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Chapter 32: The Helpful Hufflepuffs
Chapter 32: The Helpful Hufflepuffs
Meanwhile, as it was already time for class dismissal when Kyle exited the hospital wing, he decided to skip Charms class and headed straight for the library instead.
Dumbledore had recommended two books that would be helpful for casting basic spells and perfect for new students like himself. Thus, Kyle intended to borrow them and give them a read.
The library was conveniently located on the second floor and was easy to find, just a flight of stairs away.
"Two books? No, that won't do!" Madame Pince, the librarian, eyed Kyle scrutinizingly while holding a feather duster in her hand. "Unless you have a note from your professor, you can only borrow one book at a time."
"In that case, I'll borrow 'A Walk with Ghouls' then," Kyle replied without much hesitation, quickly stating the title.
What he didn't expect was the look of extreme disgust that appeared on Madame Pince's face when she heard the title. It was as if she had just heard a vile curse word.
"Another Lockhart's book," she muttered under her breath.
She disliked the author, Gilderoy Lockhart, or rather, she despised his overly self-absorbed writing style, which she deemed as nothing more than attention-seeking.
That in itself wasn't a big deal; after all, many autobiographies were written in a similar fashion, and one could still bear with it and read on.
However, for some reason, whenever she read Lockhart's books, she felt as though something was missing from the content, making it hard to connect the dots in many places.
Although it wasn't a major issue and didn't hinder her from reading, Madame Pince just couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling it gave her. It bothered her to the extent that she would feel ill at ease whenever she thought about it.
As a result, her impression of Kyle took a significant dip. After a moment of silence, she said sternly, " 'A Walk with Ghouls' is currently checked out. If you register for it now, you'll probably get it in about two years."
"Two years... never mind then," Kyle shook his head. "How about 'The Wind's Minstrel'?"
"That one is available," Madame Pince's expression softened a little. She asked Kyle to wait there while she walked over to a nearby bookshelf.
Taking advantage of this moment, Kyle curiously sized up the famous librarian from the side.
Madame Pince was a thin and elderly woman who resembled a malnourished vulture. The young witches and wizards studying there dared not breathe too loudly in her presence.
One student seemed so nervous that he let out a sneeze and was promptly sent out of the library by her.
Kyle clicked his tongue in his mind. No wonder she was rumored to be Filch's romantic interest. The two of them indeed made a well-matched pair. Not only did they share a strict adherence to rules, but they also seemed to dislike students equally.
Before long, Madame Pince returned and handed Kyle a thick hardcover book along with a note.
"You must return it within a week. If you exceed the deadline or damage the book in any way, don't expect to borrow another book from here easily."
"I'll keep that in mind," Kyle replied.
...
Since the freshmen only had one class in the morning, Kyle decided to head back to the common room after leaving the library. He wanted to find a comfortable spot to read the book and see what it was about.
However, as soon as he stepped through the portrait hole, he found himself surrounded.
Almost all the Hufflepuff freshmen had gathered in the common room, waiting for Kyle's return.
"How is he, Kyle?" Ryan rushed forward anxiously and asked, "Is Mikal alright? We wanted to visit him at the hospital wing, but Madam Pomfrey turned us away as soon as we entered."
"Rest assured," Kyle patted Ryan's shoulder and smiled reassuringly. "Professor Dumbledore has examined him, and he'll be discharged tomorrow after taking his medication."
"That's a relief," Ryan sighed, then asked, "Has Mikal woken up? Has he mentioned anything he'd like to eat? Even if we can't deliver it to him now, we can prepare it in advance and give it to him when he's discharged. I'm sure he'll be delighted."
Ryan's suggestion resonated with the other students, and they eagerly offered their precious treats.
"I have raspberry candies!"
"I have cream toffees."
"How about cookies? My mom made them, and they're delicious."
"I think he'd like licorice wands..."
...
Even Kyle was touched by the strong sense of camaraderie, and he solemnly said, "Mikal didn't mention any specific cravings, but I believe what he wants most right now is not snacks, but to not fall behind in his studies!"
"Not fall behind... in his studies?" Ryan scratched his head, confused by Kyle's statement.
"Yes," Kyle affirmed. "You must have noticed that Mikal's accident happened because he couldn't cast the spell in time and became anxious. Isn't that right?"
"Yes," Ryan nodded.
Though his attention had been focused on his own wand at the time, and he hadn't seen how that blinding "flashbang" had occurred, in his opinion, everyone had been practicing spells, and Mikal was no exception, so Kyle's statement made sense.
"Exactly," Kyle continued seriously. "Being as ambitious as he is, he wouldn't want to miss out on two classes.
So what we should do now is pay close attention in Transfiguration class this afternoon and in History of Magic tomorrow morning. Take notes on what the professors teach, and then compile them into a notebook for Mikal. I'm sure he'll be so touched that he'll cry."
The large Hufflepuff common room fell silent, and the little badgers looked at each other, unsure what to say.
They found it hard to believe that anyone would prefer studying over snacks. But after thinking carefully about what Kyle had said... they couldn't find any flaws in his logic.
It was clear and reasonable, and there didn't seem to be any issues with it.
Perhaps... Mikal truly loved magic that much.
The young badgers convinced themselves, and soon, volunteers stepped forward. Some took on the task of taking notes, while others offered to help with the final compilation...
The remaining few who hadn't managed to secure a task but still wanted to help huddled together and soon identified a task that Kyle had overlooked.
Homework!
At Hogwarts, homework was an essential part of every subject, and its importance went without saying.
So, they decided to inform Mikal about the homework for each class. Moreover, they planned to speak to their professors, telling them about Mikal's dedication to his studies even while in the hospital wing. They wanted to assure the teachers that Mikal, as an exemplary Hufflepuff, wouldn't shirk his responsibilities and skip his assignments.
...
(End of Chapter)
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