Hogwarts was about to begin again.
But compared with this time in previous years, Ottery St. Catchpole was not nearly as lively.
Ever since Ron and Harry had both graduated, Ginny was the only one heading to King's Cross Station this year, which made things much easier for Mrs. Weasley.
Still, in keeping with the Weasley family tradition, they all accompanied Ginny to Diagon Alley a few days before term began.
While buying new textbooks and school robes, they also stopped by to see the new shop Harry and Sirius had opened.
Although Harry had little faith in Sirius's talent for business, the shop—after several years of preparation—had finally opened. Sirius had given it to Harry as a birthday present on Harry's birthday.
It had to be said, it was as extravagant as ever. The only thing was that Harry did not look very happy; his smile was rather forced.
"Not far now, we're almost there..." Fred and George enthusiastically led the way through Diagon Alley.
After being busy for the entire holiday, they were finally free. Kyle had also rarely left that attic; when Fred and George heard Mrs. Weasley was going to Diagon Alley, they had dragged him along to The Burrow.
Kyle had not refused.
Lately, he had either been facing Boggarts and Dementors or buried in a pile of bizarre dark magic books. He needed a change of pace.
Those dark magic books in particular carried varying degrees of mental corruption. Fred and George had only caught an accidental glimpse of a single glyph and suffered for several nights afterward, let alone Kyle, who spent hours reading them at a time.
Honestly, when he had first stepped outside, he had even instinctively recoiled from the sunlight a little. Fortunately, Kyle's Occlumency was skilled enough that the