Chapter 661: Tit for Tat, the Role of the Assistant
After returning from Hagrid's, Kyle didn't have much planned.
For the next few days, he spent his time in an empty classroom on the sixth floor, diligently working on his holiday homework. The classroom's window provided a clear view of Hagrid's hut, a small detail Kyle found useful.
That day, as usual, he arrived early, sat by the familiar window seat, and started writing. Every now and then, he glanced outside. Before long, he noticed an owl fly to Hagrid's hut, drop off a letter, and swiftly depart.
Hagrid collected the letter, briefly looked around as though checking for onlookers, then hurried inside, shutting the door behind him.
The scene played out exactly as it had for the past few days.
However, just as Kyle returned his focus to his homework, another figure emerged near the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
It was Filch.
Kyle froze, watching as the caretaker skulked behind a tree, peering out only after Hagrid had disappeared inside. Once the coast seemed clear, Filch crept toward the hut, moving with exaggerated stealth.
He peered through the windows, but Hagrid had taken precautions—thick curtains covered every pane, and even the gaps in the hut were tightly sealed. Unable to see anything, Filch circled the hut twice, muttering angrily, then left, grumbling curses under his breath.
Kyle waited until Filch was out of sight before swiftly packing up his homework. He needed to post his most important letter in the common room, but as he hurried downstairs, he ran into Snape.
"I thought you'd broken the rules again and sneaked out of school," Snape said, his voice icy. "What a disappointment."