https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-548-Helena-and-Nearly-Headless-Nick/12538888/
Chapter 547: Most Enchanting Smile Award by the Wizarding Weekly
Chapter 547: Most Enchanting Smile Award by the Wizarding Weekly
Sirius continued to ramble on about his school days, but Kyle was hardly interested, nor did he believe that Madam Rosmerta of the Three Broomsticks had a soft spot for the young Sirius back then.
Fortunately, Ludo Bagman's magically amplified voice suddenly rang in their ears, interrupting Sirius and quieting the spectators in the stands.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have finally made our decision. Chief Mermaid Merkus has told us everything that happened at the bottom of the lake, and now we will start scoring the champions."
Everyone leaned in to listen.
First was Su Li, who had withdrawn midway through the final task and thus only received the minimum score of twenty-five points as she did not complete it.
Although Krum was the last one out of the Forbidden Forest, he completed all the tasks without any mistakes and received forty points.
As for Kyle, he received forty-nine points. He was docked one point for technically breaking the rules by bringing Gabrielle out of the lake.
However, the scores were announced as totals, so no one knew who had deducted that point.
But it didn't matter to Kyle; he was still in first place and with a significant lead.
Once again, everyone applauded, and Bagman continued, "The third and final task will take place on the evening of June 30th. The champions will be informed of the task details one month in advance, and I can assure you it will be quite spectacular."
...
After the second task, everyone returned to the castle for lunch.
Having braved the chilly winds by the Black Lake all morning, they were famished.
The house-elves had prepared a feast, and as the students took their seats in the Great Hall, their plates were filled with delicious food.
Perhaps due to the scare, Su Li refrained from complaining about the grease and dug into a pork chop... However, she still refused to speak to Kyle, and it seemed deliberate that she chose a seat far away from him, pulling Connor along.
This left two empty seats next to Kyle, which were quickly claimed by two quick-thinking students.
Everyone was eager to know what had transpired at the bottom of the lake, so during lunch, Kyle recounted the events, including the Grindylows emerging from the shadows and the discovery of the Hippocampus. He intentionally omitted some parts, but the listeners still gasped and exclaimed in surprise.
They were especially intrigued by the part about the mermaids surrounding the Hippocampus, listening intently. Mikal was so engrossed that he didn't realize he was trying to stick a potato up his nose.
But speaking of the Hippocampus...
Right after the second task, as everyone hurried back to the castle, Kyle found an excuse to return to the Black Lake to help the Hippocampus find a safer place, away from the mermaids' attacks.
Yes, a very safe place, so safe that it had no neighbors.
...
As March arrived, the weather turned slightly clearer, but the bitter wind still stung their hands and faces.
Owls struggled to fly in the sky, delivering letters and packages to the castle punctually.
One day, as Kyle stepped into the classroom for Charms class, he noticed a group of Ravenclaw girls huddled together, excitedly discussing something. Upon noticing Kyle, they burst into giggles.
"What's so funny?" Kyle asked, perplexed.
"Well... you should see for yourself," Autumn said through her laughter, handing him a magazine. "Look carefully; there's a surprise inside."
"A surprise?" Kyle sat down at an empty seat and flipped through the magazine—The Wizarding Weekly—during the brief moment before Professor Flitwick arrived.
Unlike The Quibbler, which garnered little attention, this was one of the most popular wizarding magazines, second only to The Daily Prophet in terms of subscriptions.
Finally, Kyle found what he was looking for halfway through the magazine.
It was an article.
[Hogwarts Champion, a Fifteen-Year-Old Prodigy]
"He may not be as unique as Harry Potter, but his achievements far surpass those of the Savior.
"Rita Skeeter reports that, upon enrollment, he displayed unprecedented magical talent by single-handedly holding off the notorious Dark Wizard, Ollivander, and rescuing a first-year student from his grasp.
"You know how Rita Skeeter likes to exaggerate," he said.
"I don't think so," Connor disagreed, still smiling. "After all, these are things you've actually done. She's not entirely wrong."
"But I don't think I've contributed that much to the wizarding world..." Kyle shrugged, "and I certainly don't think Dumbledore and Fudge should give up their positions for me."
"To be honest, I can't imagine how busy someone would have to be if they were both the Minister of Magic and the Headmaster of Hogwarts," he continued. "Being a student is hard enough as it is. At least I can keep my hair this way."
Connor couldn't help but laugh, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
"So, you just don't want to be busy, but you don't mind her submitting this photo for the 'Most Enchanting Smile Award' by the Wizarding Weekly?" she teased.
"What award?" Kyle frowned, quickly flipping through the magazine again.
Indeed, at the end of the article, Rita Skeeter had mentioned the award and included a photo of him smiling... which was only natural for the first champion to complete the task.
If he had known things would turn out this way, he would have made sure to keep a straight face.
"The Most Enchanting Smile Award," Connor explained. "Won't it be on the cover? If so, I'll definitely collect that issue..."
"Me too," Autumn chimed in. "I'll buy two copies, one to read and one to keep."
"If that happens..." Kyle said through gritted teeth, "Rita Skeeter is dead to me. I'll send her photo to the Ministry of Magic."
"Whose photo, Rita Skeeter's?" Autumn asked, confused.
"Yeah, it's evidence of her violating the Wizarding Law. We caught her in the act," Connor whispered conspiratorially.
"I see," Autumn nodded, understanding. "No wonder she's going out of her way to praise you. Before this, I've never seen her write an article that's all praise and no criticism."
"I could do without this kind of praise," Kyle said, massaging his temples.
After the incident with Lockhart, the 'Most Enchanting Smile Award' by the Wizarding Weekly had become a running joke at Hogwarts... at least for students in their third year and above, who had experienced that fateful school year.
Kyle was certain that if Rita Skeeter succeeded, Fred and George would be ecstatic and set off fireworks to celebrate finding a new joke that would last them until graduation.
This situation could not be allowed to unfold.
Feeling uneasy, Kyle retrieved a piece of parchment and a quill, intending to write a letter to Rita Skeeter to dissuade her from her plan.
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
