The next day was the weekend, and also the first weekend since Hogwarts had reopened. Even though they’d only had one day of classes, the students were already buzzing with excitement.
Perhaps to help dispel the lingering shadow of Voldemort more quickly, this weekend was once again a Hogsmeade weekend.
Early that morning, students from third year and above eagerly gathered in the entrance hall, waiting for a professor to escort them out.
“How long has it been since we last went to Hogsmeade?” Ron asked, sounding a bit giddy as he stood in the crowd.
“I can't even remember,” Harry said after thinking for a moment. “It seems like ever since Voldemort started stirring, we haven't been allowed off school grounds.”
“It was for our safety,” Hermione said. “The Death Eaters could’ve been hiding in Hogsmeade. It’s not as secure as the school.”
“Yeah, those days were stifling,” said Seamus, turning around from the front of the group. “It’s way better now. Voldemort’s gone, the Death Eaters are all scrambling to take care of themselves, and none of them dare show their faces anymore—ha!”
“Right,” someone chimed in. “Fizzing Whizbees, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans... I’ve nearly forgotten what they taste like.”
“And Zonkos—hope they’ve reopened.”
“My Galleons are practically begging to be spent.”
The group stood together, noisily chattering about whether they should hit the sweet shop first or head to The Three Broomsticks for a long-overdue Butterbeer.
As for the students below third year, they could only stand on the sidelines, watching longingly.
First- and second-years weren’t allowed to visit Hogsmeade, and not even a war had managed to change that rule.
“Oh, what’s taking the professor so long…” came a wave of complaints from the crowd.
“Quiet! Everyone, come over here!” Filch barked, holding a strange-looking device and scanning each student as they passed by.
It was a detector for dark magic items. Before Voldemort's attack on Hogwarts, every student entering or leaving the castle had to be scanned with it.
Although Voldemort had been defeated, the professors hadn’t issued any new instructions, so Filch continued the checks.
After all, it was one of the few chances he had to make life difficult for the students.
Filch’s methods were as rough as ever, prompting even louder grumbling from the crowd.
Fortunately, at that moment, the professor they were waiting for finally entered the castle.
“What are you all standing around for? Get outside and line up. We’re leaving,” Kyle called, waving his hand.
He was the supervising professor for this trip.
All the other professors were busy with more important matters—he was the only one with time to spare. If he didn’t find something to do, he figured he’d end up annoying everyone.
Besides, he had his own business in Hogsmeade, so he’d volunteered to lead the group.
“Wait! I haven’t finished checking them yet!” Filch shouted when he saw the students beginning to head outside.
“No need,” Kyle said, glancing at him. “And that antique you’re holding—I suggest you throw it back in storage. From now on, students can come and go like before. No more checks... That’s all.”
A wave of cheers erupted from the students.
Only Filch’s face turned dark with fury, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Just a year ago, Kyle himself had been one of the students required to go through the scanner before entering the castle. Now, he was a professor.
Even if he was “just” the Ancient Runes professor—arguably teaching the subject with the fewest students—his word carried far more weight than Filch’s.
But Filch wasn’t about to give up so easily.
“I’m going to speak to the Headmaster!” he snapped.
“Be my guest—if you can find him,” Kyle replied casually with a dismissive wave, setting off another round of cheers.
With that, the crowd followed Kyle out of the school and made their noisy way to Hogsmeade.
The moment the pointy rooftops of the village came into view, a few students instinctively broke from the group and ran ahead.
Seeing that Kyle didn’t stop them, even more students took off. By the time they reached the edge of the village, only a few obedient students remained in line—most of them third-years.
“As a reward for following the rules…” Kyle raised an eyebrow at them, “If you head to Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes and mention my name, you’ll get twenty percent off.”
“Awesome!”
“You’re the best professor!”
...
The group of young wizards cheered and dashed off, all but one.
“Hermione, something on your mind?”
“This is what you meant by a reward?” she asked, her expression a little odd.
“Yeah, don’t you like it?”
“But I heard from Ron that today’s the grand opening celebration of Fred and George’s new branch.”
Hermione looked straight at him and said, carefully and clearly, “Even without giving your name, everything’s twenty percent off anyway...”
“But they still got to enjoy the moment, didn’t they?”
Kyle shrugged. “I suggest you go buy something, too. Oh, and remember to give them my name—you’ll see.”
Before Hermione could say anything more, Kyle turned and walked off toward The Three Broomsticks.
He’d just been there yesterday with Director Sykes, and now he was back again.
After stepping inside, Kyle scanned the room and quickly spotted Kanna sitting at a round table near the window.
Seated across from her were Cedric and Cho.
“Don’t worry, I asked around—Professor Snape is doing fine. The Aurors haven’t given him any trouble,” Cedric said, handing Kanna a piece of parchment. “He asked me to give this to you.”
Kanna took it and glanced over it, visibly relieved. “When will he be back?”
“That, I don’t know.”
Cedric shook his head. “Some things can’t be explained in a sentence or two... You know, back when the last wizarding war ended, a lot of Death Eaters got away with claiming they were under the Imperius Curse or something similar. Turns out this time, most of them were lying.”
“Of course, I’m not saying Professor Snape is a Death Eater. I just mean the Ministry’s investigations have gotten much stricter.”
“I understand.” Kanna nodded.
Just then, Kyle happened to walk over.
