Chapter 54: Humble Kyle
After the Halloween feast, the little wizards, full and happy, made their way back to their dormitories in groups. Once the students were gone, the professors also departed one by one.
In the headmaster's office, Dumbledore looked calmly at Snape, who stood before him with a grim expression.
"Severus, what can I do for you?" Dumbledore asked, his voice gentle.
"It's still about what happened two weeks ago, Dumbledore," Snape said, his face emotionless as he placed a gold-framed map on the headmaster's desk. "That Kyle Chopper selling maps at school... There should have been results by now."
"So, that's what this is about," Dumbledore responded, taking a measured sip of his black tea. "May I hear your thoughts?"
"People like him, who blatantly ignore school rules, should be expelled!" Snape burst out, his tone sharp.
"That's not a very good joke, Severus," Dumbledore said, shaking his head slightly. "You know that Hogwarts' school rules do not prohibit students from selling items on campus."
"And, as far as I understand, this particular map was originally sold by Miss Prince to Slyther..."
"That's abetting!" Snape interrupted, his voice rising in frustration. "I investigated—Kyle gave her all the maps!"
His voice grew so loud that even the surrounding portraits, which had been pretending to sleep, couldn't ignore the outburst. One portrait, depicting a big-nosed wizard, angrily chimed in.
"Watch your tone, young man. This is the headmaster's office."