Of course they could have let themselves out, but instead they turned that moment into a celebration.
George immediately reached for the Pokemon that was now nuzzled in Magnus' chest.
" I don't freaking believe it, bro... But how did you know this would happen?"
George asked , turning to Magnus.
"He didn't..." Fred equally turned toward Magnus. "did you?"
"Of course he did, bro" George counterd "Before the game, he asked me to try and knock you out With a badger but I told him I couldn't do it. I think that is why, after the game, he took my bat and tried to attack you himself, right? You knew the Eevee would defend him."
"Well, not exactly." magnus answerd. "I had a hunch. I've been telling you guys for weeks now... I mean You said it yourself, we had done enough of bonding and conditioning. But the last step to Espion's evolution is often complete trust and willingness to defend its owner. That is the only thing that can trigger an evolution from a normal Eevee into a psychic-type Espion."
Fred was beaming at the gathered group.
" You hear that? Complete trust and willingness to defend its owner. And now my Pokemon is a fully evolved psychic-type Se.. "
" -Espion... "Hermione finished for him
"yea that... I will have to get used to that name. Right, sepion?"
"Espion" Hermione rolled her eyes
Fred however was too excited to care
"Mate, with brains like that , you are going to be another Dumbledore. I'm telling you that."
"Dad told me he has never seen the minister that surprised." George added. "I'm hearing they are suggesting that you guys form a Pokemon club. I told him I'm already in... Mom protested and said it was out of the question... I would give my last sickle to see her reaction when she hears we are already part of the club.
I mean, Gog is the next one, right? "
Magnus was hesitant to answer and was saved by Fred grabbing the Pokemon from George and turning to his brother.
" Hey, check this out.You know what a psychic-type does? "
Without a word, the Pokemon quickly leapt into George's shoulder before transitioning to his head and proceeded to give George three hard cuffs in the head.
"And I haven't said a word. He is reading exactly what is in my mind."
"No freakig way" George said. As the Pokemon immediately jumped to Lee, who was staring open-mouthed, and proceeded to repeat the same punishment on the twins' friend. Lee gasped as fweg finished with a serious slap on the face.
"What did you do that for?" Lee exclaimed.
" Well, how else would you get my point? Lee, that's my greeting." George, however, was not done with Magnus.
"Come on, Magnus. Gog is the next one, right? I mean, we had already conditioned him. You said it yourself.He is showing good progress."
Magnus looked quite uncomfortable
"It's not that" he began Trying to look for help, but there was no one here in on his plan.So nobody seemed to understand what he was struggling with.
"The thing is, this matter of Pokemon evolution is now known by the Ministry, which means whatever we do has to go through them, at least in the official capacity. We can't risk going off-book again.I don't think we will be so lucky. Another time, in case an accident happens."
George looked now clearly panicked.
" mate You know the situation with my evee, You said he needed bonding... " He stopped and looked at the group, and when he seemed to realize all those who were around were friends, he went on.
" Goj and I can only work on his progress at night, which means we have to break curfew sometimes. There is no way the Ministry will allow that."
Magnus shuffled uncomfortably.
"don't tell me you're planning on ditching on him." George added
"That would be total betrayal. He said reaching for his pokeball and producing his Pokemon.
The tiny Pokemon emerged and immediately barked in excitement at the sight of the other Pokemon around.
For a while, however, it stared at its twin, fweg as if somehow not sure whether it was the same Pokemon they had shared pretty much most of their lives.
But then that momentary hesitation disappeared, as it pounced on his friend, who was patched on Lee's shoulder. The two Pokemon tumbled on the floor.
"See, you can't betray that. They were twins. Think of it, mate. How do you think he would feel when Espion here becomes a super star and He is Just on the shadows."
"an Umbreon should do well on the shadow." magnus counterd
"Yeah, but he is not Umbreon yet. He is still a freaking normal type.You said it yourself."
Lee stepped in.
