The usual antics of the adults may not have fooled Kyle, but they weren't without effect. At the very least, they managed to scare Ron and Ginny quite a bit.
Ron, in particular, had been quite interested at first when the topic was brought up. He listened eagerly, hoping to gather some experience in advance for the next school year.
But the more he heard, the worse his expression became.
Trolls, ghosts, and Hippogriffs were one thing—outrageous, sure, but as long as he could turn and run when the time came, there was still a chance to survive. After all, the professors at Hogwarts weren't just for show.
But how was a fire-breathing dragon supposed to work?
That was a magical creature of the highest danger level, something even an adult wizard might not survive, let alone an eleven-year-old student. By the time the professors even cast their spells, he'd probably already been blown into ashes by a single sneeze.
Was this really school?
Ron felt like his spirit had withered. He even considered running away from home. He didn't want to go to Hogwarts anymore. He just wanted to survive.
Ginny wasn't faring much better.
Her face was pale, and her once-bright red hair had lost its usual luster.
"What's wrong, Ginny?"
Kyle, who had been sitting opposite her, asked with concern, noticing her change. "Not feeling well? Not eating?"
"No, I'm fine," Ginny quickly denied, clearly not wanting to admit she was scared in front of the family. When she saw Kyle looking at her, she hastily shook her head. "I'm just full."
At nine years old, Ginny didn't have a large appetite, and with the half-box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans she'd already eaten, she was more than satisfied.
About eighty percent full, just enough to be at that "eat or not eat" stage. But with the sudden topic about the sorting ceremony, all of her remaining appetite disappeared.
"Oh, I see. What a shame."
Kyle didn't think much of it. Calmly standing up, he nonchalantly moved the untouched grilled fish in front of Ginny onto his own plate.
Grilled fish was different from other food. If it sat too long, its flavor would be severely diminished. It would be a shame to let it go to waste, so it was better to just eat it himself.
It was also worth mentioning that Mrs. Wesley was an excellent cook when it came to grilled fish. It was one of her specialties, a hidden gem.
However, due to the demands of managing a large family, dealing with fish bones was a hassle. So usually, they only got to taste this particular skill of hers on special occasions.
Of course, another reason was that fish in the magical world was quite expensive.
In any case, Kyle had been craving it for a while, so there was no way he was going to let it go to waste.
Ginny understood this, but didn't stop him.
She had originally planned to save the fish to enjoy slowly at the end, but after hearing about the fire-breathing dragon she'd have to face in two years, she had lost all desire to eat. She could only watch with a heart full of regret as Kyle stuffed the fish into his own mouth.
Finally, she turned her head away, pretending not to see.
Meanwhile, Fred and George, sitting nearby, let out a simultaneous sigh.
They had been eyeing the fish for quite a while, but Kyle was too quick for them. They didn't even have a chance to make a move.
Reluctantly, the twins turned their gaze toward Ron.
Unfortunately, Ron didn't share Ginny's habit. His fish had already been reduced to bones, and he had eaten it cleanly—so thoroughly that even a Flobberworm could slide across the remains.
"What's wrong, Ron? Are you afraid of the fire-breathing dragon?" Fred squinted his eyes, trying to mask his true intentions while offering rare concern for Ron's current state. He patted him on the back and comforted him. "Don't worry, the dragon will only be there for one year. By the time you get to school, it will probably be replaced by another magical creature."
"I bet it's a spider," George quickly added. "I've seen them in the Forbidden Forest. They're as big as goblins, so maybe that's what Hagrid has prepared for the sorting ceremony."
"No!"
Ron's face drained of color, his panic increasing rapidly. Instinctively, he tossed his utensils aside, screaming and running back to the Burrow.
Clearly, Ron was terrified, and he didn't even notice how mischievous the twins were laughing as he fled.
But the twins didn't escape unscathed.
"George, why were you in the Forbidden Forest?" Mrs. Wesley had keenly picked up on the critical issue, her expression turning stern as she glared at the twins. "I don't recall Hogwarts allowing first-years to venture into the Forbidden Forest."
"Mom, I can explain…"
Fred and George tried to flee, but as second-years, they weren't a match for Mrs. Wesley. They were quickly caught.
And then came the familiar scene of maternal scolding.
Although this scene had played out countless times over the past eleven years, Kyle still watched with great interest, his appetite even improving.
The twins had certainly been to the Forbidden Forest; Kyle didn't doubt that. But the spider story was probably just a fabrication to scare Ron—though it was a lucky coincidence that they had actually hit the mark.
After all, the Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest weren't exactly harmless, cute creatures. If the twins had run into them, they'd probably already be living in the forest by now.
Besides, Kyle remembered that the Acromantula nests were deep in the forest. Fred and George wouldn't have ventured that far.
The twins weren't like Harry Potter. They enjoyed pranks, not courting danger.
About twenty minutes later, dinner was winding down. Despite some minor interruptions, it had been an enjoyable meal for the most part.
At least, Kyle had enjoyed it.
After cleaning up the table, Percy went upstairs to study.
Ron, who had been caught in the act of trying to run away from home, now replaced the twins in the backyard, being chased by Mrs. Wesley.
Meanwhile, Mr. Wesley and Chris had moved to another spot to continue their conversation.
"Chris, you were a bit over the top earlier," Mr. Wesley said regretfully in the Burrow. "It was just the sorting ceremony. How could there possibly be a fire-breathing dragon? Kyle's so clever; he must have known we were lying."
"No, Arthur, you're wrong. This plan was doomed to fail from the start," Chris shook his head, somewhat helpless. "Kyle's been spending at least two months every year with Mr. Scamander since he was three. Do you think he'd be scared of trolls or Hippogriffs?"
"Also, Arthur, didn't you forget? Kyle is also a Jobar."
"Uh…"
Mr. Wesley froze for a moment, scratching his head awkwardly. "You mean, he can communicate with magical creatures like you?"
"Of course." Chris nodded. "So he couldn't possibly be scared of a Hippogriff. The only thing that might actually make him nervous is a fire-breathing dragon."
Mr. Wesley looked at Chris with a hint of envy. "That's an amazing ability. If only I could communicate with Muggle objects, too."
"???"
Chris was momentarily speechless, then forced a laugh. "Well, it's not as incredible as you think. This talent only applies to magical creatures. For regular animals like mice, toads, or owls, it's just about interpreting their behavior based on experience."
Chris's meaning was clear: even if Mr. Wesley somehow managed to change his last name to Jobar and gain this ability, he'd only be able to communicate with magical creatures like the Flying Powder or the Golden Snitch.
As for things like a toaster or a car? Forget it. It wasn't happening, not in a million years!
(End of Chapter)
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