Due to unexpected business at the Ministry, Chris and Diana couldn't return for lunch, so Kyle ate at the Weasleys'.
Molly hadn't seen Kyle for over two weeks and was overjoyed. She immediately loaded his plate with seven or eight sausages and insisted he have three more servings of rice.
After eating, Kyle was too full to move.
"Want to go de-gnome with us?" Fred asked enthusiastically after lunch, "We're proper Quidditch Beaters now — we'll definitely beat you!"
"Maybe next time." Kyle shook his head and pulled a yellow envelope from his pocket, "I need to go to Diagon Alley to buy supplies for the new term."
"Oh right, you haven't bought your things yet!" Molly came over from the kitchen and said, "Wait a moment, dear, we can accompany you to Diagon Alley."
"That's not necessary, Mrs. Weasley." Kyle said with a smile, "Second-year supplies are pretty much the same as first year. I just need some parchment and ink — I'll be back quickly."
"But..." Molly seemed hesitant.
"It's fine, Mum." Fred said, "We can go with him."
George added, "Yeah Mum, don't worry."
"Alright then." Molly considered for a moment before eyeing the twins, "Come back as soon as you've finished shopping, and don't take Kyle to any questionable places."
"We'd never go to places like that!"
"Honestly, you're our mother but you don't understand us at all."
...
While the twins were talking with Molly, Kyle noticed Ron sitting to the side — and the wand he was holding.
He had seen this wand last term with Charlie — it was severely worn, with the unicorn hair showing through.
Kyle suddenly thought of something and looked up, "Molly, you've misunderstood Fred and George."
The twins heard his words and immediately nodded, secretly giving each other thumbs up behind their backs.
But Kyle acted as if he hadn't seen their gesture and continued, "The reason they're going to Diagon Alley with me is that they want to buy Ron a new wand."
"Mm-hmm... huh?"
Fred and George froze mid-nod and turned to stare at him in disbelief.
Ron was equally incredulous. Merlin's beard, Fred and George... were going to buy him a new wand?
He could hardly believe what he'd heard, but then his heart swelled with joy. He wanted a new wand so badly that he'd been dreaming about choosing one at Ollivanders.
There was nothing he could do though — even though the family had money now, Molly had refused his request for a wand, saying the Galleons belonged to the twins and she was just keeping them safe.
But now... Ron's eyes welled up with tears as he looked at his brothers with deep emotion, seeming about to cry at any moment.
Fred and George still hadn't processed what was happening, their expressions dazed.
When had they ever said they'd buy Ron a new wand? What a waste of Galleons! He was only in first year — Charlie's old wand would do just fine.
However, trusting in Kyle, the twins hesitated but didn't contradict him.
"Y-yes, Mum." Fred said through gritted teeth, "We were planning to buy Ron a new wand."
George took a deep breath and forced a dry smile, "We just hadn't mentioned it because we were afraid you'd object."
"Oh darlings, why would I object?" Molly's eyes grew moist as she stepped forward to hug them tenderly, "I'm so glad you thought of this. George is right — I haven't understood you well enough."
"I'm Fred, Mum." George said with a red face, somewhat bashfully, "You've mixed us up again."
"I'm sorry, Fred, dear." Molly released them and said with a smile, "Oh, wait just a moment."
With that, she went upstairs.
Taking advantage of this moment, the twins immediately looked at Kyle, their eyes full of questions. He subtly shook his head, signaling them to stay calm.
Soon, Molly returned with a bag in her hands.
"These are your Galleons." She handed the bag to George, who was closest, "I've been worried you were too young and might spend these Galleons frivolously, but now I see you've really grown up. Take it — you can't buy a wand without money."
George eagerly opened the bag, revealing about thirty gleaming Galleons.
A flash of disappointment crossed the twins' eyes. They'd expected all their savings to be there, not just thirty Galleons.
Molly immediately caught their expressions and frowned, "What, not enough? Then forget it."
She reached for the bag.
George stepped backward, shaking his head vigorously, "Of course not, Mum! How could we think it's not enough?"
Seemingly afraid his mother might change her mind, George hurried to the fireplace, clutching the bag in one hand while grabbing Floo powder with the other.
"We're running out of time, we need to go."
With that, he threw the Floo powder into the fireplace and stepped in without looking back.
"Diagon Alley!"
In the blink of an eye, George vanished.
Fred and Kyle quickly followed.
✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭
When Kyle opened his eyes again, he found himself at the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron.
Fred and George immediately flanked him on either side, speaking rapidly.
"When did we ever say we'd buy Ron a wand?!"
"We need an explanation, Kyle."
A wand cost seven Galleons — enough to make a hundred Ton-Tongue Toffees.
"Don't get excited, aren't you curious about why Ollivanders is so dusty..." Kyle leaned in to whisper something in their ears.
After listening, the twins' eyes lit up with interest, though traces of confusion remained.
Fred hesitated, "A wand costs seven Galleons... isn't that too much?"
"Don't worry, I'll cover the cost." Kyle said with a smile, "Consider it my enrollment gift to Ron..."
Thump...
Just then, a round figure tumbled out of the fireplace.
Ron didn't even pause to dust himself off. He immediately jumped up and looked around anxiously until he spotted Kyle and the twins. Relieved, he hurried over to them with excited steps.
✭✭✭
T/N: Hey! Liked what you read? Support your friendly neighborhood translator on Patreon! Think of it as buying me a coffee... or ten!
For just $1.50 (that's less than your daily meme budget), get extra chapters! Want more? $2 gets you bonus content, $5 unlocks premium stories, and $10 makes you my hero (and gets you everything I have, including earlier acess to new books)!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)
https://www.patreon.com/collection/1305453