Holiday time disappears like dog food given to Fluffy, in the blink of an eye.
Kael felt like he just flipped through a few books about the Basilisk in the library, and when he looked up, he realized that there were only a few days left before school started.
Three days before the start of school, Fred and George came to him excitedly in the morning.
"Kael, I've got good news for you." Fred said excitedly, unable to hide his grin, "We found the last clue to the Marauder's Map password!"
"So... there really is a complete password hidden in the castle?" Kael said in surprise.
He, like Cedric, thought that the last word of the password simply did not exist.
Anyway, if he were one of the Marauders, he wouldn't leave the complete password behind.
Always leave some suspense; saying it all would be too dull, especially since the previous words were already very obvious. If, like that, you still can't guess the complete password, it only proves that the person who got the Marauder's Map has no connection with it.
No one would think the password is, "I solemnly swear I want to study hard."
Besides, if Fred and George are too obsessed with finding the complete password, this hidden last word would become the best prank.
People who often break school rules shouldn't be too conventional.
Previously, Fred and George never found it, and Kael thought he had guessed right.
"You'll never guess where it is."
George said eagerly, "It's actually on the railings next to the school gate, you just have to look up when passing by to see it."
"We should have thought of it earlier." Fred said a little regretfully, "Everyone who graduates from the school leaves Hogwarts last from the school gate, so it not only symbolizes the beginning, but also the end."
"Why didn't we think of that earlier..."
"So how did you guys discover it?" Kael asked.
George shrugged and said, "We were going to explore the Forbidden Forest earlier, but after Hagrid chased us out, we took a trip to Hogsmeade."
"It was just too early, and many shops there hadn't opened yet."
"We couldn't take a shortcut from the secret passage, so we had to return the same way."
"When passing the school gate, we saw the words on the wall at a glance."
George suddenly sighed, "We shouldn't return to the school through the secret passage every time after going to Hogsmeade."
"But speaking of secret passages..."
Fred seemed to have thought of something, patted Kael's shoulder, and said in a low voice, "After getting the complete password, we discovered two new secret passages."
"One is on the fourth floor, behind the hunchback statue of the one-eyed witch, and her hunchback is the entrance."
"The other is even more hidden..." Fred said mysteriously, "Do you want to guess where it's located!"
"Uh... behind the bookshelf in the Headmaster's Office?" Kael stroked his chin, speaking seriously, "If that's the case, I guess its exit should be in the lounge of some shop in Hogsmeade, maybe the Three Broomsticks Inn, or Madam Puddifoot's tea shop..."
Fred and George looked dumbfounded.
Not because Kael guessed right, the fact is the Headmaster's Office doesn't have any secret passages at all.
But Kael's words piqued their great interest.
Think about it, the greatest Headmaster in the history of Hogwarts having an undisclosed relationship with a shopkeeper... wow, that's quite exciting.
Who doesn't love discussing the gossip of the Headmaster, Fred and George couldn't help but join in.
They analyzed from different angles where the exit would be if such a secret passage really existed... and concluded that all shops in Hogsmeade were possible.
Even the Hog's Head Pub was no exception.
"If Dumbledore didn't back him up, that old goat of a guy would probably have been driven away by others a long time ago." Fred said confidently.
They had come to know Hogsmeade quite well over the years, and many shopkeepers complained in private conversations that the chaotic Hog's Head Pub severely lowered Hogsmeade's standard, which is why they hadn't been voted the "wizard village worth visiting" for over a decade consecutively.
"Unfortunately, on the Marauder's Map, there is no secret passage in the Headmaster's Office." Fred said regretfully, "And until now, we only know it's on the eighth floor, but we've never been inside, not even once."
"After all, that's the Headmaster's Office, one of the most mysterious places in Hogwarts." George shook his head and said, "Even the seniors who made the Marauder's Map rarely got there, let alone found any secret passages inside."
"I wish we could look inside, even if just for a few minutes..." Fred daydreamed.
"Want to enter the Headmaster's Office?" Kael thought for a moment and said, "That's simple."
Fred and George brightened up, excitedly putting their arms around Kael's shoulder.
"Kael, I knew you'd have a way, tell us!"
"If you can get us into the Headmaster's Office successfully, Fred and I will be your most loyal subordinates from now on!"
"We'll help you save seats..."
"Provide catering service..."
"Solve all opposition against you."
"But the premise is we don't lose points... or get detention."
"Rest assured, none of that will happen." Kael said calmly, "You just need to earn a special contribution award to the school, plus it comes with a hundred points reward."
The smiles froze on Fred and George's faces, they looked at Kael in disbelief, as if seeing a Three-Headed Dog doing tap dance.
In fact, compared to earning a special contribution award to the school, Fred and George would rather seek a Three-Headed Dog doing tap dance.
At least that has a little possibility.
"If you think it's troublesome..." Kael looked at their expressions and continued, "Then a Merlin Order Medal would do, it should add two hundred points."
"Ugh..." George and Fred simultaneously made a dry sound, then turned and left.
"Hey, you haven't said where the last secret passage is." Kael shouted behind them.
But the twins ignored him, and instead quickened their pace.
Actually, the last secret passage they mentioned is right beneath the Whomping Willow.
Initially, the two came to invite Kael to go there together and study if there was any way to avoid the Whomping Willow. But now, they just wanted to find a place without Kael and stay quietly for a while.
As if the Merlin Order Medal were just... a roadside rock? Pick one up if you want?
If it were that easy, why didn't he have one himself!
...