Chapter 188: The Exorbitantly Priced Toy
Ron knew Kyle was popular at school, but he never imagined he'd actually be friends with someone like Malfoy. It was a bit hard to stomach.
Kyle noticed Ron's look of bewilderment and knew exactly what he was thinking, but he didn't care. Malfoy's feud with Harry and Ron didn't concern him; he was a Hufflepuff, after all. Besides, his mother Diana had graduated from Slytherin—why should he hate the house?
Kyle glanced at Ron and shrugged. "What's so strange about it? Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor were once best friends, just like you and Potter. What—if Potter had been sorted into Slytherin, would you have stopped talking to him?"
"Of course not!" Ron said quickly. "But... that's different..."
"That's just your opinion," Kyle replied, a slight frown crossing his face. "Don't forget, I'm a Hufflepuff, and we get along with every house. Oh, and another thing—half of your new wand was funded by a Slytherin. If that bothers you, I can always write to Mrs. Weasley and ask her to send you Charlie's old wand instead."
Ron's mouth twitched. He felt Kyle was wrong, but he couldn't find a way to argue back. Hufflepuffs did indeed get along with everyone. Even Ravenclaw, who'd been given zero points in the last competition, only stayed distant for a couple of weeks before they made up.
And the wand? That was even harder to argue. It was his only new possession this year, and he wasn't about to give it up.
Without looking back at Ron, Kyle turned and walked with Kanna toward the Hufflepuff common room, calling to Hagrid as he passed, "Hagrid, we'll head back. See you later."
"Go on ahead," Hagrid replied with a grin. "Tonight's feast won't disappoint." Then, turning to Harry, he added, "Sorry, but I've got to go too—Professor McGonagall's waiting for me to help set up the last Christmas tree."