Compensation from the Ministry of Magic

Finally, the train stopped at Hogsmeade Station, and everyone got off in a flurry of activity. Owls hooted, cats meowed, and toads croaked as if joining in the fun, making the small platform incredibly lively.

However, at that moment, a lion-shaped firework suddenly exploded in the sky, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

"Bang!"

Another firework shot into the sky, leaving a long trail of flame.

At that moment, the young wizards also noticed Fred setting off fireworks.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Fred calmly wrapped a piece of parchment with gold trim around the Filibuster's Fireworks and then lit it.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang..."

Ten Filibuster's Fireworks exploded one after another, some resembling lions, some badgers, and some Dragon... They ran and leaped in the sky for a long time before dissipating.

"Is this the Hogwarts welcoming ceremony?" some of the new students exclaimed excitedly.

They had no idea what was happening and thought Hogwarts was using fireworks to welcome them to school.

It must be said that these fireworks were indeed very beautiful, and watching those twinkling animals in the sky made them feel less nervous than before.

However, others are different.

"See... Zabini?" Malfoy said smugly to a few freshmen beside him from the crowd, "I told you before, Kyle would destroy these maps, and you didn't believe me, ha..."

He let out a strange laugh, seemingly mocking their previous self-righteous remarks.

Beside them, a boy with a few freckles frowned and said stiffly, "Who knows if it's real? Maybe it's Transfiguration Spell they used."

"Absolutely impossible!" Malfoy scoffed. "I believe Kyle. He received Special Award for Services to the School; he's definitely not that kind of person."

"Who knows?" the freckled boy said, pursing his lips. "Don't forget those people are all second-year students; this kind of thing is easy for them."

The two held their own opinions, and neither could convince the other.

Just then, Crabbe, the tallest of the group, suddenly noticed something and reached out to catch a piece of parchment that was falling from the sky.

"Draco, look what this is."

Malfoy, who was arguing with Zabini, turned around and his eyes lit up.

"Aha!"

He excitedly clutched the parchment fragment in his hand, pointing to the remaining gold patterns on it, and said, "Look at this! This is real gold! Do you still think it's Transfiguration Spell?"

besides..."

As he spoke, he brought his face close to a dark spot on the shard and took a deep breath.

"I accidentally burned a hole in my Unicorn Tail Hair tapestry before, and it smelled exactly like this."

"This..." Zabini's face turned red, as if he had been slapped twice.

Seeing his expression, Malfoy became even more smug, tilting his head back and saying, "I know, you must not be able to afford a map for twenty Galleon, that's why you said that."

"It's alright, I've inquired, they still have a few maps of Sickle, you should be able to afford those."

"Who are you saying can't afford it!"

Zabini was furious. He could accept misjudging someone, but he would never accept being mocked by Malfoy like that.

It's only twenty Galleon, how could he not afford it? Who does he think he is!

"You wait, I'll buy his most expensive map," Zabini said, his neck stiff. "It'll definitely be better than yours!"

"Tsk tsk, that's impossible."

Malfoy glanced at him dismissively and said, "I bought the most expensive one, and Kyle promised that my number would be the first one available. Even if you have the same number as me, you'll still be ranked lower."

"You... Humph!"

Zabini felt a tightness in his chest, glared at Malfoy, and turned to leave.

Malfoy, however, didn't seem to care at all, watching him leave with the air of a victor.

At that moment, a lamp appeared above their heads.

"First-year students! First-year students, this way! Harry, are you alright?"

Hagrid's enormous figure appeared on the platform, just like last year, and took away all the new students.

As for Kyle and the others, they headed to the other side of the platform; as second-year students, they needed to take a carriage to Hogwarts.

More than a hundred empty horse-drawn carriages were parked on a rough, muddy path.

The chariots are pulled by Thestral, but most people simply cannot see them.

Kyle couldn't see them either.

There was such an opportunity before, with that Werewolf from St Mungo's's, but the werewolf was too resilient and was eventually revived by a healer.

A half-dead being obviously unable to see Thestral.

Kyle walked up to a carriage and, by feel, touched its skin-and-bones head.

The Thestral nudged Kyle gently.

After they boarded the carriage, Thestral led them toward Hogwarts Castle.

There was a faint smell of mustiness and straw in the carriage, somewhat like a broom that hadn't been used in a long time.

The carriage drove toward two imposing wrought-iron gates, flanked by stone pillars topped with winged wild boars.

This wild boar is not some Fantastic Beasts; its image comes from a dream of Rowena Ravenclaw.

In her dream, she was brought to this clearing by the Black Lake by a flying wild boar, and that's how Hogwarts Castle came to be.

After passing through the gate, the carriage sped along the road leading to the castle. Through the carriage windows, the group could clearly see the corner towers and high towers getting closer and closer.

Finally, the carriage came to a shaky stop.

The young wizards disembarked from the carriage, discussing their amazing experience as they climbed the stone steps toward the castle's oak door.

Torches burned in the spacious and dimly lit Entrance Hall. To the right, the doors to the Great Hall were open; they needed to enter the Great Hall before the first-year students arrived.

Kyle followed the crowd inside.

After two months away, he really missed this place and glanced at the enchanted ceiling with a sense of familiarity.

The weather is nice today, no clouds, and the stars are bright.

Kyle had just reached the Hufflepuff table and hadn't even sat down when he heard a voice call out:

"Kyle, could you come here for a second?"

Kyle looked up in surprise and saw Professor Sprout, the Dean of Hufflepuff, waving at him from the High Table.

"I'm coming right now, Professor."

Kyle quickly replied and walked through the crowded people toward her.

"What can I do for you, Professor?" Kyle asked.

"The Ministry of Magic sent some things here a while ago, saying it was compensation for the Forbidden Forest incident two months ago."

Professor Sprout smiled and said, "I think it was probably sent to you."