Chapter 146: Cedric the Great Savior
On the first day of the new school year, Fred and George were the undeniable center of attention. Even back in the Hufflepuff common room, students couldn't stop talking about their antics.
"Do you really think the Weasley twins can actually sell that candy?" Cedric asked doubtfully, sinking into the sofa. "Professor McGonagall won't approve."
"They probably won't make a big fuss," Kyle replied thoughtfully. "As long as they're careful not to get caught, they'll be fine. Technically, the rules do forbid Dungbombs and fireworks in the castle, but we still see those all the time. The professors have too much on their plates to worry about every little thing."
"That's different," Cedric argued, frowning. He remembered Fred and George mentioning that those sweets could help students skip class. Could the professors really overlook that?
Kyle shrugged, not entirely certain. But he was pretty sure the twins already had a plan up their sleeves. As long as they didn't get caught in the act, the professors would likely just assume the sweets were from Zonko's or another joke shop. Worst case, they'd add Fat Tongue Toffee to the list of banned items.
As was tradition in Hufflepuff, the first week back meant a scramble to catch up on unfinished summer homework. With the common room growing more crowded, Kyle and Cedric gave up their seats to students hoping for some last-minute miracles and headed back to their dorm.
The dorm looked just as it had last year, except for a new sign on the door reading "Second Year." The room was spotless, as if the house-elves had given it a thorough cleaning before term started. Kyle lay back on his bed, gazing at the familiar surroundings until he drifted off.
Because he'd turned in early, Kyle woke before dawn the next day and decided to visit the eighth floor alone. When he reached the Room of Requirement, he found the flowerbeds in good shape, thanks to the Room's natural environment simulation and the Mooncalves' regular soil fertilization—even after two months without tending.
But there were definite changes. The Devil's Snare, closest to the Mooncalf's lair, had grown substantially. Its tendrils were now as thick as Kyle's wrist, darker in color, and more imposing. The Chomping Cabbages he'd planted before the holidays had also sprouted. Their fist-sized mouths opened and closed, and Kyle guessed they'd start growing teeth in another week or two.