Because of that speech Dumbledore gave at the end-of-term feast, the next day, when everyone took the Hogwarts Express home, the usual laughter was gone, replaced by a heavier mood.
But there were exceptions.
"Come on, help us out—which jacket looks better on us?"
On the train, Fred and George were holding up two different colored jackets, sizing them up against themselves.
"We bought them in Hogsmeade…"
"Planning to wear them for the grand opening of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes…"
"You know, to look the part…"
"They're top-grade Fire Dragon Skin, cost us a load of money!"
Fred sounded a bit pained; it was obvious these two outfits were really expensive.
"The black one…" Kael glanced up. "Black looks more formal."
"But we think the green one's nice." George hesitated. "We're opening a joke shop; it's not like we need to be formal. Black feels more like you're going to a banquet or closing some big business deal…"
"You two even think about stuff like that?" Cho raised her eyebrows, sounding incredulous.
The shop wasn't even open yet, and they were already thinking about banquets and business deals?
"It's only a matter of time." Fred said confidently. "Who knows, maybe we'll even buy out Zonko's and open a branch in Hogsmeade."
"Then I wish you success."
Cedric couldn't help tugging at the corner of his mouth, then forced on a look of complete innocence. "Anyway, I also think black's more suitable. You're bound to have use for it."
"Really?"
Fred and George didn't really get it, but since both of them said so, they simply put on the black jackets.
Expensive stuff did make a difference; compared to school robes, the effect was much better. Once Fred and George put them on, they looked like different people.
They had a distinct… well, office professional vibe.
"Kael, what are you laughing at?" George frowned, glancing at Fred opposite him.
The clothes fit fine; there was nothing wrong with them.
"I just thought of something funny." Kael tried his best not to look quite so schadenfreude-ish.
"I think you should ask Mr. Weasley's opinion too. He might give you a more objective answer."
"Ask Dad?" Fred thought for a moment, then shook his head slightly. "Forget it. He's working at the Ministry of Magic all the time; he barely gets to Diagon Alley twice a year. How would he know what you wear to run a joke shop?"
"But he does know what you wear at the Ministry of Magic." Kael said.
"Ha, true, so we just have to do the opposite of whatever he'd pick."
Fred and George took it as a not-very-funny joke from Kael and didn't think much of it, then changed into the other jacket.
Cedric, who knew the truth, could only pinch his thigh hard to stop himself from laughing.
Suddenly, a series of loud clangs came from the corridor outside, cutting off their conversation.
"Oh, what on earth are those little brats up to now!" Fred said in an exaggerated tone.
By this time, Cedric had already slid open the compartment door and gone out.
Although he'd graduated, until the train reached King's Cross Station, he was still Hogwarts' Head Boy, and it was his job to maintain order on the train.
"It's fine!" George suddenly patted Kael on the shoulder, as if something had occurred to him.
"Next term, you'll be the only Head Boy."
"Huh?" Kael blinked. Only then did he remember that when he became Senior Ministerial Assistant, he'd also been given the title of Head Boy.
But he had basically never done anything about it, and with the school not removing Cedric from the position, he'd nearly forgotten it existed.
"I really wish Cedric could put off graduating for another year." Kael rubbed his forehead, speaking from the heart.
For the past two years, he'd shoved all his Prefect duties onto Cedric, let alone the even heavier responsibilities of Head Boy.
If he'd known, he wouldn't have helped Cedric get that job at the Ministry of Magic.
"Heh heh…" Fred laughed gloatingly at the side. "Well, it's possible. If Cedric got 'T' in all his N.E.W.T.s, maybe he could stay on another year."
George snickered as well. "Even Little Ron couldn't manage marks that bad."
"Maybe he could…"
The two of them looked at each other and then burst out laughing.
Kael couldn't be bothered with them and left the compartment as well.
The source of the commotion was easy to find—just go to where the biggest crowd was.
Not far from them, a knot of people had gathered.
When Kael walked over, he happened to catch Justin Finch-Fletchley and Susan Bones explaining something to Cedric.
"They started it…" Justin said excitedly. "I heard it from inside our compartment. They were trying to cause trouble for Harry. As fellow members of the D.A., we couldn't just pretend we didn't hear it."
"Too right." Hannah said angrily. "They're awful. They even said they'd knock Harry out and dump him on the luggage rack."
Kael, who had just walked up, instinctively lifted his head to look at the luggage rack.
There were five things stuffed into school robes up there, wriggling and squirming nonstop, looking like five giant Slugs.
"Er… we just followed their suggestion." Susan's eyes darted away as she turned her head.
Kael remembered she'd mentioned ages ago that she wanted to teach a few people in Slytherin a lesson.
"Who are they?"
"Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle…" Mikel answered at once.