The train finally stopped at the Hogsmeade platform, and everyone spilled out onto the platform. Chaos reigned everywhere: owls were hooting, cats were meowing, and toads were croaking in unison, creating a cacophony that filled the small space.
Suddenly, a lion-shaped firework burst across the sky, capturing everyone's attention at once.
Bang!
Another firework soared up with a trailing plume of smoke.
The young wizards quickly noticed Fred, who was at the center of it all, calmly setting off more fireworks. With everyone's eyes on him, he wrapped a parchment edged in gold around one of the fireworks and lit it.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang...
Fireworks exploded one after another, forming lions, badgers, and dragons that leaped and swirled across the sky, holding their shapes for a surprisingly long time before fading.
"Is this Hogwarts' welcome ceremony?" one of the first-years asked, clearly excited.
Unaware of the actual reason behind the display, they assumed Hogwarts was putting on a grand show just to welcome them. And truthfully, the fireworks were mesmerizing. Watching the animal shapes sparkle overhead, many of them felt their nervousness begin to fade.
But others had different reactions.
"See, Zabini?" Malfoy said with a smug smile to the other first-years. "I told you Kyle would destroy the maps. You didn't believe me, ha…"
He let out a mocking laugh, clearly pleased with himself.
Next to him, a freckled boy stuck out his neck defiantly. "Who knows if that's true? Maybe it's just a transfiguration spell."
"Absolutely not!" Malfoy scoffed. "I trust Kyle. He won the Special Award for Services to the School. He's definitely not that kind of person."
"Who knows?" the freckled boy retorted, smirking. "Don't forget, all those students were second-years. It'd be easy for them to pull something like this."
The two of them were firm in their beliefs, each refusing to budge.
Just then, Crabbe, the tallest of the group, noticed something fluttering down and reached out to grab a fragment of parchment.
"Draco, look at this."
Malfoy, momentarily distracted from arguing with Zabini, turned around. His eyes lit up as he took the fragment from Crabbe.
"Aha!"
He held up the parchment, pointing excitedly at the faint gold lines still visible. "Look at this—it's real gold! Do you still think it's just a transfiguration spell? And…"
He brought the fragment closer to his face, inhaling near a burnt spot on the paper.
"I accidentally burned a hole in the Unicorn's Tail Tapestry at home once, and it smelled exactly like this."
Zabini's face flushed, as if he'd just been smacked.
Seeing this, Malfoy became even more pleased with himself, his grin widening. "I get it—you probably can't afford the twenty Galleons for the map. That's why you're making excuses. No worries, though. I asked around, and they have a few maps left for a Scrooge like you. You can always buy one of those."
"Who are you calling Scrooge?"
Zabini's temper flared. He could handle losing an argument, but Malfoy's mocking tone was too much. Twenty Galleons—did Malfoy think he couldn't afford that? Just who did Malfoy think he was?
"Just you wait. I'll buy the most expensive map they have!" Zabini declared, sticking his neck out defiantly. "It'll be better than yours!"
"Tut tut, that's impossible," Malfoy replied with a smug look. "I'm buying the most expensive one, and Kyle promised my number would be at the front. So even if you get the same map, you'll still be behind me."
"You... hmph!" Zabini fumed, glaring at Malfoy before turning on his heel and stomping off.
Malfoy watched him go with a triumphant air, clearly relishing his victory.
Just then, a light appeared above their heads.
"First-year students! First-years, come this way. Harry, are you alright?"
Hagrid's towering figure emerged on the platform, calling out to the new students, just as he had the previous year. Meanwhile, Kyle and the other second-years began walking in the opposite direction, heading toward the carriages that would take them up to Hogwarts.
On the rough, muddy path, over a hundred empty carriages stood waiting, each pulled by Thestrals—though only those who had seen death could see them. Kyle couldn't see them.
He'd once come close. There'd been an incident with a werewolf at St. Mungo's, but the werewolf had been too resilient and had ultimately been saved by the Healers. Half-death wasn't enough to see the Thestrals.
Kyle approached a carriage, reaching out and feeling the bony, invisible head with his hands. The Thestral nudged him gently in return.
Once they were seated, the Thestral pulled the carriage toward Hogwarts Castle. The interior had a faint musty scent, mingled with the dry smell of straw, reminiscent of an unused broom cupboard.
The carriages rolled forward, passing through two grand wrought-iron gates flanked by stone pillars, each topped with a winged warthog. The warthog wasn't a magical creature itself, but it was inspired by a dream of Rowena Ravenclaw, who had envisioned a flying warthog leading her to a clearing by the Black Lake—where she then saw Hogwarts Castle.
Beyond the gates, the carriage picked up speed as it rolled along the road leading up to the castle. Through the windows, they could see the tall towers and turrets growing closer with each moment.
At last, the carriage came to a slightly bumpy stop. The young wizards climbed out, still chatting excitedly about their journey, and made their way up the stone steps toward the castle's great oak doors.
Torches flickered in the vast, dim foyer. To the right, the doors to the Great Hall stood open, waiting for the students to enter before the first-years arrived. Kyle followed the flow of students into the hall. After two months away, he'd missed this place, and he cast a fond look at the enchanted ceiling, which mirrored the clear night sky, dotted with shining stars.
Just as he was reaching the Hufflepuff table and about to sit down, he heard a voice call out:
"Kyle, could you come here a minute?"
Surprised, Kyle looked up to see Professor Sprout, the Head of Hufflepuff, waving at him from the VIP section.
"I'm coming, Professor," he replied quickly, weaving his way through the bustling crowd toward her.
"What can I do for you, Professor?" he asked when he reached her.
"The Ministry sent something here a while ago. They said it was compensation for the incident in the Forbidden Forest two months ago," Professor Sprout said with a warm smile. "I have a feeling it's meant for you."