Chapter 20: The Failed Prank

Support me and be 20 chapters ahead of webnovel:

patreon.com/Draco_

For every 4 new paid patreon I get irrespective of tiers I will mass release 15 chaps of this book.

*****

After sitting down at the Hufflepuff table, Kyle inexplicably felt a wave of relief wash over him.

Before the Sorting, he had always felt uneasy, but now that everything was settled, he truly felt like a member of Hogwarts.

This feeling was amazing.

Kyle leaned on the dining table, resting his chin on his left hand as he leisurely observed the ongoing sorting while waiting for the feast to begin.

Due to the lengthy sorting ceremony, many people in the hall were curiously watching Kyle.

Among them, several witches looked at Kyle and Cedric, who were chatting and laughing together, then turned to their classmates, each nearly grinding their back teeth in frustration.

Damn it! All the handsome ones went to Hufflepuff. This isn't fair!

…

At the Gryffindor table, Fred and George were equally on the verge of grinding their teeth.

"Why did Kyle go to Hufflepuff?" Fred exclaimed, slamming his thigh in frustration. "With this, our carefully planned welcome ceremony is wasted!"

"Stop it, Fred. Give me a moment to process this," George replied, scratching his head. "Honestly, I could have accepted it if Kyle had gone to Slytherin, but Hufflepuff? How is that possible?"

"Exactly!" Fred nodded. "Kyle is loyal? Kind? Has the Sorting Hat lost its mind?"

Just then, a newly sorted Gryffindor first-year happened to sit in the empty seat next to them.

The next second…

"Ah!"

A scream echoed through the hall, instantly grabbing everyone's attention.

The Gryffindor first-year leapt into the air like a startled tree frog, springing up three feet before running around, clutching his backside.

He ran while wailing.

Everyone then noticed that a round object was attached to his rear.

It was about the size of a Quidditch Bludger, with a mouth full of sharp teeth, firmly clamped onto the boy's behind.

"Wait, that ball looks a bit familiar," Fred, who was watching the spectacle, suddenly seemed to remember something. He turned to George. "Didn't you put away the biting ball?"

George paused. "No, I thought you had already put it away."

The two exchanged glances before simultaneously looking toward the left, where the first-year had just sat.

Without a doubt, it was completely empty.

"Oh, damn it." Fred ran a hand through his hair in dismay. "That was all our savings!"

That biting ball was a new prop that Fred and George had purchased at a high price from Zonko's Joke Shop. It could disguise itself as an ordinary cushion and be placed anywhere.

It was a bit pricey, costing three Galleons, which was a significant amount for Fred and George.

However, knowing that Kyle would be sorted today, they had gritted their teeth and spent all their savings to prepare an unforgettable surprise for their junior.

To avoid raising any suspicions, they had even set everything up in advance, placing the cushion in the empty seat next to Kyle while he was putting on the Sorting Hat.

So, if Kyle had been sorted into Gryffindor, they could have easily lured him into their trap.

Even if he had ended up in another house, it wouldn't have mattered—a cushion could be easily retrieved.

Everything was perfectly planned.

Unfortunately, their calculations didn't account for the unexpected; Kyle was sorted into Hufflepuff, which they deemed the most improbable option. Shocked, they didn't retrieve the "cushion" in time.

And so, the scene unfolding before them occurred.

"Fred, do you think we can still get that biting ball back?" George asked, watching the first-year leave, his heart sinking. That was three Galleons, enough to buy an entire box of dungbombs. How could they not feel the sting?

Fred watched Professor McGonagall approach the new student, feeling helpless. "I think it's safe to say we won't be getting it back."

With that, they both sighed in unison.

On the other side, Professor McGonagall had reached the first-year, casually removing the biting ball before checking on the young wizard.

He was unharmed, and his robe showed no signs of damage—just a classic magical prank.

Recognizing the familiar method and tools used, McGonagall didn't need to think twice. She shot a glare at the twins.

However, since the Sorting ceremony wasn't over yet, she couldn't say much. With a curt "Gryffindor loses twenty points," she turned and returned to the platform.

The first-year, sufficiently frightened, was brought back by Percy, who carefully checked him three times before allowing him to sit down again.

Not far away, Kyle observed Fred and George, who wore expressions of dismay, and didn't bother to hide his laughter. Slowly, he extended his middle finger toward them.

Kyle would swear on Ron's honor that the biting ball was definitely a prank prepared by those two.

Now that Professor McGonagall had discovered it, it was just poetic justice.

"No way, George. Kyle is too arrogant," Fred said, his face flushed with anger.

Others might not understand what the gesture meant, but he did. For the past eleven years, whenever Kyle had teased them, he had always used that finger, so Fred understood perfectly what Kyle was implying.

"Don't worry, Fred. As long as Kyle is at Hogwarts, we'll have our chances," George replied, equally infuriated, his ears even turning red.

But the problem was that they genuinely couldn't do anything to Kyle right now, especially under McGonagall's death glare. All they could do was return Kyle's gesture with their own middle fingers.

Out of sight, out of mind.

The two suppressed their desire for revenge and turned their heads, trying to ignore Kyle's infuriating grin.

In response to their actions, Kyle didn't pay them any mind.

After all, it was just the last desperate resistance of two defeated red-haired pups; he wouldn't take it to heart.

Moreover, Kyle knew Fred and George wouldn't let it go easily; they were likely already plotting their next move against him.

But so what?

Over the past eleven years, he had never truly lost to the Weasley twins.

The few times he had come up short were due to being younger and Charlie's shameless bullying—those were the only times they had managed to score a point against him.

Now that Charlie was swamped with his graduation exams and Quidditch, he had no time to babysit them.

Without Charlie, who else could the twins rely on?

Ron?

If that were the case, dealing with them would be even easier.

So, with a glorious record to back him up, Kyle felt invincible.

…

(End of Chapter)