Hogwarts: The Exemplary Wizard I Am Chapter 750: Making Up for Lost Time - Novel Cool

Chapter 750: Making Up for Lost Time

Chapter 750: Making Up for Lost Time

Despite Kyle's reservations, Dumbledore kept his word and returned the Goblet of Fire three days later.

When Kyle found Harry with a bottle of honey wine, he was in the library, almost buried under a pile of various books.

Ron and Hermione were with him.

In front of the trio were several layers of thick "book walls," shielding them from view. If it weren't for the Marauder's Map indicating Harry's presence in the library, Kyle might not have found him.

It was hard to imagine when Harry and Ron had developed such a fondness for reading.

"Here's what you asked for," Kyle said as he sat down across from them and, taking advantage of Madam Pince's momentary distraction, slipped the bottle of honey wine into a gap between the book walls.

"Thanks," Harry said, lifting his head.

Only then did Kyle notice the dark circles under his eyes.

"How long have you been here?" he asked subconsciously.

"Three days," Ron yawned and muttered, "We've been practically living in the library except for class time."

He picked up a book beside him, flipped through it quickly, and then put it aside.

"Are you looking for something?" Kyle asked. "Do you need help?"

"No, we're fine."

"We can manage on our own."

...

Harry and Ron spoke almost simultaneously.

Kyle couldn't shake the feeling that they were hiding something, something they didn't want him to know.

However, he didn't have a strong sense of curiosity, and since the trio didn't want to talk, he didn't ask further. After delivering the item to Harry, he left the library.

Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were also escorted out of the library by Madam Pince a minute later, as their voices had inadvertently risen in volume.

"It's all your fault!" Hermione said irritably. "We won't be able to enter the library for at least two days."

"So what?" Ron seemed rather cheerful. "We've been searching for three days, and we haven't found anything. I've been saying this all along—there are no clues about the sword or the locket in the library. It's just a waste of time."

Harry shared the same sentiment. If it weren't for Hermione's persistence, he would have given up the day before.

Furthermore, if the clues left by the Four Founders could be found in books, why would Voldemort have bothered working at Borgin and Burkes for so long just for the Hufflepuff Cup?

"Do you have any better ideas for finding clues besides the library?"

Seeing their reaction, Hermione glared at them, exasperated. "If you have any better ideas, I'm all ears, but please don't tell me you're planning to search every room in the school. I have no intention of doing something so foolish."

With that, Hermione stormed off in a huff.

"What's she so upset about?" Ron asked, a little confused. "Didn't we just say that?"

"I think she's just upset about not being able to go to the library for a couple of days," Harry said softly.

"Maybe," Ron shrugged and turned to look at the bottle Harry was holding. "What's that?"

"It's honey wine..." Harry said, "Damn, I forgot to pay Kyle earlier."

"Wine?" Ron furrowed his brows. "I thought you always preferred butterbeer. When did you start drinking wine, and aren't you still underage?"

"Yeah, a few months away," Harry said.

"But it's not for me; it's for Professor Slughorn. He likes honey wine, and maybe I can get his memory with this."

"You're planning to get him drunk?" Ron stroked his chin. "That's a good idea. When are you going? Now?"

"I don't know," Harry shook his head. "I need an opportunity."

As they discussed, they made their way to the Common Room. After spending three consecutive days in the library, their initial enthusiasm for finding Horcruxes had waned, and all they wanted now was a good night's sleep.

...

Harry mentioned waiting for an opportunity and then waited for over a week.

He wanted to wait for a moment when no one else was around, like the dinner parties that used to happen every few days, but he had forgotten. After asking about Horcruxes the last time, Professor Slughorn's dinner parties now excluded him by default.

Kyle was also not invited, but that was precisely what he wanted, as he didn't need to ask Slughorn anything.

As April arrived, the weather gradually became warmer.

With the N.E.W.T. exams approaching, the castle was rarely filled with seventh-year students. Most of them were either in the library or practicing magic in empty classrooms.

Even Michael had missed two consecutive Quidditch training sessions.

According to Professor McGonagall, if he didn't practice his spells and Transfiguration, he was unlikely to obtain O.W.L.s in those subjects.

Spells and Transfiguration were the most crucial subjects, essential for many professions.

Although Michael's desired career as a Beater didn't require them, he was well aware that his Quidditch talent wasn't exceptional, so he couldn't afford to neglect these certificates.

If there was one person in the seventh year with the most free time, it was probably Kyle.

While everyone else was striving to obtain more O.W.L.s, he was the only one with too much time on his hands.

Every day, he either spent time in the Common Room or visited Hagrid at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

"Listen, Kyle, you can't just sit around doing nothing. This is your sixth visit to me this week."

Finally, even Hagrid couldn't hold back and said, "Of course, I'm always happy to see you, but the exams are coming up. Don't you need to study?"

