The end of term came swiftly — wardrobes stood empty, and the dormitory fell silent without the usual laughter of young wizards.
The dormitory walls still held forgotten posters where Quidditch players performed their endless routine of throws, cheers, and celebrations, as if awaiting their owners' return.
Students received their holiday notice letters, each containing the standard warning against using magic outside school.
With Hagrid still recovering at St. Mungo's, Professor McGonagall took temporary charge of leading students to the boats across the lake.
Aboard the Hogwarts Express, Kyle turned down the Weasley brothers' invitation to their compartment. They had wanted to discuss future business prospects — namely, how to earn more Galleons next term and expand their products beyond Hogwarts.
The brothers seemed enchanted by their recent windfall of one hundred Galleons. In the final days of term, they'd abandoned their search for the Marauder's Map password clues, focusing solely on moneymaking schemes. With luck, something worthwhile would come of it.
Kyle made his way to the front of the train, where he found a compartment with just one occupant.
Kanna sat curled in her seat, gazing absently at the neat wheat fields passing by.
Kyle settled naturally into the seat across from her, "Still upset about Porgy?..."
"Her name wasn't Porgy." After a long silence, Kanna spoke softly, "Her name was Rattley, and she was... my great-aunt."
"..."
Kanna seemed to need someone to confide in, and once she started, the words flowed freely.
As the train wound through Muggle towns and the landscape grew more cultivated, Kyle began to understand the full story.
It was a tragically familiar story. Eleven years ago, Kanna's father had accidentally spoken Voldemort's name while drunk and was killed by Death Eaters who responded. Fortunately, Kanna and her mother weren't home at the time, which saved their lives.
Then, just before school started last year, her mother died in an accident, leaving Kanna as the last of the Prince family. Though the Prince surname wasn't as renowned as the Sacred Twenty-Eight families, it was still an ancient pureblood line, and this turn of events attracted considerable attention.
Rattley appeared during this vulnerable time.
Upon arrival, she discovered that other purebloods had already divided up the family's assets. She then turned her attention to the Gringotts vault, planning to use her Animagus form to steal the key.
With the key in hand and Kanna eliminated, she could use her distant relation to the Prince family to claim everything inside.
She managed to locate the key, but like all pureblood families' treasures, the box containing it could only be opened by direct bloodline descendants.
Unable to perform the Imperius Curse and too cautious to seek accomplices, Rattley found herself at an impasse.
As she pondered her next move, the grief-stricken Kanna grew attached to the "rat that had been keeping her company at home" and brought it to Hogwarts as a pet.
What followed was predictable — Rattley began orchestrating various schemes to steal Kanna's money, hoping to force her to leave Hogwarts early and retrieve the vault key.
Her plan had been working perfectly — without any interference, the naive girl would have gone home during Christmas break to retrieve the money. But Kyle's unexpected appearance had inadvertently saved her life.
According to Kanna, when Rattley was given Veritaserum (Truth Potion), she couldn't stop cursing "that nosy boy".
Kyle stroked his chin thoughtfully, "So you're saying I saved your life?"
"That's right." Kanna nodded.
After sharing what she'd been keeping inside, her mood visibly lightened.
"Then shouldn't you properly thank me?" Kyle said with a smile, "Besides, after losing your rat, I lost quite a few potion orders."
"Then I'll keep buying them." Kanna took out a transformed lizard-skin pouch and placed it on the table, "Same as before, one bottle per month, until these are all used up."
The pouch was filled with gold Galleons — the original hundred plus the previously stolen ones, totaling around one hundred and fifty.
"What about your rat?"
"I can buy another one in Diagon Alley."
"Are you sure... you still want to keep a rat?" Kyle looked at her suspiciously.
"Mind your own business!" Kanna's expression suddenly soured, clearly remembering the scene in the Forbidden Forest, "Do you want this or not? If you keep talking, I won't buy anymore!"
"Of course I want it — only a fool would refuse Galleons delivered to their door!" Kyle quickly stuffed the pouch from the table into his pocket, "By the way, are there many others like Po... that rat who covet your family vault?"
Kanna turned her head away without speaking.
From her reaction, Kyle knew the answer. The wizarding world was small, and any pureblood family had numerous distant relatives they scarcely knew.
Kanna's post-exam gloom now made sense — she dreaded facing these people upon her return home.
"How about this — I won't give you the medicine." Kyle said, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the table, "But since I'm taking your money, I'll help you solve these troubles."
"What do you mean?" Kanna tilted her head, puzzled.
"Leave this to me." Kyle said calmly, "I guarantee that during summer break, no one will bother you anymore."
"Really..." Kanna looked at him skeptically, "Actually, you don't need to comfort me. I can handle them."
"Just wait and see. I won't disappoint you."
Kyle didn't explain further, instead taking out a pile of snacks and placing them on the table.
He was feeling hungry. The train offered little in the way of proper food — if you hadn't brought your own, snacks were the only option.
At that moment, Cedric and Cho opened the compartment door.
"Kanna, I've been looking for you." Cho said, sitting beside her, "How are you? Are you feeling any better?"
"Much better." Kanna replied with a smile.
They had actually passed by once before but hadn't entered.
"Kyle, do you have any plans for summer break?" Cedric asked, opening a Chocolate Frog, "My father is planning to take me to France — you could come with us."
"France?"
Kyle considered it. France was quite nice, and he was curious about Beauxbatons Academy of Magic — but it was too far away.
After a moment's thought, he shook his head, "Maybe next time, Cedric. I have other plans for summer break."
"That's too bad." Cedric said with disappointment, "I'll bring you back a souvenir."
✭✭✭
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