Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is not meant to infringe upon copyrights.
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The adults' usual deception certainly didn't fool Kyle, but it wasn't entirely fruitless either. At least they frightened Ron and Ginny standing nearby.
Ron, in particular, had been quite interested when the topic first came up, listening with gusto, hoping to gain some experience for next year's school term.
But the more he listened, the uglier his expression grew.
Trolls, ghosts, and hippogriffs were fine—although outrageous, if he just turned and ran, he should still have a chance of survival. After all, the professors at Hogwarts weren't just for show.
But what about dragons?
They were magical creatures of 5x level. Even an adult wizard wouldn't survive, let alone an eleven-year-old. He'd probably be reduced to dust by a sneeze before the professors even finished their spells.
What the hell was going to school?
Ron was devastated, even briefly considering running away from home. He didn't want to go to Hogwarts, truly didn't want to go. He just wanted to live.
Ginny, beside him, wasn't much better.
Her face was pale, and her once beautiful red hair had dimmed considerably.
"What's wrong, Ginny?"
Kyle, sitting across from her, observed the scene and asked with concern. "Why aren't you eating? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, no,"
Ginny said, clearly not wanting to admit she was frightened in front of her family. Seeing Kyle's gaze, she quickly shook her head and said, "I'm just full."
A nine-year-old girl's appetite was naturally small, and with half a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans she'd already eaten, Ginny was practically done.
She was about eight-tenths full, in a state where she could eat or not. However, the sudden talk of sorting had completely wiped out her remaining appetite.
"Is that so? That's a shame."
Kyle, oblivious to his presence, simply stood up and calmly placed the untouched grilled fish in front of Ginny on his own plate.
Grilled fish, like other foods, loses its flavor over time, which would be a shame; it would be better to eat it yourself.
It's also worth mentioning that Mrs. Weasley's grilled fish skills were exceptional, a hidden gem.
However, with her large family to care for, deboning fish was a chore, so she could only enjoy her craft on important holidays.
Of course, fish was also likely expensive in the wizarding world.
Regardless, Kyle had been craving it for a long time and couldn't bear to see this delicacy go to waste.
Ginny knew this, but she didn't stop him.
She had originally intended to save the fish for last, but after learning she'd face a dragon in two years, she lost all appetite. She could only watch with a look of heartache as Kyle stuffed her grilled fish into his mouth.
Finally, they simply turned their heads, ignoring the sight.
Meanwhile, Fred and George, standing nearby, sighed in unison.
They'd been staring at the grilled fish for a long time, but Kyle's movements were so quick that they didn't even have a chance to make a move.
The unwilling twins turned their gaze to Ron.
Unfortunately, Ron didn't have Ginny's habit. His grilled fish had long since become boneless, and he'd gnawed it so cleanly that a flobberworm would have slipped on it.
"What's wrong, Ron? Are you afraid of dragons?" Fred narrowed his eyes, concealing his true intentions, yet he showed a rare concern for Ron's current state. He patted his shoulder affectionately and soothed him, "Don't worry, dragons only last a year. They'll be replaced by another magical beast by the time you start school."
"I think it's spiders," George added quickly. "I've seen them in the Forbidden Forest. They're all about the size of goblins. Maybe they're what Hagrid prepared for the Sorting ceremony."
"No!"
Ron's heart sank, and panic filled his eyes. He instinctively dropped his cutlery and ran screaming back to the Burrow.
Ron was clearly terrified, barely noticing the twins' wicked laughter as he ran away.
But the twins weren't entirely without their fault.
"George, why are you in the Forbidden Forest?"
Mrs. Weasley, perceptive enough to spot the problem, looked at the twins sternly. "I don't recall Hogwarts allowing first years to go there."
"Mother, I can explain…"
Fred and George tried to run, but being only second years, they were no match for Mrs. Weasley and were quickly apprehended.
Then came the familiar scene of a loving mother and son.
Though it had played out countless times over the past eleven years, Kyle watched with rapt interest, even working up a good appetite.
He had no doubt the twins had been to the Forbidden Forest, but the spider story was probably a fabrication to scare Ron, a fluke that had hit the mark.
After all, the Acromantulas of the Forbidden Forest were no harmless little creatures. If they had actually encountered one, they would likely have made their home there by now.
Kyle remembered that the Acromantula's nest was deep in the Forbidden Forest; Fred and George couldn't get that far.
The twins weren't called Harry Potter; they enjoyed pranks, not death.
About twenty minutes later, dinner was almost over. Despite a few hiccups, it was a thoroughly enjoyable meal for both host and guest.
Kyle was happy, at least.
After briefly clearing the table, Percy went upstairs to review.
Ron, attempting to run away with a small bag, had been caught red-handed. He had taken the twins' place, being chased around the yard by Mrs. Weasley.
Mr. Weasley and Chris moved to another spot to continue their conversation.
"Chris, you were too exaggerated just now."
In the Burrow, Mr. Weasley said regretfully: "It's just a sorting, how could there be a dragon? Little Kyle is so smart, he must know that we are lying to him."
"No, Arthur, you are wrong. In fact, this plan was doomed to fail from the beginning."
Chris shook his head and said helplessly: "Kyle has been with Mr. Scamander for at least two months every year since he was three years old. Do you think he will be afraid of trolls and hippogriffs? Also, Arthur, have you forgotten that Kyle's last name is Chopper."
"Uh..." Mr. Weasley was stunned for a moment, scratched his head slightly embarrassedly and said: "You mean, he can communicate with magical creatures like you?"
"Of course." Chris nodded and said: "So he can't be afraid of hippogriffs. I guess only dragons can make him feel nervous."
Mr. Weasley glanced at Chris and said with some envy: "What a magical ability. I wish I could communicate with those Muggle objects too."
"???"
Chris was speechless for a moment, then laughed dryly, "It's actually not as exaggerated as you think. This kind of talent is only limited to magical animals. Ordinary animals like mice, toads, and owls can't do it. You can only rely on experience to guess what they mean."
Chris's meaning was clear. Even if Mr. Weasley used some bizarre magic to change his last name to Chopper one day, he would only be able to talk to things like Floo powder or the Golden Snitch.
As for things like toasters or cars... forget it, it's impossible, don't even think about it!
[End of the chapter]