Even Harry has started reading."

"Reading?" Kyle didn't even use his wand but simply pointed, and the teapot on the stove floated, pouring two cups of steaming tea.

The entire process was exceptionally smooth, as if an invisible person were holding the teapot.

"Alright... Pretend I didn't say anything." Hagrid decisively closed his mouth.

One had to admit that with Kyle's current abilities, he could easily handle the N.E.W.T. exams and didn't seem to need to study at all.

But as a professor, there were some things he had to say.

"What about Conna? Why haven't I seen her lately?" Hagrid changed the topic. "You two didn't argue, did you? I'm telling you, she's a good girl, you..."

"Argue? How's that possible?" Kyle interrupted Hagrid and shook his head. "She's recently become obsessed with ancient potions and spends almost every day by the cauldron, not even letting me help."

This was the main reason for Kyle's idleness.

Despite Kyle repeatedly expressing that studying ancient potions wasn't very meaningful because such things weren't suitable for modern witches and wizards, Conna had discovered a new joy in them.

So, she decisively abandoned Kyle and went to the underground classroom.

Initially, Kyle wanted to help, but potions weren't his forte, and after two attempts, Conna dismissed him.

Now, Snape was helping her, and every time Kyle went, he would be ridiculed. It was better to wander aimlessly in the castle than to endure that.

"How's your spider doing?" Kyle directed the teapot back to the stove and asked, "Do you need me to brew some more restorative potion?"

"Thank you, but it's not necessary." Hagrid waved his hand, looking a bit dejected. "Aragog is too old; this has nothing to do with the restorative potion."

"Oh... Alright." Seeing Hagrid's response, Kyle didn't insist further and instead asked, "What about Grawp? Has he gotten used to life in the Forbidden Forest?"

"Grawp is adapting well." When it came to his giant brother, Hagrid immediately brightened up. "The environment in the Forbidden Forest makes him very comfortable. At least he doesn't have to worry about being expelled by other giants.

"Even though the centaurs are a bit unhappy and have tried to drive Grawp away several times, they can't do it... Ha! Those arrogant fellows!"

Because of Grawp, the relationship between Hagrid and the centaurs had recently taken a sharp turn for the worse, though they hadn't come to blows yet, they were no longer on good terms.

Kyle could understand this.

The centaurs had always considered the Forbidden Forest their territory, and when Hagrid kept the three-headed dog Fluffy there, it caused dissatisfaction among the centaurs. Now, with the addition of a giant, it was normal for them to oppose it.

After all, who would like having two natural enemies living at their doorstep... Whether it was the three-headed dog or the giant, they could flatten the centaurs' camp in minutes if they wanted to.

Unfortunately, the Forbidden Forest didn't belong to the centaurs, and their opposition was futile.

Unless they could defeat Dumbledore and overthrow Hogwarts.

But if they had that kind of power, it seemed they wouldn't need to worry about the three-headed dog or the giant anymore.

...

After spending some more time with Hagrid, Kyle was sent back to the castle.

In Hagrid's words, as a professor, he couldn't stand Kyle's idle appearance, and it was better to stay out of sight until Kyle made a move that affected their relationship.

Kyle had no choice but to return to the castle and find another place to pass the time.

He wandered aimlessly in the castle for a while, preparing to visit the underground classroom again.

But as he passed by the second floor, he was stopped by a portrait.

"You seem a bit lost." The voice was familiar.

Kyle turned around and saw it was the portrait of the witch Violet, a friend of the Fat Lady, and the two often drank together.

But what puzzled Kyle was that her eyes seemed a bit off... How to put it, she was too calm, as if she didn't care about anything.

It was hard to imagine that someone with such eyes would go steal drinks with the Fat Lady.

Additionally, Kyle had a very familiar feeling, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he could be sure that the person in the portrait before him was definitely not Violet.

"Who are you?" He asked nervously.

"It's me, Violet," Violet spoke again, but this time, a silver crown studded with sapphires appeared on her head.

In an instant, Kyle recognized her; after so long, he had almost forgotten about this person in the castle.

Only Rowena Ravenclaw could wear such a crown.

"Can you control the portraits in the castle?" Kyle couldn't help but ask.

"It's not exactly control." Ravenclaw spoke calmly. "After all, I'm just a memory now, and the only difference between me and the portraits is that I don't have a frame."

"That's right, that's right." Violet's voice changed, and she said playfully, "And I'm doing it willingly, Lady Ravenclaw. I'm happy to share a frame with you."

But no one paid her any mind.

"So, are you trying to see what Hogwarts is like nowadays?" Kyle asked tentatively.

This seemed to be the only explanation for why Rowena Ravenclaw would suddenly possess a portrait in the castle.

