few more items before reuniting with Harry and the others at the Magical Menagerie. Hermione, who had talked about wanting an owl, ended up buying a plump ginger cat named Crookshanks. To be honest, the cat was rather homely, with a squashed, flat face that looked like it had been stepped on, and long, unruly fur that obscured any definition of its features.
Perhaps wizards had different tastes when it came to pets. To some, Crookshanks might resemble a furry suitcase, but Hermione was clearly enamored with him, insisting he was more handsome than any other cat in the shop. Well, thought Kyle, to each their own. Respecting her choice, he kept his opinion to himself, simply nodding in agreement. Harry seemed to be doing the same. As for Ron, he was too preoccupied to notice.
The shop assistant had no real solution for Ron's rat, Scabbers, and when Ron decided against replacing him, the assistant merely recommended a rat tonic.
"Do you think this will work?" Ron asked, examining the bottle as they walked back. "It doesn't seem nearly as good as the tonic you gave me, Kyle."
"Forget what it seems like," Kyle said. "This stuff is just sugar water with a bit of red amaranth juice. I could make a whole vat of it in no time. By the way, how much did you pay for it?"
"Quite a lot," Ron admitted glumly. "Two Sickles!"
"You must be rolling in Sickles if you paid that," Kyle teased. "You'd still turn a profit selling it for two Knuts."
Ron looked even more miserable, realizing he'd been ripped off. Unfortunately, he'd already given Scabbers a dose, so there was no chance of returning it now. He glanced at his bedraggled rat and sighed, "Can I just buy tonic from you in the future?"
"Of course. Anytime, and it's free," Kyle assured him.
As he said this, he noticed Crookshanks watching Scabbers. But the cat merely gave the rat a lazy glance before turning his squashed face aside and swishing his tail indifferently.
Back at the Leaky Cauldron, they found Mr. Weasley sitting at the bar, absorbed in The Daily Prophet.
"Harry, Kyle!" he greeted them warmly as they approached. "There you are! How've you been these last few days?"
"Very well, thank you," Harry replied.
"Quite well," Kyle added, taking a seat next to him.
"I heard from Charlie that you were a great help," Mr. Weasley said, looking Kyle over. "It's a good thing you weren't hurt. Molly's been complaining that they shouldn't involve kids in such dangerous work."
"It wasn't as dangerous as it sounds," Kyle replied with a laugh. "With Mr. Scamander and my dad there, I just stood behind them whenever the dragons got too close."
"Glad to hear that."
Ron, who had been listening, frowned in confusion. "Wait—dangerous? Dragons? Are you saying Kyle met dragons in Romania?"
Hermione and Harry leaned in, equally curious.
"More than one," Mr. Weasley said, explaining the whole story now that it was safe to share. He described how they'd encountered dozens of dragons, the many Magizoologists who'd been brought in, and the eventual showdown with poachers.
Hermione was awestruck. She'd thought her summer trip to France had been adventurous, but it sounded boring compared to Kyle's experience. "Over ten Magizoologists…" she sighed. "I wish I could have gone to Romania too."
"No chance," Mr. Weasley said, putting down The Daily Prophet and shaking his head. "The sanctuary was closed to tourists during all that. At best, you'd have been able to wander around the nearby village."
"Speaking of the village, I brought you all something," Kyle said, reaching into his leather bag for the gifts he'd prepared. He handed Mr. Weasley a dragonwood walking stick, sturdy and heavy. After nearly needing a melee weapon at Flourish and Blotts last year, Kyle had thought this would suit him well. Strong enough to deliver a solid blow, it was almost as effective as a Stunning Spell.
"This is fantastic," Mr. Weasley said, testing its weight with a pleased grin.
For Harry, Ron, and Hermione, Kyle had dragon badges made of dragon scales, each etched with an image of a dragon that moved as if alive. The trio thanked him enthusiastically and immediately pinned them onto their robes.
Just then, Harry noticed the picture of Sirius Black on the newspaper Mr. Weasley had set down. The man's face glared back at him, looking wild and unhinged. "He hasn't been caught yet?"
"No," Mr. Weasley replied, looking serious. "The Ministry's pulled most of us from our usual duties to focus on tracking him down, but so far, we've had no luck."
"Is there a reward for catching him?" Ron asked hopefully.
"Don't be ridiculous, Ron," Mr. Weasley scolded, his tone grave. "Black isn't going to be caught by a thirteen-year-old wizard. Don't be foolish."
Just then, Mrs. Weasley entered the pub carrying a large bag, followed by Fred and George, Percy—newly appointed as Head Boy—and Ginny, the youngest of the Weasleys.
"Hi, Kyle!"
"Long time no see!"
Fred and George made a beeline for Kyle, each shaking his hand enthusiastically. "It's wonderful to see you, old chap."
"Wonderful indeed," added the other "Percy" with a frown, though his tone was mock-serious.
"Oh, enough of you two!" Mrs. Weasley scolded, smiling as she approached. "Stop imitating Percy." She pulled Kyle into a warm hug. "It's so good to see you, dear."
"You too, Mrs. Weasley," Kyle replied.
"So, where are our presents?" Fred and George chorused, each stretching out a hand expectantly.
"What presents?" Kyle asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't pretend," Fred said knowingly. "We noticed Dad's walking stick as soon as we came in."
"And Ron's dragon badge," George added. "They didn't have those on before."
Kyle laughed and took out the gifts he had prepared for the rest of the Weasleys: one each for Fred, George, Percy, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley. When he handed Percy his gift, Percy took it with exaggerated formality, giving Kyle a firm handshake.
"Thank you very much; I'm honored," Percy said, adopting the overly formal tone and posture of a Romanian Ministry of Magic official they had encountered during the summer.
Fred and George, standing nearby, immediately began to mimic him, pulling faces and striking dramatic poses. Mrs. Weasley scolded them.
...
That evening, the Weasley family decided not to return to The Burrow and instead booked rooms at the Leaky Cauldron. Mr. Weasley wanted Kyle to stay with them as well, but after some thought, Kyle declined.
"I saw Chris before I came," Mr. Weasley said. "He agreed it would be fine for you to stay here for the night."
"But I haven't packed anything," Kyle replied. "I left behind a lot of things I need, including my books and homework."
It wasn't entirely untrue—Kyle did leave his homework back at home, where it had been untouched in his suitcase for over two years. But he had other reasons for not wanting to stay. He'd noticed several patrons watching them: someone in the corner glancing their way from time to time, a witch at the bar who'd been "reading" the same page of the paper for over half an hour, and an old hag sipping mead, who'd somehow transformed into a middle-aged witch, drinking the exact same mead, just a few minutes ago.
Kyle suspected these were Aurors stationed to keep an eye on Harry. He knew Mr. Weasley was one of them, and that his additional task was to ensure Harry got safely to King's Cross Station the next day. The last thing Kyle wanted was to spend the night under the close watch of so many Aurors. Just the thought was unsettling.
Since he'd brought up books and homework, Mrs. Weasley accepted his decision but refused to let him leave on his own, insisting they wait for Chris to come pick him up.
They ended up waiting all evening. Chris didn't return from the Ministry until well after they'd finished dinner.
"What a shame, Arthur—I was hoping to have a drink with you," Chris said, taking Kyle by the arm. "There's so much paperwork, and everything is such a rush at the Ministry these days…"
"I understand," Mr. Weasley said with a knowing wink. "I'm not allowed to drink either, for that matter."
"Yes, that's true…" Chris sighed. "Well, then, I'll see you at the Ministry tomorrow."
With that, he led Kyle out of the Leaky Cauldron.