Chương 108: Nervous Students and Unlucky Birds
The restaurant owner also recognized him. As Anthony led the students inside, the owner greeted him warmly. "Right this way, Henry. We've prepared a table for you."
Thanks to Anthony's reservation, the restaurant was well-prepared. The students were led to a large table formed by combining several smaller ones. They curiously examined the seams and interlocking table legs, then took their seats with a sense of novelty. Anthony handed out menus and asked for their orders.
He noticed a few students kicking the table legs. "Is there a problem?"
"Muggles, they combine tables," one student whispered furtively, swallowing the word "Muggle" at the last moment and glancing around nervously.
Anthony paused, then realized why they found this intriguing. "Yes, that's because there's no Engorgement Charm here."
Before he could finish his sentence, another student looked at him in horror, hissing, "Shh!" He frantically scanned the surroundings, as if the other diners could overhear their magical secrets amidst the clinking of cutlery and plates.
Anthony chuckled at the student's reaction, nodded, and said, "My mistake, thank you."
The student's anxious eyes met those of a waiter standing by the window. The waiter smiled politely and gestured as if to approach. The student quickly looked away and mumbled, "You're welcome, Professor."
Anthony patted his back reassuringly and shook his head at the innocent waiter, indicating everything was fine. In truth, if anything about their table was drawing attention, it was the flustered student and the two afros across from him.
...
Miraculously, despite having consumed a considerable amount of sweets, these 13 and 14-year-olds still managed to devour plates of potatoes, beef, tomatoes, ice cream, and more.
Once their hunger was sated, they finally calmed down from their sugar-fueled frenzy. Anthony led them towards the rescue center, answering their questions along the way.
A few students had been peering into record stores and bookstores ever since they left the Leaky Cauldron. As they walked down the street, they curiously observed the well-maintained gardens (and the gnome ornaments within) and the balconies leading directly to bedrooms.
"Is that a doorbell, professor?" one student asked, peering at a young man awkwardly standing at a door with wine and flowers.
After the man pressed a button, he stood there fidgeting, rubbing his feet on the welcome mat until the door clicked and slowly swung open. He looked up with a bright smile and stepped inside.
The students whispered excitedly amongst themselves. "Look, the door opened!"
"It's the doorbell!"
"It looks weird, different from the pictures in the book."
"Yes, that's a doorbell," Anthony confirmed. "Come on, everyone, let's hurry. The people at the rescue center are probably waiting for us."
...
He was right. A woman was already waiting at the entrance when they arrived.
Anthony shook her hand. "Henry Anthony, pleased to meet you. These are the students visiting today."
"I'm Gertrude Howard," she replied simply. "Welcome, everyone." Her eyes lingered for a moment on the twins' afros and the large "Resist Magic" slogan emblazoned across one student's trousers.
The Weasley twins seemed to suddenly realize they were attracting too much attention and discreetly tried to flatten their hair.
Despite their lively chatter on the way, the students suddenly became shy as Ms. Howard opened the door and invited them in. They mumbled their thanks and quickly filed through the entrance, huddling together with their friends as if they had just survived an ordeal. They gazed at the posters of cats and dogs lining the walls, whispering amongst themselves.
When Ms. Howard and Anthony finally entered, they found the group of students waiting politely in the foyer.
Ms. Howard's expression softened. "Follow me, children. On behalf of the rescue center, I'd like to welcome you all. Allow me to give you a brief introduction to our facility. Displayed along this corridor is the history of our establishment, from its humble beginnings."
The students followed quietly, listening as she described how the rescue center had grown from a small operation run by a few dedicated individuals to its current size, employing over a dozen staff members.
Under Ms. Howard's guidance, a rescue worker shared the story of a puppy he had found on the street, its hind legs crushed and its eyes filled with fear. He recounted how he had managed to capture the pup, provide medical care, and nurture it back to health, ultimately finding it a loving home.
The rescuers proudly displayed photos sent by the adoptive family. The students let out a collective, heartbroken sigh as they saw the puppy, now grown but still limping on its hind legs, its tail wagging joyfully as it leaped into its owner's arms, a stick clenched between its teeth.
"I really want a dog," one student whispered.
A Weasley twin piped up, "You could ask Hagrid, he might know if his big dog has any siblings."
The classmate considered it for a moment, then shook his head. "Nah, too noisy. I'd either die from the dog or my roommate killing me for it."
...
Venturing further into the center, beyond the reception area, the space opened up dramatically. Ms. Howard led them to a spacious enclosure.
This was the "living environment display." Each kennel was equipped with cozy bedding and toys, and volunteers meticulously recorded the names, arrival dates, and current status of all the dogs in notebooks hanging by each kennel door. Anthony flipped through the pages and noticed that most of the dogs listed in the first half had already been adopted. In a sunlit corner, a cat lounged lazily, while a rabbit nestled beside a pile of grass, camouflaging itself with blades of grass.
The students even discovered a baby owl in the aviary. Ms. Howard explained that it would soon be transferred to an organization specializing in rescuing wild birds, where they would attempt to release it back into the wild.
"But it's clearly not wild," Megan Jones murmured, extending her hand towards the owl. The owl immediately recognized her as a witch, fluttering over and tapping its beak against the glass.
"It seems to like you," Ms. Howard remarked, surprised.
Megan continued to interact with the owl through the glass, then shook her head. "I want a cat."
"But that's an owl!" Fred exclaimed.
George nodded in agreement. "I'd say it's much younger than Errol." He whistled, trying to coax the owl closer.
The owl turned its head and fluttered over to interact with the Weasley twins. Ms. Howard looked a bit bewildered and tentatively pressed her hand against the glass, but the owl remained fixated on the Weasleys, ignoring her completely.
"Hey there, little fella... or lady, how did you end up here?" George asked, leaning closer to the glass to get a better look at the owl.
The owl gazed softly at the twins, then tilted its head and suddenly spotted Anthony. Its demeanor changed instantly. It lowered its body, puffed up its feathers, spread its wings threateningly, and glared at Anthony.
"Professor?" Fred asked, confused.
Anthony stared back at the owl, equally perplexed, then realization dawned on him.
Apparently, this unfortunate creature had been the one sent by the Ministry of Magic to deliver a message to him. After being shooed away, it had somehow ended up at the pet rescue center, "rescued" by well-meaning passersby.
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