Hogwarts: I Am an Exemplary Wizard

Chapter 672: Chapter 659: Hagrid’s Doubts—Is Dumbledore Up to Something Again?

When Kael left the tea room and returned to the second floor, he heard angry roaring coming from Sirius’s ward.

”If you lot don’t shut up, I’ll hang you upside down from the ceiling in the corridor!”

Then Mr. Weasley drove the three of them out of the room.

Ron stood in the corridor, looking at the closed door, muttering softly, ”Honestly, we only said a few words, it’s not like we disturbed him...”

”But we actually did disturb him,” Hermione said fairly, ”We woke him up twice. It’s only right that Sirius chucked us out...”

”But it’s not really our fault,” Ron pouted, ”The room’s only so big. No matter how quietly we talk, it’s no use.”

”Alright, worst case, we’ll just come back tomorrow,” Harry said. ”It’s the holidays anyway, we can drop by whenever... Where’s Mr. Weasley?”

”No idea, probably went outside to find Bill. He’s coming back with us.”

While they were talking, Kael had already gone downstairs.

Sick of explaining how he managed to get here from Hogwarts yet again, he didn’t bother greeting the three in the corridor, but headed straight to the waiting room on the first floor, followed the passage, and left St Mungo’s.

Outside, Mr. Weasley was talking to Bill.

”Let me drive when we head back, alright...” He eyed Sirius’s new car, his face brimming with anticipation.

Bill, naturally, didn’t refuse and handed over the keys right away.

Mr. Weasley took the keys, and just as he looked up, he spotted Kael coming out of the department store window.

”Finished chatting with Professor Cecily?” he asked.

”Yeah, all done.”

Mentioning this made Kael’s chest tighten a little... Seven thousand Galleons, gone in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Saying it didn’t hurt would be a lie.

But Mr. Weasley didn’t know what happened. He pointed at the car, ”Hop in. I’ll go fetch Harry and the others, and we’ll head back together.”

”No need, Mr. Weasley,” Kael shook his head and took a teapot from his pocket. ”I just got Professor Cecily to help me make a Portkey. It’ll take me straight to Hogsmeade.”

”Hogsmeade?”

”Yep, I signed the staying-on list, so technically, I kind of snuck out...,” Kael glanced at the time and spoke quickly, ”Sorry, Mr. Weasley, there’s only a minute left before the Portkey activates. I’ve got to hurry.”

”Ah, alright,” Mr. Weasley said, opening the car door. ”Want to wait inside? It’s safe enough.”

Kael had been planning to go to the phone booth, but since Mr. Weasley offered, he didn’t refuse and climbed into the car.

...

When Kael got back to Hogwarts, it was already seven o’clock—right in time for dinner.

Not many chose to stay at school this year, just over thirty, so the auditorium was rearranged, leaving only a table in the middle. All the students staying for the holidays and professors sat together for supper.

Luckily, Kael didn’t spot Umbridge at the table—she’d apparently left campus as well.

That was definitely good news. If she’d been here, Kael wasn’t sure he’d be able to eat anything.

Dumbledore was absent as well. Professor Flitwick led them in singing Christmas carols, and as usual, popped open a ribbon cracker.

Inside the ribbon cracker were little gadgets—like hats of all sorts of shapes, and Wizard Chess pieces. Professor Flitwick got a leather cowboy hat and was delighted to swap it for his own.

Kael popped open a hat covered in sequins, but instead of keeping it, he decided to give it to the Niffler as a Christmas gift.

Sparkly things like this were priceless in the eyes of a Niffler.

Soon enough, the table was loaded with delicious food.

Conna spread a layer of orange marmalade on her toast and asked quietly, ”How’s Professor Black doing?”

”The Rune Pattern Snake poison’s all been cleared out,” Kael replied. ”I think he’ll be able to leave the hospital in a few days.”

”That’s good.”

”Right, when did Umbridge leave Hogwarts?”

”Probably this morning, or maybe last night,” Conna thought for a moment. ”I haven’t seen her all day today.”

”You shouldn’t see her for the next two weeks, either,” Kael chuckled.

”Yeah,” Conna smiled too. ”Honestly, that’s probably the best Christmas gift ever.”

Though only a few stayed on, dinner wasn’t any less lively than usual. While they ate dessert, Professor McGonagall conjured up twenty dancing snowmen, making the auditorium look just like a Christmas ball—refreshingly novel.

After dinner, these snowmen turned into ice sculptures, frozen in place all around the hall.

Everyone applauded, and amid laughter, headed back to their respective common rooms.

The next day was Christmas.

That morning, when Kael woke up, he found presents piled across half the room.

He’d slept in a bit, so Kael spent all morning just unwrapping gifts, finally finishing around noon.

Most were still books and sweets—same as every year. He could no longer remember the last time he’d bought anything from Honeydukes Sweet Shop.

Conna gave him chocolate, which looked homemade. Kael worked up the courage to try a piece and was surprised to find it tasted pretty good.

And there seemed to be some kind of magic potion in it, because the sleepiness he’d felt upon waking vanished instantly, leaving him much more energetic.