Chapter 219: End of Term Exam
Chapter 219: End of Term Exam
Speaking of Quidditch, Hagrid suddenly noticed that Kyle was wearing his team uniform and then recalled that it was probably the day of the Hufflepuff and Slytherin match.
However, the game had already started, and Kyle, one of the Chasers for his team, was here instead. This could only mean...
"Sorry, Kyle," Hagrid said guiltily. "Because of me, you missed the last game!"
"It's alright..." Kyle waved his hand dismissively. "As long as Norbet wasn't discovered, it's fine. We're leading by over three hundred points, and the outcome isn't that important. I just took a little break."
...
The two of them made their way toward the Quidditch stadium, one in front of the other.
Due to some unexplained and magical force, by the time they arrived, the game had just ended.
Kyle glanced at the scoreboard.
170:70
Hufflepuff had won!
Although Harris, weakened by Kyle's absence, was unable to hold his own against Slytherin, they still had Cedric.
As Kyle walked out of the passageway, he happened to see Cedric standing on the field, his arms raised high.
And between his fingers, a glimmer of golden light flickered.
Deafening cheers erupted from the stands as everyone celebrated Hufflepuff's early victory.
With 560 points, this score was like a mountain, nearly impossible for Gryffindor and Ravenclaw to surpass.
Unless they resorted to cheating.
Hagrid joined in the crowd's cheers, feeling much better now that Hufflepuff had won.
Kyle made his way alone to the changing room.
He had been wondering how to explain his sudden departure to the others, but to his surprise, no one asked.
They merely patted him on the shoulder in a friendly manner, as if nothing was amiss.
"Don't worry about it," Harris said as he walked over and spoke quietly. "We know you must have had something important to do!"
Then he laughed a couple of times,
"Cheer up, we won!"
"That's right," Fello chimed in with a smile. "Unless Gryffindor and Ravenclaw can score forty goals in the next game, the championship this year will still be ours without a doubt!"
This game marked the last hurrah before the exams.
That night, the party in the Hufflepuff common room lasted until midnight.
Harris, who had previously boasted about his incredible drinking capacity and claimed he could never get drunk, passed out after his third bottle of butterbeer and couldn't get up from the table.
A few upperclassmen Quidditch players nonchalantly stood up, skillfully carried him, and took him back to the dormitory.
Watching this scene, Kyle asked in confusion, "What happened to him?"
"Oh, he's drunk," Fello said calmly.
"You can get drunk on butterbeer?" Kyle said in disbelief. "Surely there's no real beer in it?"
He had always thought it was just a drink similar to hot cocoa.
"There is, but the beer is boiled beforehand to add a bit of flavor," one of the new students with braided hair said. "I've seen it made at home."
"That's right, so if someone doesn't have a good tolerance for alcohol, they'll still get drunk from butterbeer," Fello laughed. "Just like Harris, he can usually only handle two cups. One more sip and he's done for."
Kyle forced a dry laugh. "If you can get drunk on boiled beer, then his drinking capacity..."
"Why not just drink pumpkin juice?"
The party soon ended after Harris got drunk, and everyone dispersed back to their respective dormitories.
...
After the revelry, relentless revision awaited them once more.
As the exams drew closer, the atmosphere in the castle grew tenser, leaving no time for thoughts of Quidditch. Studious students could be spotted poring over their books almost everywhere.
A fervent spirit of academic pursuit permeated through Hogwarts.
Even Harry, Ron, and Hermione temporarily set aside their investigation of Snape to join in the studying frenzy in the library.
While Hermione was revising, Harry and Ron were busy catching up.
Amidst this tense atmosphere, exam week arrived in no time.
For Kyle, the second-year exams posed no challenge at all. He completed the written test in just over ten minutes.
However, Professor McGonagall wouldn't let him hand in his paper early, reasoning that he might give answers to others.
Indeed, Professor McGonagall hadn't been assigned to invigilate the upper years again this year, much to her dismay. She silently grumbled about Dumbledore in her mind.
She looked up and surveyed the classroom.
Well, this year's students were a bit too well-behaved. Before the exam, she had only confiscated five cheating tools, which was less than half of last year's haul.
This only added to Professor McGonagall's disappointment.
With time to spare, she strolled over to Kyle and examined his paper.
Many noticed that Professor McGonagall's expression suddenly turned solemn, and she shook her head as she read.
"Could it be that Kyle didn't do well this time?"
People had varied expressions, some anxious, some regretful, and some excited...
But Kyle didn't seem to mind. Mainly, from his position, he couldn't see Professor McGonagall's expression.
Finally, the written exam ended, and the practical exam that followed was much more enjoyable.
Professor Flitwick had enchanted a pineapple, and the task was to guess the spell and restore the pineapple to its original state.
When it was Kyle's turn, he deliberately increased the difficulty.
The pineapple sprouted legs and jumped off the table, scurrying across the floor.
"You have three chances," Professor Flitwick said with a smile. "But you must remain standing here."
The legged pineapple was agile, changing directions each time Kyle was about to cast a spell.
After two unsuccessful attempts, Kyle looked at Professor Flitwick helplessly.
No doubt, the professor was pulling some strings.
Yet, Professor Flitwick maintained an innocent smile, as if he knew nothing. "You only have one more chance left..."
"I have no choice." Kyle took a deep breath, and a layer of orange light appeared on his wand...
"Wait, wait..." Professor Flitwick's pupils contracted, and he quickly stopped him.
"Transfiguration exams are being held next door. That spell will affect the others."
"Then the exam..."
"You passed," Professor Flitwick said with a chuckle.
In fact, he had already given Kyle full marks. The previous incidents were just a bit of playful mischief on his part.
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
