Fred was right—they couldn't change their plans. Early the next morning, the Weasley family set off as planned to visit Bill. The Burrow, always lively, felt strangely quiet, and Kyle found himself at a bit of a loss.
With a week left before August, and with Fred and George gone, Kyle decided to look for something to do. He went to find Chris.
"You want to learn Apparition?" Chris asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Kyle nodded. "Is that okay?"
Chris looked puzzled. "Can you tell me why? You don't really need it right now. Apparition is forbidden at Hogwarts, and you won't need it at home, either. And according to Ministry regulations, only wizards over the age of seventeen are allowed to learn Apparition. If you get caught, it could cause trouble."
Apparition could be risky. A mistake could result in part of a wizard's body—an arm, leg, or even head—left behind. Such mishaps were both painful and shocking, a psychological strain few young wizards could endure. There was even a case of a young wizard who had a breakdown after witnessing a headless body appear at his destination, leaving him traumatized for life.
To prevent incidents like these, the Ministry had a strict rule forbidding underage wizards from learning Apparition. Hogwarts only allowed students to learn it in sixth year, primarily for those turning seventeen. The Ministry usually turned a blind eye, figuring that students at sixteen or seventeen were mature enough, especially under the watch of a professor. But Kyle was only fourteen—technically, he hadn't even turned fourteen yet—so he certainly didn't meet the criteria.
"It's alright; I have this…" Kyle showed the ring on his hand with a grin. "If anyone asks, I can just say it's a magical tool."
Diana had returned the ring to him two weeks earlier, with its Apparition limit reset to three uses.
Chris hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. Kyle had always demonstrated responsibility and skill well beyond his years, so Chris rarely objected to his requests, even if they were a bit bold. Of course, if Kyle ever asked for something dangerous, like learning the Killing Curse, Chris would never allow it. But Apparition mostly tested mental focus, and Chris had confidence in Kyle's stability.
Once decided, Chris quickly arranged things. That afternoon, he applied for a week's paid leave from the Ministry, under the pretense of needing time to prepare for the upcoming trip to Romania. Then, he took Kyle to a secluded open space on the northern hills—an area rarely visited and well out of sight from the village below, making it ideal for practicing Apparition.
A few owls followed them, perching in the surrounding trees.
"Before we begin, there are two things you must remember," Chris said, his tone serious. "First, when using Apparition, you need a crystal-clear memory of your destination—specific and detailed. This will help prevent you from appearing midair or, worse, stuck in something solid, like a tree."
"Second, unless you've mastered Apparition to the point where it's as effortless as breathing, never use it in battle. Your enemies won't be able to reattach your head if it doesn't arrive with you. If you're ever in a tight spot, rely on the ring; it's much safer and removes any risk of Splinching."
Kyle nodded, committing each word to memory.
"Now," Chris continued, "let's go over the basics: goal, determination, and composure."
"Setting a goal—your destination—is the first step, which I already mentioned. But the most crucial part is determination. You have to let the desire to reach that location flood your mind and every inch of your body. Any hesitation or doubt, and the spell will break, which could leave part of you behind."
"Finally, remain calm and composed. If you're feeling tense, you might try spinning in place a few times; it can help relax you." Chris went over each point in detail and demonstrated three times before finally letting Kyle attempt it himself.
He casually tossed a stone a short distance away. "There's your target. Remember what I just said…"
Kyle took out his wand, took a deep breath, and focused intently on the stone. Soon, it became the only thing he could see.
Having used Apparition before with his ring, he easily slipped into that familiar sensation… almost like being tossed into a spinning washing machine.
"Pop!"
With a swirl and a pop, Kyle appeared five meters away, the world settling around him as he quickly checked his limbs. All there. Head still attached. Success!
"Not bad at all," Chris said, smiling as he walked over to Kyle's original spot, picking up a few stray hairs left behind. "Though you've got a minor flaw. I think you might've been distracted just as the squeezing sensation kicked in—that's the toughest part to master."
He tossed another stone a few meters away. "Try again. To learn Apparition, you'll need to get used to that feeling and learn to ignore the sensation of spatial compression."
Kyle nodded, looking more focused. Now, in addition to wanting to master Apparition, he had another motivation: preserving his hair.
When it came to normal Splinching, Apparition kept a connection at the site of separation, meaning body parts could be reattached with minimal issue. But hair was a different story. Once separated, it would be nearly impossible to track down each lost strand. A few more mishaps, and he'd start noticing thinning patches.
On his second attempt, Kyle found himself distracted once again, and this time it was worse—he left half a finger behind. There was no pain, but the unsettling feeling made his skin crawl.
Chris quickly reattached it, applying Essence of Dittany to the joint to promote faster healing.
"I'd swear you're even more tense than before…" Chris remarked, noting Kyle's nervous expression.
"It's nothing," Kyle replied with a forced chuckle, careful not to admit his fear of losing hair. Instead, he redirected the conversation. "Let's go again."
And so, the entire afternoon was spent in relentless practice. By the seventh or eighth attempt, Kyle managed to Apparate without leaving anything behind. He'd finally gotten used to the sensation.
Chris was amazed. Back in his school days, he and Diana had taken five or six classes and failed dozens of times before they even began to feel comfortable with Apparition. He'd expected Kyle would have a similar experience.
But for Kyle, it felt natural. After all, anyone who'd endured the jarring, disorienting travel by Phoenix Apparition would have an easier time adjusting to normal Apparition in comparison.