"Detention?" Kyle asked innocently in Minerva's office, "But Professor McGonagall, we only sold some things — that's not against school rules, is it?"
"This comes from the Headmaster." Professor McGonagall said sternly, "He believes that at this time you should be focusing on your studies or practicing wand movements for your exams, rather than expending energy elsewhere."
"Well... alright, I understand." Kyle sighed, not arguing any further.
It was just detention after all — as long as they didn't make him give refunds, he could handle anything.
After leaving the office, the six of them looked at each other and collectively sighed.
"Cheer up, mates."
Fred and George, with their extensive detention experience, were the first to return to normal.
Fred said with a smile, "At least Professor McGonagall didn't make us give refunds or take away points — that's quite fortunate."
"True." George said, patting Cedric's shoulder, "Besides, getting a taste of detention isn't so bad for you lot."
"Merlin's beard." Fred said with an exaggerated expression, "George, I just realized — except for us two, everyone here is a good student!"
"Yeah, Fred, compared to them, we frequent detention-goers really don't fit in." George squeezed out two tears and said, "They won't look down on us, will they?"
"Maybe while there's still time, we should hurry back and study!"
"Try to get a few 'O's in the final exams."
"That's too hard — let's aim for 'E's instead."
The two went back and forth with exaggerated expressions, quickly making everyone else laugh.
Kyle said with a smile, "Thanks, but you're overthinking it."
"Yeah." Cedric shrugged, "If one detention earned you a hundred Galleons, I'd show up at Filch's door every night on time."
Cho and Kanna nodded together.
"Yes, exactly."
"Mm-hmm..."
Just as Cedric pointed out, when a hundred Galleons was involved, detention didn't seem so bad.
Fred's expression suddenly froze, "Hey, you were messing with us!" he said angrily.
Kyle shook his head, "Don't say that — I just hadn't quite processed it yet."
That was true — he never expected Dumbledore would give them detention over something so minor. It wasn't his usual style.
After passing the corridor where the office was located, they split up and returned to their respective houses.
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At dinner that evening, they received notes from Minerva.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Your detention begins tonight at eleven o'clock. Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.
Professor McGonagall
— — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"When did you get detention?!" Michael frowned beside him, "Could Professor McGonagall have delivered the note to the wrong person?"
In his view, Kyle was absolutely not the type of student to break school rules, let alone get detention. How could this be possible?
Kyle calmly tucked away the note, "No mistake — it's definitely mine."
"But..." Michael thought for a moment, then said uncertainly, "Were you caught wandering at night... but wasn't that during Easter break?"
Because of rushing to meet deadlines, Kyle had been staying up until midnight during the last two days of Easter break before returning to the dormitory. Michael and Ryan both knew about this.
Kyle neither confirmed nor denied it, just patted his shoulder meaningfully and said, "So remember, never wander around at night, even during holidays."
Michael and Ryan both shook their heads, seemingly gaining a new understanding of Hogwarts rules. This was really strict.
At eleven o'clock that night, Kyle, Cedric, and Kanna arrived at the entrance hall. Filch was already waiting there, with the Weasley twins and Cho Chang beside him.
"Follow me." Filch said, lighting a lamp and leading them out.
"I suppose you'll think twice before breaking any more school rules, won't you, eh?" He glanced at them sideways, "Though I believe hard work and pain are the best teachers... shame they've let the old punishments die out... hang you by your wrists from the ceiling for a few days..."
His sinister voice made Cho and Kanna turn pale, and even Cedric nervously swallowed.
But Fred and George's expressions didn't change at all — they even turned to make faces at the others when Filch wasn't looking. They heard this speech every few days; their ears were practically calloused from it.
"Here we are." After walking for a while, they stopped in front of a door. Filch took out his keys and opened it, "Go on in — you'll be cleaning the trophy room. I really don't understand what Professor McGonagall was thinking, having so many people clean the trophy room... this punishment seems far too lenient."
Hearing it was just cleaning the trophy room, some color returned to Cho and Kanna's faces.
Everyone entered the room in turn, but when it came to Kyle's turn, something unexpected happened.
Filch stopped him, saying expressionlessly, "Your punishment isn't here."
Mrs. Norris was left behind while Filch led him back to the entrance hall and out of the castle. The two strode across the dark grounds, and the squib had stopped making snide remarks.
Kyle noticed this path seemed to lead to the Forbidden Forest.
"That you, Filch? Hurry up, we need to get going." Hagrid stood at his cabin door, waving to them from far away.
"The Forest is dangerous." Filch said suddenly, "You'd better stay close to that fool, or your knowledge of school rules won't save your life."
"I understand." Kyle nodded.
Filch continued walking as if he hadn't heard anything.
"About time." Hagrid came striding toward them from the darkness, Fang at his heels.
"Ready, Kyle?"
"He's all yours, Hagrid." Filch said coldly, "I'll be back at dawn — hoping I won't find just his remains."
"That won't be necessary." Hagrid frowned, "No need for you to come back — I'll escort Kyle back to the castle myself."
Filch glared fiercely at him, turned, and walked back toward the castle, his lamp bobbing away in the darkness.
"Good riddance to that troublesome old codger." Hagrid picked up his crossbow and quiver, winked at Kyle, "Great to see you... sorry, I don't mean getting detention is good, but with your help, tonight should go more smoothly."
Kyle looked at the fully armed half-giant and asked, puzzled, "What's happening in the Forest?"
"A unicorn foal's been stolen — we need to go into the Forest to look for clues." Hagrid tightened his grip on the crossbow, his eyes full of fury, "If I find out who did this, they'll wish they'd never been born!"
✭✭✭
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