“Weren’t we meeting at eight? Why are you all here so early?”
“If you check the time, you’ll see we’re not early,” Cedric said with a helpless sigh.
Classic Kyle—he was ten minutes late, yet had the audacity to say they’d arrived too soon.
“Maybe I was a little delayed. First time taking students to Hogsmeade and all...” Kyle took a Butterbeer from Madam Rosmerta and downed a large gulp. “And keeping them in line—it’s hard work.”
“Keeping them in line... Really?” Cedric gave him a skeptical look.
He remembered how, back when Kyle was a Prefect, he'd offloaded nearly all the responsibilities onto Cedric.
And Cedric doubted that becoming a professor had changed that habit.
“Doesn’t matter,” Kyle said with a wave of his hand, smoothly changing the subject. “So, about what you mentioned in your letter yesterday—Snape’s hearing?”
“I already told Kanna the details,” Cedric replied, clearly not interested in repeating himself for Kyle’s sake.
And really, there was no need.
He was here to speak with Kanna. Snape’s hearing didn’t concern Kyle... at least not for now.
It was Cho, standing next to Cedric, who suddenly grew nervous when she saw Kyle.
“Sorry about yesterday, locking you out at St. Mungo’s...” she said, a bit awkwardly. “I just felt... embarrassed, not being part of the real fight.”
“No, you’re wrong,” Kyle said seriously, looking at her. “You fought too—your battlefield just looked different.”
“Can I come with you?” Kyle asked.
“You can, but did you receive an invitation?” Professor McGonagall pulled out an envelope, stamped with the seal of the Wizengamot.
“No,” Kyle admitted with a shake of his head. He’d only just learned the hearing was happening—there was no way he could’ve received a letter.
“In that case, I’d suggest staying at Hogwarts,” McGonagall said gently. “This hearing is a formal one. Those without invitations aren’t allowed in. Even if you go to the Ministry, you’d only be waiting outside.”
“Not even with my Order of Merlin, Second Class?” Kyle blinked, puzzled. “I thought members of the Order—just like Wizengamot members—were allowed to attend any hearing or trial.”
“Second Class... Oh, I completely forgot.” Professor McGonagall patted her forehead.
It had been long enough that she’d nearly forgotten Kyle even held that distinction.
The Order of Merlin was one of the highest honors a wizard could receive. Even a Third Class recipient could attend any hearing—Kyle’s Second Class medal made his presence unquestionable.
“In that case, come along,” she said at last, with no further objections. “Miss Prince is probably getting impatient—we’d best hurry.”
“All right.”
This time, Professor McGonagall didn’t bother adjusting the Hogwarts restrictions. She simply left the castle with Kyle.
At the front gates, the two of them Apparated directly from Hogwarts to the Ministry of Magic.
The moment they appeared, Kanna—who had clearly been waiting for a while—rushed over.
“Headmistress McGonagall… Kyle, you came too.”
Her eyes lit up the moment she saw him following behind, and she instinctively stepped toward him.
“Don’t worry, we have solid evidence.” Kyle took her hand. “But you really should’ve told me sooner. If I hadn’t run into Professor McGonagall, I wouldn’t even know the hearing was today.”
“Mm...” Kanna didn’t speak—she just squeezed his hand in return.
“You two, I realize this may not be the best time to interrupt, but we really should get going,” Professor McGonagall said, casting a glance at them.
No wonder Kyle had insisted on coming along.
Still, Kanna looked noticeably calmer now.
“My letter said the hearing is on the second floor,” Kanna said, pulling a folded parchment from her pocket.
“Second floor... which courtroom?” Kyle asked.
“Courtroom Two,” Professor McGonagall answered.
“That’s a relief.” Kyle nodded. The Ministry had ten courtrooms, and the lower the number, the less serious the case.
“We have more than enough evidence to support Severus,” said McGonagall, though she still looked slightly displeased.
“They’re claiming Courtroom One is still under repair... What rubbish. With how much time has passed, they could’ve rebuilt the entire Ministry—how is one small courtroom still not fixed?”
“This is good enough.”
“Anyway, let’s get moving, before they try anything shady again...” She still remembered the stunt the Ministry pulled during Harry’s trial years ago—switching the courtroom at the last minute.
Kyle had been dragged into that mess too, if memory served.
Although the current Minister, Amelia Bones, was more principled than Cornelius Fudge had been, McGonagall still thought caution was best.
After all, there was no Dumbledore to shield them this time.
The three of them stepped into the lift and rode it up to the second floor.
“Minerva, Kanna—you’re finally here.”
Mr. Weasley had been waiting and came over immediately as the lift doors opened.
“Oh, Kyle? Did you get an invitation too?”
“No, but I have a Second-Class Order of Merlin, so I’m allowed to attend.”
“…Oh, right. That’s true,” Mr. Weasley said after a brief pause.
It was clear that, like Professor McGonagall, he had momentarily forgotten Kyle’s distinction.
Understandable, really—so much time had passed, and Kyle had made headlines more than once over the years. It was hard to keep track of everything.
“How is it, Arthur? No issues?” Professor McGonagall asked as she stepped out of the lift.
“None this time. It’s in Courtroom Two,” Mr. Weasley replied. “I’ve been keeping an eye on things. It’s still early, so most people haven’t arrived yet—but Amelia Bones is already here.”