The Portrait Game

By the time Kyle returned to Hogwarts, it was already evening.

Sirius, that spendthrift, bought a whole bunch of stuff from Diagon Alley and asked him to bring it back—one for himself and one for Harry.

Perhaps it was because he could finally appear openly in the sunlight, Kyle felt that he was indulging in a bit of revenge spending.

Who's the kind person who can afford to buy something for over two thousand Galleon in Diagon Alley?

And that pure gold crucible... Is that really Potions? You'd be heartbroken if you even scratched it.

There was nothing he could do; Sirius insisted on buying it, and he wouldn't listen to reason... What a spendthrift!

Just like when they left, they Apparition back, this time to the Headmaster's Office.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

As soon as Kyle returned, he heard a burst of excited laughter, but the laughter was so awful, it sounded like a goose being choked.

"Haha... Dumbledore, I heard it all from that old woman."

On the wall, a portrait of Phineas Black proudly proclaimed, "My great-grandson has been acquitted, hasn't he... Haha... I knew it, there could never be a traitor in the House of Black."

"Those idiots in the Ministry of Magic can't even see through such an obvious setup, they're getting worse and worse... But this minister is alright, at least he can tell right from wrong."

There was no one in the portraits around him; everyone was keeping their distance and looking at him with the same kind of disdain one might show to someone mentally challenged.

"Shut up, Phineas," a bearded wizard couldn't help but say. "You can fool others, but don't fool yourself. You haven't forgotten how you insulted Sirius Black, have you? Should we help you remember?"

"Yes..." a witch sneered, "You were so vehemently criticizing others back then, and now you're talking about them? You're shameless."

"Impossible! You must have misheard," Phineas said, his neck stiff. "I've said it many times, how could I possibly doubt the House of Black!"

"Heh heh..." Everyone let out a cold laugh in unison.

At that moment, a tall, thin, black-haired witch quietly appeared behind Phineas, carrying a round shield that she had somehow stolen.

While Phineas was speaking, she raised her hand and smashed her shield into his head.

Who did you just call an old woman?!

Phineas was stunned by the impact and sat down on the ground, taking a long time to recover.

Seeing this, the others swarmed forward and began punching and kicking him.

There's no particular reason, it's just pure muscle memory. Beating up Phineas when they're bored has almost become their favorite game.

Suddenly, the Headmaster's Office echoed with the sounds of fists striking flesh, and someone's bloodcurdling screams.

"Professor, your life must be very exciting," Kyle couldn't help but laugh.

"Ah, yes? It is indeed wonderful." Dumbledore pulled a piece of velvet from the table and walked toward the most lively portrait. "But sometimes they are just too noisy."

Oh, right, weren't you going to find Harry? Go on, I remember the password for the common room is "nonsense."

"Okay." Kyle nodded, opened the door beside him, "Well then, goodbye Professor, and Fawkes ..."

The Headmaster's Office is not far from the Gryffindor common room; just keep walking down the corridor until you reach the end and turn the corner.

"Password!" the Fat Lady dutifully asked.

"Nonsense," Kyle said.

But the Fat Lady didn't open the door; instead, she looked at him with suspicion.

"You are not Gryffindor student; I have never seen you before."

It seems that she has become much more cautious after Sir Cadogan's expulsion last school year.

"I bet you found a note with a password on it somewhere and thought it was interesting, so you came here."

"Yes, I am a Hufflepuff," Kyle said. "But the password was given to me by the headmaster. I just came from the Headmaster's Office; I need to speak with Harry Potter."

"Principal?" The Fat Lady was still somewhat doubtful, but her tone softened a little.

"Don't do anything that violates school rules," she warned, "Or you'll never be able to pass through this door again."

"Don't worry," Kyle said with a smile. "I've never broken any school rules."

"By the way, the other principals are playing a game with Headmaster Black right now; you should still make it if you go over there."

The Fat Lady's eyes lit up.

"Child, I take back what I just said. You will definitely be an excellent little wizard."

After saying that, she disappeared from the portrait and opened the door for Kyle.

Kyle went into the passage behind him.

It's the weekend, and there are quite a few people in the common room.

Kyle glanced around and quickly spotted the familiar trio at a table in the corner.

Hermione was doing her homework, while Ron and Harry were playing Wizard's Chess and discussing how to make themselves a year older.

"I think Ageing Potion would be a good option," Ron said, taking one of Harry's chess pieces. "Fred told me he can brew such a potion, one bottle adds exactly one year."

The price is a bit high, it costs ten Galleon.

"Ten Galleon?" Harry said. "That's not cheap."

"But I am, after all, their brother," Ron said smugly. "If I wanted to buy it, it would only cost five Galleon. They said that's the cost price of the materials, and they wouldn't make a single Knut profit."

But if you ask me, that's the right thing to do... General!

Ron directed the knights to King Harry's side before continuing:

"If only there were a way to make some money, I don't even have five Galleon right now."

"I can buy two." Harry moved his king a space. "... but you won't get any presents for Christmas."

"That makes perfect sense," Ron said with a smile. "Or, if I win the championship, I'll have the money to pay you back—it's a thousand Galleon."

"Yes," Harry said, "I wish we could both be Champion."

"This is impossible..." Hermione looked up. "The books say that each house can only have one Champion, and it has always been so... Oh, Kyle, what are you doing here?"

"That's enough, Hermione." Ron put down the chess piece. "I know Kyle is very good, he's always been first in his grade, but that doesn't mean he can definitely become Champion. I still have a chance."

"You've misunderstood." Harry quickly patted him on the shoulder, put down his chess piece, stood up, and said to Kyle, who was walking towards him:

"Welcome to the Gryffindor common room. Are you here to see Fred and George?"

"However, they've been staying in the Entrance Hall on the first floor since lunch and haven't come back. You can try looking there."