Hogwarts: I Am Such a Model Wizard

Chapter 175: No Hurt Without Comparison

”Twenty Galleons...”

Fred and George looked up at Kyle, exchanging a hesitant glance.

To take it or not to take it... that was the question. If they accepted and Kyle guessed correctly, they’d not only have to forfeit all the money theyʼd previously earned but even more on top of that.

Yet, with twenty gleaming Galleons lying temptingly before them, the thought of refusal hardly seemed possible.

Licking his dry lips, George asked, ”Twenty Galleons... are you sure?”

Kyle raised an eyebrow. ”Itʼs a risk worth taking. Besides, I can tell you what I think it is right now.”

He leaned in, whispering a few words into their ears.

”Quirrell will stay until after the final exams. The ending...”

Upon hearing Kyle’s prediction, the twins gasped, then exchanged a wide-eyed look.

”You’re not going to tell our mum about this, are you...” Fred asked, eyeing Kyle suspiciously.

Kyle’s words sounded like an unexpected windfall, almost too good to be real, and Fred couldn’t shake the feeling that there must be a catch.

”Of course not, I promise,” Kyle replied with a reassuring smile.

George took a deep breath. ”Alright, we’ll take it!”

”A wise choice,” Kyle said, giving them a meaningful look before taking a leisurely sip from his glass of pumpkin juice.

Cedric and Kanna, who had been watching the scene unfold, stood in disbelief. Only now did they fully grasp what had just transpired. Twenty Galleons was no small sum; it was more than many students’ pocket money for an entire school year.

Cedric was about to advise Kyle against being so impulsive when Fred and George, as if sensing a change of heart might be looming, quickly scooped up the Galleons from the table and dashed back to the Gryffindor table.

”Kyle, you’re being impulsive...” Cedric began.

But before he could finish, an unfamiliar voice interjected.

”What you’re doing is wrong!”

A young girl with bushy brown hair stood not far away, watching them sternly.

Cedric recognized her vaguely and, after a moment of thought, asked, ”Are you... a new Gryffindor?”

”Yes, I’m Hermione Granger.”

”Cedric Diggory, nice to meet you!”

Hermione gave him a brief nod, then fixed her gaze on Kyle, her voice firm. ”What you just did was wrong. Gambling is forbidden at Hogwarts.”

”I know...” Kyle replied casually. ”That’s why I’m helping them quit.”

”What?”

Hermione looked momentarily thrown off, clearly not understanding what Kyle meant.

”But you just—”

”Don’t worry about the details; it’s complicated to explain. Just know that Iʼm helping them,” Kyle interrupted, smoothly changing the subject. ”So, what brings you here?”

Hermione didn’t press further on Fred and George’s matter. Instead, she looked at Kyle with a serious expression. ”I’ve been thinking about it for days and felt I had to come thank you.”

Kyle raised an eyebrow as she continued, ”Thank you for saving my life that day.”

”It wasn’t that big of a deal, I just... Well, if you insist, I’ll accept,” Kyle said, feigning helplessness.

He had been trying to avoid Hermione as much as possible lately and was surprised she’d remember the incident after all this time.

”Is there anything else?”

”Yes!” Hermione replied without hesitation. She pulled out her Beginnerʼs Guide to Transfiguration and opened it.

Kyle noticed her book was filled with notes, with every blank space crammed with scribbles. Hermione pointed to several particularly marked passages and asked, ”Can I ask you some questions?”

Kyle nodded, and he and Cedric took turns answering Hermione’s questions in detail. Hermione listened with rapt attention. These were concepts she hadn’t fully grasped in class, and although she’d initially planned to consult Professor McGonagall, somehow she had ended up asking Kyle and Cedric instead.

Yet, the result was just as good. Kyle and Cedric managed to clear up her confusion with just a few explanations.

Once they’d answered her last question, Hermione reluctantly closed her book. Her earlier doubts about Kyle had completely vanished by now. No wonder he was top of the class; material that had troubled her for so long had been explained so effortlessly. Cedric, a third-year, was just as impressive.

For a moment, Hermione felt a pang of regret for being sorted into Gryffindor. Hufflepuff seemed like a haven for learning. Their combination was like having personalized tutoring from a professor. And then she thought about her own house...

”Hermione, let me copy your homework!”

”What was the Charm class homework again...?”

The memory of two particular Gryffindor voices popped into her head, and she shivered involuntarily.

Forget it, best not to think about it.

After thanking them once again, Hermione hurriedly left with her book.

Watching her walk away, Cedric asked curiously, ”Why did she say you saved her life just now?”

”It was a while back,” Kyle shrugged, his tone casual. ”I didnʼt do much—just helped her out a bit. Sheʼs making a fuss over nothing.”

Cedric nodded, sensing that Kyle didn’t want to elaborate, so he didn’t press further.

”By the way, Harris told us to meet at the Quidditch Pitch today. You’re aware of that, right?”

”Yeah, he told me last night.”

Kyle perked up at the mention of Quidditch. After Halloween, the Quidditch season would begin, which meant their break was over, and training would start again. Luckily, their first match was against Ravenclaw, so neither Harris nor the team was feeling too tense.

This showed in today’s practice session. With the match drawing near, the other houses were doing everything they could to maximize their time on the Quidditch Pitch. Slytherin’s Marcus Flint had even gone to Snape and shamelessly reserved the Pitch for the whole weekend, allowing them ample practice time.

Wood would have liked to do the same for Gryffindor, but Professor McGonagall wasn’t as indulgent. Of the four houses, only Hufflepuff kept to their regular schedule, with Harris arranging their standard two-hour session.

While this approach might seem a bit unfriendly to Cho, it was how things were. Quidditch was a team sport, relying heavily on coordination to secure a win. Ravenclaw, who had languished at the bottom of the standings for so long, wasn’t likely to rise simply because they had a new Seeker.

Their odds of victory remained slim, unless Cho could catch the Golden Snitch within five minutes. Of course, if that happened, no amount of training could make a difference.

After leaving the Great Hall, Kyle and Cedric returned to their dormitory, grabbed their broomsticks, and headed to the Quidditch Pitch.