"No, my era ended a thousand years ago, and what the castle has become now has nothing to do with me." Ravenclaw said, "I'm observing you."

"You?" Kyle pointed to himself.

"Yes." Ravenclaw didn't explain but said, "You seem a bit lost.

"It's a bit..." Kyle said.

Although he felt he was just a little bored, since Ravenclaw had said so, he was lost.

"It seems you haven't realized this." Ravenclaw whispered.

Then, the silvery crown suddenly floated out of the portrait and appeared above Kyle's head in the blink of an eye.

Unconsciously, Kyle wanted to take it off.

The effect of the crown was too powerful, that feeling of being in control of everything, he was afraid he couldn't hold on.

"It's okay, relax." Ravenclaw's voice came from his ear.

Kyle also realized that he didn't seem to have changed, and he was still the same as before.

"Sorry." Kyle thought for a moment and asked, "What does it mean to be lost, as you just said."

"In simple terms, your current knowledge system is no longer able to give you the desire to continue exploring."

"From the perspective of a student alone, you have achieved perfection. Even in my time, there were few who could surpass you at this grade."

"Thank, thank you." Kyle smacked his lips.

This should be a compliment... it should count as one.

"And I'm glad you restrained yourself."

"Huh?" Kyle didn't understand.

"Because you haven't become addicted to more powerful magic."

Ravenclaw continued, "I've seen many geniuses, and they often spend their entire lives chasing more dazzling magic, more powerful forces, and drifting away from the original heart of learning magic, becoming servants of power."

"I think you should have seen the Restricted Section in the library." She suddenly asked.

Kyle nodded, "Well, I admit I broke the school rules."

This couldn't be denied, not only had he been there, but he had also copied nearly half of the forbidden books.

"No, that's not the point." Ravenclaw said, "When Helena and I chatted, we talked about you.

She told me that there was once a boy, just like you, smart, gifted, surpassing all his peers, and even most witches and wizards."

"The difference between you and him is that he has never wandered aimlessly in the castle like you have."

A touch of embarrassment appeared on Kyle's face.

"To solve your laziness, you can choose a place." Ravenclaw said.

"Choose a place?" Kyle asked unconsciously, "For what?"

"Tutoring." Ravenclaw said, "Consider it my thanks, I've been happy, truly happy."

Ravenclaw's voice suddenly became much lighter, and this was the first time she showed an emotional change.

But this only lasted for a moment before disappearing again, and she suddenly assumed the role of a professor, coldly saying:

"Your foundation is too weak, not even as good as a third-year student, how dare you wander aimlessly in the castle."

"That's not what you said just now." Kyle muttered to himself, but soon he became aware of another matter.

Ravenclaw was going to tutor him?

This surprise was too great, so much so that Kyle hardly dared to believe it.

"Are you really going to tutor me?"

"If you don't want to, I can give you another reward."

"No, no, this is fine." Kyle repeatedly said.

Tutoring from Ravenclaw was something only a fool would refuse.

"I know of a place that's quiet and undisturbed." Kyle instinctively thought of the Room of Requirement, the most suitable place.

...

At this moment, Ron, Harry, and Hermione had just come out of the library.

Ron, walking at the front, turned the corner and saw Kyle standing in front of the portrait, looking dazed.

"Kyle, what are you doing here... Oh!"

Before he could finish his sentence, he saw Kyle suddenly take a step forward and then disappear completely.

Yes, he vanished without a sound.

"Ron, what are you shouting about!" Harry and Hermione approached from behind.

"I'm not shouting, I saw Kyle right here!" Ron exclaimed, gesturing towards Violet's portrait.

"Where?" Hermione looked at the empty corridor ahead, "You must be seeing things."

"No, I definitely saw him here!" Ron insisted, "It must have been Apparition."

"Impossible." Hermione was certain, "Apparition is forbidden in the castle, you know that."

"But I really saw him!" Ron persisted.

Then he ran to the portrait, "You saw it too, right? There was definitely someone standing here just now, you must have seen it too."

"Hey, I don't know what you're talking about." Violet, disturbed, gave Ron a displeased glance, "I've been alone here all this time."

"Didn't you see him?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Violet impatiently said, "Go away and let me sleep."

"You heard that?" Hermione approached, "Don't be silly, Apparition is forbidden in the castle, and Kyle is no exception."

"Yeah." Harry agreed, "You must be seeing things from reading too much."

"If you ask me, Hermione, we really don't need to waste time in the library."

"No, there's one more place we haven't searched."

"Where?"

"The Restricted Section!"

"That's against the rules, unless we get a professor's signature."

...

As the two of them walked away, Ron, who remained in place, felt a bit dazed.

He had just seen Kyle, why didn't the portrait see him too?

Could it be that he was seeing things?

Impossible...

(End of Chapter)

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