https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-614-The-Benefits-of-Learning-Ancient-Runes/13011854/
Chapter 613: No More Pretending, It's Time to Lay My Cards on the Table
Chapter 613: No More Pretending, It's Time to Lay My Cards on the Table
Umbridge's reaction was even faster than Kyle had anticipated.
The upcoming Friday afternoon class was Dark Arts Defense for Sixth Years, and before Sirius was taken away, Kyle had planned to learn new spells.
But now, the professor had changed.
When Kyle and Conna entered the Dark Arts Defense classroom, Umbridge was already seated behind the podium, wearing that ugly, fluffy, pink open-front sweater.
The entire class was silent, and Kyle didn't speak either. He simply found a spot in the back row and sat down.
However, even sitting at the very back didn't spare him from Umbridge's troublemaking.
First, she laid down some rigid rules.
She demanded that everyone, when answering her questions, must add the phrase 'Professor Umbridge' at the end.
For example, 'Yes, Professor Umbridge' or 'No, Professor Umbridge.'
Everyone complied except for Kyle, who acted as if he hadn't heard a word and completely ignored her.
Umbridge noticed this, so unsurprisingly, she directly called out Kyle's name.
"Why aren't you following my instructions?" she asked in a coy voice, "Do a few insignificant honors make you so arrogant that you can ignore a professor?"
"Sorry, Miss Umbridge," Kyle said, "If the Merlin Knight Order Second-Class Medal is considered 'insignificant,' then I'm sure you have many. Why don't you take them out and show us?"
Umbridge's face instantly darkened... If she had a Merlin Medal, she wouldn't need Kyle to say so!
"No way, you don't have one, do you?" Kyle said in an exaggerated tone, "Not even an 'insignificant' honor like that, and you have the nerve to be a professor? Or did you bribe the headmaster with Galleons?"
With these words, Kyle instantly became the center of attention in the room.
Everyone felt a sense of disbelief. In their eyes, Kyle had always been a typical Hufflepuff.
He was known for his gentle temperament and polite demeanor... How could he have changed so suddenly? It was as if he had become a completely different person.
After all, even the most reckless Gryffindor wouldn't dare say what Kyle had just said.
Umbridge was so furious that her body trembled.
"How dare you speak to me like that!" she shrieked.
"Oh, okay, you didn't bribe him," Kyle said casually, "Maybe you used Sickles, which would make your purse look fuller."
Umbridge's face turned from pale to red, and then she seemed to remember something.
"Okay, I admit, you do have some commendable honors."
Her voice returned to its previous tone, fake and pretentious.
"But that doesn't mean you can abandon basic manners.
"Dumbledore has never corrected you in this regard, and he's been doing a terrible job in that aspect, which is understandable.
"I think everyone here knows that he's been acting more and more irrationally lately, always saying absurd things, right?"
No one responded.
However, they were aware that Umbridge was referring to the content reported in the Daily Prophet... the words Dumbledore had spoken about the Dark Lord's resurrection at the end of the previous school year.
"I suppose you think so too," she said, looking at Kyle again with a malicious glint in her eyes, "That Dumbledore's words are absurd, and he himself is becoming more and more confused."
"Dumbledore isn't confused," someone couldn't help but speak up.
"In my class, students must raise their hands before speaking. You are..."
"Justin Finch-Fletchley."
Umbridge's gaze lingered on him for a moment before turning back to Kyle.
"So, what's your opinion?"
"I think..." Kyle shrugged, "He's at least smarter than you."
"So, you think what he said is correct?"
"Of course," Kyle said, "I believe Professor Dumbledore, and I believe he has personally witnessed... Voldemort."
A gasp and uncontrollable shrieks filled the classroom...
"Hufflepuff, twenty points deducted!"
Umbridge revealed a triumphant expression, as if her scheme had succeeded, "As a punishment for your nonsense, you'll also be confined to my office tomorrow morning at eight o'clock.
"Additionally, I want to remind you that if you continue spreading such absurd rumors, the Ministry of Magic will, on behalf of the Merlin Knight Order, revoke your medal."
"Oh, I'll remember that," Kyle said.
Then, amidst everyone's astonished gazes, he pushed open the door and left the classroom.
Now, Umbridge on the podium was even more delighted. She took out a piece of parchment from her handbag, wrote something on it, and then magically sealed it.
"Conna..." Mikael asked in a daze, "What's wrong with him? Could someone have taken Polyjuice Potion and impersonated him?"
"No," Conna shook her head, though she was also a bit dazed.
Time slowly passed, and finally, the class was over.
Conna was the first to rush out of the classroom. In the Hufflepuff common room, she found Kyle playing with Snuffles.
She ran over and carefully sniffed around Kyle.
