The last exam was History of Magic, which proved to be the most boring hour yet.
Kyle finished in just twenty minutes, writing about the Werewolf Code of Conduct of 1637 and the life story of Uric the Oddball.
When Professor Binns' ghost instructed them to put down their quills and roll up their parchment, all the students burst into cheers.
The exams were over — they could relax and play for a whole week until the results were announced.
"That was much easier than I expected." Michael said confidently as they followed the crowd out onto the sunny grounds, "I just read about Uric the Oddball a few days ago. He graduated from Gryffindor, I'm absolutely certain."
"Gryffindor?" Ryan paused, blurting out, "Wasn't it Slytherin?"
"What a shame." Michael said regretfully, "I couldn't have gotten it wrong — it was definitely Gryffindor."
"Merlin's beard..." Ryan clutched his hair in distress, "I should have focused on memorizing those wizards who invented self-stirring cauldrons instead."
Michael patted his shoulder consolingly, "It's alright, it's just mixing up one house, they won't deduct too many points."
Their close friendship touched Kyle deeply — such pure camaraderie between classmates was truly one of life's most precious treasures.
To help their relationship grow even closer, he quietly walked over and whispered in their ears, "Actually... Uric the Oddball graduated from Ravenclaw."
Michael looked up with a dumbfounded expression.
"It's true." Kyle smiled, "It's written very clearly in chapter two, line three. Or you could ask the Ravenclaws — they wouldn't get that wrong."
Michael turned stiffly and found a group of Ravenclaw students in the crowd — and he actually went to ask.
A minute later, he was crouching next to Ryan, also clutching his hair.
"It's alright." Kyle patted his shoulder, "It's just mixing up one house, they won't deduct too many points."
After bidding farewell to his two dejected roommates, he leisurely made his way down the slope to the lake.
There, a giant squid was sunbathing in the warm shallow water, with Fred and George gently poking at its tentacles.
Kyle couldn't help but swallow, imagining how delicious those huge tentacles would be grilled on an iron plate with cumin and chili powder...
"Gulp..."
No, he couldn't keep looking.
He shook his head and shifted his gaze to the side.
Not far away, Kanna sat under a tree, hugging her knees and staring absent-mindedly at Porgy sunbathing on the grass. She showed none of the joy that typically follows the end of exams.
"What's wrong, didn't do well?" Kyle asked as he walked over.
Kanna startled, but after collecting herself, she shook her head.
"No, just thinking about other things." She fiddled with Porgy's tail and asked softly, "After the exams, does this term end?"
"Seven more days." Kyle sat down beside her, "We have to wait for the exam results before holiday starts. When September comes, we'll be second years."
Kanna murmured, "Seven days..."
"What are you two talking about?"
The Weasley twins came over then, and Fred, looking at the gloomy girl, said with a smile, "Cheer up! We won't know how badly we did until next week, no need to worry about it now."
"That's right." George said, "This is the best time of the year — no exams, no lectures, no homework. What could be better than this?"
"You're right." Kanna stood up, showing a big smile.
Later, Fred and George wanted to use the secret passage to go to Hogsmeade.
Since receiving their windfall of a hundred Galleons, they had many things they wanted to buy: new candies from Honeydukes, butterbeer from The Three Broomsticks — they wanted to try it all.
And of course, most importantly... those enticing joke items from Zonko's.
"We've decided to take the passage behind the mirror on the fourth floor." Fred said mysteriously, "I guarantee Filch doesn't know about that passage."
"Want to come along?" George asked.
Kyle nodded, just about to agree when an owl suddenly flew over from the distance and delivered him a note.
He took the note and read it.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Dear Kyle:
I know you've finished your exams. Could you come by for a bit? Fluffy seems to be sick.
Hagrid
— — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Fluffy is sick?
Kyle frowned and looked up, saying, "Sorry, I need to go see Hagrid now, he needs me for something."
"Alright." Fred said, "Want us to bring anything back for you?"
"Honeydukes sweets." Kyle said, "Get the expensive ones."
"Ha, good idea."
The Weasley twins left with grins on their faces.
"Aren't you going with them?" Kyle asked Kanna beside him.
Kanna shook her head, "No, I don't need to buy anything. It's nice just staying here sunbathing with Porgy."
"Sunbathing is boring. Why don't you come with me to Hagrid's?" Kyle glanced at the rat on the grass and added, "Remember Fluffy? He's sick, we can go see him."
"Can I really come too?" Kanna perked up.
"Of course."
She had seen the "cute" cerberus before, so bringing her along wouldn't be a problem.
Watching Kyle walk down the slope, Kanna quickly put Porgy in her pocket and hurried after him.
✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭
When the two crossed the grounds and arrived at Hagrid's hut, they unexpectedly found someone else there.
"Professor Oren?" Kyle looked at the man standing in front of Hagrid's door and asked, puzzled, "Are you here to see Hagrid too?"
"More or less — though to be precise, I'm waiting for you... all." Professor Oren explained, "Hagrid just wrote to me saying Fluffy was sick and asked if I knew any ways to treat magical creatures, so I came over."
"You know about Fluffy too?" Kyle asked.
"Yes, I do, the three-headed dog..." Professor Oren said with a smile, "Hagrid told me about it when we were drinking the other day. It really scared me — I never thought he'd dare keep such a dangerous magical creature."
Drinking... well, Hagrid really couldn't keep any secrets after having a drink.
"Where's Hagrid? Is he inside?" Kyle peered into the hut, but it was empty, with no sign of anyone there.
"Oh, I almost forgot the important part." Professor Oren smacked his forehead, "Hagrid was quite worried, so I let him go ahead to check on Fluffy in the Forbidden Forest while I waited here for you. Come along children, I'll take you there now."
✭✭✭
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