Chapter 110: The Vault Key
Kyle was genuinely taken aback by Dumbledore's words. Only students who have made notable contributions to Hogwarts are eligible for the Special Award for Services to the School, the highest honor a young wizard can achieve during their school years. Fifty years ago, the infamous snub-nosed wizard—the originator of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Curse, none other than Tom Riddle—had received this award in his fifth year. Yet Kyle was only a first-year, a whole four years behind him.
In that regard, Kyle could almost imagine pointing at Tom's face... or, at least, his nose... and saying quite frankly, "You suck." What might happen afterward was another story.
"Thank you for your kind words, Headmaster," Kyle said with a smile. He wasn't expressing gratitude for the award itself, but rather for what Dumbledore had just said. Especially the words "noble spirit." Dumbledore was indeed a remarkable headmaster, able to perceive the inner qualities of a person at a glance. You couldn't argue with that.
"You truly deserve this, Kyle," Dumbledore said with a wink. "Very few people would have the courage to face two adult wizards alone in their first year, let alone manage to defeat one. The board of directors agreed that giving you the Special Award for Services to the School was the best decision I made this year."
They probably just didn't want any complications, Kyle thought to himself. He doubted that the school board members had noble intentions in mind. Unlike Dumbledore, who was genuinely dedicated to Hogwarts, the board members were more concerned about protecting their own interests. Had Kyle actually perished in the Forbidden Forest, word would have spread quickly that Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was responsible for the death of a student. By then, Hogwarts would either have to shut down or face severe trouble, which the board, naturally, did not want.
Luckily, Kyle had survived. The board was likely using the Special Award to rid themselves of Chris and Diana. But Kyle didn't care about their motives; he was satisfied with the result.
"Headmaster, there's one other thing," Kyle began.
"Ask away."
"Where's Hagrid? I noticed he wasn't in the room."
"In fact, Hagrid was the first one attacked yesterday," Dumbledore explained. "Oren tricked him into drinking undiluted Swooping Evil venom, then hid him in the Forbidden Forest while he was unconscious."
"So... where is Hagrid now?"