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"Thank you for everything, child." Dumbledore solemnly handed the golden medal to Kyle.
"Thank you for your teaching, Professor." Kyle stretched out his hand and shook it gently with Dumbledore.
……
If someone was standing outside the auditorium at this moment, they might have thought there was an explosion.
The cheers from the four houses were getting louder and louder. At the Hufflepuff table, Mikel and Ryan stood on their stools and cheered loudly, wishing they could tell everyone that Kyle was their roommate.
Even Cedric and Connor, who were usually calm, were jumping up and down at the dining table excitedly.
Dumbledore did not interrupt them this time.
The deafening cheers gradually subsided until everyone's hands were numb from clapping and their throats were hoarse from shouting.
"As the headmaster of Hogwarts..." At this time, Dumbledore continued: "I will reward Hufflepuff House with 200 points, and Kyle will once again receive the Special Contribution Award for the school."
The crowd, which had just been quiet for a short while, became noisy again.
The decorations in the Great Hall were returned to their previous appearance, but not many Gryffindors felt sorry about it.
Just like Harry and the others added 150 points to Gryffindor, there was nothing wrong with Kyle's extra points this time.
Some people even think that 200 points are too few, because it is the Order of Merlin, and it is second level... It should be at least 500 points.
Headmaster Dumbledore is so stingy.
At the end of the ceremony, Dumbledore asked Kell to stand in his place and give a speech.
Kyle cleared his throat.
"Then I will just say a few words..."
Since he was in a hurry to eat, Kyle didn't give a long speech. He just talked about some ways to improve learning efficiency and suggestions on vigorously developing a harmonious campus of Hogwarts.
However, most students were not interested in this, and only a small number of them listened carefully.
For example, Hermione not only listened carefully, but also wrote down every word of what was said.
And Neville... He also wanted to write it down, but when he finished writing the first sentence, he forgot everything that followed.
At the end of his speech, Kyle also expressed a small wish.
He hoped that there would be no more casualties among Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts professors next year and that they would be able to survive and thrive until the end of the next school year.
Everyone laughed knowingly, and even the wizards who were visiting couldn't help but shook their heads.
It is no secret in the wizarding world that the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts gets into trouble every year. Of course they know it.
This time of year is also when Dumbledore is least popular.
He was like a stinking mountain monster, annoying and unwelcome, and was turned away wherever he went.
In order to prevent Dumbledore from visiting them, some people would even flee to other countries for refuge before Hogwarts was over, and would not return until school started in September.
"Oh, it seems we have to go back quickly. It will be bad if we get entangled by him."
McPhail smiled and half-jokingly said to Sassia who was sitting next to him: "I am old now. I can help award medals, but I'd rather not be a professor."
"That's right, this job is too dangerous."
Sassia also covered her mouth and chuckled: "We have thought about preparing a separate area for those defense professors."
Beside him, Dumbledore's face turned red and he glared at Kyle unhappily.
This little bastard, what is he saying these things for!
When Kyle finished speaking, the long-delayed banquet began.
Kyle, who returned to the Hufflepuff table, became the focus of everyone's attention. Young wizards kept coming to congratulate him on winning the Order of Merlin.
As a result, Kyle only ate a few bites of the rice, but he was almost full from drinking the pumpkin juice.
"You actually hid this from us..."
After a long time, the crowd of congratulatory people gradually dispersed. Cedric said with a straight face: "Before this, we didn't even know you had been to St. Mungo's!"
"I don't know if I can really get the Order of Merlin." Kyle explained, "Besides, it's all over now. Even if I tell you about it, it will only make you worry."
"You're not right. We are friends." Kanna wrinkled her nose and said, "Isn't it normal to worry about your friends?"
"That's right, so even if you say that, I can't forgive you." Cedric said coldly, "Unless you swear that you will never hide it from us again when you are in danger in the future!"
"You're going too far." Kyle gave him an unpleasant look, "You make it sound like I'm in danger all the time."
"Hmm... isn't it?" Cedric raised his eyebrows.
"Besides St. Mungo's... the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor incidents in the past two years are all related to you. Also, I don't know where you go every time there's a Quidditch match, and..."
"Okay, I promise you!" Kyle interrupted him and said decisively: "I swear on Dumbledore's beard!"
Cedric then started laughing again.
"That's right... Congratulations on winning the Order of Merlin." He raised a glass of pumpkin juice.
