Chapter 236: The New Member of the Weasley Choir
The day before the holidays, the grades were finally released, and Kyle, with a perfect score, was unchallenged at the top of his year. This result came as a shock to many who had always assumed Kyle's performance had been subpar. In fact, even Kyle himself was stunned. Had Snape really awarded him a perfect score again?
Kyle had previously believed that the perfect score Snape gave him last year was a one-off, likely because he had saved Kanna from Oren. Family ties, after all, could explain such gratitude. But this year? Was it because he'd saved Harry? That didn't quite add up—Harry wasn't that important to Snape... well, maybe Harry was, in a strange way. Kyle still couldn't make sense of it.
Surely, it wasn't that Snape had suddenly turned over a new leaf and decided to be a decent teacher. That notion seemed absurd. Kyle would sooner believe that Voldemort was secretly working for a Muggle Intelligence Agency—that, at least, sounded more reasonable.
Yet there were others who thought this outcome was entirely predictable. Fred and George had declared in the common room with exaggerated confidence:
"That's the funniest joke I've heard all year."
"Honestly, I'd sooner believe our little brother Ron could be made prefect than that Kyle would ever fail an exam."
Kanna was similarly unwavering. She didn't believe Professor McGonagall had been shaking her head because Kyle had supposedly failed, but rather that there must be some other explanation—and she was right.
Some younger students, consumed by doubt, even mustered the courage to ask Professor McGonagall directly, only to be reprimanded. She told them she was merely a bit disappointed that the gap between Kyle and the other students was so vast. Of course, that was only her official line. No one really knew what McGonagall was truly thinking.
In any case, the school year was finally over. A notice prohibiting the use of magic over the holidays was handed out to everyone, and soon after, students either took a carriage or boarded a ferry to leave Hogwarts and catch the train back to King's Cross.