Final Exam

Speaking of Quidditch, Hagrid suddenly noticed that Kyle was wearing his team uniform, and then he remembered that today was supposed to be the match between Hufflepuff and Slytherin.

But the game had already started, and Kyle, as the team's Chaser, was here. Doesn't that mean...?

"I'm sorry, Kyle," Hagrid said guiltily, "It's all because of me that you missed the last game!"

"It's okay..." Kyle waved his hand and said, "As long as Norbert isn't discovered, we're leading second place by more than 300 points. Winning or losing isn't that important. I'll just consider this a break."

The two walked towards the Quidditch Pitch, one after the other.

Due to some inexplicable force that even magic couldn't explain, the match had just ended when they arrived.

Kyle glanced at the scoreboard.

170:70

Hufflepuff won!

Although the weakened Harris was no match for Slytherin due to Kyle's absence, they still had Cedric.

As Kyle walked out of the tunnel, he saw Cedric standing on the court with his arms raised.

A wisp of golden light peeked faintly through his fingers.

A deafening roar of cheers erupted from the stands as everyone celebrated Hufflepuff's early victory.

Five hundred and sixty points! This score is like a mountain standing in the way of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, almost impossible to surpass.

Unless they fix the match.

Hagrid joined the cheers of the crowd.

Seeing Hufflepuff win made him feel much better.

Kyle went to the locker room alone.

He was still hesitating about how to explain his sudden departure from the team to others, but it turned out that no one asked at all.

They simply patted Kyle on the shoulder in a friendly manner, just like any other day.

"Don't worry about it," Harris said softly as she walked over. "We all know you must have more important things to do!"

Then he laughed loudly twice more.

"Cheer up, we won!"

"That's right," Fello chimed in with a smile. "Unless Gryffindor and Ravenclaw score forty goals in the remaining matches, this year's championship is definitely ours!"

This match was the last bit of fun before the exams.

That evening, the party in the Hufflepuff Common Room lasted until midnight.

Harris, who had previously boasted about his incredible alcohol tolerance and ability to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, collapsed onto the table and couldn't get up after finishing his third bottle of Butterbeer.

Several senior Quidditch players, unfazed by the sight, stood up and expertly carried him back to their dormitory.

Kyle, watching this scene, asked in confusion, "What's wrong with him?"

"Oh, he's drunk," Fello said calmly.

"Butterbeer can make you drunk?" Kyle said incredulously. "There's probably no beer in there, is there?"

He had always thought it was a drink similar to hot cocoa.

"Yes, but those beers were all boiled beforehand to add some flavor."

At this moment, a freshman with pigtails said, "Someone in my family knows how to make Butterbeer; I saw it with my own eyes."

"That's right, so if someone has a low alcohol tolerance, they'll get drunk even from Butterbeer," Fello said with a laugh. "Like Harris, he can only drink two glasses normally, one more and he's done."

"I remember when he first went to Hogsmeade in third grade, he fell asleep on the Three Broomsticks without warning."

Madam Rosmerta was terrified; she thought there was something wrong with her Butterbeer.

Kyle chuckled dryly twice.

Getting drunk on boiled beer? That's quite a tolerance... Wouldn't Pumpkin Juice be better?

After Harris got drunk, the party ended quickly, and everyone dispersed and returned to their dormitories.

After the revelry, endless studying still awaits them.

As the exam drew closer, the atmosphere in the castle grew increasingly tense. People had no time to think about Quidditch anymore; students could be seen reciting their lessons almost everywhere they went.

The learning atmosphere at Hogwarts was at an all-time high.

Even Harry and Ron temporarily abandoned their investigation of Snape and buried themselves in their studies in the library with Hermione.

Hermione was reviewing, while Harry and Ron were previewing.

In this tense atmosphere, exam week quickly arrived.

For Kyle, the second-year exams were no challenge at all; he finished the written test in just over ten minutes.

But Professor McGonagall wouldn't allow him to hand in his paper early, arguing that it would prevent him from passing the answers to others.

Indeed, Professor McGonagall was unable to proctor the upperclassmen exams again this year, which greatly displeased her after a year of anticipation. She silently complained about Dumbledore times in her mind.

She looked up and glanced around the classroom.

Well, this year's students are a bit too well-behaved. She only confiscated five cheating devices before the exam, less than half the amount she collected last year.

This disappointed Professor McGonagall even more.

Since she had nothing better to do, she simply went behind Kyle and began to examine his test paper.

Many people noticed that Professor McGonagall's expression suddenly turned serious, and she shook her head as she looked at the screen.

"Did Kyle not do well on the test this time?"

People's expressions varied: some were nervous, some regretful, and some excited...

However, Kyle didn't seem to care much, mainly because he couldn't see Professor McGonagall's expression from his position.

After finally getting through the written exam, the actual practice sessions were much more enjoyable.

Professor Flitwick cast a spell on a pineapple, asking them to guess the spell and then restore the pineapple to its original state.

When it was Kyle's turn, he deliberately increased the difficulty.

Suddenly, the pineapple grew legs, jumped off the table, and started running quickly on the ground.

"You have three chances," Professor Flitwick said with a smile, "But you can only stand still."

The pineapple with legs was very agile; every time Kyle was about to chant a spell, it would immediately change direction.

Both spells failed, Kyle glanced at Professor Flitwick with a hint of helplessness.

Without a doubt, it was him who did it.

But Professor Flitwick, seemingly oblivious to everything, calmly smiled and said, "There's only one last chance..."

"There's no other way." Kyle took a deep breath, and then an orange light shone from his wand...

"Wait, wait..." Professor Flitwick's pupils contracted, and he quickly stopped him.

"The Transfiguration exam is being held next door; this spell will affect them."

"Then the exam..."

"You passed," Professor Flitwick said with a chuckle.

In fact, he had already given Kyle a perfect score; what he said earlier was just his own mischievous quirk.