"What are you doing?" Kyle couldn't help but ask.
"Checking for any Polyjuice Potion," Conna said, "Well, there isn't any..."
Then she sat down in the armchair next to Kyle.
"What were you thinking just now?"
"I was trying to get her to confine me," Kyle said, "I had prepared several plans, but it turned out to be much easier than expected.
"So you want Umbridge to lock you up, and you're provoking her?" Conna was even more confused.
"Yeah," Kyle nodded.
"Okay," Conna said, only slightly relieved after realizing that this was Kyle's intention, "No wonder, I've never seen you be so..."
She paused, not continuing her sentence.
"You mean, sarcastic, right?" Kyle said with a smile, "I learned this from Professor Snape, and it's quite effective, isn't it? She immediately got angry."
"But that's normal," Kyle continued, "When it comes to being sharp-tongued, all the professors and students in the school combined can't compare to Professor Snape."
"What are you talking about?" Conna glared at him disapprovingly.
"But it's the truth," Kyle muttered, but seeing Conna's angry expression, he quickly explained, "Don't get me wrong, when I say 'sharp-tongued' here, I actually mean it as a compliment, really."
Seeing Kyle's sincere expression, Conna reluctantly believed his words.
"But I don't understand why you want to be locked up."
"Because it's more convenient this way," Kyle said vaguely.
...
The next day.
In just one night, the news of Kyle storming out of Umbridge's class spread like wildfire, even by Hogwarts standards, the speed of this news was exceptionally fast.
"You really left halfway through the class?" Fred asked, sitting at the Hufflepuff table.
"Didn't you give Umbridge any face?" George asked from the other side.
As they spoke, their eyes shone with a hint of admiration that they had never shown before.
Yes, admiration.
Whether it was when Kyle received the Hogwarts School Special Contribution Award or the Merlin Order Second-Class Medal, they were just happy.
This was the first time they were so excited.
"You all know?" Kyle asked casually.
"Hmph..." George let out a strange laugh, "Do you think this is just about answering a question in class)?"
Storming out halfway through a class would be a hot topic at Hogwarts, especially for someone as outstanding as Kyle.
"Have you taken Defense Against the Dark Arts yet?" Kyle asked.
"No," Fred shook his head.
"You'll understand why I left when you take the class," Kyle said.
He checked the time, got up, and said, "I have to go to detention now.
"By the way, Cedric, I'm not sure how long this detention will last..."
"Don't worry, leave it to us," Cedric said, looking at him with some concern.
"It's fine, it's just a detention, nothing serious," Kyle said.
Then, he left the Great Hall and went to Umbridge's office on the fourth floor. He knocked on the door, and a sickly sweet voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Kyle pushed the door open and entered.
After having six previous owners, the office had once again transformed into a different style.
Everything was adorned with lace doilies, and there were several dried flowers in vases placed on small cushions.
On the wall hung a set of decorative plates, each containing a colorful, large cat wearing different bows.
"Good morning," Umbridge said with a smile.
"Good morning," Kyle responded warmly, naturally sitting on the sofa next to her, "Do you have black tea? No sugar, please. I feel like the apple pie I had for breakfast was a bit too sweet."
Umbridge was taken aback, not expecting Kyle to be so bold as to ask for tea while being detained.
Who did he think he was, a waiter from the Three Broomsticks? Umbridge's fake smile was strained, as she enjoyed being respected and flattered, but Kyle didn't seem to care about her at all.
Whether it was years ago at St. Mungo's, or previously at the Ministry of Magic, or even now, it was always the same.
"There's no black tea here, and even if there was, I wouldn't let you have any," her voice gradually became sharp, with a hint of malice, "Because you spread evil, despicable, and attention-seeking lies, I'm going to punish you by writing lines... of course, not with your quill, but with this."
She took out a long, thin quill with an exceptionally sharp tip.
"If I'm not mistaken, this quill seems to have some sort of Dark Magic on it," Kyle said.
"Dark Magic? No, no, this is just your punishment," Umbridge's face once again wore that sickly sweet smile.
"No matter what excuse you use, Professor Dumbledore would never approve of you using Dark Magic in school."
"Professor Dumbledore has no authority over the Ministry of Magic!" Umbridge said angrily, "And he won't know about it either, at least not until your punishment is over. No one will know about this."
"I see..." Kyle nodded.
He slowly took out his wand and waved it casually.
The next moment—
"Smack!"
Umbridge was as if struck by an invisible giant, and she flew uncontrollably, crashing into the table next to her with a dull thud.
The vase on the table wobbled and fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
It wasn't until then that Kyle laughed and said, "Really, why am I even wasting my time talking to you when no one will know about this?"
(End of Chapter)
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