Chương 71: Chapter 71: The Happy Pet Owner
The secret passage seemed designed for night owls, its exit tucked away behind some bushes near the Quidditch Pitch, just a short distance from the castle. Once everyone had emerged, Fred and George took the lead, walking a few steps ahead before turning around and spreading their arms wide.
"Welcome to Hogwarts at night," Fred declared with a grin.
"This feels completely different from the daytime. Enjoy it," George added.
Cedric and Kanna, both a little excited, exchanged glances. This nighttime adventure was entirely new for them. The sense of novelty filled them with a mixture of thrill and nervousness.
Kyle, on the other hand, wasn't feeling particularly emotional about it, but it was still his first time seeing Hogwarts under the night sky. Curiosity got the better of him, and he began to take in the surroundings.
Hogwarts at night was serenely quiet. The stars twinkled above, casting a gentle glow that felt like little nightlights scattered across the sky, illuminating the castle's silhouette. The scene was both beautiful and dreamlike, exuding a sense of calm and peace that was different from the bustling energy of the day.
They stood there for a moment, taking it all in, until Fred reminded them that they had business to attend to. The group then began heading towards the Forbidden Forest. Along the way, they made a wide detour, purposely avoiding Hagrid's hut.
Fang, despite his timid nature, was still a trained hunting dog with sharp senses. If they wandered too close, he might notice them, and the last thing they wanted was for Hagrid to drag them all back to the castle.
After safely passing Hagrid's cabin, the group found themselves in front of a vast expanse of woodland. With Kyle's guidance, they soon came upon a lush Wiggentree—the home of the Mooncalves.
As luck would have it, the Mooncalves were already emerging from their lair. These shy magical creatures looked up at the night sky, their long necks extended, with their large, round heads contrasting comically with their slender, spindly legs. They almost resembled mini alpacas, and their awkward proportions made them oddly endearing.
Under the moonlight, the Mooncalves began to raise their front legs, while their slightly thicker hind legs swayed in a quirky, irregular rhythm.
"The Mooncalves are dancing!" Cedric whispered excitedly. "I've only seen this in books before, but seeing it in person is so much better!"
"Keep it down," Kyle whispered back, "or they'll notice us and stop."
Mooncalves were notoriously shy, and if they became aware of people watching, they'd retreat back into their nests.
But Cedric was right—the live performance was far more captivating than any pictures from a textbook. Of course, that wasn't a surprise. Kyle silently mused that Newt Scamander, though an expert in magical creatures, probably wasn't much of a photographer. His passion lay in studying the creatures, not capturing perfect shots.
The Mooncalves continued their dance, and as they warmed up, their movements became more complex and mesmerizing. With each graceful step, tiny silver-white lights began to appear on the ground behind them, trailing their movements. These glowing specks multiplied and gradually spread across the ground, creating what looked like a shimmering stage beneath the Mooncalves' feet.
The silver-white "stage" twinkled under the moonlight, elevating the Mooncalves' dance to an almost ethereal level.
"So beautiful..." Kanna's eyes sparkled with wonder as she watched in awe.
"Ahem..."
Kyle debated for a moment before leaning in and whispering to her, "That silver stuff is actually their feces."
"..."
The stars in Kanna's eyes vanished almost instantly. She turned to Kyle in disbelief.
"It's true," Kyle said nonchalantly. "If you don't believe me, check Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It's written in there."
Kanna: '...'
After learning that the Mooncalves danced on their own droppings, she knew there was no going back. The graceful, mesmerizing dance she had just witnessed lost all its charm in an instant.
Kanna felt a wave of frustration wash over her. Why did Kyle have to tell her this now? Couldn't he have waited until after they'd finished watching?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She turned around and punched Kyle in the arm.
Fred and George, standing nearby, felt similarly. They each gave Kyle a punch, muttering for him to shut up when he should.
Only Cedric seemed less bothered, likely because he already knew this little fact.
Seeing that he'd upset everyone, Kyle quickly raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I was wrong!"
But it didn't work. The group continued to glare at him, even Cedric.
Realizing he had to salvage the situation somehow, Kyle changed his approach. "Alright, how about this? That stuff is silver, and so is Sickles. You know what that means? If you're quick, you could probably gather five in one night."
Fred and George gasped, and instead of scolding Kyle further, they huddled together to do some quick calculations.
Five Sickles a night... that's thirty-five a week... and...
Their minds raced. They couldn't keep up with the sums, but they knew it was a lot of money.
And with six more years at Hogwarts ahead of them, the possibilities seemed endless. Even if they split the profits with Kyle and the others, they could open their own joke shop before graduation!
Tears welled up in the twins' eyes, and they embraced each other, nearly jumping with joy at the thought that their dream was within reach.
From then on, they ignored everything else and stared intently at the Mooncalves, waiting for the silver droppings to stop multiplying before springing into action.
The Mooncalves, startled by the sudden enthusiasm, bolted for their burrows. Fred and George, undeterred, quickly began gathering the droppings.
Fred even waved at Kyle and the others to join them, perhaps thinking they were moving too slowly.
However, Kyle and Cedric remained where they were, and though Kanna hesitated, she was eventually dragged along by Kyle.
"Aren't you going to tell them the truth?" Cedric, ever the honest one, looked conflicted.
Mooncalf droppings were valuable, yes, but only when fresh. Unlike more common magical substances, they couldn't just be sold anywhere. A stable sales channel and customers were needed for such goods, and Fred and George weren't exactly in a position to transport the droppings beyond Hogwarts' grounds.
Besides, this was Hogwarts. Both Hagrid's pumpkin patch and Professor Sprout's greenhouse needed plenty of fertilizer. They almost certainly weren't purchasing it from elsewhere.
"What truth? I have no idea what you're talking about," Kyle replied innocently. "Everything I said was true. That stuff really is expensive."
Cedric pressed his lips together, casting a sympathetic glance at the twins, who remained blissfully unaware of the complexities.
A while later, Kyle began to feel sleepy. He walked over to Fred and George, who were still enthusiastically shoveling, and despite their protests, he and Cedric forcibly dragged them out of the Forbidden Forest.
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