"I am with George in this. The ministry is coming in because all this is out. But we have been with you, mate.Even when it was dangerous. Even when we could have been expelled. All of us were on the line for that evolution.
I say we still go on with it. We can still pretend to cooperate with the ministry as far as other Pokemons are involved. But please go on with our evolution.ruffy here was also next after goj. And Harry's, Vulpix and Rons Meowth.. Right Fred? "
Fred looked a bit uncomfortable but still he was with his twin and lee
"I think you should be loyal to your circle first" fred said.
"how can you support them..." Hermione said looking at Fred furiously
they all turned their angry looks at her
At that moment, Magnus loved every bit of her stubborn nature.
She stared them right in the eye and did not falter.
"You guys were not in the hearing.Magnus, Fred and I were.And I'm telling you, it could have gone way wrong than it did. I think Dumbledore had something to do with us getting off without punishment. Magnus could have been expelled.
And that was the least of the problem. They could have also made him go through a disciplinary hearing. I Don't know what might have come out of that.It might not go well If he is caught going against the officials, the minister told us himself, remember? He said turning to Fred."
But Fred was clearly not in their side, even though he had been through the entire hearing.
" Fred, The minister said he hoped from now on we would at least be honest with the officials. Guys, they are trying to do everything to help us with this.I say we tell it to that Olena lady. Or our head of house. Or Lupine who is going to be in charge of the club.
I'm sure they will figure out a way. Clearly it's not just your EVee that will evolve to Umbreon. Most people here have EVees And Magnus said there are only eight types they can evolve to. So clearly we are going to have two or three more Umbreon. Right, Magnus? "
Magnus was actually surprised that she had managed to remember that much.
He was willing to bet the twins and Lee, who had interacted with him mostly , could not remember so much about what he told them about evolution.
" she's right. I'm not saying that I will abandon your EVee, George, but for now, I say we at least go through the proper channels. At least until we have seen what the ministry has in mind. If they are not cooperative, I promise you, I will see to it that Gog has evolved into Umbreon before the midterms. I just don't want to get expelled in my first year. I don't know where I would go. "
The guilt tripping worked and the twins and Lee seemed to back down.
" Well, I'm willing to wait," Harry said.
" I mean, if Magnus is going to prioritize us, there's nothing the ministry can do. I bet they will make him in charge of the club. I mean like a prefect.Someone has to be in charge."
"Well, thanks Harry" Magnus said. "But some of you guys also have to be officials... I mean, we have to work with a team that already knows the rules."
"You hear that?" Fred chimed punching his brother whose excitement had faded a little.
Who ever thought we would achieve that in this lifetime? An official... Cant imagine you wearing a badge on your chest reading Pokemon club official... I think Percy would pass out every time he saw it."
" Yeah... Forgive me if I don't feel so optimistic.You know the ministry, bro. They always have the propaganda. Who knows, they might come with their own priorities and their own candidates."
" But you heard him" Lee said. "If they do that, then we come back to this. Either way, we are the priority, mate Right, Magnus?"
"Exactly" , he said.
But at that moment, the door burst open again and the massive foot of hagrid preceded him as he entered the room.
"Harry, Magnus, any one of you have those little ball" he panted, looking around his eyes settling mostly on the twins.
"yeah.. Here" George offered his which was still in his hands
"Thank jove" he said, running back out.
Half his trousers were gone and Magnus could see a hint of crimson or two where his flesh had been shredded.
"For fuck's sake" , he cursed.
All of them proceeded to leave the hatching room before the door closed again.
Hagrid was already out of the Pokemon daycare by the time Magnus was coming out. He was apparently in total despair.
No single soul was in the daycare except Magnus and the group. Clearly his panicked state had driven all the students away.
"For his sake, I hope no one has seen that Pokemon yet."
"you mean like malfoy" Harry asked pointing a short distance from hagrid's hut.
"I think it's too late for that"