"Are you ready, Kael?"
Out on the patch of empty ground outside the room, Newt called out to Kael from a distance, "If we head out now, we should make it just in time for the dinner feast."
Well, that's true and all…
Kael looked up at the evening sky growing darker. If nothing unusual happened, this really was about the time the train arrived.
But there was one thing he couldn't figure out.
Wasn't Newt supposed to take him to Hogwarts… so why was he standing so far away!
And also, why did Fawkes suddenly perch on his shoulder.
Kael swallowed, suddenly suspecting what was about to happen.
He looked at Newt and asked tentatively, "You're taking me to Hogwarts, right?!"
"Actually, I've just received a letter."
Newt turned his head aside, avoiding Kael's eyes. "The Hebridean Black Dragons are acting up a bit. I need to go check on it right away."
"Since it's urgent, Fawkes will have to take you back to school instead."
Hearing Newt's words, Kael felt like his whole world was collapsing, and cast Newt a mournful look.
"Ahem, I know, Apparating with a phoenix isn't very comfortable, but… well… it's not that bad either."
Seeing Kael's expression, Newt started to feel guilty, but he braced himself and continued, "And besides Dumbledore, you're probably the only wizard favored by a phoenix—this is a rare opportunity…"
"If this is the kind of 'opportunity' you're talking about… I'd really rather pass," Kael muttered to himself.
Traveling with a phoenix wasn't "not very comfortable"—it was absolutely bonkers, even by wizard standards.
Every time he thought about what happened yesterday, his knees would start shaking. He still hadn't recovered.
"I can go back myself."
Kael extended his hand and glanced at his ring.
He still had two uses of Apparition left, so he could definitely get back on his own.
Actually, as long as he could get Fawkes off his shoulder, he didn't care if he used up both chances.
Unfortunately, Fawkes didn't give him a choice.
Maybe it was the first time someone was so repulsed by it, but Fawkes seemed to take offense. Without warning, the talons gripped tighter and the bird spread its wings.
The familiar red glow flashed before Kael's eyes… He barely had time to see Newt dart over with impossible speed and stuff a handful of fruit into his pocket.
And then… there was nothing.
He was balled up again like a Bludger and sent hurtling about, as if someone was whacking him with a bat…
At the same time, in the Hogwarts underground classroom.
Harry and Ron cowered in a corner, covered in dirt like they'd just rolled across a muddy field.
And the truth was, things were much worse… They never made it into the station and had flown all the way from King's Cross in Mr. Weasley's secondhand, souped-up Ford car.
After reaching Hogwarts, that car crashed into the Whomping Willow. If the car hadn't miraculously re-started at the last second, they would've already been pounded into a pulp by those crazed branches.
The journey had been nothing short of heart-stopping—every bit as thrilling as bumping into Voldemort last year.
At least for Harry, anyway.
Now the two of them sat nervously, eyes fixed on the row of professors in front of them, with Headmaster Dumbledore in the center, awaiting their fate.
"We're getting expelled, aren't we…" Ron asked in despair.
"Not today, Mr. Weasley."
Dumbledore fixed them with a stern look. "But I have to make sure you understand the seriousness of what you've done.
I'm writing to your families tonight, and let me warn you: if anything like this happens again, I will have no choice but to expel you."
Snape's face looked like he'd just heard he had to give a class to a troll, longer than a thestral's.
"Professor Dumbledore, these two students blatantly violated the 'Underage Wizard Restriction Law', and caused severe damage to a precious ancient tree. Surely, this behavior should…"
"Bang!"
He hadn't finished when, out of nowhere, a burst of fire exploded in front of him.
The next second, one boy and one bird suddenly appeared in the underground classroom.
"It's you…"
When Snape saw who it was, his mood changed instantly… and he looked positively delighted.
Excellent! The troll who came for class has left!
"Another young wizard who skipped the school carriage…" Snape drawled. "Looks like the expulsion list at Hogwarts is getting a bit long this year."
"Oh, what on earth is going on here?"
Professor McGonagall had jumped in surprise. She eyed Kael, slumped against the wall, clutching his head with one hand and his stomach with the other, looking as if he'd guzzled some dodgy firewhisky.
"What's wrong with him?"
"It's nothing, Minerva, nothing to worry about," Dumbledore said with a laugh after his initial surprise. "He just hasn't gotten used to phoenix Apparition. He'll be right as rain in a minute."
Apparition…
Professor McGonagall suddenly realized they were inside the castle, where Apparition was supposed to be impossible.
But when she saw Fawkes perched on Kael's shoulder, she let it slide.
Evidently, like house-elves, phoenixes weren't subject to those kinds of restrictions.
"Oh, Fawkes… It's so good to see you," Dumbledore beamed. "I was just wondering where you'd got off to."
Fawkes turned its head away haughtily, completely ignoring him.
Dumbledore didn't mind at all.
The fact that Fawkes had come straight to his underground classroom spoke volumes.
At this point, Kael had taken the fruit Newt had stuffed in his pocket and popped two into his mouth.
The tart, sour taste exploded over his tongue, but at least he was starting to feel human again.
He stared blankly at the familiar faces all around. "Is this… Hogwarts?"
"Technically, it's the underground classroom," Dumbledore explained. "Fawkes came straight to find me, and I just happened to have something to deal with here."
Ah, that makes sense…
Kael took in the shelves full of jars and bottles containing random, mysterious parts—only Snape's classroom would have stuff like this.
…Oh, and there he was, too.
Kael spotted Snape, who seemed oddly pleased, even wearing a rare smile.
"Let Professor McGonagall decide their punishment, Severus," Dumbledore said to Snape.
Then he stepped over to Kael,
"Although you missed the Sorting, there's still plenty of good food at the feast. Come along—I'm sure your friends are worried sick."
"Wait a minute, Professor Dumbledore… Aren't you forgetting something?" Snape suddenly frowned. "Punishment!"
He'd finally realized Dumbledore probably wasn't going to expel anyone, but surely things couldn't be let go with just a slap on the wrist?
"He didn't break any school rules, Severus."
Dumbledore replied calmly, "Hogwarts allows students to return by alternate means—as long as too many Muggles don't see them, of course."
Dumbledore glanced at Harry and Ron and continued, "Come now, Severus, Minerva will handle things here.
I hear there's a marvelous new custard tart—I want to try some."
Snape looked like he wanted to argue, but was ushered out of the office.
His feelings were complicated,
The troll that had just left the room had come back… and brought an entire family of trolls with him.