Because they only got on the train right before departure, there were basically no empty compartments left at this point... but they didn't really need one anyway.
After walking forward for a bit, they ran into Cedric, who had just stepped out from a compartment next to them and was about to head towards the front of the train.
"Oh, Mr. Digory." Fred jogged a couple of steps, stopped in front of him, and bowed theatrically. "What an honor to see you here."
"Truly a great honor." George followed right after.
Cedric took half a step back, looking wary.
"You two are up to no good again."
After years of hanging out together, he knew these brothers' personalities all too well.
Put it this way—just from that instinctive smile Fred flashed when he saw him, Cedric could tell whether it was genuine joy at reuniting, or some fake act with another agenda.
And clearly, it was the latter.
People aren't this formal unless something's going on.
"Look at that, the feelings have faded."
Fred sighed. "You used to run over and hug us, but just now you actually took a step back."
"We're strangers now, huh." George put on this heartbroken expression. "You weren't like this before you became Prefect."
"Isn't it obvious, George?" Fred said. "Now that Prefect Digory surely wants to be better friends with Percy."
"Friends with Percy?" Fred stared, horrified. "Does that mean you'll have to carry around a copy of 'Who Gained Power' all the time from now on?"
"I'm afraid so." George nodded, acting all serious.
"Kael, you must never become Prefect, ever."
"Because it'll make your life so much less fun."
Kael, who had been happily spectating, suddenly couldn't smile anymore... He hadn't said a word and somehow got dragged into this for no reason.
He was only in fourth year, and Fred and George were already stressing about next year for him?
How much do these two have against 'Prefects,' anyway!
"What are you even talking about?"
This time, Cedric frowned and looked at them with disgust. "And how did you know I became Prefect, anyway? I don't remember ever telling you."
Like I said, after hanging out for so long, Cedric knows all too well what these two are like.
And it's not the first or second time they've roasted Percy.
So he never planned to tell them this in the first place, figuring he could put it off for as long as possible. He hadn't even worn his Prefect badge when he came out just now.
"You really think you need to tell us?" Fred rolled his eyes. "Four years in a row at the top of the class; who else could the Prefect be but you?"
"I bet you've never been to the Ministry of Magic before." George suddenly couldn't help himself and started laughing. "Right now in the Ministry, there are only two bits of news everyone keeps talking about."
"Sirius Black escaping..."
"And you becoming the new Prefect..."
"Mr. Digory is pretty impressive." Fred said. "His PR campaign can apparently keep pace with the Daily Prophet."
Cedric's face flushed red in an instant, "He literally promised me he wouldn't go around telling everyone!"
Kael shook his head beside him.
Cedric was still too naive—it's just like expecting Percy not to show off his Head Boy badge... that's never gonna happen!
"So, you're heading to the Prefects' compartment now?" Kael asked.
"I honestly didn't want to go." Cedric said, "But Percy reminded me three times in five minutes—I have to go over."
"Go on, then." George patted his shoulder. "Oh, by the way, when you're there, ask him: did previous Head Boys also go around telling everyone they had an enormous head?"
"And then wear it around their necks... Personally, I think that's a little ridiculous."
"What are you all doing here?"
At that moment, Percy suddenly appeared behind them.
"What were you just saying was ridiculous..."
"Nothing." Fred mumbled. "We just saw someone with a really ridiculous-looking badge... It was hilarious."
Percy frowned. His instincts told him Fred and George were up to something, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what.
"I'm warning you two, you'd better behave yourselves. Otherwise—"
"Dock points?"
"Or maybe detention?"
"We're just chatting in the corridor for a bit." Fred said. "That shouldn't be against school rules, right?"
"I'll be keeping my eyes on you..."
Percy looked a bit sour. He didn't bother with the two brothers any further and instead turned to Cedric, "Hurry up, I need to make some announcements on behalf of the professors—and we're just waiting on you."
Cedric shrugged, then followed him off towards the front of the train.
Afterwards, Kael and the others found the compartment Cedric had just come out of.
Conna and Cho were already inside, with Ginny and Luna as well.
The four girls were sitting together, reading The Quibbler, but aside from Luna, the other three didn't look especially interested.
When Kael and the boys came in, Cho even yawned.
"What are you reading?" he asked.
"Some... really interesting theories."
Conna whispered, "This magazine says that Sirius Black was actually released on purpose by Fudge, as a way to secretly get rid of his political opponents."
"Maybe that's actually the truth." Luna looked up and said, "Otherwise, why would the Ministry of Magic have looked for him for a whole month without finding a thing?"
"And this one..." Ginny craned her neck and read aloud, "There might actually be some secret connection between Sirius Black and Fudge.
After Fudge took office, he was constantly restricted and very unpopular, so Sirius supposedly volunteered to give up his free life, and risked everything to get sent to Azkaban—just so he could help Fudge win over all those terrible criminals.
After more than a decade, he might have put together a secret army, specially for Fudge to eliminate his obstacles. Everyone who ever opposed him has been poisoned and controlled.
But Fudge just couldn't bear to let Sirius suffer in that dark, hellish place anymore, so he secretly let him out... Their bond is way deeper than we ever imagined."
Kael smacked his lips.
What is this, "The Untold Story of Black and Fudge"?
Whoever wrote this article is a genius.
I'd pay to see the look on Black's face reading this.
Too bad The Quibbler doesn't sell much—now, if only this was in the Daily Prophet.
"But everyone knows Sirius Black is a Death Eater," Ginny asked in confusion, "How could he possibly work for Fudge?"
"That's just his cover." Luna said. "The contributor points out that Sirius was the only Death Eater who never got a trial. That could easily be because Fudge used his ministerial privileges to fix it all behind closed doors."
"But Fudge wasn't even Minister back then," someone said.
"He took over soon after," replied Luna, "and there wasn't any serious competition."
The compartment fell silent.
Honestly... it almost sounded plausible at first glance—if they didn't already know the truth about Black's story, maybe they'd buy it.
Kael couldn't help shaking his head, remembering an old issue of The Quibbler from years ago.
There'd been an article then about Fudge having the Department of Mysteries develop a special poison, just to control his opponents.
It made Diana so angry that she almost grabbed her wand to go have a word with Mr. Lovegood.
Didn't expect that after a few years, the stories would end up getting connected... So now it's saying the poison Black used was from the Department of Mysteries all along.
No wonder Chris said witches and wizards from abroad might actually enjoy this magazine. All this love-hate drama and gossip about the Minister of Magic—it really is hilarious as entertainment.
And if this was about some other country's minister, it'd be even funnier.
After all, it's not like they know much about foreign affairs anyway—so you can just switch off your brain and enjoy.