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The restaurant owner still recognized him. The owner came over after Anthony led students in. "This way, Henry. Reserved tables toward the back for you."
Because Anthony had called ahead, the restaurant had plenty of time to prepare everything. Students were brought to a large table made from many small tables pushed together. Touched the seams. Looked down at joined legs. Sat down feeling incredibly novel.
Anthony distributed menus to everyone. Asked what they wanted to eat.
He noticed several students constantly kicking table legs. "What's wrong?"
"Mugg—they put tables together," the student swallowed the "Muggle" almost bursting out. Looked around. Said in a sneaky whisper.
Anthony paused before realizing why they found this interesting. He nodded. "Right, because no Enlargement Charm."
Before he finished speaking, a student looked at him in horror. Said frantically, "Shh!" Immediately turned to look around. As if all the loudly chatting diners would hear the magical vocabulary they'd just said through knife-fork and porcelain-plate clinking.
Anthony looked at him with amusement. Nodded. "My mistake. Thank you."
The nervous student's gaze met a waiter standing by the window. The waiter looked at him. Politely showed a smile. Tentatively indicated coming over. The student immediately withdrew his gaze. Said, "You're welcome, Professor."
"Don't be so nervous." Anthony patted his back. Stood up. Shook his head at the innocent waiter. Indicated nothing wrong. In fact, if anything at this table attracted attention, it was this jumpy student and those two afros across from him.
Magically, even after eating a belly full of candy, these thirteen-fourteen-year-olds could still stuff in more potatoes, beef, tomatoes, ice cream and such.
Full and satisfied, they finally stopped acting like bouncing bubbles ready to pop. Anthony led them toward the rescue center. Answered their questions along the way.
Several students had been peering into record shops and bookstores since leaving the Leaky Cauldron. Crossing the block, they also curiously examined carefully tended yards (and garden gnome ornaments) and balconies leading straight to bedrooms.
"Is that a doorbell, Professor?" a student asked. Thought he was discreetly staring at a young man carrying wine and flowers.
After pressing the doorbell, the man stood anxiously at the entrance. Feet shuffling on the doormat. Until the door click slowly opened. He looked up excitedly. Walked in with a beaming smile.
Students also excitedly whispered. "Look, the door really opened!" "It's a doorbell!" "Looks so strange, different from books."
"That's right, a doorbell," Anthony said. "Come on, everyone. Pick up the pace. The rescue center people might be waiting for us."
He was right. When they arrived, a woman was already waiting at the door.
Anthony shook her hand. "Henry Anthony. Pleased to meet you. These are today's visiting students."
"I'm Gertrude Howard," she said simply. "Welcome." Her gaze lingered several seconds on the twins' afros and "RESIST MAGIC" in large letters on one student's pants.
The Weasley twins suddenly felt being too conspicuous wasn't good. Secretly tried pressing their hair down.
Even though they'd been talking nonstop the whole way, when Ms. Howard opened the door inviting them in, students suddenly became shy and bashful. They lowered their heads. Quietly thanked her. Immediately hurried through the door. Like survivors huddled together with friends. Looked at posters covered in cats and dogs on walls. Discussed quietly.
When Ms. Howard and Anthony came in last, they saw a group of children waiting stiffly in the entrance hall.
Ms. Howard's expression softened considerably. Said, "Follow me, children. On behalf of the rescue center, I welcome you. Allow me to briefly introduce our facility. Both sides of this corridor display our center's establishment history. Since..."
Students quietly followed her. Listened as she introduced how the rescue center's scale changed from a few founding members to over ten people. Finally reaching its current size.
Under Ms. Howard's introduction, a rescue worker told how they'd encountered a puppy with crushed hind legs and wet eyes on the roadside. How they'd successfully caught the puppy. Treated it. Cared for it. Until finding it a kind family.
The rescue worker modestly and proudly showed them photos the family had shared. When they saw the puppy had grown up—limping on hind legs but tail held high and relaxed, biting a branch and leaping into its owner's arms—a low, heart-melting sigh came from the students.
"I really want a dog," a student said quietly.
The Weasley brothers said, "You could ask Hagrid. He might know his big dog's siblings."
The student thought about it. Calmly shook his head. "Never mind. Too loud, too big. I'd either die from that dog or from fed-up roommates."
Going deeper, beyond the reception area, the view suddenly opened up. Ms. Howard showed them a spacious enclosure.
This was the so-called "living environment display." Each kennel had comfortable cushions and toys. Volunteers hung notebooks on kennel doors recording all dogs' names, arrival times, and current conditions. Anthony flipped through. Most dogs in the first half had already been adopted. In a sunny corner, cats lay lazily. A rabbit nestled beside a hay pile. Got its fur covered in grass bits.
Students even found a small owl in the aviary. Ms. Howard said it would soon be transferred to an organization specializing in wild bird rescue. They'd try releasing it.
"But it's obviously not wild," Megan muttered. Reached out signaling the owl over. The owl immediately recognized her wizard identity. Fluttered over. Gently pecked the glass with its beak.
Ms. Howard said in surprise, "It really likes you."
Megan played with the owl through the glass. Shook her head. "I want a cat."
"But this is an owl!" Fred said.
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