"Congratulations!" Kanna also raised her glass.
Looking at the cups in their hands, which were more than one circle larger than the others and filled with pumpkin juice, Kyle's face turned green and he felt his stomach churning.
"You did it on purpose!"
"Hahaha!"
Cedric then laughed happily, "Who told you to hide it from us? This is your punishment."
Kanna also smiled, "But since you helped us win back the college cup, we will allow you to drink it later."
"Hehe..." Kyle rubbed his belly:
"Thank you!"
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 234 You Have to Be Mentally Prepared
After the dinner, Kyle glanced at the place where Chris and Diana were before... It was empty, they had obviously left early.
Afterwards, all the students returned to their dormitories, except Kyle.
The banquet is just a process in the honoring ceremony, and the most important content comes after that.
"Would you like to have a cup of tea together?" Dumbledore suggested with a smile.
"Of course, I do need something to drink right now."
McPhail nodded. "To be honest, this castle seems to have some incredible magic. Even my appetite has improved a lot since I came here."
Of course he was joking when he said he wanted to go back quickly, and it was impossible for Dumbledore to really invite old guys like them to be professors of Defense Against the Dark Arts...that was a treatment only for young guys.
"Albus, do you have any whiskey? I'd really like some right now."
"How about Firewhiskey? I just got a bottle for Christmas."
"That couldn't be better."
……
There is a long table and several soft chairs with backrests in the principal's office on the eighth floor.
There were also a variety of drinks on the table, including steaming tea and whiskey, as well as mead, butterbeer, and lemonade.
These should be the ones the elves just bought from the Three Broomsticks. Their magic is different from that of wizards, and they can use Apparition even in the castle.
A few people sat down casually, drinking and chatting happily.
As the protagonist of this event, Kyle is naturally a topic that they can’t leave out.
Although Fudge tried to divert the topic several times, Dumbledore always discovered his intention and subtly turned the topic back to Kyle.
Kyle also understood his intention.
On the way to the eighth floor just now, Dumbledore hinted in a voice that only he could hear, saying that this was a rare opportunity to meet famous wizards outside the school, which would be of great help to him in expanding his network.
Kyle naturally understood this principle.
In the wizarding world, connections are also very important. For example, if Dumbledore didn't know Nicolas Flamel, how could he have borrowed such a useful "bait" as the Philosopher's Stone?
There is also the Malfoy family. The reason why their family is so influential is also because they have a complex network of relationships with most people in the Ministry of Magic.
Although this network of relationships is made of gold Galleons, it will fall apart if this most important material is missing.
But it is undeniable that before this network is broken, it can indeed help Malfoy solve many big and small troubles he encounters in life or business.
This is also the main reason why he can still thrive despite being a "suspected Death Eater".
In addition, even Mr. Weasley is the same. Although his position is very insignificant, most people in the Ministry of Magic have a good relationship with him, including some directors of various departments.
Such as Ludo Bagman (Department of Sports and Physical Education), Barty Crouch (Department of International Magical Exchange and Cooperation), and Amelia Bones (Department of Law Enforcement).
Chris doesn't count, he's the deputy.
And a few days ago, Chris inadvertently said that Mr. Weasley was preparing to draft a new bill, which seemed to be about protecting Muggles and strengthening the management of dark magic items.
And judging from Chris's tone, it seems that this new bill is about to be passed.
If Mr. Weasley was really just an ordinary employee of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department, given Fudge's personality, he probably wouldn't even look at him, let alone pass the bill he proposed.
As for McPhail and his companions, they also wanted to meet Kyle, the youngest member of the Merlin Jazz Band.
The two sides can be said to have hit it off immediately and had a very pleasant chat.
Except for Fudge and Newt.
Fudge had other things in mind... In his opinion, Kyle had great potential, but by the time Kyle graduated from Hogwarts, his term would be almost over, and it would be difficult for the two of them to have any intersection.
Therefore, Fudge wanted to talk to McPhail or Sassia about his ideals and ambitions to leave a good impression on them.
As for Newt, it’s much simpler... he’s socially anxious.
The last time he was in a room with so many people was twenty years ago, so the scene in front of him was a little unfamiliar to Newt.
Fortunately, this situation did not last long.
Because it was already very late, the conversation ended in less than half an hour.
Newt was the first to leave the principal's office.