Dumbledore's Wool Socks

Professor McGonagall escorted Kyle to the dripping stone beast on the Seventh Floor and then left, giving him the password as she went.

"Sherbet Lemon."

The Headmaster's Office was the same as always. Fawkes was still lounging on the shelf, and when he saw Kyle, he only slightly raised his head as if to say hello.

Kyle took out a handful of Dittany leaves as a greeting gift and placed them next to the shelf.

This time, Dumbledore didn't disappear; he simply sat there with a smile, a familiar bottle on the table in front of him.

"I hope I haven't bothered you." Dumbledore stood up from his chair and handed Kyle the Magic Suppressant Potion on the table. "You know, just like last time."

"Of course, Principal." Kyle nodded, took the bottle, and said, "I'll go give it to Mikel right now."

"Hmm... no rush. If you don't have anything else to do, could you keep this old man company for a chat?"

Seeing that Kyle didn't speak, Dumbledore continued, "Don't be nervous, it's just a casual chat, like when you were with Newt."

"I'm just a little surprised," Kyle said, scratching his head. "But Headmaster, um... I only have Dittany leaves now, I really don't have any more bellflowers."

"..."

"Fawkes has a good temper and won't stay angry forever." Dumbledore's expression stiffened slightly, but he quickly returned to normal.

"I received your Christmas present," he said, ordering Kyle a fresh lemonade. "I finished reading it that day, and read it many times...it was truly captivating."

At first, Kyle thought Dumbledore was just being polite, but he realized he was wrong the next second.

Because Dumbledore really did take two pairs of wool socks out of the drawer of the table.

One pair was red with gold trim.

The other pair is slightly smaller and is blue and pink.

However, both pairs of socks had a large letter "A" embroidered on them.

Kyle looked up and asked instinctively, "This... you knitted this?"

"Yes," Dumbledore said smugly, "I have a pretty good talent for knitting socks; I succeeded on my first try."

Kyle opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.

What's wrong with the Wizarding World?

Supreme Mugwump, Order of Merlin, Chief Wizard of Wizengamot, and universally acknowledged as the most powerful white wizard in the Wizarding World Dumbledore... is actually smug about his talent for knitting socks?

Judging from his happy expression, he even seemed a little proud.

"You knitted wonderfully, Headmaster," Kyle said dryly.

"Thanks."

Dumbledore put away the two pairs of wool socks, then suddenly sighed and said, "My biggest regret this year is probably not having prepared a Christmas present for you. It's really terrible."

Kyle waved his hands repeatedly.

He hadn't expected to receive a gift from Dumbledore.

However, as a model student, Kyle didn't want Dumbledore to live with guilt forever.

It breaks my heart to see an old man tormented by guilt.

"Maybe I should just ask for a gift myself?" Kyle thought to himself, stroking his chin.

Although it was shameless of him to do this, he didn't mind suffering a little grievance for the sake of the principal.

Kyle instinctively looked toward the corner of the Headmaster's Office, where there was a dusty mirror that probably wasn't worth much. He thought, "Maybe I should choose that."

Or the roughly made stone basin next to it would also work.

Since it's just for show anyway, choosing these cheap items that Sickle buy ten of for the price of one from a street stall is the perfect solution.

"I'm so thoughtful."

Kyle made no attempt to conceal his actions.

Beside him, Dumbledore seemed to have guessed something, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Just then, Kyle turned around and said, "Headmaster, you can send..."

"Would you like a glass of lemonade? Of course, no problem."

Dumbledore tapped the table and ordered another glass of lemonade.

"No, I mean today..."

"The weather is really nice today."

The weather is nice.

Kyle glanced out the window; the snow had been falling all day and hadn't stopped yet.

However, Dumbledore didn't give Kyle a chance to speak. He also looked out the window and said with some emotion, "I didn't even realize it was so late."

Kyle understood immediately.

Although it was somewhat regrettable that he couldn't help Dumbledore solve his troubles, Kyle still conscientiously said:

"Then I'll head back now. Mikel's waiting to take his medicine."

"Would you like some snacks to take back?" Dumbledore opened a drawer, which was full of all kinds of candies and preserves.

Kyle was about to refuse, but he suddenly noticed that the candies seemed to be high-end, and there were many kinds he had never even seen before.

"Thank you on Mikel's behalf."

When Kyle left the Headmaster's Office, his two pockets were bulging with candy.

The oak door closed.

In the Headmaster's Office, Snape appeared out of nowhere. He looked at Kyle's previous spot and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

"I'm a little curious, Severus."

Dumbledore closed the drawer and hung a small Winky padlock on it.

"You specifically asked me to call Kyle here, so why are you hiding yourself?"

"You let him leave too soon."

Snape said expressionlessly, "As we agreed, he should stay here for thirty minutes."

"The students all have their own things to do," Dumbledore a sip of his tea. "Severus, we can't take up too much of their time."

"Oh? So that's what you're thinking..." Snape glanced at the Mirror of Erised in the corner, then walked towards the door.

"Severus."

At that moment, Dumbledore suddenly called out to him, "I think you have a deep prejudice against Kyle."

Snape stopped and turned to ask, "What are you trying to say?"

"Kyle is a very good boy," Dumbledore said calmly. "I understand that he gave gifts to every professor on Christmas Day, even Mrs. Norris, the least popular among the students, received a bag of dried fish."

"Oh~~" Snape squinted, drawing out his words as he asked again, "What are you trying to say!"

"I think he probably forgot about his Potions Class professor on a whim."

Dumbledore smiled and said, "You know, even I make these kinds of silly mistakes sometimes. It's normal. You can't be prejudiced against Kyle because of that."

"Perhaps he hasn't forgotten."

Snape snorted, then flung open the door and left the Headmaster's Office without looking back.