Chapter 134: The New Student Asking for Directions
After returning from Diagon Alley, Kyle put his worries aside and enjoyed the last stretch of his holiday, eagerly testing out his new broom. Finally, after a year, he had his own. It wasn't the outdated Nimbus 1700 or a budget Cleansweep model, but the Nimbus 2000—a sleek, cutting-edge broom that had only been on the market for a month and was already a sensation across the wizarding world.
The Nimbus 2000 was a birthday gift from Diana and Chris, though Kyle had only recently retrieved it from his room, where it had waited for him during his stay in Dorset. And as soon as he took it for a flight, he could see why professional teams had scrambled to acquire it. Fast, stable, and extraordinarily responsive, it moved with a mere touch, shifting smoothly in whatever direction he needed. With the Nimbus 2000, Kyle even managed to beat the Weasley twins in the St. Catchpole Village Quidditch Tournament—despite being outnumbered two to one.
On the second day, Cedric finally returned from France and eagerly joined Kyle's team. Now it was two against two. Needless to say, Fred and George suffered an inevitable defeat.
"This isn't fair!" George groaned, eyeing the old Cleansweep in his hands. "The broom difference is just too big! If we had a Nimbus 2000... or even a Nimbus 1500, you wouldn't stand a chance."
"That's not the main problem, George," Fred said, patting his twin on the shoulder. "We're starting school soon, and this year, Kyle will definitely be on the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. Not exactly good news for us Gryffindors."
"Yeah... you're right." George slumped onto the ground, visibly deflated. He understood all too well what Fred meant.
With Kyle on board, Hufflepuff's team could easily maintain its strength. But Gryffindor faced a different situation. With Charlie's graduation, they had struggled to find a skilled Seeker to take his place. The Seeker position was unique—it required extraordinary talent, a rare quality not easily found. Cedric, for example, had shown exceptional promise as early as his second year—a rare case even in all of Hogwarts.
Lee Jordan had some potential, though not at Cedric's level. But Lee was set on becoming a Quidditch commentator, leaving Gryffindor without a replacement Seeker. Sharing a glance, Fred and George let out a mutual sigh, resigned to the challenges that lay ahead.
And with that, summer vacation sped by in no time. On September 1st, Mr. Weasley was once again there to see them off to King's Cross Station. Amid the bustling platform, Kyle cast a few glances around, as if searching for someone specific. He hadn't spotted any bespectacled boys, though. Had he come at the wrong time? He wondered for a moment, then dismissed the thought.