Chapter 72: Why Couldn’t It Be You?
As they neared the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Fred and George finally gave in and stopped resisting, though they still had plenty of energy left to grumble about Kyle's extravagance.
"There's still loads left. We've wasted at least a Galleon," Fred muttered, holding the hem of his robe like a makeshift pouch, filled to the brim with silver sand.
George, similarly dressed, stood next to him, making them look like a pair of overgrown kangaroos.
Kyle, on the other hand, didn't respond much, only mumbling something under his breath. He was running low on energy, and the late hour was catching up with him. The initial excitement of watching the Mooncalves dance had worn off, and now fatigue was setting in. All he could think about was getting back to the dormitory and sinking into a warm, comfortable bed for a good night's sleep.
As the group reached the forest's edge, the sound of barking and heavy footsteps echoed from a short distance away.
Hagrid!
Everyone froze, immediately dropping to the ground. Kyle swiftly pulled out his invisibility cloak. Though the cloak was a bit small for five people and couldn't cover them entirely, the dense underbrush of the Forbidden Forest helped conceal them further.
The footsteps drew closer, and soon Hagrid's enormous figure came into view. Kyle clutched the cloak tightly, lying flat on his stomach, barely daring to breathe.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Hagrid called out, his dim oil lamp casting a flickering glow around him. "I can see you!"
Behind Hagrid trailed Fang, the large black hound. The dog lowered its head and began sniffing the ground, inching closer to their hiding spot.
Everyone's hearts pounded in their chests, and they instinctively covered their mouths to avoid making any noise. Fang crept nearer, until he was less than a meter away. Kyle could make out the dog's small black eyes and the drool dripping from its mouth.